Board Meeting – 12/8/20

by Janet Hoy, Observer

• Vaccination plan on website/CDPH Allocation Guidelines and local County task force for local considerations and ethical lens
•  20K deaths in CA, 33K new cases yesterday in CA, 3800 new cases in Bay area; 18.7 case rate per 100K citizens; positivity rate doubled since Oct; 138 patients in CCC hospitals
• 12% who test positive will require hospitalization; 24% will require ICU care

• Number of new cases last month more than doubled; number of cases sick enough to require hospital tripled
• Every 17 days number of hospital patients doubling
• Huge surge of new infections over Thanksgiving; by X-Mas day we may have twice as many in hospitals
• Could not wait for state 15% ICU bed trigger- needed to act now to reduce potential cases. If 60 people get hospitalized, 15 will go to ICU, 10 will go on life support and 5 will die- half measures not enough.
• Concerned about facility staffing adequacy.
• Vaccine: may get shipment next week- expect 10K doses-committee to determine who gets it /prioritization.
• Overwhelming logistical challenges but have many partners and experience in flu and other vax programs.
• Prioritization: long term care health workers, those with medical conditions and essential workers, everyone else
• Looking through ethical lens- communities with disproportional access and impact.
• CA and CCC have adequate freezer capacity.

Discussion about elevating teachers to essential workers - should get vax priority if school has a plan to stay open.

Discussion re: fines for businesses who fail to comply with COVID regs and who will monitor - law enforcement or code enforcement?  Want to look at approaches from other cities in area- all in agreement.

Discussion about amending CCC General Plan re: Saranac Village

• Approx. $650K in Community Benefit dollars expected.
• Discussion whether to split dollars between all districts or just those with active cannabis operations.
• No public comment.
• Unanimous vote to allocate dollars to districts with active cannabis operations.

• BOS voted unanimously to put forward the Contract to hire Monica Nino as County Administrative Officer (CAO), effective in January 2021. David Twa will be kept on for a few months of transition.
• Twenty-two speakers (all from Labor), spoke strongly against hiring her because of her record with labor issues in San Joaquin County. 
• The Board response was that Contra Costa County has developed good relations with county employees over the years, and that will continue. Ms. Nino will take direction from the BOS.

Click here for minutes.

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Board Meeting – 11/17/20

By Kathleen Carroll and Marian Shostrom, Observers

Unanimous vote toappeal this case to the California Supreme Court:  CCC Fire Protection District v. Public Employment Relations Board, California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Two, Case No. A156897

Spanish Translator available in chambers for those who want to make public comment in Spanish.

• Anna Roth and Dr. Chris Farnitano gave an update on COVID19.
• Contra Costa is in the Purple Tier (as is 94% of CA population). Sobering hospitalization statistics: October 16: 21; November 16: 48; November 17: 63

• Presentation by District Attorney Diana Becton on changes in DA Office Policies
• Diversion program, grants, partnership
• Other Post Employment Actuarial Valuation Report as of June 30, 2020.

• Board voted unanimously to approve: CONSIDER staff recommendations for the allocation of Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus 3 (CDBG-CV3) funds. APPROVE a Substantial Amendment to the County's FY 2019/20 CDBG Annual Action Plan to allocate an additional $4,292,960 in CDBG-CV3 funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020, to the following: 
• $3,160,000 to Shelter, Inc., for an emergency rental assistance program. 
• $640,000 to ECHO Housing for tenant/landlord counseling and related legal services. Use $40,000-$80,000 for Outreach, if necessary.
• $492,960 to the County’s Department and Conservation and Development for general program administration.
• See: RECOMMENDATION

• Voted unanimously to enact a temporary moratorium (45 days) on industrial hemp cultivation, so that Sheriff, Conservation, and Agriculture departments propose permanent legislation.
  See: Ordinance

• Voted unanimously to continue an Urgency Ordinance continuing a temporary prohibition of certain kinds of evictions of small businesses.
  See: Draft Urgency Ordinance
  See: Ordinance 2020-26

AGENDA OF MEETING

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Board Meeting – 11/10/20

by Mary Schreiber and Marian Shostrom, Observers

• Anna Roth and Dr. Chris Farnitano gave an update on COVID19.
• Contra Costa is back in the Red Tier.
• Residents are urged to continue to follow Health Services Order

• Announcement of the launch of the "2020 Counties Care Holiday Food Fight". The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties is serving 280,000 people each month.

