Expect delays 7 am to 4 pm
By Kelly Kalfsbeek, Community & Media Relations Coordinator, PIO, Contra Costa County Public Works Department
July 3, 2024, unincorporated Brentwood, CA- The Contra Costa County Public Works Department will perform pavement repair work on Brentwood Boulevard, between Sellers Avenue and Byron Highway, on Friday, July 12, 2024, and Friday, July 19, 2024, barring unforeseen circumstances. The work will take place from 7:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., weather permitting. Electronic message boards will be placed in advance to alert drivers to work and advise of expected delays. Temporary lane closures will be required during working hours. Traffic control will be used. Road users can expect delays of 15-20 minutes and are encouraged to use alternative routes.
About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:
Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels, and other drainage, and over 150 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sandbag Distribution, and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, and Byron Airport in Byron. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us at: www.cccpublicworks.org
Read MoreHills and inland East Bay Regional Parks closed due to extreme fire conditions, excessive heat
By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
Many East Bay Regional Parks will remain open for visitors during this week’s increased temperatures. Park guests are encouraged to take special precautions to prepare for the heat while enjoying the open shoreline parks and swimming facilities.
The National Weather Service-Bay Area issued a Red Flag Warning and Excessive Heat Warning for inland East Bay areas and an Excessive Heat Watch for coastal and bayside areas beginning Monday, July 1, at 11 p.m. The Red Flag Warning means that dry and windy conditions are expected, leading to extreme fire weather risks.
Due to possible high fire risk, the Park District will be closing the parks/areas below beginning Tuesday, July 2, through Friday morning (subject to change).
Park Closures:
• Wildcat Canyon
• Tilden (trails only) • Huckleberry • Sibley • Leona Canyon • Claremont Canyon • Anthony Chabot • Sobrante Ridge |
• Sunol
• Ohlone • Mission Peak • Vargas Plateau • Five Canyons • Garin/Dry Creek • Pleasanton Ridge • Dublin Hills |
• Sycamore Valley
• Bishop Ranch • Las Trampas • Briones • Carquinez/Crockett Hills • Black Diamond Mines • Contra Loma |
• Deer Valley
• Round Valley • Morgan Territory • Brushy Peak • Vasco Hills • Vasco Caves • Waterbird |
Swim facilities and Shoreline Regional Parks will remain open. Follow these safety rules and tips:
- Avoid the hottest part of the day. If you do visit, go in the morning or early evening when it is cooler.
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
- Wear sunscreen and lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and caffeine, which can worsen the heat’s effects on your body.
- Don’t forget your pets! Carry water for them.
- Swim only in designated areas.
- No smoking. Smoking is prohibited in all regional trails, parks, and shorelines.
- No open fires or barbecues of any type. Gas-fueled stoves are permitted.
- Stay on designated roads – no off-road driving. Heat from a vehicle’s undercarriage can start a fire.
- Secure all tow chains – dragging tow chains can spark fires.
East County: Contra Loma Swimming Lagoon in Antioch Closed, Ambrose Aquatic Center Open
The Contra Loma Swim Lagoon is closed for the 2024 swim season and has been closed for the past few years due to ongoing renovations.
However, the Park District has partnered with the City of Pittsburg and the Ambrose Parks and Recreation District to provide alternative swim access and programs at Ambrose Aquatic Center in Pittsburg. The District’s support allows the Aquatic Center to be opened seven days a week during the 2024 swim season. Visit www.ambroserec.org/ambrose-aquatic-center for more information.
See updated list of park closures.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Zeno-logo-team-1024x327.jpg)
The Zeno team: (left to right) Amala Valiveti, Anya Iyer, Eshaani Singh and Diya Vatsavai. Photo courtesy of Anya Iyer
Including Dougherty Valley High senior; is voice activated
By Allen D. Payton
Four high school friends from San Ramon and San Jose have formed a company and developed an app to help diagnose Parkinson’s disease. Zeno was formed by Anya Iyer, incoming senior at Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, who serves as the company’s CEO, Diya Vatsavai, incoming junior at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, who is the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Amala Valiveti, an incoming senior at Silver Creek High School in San Jose, Zeno’s Chief Financial Officer, and Eshaani Singh, an incoming senior at Evergreen Valley High School, also in San Jose, who serves as the Chief Marketing Officer for the company.
