|
Board of Supervisors Review Budget Priorities at Annual Hearings
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors convened a two-day series of budget hearings to review the County’s recommended Fiscal Year 2026–2027 spending plan. The hearings, held on April 27th and 28th in Martinez, provided an opportunity for supervisors to hear directly from County departments, evaluate funding priorities, and gather public input.
During the sessions, departments presented their proposed budgets and outlined key service needs, challenges, and upcoming initiatives. The recommended budget, totaling approximately $7.2 billion, reflects ongoing efforts to maintain essential services while navigating rising costs and shifting of State and Federal funding.
The hearings are a critical step in the County’s annual budget process, allowing the Board to deliberate and provide direction before formal adoption later this spring.
To listen and/or watch the complete 2-day budget hearings visit HERE.
| | |
EHSD 2025 Annual Report Reflects Expanded Services and
Community Impact
The Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services Department (EHSD) released its 2025 Annual Report highlighting the people and communities it serves.
EHSD provides a wide range of services that help individuals and families access support, protection, and resources to build stability and self-sufficiency. According to Director Dr. Marla Stuart, the department served about 37% of the county’s population last year, largely residents with low incomes, through staff efforts and partnerships with community organizations.
Key highlights from the 2025 report include:
- 432,782 residents served
- Held 314 public meetings and participated in 351 outreach events
- Issued over $857 million in benefits
- Partnered with 150 community-based organizations
- Processed 46,268 CalFresh applications, 8,923 for CalWORKs, and 57,522 for Medi-Cal
- Launched the “Celebrating All Ages” campaign
The report also breaks down data by Supervisorial District, including services used, funding distributed, and residents served.
EHSD programs include early childhood services, child welfare, food and health assistance (CalFresh and Medi-Cal), job placement services, employment and training support (CalWORKs and Welfare-to-Work), and programs for older adults and people with disabilities such as In-Home Supportive Services, Adult Protective Services, General Assistance, and the Public Administrator.
View and download the EHSD 2025 Annual Report HERE.
For EHSD programs and services visit EHSD.org.
| | |
Board of Supervisors to Host AANHPI Heritage Celebration
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors invites everyone to celebrate the heritage and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities at its 4th Annual AANHPI Heritage Month event. The celebration will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, May 12th, in the Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar St., Martinez.
This year’s theme, Journey of Joy, Hope & Connection, celebrates how our cultural heritage and lived experiences shape who we are today. It encourages younger and future generations to embrace, honor, and carry forward their AANHPI roots with pride and purpose.
The multimedia event will feature live performances representing traditions from Nepal, Mongolia, India, Vietnam, and other AANHPI cultures.
| To learn more about the County’s 2026 AANHPI celebration, visit the AANHPI page on the Contra Costa County website. | |
County Food Fight Awardees Honored
Contra Costa County departments and employees again demonstrated how much public servants care. They rose to the annual challenge and raised $67,404.40 for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, during the 2025 holiday season.
Drumroll, please...the winners are:
Mini Department: Agriculture - Stephanna Hidalgo, Team Leader
Small Department: County Counsel - Liliana Garcia, Team Leader
Midsized Department: Conservation and Development - Trish Dominguez, Team Leader
Large Department: Sheriff-Coroner - Christine Weinart, Team Leader
Board: Supervisor Ken Carlson - Alejandra Sanchez, Team Leader
Good Egg Award: LaKisha Russell, Human Resources
Heart and Sour Award: Hawa Safi, Human Resources
The Board of Supervisors thanks all County employees and residents who participated in the 2025 Counties Care Holiday Food Fight and urge all residents of Contra Costa County and their communities to recognize and match the generosity and public spirit of County employees, by giving generously to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano regularly and often, through the Food Bank's beneficial programs.
| | Above are the 2025 Annual Food Fight Award recipients. | |
To learn more or donate to the Food Bank visit HERE. | | |
Community Unites for GetVocal for Victims Event
Get Vocal for Victims held their Annual Amplifying Victims Voices Awards Event on Wednesday, April 30th in Pleasant Hill. It brought together attorneys, advocates, community members, and victims to raise awareness about the importance of providing legal services to victims of crimes.
Get Vocal for Victims partners with volunteer attorneys to provide crime victims with free legal representation throughout a criminal prosecution. It is the only non-profit organization to do so in Contra Costa County.
Attendees had the opportunity to hear compelling stories of how Get Vocal had helped ensure that victims had support and their legal rights protected during criminal proceedings. Awards were presented to John Muir Health’s Beyond Violence Program (Community Partner Award); the Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (Law Enforcement Agency Award); Virgina Nishita (Victim’s Voice Award) and Sergeant Enrik Melgoza from Richmond Police Department (Victim Advocate Award).
