By Nick Goodrich

The Antioch City Council met on Tuesday, March 22^nd, for its regular meeting. Among the topics discussed were a plan for video cameras in certain Antioch intersections, the proposed spray park and playground at Prewett Water Park, a desalination project to increase Antioch’s water reserves, and the possibility of adding an Assistant City Manager Position to City staff. City Council also received its annual report from the Measure C Sales Tax Citizens’ Oversight Committee.

The Oversight Committee, which was created in 2013 with the adoption of Measure C, is tasked with reviewing the City’s use of Measure C funds in order to ensure that revenue is being properly used. The Committee consists of Antioch citizens who determine whether or not the City has used the funds as it promised to, and report their findings to City Council each year.

Sal Sbranti, a member of the Committee, was on hand Tuesday night to give the report. He reminded the room that Measure C, adopted by Antioch following the announcement of a City fiscal emergency, had three main goals: to increase the size of the Antioch Police Department, reduce emergency response times, and increase code enforcement in Antioch.

Sbranti noted that since Measure C’s adoption, the APD has seen a net increase of five officers, taking into account retirements and other attrition that naturally occurs in police forces. Measure C also provided for the hire of one additional full-time Code Enforcement Officer.

In these functions, Measure C has seen success. However, Sbranti also raised questions about the City Wide Administrative Allocation segment of the ordinance, which has seen disproportionate increases in budgeting each year since the adoption of the Measure.

Antioch resident David Redford spoke during the comments section, stating that he believed the financial reporting of Measure C expenditures was unclear. Redford noted that several expenditures were attributed to hotels, among other things, and worried that not all of the Measure C funds are being used for their specific purposes.

Councilmember Mary Rocha expressed concern over Redford’s statements, and reiterated that Measure C revenue—as stipulated by the City in 2013—must only go toward achieving the ordinance’s enumerated goals.

License Plate Reader Cameras

Police Chief Allan Cantando was on hand during the meeting to present City Council with plans to install video cameras and license plate readers on several Antioch intersections. He asked the Council to consider what type, and how many, cameras should be installed in the problem areas.

The intersections in question are the corners of L Street and Sycamore Drive, and Sycamore Drive and Auto Center Drive. These areas have been hotspots for crime in the past, and Cantando believes that any cameras installed would significantly help the APD solve crimes around the two intersections. He noted that similar cameras at the Contra Loma Estates have been instrumental in helping police investigations.

Cantando offered up several options that the City could choose to pursue in order to monitor the intersections: fixed cameras, rotating view cameras, and license plate readers. Depending on how the City decides to approach the issue, the cameras could cost between $16,000 and $122,000. Mayor Wade Harper suggested that the APD look into the use of portable video cameras, that could installed in crime hotspots and then moved according to the City’s needs. As for Cantando himself, he would prefer that any license plate readers be installed on squad cars rather than intersections, to increase the range of vision the readers would provide.

“Logistically, it makes sense to have those cameras on as many cars as possible,” he said, “because they would assist us in solving stolen vehicle situations and violent crimes.” Councilmember Monica Wilson suggested coordinating with the Pittsburg Police Department camera system, and Harper noted that Pittsburg has asked for cameras on the Antioch side of Auto Center Drive in the past.

Ultimately, whether the Council decides to place the cameras on the intersections or the license plate readers on squad cars, Chief Cantando will be happy. “The more tools we have out there, the better,” he said. City Council voted 5-0 to begin consideration of where and how to install the cameras and readers.

All Abilities Playground at Water Park

Following that vote, City Council voted on the approval of a construction company to build the proposed spray park and playground at Prewett Water Park. The spray park will incorporate 1,500 square feet, and is expected to be a major draw from both Antioch residents and citizens from the surrounding area.

Sierra Valley Construction offered Antioch the lowest bids on both the spray park and playground, $949,672 and $417,998, respectively. They are expected to complete the projects by December of this year. City Council voted unanimously to approve both bids, and will allow Sierra to go ahead with the construction.

