Weekly Update - October 27, 2023

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National Prescription Drug TAKE BACK Day 

Saturday, October 28, 2023 

On Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, or unused prescription drugs.

Needles and sharps cannot be accepted; only pills, patches, and liquids sealed in their original containers will be accepted. Vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers are accepted only after the batteries are removed from the devices.

The service is free and anonymous; no questions asked. Bring your approved items for disposal at the following sites:

• Valley Station
• 150 Alamo Plaza, #C, Alamo
• Danville Police Department
• 510 La Gonda Way, Danville
• Lafayette Police Department
• 3471 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette
• Orinda Police Department
• 22 Orinda Way, Orinda
• Muir Station
• 1980 Muir Road, Martinez

Most city police departments, including Moraga and San Ramon, and fire districts in the county also accept unwanted drugs and/or sharps and syringes in their lobbies during business hours. Check with the department closest to you for weekday drop off.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, locations, or the Take Back event, visit: https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.

The Contra Costa County Clerk’s Office will perform “Scaremonies” for 18 couples on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, offering a fun twist to traditional wedding ceremonies. “Scaremonies” are wedding ceremonies officiated by County Clerk staff in costume, for those customers who are interested. These special Halloween ceremonies will be offered at the Contra Costa County Clerk’s office, located at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez between 8:20 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. on Halloween. 

The County Clerk’s Office offers “Scaremonies” as a Halloween tradition, with County Clerk staff, some couples and even their guests dressing in costume for wedding ceremonies on that day. Staff in robes are also available for traditional ceremonies.

A limited number of wedding ceremony appointments are still available. Interested couples should call the Clerk-Recorder’s Office as soon as possible at (925) 335-7900.

A marriage license must be obtained before a ceremony can be performed. Couples must purchase a license before their ceremony and can do so during their appointment at the County Clerk-Recorder’s office in Martinez. The fee for a public marriage license is $86, while a confidential license is $90. The civil marriage ceremony fee is $60.

For information about marriage licenses and ceremony services, go to www.contracostavote.gov or call the office at 925-335-7900 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 

From land use and housing to climate change and environmental justice, residents are invited to explore drafts of the General Plan and Climate Action Plan to ensure they reflect the community’s collective aspirations for Contra Costa County’s future. 

View the plans and provide comments on the project website at envisioncontracosta2040.org through Jan. 31, 2024.

The Public Review Draft of the Contra Costa County 2045 General Plan is the County’s primary policy tool to guide physical changes in the unincorporated areas over the next 20 years. It serves as the basis for planning and infrastructure-related decisions made by County staff and decision makers. It is built around the themes of environmental justice, community health, economic development, and sustainability.

The Public Review Draft Climate Action Plan 2024 Update is the County’s strategic plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and to adapt to changing climate conditions, such as extreme heat, flooding, droughts, and wildfires, in the unincorporated areas of the County. The 2024 Climate Action Plan implements the General Plan policy guidance and addresses behaviors, regulations, and investment decisions that directly reduce GHG emissions or promote climate resilience.

Community feedback has been the driving force behind these planning efforts. County staff have held over 130 meetings with community members, advocates, stakeholders, and officials. This collaborative effort, including almost 50 community meetings and over 20 with community-based organizations, has shaped the shared vision for Contra Costa County.

Supervisor Andersen joined the celebration at the Danville Library for the Grand Reopening of the Children's Reading Room. On Monday, October 23 the library held a ribbon cutting for their gorgeous new Children's Reading Room. They have new books, new furniture, a shiny new floor, new wall drawings and number of other updates.

Pictured below with Supervisor Andersen, left to right; Danville Town Council Member Dave Fong, Deputy District Director for State Assembly Member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Marilyn Lucey, District 2 Library Commissioner Susan Hildreth, and County Librarian Alison McKee.

Stay Safe Contra Costa

When a gun is present in a domestic violence relationship, death is 20 times more likely to occur. These deaths are preventable. Contra Costa Family Justice Center has partnered with STAND! For Families Free of Violence and Bay Area Legal Aid to share life-saving information about gun violence and domestic violence, including the changes mandated by California’s recent law on domestic violence and Firearms, SB 320.