• Unanimously accepted a report from the Health Services Director, and adopted Resolution No. 2020/306, declaring Racism as a Public Health Crisis within Contra Costa County.
  
  
• Unanimously adopted a plan to establish a County Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice and launch a community planning process to determine how to structure the Office and prioritize its work. The San Francisco Foundation raised $250,000 to support the planning process, which is estimated to go through May 2021. The Contra Costa Regional Healthcare Foundation is the fiscal sponsor for the planning process.
  Concept Proposal for Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice
  Community Planning Process Working Plan

• Unanimously accepted the Final Census Report by Matt Lardner, Outreach Coordinator
  Final Census Report
  
  Final Census PowerPoint
• County exceeded 2010 Self-Response - Rate: 77.4%
• Increased response in hard-to-count populations
• Strengthened relationships with Community-Based Organizations

LINK TO AGENDA OF MEETING

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Board Meeting 11/3/20 

by Mary Schreiber 

Agenda

• There is an increase in case rates, and there may be a change in tier from orange to red.
• The increase is in people age 19-50. These are people who need to leave their homes.  
• Trends are being watched closely and working with contact tracers to identify trends. 
• Refer to the COVID-19 dashboard on the county website for detailed information.
• Testing is increased. 
• San Pablo has the highest case rate. There is a community event scheduled for Saturday, November 7 with COVID-19 testing, flu shots and groceries across the street at St Vincent De Paul for those who qualify. 
• Dr Farnitano notes that there are shifting positivity rates and patterns which they are monitoring. 
• Community data meetings will be taking place for members of the public who wish more data. 

• Ordinance 2020-27 passed unanimously. 

• Development approved with modification of deck. Passed unanimously. 

• Passed unanimously. 

• Election for voter approval 1/5/2021. Passed unanimously. 

• Passed unanimously. 

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Board of Supervisors Meeting - 10/13/20

by Marian Shostrom, Observer

• The Board, in closed session, unanimously agreed to join a lawsuit against the State of California over the Delta tunnel project.
• Item C74 on the Consent Calendar, was deferred to a future date: "APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, to extend the term from October 31, 2020 through October 30, 2021 for continued emergency ambulance service in the County’s Emergency Response Area IV. (Nonfinancial agreement)" (See Contract Extension #23-055-23 with San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.)

• Anna Roth and Dr. Ori Tzvelli gave an update on COVID19.
• Contra Costa hopes to move to Orange Tier in early November.
• Schools can choose to hold in-person classes, following State guidelines.
• You should be tested if: exposed to Covid19, attended large gathering, work as first responder.

LINK TO AGENDA OF MEETING

LINK TO VIDEO OF MEETING

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Board of Supervisors Meeting - 9/29/20

by Kathy Carroll and Mary Schreiber

*Note: A professional translator provided services to callers.

• The Board considered Ordinance 2020-26, which added amendments to eviction Ordinance 2020-25, which passed last week.
• The Board unanimously extended protections for commercial tenants for 60 days to November 30, with a grace period to March 31.
• Public comment: Most commercial tenants favored continuation.  Most residential tenants also favored continuation and many asked for multilingual outreach and tenant education about eviction ordinances.
• The Board voted 4-1 to make no changes to residential eviction protections. See attachments: Ordinance 2020-26 and 2020-25

• CD will be in place for 5 years, may terminate after 3 years, or be extended.
• Court experts and PLO will monitor progress every 6 months.
• County will report on progress every 6 months.
• CD will be enforced by the Court.
• County must provide funds to comply with CD.
• New Admin Management policy.
• Suicide watch provided 24/7.
• Individual care plans for mental health patients.
• Pharmacist available 7 days/week.
• Provide dental care screenings and exams.
• Increase out-of-cell time.

CONSIDER approving and authorizing the County Administrator and County Counsel to execute a Consent Decree settlement agreement with the Prison Law Office regarding the operation of County detention facilities, including the execution and filing of such other documents, pleadings and agreements as are necessary to comply with the terms of the settlement agreement. (Sharon Anderson, County Counsel)

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Board of Supervisors Meeting - 9/22/20

by Kathy Carroll and Mary Schreiber                           

• Voters can register and vote same day at any voting site.
• 75% of CC voters already vote by mail.
• CCC using new electronic ballot tracking and poll pad systems.
• Oct 5: ballots sent out.
• Drop boxes unlocked and available 24/7.
• One in-person early-voting site opened in Martinez.
• Oct 30:  All early voting sites open.

