Contra Costa Board of Supervisors Observer Reports (2024)

Contra Costa Board of Supervisors Observer Reports (2024)

Type: 
News
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Board Meeting - 4/9/24

LWV Observer Name: Mary Schreiber
Date Observed:  4/9/24
Scheduled Start Time:    9 AM      Did the meeting start on time?  Yes, went into closed session until approximately 9:30 AM

Number of Members:      5               All Present?     Yes      

Procedural Issues:
Meets Brown Act Requirements:
  • Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance?     Yes     On-Line:  Yes
  • Agenda clearly stated items to be discussed?  Yes
  • Provided background information to the public via links in the agenda or otherwise? Yes
  • Maintained civil conduct: attentive, courteous and open to varied opinions? Yes
  • Provided adequate time for public input? Yes, two minutes per speaker per item.
  • Appeared members were prepared? Yes
  • Appeared that an action item, not put on agenda for closed session, was discussed in closed session vs. in public session?   No                            
  • Took any unusual action?  No                                       
  • Unacceptable behavior? No
Substantive Issues relevant to League program:       
  • Health Care: D.2.  Healthcare expansion
  • Social Safety Net: D.1. Head Start, D.2. Healthcare coverage expansion, C.2. Child Abuse Prevention
Presentations
  • Pr.1. Recognizing the participants of the 2024 Certified Election Observer Program. One of the participants is Nancy Bocanegro, LWVDV member.
  • Pr.2. Proclaiming April 21-27 as National Crime Victims' Rights week.
  • Pr.3. Presentation recognizing April 2024 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
  • Pr. 4. Declaring April 19, 2024 as Education and Sharing Day in Contra Costa County.  Presentation by Rabbis in Contra Costa County. Education day celebrated a couple days before Passover.
Discussion Items
  • D.1. Accept monthly Head Start Program update.
  • D.2. Accept report from the Healthcare Work Group on healthcare expansion and direct on next steps.
Presentation given by Roxanne Garza, Gilbert Salinas and Anna Roth.
  • Federal CARES Act funding that was used to fund health care has ended. The Healthcare Work Group is proposing solutions to provide healthcare.
  • Health Care Options Presentation
  • Supervisor questions answered. Public comments given.
  • There was some discussion but Supervisors mostly supportive.
  • Accepted the report; adopted the recommendations as presented; supported future efforts to ensure funding.
  • Passed 5-0
Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them? Yes
Any recommendations for local League action on issues or on behaviors observed?  No

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Board Meeting - 3/26/24

LWV Observer Name: Mary Schreiber
Date Observed: 3/26/24
Scheduled Start Time:    9 AM      Did the meeting start on time?  Yes, started at 9:05 am. No closed session.

Number of Members:      5               All Present?     No, SupervisorGioiaabsent 

Procedural Issues:
Meets Brown Act Requirements:
  • Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance?     Yes     On-Line:  Yes
  • Agenda clearly stated items to be discussed?  Yes
  • Appeared that an action item, not put on agenda for closed session, was discussed in closed session vs. in public session?    No                  
Notes/Comments:
  • Pr. 1. Presentation proclaiming April 2024 as Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Month and recognize Cynthia Chavez for 30 years of service.
  • Pr. 2. Presentation recognizing Kathy Marsh, Director of Children and Family Services on her retirement after 30 years of service in Contra Costa County.
  • D.1. Hearing to consider adopting Ordinance 2024-4 amending the County's ordinance code to update device registration fees for the inspection of commercial weighing and measuring devices.  Approved 4-0.
  • D.2. Hearing on the abatement costs for property located at 4560 Gateway Road. Bethel Island. Approved 4-0.
  • D.3. Hearing on the abatement costs for property in unincorporated Contra Costa County located on a vacant lot on San Pablo Avenue, Rodeo. Approved 4-0.
  • D.4. Hearing to consider the appeal of the County Planning Commission's denial of the Windover Apartments project, located on Windover way in unincorporated Martinez area.
    • Consider approving the project, including a density bonus, approving a development plan including a mitigate negative declaration and related actions. Consider adopting a community benefits agreement related to the project.
    • Public commenters opposed this development project.
    • Approved 4-0, overriding denial by Planning Commission and accepting staff recommendation.
  • D.5. Hearing to consider the appeal of the County Planning Commission's approval of a 2 story, 1,400 square foot residential addition at 3455 Freeman Road in the unincorporated Lafayette area and consider approving the project, including approving a small lot design review plan, and related actions.
    • Appellant not present; Supervisor Andersen addressed the concerns outlined in a letter submitted.
    • Two public commenters spoke in support of the homeowners.
    • Project approved 4-0
  • D.7. Public comment
  • D.8. Board reports.
  • 11:00 am: 30th Annual Cesar A. Chavez Celebration
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Board Meeting - 3/19/24

LWV Observer Name: Mary Schreiber
Date Observed:  3/19/24
Scheduled Start Time:    9 AM      Did the meeting start on time?  Yes, went into closed session until approximately 9:30 AM

