Weekly Update - February 9 2024

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Election Day is right around the corner. February 20 is the last day to register to vote and receive a vote by mail ballot.

Early voting sites open on March 1, and March 5 is election day.

You have several safe, secure, and reliable options for returning your ballot:

• Mail – No stamp is required to return your ballot through the US Postal Service. Make sure your ballot is postmarked by March 5, 2024.
• Drop box – All counties will offer secure drop boxes to return your ballot. Make sure your ballot is deposited by 8:00 p.m. on March 5, 2024.
• In-person – You can return your ballot to a polling place, vote center, or your county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on March 5, 2024.

Make a plan to vote. Decide how you will return your ballot. No matter which method you choose, you can find tools to cast your ballot at vote.ca.gov.

For more information about voting in Contra Costa County, or for questions regarding your voting status, go to contracostavote.gov

February is Black History Month. One way to celebrate Black History Month is by honoring the contributions of Black Americans throughout history, supporting, and uplifting black-owned businesses and organizations, and working towards creating a more equitable society.

The Contra Costa County Library invites you to explore all the ways Black History Month is being celebrated. The official theme for this year’s celebration is African Americans and the Arts.

To learn more about the programs and resources they are offering, go to Contra Costa Library Black History Month.

Despite some delays due to storm drain and additional utility work, the Alamo Roundabout is operational, and all work should be completed by the end of May.

Contra Costa County Public Works will perform Phase 3 paving work as part of the Alamo Roundabout Project starting Monday, February 12, 2024, through Wednesday, February 14, 2024, weather permitting. Message Boards will be posted in advance to advise of the scheduled work. Drivers should expect delays up to 15 minutes near the area of work.

Phase 3 consists of paving the Danville Boulevard and Orchard Court intersection and will be completed over three days. 

Monday, February 12, 2024, 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.: Night-time work will include excavation of the existing pavement section and placement of the roadway base. One-way traffic control will be implemented, and flaggers will be present.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Day-time work will take place for concrete improvements. One-way traffic control will be implemented at the Orchard Court entrance, and flaggers will be present. 

Wednesday, February 14, 2024, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.: Day-time paving work will take place. One-way traffic control will be implemented, and flaggers will be present.

Upcoming scheduled work includes:

• March 2024 – Landscape Irrigation and Planting complete
• End of March 2024 – Final Electrical complete
• April 2024 – Start of punch list work 
• Early/mid-May – Surface treatment work complete followed by final roadway striping
• End of May 2024 – Project Complete  

The Danville Boulevard/Orchard Court Complete Streets Improvement Project-Alamo Roundabout Project will improve safety of vehicles, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic along Danville Boulevard. The project will construct sidewalks and bicycle facilities, improve landscaping and electrical work, reconstruct pavement, add a slurry seal, replace traffic striping and pavement markings, and install curb extensions and ramps along this segment of Danville Boulevard. It will also create a roundabout at the intersection of Danville Boulevard and Orchard Court.

Funding for this project is provided by the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program grant, Measure J Regional Funds, and Gas Tax Funds.

For more project information about this project visit: www.contracosta.ca.gov/alamoroundabout.

As winter storms pelt California with extreme wind, rain, and snow, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is working to help residents understand their insurance coverage and how they can recover from storm damage. The Department has posted a Top Ten Tips for People Affected by Winter Storms to answer questions about what consumers’ insurance policies may cover.

Many people may not be aware that homeowners’, renters’, and commercial insurance policies typically exclude flood, mudslide, debris flow, and other similar disasters. However, they can cover water damage from wind-driven rain that occurs during a storm and damage from fallen trees. Comprehensive vehicle insurance can also cover flood damage and other winter storm damage. The Department has resources and guides online for help with filing a claim.

Caltrans is scheduled to close southbound Interstate 680 in Pleasanton between the I-580/I-680 Connector and Koopman Road on Friday, February 16 through Tuesday morning, February 20, 2024.

During the closure, contractors will replace a portion of the existing deteriorated roadway with new pavement on southbound I-680, between the I-580/I-680 Connector and Koopman Road. The work will repair deteriorating existing pavement and enhance motorist safety while reducing the number of nightly closures needed on the project.

In the case of rain or unanticipated developments, the closures will be rescheduled and the public will be notified.

Northbound I-680 will remain open and will not be affected by the closure. Caltrans is aware that the closures will impact the motoring public and measures are being taken to minimize inconvenience. Caltrans thanks the motoring public in advance for your patience as they work to improve I-680.

For more information, please visit the Alameda County Transportation Commission website at https://bit.ly/43dKwg1.

