Number of Members: 5 All Present? No # Absent? 1
- Meets Brown Act Requirements.
- Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance.
Director Anna Roth presented PPT about the needs of the Health Services for expansion. Dr. Samir Shah: CCRMC built for 26,000, twenty years ago and now serves over 140,000 in care and expect another 50% growth in the future.
Dr. Ori Tzivielli: There is a need for a public health lab. The current space cannot handle the electrical needs, it’s crowded, lacking storage space, creating unsafe conditions. The lab is key to all hospitals in the area to provide testing for COVID sent to Martinez.
Final Measure X Appropriation Adjustment
As far as the League’s emphasis on meeting the needs of marginalized community members in the County, the PPT shares some significant information about how CCRMC is focused on these community members. Indeed, the CCRMC earned the 2021 Quality Leaders Award for its COVID Equity Initiative which successfully closed the gap, with the big help of community partners across the County, in meeting the vaccinations for marginalized population. Currently 77.7% of residents are fully vaccinated. Of those, 25% have received boosters.
Our County is one of 3000 in the U.S. and there are only thirty that have better COVID statistics than Contra Costa.
Public comments were in regards to process of the BOS’s decision making and about being more transparent in its process. Some concern that the BOS was just following a previously made “Master Plan.” If this was what was happening, MXCAB members would have appreciated knowing this in advance.
After comments by BOS present (Supervisor Burgis is absent due to the death of her husband), the BOS voted. All 4 accepted the proposal and passed the one-time funding to the CCCRMC expansion.
Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them? Yes
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Board Meeting - 12/7/21
Number of Members: 5 All Present? Yes
- Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance? 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
- Appeared members were prepared? Yes
- Discussed any controversial topic? No
- Making Democracy Work: Civic Ed., Redistricting
- Housing and/or Homelessness
- Health Care: COVID
- Civil Discourse
- Map will be finalized December 15.
- Public caller on D.1. Stated the presenter from the independent commission was disrespectful because she left the meeting after her presentation. She made other comments including that California is becoming "Communist China. Supervisor Gioia clarified that the presenter was following the law.
- 2 million vaccine doses have been administered in CC County.
- Omicron variant has not been identified in CC County but it is in the Bay Area.
- Discussion about complaints about restaurants not complying with Public Health orders. Supervisors expressed concern about outliers that have not been fined.
- Article in East Bay Times: Contra Costa supervisors to health officials: Don’t stop fining restaurants who refuse to check COVID vaccine proof
D. 7. Update from Dept of Conservation and Development on Housing Element General Plan 2023-2031.
D.8. Resolution approving Detention Facility Modernization plan
- D. 2. Public commenters on the COVID Update were hostile and comments contained false statements and conspiracy theories as well as personal attacks on supervisors and health officials.
The protocol for public comment is that each caller has two minutes to speak. The Supervisors and County Health officials do not engage during public comment.
Chair Burgis asked Dr Farnitano if he wanted to respond. He stated he was proud that schools are doing everything they can to protect students.
Chair Burgis reminded the public that callers do not have to defend or prove their statements so listeners should ask reliable sources if they have questions.
- D.7. Supervisor Gioia did engage with a public caller about the Housing Element discussion. The caller was representing a coalition that had written a letter that Supervisor Gioia was addressing in his questions to staff. The coalition is advocating for equity.
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Board Meeting - 11/16/21
Number of Members: 5 All Present? Yes
- Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance? 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
- 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? Yes Topic: Measure X
- Housing and/or Homelessness
- Criminal Justice Reform
- Health Care
- Social Safety Net
- There were comments and questions from the Supervisors. The main disagreement is about the Sheriff’s request for funding for additional patrol for unincorporated areas, body cameras, and dashboard cameras.
- Public comment lasted for several hours. The majority of speakers want the recommendations of the Measure X Community Advisory Board and to not give any funding to the Sheriff. Some referred to the great effort of community organizations in promoting Measure X and getting it passed. It may not have been passed if voters understood that funding for law enforcement would be part of the funds.
- Callers also advocated for funding for Early Childhood services, which was not on the priority list.
