Members currently voting on interest to authorize a strike; district says union’s budget figures incorrect

The two sides differ on amount available for pay & benefit increases by almost $18 million

“You can only get burned so many times before you stop believing them.” – AEA President Bob Carson

By Allen D. Payton

The Antioch Education Association (AEA) is planning to hold a “Rally for Student Success” on Wednesday, Feb. 21 as part of a larger effort of the East Bay Coalition for Student Success (EBCSS). In addition, the local teachers’ union members are voting on interest to authorize a strike.

In a Dec. 18, 2023 post on the Antioch Education Association’s (AEA) Facebook page they wrote, “District revenues have skyrocketed over the last few years but the % of those monies spent on educator’s salaries continues to decline??? How can we attract and retain the best educators for the students of Antioch when this is happening?”

Another post on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024 reads, “Antioch Unified School District Why???” and claims, “AUSD ended the year with $88M in unspent funds. After taking out restricted money and reserves…AUSD STILL has $34.4 million sitting in the bank that can be used for staff salaries and benefits.”

In another Facebook post that day, the AEA posted a flier about the rally which included what they’re seeking. The flier reads, “Join us as we raise our voices in support of/for: quality educators in every classroom, smaller class sizes and caseloads, salary increase reflective of the 8.22% COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment), fully paid medical benefits for all members and safe schools for our students and members.”

According to a June 2023 article on their website, the EBCSS was formed in September 2022, and “is committed to ensuring local school districts continue to prioritize funds to provide the best for student learning and educator retention and attraction. Locals and district management teams in the coalition have been working hard at the bargaining table to win agreements that focus resources on students and educators.”

Emails were sent to both Bob Carson, President of the AEA and a member of the EBCSS, and Antioch Unified School District Superintendent Stephanie Anello asking for more details about a possible strike.

Antioch Teachers’ Union President Offers Details

Carson responded, “No EBCSS association has authorized a strike. What many have done is have preliminary strike authorization votes. Antioch is doing one right now, as is Pittsburg. Other chapters like Piedmont, Pleasanton, Moraga and Dublin have already concluded their strike authorization votes. These are not votes on whether educators are going on strike but whether they will be supporting their negotiating teams until the end and be willing to participate in actions called on by the Association. A final strike vote could only occur after all the steps in the negotiating process have failed. In Antioch and these other locations, we are not there yet.

The goal of the EBCSS and its members is that each student find success. There are many ways to help make that happen. Smaller class sizes so students get more individual attention, the best technology, and safe schools are just some of things the EBCSS advocates for. We believe the most important need in a student finding success in school is to have a quality educator in every classroom. Paying competitive salaries, having full paid medical benefits (at the Kaiser rate), and good working conditions is how you get quality educators.

To be specific to what is happening in Antioch, the AUSD negotiating team presented AEA with their “best and final” offer in a December negotiating session. Since we found that offer lacking in many areas, we rejected it. We were then at “impasse”. We now have a state appointed mediator who is trying to find a way to get the 2 sides to reach an agreement. We have met 3 times with that mediator and have another meeting scheduled for 2/22. No specific offers being presented are allowed to be publicly discussed during mediation. I can tell you we have had no success to date. If the mediator at some point feels there is no hope in facilitating an agreement, either side can then move the negotiations to “fact-finding” where an appointed arbitrator receives information from both teams and writes a statement on their findings. After fact-finding, the 2 sides are required to meet for at least one more negotiating session where the district could again present their best and final offer. At that point, a strike vote could be called.

AEA is hopeful that an agreement can be reached but will not accept an offer that is not reflective of the 8.22% COLA increase the district received this year. Class size, caseloads for counselors and speech pathologists, medical benefits, and salary are the main issues right now.  As you saw on our FB page, we are planning a rally on 2/21, in conjunction with other EBCSS associations. We want to bring attention to the issues. One serious problem for us is the tremendous ending balances AUSD is carrying over every year. This is money provided by the state of California to be used on our students. Instead, its sits in the bank – year after year. This year AUSD had an ending balance of $34,000 million dollars in unrestricted funds (money that can be spent on anything) not used. They had close to another $40 million in restricted funds also not spent. This is after accounting for the prudent reserve required of them to have by the state. To me – and AEA members – that is crazy. That money could be used in many ways to help the students of Antioch and to help AUSD find quality educators.”