Number of Members:      5               All Present?     Yes      

Procedural Issues:
Meets Brown Act Requirements:
  • Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance?     Yes     On-Line:  Yes
  • Agenda clearly stated items to be discussed?  Yes
  • Provided background information to the public via links in the agenda or otherwise? Yes
Substantive Issues relevant to League program:       
  • Social Safety Net: PR. 1. Food Bank, D.3. And D.4. Head Start
  • DEI: C. 21 Measure X Community Advisory Board
Notes/Comments:
  • Legal notice from closed session: Board ratified filing of a cross-appeal in the case of Sierra Club, et al vs. California Department of Water Resources, Sacramento Superior Court.
  • Supervisor Gioia requested item C. 21 be pulled for discussion.
  • Supervisor Andersen recused from item C.107 due to financial conflict of interest (State Farm).
Presentations
  • PR. 1 Recognizing the employees of Contra Costa County and the 2023 Counties Care Holiday Food Fight
  • PR. 2. Declaring April 2024 Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in Contra Costa County
Discussion Items
  • D.1. Hearing on proposed implementation of the property tax cost recovery provisions of the Revenue and Recovery Taxation Code 95.3. Consider adopting report from the Auditor-Controller.  Consider approving resolution 2024-86 regarding implementation of Revenue and Taxation Code 95.3. Passed 5-0.
  • D.2. Receive report from the Interdepartmental Climate Taskforce. Accepted 5-0.
  • D.3. Authorize the Department of Health and Human Services Director or designee to submit a grant application to the Office of Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start.
  • D.4 Receive the Head Start Governance Training for the Board of Supervisors as required by the Head Start Act and Head Start Performance Standards.
  • C. 21. Appoint eleven members to the Measure X Community Advisory Board, declare vacancies in the District IV alternate a d District V alternate, direct the Clerk of the Board to post the vacancies as recommended by the Finance Committee.
    Adopted as amended to appoint Jim Donnelly to the At-large alternate position on the Measure X Community Advisory Board.
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Board Meeting - 1/30/24

LWV Observer Name: Mary Schreiber 
Date Observed:  January 30, 2024
Scheduled Start Time:    9:30  AM      Did the meeting start on time?  Yes

Number of Members:      5               All Present?     Yes       

Procedural Issues:
Meets Brown Act Requirements:
  • Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance?     Yes     On-Line:  Yes 
  • Agenda clearly stated items to be discussed?  Yes
  • Provided background information to the public via links in the agenda or otherwise? Yes
  • Maintained civil conduct: attentive, courteous and open to varied opinions? Yes
  • Provided adequate time for public input? Yes, two minutes per commenter for each item.
  • Appeared members were prepared? Yes
  • Appeared that an action item, not put on agenda for closed session, was discussed in closed session vs. in public session?   No                     
  • Discussed any controversial topic?  No           
  • Took any unusual action?   No                                       
  • Unacceptable behavior? No
Substantive Issues relevant to League program priorities:        
  • Social Safety Net 
  • DEI

Notes/Comments: 

Special Meeting-Board Retreat 
  • Meeting held in Council Chamber, Pittsburg City Hall
  •  Welcome from the city of Pittsburg: city manager Darron Hall

D.1.Accept report from Beacon Economics given by Christopher Thornberg.  He reported on broad trends:  National, California and Contra Costa County.  He emphasized the need for more housing which he says can be achieved by changes in zoning. 

Public comment included Mariana Moore who pointed out that Dr Thornberg does not take into account inequities and the number of low income residents in our county. 

Marla Stuart gave an update on the Social Services in the County. 

D.2. Accept report on development drivers and considerations for FY 2024-2025 and beyond. Monica Nino, County Administrator. Because of the deficit at the state level there are expected to be clawbacks of funding from the state for projects such as the Pittsburg Library.

Adam Nguyen, County Finance Director. Some discussion about Measure X funds. Sup. Andersen wants  Measure X funds to be part of the regular budget process. She is also concerned about the needs assessment process going forward, with additional assessments. Sup. Gioia has a different view of how the MXCAB works, with community discussion about allocations based on the needs assessment. 

Tim Ewell,  Assistant County Administrator

Public Comment speakers Mariana Moore, Roxanne Carillo, Ruth Fernandez 

D.3. Accept report on capital projects. 

D.4.  Receive report from Budget Justice Coalition. Sarah Gurdian, Program Director Budget Justice Coalition and Ryan Fukumori, Policy Link Senior Associate

Public comment speakers: Stephanie Taddeo, Mariana Moore, Ruth Fernandez, First 5 Contra Costa,  Jan; Doug Leach, Multi-Faith Action Coalition. Written commentary was provided by Kevin Burke (attached).  

D.5. Receive update and provide direction from the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice 2024 priorities.  Kendra Carr and Peter Kim, Co-directors. 

Public comment speakers: Mariana Moore and Doug Leach 

Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them? Yes.
  • The tone was more collegial than some in the past, due to changes made in the process.
  • There were no calls during public comment from individuals who in the past called multiple times during the meeting to criticize the Supervisors and presenters. 

Any recommendations for local League action on issues or on behaviors observed?   No

This article is related to which committees: 
LWV Diablo Valley Observer Corps
League to which this content belongs: 
Diablo Valley