- The vote was taken around 4:00 PM. Three votes were taken. Funding for Sheriff patrol officers and funding for cameras were each voted on separately.
- The main portion passed 5 to 0, funding for patrol officers passed 4 to 1, and funding for cameras failed 3 to 2.
Any recommendations for local League action on issues or on behaviors observed? No
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Board Meeting - 11/9/21
Number of Members: 5 All Present? Yes
- Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance? On-Line: yes
- Agenda clearly stated items to be discussed? Yes, however the order was changed. First, the board recognized Wilma Chan, Alameda County Supervisor, who died suddenly last week. Redistricting report was given next since this was one of the required community meetings.
- 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
- 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? yes Topic: Redistricting
- Took any unusual action? no
- Unacceptable behavior? no
- Making Democracy Work: Civic Ed., Redistricting
One caller during public comment took issue with the fact that at the beginning of the meeting the Supervisors discussed Wilma Chan, longtime public servant in Alameda County who died last week. The caller objected to recognition of a person that is not a county resident. She also objected to the presentation in recognition of Veterans Day was not done at the beginning of the meeting. She also made reference to “Communist China TV”. This caller also stated that she is from Taiwan and made negative comments about Asians in Contra Costa.
Supervisor Burgis stated that it is Contra Costa County TV, not Communist China TV and encouraged people to ask if they do not understand an abbreviation being used.
Supervisor Gioia clarified that Wilma Chan was a Bay Area leader whose work benefited Contra Costa County, the Bay Area, and California. He also stated that that some of the callers’ comments were not appropriate.
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Board Meeting - 10/5/21
by Mary Schreiber
My observations about Civil Discourse: The Supervisors and staff who spoke were respectful and appropriate even when public callers were accusing them of not doing the appropriate research and making other false accusations. My concern is that if this meeting were held in person there might be more disruption.
Call to order. Redistricted presentation was done first to keep it as close to 9:00 AM as possible.
Presentation proclaiming October 2021 as Head Start Awareness month.
- Consent items: Monica Nino requested items C. 21 and C. 22 be moved to the agenda for the BOS meeting for next week.
- Public comments on consent items: Several comments about consent item C. 64 which authorizes Mobile COVID testing for employees. Comments were concerning students being tested. After comments it was clarified that COVID testing is for employees who have not been vaccinated. Students will not be tested in schools.
- Public comment was pro and con. Several callers commented that COVID pandemic is not real and the government is restricting rights. Others expressed appreciation for the safety of teleconference meetings and requested that some access continue after restrictions are lifted.
- Resolution passed
Karen Mitchoff elected as Chair and Federal Glover as Vice Chair
- Erika Jensson gave an update on COVID numbers: 82% of adults over 18 are fully vaccinated. Case rate and hospitalization rates are dropping.
- There will be a vaccine mandate for students starting in 2022.
- There are strong recommendations for pregnant people to get vaccinated.
- Gilbert Salinas gave an update on outreach efforts to communities with low vaccination rates. The Equity team with COVID Community Ambassadors and MRC volunteer vaccinators has been doing weekly pop-up clinics in Antioch with good success.
- Ori Tzveli MD gave an update on boosters. People can go to MyTurn.ca.gov to make an appointment for COVID vaccination including boosters.
- Public Comment: Several people called and made comments including false information about the science, vaccine safety, and the mandates.
- Supervisor Comments: Supervisor Gioia commented that misinformation will continue to be corrected. “You can say 2+2=5 all you want and I will continue to correct.” Supervisor Mitchoff commented about a caller who had referred to Nazis. Stated she had received a similar email and that comparisons to the Holocaust are unacceptable.
- D.5. Traffic resolution
- D.6. Hearing regarding resolution to creation of Zone 14 county service area in Bay Point
- D.7. Hearing regarding authorizing levy of special tax for Zone 14 and fixing election on December 7, 2021 for voter approval.
- D. 8. Hearing regarding formation of Zone 1517 in unincorporated Walnut Creek for P-6 police services.
- D. 9. Hearing regarding authorizing levy of special tax for Zone 1517 and fixing election on December 7, 2021.