District Says Teachers’ Union Using Old, Incorrect Information

In response to the request for more details from Superintendent Anello and the claims by the AED, the school district’s Associate Superintendent for Business and Operations, Liz Robbins shared the following: “Their information is from the unaudited actuals report which shows how the District ended the 2022-2023 school year.

Our first interim budget report which was presented to the Board in December,  provides the most current financial information.

$46.2 million is restricted monies; $22.5 million is unrestricted. Of the $22.5 million, $18 million is allocated for potential salary and benefit increases. $4.5 million is allocated for school improvements and upgrades including HVAC, security, and technology. Lastly, $9.4 million of the ending fund balance is the set-aside required by the State for economic uncertainty. This leaves approximately $500k of unassigned funds in the ending fund balance.

The budget is not a static document, and an updated second interim financial report will be presented to the Board on March 13.”

$17.9 Million Difference Between District Budget & Teachers’ Union Figure

According to the 2023-24 First Interim MYP (Multi Year Plan) – Components of Fund Balance chart on page 80 of the 2023-24 First Interim Budget Presentation, provided to the school board at their meeting on Dec. 13, 2023, it shows $15,961,836 “Assigned for Potential Employee Negotiated Settlement”. That plus the $521,041 in Unassigned/Unappropriated funds results in about $16.5 million available for salary and benefit increases, which is $17.9 million less than what the teachers’ union claims is available.

AEA President Disagrees Says District Using Projected Estimates

That information was provided to Carson who was asked if he had a final response on the matter, for now. He provided the chart (above) and replied, “In September of each year the district presents to the school board their ‘unaudited actuals’. This financial report reflects the district’s final year end closing from the previous June (end of the financial year). The numbers I gave you are from that. Those numbers are what the district had left over from the previous year. Money not spent. That’s a fact – straight from their reporting.”

“The December (which Liz references) and March interim reports are estimates based on what the district says they are going to do. The September report is what they did,” Carson continued. “What they really spent. For example, last year the district said they would have $7 million in unrestricted funds left over in their December interim report but in September they had $34 million!!!!! Their estimate was way off. I will bet you a soda it will be way off again come September 2024. On top of all that, the district received an 8.22% COLA increase!!!”

“If this was a one-year bad projection, we would understand. It happens every year and it’s just getting worse. I will attach the ending balances over the past few years. You can only get burned so many times before you stop believing them. It’s frustrating. We want the students of Antioch to have quality educators in every classroom. Our proposals are fair attempts at making that happen. We are by no means trying to break the bank – not even close,” Carson concluded.

The teachers’ rally will be held from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Auto Center Drive and Century Blvd.

The difference of $275 million will pay for interest; voters will decide on bonds adding $41 to $48 for each $100,000 in value per year for 35 years; survey shows 75% of voters believe things on wrong track in Antioch area

By Allen D. Payton

Following the narrow defeat of Antioch Unified School District’s Measure T in November 2020 asking voters for $110 million in improvements, this past November, the Antioch School Board voted unanimously to place a $195 million bond on the March 5th ballot. It is listed as Measure B and if passed will generate $13.5 million per year for the next 35 years. According  to Ballotpedia, Measure T lost by less than a half-percent receiving 54.62% of the vote, with 55% required to pass.

That followed a presentation by EMC research at the board’s October 25, 2023, meeting which showed that a survey of 500 voters of which 400 were likely March primary voters, 75% felt that things in the Antioch area are generally going in the wrong direction, 69% said taxes are too high, 59% don’t trust the AUSD to properly handle tax dollars, but 64% believe it’s important to have high-quality, local public schools even if it means raising taxes and 81% agreed AUSD schools were in need of  more funding.

However, the survey also showed just slightly over 55% of voters would support the bond after receiving information about it. Then when read an opposition statement which includes “This would cost the average homeowner $130 per year” the support decreased to just 51%. The recommendation by the survey consultants was for “A strong, independent outreach effort…emphasizing the accountability features if the measure along with how it will provide for necessary and overdue repairs and enhanced student safety.”

Official Ballot Language

The official ballot language for the measure reads, “To upgrade classrooms, labs and learning technology, improve school safety and emergency communications, repair leaky roofs and restrooms, upgrade heating, air-conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems, and make accessibility upgrades for people with disabilities; shall Antioch Unified School District’s measure be adopted, issuing $195,000,000 in bonds at legal interest rates, generating an average $13,500,000 annually until approximately 2059, at estimated tax rates of approximately $48 per $100,000 assessed value with annual audits, citizen’s oversight, and all funds staying local?”