The four girls met in elementary school. “We all four had been friends in elementary and middle school before going off to different high schools,” the young CEO shared.
“We formed the company before fully developing the app,” Iyer explained. “We started the actual idea itself in June 2021, established Zeno as a company in June 2022, and then finished developing the prototype and testing around June 2023.”
Company Description:
Zeno’s technology provides an efficient method of diagnosis for Parkinson’s disease based on vocal biomarkers. By detecting and analyzing early vocal impairments, Zeno’s system enables accurate and timely detection of the condition. This innovative tool enhances the diagnostic process, allowing for prompt interventions and treatment.
Their Story:
“We developed this application after our families were hit hard by Parkinson’s disease a few years ago,” Iyer shared. “This huge emotional toll on our families caused us to look into solutions for early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.”
“Looking into current market solutions, we noticed that many existing products either had low accuracy or were time-consuming and inaccessible for patients,” she continued. “After thorough research, we came across vocal impairments and biomarkers being one of the earliest hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease.”
Speaking with neurologists and medical professionals further deepened their understanding of the disease, and soon after, the team went to work developing their app. We spent months developing a machine learning algorithm and creating a viable business plan.
Eventually, they not only were able to share this app with their community, but the team also won the 2022 Power Pitch Award at the Conrad Challenge, an international business competition, in the Health & Nutrition Category, and became a Semi-Finalist in the Diamond Challenge, a national competition. (See the team’s virtual pitch video)
![](http://contracostaherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/At-NEXUS-Global-Summit-1024x519.jpg)
Speaking at the NEXUS Global Summit were team members Eshaani Singh (right) and Anya Iyer (left). Photo courtesy of Anya Iyer
“Soon after, we were invited to speak at the NEXUS Global Business Summit in New York City as the youngest speakers there,” Iyer stated. “At the summit, we were exposed to various venture capitalists, industry professionals and fellow entrepreneurs, all who encouraged and inspired us to continue innovating and creating.”
Since then, we have worked on testing our product with patients and improving our current diagnosis performance, while also focusing on funding,” the young CEO shared. Our hope is for Zeno to improve the lives of families everywhere, one diagnosis at a time.”
Asked for more details about the company, Iyer shared, “Our company is privately held, but we are raising funds through PayPal and Venmo within our community.”
Read MoreTo give input to help make transit easier to use and more convenient till out the survey by July 15
By Lindy Johnson, Director of External Affairs, Contra Costa Transportation Authority
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is inviting residents and travelers within the county to participate in a survey on transit use. Survey responses will inform the development of an Integrated Transit Plan (ITP) to make public transportation easier to use and more convenient in Contra Costa County.
With improved transit, Contra Costa County will be a more livable, sustainable, and equitable place to live and travel. As recommendations in the ITP are put into place, the public will see many benefits:
- Better connections to regional services, like BART and Capitol Corridor.
- Improvements for increased speed and reliability.
- Enhancements to improve riders’ transit experience.
Background
Contra Costa residents want to drive less, but many still rely on cars. This is due in part to the challenges of using public transit, such as insufficient connections between transit provider services, too much time between trips, and long travel times.
The five bus transit operators in the county have a long history of working together, which has improved the transit system and made it easier for riders to transfer between services. However, the system needs to be updated to meet the needs of today’s travelers. We need to make it more efficient and better coordinated, and we need to update services and infrastructure to create a modern and sustainable transit network.
Creating the Integrated Transit Plan
CCTA is working with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the five Contra Costa bus operators (AC Transit, County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, WestCAT, and Wheels) to identify ways to optimize the transit network. The ITP will provide guidance for an improved transit network that better serves local and regional travelers.
The ITP will also include a list of improvements that will support enhanced services. The goal of these projects and improvements is to attract more riders and position the bus operators to meet future challenges.
The ITP will focus on the following areas:
- Coordination:Identify ways to improve coordination between transit providers so that riders have convenient and seamless travel. Improved coordination will also result in more efficient use of public funds.
