The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors convened its annual reorganization meeting Tuesday at the County Administration Building, ushering in a new era of County leadership and milestones. District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen was sworn in as Chair, and District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis became Vice-Chair. Additionally, Shanelle Scales-Preston took the Oath of Office as the new District 5 Supervisor, becoming the first African American woman elected to the Board.

Supervisor Andersen represents Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, San Ramon and a portion of Walnut Creek, including Rossmoor, along with the unincorporated communities of Alamo, Blackhawk, Canyon, Diablo, Parkmead, Saranap and the Tassajara Valley. She was first elected to the Board in June 2012 and was most recently reelected in March 2024. Chair Andersen serves on 28 local and regional boards and commissions, addressing planning, land use, transportation, pensions, mental health, healthcare, reuse and recycling, economic development, and public safety.

Supervisor Burgis serves the 222,000 residents of District 3, which includes a portion of Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, and Oakley. She was first elected to the Board in 2016 and most recently reelected in 2024. She serves on over 30 Board and regional committees, including as Chair of the Legislation Committee, Internal Operations Committee, and the Transportation, Water & Infrastructure Committee. As Chair of California’s Delta Protection Commission, she also represents the Commission on the State’s Delta Stewardship Council.

In a groundbreaking moment, Shanelle Scales-Preston was sworn in as District 5 Supervisor, becoming the first African American woman elected to the Board of Supervisors. Her district includes Alhambra Valley, Antioch (North), Bay Point, Briones, Clyde, Concord (North), Crockett, Hercules, Martinez, Mt. View, a portion of Pacheco, Pittsburg, Port Costa, a portion of Reliez Valley, Rodeo, Tormey and Vine Hill. She succeeds former Supervisor Federal D. Glover, who retired in December 2024.

Scales-Preston was elected to the Pittsburg City Council in 2018 and served as Mayor in 2023. She is Chair of the Board for Marin Clean Energy (MCE), a local electricity provider. She will be serving as Board representative on thirty committees and commissions as well.

For more information about Contra Costa County and its Board of Supervisors, visit the County’s website at http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/ or the webpage: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/9970/Board-of-Supervisors.

Pictured above from left to right: Presiding Judge Christopher Bowen, Supervisor Andersen, her husband Phil Andersen, her father Tom Kay, and five of the six Andersen children joining via zoom to watch their mother sworn into office.

Pictured above: The Contra Costa County Sheriff Department's Honor Guard presented the colors in their traditional ceremony.

Pictured above from left to right: Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston, Supervisor Ken Carlson, Board Chair Candace Andersen, Board Vice-Chair Diane Burgis, Supervisor John Gioia.

Pictured above: During the ceremony Stone Valley Middle School sixth grader January Karbowski provided outstanding performances of the National Anthem and America the Beautiful.

San Ramon Valley Diversity Council to host MLK, Jr. Event on Monday, January 20

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 Supervisor Chambers 1025 Escobar St., 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.

Supervisor Andersen Hosting Town Hall

for African American Holistic Resource and Wellness Hub on Monday, February 3, 2025 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm

On February 3^rd 6-8pm, please join Supervisor Andersen and our Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, at the Family Justice Center to share your feedback regarding your needs as part of the African American community residing in District 2.

The Board of Supervisors approved the African American Holistic Resource and Wellness Hub Feasibility Study and appointed community members to a steering committee to design and lead a procurement process for a contractor to conduct a feasibility study to help determine the best design and structure for the County’s first African American Holistic Resource and Wellness Hub. This in-person listening session is the next step in that process to assess the needs, gaps and wanted services, with the final recommended plan to be presented to the Board of Supervisors this spring.

To learn more about the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, click here: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/9969/Racial-Equity-and-Social-Justice

When: Monday, February 3^rd 6-8pm

Where: Family Justice Center, 319 Diablo Rd, # 103, Danville

Who: African American Community Members from District 2

On Wednesday, January 16 Supervisor Andersen had the pleasure of visiting and speaking with Brownies at Montair Elementary School, in Danville.

The Brownie Troop, led by DeEtte Jones, was learning about local government and had prepared many insightful questions about community work, getting involved, and what it takes to be an elected official.

Contra Costa Senior Legal Services Fundraiser Event on Wednesday, January 22, 2025

It's a Fundraiser

15% of check proceeds will support Contra Costa Senior Legal Services (CCSLS)

STEPS:

1) Print the attached flyer;

2) Come to Lazy Dog Restaurant at 1961 Diamond Blvd, Concord, 94520;

3) Order, enjoy your meal & pay for it;

4) Show your server the flyer and tell then you are there to support CCSLS. 

The funds we raise will help us provide legal services to elders across the county!  To learn more about Contra Costa Senior Legal Services go to ccsls.org.

Contra Costa County Fire’s 3 Steps to a Safer Fire Season

In light of the tragic fires 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.

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.

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.

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.

Join the San Ramon Valley Street Smarts "Be Reel" Video Contest for Middle and High School Students.

Deadline to Submit Videos is January 30

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) Alternate Seat Available. Advise the Board of Supervisors on the needs of the Alamo community for extended police services for Roundhill.

Submit an Application Online here.

Find out more information about volunteering for an advisory body here https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418/Appointed-Bodies-Committees-Commissions

The Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) is Seeking Statement of Qualifications for vendors that can provide Independent Registered Municipal Financial Advisor Services .

The County and its related agencies are issuers of municipal securities. The County is currently soliciting Statement of Qualifications from qualified Independent Registered Municipal Financial Advisor Services to assist the County with its Multifamily Mortgage Revenue Bond Program.

For additional information and to view on the website click here.

Caltrans has proposed Rehabilitation and Ventilation Upgrade Projects for the Caldecott Tunnel Bores 1, 2, and 3. The projects 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