According to the Tax Rate Statement for Measure B in the Voter Guide, there are no district-wide bonds currently outstanding that are being paid by taxpayers. However, voters in Antioch’s School Facilities District 1, have approved two separate bonds that remain outstanding including the 2008 Measure C to improve schools in the older part of the district and the 2012 Measure B which was specifically for improvements to Antioch High School. Both measures currently cost property owners $80.10 per $100,000 of assessed value. Measure C bonds will be paid off by the end of the 2035-36 tax year and the 2012 Measure B bonds will be repaid by the end of tax year 2046-47.

The proposed bond will add $41 to $48 per $100,000 in assessed value more per year to property tax bills. That amounts to $143.50 to $168 per year for a home valued at $350,000 and $246 to $288 more per year for a home valued at $600,000.

So, if the measure succeeds, property owners in Facilities District 1 will pay between $125.10 per $100,000 in assessed value for all three bonds through 2035-36, then $70.90 per $100,000 value until 2046-47.

Also, according to the Tax Rate Statement, “the best estimate of total debt service, including principal and interest” over the 35 years “if all the bonds are issued and sold will be approximately $470 million”.

Schools To Be Improved

According to information about this year’s Measure B, on the bond measures page on the AUSD website and the Jan. 24, 2024 Update Presentation the funds generated will be used to improve schools throughout the district. They include: Belshaw, Carmen Dragon, Diablo Vista, Fremont, Jack London, John Muir, Kimball, Lone Tree, Marsh, Mission, Mno Grant, Sutter and Turner Elementary Schools; Orchard Park K-8; Antioch, Black Diamond, Dallas Ranch and Park Middle Schools, as well as Antioch, Deer Valley and Dozier-Libbey Medical High Schools.

Proposed Improvements

The improvements covered by the $195 million include approximately:

$148.42 million for Safety & Security

$28.93 million for Upgrades & Improvements, and

$19.4 million for Enhancements

A message on the bond measures page offers additional details about the proposed improvements. It reads, “Antioch schools do not receive any funds from the state for facility improvements. Constant use and changing education needs require significant upgrades –way beyond our District budget. In the March 2024 election, voters in the Antioch Unified School District will be asked whether to approve a school facilities bond. This page contains information related to the proposed bond measure.

This bond has one goal: Improving the quality of Antioch Schools!!!

While there have been improvements in the quality of our schools over the past few years, the fact remains that our schools are old. Classrooms and restrooms need modernization, electrical systems are outdated, and HVAC and roofs are at the end of their life. Schools built years ago need significant updating.

Many of our schools are 60-70 years old. The Board of Education approved a bond measure to be placed on the ballot in March 2024 to address the most pressing needs of our district:

• Remove hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint from school sites
• Repair or replace old worn-out roofs, floors, walkways, lighting, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems
• Improve school security and emergency communications systems
• Update instructional technology in classrooms for improved student learning
• Renovate restrooms to make them accessible for students with disabilities
• Upgrade and repair physical education facilities and playground equipment to meet current safety standards
• Make repairs and energy efficiency improvements to all schools
• Free up resources to improve the quality of classroom instruction in core subjects like reading, math, and science to prepare students for success in college and careers

This bond will update our aging schools, technology, and equipment. It will protect the health, safety, and security of AUSD students and staff. It will also:

• Add TK-K classrooms at John Muir Elementary
• Add a new gymnasium and cafeteria at Orchard Park
• Replace old portables with a new two-story building of classrooms at Park Middle School
• Modernize the gymnasium at Antioch Middle School”

To see renderings and a list of proposed improvements for each school click, here.

Part of the outreach effort includes a sample letter for principals to send out addressed to parents and neighbors, on the District’s bond measures page. It also includes a mailer sent to homes this week paid for by Improve Antioch Schools/Yes on Measure B. According to campaign committee member, Velma Wilson, they have not yet set up a Facebook page nor website for the effort.

A “yes” vote for Measure B supports authorizing the district to issue the $195 million in bonds for school improvements and levy a property tax and a “no” vote opposes the assessment. There is no organized opposition to the ballot measure and only an argument in favor appears in the Voter Guide signed by Scott Bergerhouse, Christine Pedraza, Louie Rocha and Velma Wilson.

The election is March 5th.

