Congrats to Park Middle School Cheer Team for winning 1st Place in the USA Regional Cheer Competition hosted at Deer Valley High School on Saturday January 11th. It’s one of the largest competitions in our area and PMS Cheer was the only local school to compete.
Way to represent Antioch Unified School District!
Park Middle School Cheer Team 2025 winners at the Deer Valley High School gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025.
“We were so excited to finally get to participate in this Regional competition, it’s hosted right here in Antioch. We had to show up and represent for our city and school. The girls have worked so hard to get to this point-we are so proud of them,” said Head Cheer Coach Ieshia West.
If you would like to support or donate to the Team in any way, please reach out to Park Middle School.
Join us this Martin Luther King Jr. Day as we spend “a day on, not a day off,” encouraging all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Let’s work together to build a stronger Antioch!
This Year’s Services Include: • Senior Day of Engagement – Antioch Senior Center | 415 W 2nd Street • Antioch Community Park Revitalization Project | 801 James Donlon Blvd. • Fremont Elementary School Community Project | 1413 F Street
New Antioch Mayor Ron Bernal, center, will lead his first regular council meeting and the first one of the new year, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2024. Herald file photo.
In compliance with USDOJ agreement; will consist of two former APD personnel
Will receive police chief recruitment presentation
Consider emergency staffing, converting 3 Code Enforcement Officers to other positions
By Allen D. Payton
During their first meeting of the year and the first regular meeting for the newly elected mayor and two members on Tuesday night, Jan. 14, 2024, the Antioch City Council will consider approving an agreement with WBA Consulting & Investigative Services for the police department to comply with the agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The amount of the agreement is not to exceed $225,000 through June 30, 2025, with a one-time extension for an additional six months for the same terms.
According to the City staff report for agenda Item 4, the “consultant team that can provide support, guidance, and advice in several areas, which will supplement and enhance the Antioch Police Department’s efficiency and effectiveness. The City requires assistance with overall project management for Police Department operations and administration, policy support, and special project implementation for not only day-to-day operations, but also with compliance efforts identified in the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) settlement agreement with the Antioch Police Department and City of Antioch dated January 2, 2025.” (See related article)
In addition, the staff report reads, “The services provided by WBA Consulting…will be provided by two former Antioch Police Department personnel who have been working within the department as Interim Chief and Interim Captain for the majority of the 2024 year. The team will continue to provide executive police management support and consultation to the Acting Chief and City Manager as it relates to mandatory compliance with relevant federal and state laws, regulations, and rules.”
Police Chief Recruitment Presentation & Process
Under Item 4, the council will be provided with a presentation by Bob Hall & Associates for the recruitment of a permanent police chief. As part of the process, in January and February the firm will Solicit City Council Feedback on Ideal Candidate, Hold Community-wide Feedback Forums (2 in person, 1 Online), Solicit Stakeholder Feedback from the Business Community, Youth & Schools, Faith-based Community, Antioch Police Officers Association and Oher Stakeholders.
The consultants will also Launch a Nationwide Recruitment, Conduct an Online Community Survey and Attend Community Forums for Additional Feedback in each Council District if Requested by Council Members.
Then in February and March Preliminary Screening of Candidates will occur, Candidate Resumes and Cover Letters will be Evaluated to Determine Experience and Education Most Closely Aligned to the City’s Desired Qualifications; the Recruitment Team Will Conduct Screening Interviews with Candidates to Assess which Applicants Should be Moved Forward to the City’s Selection Process and the Most Qualified Candidates will be Presented to the City for Consideration to be Invited to Participate in the Interview Panels.
In March the Candidates will Participate in the following Oral Assessment Panels: Professional Panel: Consisting Police Chiefs/City Managers Community Panel: Consisting of Community Members from Each District and a Staff Panel: Consisting of Leadership Team and other Key Staff Members
In March and April, Candidates Determined to be Most Aligned with the City’s Desired Qualifications will be Invited to an Initial Oral Interview with the City Manager and Additional Community Assessment. If necessary, Finalists will Participate in a Final Interview with the City Manager and then the City Manager will Make the Hiring Decision.
