Contra Costa County Public Works Department will perform work on Marsh Creek Road from Deer Valley Road to the Clayton City limits, from September 5 through October 5, 2017. The work will occur Monday through Thursday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to shape slopes, repair shoulders and erosion along the road edge. The work may be rescheduled based on weather conditions. Electronic message boards will alert drivers of the scheduled work. There will be traffic control through the work area and drivers can expect delays of 10-15 minutes.
Read MoreNearly all of the law enforcement associations announced their joint endorsement of Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Graves for the position of Interim D.A. They issued the following statement, this week:
“We have either met or are very familiar with all five finalists for the interim District Attorney position. We watched yesterday’s Board of Supervisors public forum and have read the applicants’ platforms and listened to input from our members.
“The work of fighting and prosecuting crime is ongoing. An interim District Attorney must be experienced and ready to step into the position and function effectively immediately. We believe there is one clear choice ready to lead the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office at this critical moment, and that choice is Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Graves.
“County Supervisors have also expressed their desire to appoint an interim District Attorney who can hit the ground running, and Paul Graves is uniquely ready as someone who already knows how to lead other prosecutors. He has supervised both the Homicide Unit and the Family Violence units with distinction – two of the toughest units in the DA’s office.
“Paul Graves’ extensive experience also makes him the best choice for improving public safety. As law enforcement officers, we know that our ability to protect and serve our communities is greatly strengthened by the experienced, seasoned judgement that Paul Graves will bring as a prosecutor with 22 years of experience right here in Contra Costa County. He has tried over 70 jury trials and prosecuted two capital cases, and over the course of that career he has worked extensively with our colleagues in law enforcement to build strong cases and fight for justice for the victims of crime.
“We have witnessed Paul Graves’ commitment to preventative justice that reduces incarceration rates. At each step in his career, Paul Graves has taken a proactive approach to crime prevention that emphasizes youth and community engagement and other preventative measures as evidenced by his support of the Children’s Interview Center and especially his leadership in the fight against human trafficking in Contra Costa.
“We encourage everyone who hasn’t had the benefit of our years of working with Paul Graves to read his application for interim District Attorney. There you will see the thoughtful, experienced, professional that we’ve come to know and respect.
“One last important point. The law enforcement officers we represent share a ’24-7’ full-time commitment to public safety. We know Paul Graves is a prosecutor who shares that dedication. We’ve been able to count on him over the years for counsel and advice on any case at any time, day or night. We believe that character and commitment is what the people of Contra Costa will value most in Paul Graves. He’s a ‘24/7’ leader who is fully committed to serving the people with dedication and integrity at all times.
“We stand ready to fully support Paul Graves as interim District Attorney. We hope the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa will support him as well. The events of the last few months have led us to this critical moment, and Paul Graves is the experienced, trusted prosecutor who is ready to meet that moment and move all of us forward.”
Respectfully Submitted;
Antioch POA, Brentwood POA, Clayton POA, Concord PA, Contra Costa Co DA Investigators Assn., Contra Costa Co Deputy Sheriffs Assn. (County Probation, Orinda, Lafayette, Danville Officers), El Cerrito PA, Hercules POA, Martinez POA, Moraga POA, Oakley POA, Pinole PEA, Pleasant Hill PA, Richmond POA, San Pablo PEA, San Ramon POA, and Walnut Creek PA.
Graves is one of five finalists who have applied for the appointment by the Board of Supervisors which is expected to make their choice at either their Sept. 12 or 19 meetings.
Read MoreDetectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff are asking for the public’s assistance in the investigation into the killing of 49-year-old Aleli Avila of San Francisco.
On August 22, 2017, at about 3:50 PM, Deputy Sheriffs responded to the area of 500 Camino Diablo Road in Byron, for a report of a dead body.
Avila, also known as Lilli, was discovered in the roadway. She was a resident of San Francisco and was last seen by friends in the evening hours of August 18, 2017. She told friends she planned to travel to Contra Costa County.
Investigators are asking for the public’s assistance, in particular with the path Avila may have taken as she traveled from San Francisco to Contra Costa County.
Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or call the anonymous tip lines at (925) 313-1166 or (866) 846-3592. Tips can also be emailed to:tips@so.cccounty.us.