Zoom discussion Feb. 16 sponsored by League of Women Voters, Contra Costa County Library, Contra Costa TV

Voters passed Measure X, a new, countywide 20-year, half-cent sales tax to support health and human services for our neighbors and families, in November 2020.  The ballot measure language stated that the intent of Measure X is “to keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers, emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential county services.” Learn whether it’s living up to what was promised to voters in a Zoom discussion hosted by League of Women Voters on Thursday, February 16 at 4 p.m.

How is the Board of Supervisors providing accountability to the public about the impact of the tax monies? What did we learn from this first year of sales tax allocations? What does this mean for the future? A panel of experts will discuss what was funded by Measure X and what gaps remain:

·      John Gioia, Contra Costa County Supervisor

·      Marianna Moore, Chair of the Measure X Community Advisory Board

·      Kanwarpal Dhaliwal, Co-Director of RYSE, a non-profit for Richmond youth

·      Sara Gurdian, Contra Costa County Budget Justice Coalition

Pittsburg Councilwoman Shanelle Scales-Preston will moderate the panel discussion.

Decisions about the first year’s Measure X allocations, as analyzed by the Measure X Community Advisory Board, will be presented as well as the remaining gaps they identified. Other topics will include changes to the Advisory Board’s bylaws and any barriers encountered during the first year.

Register for the Zoom webinar with your email here.

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT »

Information on how to access the Zoom webinar will be sent to your email address 24 hours before the program.

The Library will provide closed captioning for this event. The program will be recorded and posted on the following sites after the meeting:

LWVDV YouTube channel

Contra Costa County Library YouTube channel

Sponsors include the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, the League of Women Voters of West Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Library and Contra Costa TV.

Contact programs@lwvdv.org for more information.

Creates new position of Community Engagement Coordinator, plus recruiting new City PIO

Offering new CM $251-$305K per year; woman-owned Illinois-based firm hired for executive search; council majority continues to expand size of city government

Barbanica wants transparent process, says council might need to wait until after Nov. elections

By Allen D. Payton

After over 10 months with an interim city manager and following two closed session meetings by the Antioch City Council to discuss the hiring process, a search began on Tuesday, Jan. 30, to fill the position. A post on the City’s Facebook page on Thursday, Feb. 1 reads, “The City of Antioch has initiated an open recruitment process for the position of City Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in guiding the future of our community. Interested candidates can apply at antiochca.gov/city-manager-recruitment.”

This time the council opted to hire a search firm and conduct a nationwide search, unlike in September 2022 when the council majority simply promoted their friend, Con Johnson, from Acting City Manager to the permanent position. But no press release was issued to announce the current hiring process nor inform the public that a search firm was hired to recruit for the position.

The city manager is one of only two positions hired by the city council. Once a new city manager has been hired, then that person can hire for the positions currently filled with other city employees including Acting Assistant City Manager, Acting Police Chief, Acting Community Development Director and Acting Public Works Director.

According to District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, who was absent for the meeting, the council made the decision to hire an executive search firm during their closed session meeting on Nov. 14, 2023, under the agenda item entitled, “PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT – Recruitment of City Manager”. But City Attorney Thomas L. Smith merely reported out that night, “Direction was provided to the human resources director and city attorney.” Another closed session meeting was held before the regular council meeting on Jan. 9th in which the “Recruitment of City Manager” was discussed. But again, Smith merely reported out that, “the city council gave direction to the city attorney and human resources director.”

The post on the City’s website shows the position includes an annual salary of $251,328 to $305,460 depending on qualifications, with benefits including: “Cafeteria Plan (City of Antioch pays 100% of Kaiser rate, up to family tier), Retirement: CalPERS Classic Members 2.7% @ 55, New PEPRA Members 2% @ 62, 457 Deferred Compensation: 5% of Base Salary (Executive Management), Life Insurance: 2X The employee’s base salary (max of $250,000) and a $450 monthly car allowance.

All applications must include a cover letter, resume, and five professional references (who will not be contacted without prior notice). For questions, call Ryan Cotton 847-380-3240, Ext 114. Applications are confidential until permission is given and the application deadline is February 28, 2024.”

Questions for City Staff, Council

Questions were emailed Friday afternoon to Antioch Human Resources Director Ana Cortez, Acting City Manager Kwame Reed, City Attorney Smith, as well as the mayor and council members asking if an executive search firm was hired to assist in the effort, and if so, who it is. They were also asked if multiple firms were interviewed before selecting one and if so, why wasn’t it done in open session of the council. Finally, they were asked how much the firm is being paid for their work.