Supervisor Andersen attended the event, joining her colleagues and community partners in recognizing the importance of victim legal services and reaffirming the County’s commitment to the rights of victims. The event served as a meaningful reminder of the ongoing need for collaboration and community engagement to ensure that victims have access to the support and resources they need.
| | |
Supervisors Ken Carlson, Diane Burgis, and Candace Andersen joined Mary Knox, President of Get Vocal for Victims,
at Thursday’s event.
| | | To learn more about Get Vocal for Victims visit HERE. | | |
Moraga Citizens Network Honors Ana Moon as
2026 Citizen of the Year
Supervisor Andersen joined the Moraga Citizens Network Sunday afternoon to honor longtime community volunteer Ana Moon as its 2026 Citizen of the Year Sunday afternoon, recognizing her outstanding service and lasting impact on local schools and civic life.
Selected as the community’s 46th honoree, Ana has spent nearly a decade supporting the Moraga Education Foundation, where her leadership helped raise millions of dollars to sustain high-quality public education. Her efforts also included spearheading the successful Measure D campaign, securing $52 million for school infrastructure improvements.
Beyond education, Ana played a key role in Moraga’s 50th Anniversary celebration, helping organize community-wide events and creating a widely celebrated community cookbook that captured local history. She has also been active in public safety advocacy, contributing to efforts that led to the town’s safe firearm storage ordinance.
Ana’s recognition reflects a broader spirit of volunteerism in Moraga, highlighting how individual commitment can strengthen schools, enhance public safety, and bring a community together.
| | Click here to learn more about the Moraga Citizen Network and their mission to serve and support the community. | |
|
An Evening of Impact & Inspiration
The San Ramon Valley Education Foundation (SRVEF) hosted its annual gala on April 29th, bringing together community leaders, educators, and supporters for an inspiring evening dedicated to local students. The event celebrated the Foundation’s ongoing impact across the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, raising critical funds to support innovative programs, classroom resources, and student success initiatives.
Attendees enjoyed a night of connection, philanthropy, and shared commitment to strengthening education throughout the San Ramon Valley.
| | | |  | |
SRVEF Executive Director Vanessa Berastain and Supervisor Andersen's Chief of Staff, Jennifer Quallick, enjoyed a lively evening celebrating the outstanding educators and staff of SRVUSD.
To learn more about SRVEF mission and vision visit SRVEF.org.
| | | |
Paws-itively Fun May - Adopt, Connect & Care with
Animal Services 🐾
Contra Costa County Animal Services is hosting a series of upcoming community events this May, including mobile dog adoption pop-ups across Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Pinole, and Martinez, as well as a free vaccination and microchip clinic and an Animal Services Officer Town Hall. These events offer great opportunities to meet adoptable pets, access essential services, and connect with Animal Services.
| | |
Lane Closure Eastbound 24 at Acalanes Road
Scheduled for May 2, 2026
Caltrans will conduct bridge deck repairs near eastbound 24 in Lafayette. To ensure the safety of workers and motorists, the lane closure will extend from the Acalanes Road off-ramp past the El Nido Ranch Undercrossing. The work is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd from 6AM to 4PM. During this period, only one lane will be open, and drivers on Acalanes Road may experience minor delays.
Traffic Impacts:
- Lane #4 (slow lane) eastbound 24 from Acalanes Road off-ramp to just east of El Nido Ranch Undercrossing
- Three lanes will remain open to traffic
For more information about D4 Projects, visit: Caltrans D4 Projects.
| | |
Caldecott Tunnel Westbound State Route 24 (SR-24)
Overnight Closures of Bore #4
Nightly, Monday, May 4, 2026, through Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Caltrans will conduct overnight closures of Caldecott Tunnel Bore 4 on westbound State Route 24 (SR-24) in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. These overnight closures are being implemented to allow for tunnel washing, fire drill, and routine maintenance activities.
Overnight Bore #4 WB SR-24 Closure Details
- Monday, May 4, 2026 from 10 PM to 4:30 AM
- Tuesday, May 5, 2026 from 10 PM to 4:30 AM
- Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - (Fire Drill) from 9:30 PM to 4:30 AM
For 24/7 traffic updates, follow 511.org.
| | |
Lafayette Reservoir Temporary Closure
The Lafayette Reservoir will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, May 6th, from 6AM to 12PM to accommodate construction activities. Pedestrian access will remain available, with crews assisting visitors into the park when safe.
Visitors may experience construction activity in the area, including equipment on the water, work on the dam and outlet tower, increased truck traffic, noise, and temporary circulation changes within the park.
Fishing, hiking, and picnic areas will remain open, though visitors should expect ongoing construction impacts as major improvement projects continues through the Fall.
Helpful Links for Project Updates
Project webpage:
EBMUD. - Lafayette Tower
Lafayette Reservoir and Water System Projects overview:
EBMUD - Lafayette Projects
Sign up for EBMUD Alerts:
EBMUD - Customer Alerts
| | For all the fun things to do at the Lafayette Reservoir visit HERE. | | |
Building Stronger Connections
in Child Care
Come Celebrate, Connect, and Reflect on Child Care
| | |
Are you a family chid care provider in Alamo, Blackhawk, Canyon, Danville, Diablo, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Rossmoor, San Ramon, Tassajara Valley, and parts of unincorporated Walnut Creek?