Presentation by the Clerk-Recorder regarding Vote by Mail and in-person voting for the November Presidential Election and commemorating significant elections historical events: Elections Presentation.

• Demands accelerated action on the climate crisis and asks all County agencies to address it, including:
  • Supporting the state’s climate action goals
  • Establishing departmental task forces to urgently implement the Climate Action Plan and reporting back to the BOS twice/year beginning March 2021
  • Developing land use policies to facilitate community gardens, urban gardens, and farmers’ markets
  • Requiring all new construction to be fully electric
  • Considering racial justice and social equity in all CAP policies
  • Seek community input to anticipate and plan for a fossil-fuel independent economy with special attention to frontline and impacted communities.
  • Public comments: 29 in support, 1 opposed. Resolution 2020/256 passed unanimously. 

• Prop 20:  Restricts parole for certain non-violent offenses
• Prop 21:  Expands rent control on residential property  

Board voted unanimously to continue to take No Position on both propositions. 

• Authorizes a temporary prohibition on certain residential eviction and also a moratorium on residential rent increases:
  • Continues moratorium on rent increases
  • Applies no matter what date the tenant moved in
  • Allows for additional tenants in residence if due to Covid
  • Exceptions: single family homes, condos, townhouses
  • Retroactive to Sept 1,2020
  • Ends Jan. 31, 2021
  • Public Comment: (13) involved requests for multilingual outreach and education, closing loopholes in AB3088.
  • County Counsel was asked to provide information at Oct. 20 BOS meeting on how to obtain funding for tenant legal services.
  • Urgency Ordinance 2020-25 passed unanimously with a motion request for County Counsel to provide amendments at next week’s meeting to address “curable” (minor breaches) just cause evictions.                       

• Criteria for moving to red tier has been met. If criteria are met for one more week, business allowed at red tier can open.
• Opening schools safely: if we stay in the red tier, K-12 schools can open with precautions on Oct 12.
• Hotel in Pittsburg opening for homeless people affected by COVID through Project Roomkey.
• Essential workers should be tested monthly.
• Order issued to require health partners (e.g. Kaiser, John Muir Health) to provide testing for essential workers on demand.

LWVDV statement: Mary Schreiber read statement from LWVDV president Suzan Requa acknowledging with appreciation the recognition given to LWV for its 100 years anniversary by County Clerk-Recorder.

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Board of Supervisors Meeting - 9/15/20

by Melanie Speir

• It takes 1-2 days to get COVID test results. Phone numbers/email addresses provided for appointments. 
• Flu shots (not coronavirus) will be available starting Oct. 1 in County Clinics. 

• CA State provides updated coronavirus numbers for each County on Tuesdays which determine when and what the County can open up. (Note: The state has a 10-day data lag, so CCC numbers are now slightly lower.)
• State uses two criteria:
  • Coronavirus cases to be at 7% per 1000 CCC is at 7.1%
  • Positivity rate needs at 4.7%. CCC is well below that.
  • Counties need to meet these criteria for two consecutive Tuesdays in order to transition to the next level. CCC is in currently at purple level.
  • CCC expects to meet the State criterion next Tuesday, and be able to transition to the red level the week after that.
  • CCC has aligned its social distancing health order with the state’s reopening rules for business and activities. The new order will begin 9/16/20. This means that personal care services will be allowed outdoors and professional sports without a live audience will be allowed and social groups may gather outside with 12-person limit.
  • When CCC moves to the red level, no school waivers will be needed for reopening.

• Passed with three provisions:  that items involving Marsh Creek, The Ranch, Juvenile Hall and the Miles Hall Mental Health Pilot Program be discussed later.
• David Twa, County Administrator provided some background and listed expenses paid by Cares Act funds.  The Cares Act funds will be exhausted by Dec. 31. Additional funding will be needed in 2021-23:  costs are increasing while available funds are decreasing.
• Public Discussion:
  • Transparency of BOS budget making process challenged and discussed.
  • Objections were made to allocation of Care Act funds to Sheriff’s Office.
  • Supervisor Anderson interrupted public comment to clarify that Cares funds were used to reimburse the Sheriff’s Department for COVID services provided in the jails. She acknowledged that this reimbursement had freed up SD funds to hire new deputies, but maintained that those funds had not come from Cares funds.
  • Several speakers said more funds are desperately needed for educational, mental health, housing and health care.