Read MoreToday, Wednesday, August 30, 2017, The Salvation Army will send Hayward Corps officer Capt. John Kelley and Antioch Corps officers Capt. Randy and Major Sheryl Clarke to assist the Hurricane Harvey scene in Texas. The officers will provide emotional and spiritual care in areas where Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services teams are located. They are scheduled to be in Texas through September 12.
The Salvation Army has had more than 50 canteens (mobile kitchens) deployed to the affected areas in Texas. As of Monday evening, 6,288 meals, 7,162 snacks, and 5,664 drinks have been provided to evacuees and first responders.
Both Kelley and the Clarkes are familiar working in emergency disaster scenes. The officers worked together at the Clayton Fire (2016) and Valley Fire (2015) in Lake County. They handled meal services, along with emotional and spiritual care.
Donation Information
Monetary donations are only needed at this time. The Salvation Army uses 100% of disaster donations in support of local disaster relief operations.
To give, visit www.helpsalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). Donations by mail may be designated “Hurricane Harvey” and sent to:
The Salvation Army
P.O. BOX 1959
Atlanta, GA 30301
In-kind donations are not currently being accepted outside the disaster area. However, these gifts are vitally important to your local Salvation Army. To give items locally, visit www.SATruck.com or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
Read MoreMoving to his ranch in Northern California; council expected to appoint replacement through 2018
By Allen Payton
The City of Brentwood announced on Monday that Vice Mayor Steve Barr will resign from the City Council effective September 8, 2017. Vice Mayor Barr submitted his letter of resignation dated August 28, 2017 to the City Clerk, identifying September 8th as his last day as Vice Mayor.
With this announcement, the City Council will begin discussion on how to fill this vacancy at the September 12, 2017 City Council meeting.
VBarr was elected as a City Council Member on November 2, 2010 and served as the Vice Mayor 2010-2012 and 2016-current. Additionally, he has most recently served on City Council Committees such as the Agriculture Enterprise, Land Use and Development, Fire and Medical Services ad hoc, Budget and Finance, and the Police Activities League.
His term expires November 2018 requiring the City Council to address filling the vacancy until the next regular election in November 2018.
In a letter to Mayor Bob Taylor and the other council members on Monday, Barr wrote the following:
“My wife and I have called Brentwood home for the last 37 years and as you may know we have recently sold our home and have been living with friends while we search for a new residence. Since the sale of our home we have taken a vacation for some much-needed time off and used that time to explore all our options moving into retirement, after careful consideration we have made the difficult decision to relocated to far northern California.”
“In the coming weeks, I will be permanently relocating and it is with heavy heart that I must resign my position as Vice Mayor,” he continued. “I take comfort in knowing that the leadership team of Mayor Taylor, Council Member Joel Bryant, Councilmember Claudette Staton and Councilmember Karen Rarey with the support by an incredible city staff will keep Brentwood moving forward with the best yet to come for our residents.”
When reached for comment Mayor Bob Taylor said, “I was a little taken aback. I wasn’t prepared for it.”
“There was no explanation other than to sell their home and move up north,” he continued. “It was kind of a jolt to me. But I wish him well.”
Asked if he expected to appoint someone to fill the council vacancy, Taylor responded, “We’ll do an appointment. Here’s what I’d like the process to be. Instead of spending $100,000 on an election see whoever is going to be appointed go through an appointment process.”
Barr served as a Trustee on the Liberty Union High School District first as an appointed member from 2005-06 and then was elected in 2006. He served on the school board until 2010 when he was elected to the City Council. Barr ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2012 against Taylor. He was re-elected to the council in 2014 and then jumped into the race for County Supervisor for District 3, last year. Barr made it into the run-off besting four other opponents in the June Primary, but lost in the November election to Diane Burgis.
Barr mentioned some of the changes during his time living in the community.
“We came to Brentwood following our dream to raise our family in a small town that’s [sic] residents committed to making their community a great place to live and valued the local heritage that makes Brentwood so special,” he wrote. “Much has changed from when we first moved to Brentwood, there are signalized intersections where there were only stop signs, Highway 4 is now on the west side of town and we have more than one grocery store to choose from to name a few. The one thing that has remain unchanged is the small town feel and the commitment to the community by our residents and leaders.”