NCAPDA is now offering FREE Naloxone Overdose Rescue Training virtually on a bi-monthly basis. These sessions are designed to equip participants with critical life-saving drug prevention and overdose rescue skills.

The trainings cover essential topics, such as prescribed and illicit opioid safety education with a key focus on recognizing and responding to an opioid-related overdose using NARCAN®, the spray version of naloxone.

Upon registration, a confirmation email will be sent to you, containing the Zoom link necessary for joining your selected training session.

For any registration issues, questions, or additional information, please feel free to contact us at 925-480-7723 or via email at [email protected].

Training Schedule:

Register for Training on 2/20 from 1-2 pm PST click here.

Register for Training on 3/12 from 10-11 am PST click here.

Register for Training on 3/26 from 1-2 pm PST click here. 

Recipients will be recognized at the March 26, 2024, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors’ César E. Chávez Celebration in Martinez.

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants interested in serving on its 20-member Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC). Regular meetings of the Council and other standing committees are held at least quarterly based on a schedule adopted by the Council; that schedule may be changed or augmented as needed. Members have the option to serve on two subcommittees (Prevention, Intervention, Community Engagement, and Data & Services).

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. Friday, February 23. All applicants who submit by the deadline will be invited to the public interview process conducted by the Public Protection Committee. This committee will then recommend a selection of applicants for the Board of Supervisors to appoint. Interviews with the Public Protection Committee will occur on March 4, and interviews with the Board of Supervisors will occur on March 19. 

Applications can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 655-2000 or visiting the County webpage at http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418/. Completed applications should be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Office at 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553.

Contra Costa LAFCO is currently accepting applications for the Alternate Public Member seat. All Commissioners serve a four-year term and cannot be elected/appointed officers or employees of a city, the County, or a special district in Contra Costa County. The deadline for submitting applications is February 29, 2024.

LAFCO is an independent agency created by the State of California and charged with encouraging orderly growth, discouraging urban sprawl, and preserving agricultural and open space lands. The Commission meets these objectives by regulating the boundaries of cities and special districts and conducting municipal services reviews and special studies.

LAFCO meetings are typically held on the second Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. in Martinez. The Commission can call special meetings if necessary. Commissioners receive a $150 stipend per meeting. Applicants must be a resident of Contra Costa County, able to regularly attend LAFCO meetings, have a general understanding of LAFCO functions and authorities, and cannot be elected/appointed officers or employees of the County, a city, or a special district in the County.

The Commission will screen applications and make the appointment. In order to be considered for this appointment, a completed application form must be received in the Contra Costa LAFCO office, 40 Muir Road, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553 by 5:00 p.m. by February 29, 2024.

Applications may be submitted by e-mail to [email protected], or U.S. mail; postmarks will not be accepted.

Contra Costa County residents interested in serving on this Commission should contact the LAFCO office at (925) 313-7133. For more information about Contra Costa LAFCO please visit our website at www.contracostalafco.org.

Affordable Housing Finance Committee (AHFC)

The Contra Costa County Internal Operations Committee (IOC) of the Board of Supervisors is now accepting applications from individuals to fill vacant positions for the AHFC:

• Central County (Unincorporated) Representative,
• At-Large/Community Representative.

Applicants must:

• Be a resident of Contra Costa County in one of the above vacant residency membership categories.
• Have professional experience in the field of affordable housing finance, design, development, or property management.

To obtain an application or further information, contact Kristin Sherk, staff liaison, at 925-655-2889 or [email protected]. Applications may also be obtained from the Clerk of the Board located at 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553. 

For more information, visit contracosta.ca.gov/AHFC. A fillable application is available on the website for your convenience.



Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC)

Contra Costa County is seeking an individual to serve on the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) as a Public Representative on behalf of the County.

The individual will serve a four-year term in a volunteer capacity. The individual selected for this position must:

• Live in the unincorporated area of the County;
• Attend virtual committee meetings on the 4th Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m.; and
• Review agenda packets and develop input on agenda items beforehand.

The CCTA CAC reviews transportation programs and plans throughout the County, to advise and provide recommendations to the CCTA Board of Directors. This includes transportation projects and programs funded by the county half-cent transportation sales tax, which CCTA oversees. CCTA maintains its standing CAC to provide citizen perspective, participation, and involvement in the Measure J-funded and voter-approved Transportation Expenditure Plan and Growth Management Program. The CAC members have an opportunity to learn about and influence transportation and growth issues within Contra Costa County and in other jurisdictions through scheduled presentations by transportation experts, advocates, and CCTA staff.