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Board Meeting - 9/21/21
Number of Members: 5 All Present? Yes (Mitchoff on phone)
- Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance? 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
- 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
- Unacceptable behavior? No
- Housing and/or Homelessness: D4 and D5 issue about tenant evictions and temporary help in rent payments related to COVID, Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP/Temporary Rental Assistance Program (TRAP). Eviction defense funding needed. Public wants extension of eviction protections. This is a racial justice issue - black and undocumented are at greatest risk, substantial digital divide. 1.8M Californians behind on rent, with low income communities most at risk. Moratoriums must be balanced keeping in mind the needs of landlords as well. Decision about extending the eviction moratorium
- D4: Unanimous Yes
- D6: 3 No, 2 Yes-Does not pass.
Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them? Yes
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Board Meeting: Redistricting - 8/10/21
LWV Observers: Mary Schreiber and Shawn Gilbert
Number of Members: 5 All Present? Yes
- Meets Brown Act Requirements: Yes
- Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance? 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
- 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
- Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them?Yes
- Making Democracy Work: Civic Ed., Redistricting
- Item D.1. Hearing on the 2021 Redistricting Process: This is the first public hearing on Redistricting. Dedicated County redistricting website is up and running and will be there for the next 10 years. CA adjusted redistricting data (used for County redistricting process) will be released in September. Public can submit maps once data is released. County cannot release maps until 21 days after the state date is released.
- Any recommendations for local League action on issues or on behaviors observed? Promote the BOS efforts to get out the information about the public hearings about redistricting so that more public awareness of the process and input can be gathered and given in order to draw fair redistricting maps.
- This was a good overview of redistricting and the efforts to make the process and accessible to the public. Coming up are District trainings for the public in how to use and navigate the Redistricting Tool.
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Board Meeting - 7/30/21
by Janet Hoy, Observer
Number of Members: 5 All Present? Yes
- Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance? Not known 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 (although callers did not remain civil!)
- Provided adequate time for public input? Yes
- 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? Topic: local law enforcement and ICE coordination.
- Unacceptable behavior? No (only from public making comments)
- Making Democracy Work: Civic Education, Redistricting. Convening community Forum about access to ICE and costs associated with coordination between local and federal law enforcement agencies, disproportional impact on communities of color: potential violation of CA Values Act (state resources cannot be used for federal immigration detentions and deportations). Specific questions for Sheriff’s Department, and Sheriff’s Department responded.
- Health Care: Discussion about vaping and its medical impacts; what are other cities/counties/state/feds doing? Moved to prohibit sale of electronic smoking devices and flavored cartridges – passed (4 to 1).
- COVID: Equity Strike team in force to focus on communities of color, significant uptick in cases and hospitalizations, mostly impacting unvaccinated, Delta variant dominate strain, outbreak in detention centers.
- Did the agency promote rules publicly and enforce them? Yes
-
Any recommendations for local League action on issues or on behaviors observed? Need to educate public on the need for civil discourse in public comments (!)
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Board Meeting - 7/13/21
LWV Observer Name: Janet Hoy
Number of Members: 5 All Present? Yes
- Agenda was posted 72 hours in advance? 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
- 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? Yes - Body cams for Sheriff’s department - need protocols for appropriate use.
- Unacceptable behavior? No
- Making Democracy Work: Civic Education, Redistricting
- Climate Change, including water issues: Questions about water access for Tassajara Parks Residential project
- Housing and/or Homelessness: Lack of affordable housing options in Tassajara project.
- Criminal Justice Reform: Probation report: significantly fewer youth in custody but significant majority are youth of color. Presented options for youth housing.
- Item C31- new security staff and equip for County administration building (post COVID opening). $1.2M would be added to the Sheriff’s budget. (Passed unanimously.)
- Item C 37 - Sheriff ‘s request: Wants approval to apply for a $1.4M Federal grant to obtain body cameras for officers. Would re-pay over 4 years. (Issue is data storage costs). Requests matching funding from County. Question: what are policies about how data will be used? Sherriff will send policy to Board- already in force. (Passed unanimously.)