Come learn about CocoKids and connect with fellow family child care providers for an evening of community, conversation and dinner.
| | | | | Please register by clicking the QR code above. | | | |
To learn more about CocoKids and their mission to support early childhood education visit CocoKids.org.
Funded by a District 2 Community Impact Grant
| |
|
Provide Your Input About Neighborhood Trees
Is your neighborhood missing shade in parks, dealing with hot sidewalks, or lacking trees at bus stops? Sustainable Contra Costa is working on a Neighborhood Tree Plan to plant, care for, and protect trees where they’re needed most.
Take a few minutes to complete their Community Survey and share your ideas. Help make our neighborhoods cooler, healthier, and more inviting for generations to come. No experience needed and every opinion counts!
Take the survey now at OurTreePlan.
To learn more about Sustainable Contra Costa visit HERE.
|
Ridge to Ridge Challenge 2026
The Ridge-to-Ridge Challenge is an annual fundraiser supporting Sustainable Contra Costa and its youth program, Sustainable Leaders in Action (SLIA). Each year, high school and college students collaborate to raise awareness about climate issues and inspire meaningful, non-political sustainability efforts throughout Contra Costa County.
Choose Your Ridge-to-Ridge Experience!
Fossil Hill Scavenger Hunt (~1.4 miles)
A fun, interactive walking loop around Fossil Hill. Individuals or teams follow puzzle-style clues to locate scavenger points along the course. Participants photograph each location and race back to the finish once all points are found.
Indian Valley Nature Walk (~1.4 miles)
A relaxed, educational walk featuring short talks from local experts on topics such as: Geology of Shell Ridge, Indian Creek restoration, History of Quarry Hill and Fossil Hill, Native plants and habitat restoration and Wildlife of the open space.
Ridge-to-Ridge Challenge Run (5K / 3.1 miles)
A challenging and scenic trail run through the hills and valleys of the open space.
Saturday, May 9th
9 AM – 1 PM
Shell Ridge Open Space, Walnut Creek
Click here to register!
| Low-Cost Internet for Eligible EHSD Customers | |
Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) customers who participate in CalFresh and Medi-Cal programs may be eligible for low-cost internet.
In partnership with the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), EHSD is reaching out to more than 180,000 Contra Costa County households that may be eligible for low-cost internet plans. The households that participate in our existing public assistance programs will receive bilingual postcards this week that direct them to CETF’s website and toll-free phone number.
CalFresh and Medi-Cal enrollees can call (855) 725-1434 or visit InternetForAllNow.org for more information.
| | |
2026 BIKE TO WORK DAY AND BIKE TO WHEREVER DAYS
Celebrate National Bike Month this May by getting out on your bike and leaving the car at home. Bike to Work Day takes place on Thursday, May 14th, with fun incentives like prize raffles and energizer stations offering refreshments and bike resources.
All month long, Bike to Wherever Days encourages residents to ride for commuting, errands, or recreation. County departments are invited to support and participate, joining communities across all nine Bay Area counties.
More information on both Bike to Work Day and Bike to Wherever Days can be found at Bay Area Bike to Work Days.
| | |
District 2 Volunteer Opportunity
Behavioral Health Board
One District 2 Family Member Seat Available
Proposition 1, passed in April 2024, included legislation mandating transformation of the public behavioral health system. 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, the local public substance use disorder treatment system, the community’s public behavioral health needs, services, facilities, and special problems where services are being provided
- Advise the Board of Supervisors and the Behavioral Health Director on community mental health and substance use disorder services.
- Review county agreements, adopted Behavioral Health Services Act plan and make recommendations to the local behavioral health agency.
- 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.
- Provide an annual report of written explanations to the local governing body and Department of Health Care Service.
Submit an Application.
Click here for information on volunteering for an advisory board.
| | |
County Wide Volunteer Opportunities
Contra Costa County Employees' Retirement Association
Individuals with a sound business background, experience in pension fund investment or administration, or in equity investments or banking, are being invited to serve on the Contra Costa County Employees' Retirement Association (CCCERA) Board of Trustees. Candidates must be Contra Costa County residents and cannot be members or retirees of CCCERA. Applicants also may not market investment or consulting services to any 1937 Act Retirement Board.
The Board meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 9 AM, with meetings sometimes continuing into the afternoon. Application deadline is Friday, May 8th at 5 PM. Public Interview, in person or via zoom, will be Tuesday, May 26th.
Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council
The Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council (JJCC) is a multi-agency advisory body that contributes to the development and implementation of a countywide juvenile justice plan. It is composed of several critical parts: an assessment of existing law enforcement, probation, education, mental health, health, social services, drugs, alcohol, and youth resources, which specifically target both at-promise, as well as system involved youth, and their families.
The JJCC will also coordinate the work of governmental and non-governmental organizations engaged in activities designed to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime and delinquency in the greater community. Further, the JJCC will develop information and intelligence sharing systems to ensure county actions are fully coordinated and equipped to provide data and appropriate outcome measures.
The seat available currently is an At Large Seat. Applicants must either live or work in Contra Costa County. Interviews will be either in person, or via zoom, at the May 19th Public Protection Committee.
Click here to submit an Application.
| | | | |
