Driving is dangerous for teens. Teen drivers are more likely to get into traffic collisions than any other age group. Even more troubling is the fact that motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for teens aged 15 to 19. What causes teens and teenage drivers to be at such risk?

 

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Supervisor Andersen shakes the hand of Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Maxfield as his family looks on, as he was welcomed home from Kuwait/Afghanistan by local officials, community members, family and friends at the Welcome Home event organized by the Diablo Valley Flag Brigade on Saturday, March 14. Click here for more information about Diablo Valley Flag Brigade and other Welcome Home events.  

A traffic signal has been installed at the intersection of Wilson and Livorna Road in Alamo, making it safer for students at Alamo Elementary School to get to and from school.

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The Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, now known as Recycle Smart, has been working tirelessly to upgrade your garbage and recycling services since the new contract with Republic Services and Mt. Diablo Recycling took effect on March 1. Click here to read some FAQ's you may have about changes to your service. For more information about all of the 2015 new services, click here.

Tune in to the live television and webcas t talk show "Veterans'  Voices", which made its debut last July. The monthly show, a joint production of Contra Costa Television and the County's Veterans Service Office, features a range of guests and topics. Viewers can watch on CCTV, or online, and can ask questions during the show via email, phone or online chat.

  

"Veterans' Voices" airs live every third Monday of the month on CCTV. The show is also uploaded online and replayed on CCTV Wednesday nights at 11 p.m. and Saturday mornings at 9 a.m., and can be found on Comcast Channel 27, Astound Channel 32 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 throughout Contra Costa County. The show is also streamed live online.

Click here for more information.  

 

The Board of Supervisors recognized April as Child Abuse Prevention Month at their March 31, 2015 Board meeting.  Child Abuse Prevention Month has been observed for the past 24 years since it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1982.

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Supervisor Andersen was honored to present a proclamation to Marechal Duncan, the Lafayette 2015 Citizen of the year, on Friday, March 20 at the Lafayette Park Hotel.  Marechal started volunteering in Lafayette 60 years ago when he first moved to the area with his wife, Doris, and at age 92, he has not slowed down.  Marechal currently serves as the Vice President of the Lafayette Historical Society, and is always telling everyone, "today's news is tomorrow's history." 

Supervisor Andersen, pictured with Frances Palacios, President of Palacios Productions, was honored to speak about women in leadership and join others in celebrating the successes of Latinas during Women's History Month at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum on March 25.  The event included guest speakers, networking with local community leaders, entrepreneurs and students, table exhibitors and a reception. Frances was also the keynote speaker on March 31 at the Board of Supervisor's 22nd Annual Cesar Chavez Commemorative Celebration. Click here for more information about atrueLatina.

Alcohol is a drug. It is a substance that changes the way the body or mind functions. Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States. One in every 12 adults (17.6 million people) suffer from alcohol abuse or dependencies. More than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism or drinking problem. Moreover, 100,000 persons die each year from alcohol-related causes including drinking and driving crashes, other accidents, falls, fires, alcohol-related homicides and suicides.

 

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Candace joins Orinda Mayor Steve Glazer (far right) in honoring Mark Roberts, with his wife Claire, as Mark was recognized as the 2015 Orinda Citizen of the Year on March 20, 2015 at the Orinda Community Center.  Mark has a long history of community involvement.

Ever wonder what your Supervisor does at that weekly Tuesday Board of Supervisors Meeting?  Here are some of the board actions from the month of March which impact the residents of District 2:     

  

 

Recognized March 2015 as Prescription Drug Awareness Month in Contra Costa County, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.

 

Recognized March 2015 as National Social Workers' Month in Contra Costa County

  

Received update from the County's Stormwater Manager regarding efforts and costs to comply with the mandated 70% reduction in trash entering the storm drain network by 2017; Advised staff regarding the next set of actions to take.

 

Heard proposed implementation of the property tax cost recovery provisions of Revenue and Taxation Code 95.3; Adopted report from the Auditor-Controller filed on January 20, 2015, of the 2013/14 fiscal year property tax-related costs, including the proposed charges against each local jurisdiction with the exception of school entities.