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Board of Supervisors Meeting - 9/8/20

 by Mary Schreiber

Consent items passed unanimously.

• D.1.  Consider authorizing the County Administrator, or designee, to execute contract renewals with the NonPERS Medical, Dental, Vision, Computer Vision Care and Life Insurance carriers for the period of Jan 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2021.

Passed unanimously.

• D.2. Consider adopting Resolution No. 2020/13 to rename the Clerk-Recorder Building located at 555 Escobar Street in Martinez as “The Stephen L. Weir Clerk-Recorder Building”

All supervisors expressed their appreciation for Steve Weir’s long career and many contributions. His excellence in managing Elections services and his welcoming of same sex marriages were two of his achievements.

• D.3. 1. Consider COVID-19 update and provide direction to staff.

Health Department

• Dr Roth: toured County Hospital last week. Commended staff and leadership for progress and innovation in caring for COVID patients.
• Changes in COVID-19 since last BOS report 8/11/20: 14,712 positive cases, >212,000 tests done. Positive rate 6.2%
• Color-coded categories now being used by state. Contra Costa is purple.
• Areas of concern include Bay Point and San Pablo with rates twice as high as the rest of the state. Antioch, El Sobrante and Pittsburg also higher.
• Health Department working with communities to improve process.
• We are doing 1500 tests/day; goal is 2800/day.
• New social media toolkits on website targeting Latinx and young people.
• Testing capacity improved; results now back in 3-5 days.
• High risk individuals should be tested monthly.
• Congregate living facilities are high priority for testing. Currently there are 32 active outbreaks. Learning and training program has been started with Contra Costa Health Foundation for senior care facilities.
• Detention facility is screening all inmates on intake and testing all staff monthly.
• 215 Case and contract tracers now working.
• Increase in rate in young people is mostly due to work. 
• Homeless population: Project Roomkey is at 95% capacity and is available only to people affected by COVID. Housing, healthcare, behavioral health, laundry services are provided.

• We are flattening the curve and improving.
• New state framework for monitoring COVID with blueprint for businesses opening step by step 1-4. Purple to orange/yellow.
• Numbers are updated weekly on Tuesday with numbers from previous week.
• Schools are currently only open with waiver.11 private schools are open. 
• If trend continues schools can open without waiver early October at the soonest.
• We need to be at 7 cases/100K and we are currently 10.8 cases/100K.
• Antigen tests becoming available. They are cheaper and faster but less sensitive than DNA testing.
• Nursing homes using Point of Care testing to manage outbreaks.
• Need to continue progress to slow the spread. Face coverings, social distancing, hand washing.
• Flu shots coming.

• Concerned about high number in San Pablo and the Highway 4 corridor. Also public transit-are precautions being taken?
• Dr F: Higher rates in places with essential workers and high density living quarters, carpooling, etc.
• Challenge in getting message out. Spanish radio campaign across Bay Area started.
• County Connection requiring masks. Health Dept will check with BART.
• May need to partner with advocacy groups to message about immigrant rights.

• Asked about flu shot. Dr F: Recommending mass vaccination Sept/Oct. People can get from PCP, Walgreen’s, Rite Aid.  Clinics will be set up by Health Dept.
• Asked about hotels for people who cannot isolate at home. Dr F./Anna Roth: There is only a 12% utilization rate; contact tracers report people do not want to use hotel rooms. They are being encouraged to use this option.
• Asked about new testing sites in Richmond. Anna Roth: numbers not available; drive through clinics are being added in Richmond and East County.

• Pointed out that young people have higher case numbers but people over 50 have a higher death rate. Young people need to protect their older family members.
• Asked about when people should get tested after potential exposure, especially after Labor Day holiday. Dr F: 5-7 days. People with symptoms should isolate but asymptomatic do not need to.
•  Flu Shots: Children older than 6 months should get flu vax. Higher dose available for people over 65. This will be a mass vaccination effort to keep flu hospitalizations as low as possible also as practice for COVID vaccine when available.