- Innovation:Explore emerging technologies to enhance Contra Costa County’s transit system, like on-demand shuttles that get people to transit, Mobility as a Service, and traffic signals that prioritize the movement of buses.
- Equity:Improve transit so that all communities and residents benefit, including low-income communities, communities of color, and people with disabilities.
The ITP is necessary to enable Contra Costa County’s four bus operators to meet the transportation challenges of the future.
Improved Transit
CCTA wants to make public transportation easier to use and more convenient. With improved transit, Contra Costa County will be a more livable, sustainable, and equitable place to live and travel. As recommendations in the ITP are put into place, the public will see many benefits:
- Better connections to regional services, like BART and Capitol Corridor.
- Improvements for increased speed and reliability.
- Enhancements to improve riders’ transit experience.
Project Status
The ITP project team is actively working to identify new ways to make transit services more reliable, efficient, and accessible, while improving first and last-mile connections. They’re exploring innovative mobility options to help reduce our reliance on cars and promote sustainable transportation across Contra Costa County. The responses to the survey launched in May are being used to review and confirm the team’s recommendations. We’re committed to keeping the public informed throughout this process and plan to share our findings this summer.
Project Timeline
The ITP is an 18-month project that began in April 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in late 2024.
Get Involved
Tell us what would get you where you need to go using public transit! CCTA is looking for input from community members to make sure the ITP meets the needs of all travelers. We’re particularly interested in hearing from transit riders and people in equity priority communities. Five survey participants will have a chance to win a $100 Clipper Card! Take the ITP survey here.
About the project:
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is working with all five bus service providers in Contra Costa County (AC Transit, WestCAT, County Connection, Tri Delta Transit, and Wheels) and the Metropolitan Planning Commission (MTC) to develop the Integrated Transit Plan (ITP) to improve transit services and coordination in Contra Costa County. CCTA is reviewing all existing services and will recommend new ways to improve transit for everyone, with special consideration for the different needs of riders across the county.
For more information, visit the ITP project website.
By Skylar Schaefer, Communications Specialist, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region
WALNUT CREEK, CA – Meals on Wheels Diablo Region (MOW Diablo Region) is pleased to announce that Lindy Maynes-Kolthoff has been elected to the organization’s Board of Directors. Maynes-Kolthoff has a close relationship with MOW Diablo Region as a volunteer for the Breakfast Bag Program.
Maynes-Kolthoff spent over 35 years serving students in higher education at both the university and community college levels. As the Executive Director of the Los Medanos College Foundation, she was active in her East Contra Costa County area as a member of the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, member of the Industrial Association of Contra Costa County, was presented with a Proclamation honoring her volunteer work in the City of Pittsburg and served 21 years on the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club of Antioch. Maynes-Kolthoff currently serves on the Board of Directors of Delta Advocacy Foundation as the Grants Chair.
In addition to her volunteering for MOW Diablo Region, Maynes-Kolthoff has personal experience with the organization. Her father volunteered forty years ago and said that it was the best job he ever had. Ten years ago, when her father-in-law needed services, she says that the meal deliveries literally saved his life.
When reached for comment about her new position Maynes-Kolthoff said, “I’ve been volunteering for about two years, now and I deliver breakfast bags to clients in Antioch. Then I substitute, here in Pittsburg when they need a driver.”
“Board Chairman Tim Argenti (formerly of Republic Services) is the one who asked if I’d be willing to serve on the board and I said, ‘sure’,” she stated. “I enjoy volunteering because I think it’s important to support our seniors in our communities. I’m more than happy to, now serve on the board.”
“I’m very humbled to be a part of this amazing organization,” Maynes-Kolthoff added.
Meals on Wheels Diablo Region’s mission is to keep seniors nourished, safe, less isolated, and independent for as long as possible. MOW Diablo Region is the only Meals on Wheels that delivers both meals and supportive services to the entire county. In addition to home delivered meals, the organization provides breakfast bags, grocery bags, cultural cuisine, cafés, fall prevention, friendly visitors, callers, and helpers, case management, and exercise classes. All services are free of charge. To learn more about services, volunteering, or donating, visit mowdiabloregion.org.
