Once more the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has made fools of themselves and embarrassed the rest of the citizens of our county by its recent appointment to fill the vacancy of the County Treasurer-Tax Collector.
The Board of Supervisors, after months of pontificating, chest beating and self-congratulating each other for creating a new department with two department heads called the Department of Racial Equity and Social Justice, proved how hypocritical they truly are.
During the same board meeting, the board held public interviews for the County Treasurer-Tax Collector position, even though two of the candidates were current, high-level managers, with many years in the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office, and both women of color, who were eminently qualified and credentialed. Predictably, the board instead picked a white man from Yuba County.
Why should any of us ever believe anything these board members say or do about racial or social justice?
To be honored during 30th Annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration March 26; deadline Feb. 16
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Contra Costa County Youth Hall of Fame Awards. These awards are presented annually to outstanding county residents between 12 and 18 years old.
Students will be recognized at the 30th Annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 11 am in Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar St. in Martinez. Community members can also join the event live on Contra Costa Television channels and the County’swebsite.
Nominees should demonstrate exemplary behavior in one of five categories:
Good Samaritan: Goes out of their way to do for others without seeking recognition
Volunteerism: Lends a helping hand for the good of the community; Gives their time and energy to a worthy cause or organization
Teamwork: Works unselfishly for the good of the team
Leadership and Civic Engagement: A natural leader who inspires others and works to make a difference in school and the community
Perseverance: Has worked hard to overcome obstacles and achieve success
We invite you to submit your nomination by completing the form and uploading it to the County website or emailing the application and your letter of recommendation to Lia Bristol at YouthNomination@dcd.cccounty.us.
Nominations must be received or postmarked by February 16, 2024. Recipients will be recognized at the March 26, 2024, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors’ César E. Chávez Celebration.
Contra Costa County is updating the local Hazard Mitigation Plan and seeks your input. Take a short survey to help tailor emergency plans to your community needs.
By Kelly Kalfsbeek, PIO, Contra Costa County Public Works Department
Contra Costa County (County) is accepting applications for the upcoming Member at Large opening on the Aviation Advisory Committee (AAC). This position is designated for someone who works or resides in Contra Costa County to represent all County stakeholders in matters related to Buchanan Field and Byron Airports. Upon appointment by the Board of Supervisors the new appointee would serve a term expiring on Sunday, February 28, 2027.
The AAC serves as an advisory group to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors (Board) to provide advice and recommendations to the Board on aviation matters related to the Contra Costa County Airports. The AAC typically meets every other month at either Buchanan Field or Byron Airport.
Application forms can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 655-2000 or at: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418/Appointed-Bodies-Committees-Commissions. Applications should be submitted online or returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor in Martinez, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2023. Applicants should plan to be available for public interviews in person or via Zoom, tentatively scheduled for Monday, January 22, 2024, at 11:00 am at the County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar Street, Conference Room 110 A & B, Martinez, at the Airports Committee Meeting.
For more information on the Contra Costa County Airports or the AAC visit us at www.ContraCostaCountyAirports.org or by calling (844) Fly-ToUs or (844) 359-8687.
Contra Costa Health (CCH) seeks input from county residents about whether they use the Community Warning System (CWS), how well it works, and if more notification options would improve it.
The CWS is an all-hazards community notification system that alerts residents about emergencies affecting public health or safety, including those from refineries and large chemical manufacturing facilities in Contra Costa County.
CCH’s online survey, available on the CWS page at cchealth.org, seeks information about community familiarity with the tool, whether polled residents subscribe, and opinions about the service.
The CWS sends free phone calls, texts and emails to anyone who signs up at cwsalerts.com. Users have subscription options, including whether to receive alerts only from certain areas of Contra Costa County, or only about certain facilities.
The survey, conducted at the direction of the Industrial Safety Ordinance / Community Warning System Ad Hoc Committee of the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors, also asks if residents would like notifications about nearby industrial incidents that are not deemed emergencies.
The CWS was designed for emergency use, and so when a facility reports an unexpected release – such as flaring, odors, smoke, noises, or fires – CWS only sends an alert to its subscribers if the incident is likely to affect health in the surrounding community, in the estimation of the facility, or the emergency responders from CCH or the fire department who are investigating.
For details about the CWS and its response levels, visit the CWS page at cchealth.org.
The county’s Hazardous Materials Incident Notification Policy requires specified facilities, including all the county’s refineries, to immediately report to the CWS whenever there is a release or threatened release of hazardous material, as well as flaring events.
Most of these are “Level 1” incidents – received and investigated by CCH’s Hazardous Materials Response Team, but not subject to a community alert. CWS has received 227 reported Level 1 alerts so far in 2023 from industrial facilities.
Since 2022, an automated feed has displayed all active Level 1 alerts that have lasted longer than 20 minutes and are seen, heard or associated with offsite odors, at cchealth.org/hazmat.
The survey asks whether CWS subscribers should have the option to directly receive additional alerts via phone, text or email as they happen, even for incidents that may not threaten the community.
The survey is planned to continue through January 12, 2024, and CCH share the results publicly and with the Ad Hoc Committee.
Yuba County Treasurer and Tax Collector Dan Mierzwa will take on the same role in Contra Costa COunty on Jan. 1st. Source: Contra Costa County
Dan Mierzwa will replace Russell Watts who is retiring Dec. 31
By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Contra Costa County
On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors appointed Dan Mierzwa as the next Treasurer-Tax Collector effective Jan. 1, 2024.