 

Adopted Resolution implementing Revenue and Taxation Code 95.3 for fiscal year 2014/15.

 

Established a rate of $30 per Equivalent Runoff Unit for Stormwater Utility Area 17 (Unincorporated County) for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 and requested that the Contra Costa County Flood Control & Water Conservation District adopt annual parcel assessments for drainage maintenance and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program.

  

Accepted the  resignation of Gary Kingsbury; Declared a vacancy on the Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board of Contra Costa County; Directed the Clerk of the Board to post the vacancy, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.

 

Reappointed Nancy Flood to the Alamo-Lafayette Cemetery District Board of Directors, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.

 

Appointed Paul Mikolaj as the Danville/Alamo Local Committee Representative on the Advisory Council on Aging.

 

Appointed Rachel Etherington to the Youth Representative seat on the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.

 

Authorized staff to support the efforts of the California State Association of Counties-led coalition to provide funding for stormwater services.

 

Recognized County Assessor Gus Kramer for 40 years of service to Contra Costa County.

 

Recognized Patrick Roche for over 24 years of distinguished service in the Department of Conservation and Development.

 

Recognized the winners of the Contra Costa County "Poetry Out Loud" 2015 Competition.

 

Announced the Caring for Our Creeks event, a gathering sponsored by the Walnut Creek Watershed Council which was held on Thursday March 19th, 2015, 7pm- 8:45pm at the Pleasant Hill Community Center.

 

Accepted report regarding the mid-year status of the 2014/15 County Budget. Click here for report.  

 

Adopted Ordinance providing for a 7% salary increase, effective June 1, 2015, for members of the Board of Supervisors. Click here for salary ordinance and established the Ad Hoc Committee on Board of Supervisors Compensation and directed the County Administrator to report the Ad Hoc Committee's findings and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on July 7, 2015.  

 

Approved/Authorized the Deferred Improvement Agreement for a project being developed by Ralf E. Gester and Candi C. Gester, Alamo.

 

Acting as the Governing Board of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Approved/Authorized application/acceptance of a 2014 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency in an amount not to exceed $6,400,000.

 

Recognized Marechal Duncan as the 2015 Lafayette Citizen of the Year, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.

 

Announced the March 19, 2015 Grand Opening of the Central County Family Justice Center, which is located at 2151 Salvio Street, Suite 201, Concord.

 

Appointed Stacey Howard to the District II seat on the Contra Costa Commission for Women, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.

 

Accepted report entitled "Managing our County Facilities" prepared by the Public Works Department.

 

Recognized the 2015 Youth Hall of Fame honorees of the 22nd Annual Cesar E. Chavez Commemorative Celebration, as recommended by the Cesar Chavez Committee.

 

Approved the 2015 Road Surface Treatment Project and Authorized advertisement of the project, Alamo.

 

Declared April 2015 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Contra Costa County.

 

Honored Elaine Prendergrast, Executive Director of the Center for Human Development, on her retirement.

 

Recognized April 3, 2015 as Contra Costa County Centennial Day and commemorating the Panama Pacific International Exhibition.

 

Reappointed Gordon Ball, Robert Saydah, Gordon Berke, Michael Marchi, Robert Besse, and Rick Kopf to the County Service Area P-5 Citizens Advisory Committee, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.

 

Appointed Diana MaKieve to the District II Member at Large seat on the Contra Costa County Mental Health Commission, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.

 

Approved/Authorized a lease amendment with 230 Alamo Plaza, LLC, to extend the lease for continued use of approximately 3,000 square feet of office space located at 150 Alamo Plaza, Suites B and C, Alamo, as requested by the Sheriff-Coroner.

 

Approved/Authorized a contract with the State of California, 23rd District Agricultural Association to pay the County provide law enforcement services at the Contra Costa County Fair for the period May 27 through June 1, 2015.