Desalination Plant

Also on the agenda Tuesday was discussion of a water desalination project for Antioch, which has been in the works since the City awarded a contract to Carollo Engineers, Inc. last August. The city of Antioch has historically had the right to draw water from the San Joaquin River in times of need, but that water was deemed unsuitable for human use due to its high salt content. Therefore, the city has turned to desalination methods in order to use the San Joaquin as a water source.

Carollo Engineers recently completed the initial stage of the desalination plans, which set the groundwork for the rest of the project. As Carollo prepares to move into Phase 2, they asked City Council on Tuesday to approve the additional $150,000 needed for that next step, which involves cost estimates and conceptual facilities designs, among others. City Council expressed its admiration for the work Carollo has done for Antioch so far, and approved the budget increase in a 5-0 vote. Together, Phases 3 and 4 are expected to cost the city somewhere in the range $400,000.

New Assistant City Manager Position

Toward the end of Tuesday’s meeting, City Council was presented with the possibility of adding an “Assistant City Manager” position to city staff. City Manager Steve Duran pushed hard for the new position, reminding the Councilmembers that his department is understaffed, leaving him—and future City Managers—with far too many things for one Manager to get done in a timely manner. “The City has been discussing an Assistant City Manager for a while, but was never in a good position to have one,” he said.

Duran told Council that adding such an employee would allow his department to better address Antioch’s needs as outlined in the city’s Strategic Plan, and would also help with succession planning. An Assistant City Manager who has accompanied the City Manager to meetings, worked with him on the issues facing the city, and gains a better understanding of how the City Manager position operates, would be much better suited to succeed him as City Manager than an outside hire who must spend time learning the ropes.

Most of the Council agreed with Duran. Council Member Tiscareno stated the value of keeping the city running smoothly with a better-staffed City Manager’s department, and Wilson agreed with the sentiment. However, Mayor Pro Tem Lori Ogorchock was wary of adding another management position when Antioch is already short on police services and “feet on the street.”

Ogorchock stated that the proposed salary for the new position would be better used on the labor side of City Services rather than management. She cited police services as an example of where the funds could be better used. “We need more workers,” she said.

Ultimately, City Council decided to join the proposed Assistant City Manager position with another city Department Head, essentially adding more responsibilities to that position and a $60,000 increase in pay to go with it. The resolution passed in a 4-1 vote, with Ogorchock dissenting.

New Public Works Director Position

Ogorchock also split with her fellow council members on the issue of re-categorizing Antioch’s Director of Public Works/City Engineer position. The resolution presented to the Council called for that job to be specified as only Director of Public Works, and was proposed so that the City could draw from a larger pool of applicants when considering candidates for the position.

With the new specification, the city manager could hire an applicant who is not a licensed engineer, but who still has the desired qualifications and would otherwise have been disqualified from consideration. The salary range assigned to the Director of Public Works would, according to city staff, have no real fiscal impact on the city’s budget.

However, in the event the City hires someone to be the Director of Public Works position, a licensed engineer would have to be promoted from within to the City Engineer spot, or recruited from elsewhere. That would bring an increase in pay to a promoted employee, or a new salary in the event of an outside hire.

According to the staff report, “the new class specification of Director of Public Works will be assigned a salary range of $10,952 – $13,313. Currently the City has a Public Works Director/City Engineer so there is not fiscal impact to the budget at this time.” However, if the two positions are filled separately, the annual fiscal impact will be between $131,424 and $159,756 for the salary, plus benefits.

In keeping with her earlier vote, Ogorchock resisted the potential City expenditures for a new or improved management position. The remaining four council members split with her in a 4-1 vote.

HIGHWAY LANE CLOSURES:

State Route 4:

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between Railroad Avenue and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between State Route 160 and Hillcrest Ave. on Monday through Thursday from 10:00 pm to 3:00 am and Friday from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am.