Mierzwa’s appointment follows the announcement of Russell Watts’ retirement in December. He is currently Yuba County’s Treasurer & Tax Collector and must submit proof of residency and voter registration in Contra Costa County before he assumes the office.
Mierzwa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with Finance and Business Administration minors from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. He also holds a Certified California Municipal Treasurer certification.
“I’m honored by the opportunity to help during this transition in leadership and am committed to maintaining the levels of transparency and accountability with sound financial practices that serve the best interests of the public,” Mierzwa said. “We will also continue improving our online payment and business license application services and explore ways to save and recover costs to deliver our services.”
The Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office acts as the bank for the County, providing financial services to County departments, schools, and special districts and managing more than $4.9 billion in the County’s investment pool. The office also collects various taxes – including business taxes from those operating in the unincorporated areas, and property taxes. While the Treasurer-Tax Collector mostly provides services to the County and taxing districts, the office also invests public funds and collects business related taxes, namely business licenses and transient occupancy taxes, as well as short-term rental and cannabis taxes.
“The Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office holds a key position of trust in the financial affairs of local government,” said Board Chair District I Supervisor John Gioia. “Dan’s experience and knowledge of both the treasury and tax collection functions will continue the County’s efforts to protect, invest, and disburse funds in a prudent and safe manner.”
The current term for the elected office expires on Jan. 4, 2027. Government Code section 25304 requires that the Board of Supervisors appoint someone to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. The annual salary for the position is $254,901.24.
Watts, who is leaving office to spend more time with family, has served as the elected-Treasurer-Tax Collector for 13 years.
A $412,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for Intensive Supervision Program for High-Risk DUI Offenders will go toward check-ins with probationers to make sure they are following court-ordered terms of their probation and prevent probationers from re-offending.
“This grant will allow us to tackle the complex issues surrounding repeat DUI offenders, providing vital resources and guidance to break the cycle of alcohol-related offenses,” said Chief Probation Officer Esa Ehmen-Krause. “With this funding, we can create safer roads and a healthier community by reducing the incidence of DUI offenses.”
“The intensive supervision programs are critical to reducing the devastating consequences of DUI offenses,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Prevention is an effective, proactive tool to address the often tragic consequences of impaired driving.”
The grant will fund Probation Department personnel to monitor drivers on Probation for felony DUI or multiple misdemeanor DUI convictions, including conducting unannounced Fourth Amendment waiver home searches, field visits, random alcohol and drug testing and ensuring those on probation are attending court-ordered DUI education and treatment programs. The probation grant will also pay for warrant operations targeting probation violations and/or DUI suspects who do not appear in court, officer training in Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), distribution of DUI “Be On the Lookout” (BOLO) alerts, collaborating with courts and prosecutors to establish probation orders and participation with local law enforcement on anti-DUI efforts. While alcohol remains the worst offender for DUI crashes, Contra Costa County Probation supports OTS in its statement, “DUI just doesn’t mean booze.”
Prescription medications and marijuana can be impairing by themselves, but also in combination with alcohol, and can result in a DUI arrest.
The grant program runs through September 2024. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Anytime, day or night, people in Contra Costa County can now access immediate support during a behavioral health crisis. Starting Dec. 1, Contra Costa Health’s A3 program will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People facing a behavioral health, mental health or substance use crisis can call the A3 Miles Hall Crisis Call Center 24/7 at 844-844-5544 for care over the phone and have an in-person team dispatched to them if needed.
“Using our new Measure X sales tax funds to make immediate mental health crisis response available anytime to all Contra Costans will improve quality of life and reduce the harm caused by mental health challenges,” said Supervisor John Gioia, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Having round-the-clock mental health services available throughout Contra Costa has been a long-time need and we are proud that we can now provide these vital services at any time.”
The need for A3’s robust, immediate response is evident, with behavioral health issues the third most common call ambulances respond to in the county. People needing behavioral health crisis support can call A3 to talk to trained professionals who can provide care over the phone and connections to follow-up care or send a team to respond in person when needed. Most callers’ needs are resolved over the phone.
“About one in five adults in Contra Costa County struggles with behavioral health issues, but the stigma around mental health and addiction can make it hard to seek help. Too often, people suffer through a behavioral health crisis in silence. Expanding A3 to respond around the clock makes it easier for people experiencing behavioral health problems, and their loved ones, to get the professional, caring support they need,” said Supervisor Diane Burgis.
A3 has grown from a pilot project in 2021 to now operating 24/7. Currently, A3 responds to about 200 calls and dispatches 30 mobile teams per week. They helped over 2,900 callers in 2022 and expect that number to grow to more than 4,500 people this year.
“Behavioral health crisis care is more accessible than ever before in Contra Costa County, thanks to the vision and hard work of our A3 team and community partners, including people with lived experience, family members, advocates, community groups, law enforcement, cities, fire and emergency medical responders and behavioral health professionals,” said Anna Roth, Contra Costa Health CEO.
A3 is Contra Costa County’s innovative approach to providing timely and appropriate behavioral health crisis services to anyone, anywhere, at anytime in the county. Annual Measure X sales tax revenue supports the A3 Miles Hall Crisis Call Center, mobile response teams and connection to follow-up care for those in crisis.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, call the A3 Miles Hall Crisis Call Center at 844-844-5544. Learn more at cchealth.org/a3 or watch a video about the program.