The Family Justice Center's campaign, Stay Safe Contra Costa, includes a new Contra Costa-focused website on domestic violence and gun violence in English and Spanish. This resource is for domestic violence survivors, people under restraining orders, and anyone who wants to learn more. You can also access the new site from the Family Justice Center’s website.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, across the US and in our county. The network of partners provides help in many forms, and Stay Safe Contra Costa is sharing that message with Contra Costa residents countywide through ads on public transit. Building community awareness about domestic violence/interperson violence and the work done together to help survivors heal and thrive is key to reducing violence for all of us. Learn more about the bus campaign here.

When families can access the resources and support they need, public health issues improve, and domestic violence is no exception. Let’s stay safe – together! 

Make It Home’s Mission is to help Bay Area families and individuals transitioning out of crisis. They recycle, repurpose, and curate gently-used, donated furnishings to transform empty spaces into homes. Their Vision is to end furniture poverty while protecting the environment.

Make it Home partners with local agencies who identify specific clients in need. Using quality donated furniture and household goods, a dynamic team of designers and volunteers put together welcoming home environments that are then delivered to those in need at their new homes. 

For more information, visit their website makeithomebayarea.org/.

Contra Costa County Residents Invited to Attend Hazard Mitigation Planning Public Meetings and Participate in Community Preparedness Study

Contra Costa County residents and businesses can help the County update its emergency preparedness plans by participating in a voluntary online questionnaire. Feedback from the confidential 10‐minute survey will enable Contra Costa County Office of Emergency Services to better serve residents and businesses before, during, and after an emergency or disaster.

Those who live or work in Contra Costa County are encouraged to share their experiences, knowledge, and concerns about local hazards by participating in the brief questionnaire. To complete the questionnaire, please visit Hazard‐ Mitigation‐Questionnaire. The questionnaire will remain open until January 30, 2024.

Information provided in Contra Costa County’s community preparedness questionnaire will help the County and local communities create strategies and implement actions to reduce future risk of death, injuries, and property damage from hazards.

The County Office of Emergency Services is also holding Hazard Mitigation Planning public meetings. See the flyer below for dates and locations.

To learn more about the Contra Costa County Hazard Mitigation Plan, disaster preparedness, and opportunities to get involved, visit cocosheriff.org/disaster-preparedness/emergency-services-division.

The United States Federal government requires local and state governments to have a FEMA-approved Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, as established by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, to qualify for hazard mitigation assistance grant dollars. These programs are critical sources of Federal funding, especially for a community that wants to proactively initiate mitigation projects using mitigation grant dollars.

Contra Costa Fruit Rescue harvests fresh backyard fruit for free and donates them to various local charities to help those in need. In 2023 they have already rescued 50,388 lbs. of fruit.

This fruit is coming from homeowners' yards, orchards and several U-pick businesses throughout Contra Costa. They are fully insured and fruit tree owners get a tax write off. Contra Costa Fruit Rescue is looking for property owners with fruit trees that produce more fruit than used and volunteers to help harvest fruit.

Learn more at forestr.org/fruit-rescue/.

County Mental Health Crisis Services

Anyone living in Contra Costa County who experiences a mental or emotional crisis can get help, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

• If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911immediately. 
• If you are experiencing a mental or emotional crisis, call the County’s 24-hour Access Line at 1-888-678-7277. You can also call the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988 or text ‘HOPE’ to 20121.
• Between 8 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily, you can also call the A3 Miles Hall Crisis Call Center at 844-844-5544.
• For mental health resources, call the Contra Costa Crisis Center at 211 or 1-800-833-2900

Here are some additional resources:

• Services for Adults
• Services and Resources for Teens
• A3 Crisis Response – Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime

A3 is the County’s new innovative approach to provide timely and appropriate mental and behavioral health crisis services to anyone, anywhere at anytime in the county. When someone is in a crisis — a fire, crime, or medical emergency — they call 911, expecting immediate emergency services. However, when that emergency is a mental or behavioral health crisis, the lack of a timely and clinically appropriate response too often results in unnecessary suffering, loss of life, criminalization, or incarceration. A3 addresses this critical need by making mental and behavioral health a pivotal part of the emergency response system.

