Unanimous decision sets things right, the way they’ve long been practiced in Antioch

By Allen Payton

Sometimes you CAN fight City Hall and win. Tonight was one example. After two weeks of Antioch residents, community leaders and this newspaper rising up and challenging the practice by Antioch Mayor Wade Harper requiring a consensus of council members to allow any one of them to get an item placed on a future council agenda, the City Council voted 5-0 to eliminate the practice.

After multiple speakers all opposing the practice to various rounds of applause from the audience, and in spite of City Manager Steve Duran’s best efforts to convince the council – although incorrectly and repeatedly – that this was a long held practice, the council decided it was best to let each individual council member represent the people who elected them, properly.

The one thing that Duran did get correct about how things were done by previous mayors, was that they would meet with their city managers to set the meeting agendas. But, no one was ever arguing that. The issue was what was being placed on the agenda and that it was not the mayor’s right to deny a council member to have their item placed on a future agenda.

Before Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchock made her motion to eliminate the practice, it appeared things were just going to remain as they have been for the past two years, with Harper and Council Members Mary Rocha and Tony Tiscareno supporting the status quo with a head nod of three council members to agree. But, with Council Member Monica Wilson stating she felt it was best for any council member to be able to place an item on the agenda and Rocha seconding Ogorchock’s motion, it was clear the motion would pass.

To support his argument that this was not a new practice, Harper pointed out one time in the 28 years prior to him being elected Mayor, when a council member didn’t get their proposal placed on the agenda. He said he watched a meeting when then-Council Member Reggie Moore tried to get his idea of a police oversight commission placed on a future agenda. Then-Mayor Don Freitas said he would speak with the city attorney about it. I’m not aware if it was ever placed on the agenda. But, even if it wasn’t that was only one time that happened.

Rocha attempted to support the same argument by reminding people of when she was Mayor, and I was on the council, and we had two council members who were part of a group of citizens that were rather controversial and caused challenges during council meetings. But, as a reminder, that wasn’t because of crazy ideas the two council members wanted or had placed on the agenda, but rather their supporters speaking on almost every agenda item, at every council meeting, causing them to last as late as 3 a.m. That’s why our council changed the public speaking time from five minutes to the current three minutes per person per agenda item.

Besides voting for the motion, the other good thing Harper did was to publicly apologize to Ogorchock for making her feel her proposal, of hiring three more Community Service Officers for the police department, would not be placed on a future agenda, during the January 13th meeting.

It was eye-opening, however, to learn from an additional survey city staff conducted in the past two days, that other cities in Contra Costa County follow the practice of requiring a consensus of council members to get an item placed on a future agenda. I’m just glad Antioch hasn’t followed that practice, except for during the past two years. I agree with Ogorchock who stated said she wanted Antioch to be the leader and let other cities follow us, rather than the other way around, on this matter.

This issue and the minor skirmish that ensued, reminded the city council and staff of whose government this is – ours, we the people – and makes me pleased that representative, responsive government still works in Antioch. It also reminds me of the old saying “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”

So, thank you to the council for taking the right course of action on the issue of getting items on future agendas, tonight.

To our readers and residents of Antioch, the Herald will continue to challenge our elected representatives and hold them accountable, and keep you informed of their actions, both good and bad.

As for the mayor’s idea of having a moment of silence at the beginning of the meeting for prayer or meditation, that didn’t bother me, nor would it have violated the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. If the U.S. Senate can open with a prayer by the Chaplain of the Senate, surely a moment of silence is acceptable, as well.

I had left the meeting before that discussion, so, I was surprised to learn, later that the council vote 4-1 against the idea, along faith lines with the four Catholic members voting against Harper, the one Protestant member on the council. So, I guess everyone will have to just continue saying their prayers before they show up for council meetings. I just pray all requested items get placed on a future agenda!

By Sergeant Santiago Castillo, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, February 8, 2015 at approximately 9:08 AM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to the 3700 block of Sunset Lane for the report of a shooting that just occurred with a subject shot. Upon arrival, Officers located the victim, 41-year-old Robert Morton seated in a U-haul moving truck suffering from a single gunshot wound. Officers were also aware that Morton was wanted on several outstanding warrants for his arrest. When officers attempted to remove Morton from the vehicle to provide first aid, he fled from them in his vehicle. A brief vehicle pursuit ensued that ended when officers lost the vehicle in the area of Deer Valley Rd and Blue Rock Dr.