Finally, in April and May, the City will Conduct Background Investigations and other HR Functions and the New Chief Start Date will be Determined.
Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) License Fee
Under Item 6, the council will consider setting fees for a Carry Concealed Weapons License now that the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office is no longer providing the service to residents of cities.
According to the City staff report. “California Penal Code § 26155(a) requires ‘the chief or other head of a municipal police department of any city’ to issue ‘carry concealed weapons” (CCW) licenses to residents of the city so long as the applicant meets the legal requirements. California Penal Code § 26155(c) allows the chief to enter into “an agreement with the sheriff of the county in which the city is located for the sheriff to process applications for licenses, renewals of licenses, and amendments to licenses…”; however, the sheriff is not required to do this if the population of the county is over 200,000 people.
“For several years, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff received, processed, and issued CCW applications for residents of most of the municipalities in Contra Costa County, including the City of Antioch. Recently, the Sheriff advised the municipalities they would no longer be providing this service necessitating the City of Antioch Police Department to implement a CCW process.
“Pursuant to the California Government Code §66000 et seq., and California Penal Code §26190(b)(1), fees can be assessed to recoup an amount equal to the reasonable costs associated with processing CCW applications, issuing CCW licenses, and enforcing the license. The City of Antioch Master Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2024, does contain a ‘Gun Permit Fee’; however, it is unknown the last time this particular fee was updated, and the established fee does not effectively recoup the costs associated with conducting this activity nor have the appropriate title.
The proposed fees are as follows: New Permit Initial Fee (refundable)- $261.50; Issuance Fee – $261.50; Renewal Permit – $455.00; Amended Permit – $64.00 and Duplicate – $30.00.
Emergency Staffing
Under Item 11, the council will consider approving funds for the following emergency staffing positions for the Finance Department, Human Resources Department, Office of the City Manager, Office of the City Clerk and Conversion of Computer Technician in Information Services: Payroll Specialist; Human Resources Manager; Human Resources Analyst; Public Records Coordinator; Assistant to the City Manager; and conversion of a Computer Technician to Administrative Assistant in Information Services.
The proposal includes conversion of three Code Enforcement Officer (“CEO”) positions.
Meeting Details
The council meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. with a Closed Session to discuss five matters including a significant exposure to litigation, conference with labor negotiators for the Antioch Public Works Employees Association (APWEA) Bargaining Unit, Public Employee Evaluations of the city manager and city attorney, as well as discussing of the police chief employment.
The regular meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers inside City Hall at 200 H Street in historic, downtown Rivertown. The meeting can also be viewed via livestream on the City’s website or on Comcast Local Cable Channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99.
Acting Chief Joe Vigil (3rd from left) is joined by new Officers David Taylor, Brandon Michaud and Jose Collazo, with new Crime Analyst Larissa Lampi and Dispatcher Ma’Janae Brown on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Photos: APD
By Antioch Police Department
During a ceremony on Monday, January 13, 2025, three new Antioch Police officers were sworn in, as well as a crime analyst and dispatcher were added to the department.
A post on the APD Facebook page Monday afternoon reads, “Welcome to the Team! We are thrilled to introduce the newest members of our department:
Laurissa Lampi – Crime Analyst
Laurissa recently relocated from Colorado and now calls Concord home. She holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and brings over 10 years of experience as a death investigator and criminalist. Laurissa has worked on numerous suspicious death and homicide cases, including mass fatalities. She also served as an Arabic linguist in the United States Air Force for six years.
Fun Fact: Laurissa loves her Peloton bike and spending time at the beach!
Ma’Janae Brown – Dispatcher
Born in Richmond and one of seven siblings, Ma’Janae graduated from Cesar Chavez High School and later earned a Bachelor’s in Child Development and a Master’s in Business Administration from Sacramento State. Before joining APD, she worked as a dispatcher for Oakland Police Department. Ma’Janae is passionate about helping others and making a positive impact.