 

Approved/Authorized a contract amendment with the Town of Moraga to pay the County to provide police dispatching services and limited warrant services.

 

Amended the action of the Board of Supervisors on February 3, 2015 (item C.25) approving the application, acceptance and execution of a grant contract with the California Board of State and Community Corrections to correct the grant contract amount to continue facilitation of Proud Parenting Programs for young fathers and mothers involved in the criminal justice system.

 

Approved/Authorized a contract amendment with LSA Associates, Inc. to extend the term to complete work associated with the Camino Tassajara Shoulder Widening, 1.1 miles south of Highland Road to 0.30 miles north of Windemere Parkway Project, San Ramon.

 

Approved/Authorized a contract with ANKA Behavioral Health, Inc. for weed abatement in the Iron Horse Corridor Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville and San Ramon.

Supported the Visit Tri-Valley Tourism Marketing District (TVTMD) and consent to allow the City of Pleasanton to renew the TVTMD and include a portion of the unincorporated Contra Costa County Tri-valley area, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.

 

Received the 2014 Annual Report for the Iron Horse Corridor Advisory Committee, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville and San Ramon areas.

 

Authorized the issuance and sale of "San Ramon Valley Unified School District General Obligation Bonds, Election of 2012, Series 2015" by the San Ramon Valley Unified School District on its own behalf pursuant to Sections 15140 and 15146 of the Education Code, as permitted by Section 53508.7(c) of the Government Code.

 

Continued the emergency action originally taken by the Board of Supervisors on November 16, 1999 regarding the issue of homelessness in Contra Costa County.

 

Approved revisions to Contra Costa County Neighborhood Preservation Program Policy and Guidelines.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

 

District 2 vacancies available:

 

Alcohol & Other Drugs Advisory Board - click here 

 

Countywide Bicycle Committee - click here 

 

 County Service Area P-5 Citizens Advisory Committee (Residents of: Roundhill, Regency Woods or Windsor Green)

 

In-Home Support Services Public Authority Advisory Committee- click here

 

In addition, Supervisor Andersen would like to draw your attention to the following list of countywide advisory bodies that currently have At Large Seats available:

 

• Advisory Council on Aging
• Advisory Council on Equal Employment Opportunity
• Agricultural Task Force Committee
• Ambulance Service Selection
• Arts & Culture Commission
• Commission for Women
• Contra Costa Employees Retirement Association
• County Connection Citizen Advisory Committee
• Developmental Disabilities Board
• East Bay Regional Park District - Advisory Body
• Economic Opportunity Council
• Fish & Wildlife Committee
• Hazardous Materials Commission
• Homelessness Advisory Board
• Local Child Care & Development Planning Council
• Managed Care Commission
• Workforce Development Board.

 

To apply for any of these seats, click here.

Driving is dangerous for teens. Teen drivers are more likely to get into traffic collisions than any other age group. Even more troubling is the fact that motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for teens aged 15 to 19. What causes teens and teenage drivers to be at such risk?

 

Register for the event on April 30 to find out, when Street Smarts hosts the California Highway Patrol's Start Smart program for the fourth time. Start Smart is a free two-hour driver safety education class given by the CHP to new and future teenage drivers and their parents/legal guardians. The Start Smart event will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on April 30, at the California High School Theater in San Ramon. At the event, CHP officers will discuss collision factors associated with teen drivers, collision avoidance techniques, and driver/parent responsibilities. Parent and child attendance is strongly recommended. (Note: The presentation contains graphic images.)

 

The April 30 event is free and open to teens/parents in the San Ramon Valley and beyond. To register, click here. For more information, contact Amy Sekhon at (925) 973-2650 or email her by clicking here.

 

To learn more about the Start Smart Program, contact CHP Officer John Fransen at 925-646-4980 or visit click here.

 

Street Smarts is a traffic safety education program serving the San Ramon Valley. The program is a partnership between the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, the City of San Ramon, the Town of Danville, the County of Contra Costa, and the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs.