• Since there have been media reports about this it is important to state that deaths are from COVID and not preexisting conditions. A person in her 50s with HTN would normally live many more years and if she had COVID that is cause of death.

• People are asking about why parts of county with lower rates cannot have fewer restrictions. Dr F: People move around and work and shop, etc. in different places. The Virus travels with them.

D.3. – 2: Consider the effect of the State and Federal actions on the County’s eviction protection ordinance.  Mary Ann Mason, Chief Assistant Legal Counsel.

CDC Order on Evictions

• State law overrides local laws if it provides greater protection.
• Major component in State law is that unpaid rent is converted to consumer debt. Landlords can go to small claims court to collect.  Limit on amount of claim lifted.
• Tenant must file a declaration of reason they could not pay rent.
• Just Cause evictions-legal department is analyzing where the BOS can legislate.
• State law does not address rent increase moratorium on residential units.

Supervisors: Clarified that small property owners have some protections from mortgage foreclosures and can take tenants to small claims court.

• Several callers encouraged the BOS to continue protections against Just Cause evictions and requested county funding for education and legal aid for tenants facing evictions. 
• Several requested $325,000 in additional funds for eviction protections. Letters sent to BOS with details.

• She will prepare recommendations for BOS on urgency ordinance.
• Clarified that protections are for the entire county not just unincorporated areas.
• Protections for large commercial properties but protections for small businesses to continue.
• Greater protections for just cause evictions, i.e., if a family member not on the lease moves in due to COVID, to continue. Rent increase and no cause eviction protections to continue.
• Sup. Gioia said county website should be clearinghouse for information because there are now laws at local, state, and federal levels.
• Sup. Mitchoff wants more info about funds requested by callers.

• Caller commented on need to rename Kirker Pass Road,
• Mariana Moore from Budget Justice Coalition thanked BOS for their work.
• Requested improved public participation in BOS meetings.  Spanish translation available today is appreciated.
• Asked for more accessible and timely budget documents.

BOS will meet every Tuesday this month.

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Special Meeting - 8/21/20

by Marian Shostrom, BOS Observer Team

All five Supervisors present. (Burgis on phone only).

Agenda: Consider whether to adopt Ordinance No. 2020-23, an urgency ordinance amending the effective date of the ordinance establishing a general Countywide 0.5% sales tax, and provide appropriate direction to the Elections Department. (Timothy Ewell, Chief Assistant County Administrator)

County will be responsible for costs of printing election materials for Measure X, the County Sales Tax Measure. Clerk-Recorder Debi Cooper estimated the costs as $211,000, much lower than the original $500,000 estimate.  The County can use general fund reserve funds to pay for printing as a one-time cost, so it will have no impact on the 2020-21 County Budget.

Status of SB 1349. Passed the Senate floor in June. Referred to the Assembly Committee on Local Government. July 13-27, Capitol closed due to COVID outbreak. Bill is currently on the Assembly Floor. Positive discussions with the Governor’s Office. Amendments are being discussed with cities in Contra Costa and the Governor’s Office. The Bill should be amended this afternoon or early next week. Once passed by the Assembly Floor, the bill goes back to the Senate Floor for concurrence. End of the Legislative Session is August 31. Assembly Member Grayson is carrying the bill in the Assembly. Senator Glazer is carrying the bill for the Senate.

Important to have the bill be the same as a bill that he signed, rather than one that he vetoed.

Questions: Will there be a special session in September? There may be.

• Contra Costa Taxpayers Association: Time to pull the plug on Measure X.
• Ensuring Opportunity and 18 other community organizations sent a letter to the Governor supporting this new source of revenue. With Covid19 and the fires, we need it more now than ever.
• Resident of District 2: Where is the money going to go, in terms of fire support, and will the hospital close without this funding? Opposed to Measure X.
• Mike Arata opposes. Will there be opportunities to amend ballot arguments? There is no substantive change, so no amendments needed.

• Gioia noted that Orinda and Concord have put their sales tax measures on the ballot.
• Gioia moved to amend the emergency ordinance, and seconded by Glover.
• Mitchoff: will support the resolution
• Burgis: will support the resolution
• Glover: will support the resolution
• Andersen: will oppose the resolution.
• Motion passed, 4-1.

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For earlier reports, see:  Contra Costa Board of Supervisors - Observer Report (8/11/20 and earlier).