Rarey offered her thoughts on Barr’s resignation, “He’s got a ranch. He’s been doing lots of work up there. Every time I see him he’s been coming back into town. I think they thought their home was going to take longer to sell.”
“It will go to the council on Sept 12 and the council will have to make a decision to go for a special election in June or appoint,” she stated regarding the council vacancy. “Hopefully, we’ll make a decision that night and be able to move forward.”
Read MoreSACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) on Monday released the following statement after the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District revealed that an internal audit, overdue by three years, found $6.2 million in operating funds that Fire Board members apparently did not know existed.
“While East Contra Costa Fire Protection District’s discovery of an additional $6.2 million is positive news for residents, it also raises some very troubling questions. I am pleased that my East County constituents will be better protected in the short term with unexpected new funds to improve fire service. But I ask the following: How did the District not know it had $6.2 million in surplus funds – especially when it had repeatedly asked residents to increase their taxes to pay for improved fire service?
The discovery of these funds, while it does represent a sizable percentage of the District’s yearly operating budget, does nothing to solve ECCFPD’s long-term funding problem. All of us who call East County home have been and continue to be concerned about keeping families and property safe. As an East County resident and as your representative in the State Assembly, I authored AB 898 as one method of identifying funds to improve fire safety and emergency medical response – a solution that did not rely in any way on raising taxes. I can see that there is much more work to be done to get the District’s finances stabilized and on track. Given this revelation, I am placing a hold at this time on moving AB 898 forward.
I will remain open to helping ECCFPD any way I am able once we know more about what this audit found, and what future mandated audits may find, in order to evaluate and reassess the district’s financial situation.”
Read MoreThe District has corrected financial mistakes
At a special meeting on Monday, August 28, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District’s Finance Committee received a proposed final budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18 that includes an additional $6.2 million from the budget approved by the board on June 5.
The District identified the underreporting of the starting fund balance based on financial information contained in the recently completed external audit of the Fiscal Year 2014-15 budget. Ongoing discussions with Contra Costa County Auditor Robert Campbell and his staff further clarified the results, and the audit was accepted by the District Board of Directors on August 7, 2017.
Through further inquiry, the District has determined that the underreporting resulted from an incomplete transition of District funds and financial operations from Contra Costa County to the District, dating back to late 2014-early 2015. As a result, carry over funding was understated in each of the following years, compounding the problem.
“This is a frustrating situation for all involved, but it would be much worse if the District had lower-than-expected funds rather than higher,” said Board President and Brentwood Councilman Joel Bryant. “The Board and staff of the District have done the best they can to serve our community despite being dramatically underfunded and understaffed. I wish the newly discovered funds meant we could proceed with an expanded service model beyond the three stations we have now to protect nearly 249 square miles and 115,000 residents, but access to these ‘found’ monies is not a long-term solution for the District. I look forward to working with the Board and our constituents on a plan for how to put these one-time funds to their most worthy use in service to our community.”
Auditor Robert Campbell added, “My staff and I will continue to work with and assist the District to finalize its financial transition from the County.”
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District is grateful for the assistance of its auditor at Maze & Associates, Contra Costa County Auditor-Controller Robert Campbell and his staff, and the finance staff from the City of Brentwood for their help in identifying, confirming, quantifying and correcting the error.
Read MoreFellow motorcyclists leave scene before CHP arrives
Saturday night, August 26, 2017 at about 8:28 pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a traffic collision on the southbound lanes of SR-160 at the Wilbur Avenue on-ramp. Upon CHP and emergency personnel arrival, the male rider of the motorcycle had been ejected into the lanes of traffic on SR-160 and hit by another vehicle. The male rider was pronounced deceased at the scene. The southbound lanes of SR-160 were closed for approximately two hours for the collision investigation while traffic was diverted to the Wilbur Avenue off-ramp.
In the initial investigation and with the help of several witnesses, it appears that the solo male driver of the motorcycle (a 54-year-old male from Brentwood) was traveling on the Wilbur Avenue on-ramp and entering southbound SR-160 with several other motorcyclists. It appears the male rider drove over the gore point on the on-ramp to enter SR-160 and collided with the curb, subsequently ejecting him from his motorcycle. He was catapulted into the lanes of southbound traffic where he was struck by another vehicle, while his motorcycle continued into the lanes of traffic as well and was also struck by another vehicle. The rider was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The other vehicles that were involved in this collision stopped and remained at the scene. But the reported other motorcyclists riding with the 54-year-old man left the scene prior to CHP and emergency personnel arrival and have not been located.