Fun Fact: Ma’Janae loves to travel and try new foods!
Chief Vigil introduces Laurissa Lampi and Ma’Janae Brown as the new officers look on.
David Taylor – Police Officer
David grew up in Oakland and San Leandro, graduating from Castro Valley High School. A lifelong athlete, he played football and baseball and earned a collegiate football scholarship. He holds a BA in Communications with a minor in Coaching and is also a licensed EMT. David prioritizes God, family, and his career.
Fun Fact: David collects props and memorabilia from his favorite film franchises, including Marvel, Harry Potter, and Star Wars!
Jose Collazo – Police Officer
Jose served as a Community Service Officer with APD for three years before becoming a Police Trainee. He’s a six-year veteran of the United States Army National Guard, where he served as a Chinook Helicopter Repairer. During his time in the National Guard, Jose completed a combat deployment and supported state missions during fire seasons.
Fun Fact: Jose enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Brandon Michaud – Police Officer
Brandon was born in Fairfield and grew up across the East Bay, including Brentwood and Oakley. A Freedom High School graduate, he played basketball before earning a degree in Criminal Justice from the Community College of Denver. Brandon’s goal is to become a homicide detective.
Fun Fact: Brandon is a huge Game of Thrones fan and considers himself unbeatable in trivia about the show!
Welcome Laurissa, Ma’Janae, David, Jose, and Brandon to the Antioch Police Department family! We’re excited to have you on board as we continue to serve our community with dedication and excellence.”
That brings the total sworn officers on the force to 83 out of 115 in the City budget.
Fundraiser for Boys Mentoring program By Anthony Randolph
A Martin Luther King Day event will be held on Monday January 20th, from 9:30 am to 12 noon at Grace Bible Fellowship of Antioch. It will be a great breakfast including shrimp and grits and a MLK, Jr. program. It is also a fundraiser for our Boys Mentoring program and all proceeds will help send them on a summer trip to Atlanta.
We are also having a Black History Contest open for all school age students in Contra Costa County. Below are some details but for complete details visit our website: www.gracearmsofantioch.org/mlkjr.
By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
On Dec. 3, 2024, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve an updated fee schedule for 2025 that simplifies parking fees and eliminates dog fees, among other changes. The updated fee schedule became effective Jan. 1, 2025. Park District fees are reviewed annually and updated as needed.
The new fee schedule includes a flat $5 parking fee at East Bay Regional Parks, where kiosks are present. The flat fee makes it simpler and easier for the public to visit East Bay Regional Parks. Previously, parking fees ranged from $3 to $6 depending on the specific park. The new fee does not apply to Del Valle Regional Park on weekends and holidays April through Labor Day, which has a flat $10 entrance fee on those peak days that covers parking and other fees.
Dog fees have also been eliminated for 2025. Dogs are required to be on leash in designated areas, including trailheads, parking lots, paved trails, and picnic areas. Dogs must also be on leash around horses and in parks where cattle are present. The dog fee was $2. Visit www.ebparks.org/dogs for more information.
A dog permit is still required to walk more than three dogs at a time. Professional dog walkers are required to obtain a permit regardless of how many dogs they walk at one time. Visit www.ebparks.org/permits for details.
Source: EBRPD
The updated fee schedule for 2025 also includes changes to swimming fees, day camp fees, special event fees, concessionaire fees, parking citation penalties, and vehicle release fees.
East Bay Regional Parks fees help recover, in part, the costs of providing a service. The updated fee schedule streamlines pricing and better reflects the cost of services and impacts on the Park District.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Downtown Rivertown Antioch businesses will be coming together to network and meet with you for food, beverages and raffles prizes during a Mix & Mingle at Rivertown Treasure Chest, 306 G Street, on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, from 5-8 pm.
Our new mayor Ron Bernal and downtown developer Sean McCauley will be there as guest speakers. Music by The Les Edwins Show!
