by Mary Schreiber, Action Committee chair 

Welcome and Introductions

Present: Marian Morris, Leslie Stewart, Marielle Boortz, Jonee Grassi, Anne Granlund, Carolyn Bowden, Susan Hildreth, Bill Spier, Bill Smith, Emily Hopkins, Shawn Gilbert, Paul Derksen, Diane Bianchi, Mary Schreiber

Issue Areas

• Melanie Speir interviewed Kevin Wilke, Mayor of Walnut Creek. WC stopped allowing Zoom public comment because of hate speech. There is a person from the Central Valley who has been attending the meetings in person to make derogatory and hateful comments about Mayor Wilke. People from the Contra Costa Interfaith Coalition have attended the meeting once and may do so again.
• There was discussion about the Brown Act and the gray area around free speech about elected officials. Disruptive behavior is not allowed but offensive behavior is allowed. Because cities and other entities do not want expensive lawsuits, it is unlikely that the current situation will change.

• Reported that the Martinez Refinery Company (MRC) spent catalyst incident report is on the County Website. There is a new warning system proposed the alert residents about incidents. Everyone should sign up for Watch Duty which is an alert system.
• Two DVC students have joined the Haz Mat Commission. One is interested in carbon sequestration and one is interested in green business models.
• There was discussion about the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and California Air Resources Board (CARB).
• AB 617 established the Community Air Protection Program (CAPP). Currently there are community representatives on the committee but no business or union representatives, so it probably will not pass as it is now.

• Concord Rent Stabilization, Just Cause for Eviction in effect April 19. See: Concord Press Release
• Bill Spier submitted his Observer Report on the CNWS Concord City Council meeting on March 17. The term sheet from Lennar was accepted unanimously.

• There is a budget meeting scheduled for April 22 and 24. The final vote on the budget will take place in May.
• Agenda for Special Meeting April 22, 2024

• May 9 event at Lafayette Library: Remedies for a Broken Healthcare System

• LWVDV Annual Meeting: Jun 1, 2024 at the Pleasant Hill Community Center at 10 AM.
• Bill Smith attended a meeting about bicycles in Concord. There was a good turnout but bicycle lanes are more difficult to get in Concord that Alameda.
• LWVC Bill Status Report
• Community Conversation: May 16, 2024 - Demise of Local Journalism. This will be the last program until August.

Next meeting: May 18, 2024