About Meals on Wheels Diablo Region:
For more than 50 years, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region has improved the lives of vulnerable seniors in Contra Costa County by delivering nutritious meals and supportive services that allow seniors to remain in their homes safely and with dignity. Programs include home-delivered meals, Breakfast Bags, Grocery Bags, Fall Prevention, Cafés, Care Management, Friendly Visitors, Health and Wellness, and more.
About Meals on Wheels America
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a trusted volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time.
Read More
Review deadline: July 10
By Office of Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover
We need your feedback!
The Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) and the Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services Department (EHSD) invite you to review and provide feedback on the draft document titled “Implementation Plan for Measure X-Funded Youth Centers.”
According to the county’s website, “Measure X is a countywide 20-year, ½ cent sales tax approved by Contra Costa County voters on November 3, 2020. The ballot measure language stated that the intent of Measure X is ‘to keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers, emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential county services.’”
The document outlines the plans for three new youth centers in Supervisorial Districts 3, 4, and 5. Your input is crucial and will help county policymakers and administrators shape the design and implementation of these centers.
Public Review Period: July 1 – July 10, 2024, until 5:00 PM.
To access the document and submit your feedback, please click here: https://www.wdbccc.com/measure-x-youth-centers/
Your participation in this process is invaluable. Thank you for helping us make a difference in our community!
Read More
For total of $278.83 billion, San Ramon has greatest amount with about 10% of total
Martinez had highest increase at over 6%
“…the highest to date in Contra Costa County’s history” – Gus Kramer, County Assessor
By Office of the Contra Costa County Assessor
The “2024-2025” Assessor’s “Close of Roll Affidavit” was signed by Gus S. Kramer, Assessor, and subscribed and sworn to the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office, on June 28, 2024. The 2024-2025 Assessment Roll has been delivered to the County Auditor, as required by law.
The increase to the local tax base for 2024-2025 is over $11.16 billion. This represents a 4.17% increase in assessed value and brings the total net local assessment roll to more than $278.83 billion. The 2024-2025 assessment roll is the highest to date in Contra Costa County’s history. Of that amount $233.28 billion was from within the 19 cities and the balance from within the unincorporated areas of the county.
Cities with the largest increases in assessed value include Antioch, Oakley and Martinez with increases ranging from 4.99% and 5.21% to 6.09%, respectively. San Ramon, Concord and Walnut Creek saw the lowest assessed value increases ranging from 2.97% down to 1.45%. The assessment roll now consists of 380,681 parcels, an increase of 1,239 over the previous year.
Of the 19 cities in the county San Ramon has the greatest Gross Assessed Value, which includes both secured and non-secured at $28.63 billion, followed by Walnut Creek at $27.13 billion, Concord with $23.64 billion, Richmond with $21.42 billion, Danville with $18.13 billion and Antioch with $16.72 billion in assessed value.
“I would like to acknowledge and commend the employees of the Assessor’s Office for their continued dedication and hard work which resulted in the completion and delivery of the 2024-2025 assessment roll,” Kramer wrote in his annual letter to the Board of Supervisors.
UPDATE: Later, the County Assessor explained, some of the increases in the assessed values are due to the sales in new home developments and resale of older homes at higher prices, Kramer explained. “This doesn’t mean taxes are going up,” Kramer stated.
His letter and the complete 2024-2025 Assessment Roll Reports can be found, here.
Read MoreMarijuana tax proceeds given to law enforcement agencies, crime labs & nonprofits
Three Contra Costa agencies benefit
By Synthia Ramirez, CHP Media Relations
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) announced today more than $25 million in grant funding to 102 California law enforcement agencies, crime laboratories, local government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to help address the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
The grants are the result of Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which tasked the CHP with administering grants for education, prevention, and enforcement programs to help communities combat impaired driving. Money is also available to crime laboratories conducting forensic toxicology testing. Funding for the grants comes from a tax on the sale of cannabis and cannabis products sold in California.