There will be highway lane closures in the westbound direction of State Route 4 between Hillcrest Ave. and G St. on Monday through Thursday from 7:00 pm to 5:00 am and Friday from 8:00 pm to 9:00 am.

There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between Bailey Road and Contra Loma on Monday through Friday from 4:30 am to 12:00 pm.

There will be highway lane closures in the eastbound direction of State Route 4 between A St. and Hillcrest on Monday through Thursday from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am.

RAMP CLOSURES:

There will be a ramp closure at the Hillcrest Ave. westbound on ramp and off ramp Monday through Wednesday from 11:00 pm to 3:00 am.

There will be a ramp closure at the A St. / Lone Tree Way westbound off ramp on Friday from 8:00 pm to 9:00 am.

There will be a ramp closure at the A St. / Lone Tree Way eastbound on ramp Wednesday through Thursday from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am and Friday from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am.

By Luke Johnson

Deer Valley High School’s baseball team is going in a youthful direction and has hired Michael Leal to lead the program at just 24 years old.

“I think they just wanted to go with a younger style, just because there’s a little more energy, a little more passion, a little more want to win just like the players,” Leal said.

Leal graduated from DVHS in 2010, and led a 20-5 team with 23 RBI his senior year as the primary catcher. He also batted .308 and had an ERA of 2.50 while on the mound.

After playing at Diablo Valley College, Leal began his coaching career at Perk’s Sports Academy, which is a high level travel ball organization in Antioch. He said one of his biggest mentors has been Dennis Luquet, who coached at DVHS for 16 seasons, and made the North Coast Section Playoffs during 15 of those seasons with an overall record of 269-123. Leal was also influenced by Andy Tarpley during his time at DVC, who recently won back-to-back NCS Championships at College Park High School.

“He can teach everyone everything from making the grass grow, which he did over the fall here, to sliding into home plate,” Kevin Parker, 51, said about assistant coaching for someone much younger than him. “A guy with that much knowledge and passion to teach, which he does have, it makes it easier to coach with.”

When Leal was in high school, DVHS’s athletic program was on top of the Bay Valley Athletic League, and brought home 23 championships during his junior and senior years. But over the past two calendar years, the school has only totaled one league title. It hired new head coaches for the three most popular sports (football, basketball and baseball) as a result.

After finishing 8-15 last season, the baseball team hopes to rebuild and be competitive this year under the senior leadership of infielder Nassir Issa and five-tool outfielder Tyler Toland, along with talented junior right-handed pitcher Neftaly Perez.

“I for sure have a better chemistry with him,” Issa said about Leal, comparing him to former and older head coaches. “I can talk to him about whatever, even if it’s about school or something. Other coaches were just strictly baseball, but with him, if I have an issue, I can talk it out with him.”

The Wolverines have started off the season 3-3 with all their victories against opponents with winning records.

By Luke Johnson

Two star football players from Antioch High School, other than the nation’s number one recruit Najee Harris, received Division I football scholarship offers early in March.

First, freshman wide receiver Guadie Campbell was offered by Brigham Young University on March 2, followed by an offer from Eastern Washington University two days later.

On that same day, sophomore linebacker/running back Omari Harris (no relation to Najee) earned an opportunity to play at the University of Nebraska, then received the same news from the University of California, Berkeley on March 7. All of these are full-ride scholarships.

Campbell’s offers came under rare circumstances, considering he has yet to record a varsity stat. He played the entire 2015-16 regular season on the freshman team, and was pulled up to varsity during the playoffs with minimal playing time. But BYU noticed his upside and potential, and wanted to jump on him early.

Now with these new accolades, Campbell feels opponents might start targeting him due to his young age.

“I’m just a freshman,” he said. “They think, ‘Oh, he has offers. He’s just been going against little kids.’ That just gives me an opportunity to show them how I got these offers.”

