Supervisor Andersen to be Sworn in as Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors next Tuesday

On Tuesday, January 14, at 9:00 am the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will hold its annual Reorganization Meeting, where the new Chair and Vice Chair will be sworn in. On October 8, 2024, Supervisor Andersen was selected to be the 2025 Chair and Supervisor Diane Burgis the Vice Chair by their colleagues.

After winning their 2024 elections, Supervisors Andersen, Burgis and new District 5 County Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston will also be sworn in to their four-year terms by Contra Costa County Superior Court Presiding Judge Christopher Bowen. Supervisor Andersen was first elected in 2012 and this will be her 4th term.

The public may attend the Board meeting in person at 1025 Escobar Street in Martinez or remotely via call-in or Zoom using the following link https://zoom.us/w/92253393385. Board meetings are televised live on Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse Channel 99, and WAVE Channel 32, and can be seen live online at www.contracosta.ca.gov. Meetings of the Board are closed-captioned in real time. 

Board of Supervisors to Host 47th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Event on Tuesday, January 21

The Board of Supervisors is honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 47th Annual Commemoration Event on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 11 am in the Board of Supervisors Chambers 1025 Escobar St., in Martinez.

“No work is insignificant, and we are fortunate to honor a Humanitarian and two Student Humanitarians of the Year, who bring to life Dr. King’s vision through their service to our community,” said Board Chair Candace Andersen. 

The theme of the event is “Celebrating Our Shared Humanity.” The celebration will feature keynote speaker Mitchell Hopson who is a strategic financial and business operations professional. Mitchell is an active community member serving on various volunteer boards and organizations. 

The Board will honor Adult Humanitarian of the Year, Rodney “Alamo” Brown,

and Student Humanitarians of the Year, Soha and Imran Sohail Guller, from San Ramon Valley High School in Danville, CA. Their passionate leadership, advocacy, and community service have improved the lives of Contra Costa County residents and reflect the spirit of Dr. King’s work and achievements.

The program also includes performances by Dougherty Valley High School Choir, Stephen Sharpe the Poet Laureate for the City of Richmond, and an Invocation given by Reverend Dr. Carole McKindley-Alvarez.

The public can also watch the ceremony at http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/6086 or www.contracostatv.org. The celebration will also be broadcast live on Contra Costa Television (CCTV) channels, Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse 99, and Astound 32 & 1027.

To learn more about the Dr. King Ceremony and past ceremonies, visit www.contracosta.ca.gov/5307.

Bay Area High School students are invited to participate in the 3rd annual creative competition honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy called Step into the Light. As a youth arts competition created by the Cow Palace, Step into the Light has essay, poetry, art, and video categories. Art pieces may include photography, painting, sculpture and mixed media inspired by Dr. King’s messages addressing injustices, which were stirring, and were always shared with a ray of hope.  In fact, he spoke at the Cow Palace in 1964!

Step Into the Light is an opportunity for youth to share their creative talents as a way to call out injustices by shining a light on them and making a difference in our local communities.  The Grand Prize is an Apple Airpod Max Wireless Headphone Set, and the Best of Show Winners for each category win $300! It’s also a great winter project, art can be therapeutic, and being recognized for youth artistic expression looks great on college and skilled trades’ school applications.  Entries may be submitted at the Cow Palace’s Administration Offices Mondays-Fridays, 9AM-6PM, or emailed by January 24^th at 6PM. For more information email the Cow Palace with questions at SITL@cowpalace.com.

In light of the tragic fires being experienced in Southern California, we want to encourage everyone to have an evacuation plan, know your evacuation zone, and sign up for community warnings. As you plan for spring planting, create defensible space around your home.

There are several resources you can reference to view evacuation plans for the area. The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District regularly mails out evacuation plans. The flyer can be found here. The link also includes a list of things to take if an evacuation is needed. 

The Lamorinda Resident's Guide to Wildfire and Evacuation Planning is also very helpful and can be found here.

Similarly, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District has a useful residents guide that can be found here.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department maintains our County “Community Warning System” and has designated zones for evacuees in case of an emergency. That information can be found here. It is also very important that you register your email address and cell phone number to receive emergency alerts so that you can be alerted in an emergency.

Contra Costa Animal Services have moved all dispatch services from the Contra Costa County Sheriff Department to San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.