A short time later APD dispatch received a call of a suspicious circumstance involving the U-haul moving truck taking place at a Chevron gas station located on Lone Tree Way in the city of Brentwood. Upon arrival, Officers from Brentwood PD and Antioch PD located the vehicle driving away. A traffic stop was conducted on the U-haul on Empire Ave and Wicklow Way. Morton was located in the back of the U-haul and was treated by medical personnel and transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released before being taken into custody on his outstanding warrants and the additional charge of evading.

The investigation into the identity of the shooter is ongoing but preliminary information gathered indicates Morton was the intended target.

If anyone has any information related to this incident, they are encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. They may also text an anonymous tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH in the body of the text.

By Sergeant Santiago Castillo, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Sunday, February 8, 2015 at approximately 11:20 AM, Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Bluebonnett Court and Bluebell Circle for the report of a kidnapping, robbery and sexual assault of a pizza delivery driver.

Upon arrival, officers made contact with the 22-year-old female victim who was visibly shaken. The victim advised she was delivering a pizza and had just exited her vehicle when she was approached by a male armed with a handgun. The male forced her back into her car at gunpoint and ordered her to drive to a secondary location approximately one-quarter mile away where he proceeded to sexually assault the victim. The male then forced the victim to drive him back to the original location where he fled the vehicle on foot taking some of the victim’s personal property.

The investigation led Antioch officers to a 17-year-old male juvenile who was positively identified by the victim as the responsible in this case. The juvenile was subsequently arrested on a variety of charges and sent to Juvenile Hall.

The case was forwarded to the Antioch Police Department Investigations Bureau for further investigation.

If anyone has any information related to this incident, they are encouraged to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. They may also text an anonymous tip to 274637(CRIMES) using key word ANTIOCH in the body of the text.

From left: Cara Sawyer, Principal Dolores Williams, Vice Principal Laura Casdia (Vice Principal) and Charlene Vera, secretary at Jack London Elementary School in Antioch, show the check for $5,000 from Lowe’s.

Money Donated for Electronic Reader Board

Jack London Elementary School has received a $5,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant for an Electronic Reader Board.

Lowe’s has awarded Jack London Elementary funding for an Electric Reader Board. Our grant application was based on the goal of improving parent and student communication at Jack London Elementary. We look forward to sharing the Reader Board with the Antioch community.

By awarding Jack London Elementary School the Toolbox for Education grant, Lowes has provided Jack London Elementary the opportunity to focus more on an important aspect of school, parent interaction. Now we can better reach out to our parents and inform them of the various events and student successes at Jack London Elementary School. We expect this project will be completed by August 2015.

“Our school and community will greatly benefit from this grant. We wish to thank our friends at Lowe’s for generously supporting this important project,” said Dolores Williams, the principal of Jack London Elementary School.

All K-12 public schools in the United States are eligible for the Toolbox for Education program.  More information is available at www.ToolboxforEducation.com.

Source: Antioch City Manager Steve Duran’s Weekly Report

City Hall and other city offices will be closed on both Thursday, February 12th is a City holiday in observance of President Lincoln’s 206th Birthday and Monday, February 16^th for President’s Day.

Antioch Police Department calls for service highlights

On 2/4/2015 at 12:27 PM, police contacted 46-year old David Salazar in the 500 block of W.13th St. during a suspicious vehicle call. Salazar was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine and concentrated cannabis. Salazar was booked at the police department and released with a citation.

On 2/3/2015 at 7:47 pm, officers were working a proactive detail when they saw a minivan being driving by 30 year old Travis Johnson. Upon running the plate they learned the vehicle was reported stolen. A short vehicle pursuit ensued which ended when Travis and the passenger, 32 year old Katie Johnson, parked the vehicle on Putnam St. near Polk Court and fled on foot. Katie Johnson was located and taken into custody without incident. Travis Johnson, who also has an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest, was able to flee from the area and was not located.

On 2/3/2015 at 11:22 pm, Officers responded to 16 N. Lake Dr. on a report of possible squatters inside the vacant home. Officers determined the side garage door had been forced open. Officers established a perimeter and searched the house. 22 year old Steven Cardoza and a second subject were located inside. Cardoza was found to be in possession of 4 shaved keys, which are used to steal certain makes of vehicles. Cardoza was arrested and booked at the police department. He was later released on a citation. The second subject was released at the scene.

On 2/2/2015 at 12:49 am, officers responded to a residential alarm at 56 E. Madill Street. Upon arrival, they located 29 year old Jose Escobar in the driveway of the residence. Escobar was not a resident at the house. It was determined there was no burglary at the residence but upon checking Escobar for warrants, he was found to have an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest charging vehicle theft and possession of a controlled substance. Escobar was taken into custody and later booked at the county jail.