The Cancer Support Community is sharing their latest community report, "Addressing Health Equity in Supportive Cancer Care for Black Cancer Patients and their Families". This report is the result of a collaborative effort with UC Berkeley Public Health graduate students, involving research and a survey of local cancer patients and their families. If you wish to read the report, you can fid it on their website at cancersupport.net

There is also an upcoming virtual program "Understanding Cancer Risks in the Black Community", on November 9 at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Patience Odele, a Breast Surgeon at Kaiser Permanente, will lead the discussion. More information and registration is on the cancer support website at cancersupport.net.

It’s time for the annual Scouting for Food drive for the Golden Gate Area Council, Boy Scouts of America (GGAC), which covers most of the Greater Bay Area as well as some surrounding areas. Scouting for Food is an annual food collection and donation campaign that the GGAC does to support the critical work of Bay Area Food Banks and other food distribution groups. The need has never been greater – one in four residences of our communities suffers from food insecurity. In the true spirit of Scouting, Scouting for Food affords scouts, scouters and community members the opportunity to provide meaningful service.

The traditional pick up of food donations from homes will be on Saturday, November 11, with door hangers placed in neighborhoods throughout the Bay Area the week before.

You can visit the webpage at: ggacbsa.org/scouting-for-food/. Please consider donating and sharing, together we can make a difference.

Pet First Aid & CPR Training Hosted by San Ramon Valley Rotary

Contra Costa Animal Services is making it easy for you to adopt a family pet in October. All adoptions are free at CCAS through October 31, 2023. A $25 licensing fee may apply. 

To view animals available for adoption, please visit the Available Animals page. 

As the rainy season begins, it is important to remember that water levels in our creeks and channels will rise. The water is cold, swift-moving, and full of debris, so we need to remind our children and friends about the dangers of fast-moving water and the most certain fate that awaits anyone who goes into rain swollen creeks and channels. Flood control channels are an integral part of our community’s infrastructure and like freeways and railroad tracks, they should NEVER be used for recreation.

The Board of Supervisors continues to spread the “Stay Out, Stay Alive” message to children and their parents, with a focus on outreach to all schools in the County during the month of October. Schools across the County can request their own banner to hang in support of Creek and Channel Safety Month.

To learn more about the campaign and how you can share this important safety message, visit: creekandchannelsafety.

Food insecurity is real, especially for our County's homeless population. Sometimes having a snack can help someone in crisis focus on the task ahead. You can help!

VESTIA, Volunteer & Emergency Service Team in Action, encourages you to create a SNACK PACK with small, ready-to-eat items to help alleviate immediate hunger for homeless seeking assistance. 

Fill a gallon Ziploc bag with any of the following new, unopened food items: bottled water, juice, canned tuna/meat, granola/protein bars, single serving fruit/vegetables, single serving peanut butter, cup o'noodles, trail mix, nuts, jerky, crackers/chips, cookies, pudding, plastic spoons.

Please do not include perishable or non-food items. Hygiene kits (socks, soap, toothpaste, etc) are also needed.

To schedule drop off of donated SNACK PACKS or for more information on hygiene kits please call: 925-655-1208. To learn more about VESTIA, click here.

This weekend, BART will perform preventative maintenance work in your area to protect the system from fallen trees. Work is occurring now so trees with the greatest potential to impact BART operations are removed well ahead of winter storms. Last year, fallen trees derailed two trains and delayed train service on multiple occasions.  

During the work, train service between the Pleasant Hill and Concord BART Stations will be replaced by a free bus shuttle, which could result in delays of up to 30 minutes.

In addition to tree pruning and removal, BART will perform track improvements and station maintenance. Tree work will take place from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and include the use of chainsaws and wood chippers. Other construction activities will require lights and equipment with backing alarms for worker safety.  

You can learn more about BART’s efforts to remove hazardous trees on their project website. 

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will honor Veterans during the Annual Veterans Day Celebration at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, in the Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar St., in Martinez.

The keynote speaker is Vietnam veteran James Hill. Hill served as an Army Infantry Officer in Vietnam and received several awards. His final rank was Captain. James also serves as Vice President of Vietnam Veterans of Diablo Valley, and he is active with the National Pathfinder Association and Vietnam Helicopter Museum.

The celebration event will also feature a color guard ceremony by Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Deputies. Veterans Service Office staff member Michael Beveridge will perform the You’ll Never Walk Alone and National Anthem.

This year, the ceremony will feature a special recognition for the 50th commemoration of the end of the Vietnam War and the withdrawal of U.S. ground troops from Vietnam.