“The substantial increase in the amount of grant funds being dispersed this year to even more recipients will help make California’s roadways safer for all who use them,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “The funds will be allocated to enhance traffic safety by educating the public about the dangers of impaired driving, conducting enforcement operations to remove impaired drivers from the roads, and advancing research on this critical issue.”
Eighty-two recipients of law enforcement grants will use funds to address impaired driving within their communities. In addition to traditional impaired driving enforcement, funds will also be used for drug recognition evaluator training to enhance their respective agency’s ability to detect drug-impaired drivers. Additionally, funding will allow for public outreach campaigns, including educational presentations and community events.
Listed below are the law enforcement grant recipients for state fiscal year 2024-2025, which begins July 1:
- Angels Camp Police
- Arroyo Grande Police Department
- Auburn Police Department
- Azusa Police Department
- Baldwin Park Police Department
- Barstow Police Department
- Bell Gardens Police Department
- Berkeley Police Department
- Brawley Police Department
- Brea Police Department
- Burbank Police Department
- Calexico Police Department
- Calistoga Police Department
- Chula Vista Police Department
- Citrus Heights Police Department
- City of Corona Police Department
- City of El Monte Police Department
- City of Fullerton Police Department
- City of Glendale Police Department
- City of Huron Police Department
- City of Lodi Police Department
- City of Montebello Police Department
- City of Palo Alto Police Department
- City of Visalia Police Department
- Claremont Police Department
- Covina Police Department
- Danville Police Department
- Dixon Police Department
- Dublin Police Services
- El Cajon Police Department
- El Centro Police Department
- El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office
- Emeryville Police Department
- Folsom Police Department
- Galt Police Department
- Garden Grove Police Department
- Gilroy Police Department
- Greenfield Police Department
- Grover Beach Police Department
- Hanford Police Department
- Hayward Police Department
- Huntington Beach Police Department
- Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
- Irvine Police Department
- La Habra Police Department
- La Mesa Police Department
- La Palma Police Department
- Lakeport Police Department
- Lincoln Police Department
- Los Angeles Police Department
- Manteca Police Department
- Marysville Police Department
- Menifee Police Department
- Modoc County Sheriff’s Office
- Montebello School Police
- Monterey Park Police Department
- Morgan Hill Police Department
- Napa Police Department
- Oceanside Police Department
- Oakland Police Department
- Ontario Police Department
- Orange Police Department
- Oxnard Police Department
- Pacifica Police Department
- Petaluma Police Department
- Pismo Beach Police Department
- Pittsburg Police Department
- Riverside Police Department
- Rocklin Police Department
- San Bruno Police Department
- San Diego Police Department
- San Fernando Police Department
- San Gabriel Police Department
- San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office
- Shasta County Sheriff’s Office
- Sierra Madre Police Department
- Simi Valley Police Department
- Soledad Police Department
- Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department
- Sutter County Sheriff’s Office
- Union City Police Department
- Wheatland Police Department
Nine recipients of education grants will use funds to teach local communities about impaired driving laws, while highlighting the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Below are the education grant recipients for state fiscal year 2024-2025:
- Amador County Sheriff’s Office
- Chino Police Department
- City of Lancaster
- City of Long Beach
- County of Solano-District Attorney’s Office
- Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
- Sacramento County District Attorney Laboratory of Forensic Services
- Solano County Office of Education
- Tulare County Office of Education
Eight recipients of two-year toxicology crime laboratory grants will use funds to eliminate backlogs in the analysis of forensic science evidence and to purchase and/or upgrade laboratory equipment to improve testing capabilities.
Below are the toxicology crime laboratory grant recipients for state fiscal years 2024-2026:
- Contra Costa County, Office of the Sheriff, Forensic Services Division
- Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
- Oakland Police Department Crime Lab
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, City and County of San Francisco
- Orange County (CA) Crime Laboratory
- San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
- Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office
- Ventura County Forensic Services Bureau
Three recipients of two-year toxicology medical examiners/coroner’s office grants will use funds to help improve and advance the data collection in cases involving driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
Below is the medical examiners/coroner’s office grant recipient for state fiscal year 2024-2026:
- Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
- Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner’s Division
- San Diego Medical Examiner Department
The application process for future grant funding is expected to open again in early 2025. Additional information is available on the CHP website, at CHP’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program.