Service Call & Arrest Data:

For Duran’s complete report, click here. City Manager’s Weekly Report 020615

FULL FREEWAY CLOSURES:

There are no full freeway closures planned for this week.

HIGHWAY LANE CLOSURES:

State Route 4 (SR4):

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of SR4 between California Avenue / Harbor Street and Bailey Road on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm.

State Route 160 (SR160):

There are no highway lane closures of SR160 planned for this week.

RAMP CLOSURES:

There are no ramp closures planned for this week.

LOCAL STREET CLOSURES:

There will be single lane closures on Lone Tree Way/A Street in both directions between the SR4 on and off ramps Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. See the Detour Route Map on Page 2 of this week’s report, by clicking here LC WEEK OF 2 7 15.

Cavallo Road will be closed in all directions between Sunset Drive and East Tregallas Road underneath the State Route 4 overpass on Saturday between 7:00 am and 3:30 pm.

There will be single lane closures on Lone Tree Way in both directions between Canada Valley Road and Jeffery Way Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

For questions or comments please send e-mail to info@4eastcounty.org.

Dear Editor:

How many people in Antioch are aware that huge new housing developments are being planned? Do people know what kind of impact this will have on traffic, city services, and taxes?

We need to have a Town Hall meeting to inform the Antioch residents of these new expansion plans.

Such a meeting should be widely publicized using every kind of outreach tools available. The information presented to the public should cover general topics about the potential impacts to the city and a general description of each new area including maps.

In the recent City Manager Weekly Reports, there are three housing developments under review that will add 2,841 new homes in southeastern Antioch. That area is mostly rural now, so this will add a lot of requirements for new services such as fire service, police service, water and sewer maintenance, code enforcement, animal control, traffic lights, etc.

Will these be high-density housing areas with cluster houses, small lots, and narrow driveways serving multiple houses?

What sort of fees will these developers pay to cover the cost of building new schools, fire stations, and expanding city services? Will the new residents pay annual assessments to cover a portion of the ongoing new costs to the city?

Joseph Ramus

Antioch

Why was he served with recall papers for the second time in months?

By Barbara Zivica

Antioch Mayor Wade Harper has an impressive resume. He has a Master‘s of Business Administration from John F. Kennedy University (2009), a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Patten University and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He’s had a 24-year career in Law Enforcement, starting with the Emeryville Police Department and ending up as a Lieutenant for the Tracy Police Department (2005 – 2013). In 2008 he was appointed to the Antioch Unified School District’s Board of Trustees, ran for and was elected to the Antioch City Council in 2010 and was elected Mayor in 2012. He’s currently on the Board of Directors for Delta Diablo Sanitation District and Tri- Delta Transit.

His first misstep as Mayor was to pass an “urgency ordinance” at the December 27, 2012 council meeting – a rare second December meeting, especially during the week between the holidays – which had to become effective before January 1, 2013 when a voter approved state law would mandate specific pension formulas for public employees (2.7% at age 55 for police officers and 2% at age 62 for other employee categories). The urgency ordinance amended the September 1, 2012 contract agreement with Antioch’s police officers and misc. employees in which the retirement benefit formulas for new hires was changed from 3% at age 50 for police to 3% at age 55 and the retirement benefit formula for misc. employees was changed from 2.7% at age 55 to 2% at age 62. In other words the “urgency” ordinance restored the 3% at 50 base formula although a cap was put on lateral police hires. The chief would only be able to hire 5 lateral officers at the 3% at age 50 retirement formula after which he’d have to consult council. All new hires (not current PERS or reciprocal system members) would be under the new 2.7% @ 57 formula.

His second misstep as Mayor was acting as the principal officer of Citizens for a Safe Antioch In Support of Measure C, and telling residents that passage of the half cent sales tax ballot measure would enable the hiring of 22 new police officers. Measure C, a general tax measure requiring only 50% approval plus one vote to pass, however, made no such claim. It specifically stated “the revenue would be deposited in the City’s general fund. It could be used for any legal municipal purpose including: police and emergency response; code enforcement, local economic development and job creation; street repair and any other City program and service.”

As for past versus current police staffing: On February 21, 2012 Police Chief Cantando reported that the department was authorized for 102 positions and was projected to be at 90 filled positions as of March 11, 2013.

At the January 27, 2015city council meeting, Cantando presented the council with a report detailing crime statistics, calls for service and staffing. According to his report, the police department has 102 authorized sworn positions including the Chief, 90 full time positions are filled, there are 9 sworn vacancies and 3 recruits were to begin the academy on January 26, 2015. Doesn’t seem as we’ve made much progress toward hiring 22 new officers, does it?