To learn more about the Veterans Day Ceremony, visit contracosta.ca.gov on the Contra Costa County website. The community can also watch the event live online at contracosta.ca.gov/6086 or www.contracostatv.org. The celebration will broadcast live on Contra Costa Television channels: Comcast Channel 27, AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, and Astound Channels 32 and 1027.

Contra Costa County is home to more than 45,000 veterans. The Board of Supervisors thanks all veterans for their service, recognizes the families who support veterans every day and honors all Veteran's Service Organizations for their continued service to the community.

Please contact Contra Costa County Veterans Service Officer Joshua Zebley at (925) 313-1481 for any questions about this year’s event.

The Board of Supervisors proclaimed October 23rd - 31st, 2023 as Red Ribbon Week in Contra Costa County. This long-standing campaign recognizes ongoing alcohol and other drugs prevention efforts by schools and prevention community organizations to increase safety and well-being among Contra Costa residents.

The SRVUSD Facilities Oversight and Advisory Committee (FOAC) is seeking new committee members. They particularly need applicants to be members that represent the following categories: One member shall be active in a business organization representing the business community located within the school district; One member shall be active in a senior citizens' organization.

The FOAC application is open through Friday, November 3, 2023.

Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Commission

Seeks Applicants

The Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Commission is seeking applicants to fill an Environmental Organization Seat, an Environmental Organization Alternate Seat, and a General Public Seat. You may apply if you:

• Live or work in Contra Costa County
• Can represent an Environmental Organization (for the Enviro Org Seats Only)
• Have demonstrated interest in hazardous materials issues
• Have an awareness of, and interest in, the principles of Environmental Justice as defined in County policy
• Can attend monthly Commission and Committee meetings

The Commission is a voluntary body appointed by the Board of Supervisors and makes policy recommendations to the Board and County staff on issues concerning hazardous materials and hazardous waste.

The Commission’s 14 members and alternates serve four-year terms and include representatives of industry, labor, civic groups, environmental organizations, environmental engineers, the general public, cities and Environmental Justice communities.

For further information, contact Michael Kent, Executive Assistant to the Commission, at (925) 250-3227 or [email protected].

Applications may be obtained via the Clerk of the Board’s website: 

https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418/Appointed-Bodies-Committees-Commissions

Application Deadline November 28, 2023. Interviews for qualified applicants will take place from 10am–12pm on December 8, 2023 in person or via Zoom.

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 for 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.

Alamo-Lafayette Cemetery District https://www.alamolafayettecemetery.com/

An Independent California Special District, the Board of Trustees operates the Cemetery District, according to California law (Health and Safety Code). The District includes parts of Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, and Diablo. The Board is made up of three trustees, who serve 4 year terms. Trustees must reside within the district. Meetings are the 2^nd Monday of the month at 1pm.

Aviation Advisory Committee - https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3811/Aviation-Advisory-Committee

The Aviation Advisory Committee (AAC) was established in 1977 to provide advice and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on aviation issues related to the Contra Costa County Airports. The AAC works to advance aviation while giving those community members living and working near the Airports a chance to stay informed on Airport matters as well as voice their opinions and concerns. The AAC also provides a forum for vetting policy matters related to Buchanan Field and Byron Airports. The AAC meetings are held the second Thursday of every other month and rotate between the Concord and Byron Airports.

Alamo Police Services Advisory Committee (CSA P-2B) (terms expiring)

To advise the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff's Department on the needs of the Alamo/Danville community for police services.

County Service Area P-5 Citizen Advisory Committee (Roundhill Residents only) (terms expiring)

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

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. 

The Community Corrections Partnership is seeking applications for (1) Voting Member and up to (3) Alternate Member seats on the CAB.

For more information on CAB membership duties and activities, please visit their website contracosta.ca.gov/4165/Community-Advisory-Board-CAB.

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

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 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, with the objective of advising and providing 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 in order 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.

The Integrated Pest Management Advisory Committee is seeking applicants for two public seats. The announcement is available at https://cchealth.org/ipm/pdf/Advisory-Committee-Recruitment-2023.pdf

Application forms are available from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors or by calling (925) 655-2000. Please submit completed applications to the Department of Conservation & Development, 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553 (Attn: Robert Sarmiento) or email [email protected] with “CCTA CAC County Representative Application” in the subject line no later than November 30, 2023.