At this time, it is unknown if alcohol or drugs were a factor in this collision but it’s still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it on Wilbur Avenue, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez, (925) 646-4980, and Investigating Officer T. Johnson.
Read More![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Stand-Down-1.jpg)
Volunteers assist veterans during a visit by Assemblyman Jim Frazier (center) during the 2017 Stand Down on the Delta at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds, Aug. 11-14. Photos by Genevieve Mann
Delta Veterans Group would like to thank all of the volunteers that served for Stand Down on the Delta, 2017.
With your help, our community was able to provide services for over 260 veterans and their families.
Over 1,150 volunteers came together over 10 days to set-up, serve and tear-down our encampment. Over 5,800 meals were served in just four days.
Veterans received much needed supportive services, medical services, dental care, vision care, and mental health services. We also had barbers, beauticians, entertainment, spiritual guidance and much more over the four days. Plus – their animals were cared for onsite by C.A.R.T. – the Contra Costa County Animal Rescue Team.
We were also able to take over 40 veterans fishing on our Delta Shoreline…and yes, they caught a lot of fish…The largest fish was caught by a female veteran for the second Stand Down in a row…
All of this could not have happened without you – the volunteer.
Respectfully,
Gerald JR Wilson, President/Executive Director, Delta Veterans Group – Stand Down on the Delta
Read MoreNext meeting Monday, August 28
The Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission will hold its second meeting on Monday, August 28, 2017, 5-7 p.m., at 30 Muir Road, Martinez. The Board of Supervisors created the Sustainability Commission earlier this year to advise the Board and County staff on how to make Contra Costa County healthier and reduce pollution, important goals of the County’s Climate Action Plan. The agenda for the meeting can be found here.
Thirty-five people applied for the 10 seats on the Sustainability Commission. Given the high level of interest and the opportunity to include more voices, the Board of Supervisors created an additional At-Large seat and allowed each Supervisor to appoint an alternate from his or her district. The 15 members and alternates of the Sustainability Commission appointed to date come from across the County and represent a range of interests and professional experience. The members include:
Nick Despota, Member, District 1. Nick Despota, a longtime resident of Richmond, has served on numerous commissions and non-profit boards. His professional career has included video production, writing for educational media, and web design. After retiring in 2016, he began volunteering with an environmental organization to develop its online media presence. Nick currently leads the communication team for the Alameda Chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Victoria Smith, Member, District 2. Victoria Smith is the former Mayor of Orinda and longtime City Council Member. Victoria served as Chair of the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, RecycleSmart, which provides recycling, reuse and garbage services to the cities of Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, Walnut Creek, Danville, and central Contra Costa County. Victoria is a graduate of UC Berkeley and UC Hastings College of the Law, and practices real estate law.
Reid Edwards, Alternate, District 2. Reid Edwards is a retired senior public affairs executive who worked for many years on all aspects of energy and environmental issues, both locally and in Washington, D.C. He resides in Lafayette and has lived in Contra Costa County, with short interruptions, since 1963. He currently volunteers with a number of local institutions including White Pony Express and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.
John Sierra, Member, District 3. John Sierra teaches AP Environmental Science and was the Freedom High School teacher of the year in 2013. He is actively involved with multiple community organizations and frequently takes his students on adventures near and far including Yosemite and Nicaragua. John is dedicated to protecting natural resources while creating a healthy living environment for all.
Gretchen Logue, Alternate, District 3. Gretchen Logue is dedicated to community civic engagement, and has a lifelong passion for environmental sustainability. She is the co-founder of the Tassajara Valley Preservation Association, an organization dedicated to the sustainability of Contra Costa County. In addition to serving as a board member on the Tassajara Hills Foundation, fundraising for educational programs, this mother of three is also a California Naturalist.
Wes Sullens, Member, District 4. Wes Sullens, LEED Fellow, is the Director of Codes Technical Development at the US Green Building Council. Prior to joining USGBC, Mr. Sullens worked for a local government agency in Alameda County, California (StopWaste), where he provided green codes advocacy, building and product standards development, and green building policy support. Previous to StopWaste, he was an energy and sustainability consultant at a prominent firm in the US.