Omari Harris started his high school career at De La Salle, then transferred to Antioch as a sophomore. He became a part of the Panthers’ historic 10-0 season, and finished the year strong, filling in for injured senior linebacker/running back Nick Perry. He recorded 203 rushing yards with 22 carries, four touchdowns and three sacks.

“It’s exciting, because it brings so much positivity to the team and the school,” offensive coordinator Brett Dudley said. “A couple years ago, you mention ‘Antioch,’ and no one knows where it is. Now the notoriety that our team got this year, going 10-0 in the regular season, I mention, ‘Antioch,’ and people who aren’t even college coaches say, ‘Oh, I know where that is. I know about you guys. I’ve heard of your team. I’ve heard of your running back,’ or this or that. It’s really put Antioch on the map.”

Dudley added that when he started coaching at Antioch six years ago, he could not beg anyone enough to click on a highlight tape, but now, he has college coaches and scouts in his inbox “night and day.”

When asked who they credit their success to, Campbell and Omari Harris were thankful for the same three things: God, family and Malu Fitness.

Annual event at Los Medanos College, April 1

Los Medanos College (LMC) will host the annual “Celebrating the Life of César Chávez” awards program on Friday, April 1, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the LMC Recital Hall. The college is located at 2700 East Leland Road in Pittsburg. The celebration is free and the public is encouraged to attend. Easy access parking is available in Lot C for this event.

Los Medanos College hosts this annual event to honor the life of labor leader and human rights activist, César Chávez. The celebration also recognizes members of the East Contra Costa County community who embody his great tradition of voluntary service, civic activism, and non-violent social change.

The event includes the presentation of five recognition awards, including two newly created this year. The César Chávez Award for Exemplary Community Service, established in 1995, is presented to local citizens who best represent the following core values modeled by César Chávez: Service to Others, Sacrifice, Help the Most Needy, Determination, Non-Violence, Acceptance of All People, Respect for Life and the Environment, Celebrating Community, Knowledge, and Innovation. The East County Educator Award recognizes a member of the educational community who demonstrates a commitment to student success and equity, particularly for students of color and those from low-income families. The Chávez Spirit Award is given to an emerging leader who has made a significant impact on the local community in the areas of advocacy and social justice. The two new honors are: the LMC Educator Award, which recognizes faculty at the College; and a “Special Recognition for Perseverance & Achievement.”

This year’s recipient of the César Chávez Award is Eren Mendez. A resident of Concord, Ms. Mendez has a deep commitment to Latino youth empowerment and civic engagement. The East County Educator Award will be presented to three outstanding educators: Samy D’Amico, principal of Pioneer Elementary School in Brentwood; Anna Gonzalez-Ortega, Spanish teacher at Freedom High School in Oakley; and Louie Rocha, principal of Antioch High School. The Spirit Award will recognize an up-and-coming community leader and advocate, Sarai Espinoza of Antioch. Two of the College’s faculty members will be honored with the LMC Educator Award: Laura Subia, counselor for EOPS (Extended Opportunity Programs & Services); and Nicholaus Garcia, department chair for Dramatic Arts. Norma Cendejas will receive a “Special Recognition for Perseverance & Achievement” for her work with El Concilio, providing Migrant Head Start services for children and families.

Please join us to celebrate the spirit of service and activism in our community.

For more information, visit www.losmedanos.edu/chavez/events. Questions? Contact Jennifer Adams jadams@losmedanos.edu (925) 473-7302.

Los Medanos College (LMC) is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District. LMC prepares students to excel and succeed economically, socially and intellectually in an innovative, engaging and supportive learning environment. It provides quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities to serve the needs of a rapidly growing and changing East County while enhancing the quality of life of the diverse communities it serves. LMC is located on 120 acres between Pittsburg and Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.

By Nick Goodrich

A surprising announcement came during the Antioch Unified School District’s Board meeting on Wednesday night, March 23^rd. Longtime board member Claire Smith announced at the beginning of the meeting that this would be her last, as a member of the Board.