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide safety, service, and security.
Read MoreState’s excise tax on gasoline increased July 1 from 57.9 to 59.6 cents per gallon and from 44.1 to 45.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel.
No end in the law to annual increases based on state CPI
By Allen D. Payton
If you’re not already aware, the State of California gas tax increased today, July 1, 2024 according to the announcement in May by the Department of Tax and Fee Assessment (CDTFA). According to that notice as reported by the California Taxpayers Association, the state’s excise tax* on gasoline increased today “from 57.9 cents per gallon to 59.6 cents per gallon and from 44.1 cents per gallon to 45.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel.”
According to the California Transportation Commission, “the Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB 1 (Beall, 2017)…increasing transportation funding and instituting much-needed reforms. SB 1 provides the first significant, stable, and on-going increase in state transportation funding in more than two decades.”
Contra Costa’s representatives at that time split on the bill, with then-Assemblyman Jim Frazier, who was chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, and Assemblyman Tim Grayson voting in favor, and State Senator Steve Glazer voting against.
As of Monday, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), which updates prices daily, drivers in Contra Costa County are paying an average of $4.869 per gallon of regular unleaded gas, while today’s Bay Area average is $4.943, California’s average is $4.794 and the national average is $3.491 per gallon.
Taxes & Fees in the Price for a Gallon of Gas
According to data from the California Energy Commission, drivers are now paying 90 cents in taxes per gallon of gas:
- $0.596 on state excise tax
- $0.184 on the federal excise tax
- $0.10 cents on more state and local sales taxes
- $0.02 for a state underground storage tank fee
Plus, $0.51 for state environmental programs fee for a total of $1.41 in taxes and fees per gallon of gas.
But why does the state gas tax keep increasing each year? It’s due to the passage of a bill in 2017, not a vote of the people, as some folks misremember. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), State Senate Bill 1 (SB1) entitled the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, “was passed by a two-thirds majority in the California Legislature and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2017. As the largest transportation investment in California history, SB 1 is expected to raise $52.4 billion for transportation investments statewide over the next decade.” It marked “the first increase in the state excise tax on gasoline since 1994.”
It requires the CDTFA to annually adjust the rate by the increase in the California Consumer Price Index (CPI) which is as calculated by the Department of Finance (CDFI). According to the CADFI, the CPI “measures price changes in goods and services purchased by urban consumers. The all urban consumer (CPI-U) represents the spending patterns of the majority of the population which includes professionals, the self-employed, the poor, the unemployed, and retired people, as well as urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) compiles and publishes the CPI for the Los Angeles area monthly, the Riverside area bimonthly, San Diego County bimonthly, the San Francisco area bimonthly, and the nation each month. A California CPI is calculated…as a population-weighted average of the BLS-published local area CPIs. The California CPI formula was developed by the California Department of Industrial Relations (CADIR).”
According to the CDIR, the CPI “Is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a fixed market basket of goods and services. The CPI provides a way to compare what this market basket of goods and services costs this month with what the same market basket cost, say, a month or year ago.” This year, the California CIP was determined to be 3.3% in February and 3.8% in April.
History of Recent CA Gas Tax Increases
In addition, according to details provided by the CDTFA, “*Effective July 1, 2010, under the Fuel Tax Swap Law, purchases and sales of gasoline are exempt from the state portion of the sales and use tax rate (then 6 percent), and a corresponding increase in the excise tax rate on that gasoline was imposed.” Then, “Effective November 1, 2017, Senate Bill 1 imposed an additional $0.12-per-gallon gasoline tax.” Finally, “Effective July 1, 2020, Senate Bill 1…requires CDTFA to annually adjust the rate by the increase in the California Consumer Price Index.”
Proposed Use of Funds
The majority of the revenue from the state gas tax is intended for “Local Street and Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation” at $1.5 billion per year over 10 years and $1.9 billion for “State Highway Maintenance and Rehabilitation.”