Travis Curran, Alternate, District 4. A lifelong environmentalist, Travis Curran has spent the past 11 years working in adult mental health. The Administrator at Crestwood Healing Center in Pleasant Hill, Travis led a sustainability project that transformed facility practices, saving over 2 million gallons of water, and earning a green certification and multiple green awards in the process. Travis is passionate about waste reduction, and the preservation and protection of our state and national parks.
Charles Davidson, Member, District 5. Charles was the lead community organizer for MoveOn East Bay during the housing crisis. He then became involved with 350BayArea and helped found the Sunflower Alliance, organizing for climate and environmental justice issues, opposing multiple planned large-scale toxic tar sands refinery expansion projects, and lobbying for Community Choice Energy and a fossil-free and inexpensive clean energy future. Charles has studied cancer biology and medical physics at the graduate school level and holds a US patent in advanced medical imaging.
Mark Thomson, Alternate, District 5. Long-time Martinez resident Mark Thomson is Co-President of the John Muir Association, which works closely with the National Park Service to share the legacy of John Muir. Mark is also Co-Facilitator of Thousand Friends of Martinez, an organization dedicated to defending parks, creeks, wetlands, open space and historic elements in the Martinez area. Mark has previously volunteered with the Boy Scouts, Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center, and other organizations. His professional background is in Information Technology.
Howdy Goudey, At-Large, Community Group. Howdy Goudey has an Engineering Physics degree from UC Berkeley and has worked for 24 years in the research and development of energy efficient buildings, particularly windows, at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has also been a member of the City of El Cerrito Environmental Quality Committee for 9 years, as well as a volunteer with community gardens and native habitat restoration.
Harry Thurston, At-Large, Community Group. Antioch resident Harry Thurston is committed to furthering sustainable resource usage by Contra Costa County and the municipalities within. He received formal training in sustainable resource usage from Humboldt State University, receiving a BS in Forestry. He put this knowledge into practice as a Peace Corps volunteer, followed by 10 years of Commercial Forestry practice, receiving California certification as a Registered Professional Forester. Most recently, over the last several years, he has been leading the East Contra Costa effort to implement a Community Choice Energy program for the County’s unincorporated area and for the incorporated municipalities within the County. Harry is a member of the Contra Costa Clean Energy Alliance.
Kathy Cutting, At-Large, Business. Kathy Cutting is a Bay Area native, settling in Oakley in 1989, where she raised her family. Over the last 20 years she has enjoyed working as a residential landscape designer promoting sustainable land options for homeowners. As an alumna of Cal State East Bay, Kathy now works at the University’s Concord Campus, where she is a liaison for all sustainability programs within the Concord campus community.
Nicholas Snyder, At-Large, Business. Nicholas Snyder is a Senior Analyst at Tierra Resource Consultants, an energy and natural resource consulting firm in Walnut Creek. Most recently, he has served as a lead on the funding and financing of energy efficiency, renewables, and energy storage. Before joining Tierra, he interned at Contra Costa County Climate Leaders and the Energy Division of the California Public Utilities Commission, where he supported regulatory oversight of the Energy Watch, Regional Energy Network, and Community Choice Energy programs.
Doria Robinson, At-Large, Environmental Justice. Doria is third generation resident of Richmond, California and the Executive Director of Urban Tilth, a community based organization rooted in Richmond dedicated to cultivating urban agriculture to help the community build a more sustainable, healthy, and just food system. Doria is trained as a Watershed Restoration Ecologist, and is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Certified Bay Friendly Gardener, a Certified Nutrition Educator, and a Certified Yoga Instructor and the founder of Sanctuary Yoga. She was recognized as Environmental Advocate of the Year for Contra Costa County and as Woman of the Year for Contra Costa County in 2010. In 2011, she was presented with a Community Resiliency Leadership Award from Bay Localize.
Scott Warfe, At-Large, Education. Scott Warfe is an Assistant Professor of English and Developmental Education Lead at Los Medanos College. In addition to work in the English Department, Scott is also one of the founders of the LMC Food Pantry and volunteers with The Trinity Center, which serves homeless and working poor people in East Contra Costa County.
Read More