While their services will not change, the phone number for reporting animals has changed.

For any animal related incidents, please call 925-608-8400. There will be a phone tree which will prompt to determine the most appropriate numerical choice for your need.

For more information click here.

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame Awards.

These awards are presented annually to outstanding Contra Costa County residents between 12 and 18 years old. Students will be recognized at the 31st Annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 11 am in Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar St. in Martinez. Community members can also join the event live on Contra Costa Television channels and the County’s website.

We invite you to submit your nomination by completing the form and uploading it to the County website or emailing the application and your letter of recommendation to Lia Bristol at YouthNomination@dcd.cccounty.us.

Nominations must be received or postmarked by February 25, 2025. Recipients will be recognized at the April 1, 2025, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors’ César E. Chávez Celebration.

Caltrans proposed projects for Caldecott Tunnel Bores 1, 2, and 3 Rehabilitation and Ventilation Upgrade Project. The project aims to preserve the structural integrity of the tunnel, improve ventilation performance and fire-fighting operation response, and extend its service life.

The public comment period is from January 6, 2025, through February 6, 2025. All comments must be postmarked by February 6, 2024. The document can be accessed at this link: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-caldecott-tunnel-upgrade.

Caltrans will hold a hybrid public meeting for this project on January 22nd, 2025 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. 

• In-person meeting will be held at the Orinda Library Auditorium at 26 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563.

• If you cannot attend the meeting in person, please use the link to the virtual meeting which can be accessed on the project website: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-caldecott-tunnel-upgrade

This January, Rebecca's District Office staff, staff from Supervisor Carlson's office, and the city of Walnut Creek will be hosting in-person office hours to assist you with any questions, concerns, or problems you may be having with any state agencies or Contra Costa County services.

Walnut Creek Office Hours

Tuesday, January 21

10 - 11:30 a.m.

Trinity Center

1888 Trinity Ave

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

If you have been struggling to get through to EDD, have any issues with your car registration, or need assistance with your Medi-Cal coverage, come join us at the Trinity Center! 

My best,

Rebecca Bauer-Kahan

Assemblymember, 16th District

What is the Point in Time Count? 

• The Point in Time (PIT) Count is a snapshot of the number of families and individuals experiencing homelessness in Contra Costa on ONE night. 
• This count is required by the United Stated Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for all communities receiving their homeless service funding. 
• This information is used to decide how much funding communities get to help with homelessness. 

What Am I Being Asked To Do? 

• Be part of a one-day, county-wide project to count unsheltered people in Contra Costa 
• Work in a pair [with someone you know or we can pair you with someone] 
• Either drive (if you have a car) or capture data on an iPhone based app with someone else while they drive 
• Choose the area where you will do the count (with some limitations) 

When Do You Need Me? 

• The week of January 13th for one (1) two hour IN PERSON Volunteer Training. You will select when/where you want to do the training when you register 
• Thursday, January 30th from 5:30 am - 9:00 am for the actual count!

How Do I Sign Up? 

• Click here:  Volunteer Registration 

 How do I learn more about the Point in Time Count?

• Click here to learn more

Questions? 

• Email contracostacoc@cchealth.org 

Registe

Use your library card to get free access to Kanopy, a movie streaming service featuring thousands of independent, classic, international, and documentary films. You have 24 tickets each month to watch films. With Kanopy Kids, get unlimited streaming of educational and entertaining movies and shows for kids ages 2 and up. Kids can browse for content and parents can set up controls to ensure only appropriate content is available. Visit the Digital Resources page at ccclib.org to get started.

BART fares increased January 1, 2025, to keep pace with inflation so that the agency is able to pay for continued operations and to work toward restoring financial stability. BART's current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations.

Fares increased 5.5 percent on New Year’s Day. The increase is tied to the rate of inflation minus a half-percentage point. It’s the second such increase – the first took effect January 1, 2024.

The average fare increased 25 cents, from $4.47 to $4.72. BART's fare calculator and Trip Planner have been updated with the new fares for trips with the date 1/1/25 and beyond. Riders can learn how the increase will affect their travels by entering a 2025 date for their trip.

The fare increase is expected to raise about $14 million per year for operations. Combined with the previous year’s fare adjustment, BART will use this $30 million per year to fund train service, enhanced cleaning, additional police and unarmed safety staff presence, and capital projects such as the Next Generation Fare Gates project. For more information go to www.bart.gov.