Barbanica Told Search Firm He Wants Transparency

District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica said he had requested during a council meeting last fall that all the recruiting process for the city manager be done in open session. But that did not occur.

“I also want an interview with the public being able to view it and the public being involved, some way because I want the transparency,” he stated.

Asked if the council should wait until after the November election to hire a new city manager Barbanica said, “If we get close to the time of the election, then my stance would most likely be to wait for a new council. But we’re 10 months away. It just depends how long this process takes. If it takes an extended period of time, then the new council should make the decision. But if it takes a few months, then yes, the current council should make the decision. We don’t want to go through it twice plus, pay a severance which would be expensive. It really depends on how quickly we get a list of qualified candidates.”

“I told the recruiting firm, what I’m looking for is transparency to council members, but to the public, too,” Barbanica continued. “I’m looking for someone who is a strong leader, someone who has experience and is not afraid to make tough decisions. That’s what I’m looking for in a city manager.”

“I don’t want to see the new administration coming in stonewalling the council members and stonewalling the press. The public has a right to know what is occurring in the city,” he stated. “Everything is a secret in this city and that’s what I’ve been banging my head against the wall about. It’s ridiculous.”

“We need very open dialogue between the staff, between the council, between the mayor and the public. That’s what I’m looking for in this position. If that’s not what they’re going to do coming into this position they won’t have my support,” Barbanica added.

Woman-Owned Illinois Search Firm Hired

Both Reed and Barbanica shared that the firm hired for the search is GovHR USA MGT. According to the Illinois-based company’s website, “GovHRUSA is a certified woman-owned business that provides comprehensive executive recruitment, interim staffing, human resources consulting and organizational analysis consulting services for local governments, intergovernmental organizations, school districts as well as other governmental and non-profit entities.”

In addition, the website reads, “GovHR and GovTemps have combined with MGT! This combination allows us to expand and enhance our ability to provide executive recruitment, interim staffing, human resources consulting, and organizational analysis to our government clients across the country.”

According to MGT Consulting’s LinkedIn profile, it “is a public sector consulting firm.”

Other City Positions Open

In addition to the recruitment for a permanent city manager, the same Antioch webpage on governmentjobs.com shows several other positions the City has available. They include the new Community Engagement Coordinator with an annual salary of$87,780 to $106,692; Assistant City Attorney with an annual salary of $177,000 to $215,136; a Public Information/Communications Officer with an annual salary of $107,388 to $130,524; part-time Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with hourly pay of $78.81 – $95.80; a part-time Animal Care Attendant with an annual salary of $35,484.80 – $44,366.40; and several police positions.

New Community Engagement Coordinator Position

The Community Engagement Coordinator will be part of the aforementioned Public Safety and Community Resources Department, which does not include the Police Department, that the city council majority created last year, as part of their repeated actions that has increased the size and scope of the city government.

The information about the new position on the governmentjobs.com website reads as follows:

The City of Antioch is currently accepting applications for the Community Engagement Coordinator  position located within the Public Safety and Community Resources Department’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Division. The…duties may include promoting and coordinating specific activities within Violence Intervention and Prevention Programs and/or Social Justice Programs; promoting and collaborating in Community-Based Organizations such as juvenile justice agencies; coordination of program events, and creating the marketing materials including news releases, flyers, schedules of events, pamphlets and brochures; budget management; staff and volunteer supervision and training.

Competitive Compensation Package:

Monthly Salary DOO/E: $7,315 – $8,891  (Next Salary Increase of 3% Scheduled for October 2024)  | Collective Bargaining Unit Representation: Confidential BU | Tentative Agreement  | Benefits 

• Benefits: Cafeteria Plan (City of Antioch pays 100% of Kaiser rate, up to family tier)
• Retirement: CalPERS Classic Members 2.7% @ 55, New PEPRA Members 2% @ 62
• 457 Deferred Compensation Option
• Life Insurance

Under general supervision, to plan, organize, promote, facilitate and coordinate various community engagement, social, cultural, and youth activities. May exercise technical/functional supervision of subordinate and volunteer staff.  Perform related work as required.