 

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A traffic signal has been installed at the intersection of Wilson and Livorna Road in Alamo, making it safer for students at Alamo Elementary School to get to and from school. The traffic light  was listed as a top priority by Alamo Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) members just a year ago and through some fortuitous circumstances, was quickly completed over the next 12 months. The community came together for a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 30 to celebrate.  The County Public Works staff used some outside the box thinking to fast track this signal's installation by piggybacking it on to an existing nearby small residential homes project being developed by Mark Scott Construction. The installation of the signal that likely would not have been completed for two to three years, took just one.  Supervisor Andersen emphasized she did not want to wait for a tragedy to occur at this intersection to compel the public and the County to move this project forward.
The Alamo Municipal Advisory Committee, Contra Costa Public Works, Alamo Elementary School students and families, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and the Alamo community were all recognized at the ceremony and thanked for their cooperation, patience and support during the construction of the project. 

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The Board of Supervisors recognized April as Child Abuse Prevention Month at their March 31, 2015 Board meeting.  Child Abuse Prevention Month has been observed for the past 24 years since it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1982. National statistics show that one in four children  will be mistreated before the age of eighteen, while those with disabilities are three to seven times more likely to suffer from child abuse than children without disabilities. Early intervention child abuse programs are critical for preventing abuse, and can positively impact at-risk families. 

 

As part of prevention month activities, the Contra Costa County Child Abuse Prevention Council is hosting their 11th Annual "It Shouldn't Hurt to be a Child" Benefit Luncheon at the Orinda Country Club,  on Thursday, April 16, 2015. Guests will enjoy a fabulous celebration with raffles, a silent auction, delicious food and presentations from CAPC partners who work to prevent child abuse in our schools and the local community. Last year's luncheon was a huge success, raising  over $60,000 toward the prevention of mistreatment and the abuse of children. Click here for more information and to RSVP. click here for a list of programs offered in Concord and Contra Costa County by the Child Abuse Prevention Council.   

 

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Alcohol is a drug. It is a substance that changes the way the body or mind functions. Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States. One in every 12 adults (17.6 million people) suffer from alcohol abuse or dependencies. More than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism or drinking problem. Moreover, 100,000 persons die each year from alcohol-related causes including drinking and driving crashes, other accidents, falls, fires, alcohol-related homicides and suicides.

 

Alcohol is also the number one drug of choice for teens. Approximately 9.7 million current drinkers in the United States are between the ages of 12-20, and is the most frequently used drug by high-school seniors. The consequences of underage drinking may have long term effects. New research shows that alcohol affects a teenager's developing brain differently than adults.    

 

Clearly, parents, schools and communities can play a vital and proactive role in addressing alcohol use and abuse. Youth who talk to their parents about the negative consequences of alcohol and other substance use report lower rates of past and current alcohol use. Communities that discourage underage drinking via clear messages or "denormalize" drinking, promote environmental protective factors, to help youth make better choices. Parents can learn the signs of alcohol and other drug abuse, take action to help their children if they have a problem, and teach them that it is okay to get help if they have a problem.  

 

For more information about prevention resources in Contra Costa County contact: Fatima Matal Sol at (925) 335-3307 or e-mail  her by clicking here. Visit Contra Costa County Behavioral Health Alcohol and Other Drug Services by clicking here. To join volunteer efforts to reduce Underage Drinking, contact the Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board at (925)335-3307.

 

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As a result of community concerns regarding "sideshow" activity on Pinehurst Road in the quiet Canyon Community, the Contra Costa County Public Works Department added roadway buttons and reflective markers to deter the recent rash of "sideshows" in this location. Over the past year this wide, smooth intersection became the scene of several late night sideshows -- impromptu noisy and sometimes dangerous car exhibitions involving cars squealing, doing donuts, and other tricks. It is hoped that these textured safety improvements will deter the drivers from returning. County Public Works staff also   refreshed the equestrian crosswalk,  stop markings and limit lines at the intersection of Canyon Road and Pinehurst Road.