This last Tuesday’s Council meeting was a good one. We had a presentation by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) regarding their recent press release about Valero emissions violations. The presentation was followed by a brief response from Valero and then public comment. I appreciate both BAAQMD and Valero for showing up to respond to Council concerns. We are looking forward to the public hearing Tuesday, March 15, via Zoom. Please go to baaqmd.gov for more information, to sign up to receive informational updates from BAAQMD and for information regarding the hearing. Council and staff are following this closely and are committed to the safety of this community.

Coincidentally, there was another issue related to BAAQMD Tuesday night. The City has been working collaboratively with BAAQMD for some time to approve a location for a community air monitoring station in the City. At the meeting, that location (near the Benicia Fire Museum) was approved, and that project will move forward. This is in addition to the Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP) station that is already now up and running (see more about that here: https://www.fenceline.org/bcamp/). Also, Valero has air monitoring data available here: https://beniciarefineryairmonitors.org/measurements/html.

Next week, we’ll go into detail regarding the City’s efforts on monitoring, reporting, communicating and responding to emissions related issues across the city.

Though it didn’t get as much attention as the air quality issues, there was also an important workshop regarding the state of our roads. As a result of that meeting, staff was directed to gather more information, clarify several questions from Council Members and look into ways to finance much needed improvement to our roads system. Staff will return in the next month or so with the information Council needs to make a decision on the path forward regarding this critical issue. I will be sure to let you know when it is coming back on the agenda.

The PowerPoint presentation from BAAQMD and the streets presentation can be found here: https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/vertical/Sites/%7BF991A639-AAED-4E1A-9735-86EA195E2C8D%7D/uploads/Handouts_3-1-22.pdf

Finally, I’m very proud to say that the Committee United for Racial Equity (CURE) had their first meeting last week. This meeting was devoted to special training regarding the Brown Act, the election of the Chair and Vice Chair, establishing a schedule of future meetings and other important foundational work. The staff report and minutes can be found here: https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas, under Available Archives.

I would like to thank the City Council, Dr. Maliika Chambers, Deputy City Manager Mario Giuliani, Management Analyst Teri Davena and the new CURE members: Chair Andre Stewart, Vice Chair Amira Barger, Jorge Castaneda, Nimat Grantham, Gigi Villanueva, Council Member Trevor Macenski and Council Member Christina Strawbridge.

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