Examples of Duties

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

1. Plan, organize, promote, facilitate and coordinate regularly scheduled activities, special events and services.
2. Train and provide technical/functional supervision for subordinate and volunteer staff.
3. Prepare and maintain records and reports on activities.
4. Evaluate program effectiveness and provides recommendations for improvement or modification.
5. Assist in the development and implementation of the Division’s goals and objectives, policies, procedures and work standards.
6. Act as City staff liaison to outside boards, groups and committees, and the public regarding program offerings and coordination of services. May hold community meetings and organize outreach events to increase engagement with programs and initiatives.  
7. Promote and coordinate specific activities within violence intervention and prevention programs; prepare program events and facility marketing material including news releases, flyers, schedules of events, pamphlets and brochures; promote communication with the community about crisis intervention resources.
8. Promote participation and collaboration in violence intervention and prevention efforts from local stakeholders including City departments, Community-Based Organizations (CBO), juvenile justice agencies, and faith-based organizations.
9. Participate in the preparation and administration of the Public Safety and Community Resources program budget for assigned area; submit budget recommendations; monitor expenditures; oversee and monitor grant programs and subcontracted services.
10. Participate in the selection of staff for assigned area; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures.
11. Respond to inquiries and concerns regarding programs and activities; research and resolve conflicts as required.
12. Effective engagement and interaction with the community, youth, City’s personnel, partner organizations and allied agencies.
13. Maintain records and develop reports concerning new or ongoing programs and program effectiveness; maintain and file assigned programs, records and reports; prepare statistical reports as required.
14. Cultivate relationships across diverse communities to provide resources and new opportunities for community members.  
15. Assist with the writing, editing, and review of program development and implementation documents.
16. Facilitate meetings with service providers and community groups related to coordination of services within the jurisdiction, identification of needs and priorities for new or expanded services, and other items pertinent to assisting with management of the City’s response to violence intervention and prevention.
17. Provide updates on programs and activities to the community, City Council, Community Based Organizations, and state and federal agencies; and prepare and submit progress reports for grant programs. 
18. Perform related duties as required.

No responses were received about the process for hiring the search firm nor how much the City paying them prior to publication time. Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Include non-transit transportation, environment, housing and economy strategy refinements

Will impact Antioch’s BART Station and industrial areas

The Joint Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Planning Committee with the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Administrative Committee on Jan. 12, 2024 approved the revised Plan Bay Area 2050+ Draft Blueprint strategies and Growth Geographies.  This action enables staff to further study the strategies’ performance in meeting critical regional goals for an affordable, connected, diverse, healthy and vibrant Bay Area for all. Staff are aiming for adoption of the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Final Blueprint in summer 2024.

Given Plan Bay Area 2050’s solid foundation of 35 strategies, the Draft Blueprint phase for Plan Bay Area 2050+ is focusing on making targeted refinements to select plan strategies. These refinements reflect Plan Bay Area 2050’s implementation progress, the post-pandemic planning context and insights gathered during engagement with the public and partners in summer 2023.

What is the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Blueprint?

The Plan Bay Area 2050+ Blueprint will integrate strategies across the four elements of the plan — the economy, the environment, housing and transportation — to create a more equitable and resilient future for all.

Beginning in summer 2023 and wrapping up in late 2024, staff will develop the Blueprint over two phases: the Draft Blueprint and the Final Blueprint. Given Plan Bay Area 2050’s solid foundation of 35 strategies, the Draft Blueprint phase for Plan Bay Area 2050+ will focus on making targeted refinements to select plan strategies.

What are Growth Geographies?

Priority Development Areas — Places nominated by local governments served by transit and planned for new homes and jobs at densities necessary to support effective transit service.

Priority Production Areas — Industrial areas of importance to the regional economy and local communities that support middle-wage jobs.

Transit-Rich Areas — Places near rail, ferry or frequent bus service that were not already identified as Priority Development Areas.

High-Resource Areas — State-identified places with well-resourced schools and access to jobs and open space.

Staff previously shared proposed Draft Blueprint strategy refinements in October and November 2023, detailing which of Plan Bay Area 2050’s 35 strategies were likely to see major, minor or no changes in Plan Bay Area 2050+. This month, the MTC and ABAG committees approved moving forward with revisions for further study and analysis, including:

• Non-transit transportation strategy refinements focused on prioritizing equity considerations, adapting to tighter fiscal constraints, promoting active transportation and safety, and expanding pricing strategies;
• Environment strategy refinements focused on further reducing greenhouse gas emissions and proactively adapting to climate change; and
• Housing and economy strategy refinements focused on addressing pressing challenges of housing affordability, homelessness and access to opportunity.