Resources PG&E offers customers to help manage energy use and bills:

• Check out our Energy Action Guide for product and program guidance to help customers meet their unique energy needs.
• Personalized Rate Comparison supports customers by providing the best rate plan options for their household, which can help save money on energy bills.
• Budget Billing averages out energy costs for more predictable monthly payments and helps customers avoid seasonal bill peaks.
• Medical Baseline is an assistance program for residential customers who depend on power for certain medical needs. It offers cost reduction on energy bills and extra notifications before a planned safety outage.

Income-eligible programs that can help customers lower their bills:

• California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program offers a discount of 20% or more each month on energy bills.
• Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program offers a monthly discount of 18% on electricity bills for households with three or more people.
• Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): a federally funded assistance program overseen by the state that offers a one-time payment up to $1,000 on past due bills to help low-income households pay for heating or cooling in their homes.

Energy Efficiency Support Programs

• GoGreen Home Financing: a statewide program which offers affordable financing for energy efficiency upgrades to help homeowners and renters reduce their energy use.
• Golden State Rebates: This is a statewide program that provides residential residents with instant rebates on energy-efficient products including smart thermostats, air conditioners, and water heaters. Homeowners and renters are eligible to receive these rebates through single-use coupons they can redeem in-store or online at participating retailers.

To learn more about ways to save, go to PG&E Energy Efficiency

San Ramon Valley Street Smarts "Be Reel" Video Contest

Join the Sustainability Commission

Contra Costa County’s Sustainability Commission is looking for new members! The Sustainability Commission helps the County improve the health and safety of everyone who lives and works here. The Commission provides advice on how to deliver programs that provide clean energy to homes and businesses, safe biking and walking routes, more trees and gardens, and readiness to increasingly extreme weather. 

There are openings for people who represent community groups, commercial businesses, environmental justice communities in the eastern part of the County, and education or research institutions.

You can find more information about the open seats and link to the application form in this announcement (PDF). Applications are due by 5 p.m. on January 19, 2025. 

County Board and Commission Volunteer Opportunities

Behavioral Health Board – One District 2 Consumer Seat, One District 2 Family Member Seat Available

Proposition 1, passed as a ballot measure in April 2024, included legislation mandating transformation of the public behavioral health system (Senate Bill 326: sections pertaining to the Behavioral Health Board). Provisions of SB 326 included implementation of an integrated Behavioral Health Board. This integrated advisory body is to include designated members of the community prepared to address community mental health and substance use treatment services.

The mandated functions of the Behavioral Health Board include to:

- Review and evaluate the local public mental health system

- Review and evaluate the local public substance use disorder treatment system

- Advise the Board of Supervisors and the Behavioral Health Director on community mental health and substance use disorder services

- Review and evaluate the community’s public behavioral health needs, services, facilities, and special problems where services are being provided

- Review county agreements

- Ensure citizen and professional involvement at all stages

- Submit an annual report

- Review and recommend appointment of the local director of behavioral health services

- Review and comment on county’s performance outcome date

- Assess the impact of the realignment of services

- Conduct a public hearing on the draft three-year program and expenditure plan and annual updates at the close of the 30-day comment period required by subdivision.

- Review adopted Behavioral Health Services Act plan and make recommendations to the local behavioral health agency.

- Provide an annual report of written explanations to the local governing body and Department of Health Care Service

Community Advisory Board (CAB) on Public Safety Realignment -

The Community Advisory Board (CAB) on Public Safety Realignment was established by the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) Executive Committee in December 2012 to provide input on community needs; assess implementation of the realignment plan; review data on realignment outcomes; advise the CCP on community engagement strategies; offer recommendations for ongoing realignment planning; advise County agencies regarding programs for implementation in the County; and encourage outcomes that are consistent with the County’s Reentry Strategic Plan. 

County Service Area P-5 Citizen Advisory Committee (Roundhill Residents only) Alternate Seat

To advise the Board of Supervisors on the needs of the Alamo community for extended police services for Roundhill.

Submit an Application Online here. Questions? Contact The Office of Reentry & Justice, by phone at (925) 313-4087.

Find out more information about volunteering for an advisory body here co.contra-costa.ca.us/3418.