Smith informed those in attendance that she would be moving to join family in Southern California, and therefore would resign as a member of the Board, effective after the meeting. She stated that, as the Board is currently experiencing a time of transition due to a Superintendent vacancy and the recent appointment of new member Fernando Navarro, she had kept her intentions under wraps in order to avoid shaking things up even more.

Smith has served a total of 21 years on the School Board, making her the longest continuous office holder in the history of Antioch, according to fellow board member Walter Ruehlig. She has been known for making tough decisions and presenting a strong face throughout her tenure, all while keeping the well-being of the School District’s children foremost in her decision-making, he shared.

An outpouring of support for Smith came from her fellow Board Members, Board staff, and those in attendance following her announcement, capped by a standing ovation. Ruehlig summed up her service on the board, by stating “She didn’t always make the easy choice, but she always made the right one.”

The Board will now begin the process of searching for Smith’s replacement, electing later in the meeting to go through the appointment process rather than a vote, which would cost the District several thousand extra dollars.

Smith is the second Antioch School Board member to resign in the past year. Barbara Cowan resigned 0n September 23rd, stating she would be moving to Oregon. Navarro is her replacement. In addition, Don Gill announced his resignation as Superintendent, effective this June, the same night. He was later placed on what has amounted to as paid, administrative leave. The Board hired a search firm, earlier this month, to help with his replacement.

Smith’s seat is up for election in November. So anyone appointed would serve about six or seven months on the board.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

On Monday, during a ceremony at the Antioch Police Facility, two new police officers were added to the force, Antioch resident Chris Motl and Hayward native German Blanco.

Chief Allan Cantando shared the following information about each of the new officers:

Officer Chris Motl grew up in Antioch, California and was an Explorer for the Antioch Police Department from 2005-2009.  During high school Chris played water polo, was on the swim team and wrestled. He graduated from Antioch High School in 2006.

He joined the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Machine Gunner and served one tour in Ramadi, Iraq. While in Iraq, Chris drove an MRAP and received an award for driving on missions for other squads as well as his own. He obtained an Associate of Science Degree in Administration of Justice from American River College. He is excited to begin his career as an Antioch Police Officer and contribute to bettering the community that he grew up in.

Chris likes to surf, hike, and practice martial arts during his free time.

Funny Fact – When Chris was an Explorer for Antioch PD he got to tour San Quentin Prison. At lunch they served the same food that the prisoners ate and he was the only one in the group to eat the bologna sandwich provided by the prison. During the tour Chris received numerous cat calls from inmates due to his “model” looks.

Officer German Blanco was born in Hayward, California and was raised in Modesto. He graduated from Grace M. Davis High School in 2008 where he played basketball all four years. He was the team leading scorer as well as Team MVP, Conference MVP, 1st team All District, and an All-state nominee. He continued playing basketball for Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. German also played basketball at Columbia College in Sonora, California where he led his team in scoring as well. While in College, German studied General Education and Criminal Justice.

Prior to getting hired with the Antioch Police Department, German was a Correctional Officer with the Napa County Department of Corrections for nearly two years. He gained invaluable law enforcement experience while working in custody. German completed the 179^th basic police academy at the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Law Enforcement Training Center in March, 2016.  German has been with his fiancée, Vanessa for seven years and they are tying the knot this year in Pacifica, California. (German chose to write that about his fiancée because he did not want her to get mad if he didn’t include her.)

Blanco enjoys anything fitness related and he is a regular at his gym where he trains four to six days a week. However, he loves food to the point where everyone who knows him well calls him the human garbage disposal. German and his fiancée enjoy going on cruises together and he proposed to Vanessa on a cruise.

Funny Fact – German’s mother has a nickname she has called him since he was a toddler and still does until this day. She calls him Peanut head because she thinks his head is small and German kind of agrees.

Their addition brings the total to 94 sworn police officers in the department.