At this time the Draft Blueprint only includes a handful of modified transportation strategies, pending the development of a fiscally constrained Transportation Project List, which will integrate recommendations from the ongoing parallel Transit 2050+ effort. The complete suite of revised transportation strategies will be integrated as part of the Final Blueprint in summer 2024.

The Joint ABAG and MTC Committee also approved targeted updates to the Growth Geographies that were adopted as part of Plan Bay Area 2050. Growth Geographies are places that Plan Bay Area prioritizes for future homes, jobs, services and amenities and serve as a component of the plan’s housing and economy elements. Specifically, draft Growth Geographies for Plan Bay Area 2050+ will include five new Priority Development Areas (PDAs) and 16 modified existing PDAs nominated by local Bay Area jurisdictions; reflect up-to-date information on transit service, natural hazards and demographics; and integrate areas subject to MTC’s revised Transit Oriented Communities Policy.

The Draft Blueprint approval comes six months after MTC and ABAG kicked off the limited and focused update to Plan Bay Area 2050. In November 2023, staff shared progress-to-date with policymakers, including findings from the first round of engagement, core planning assumptions, the draft Regional Growth Forecast, a financial needs and revenue analyses and proposed strategy refinements.

The next round of public and partner organization engagement activities, which will inform the development of the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Final Blueprint, is planned to begin in spring 2024. MTC and the ABAG Executive Board are expected to approve Final Blueprint strategies in summer 2024.

Learn more about the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Draft Blueprint strategies and Growth Geographies. For additional technical resources, please visit the Plan Bay Area 2050+ Draft Blueprint Documents page on our website.

Open to the public

By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Office of Communications & Media, Contra Costa County

Improving the quality of life for Contra Costa County residents through diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible programs and services will be the center of the Board of Supervisors annual retreat discussion Tuesday, Jan. 30, at Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Avenue in Pittsburg.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.

“Ensuring we’re meeting community needs is always our focus,” said Board Chair Federal Glover, District 5 Supervisor. “The retreat offers an opportunity for us to anticipate economic factors and continue prioritizing resources accordingly to make sure we’re having the greatest impact through our services.”  

Supervisors will receive an economic forecast from Beacon Economics. Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ) Co-Directors Dr. Kendra Carr and Peter Kim will present a summary of ORESJ priorities for the coming year including new initiatives toward expanding equity, building office infrastructure and staffing, developing the Lived Experience Advisory Board, and proposed costs.Pittsburg City Manager Garrett Evans is also scheduled to speak.

The Board of Supervisors sets the direction of the County government and oversees its $5.5 billion budget to serve the 1.2 million residents of this diverse East Bay county with a “AAA” bond rating.

The Board meeting will be accessible in person at Council Chambers, Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg. The meeting will be televised live on Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse Channel 99, Astound Channels 32 & 1027, and can be seen live online at www.contracosta.ca.gov or www.contracostatv.org. 

For more information about Contra Costa County and its Board of Supervisors, visit the County’s website at www.contracosta.ca.gov or the webpage: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7283/Board-of-Supervisors.

February 23 deadline to submit application

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants for appointment to the Measure X sales tax Community Advisory Board. The Measure X Community Advisory Board (MXCAB) was established on February 2, 2021, following passage of the countywide sales tax measure providing general purpose revenue for County programs.

The Supervisors are seeking diverse representation from individuals with broad experience with programs that align with the Measure’s voter-approved purpose “to keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers, emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential county services.”

The main responsibilities of the Measure X Community Advisory Board are:

• Providing input on the scope and methodology of the regular written assessment of community needs and priorities;
• Using the assessment findings to develop general funding priorities to be recommended to the Board of Supervisors on Measure X net revenues available for allocation;
• Receiving annual status reports on the implementation, milestones, impact, and outcomes of Measure X funded programs;

Appointments for seven (7) At-Large and five (5) At-Large Alternate seats will be considered at the Board of Supervisors Finance Committee, with public interviews scheduled March 4, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. To have your application considered at the March Finance Committee meeting, please submit an application online by February 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

For further information, please call Emlyn Struthers, Deputy County Administrator, at (925) 655-2045 or Emlyn.Struthers@cao.cccounty.us.

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.

English survey https://ow.ly/Uvuf50QgYB6

Spanish survey https://ow.ly/1fiv50QgYBc