Also, according to the MTC, “In the Bay Area, most of this money will be directed to cities, counties and public transit agencies to tackle the enormous backlog of maintenance and repairs for local streets, roads and transit systems. SB 1 money also will be available for new projects, including bicycle and pedestrian improvements.”
Asked if the law sunsets and the annual increases end or if they continue indefinitely a staff member for CDTFA responded, “CDTFA is required by law to adjust the motor vehicle fuel and diesel fuel excise tax rates annually based on the California Consumer Price Index as calculated by the Department of Finance. SB1 did not include a sunset date.”
For additional information on SB1 see the answers by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to the Frequently Asked Questions, here and by the California State Controller’s Office, here. Read the 2022 article by the CED entitled What Drives California’s Gasoline Prices.
Read MoreMicroenterprise Home Kitchen Operations can offer meals for dine-in, delivery and takeout and with limits, in addition to Cottage Food Operations already allowed
By Contra Costa Health
Contra Costa residents interested in selling home-cooked food to the public can now get a health permit to do so, an affordable option for entrepreneurs that ensures the safety of their customers.
Beginning July 1, Contra Costa Health (CCH) offers a new type of food permit for small-scale, home-based restaurants operated inside private homes by their residents. Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) can offer meals for dine-in, delivery and takeout. MEHKOs can offer meals for dine-in, take-out, and/or delivery, and can also be used as a commissary for permitted food carts.
“By providing this option we ensure that people who sell food out of their homes do so in a safe manner that protects the health of our community,” said Federal Glover, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. “We also open the door for neighborhood businesses, and for more access to healthy, nutritious food in areas where options may be limited.”
The board unanimously adopted an ordinance in May authorizing the county to offer the permit under terms of a 2018 state law. Several other Bay Area jurisdictions already do so, including Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Solano counties, and the City of Berkeley.
The permit allows meals to be stored, handled, and prepared to be served or delivered in a private residence. Most other food permits require a commercial kitchen in a restaurant or similar facility.
A permitted home can also serve as a space to prepare food for sale on street carts, a requirement to obtain a cart vendor health permit that has proven to be a significant barrier in Contra Costa.
As with holders of standard commercial food permits, MEHKO permit holders must meet requirements relating both to the spaces where their businesses operate and the food-safety training of operators. CCH will inspect each permit holder annually or more often.
The MEHKO permits do limit the holder to selling no more than 30 meals per day and 90 meals per week, and no more than $100,000 in gross annual sales. There are also some limitations regarding the type of food that may be served.
CCH will schedule workshops throughout the county later this year for potential applicants.
“This permit is great for new entrepreneurs who are just getting started,” CCH Environmental Health Director Kristian Lucas said. “It’s also a way for the public to know that a seller advertising on social media is complying with food safety regulations.”
MEHKO permit holders will be required to display their permits at their homes, and their health inspection records will be available to the public at cchealth.org.
Cottage Food Operations Already Allowed
Contra Costa Health offers two kinds of permits for home-based food operations. In addition, to the new MEHKO, the county also allows Cottage Food Operations (CFO) which “is a home-based operation that allows limited amounts of certain foods to be prepared in a home kitchen for retail sale. A CFO can prepare and package non-potentially hazardous foods from home. The California Department of Public Health maintains a listing of foods approved to be sold from a private residence. Some examples of these foods include cookies, candies, jams/jellies, muffins, cakes, and pies. Only foods on the state listing are approved as cottage food products.
According to the California Department of Public Health Food and Drug Branch, “There are two different classes of CFO’s:
Class A: This type of CFO can sell home-kitchen prepared foods directly to the public. This includes transactions made via the phone, internet, and any other digital method. A direct sale may be fulfilled in person, via mail delivery, or using any other third-party delivery service. A Class A operator’s current maximum gross annual sales are $75,000.
Class B: This type of CFO can sell home-kitchen prepared foods directly to the public or indirectly through restaurants and food markets. A direct sale may be fulfilled in person, via mail delivery, or using any other third-party delivery service. An indirect sale may be fulfilled in person, via mail delivery, or third-party delivery service. The current gross annual sales for a Class B operator are $150,000.
For more information about the new and CFO permits, including how to apply, visit cchealth.org/homekitchens.
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