Walnut Creek, CA – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D, CA-10) announced today that he will host an in-person town hall on Monday, June 30th at 6:30 p.m.Topics to be covered include Mark’s views on the Trump Administration’s actions and our constitutional rights and the situation in the Middle East.
Town Hall
Monday, June 3o
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Antioch, CA
RSVP for Location
The event is RSVP only and capacity is limited. To reserve your spot or request special accommodations, visit https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or call (925) 933-2660.
This will be Congressman DeSaulnier’s 235th town hall and mobile district office hour since coming to Congress in January 2015.
Invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have been detected in our community—these pests can spread diseases like Zika, dengue, and yellow fever.
The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District invites Antioch residents to attend a community meeting at Harbour Park or Mountaire Park on Saturday, June 28th, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
District staff will be available to answer residents’ questions about the latest detection of invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are capable of transmitting the viruses that can cause Zika, dengue fever, yellow fever, and chikungunya.
We look forward to talking to residents about what the District is doing to control this dangerous mosquito and how residents can help our public health agency.
Ask questions.
Get informed.
Learn how to protect your family.
Together, we can stop the spread and keep Antioch safe.
Seeking experienced firms; proposal deadline: July 16
The City of Antioch invites Antioch-based organizations to propose projects that advance economic development interests throughout the city. This request aims to award up to three grants of $20,000 each to the best projects. Proposals are due July 16!
The City of Antioch is seeking an experienced firm that can enter into a Contractor Agreement for economic development projects in Antioch, CA. The City is looking for organizations that have the ability to produce the advancement of economic development outcomes and will enter into a contractor agreement for a specific period of time.
The city boasts a variety of commercial corridors that serve as key hubs for business and economic activity. Antioch has designated areas like the Downtown Area also known as Rivertown as well as Western Antioch Commercial Focus Area, which includes regional commercial zones such as Somersville Towne Center and Delta Fair Shopping Center. Additionally, the Highway 4 Corridor plays a significant role in the local economy, with ongoing real estate developments and business expansions. The Commercial Infill Housing Overlay District has also introduced new zoning regulations, allowing for mixed-use developments in commercial areas like Lone Tree Way and Buchanan Crossings. These corridors provide retail, office, and industrial spaces, contributing to Antioch’s growing economy and community development.
Awardees should design and implement projects that result in tangible improvements to Antioch’s economic ecosystem. Projects funded under this RFP should aim to achieve at least two or more of the following outcomes:
Increased Economic Activity – Boost foot traffic, sales, or commercial occupancy rates in key corridors.
Business Retention or Expansion – Provide support or services that result in business stabilization, retention, or physical/operational growth.
Entrepreneurial Development – Foster new business creation, especially among underserved populations or within underutilized areas.
Job Creation or Workforce Upskilling – Generate new employment opportunities or improve job readiness among residents.
Community Engagement – Increase stakeholder participation, visibility of small businesses, or community pride in economic corridors.
The scope shall include but shall not be limited to:
Advances current economic development strategies. Examples of this may be to hold convenings of Antioch merchants or activation of an economically depressed location
Firm must demonstrate history of similar work in Antioch
Submit reports, invoices and documentation in a timely manner
Maintain an active business license
Proof of non-profit status
Follow terms of contract
Maintain communication with City and attend regular check ins
Show how the City of Antioch and its commercial areas will prosper with your company/firm
To evaluate the success of funded projects, grantees will be expected to measure and report on relevant key performance indicators such as increases in foot traffic, customer engagement, and retail sales; the number of businesses supported, retained, or expanded; the launch of new businesses or entrepreneur support efforts; the activation or improvement of underutilized commercial spaces; the creation or retention of jobs and workforce training outcomes; and/or levels of community participation, awareness, and satisfaction.
All grantees will be required to submit quarterly reports on progress made, as well as a final report at the conclusion of the grant term, which should include how the outcome was achieved and how the grant funds were expended. Reports will inform the City’s assessment of program impact and future funding considerations.
Almost half of cuts from Police Department staffing, overtime savings
Plus, $165.3 million 5-Year Capital Improvements budget and $2.4 million in federal community funds
By Allen D. Payton
Following all the special budget session meetings over the past several months, the Antioch City Council, during their meeting Tuesday night, June 24, 2025, is expected to approve the 2025-26 budget with over $11.5 million in spending cuts and using $5 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund. The City was facing a $24.3 million deficit for the coming fiscal year and if the budget is approved as recommended, will have a net deficit of $7.7 million which will be covered from reserves.
Almost half of the savings, $5.5 million, will be in the Police Department budget from Vacancy Savings and Overtime Reductions. UPDATE: That’s due to the current staffing vacancies of approximately 30 sworn officers and the chief informing the council that they expect to add 15 more officers in the next year. So, instead of determining the savings from the staff vacancies during a mid-year budget review and spending the one-time funds on other City budget items, the council chose to account for it in the budget up front to reduce the deficit.
In spite of the cuts, future fiscal years still show the City facing projected deficits of $10,629,642 in 2026-27 and $25,396,400 in 2028-29.
The proposed budget also includes an allocation from the Measure W 1% City sales tax of 70-15-15 or 70% for Police, 15% for Quality of Life and 15% for Youth. (See page 6 of the Budget)
According to the City staff report for item #5, “Since March, City Council and staff have been diligently scrutinizing the budget to close a starting point fiscal year 2026 deficit of $24,270,240. Initially, staff was able to shave $8,603,792 from that number, for a fiscal year 2026 deficit of $15,666,448 as presented at the March 4th budget session. Upon further collaboration with the Council, City Manager and departments as we moved through the exhaustive budget process, and through a series of further adjustments, a General Fund budget with a net deficit of $7,737,331, after a $5M infusion from the Budget Stabilization Fund.”
In addition, under item #3 the Council is expected to approve the Five-Year Capital Improvement Program budget for 2025-2030 for Community Facilities, Parks & Trails, Roadway Improvements, Traffic Signals, Wastewater & Storm Drain System and the City’s Water System. Currently, there are $163.3 million of projects in progress which includes $6,238,209 of projects that the Council added to the list.
Finally, in other budget action, under item #4 the Council will consider approving the recommendations of the City Council’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Subcommittee for a total of $2,369,318 in federal funds for the coming fiscal year. Mayor Pro Tem Louie Rocha, representing District 2, and Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker, representing District 1, served on the CDBG Subcommittee for this funding cycle.
The meeting begins at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers inside City Hall at 200 H Street, in historic, downtown Rivertown. It can be viewed via livestream on the City’s website, on Comcast Local Cable Channel 24 or on AT&T U-verse Channel 99.
The Contra Costa Water District Canal Replacement Project includes 20 miles of the waterway. Photo: CCWD
Lake Shasta is source of all water, Los Vaqueros Reservoir will not be expanded, CoCoTax members learn
By Allen D. Payton
During the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association Members and Leaders monthly luncheon in May, Contra Costa Water District Board President, Ernesto Avila provided an update on the district’s current work and plans. They include repairing 20 of the 48-mile canal at a cost of $1 billion, keeping water rates as low as possible and expanding service to keep up with growth.
The district includes the Central County cities and communities of Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Clayton, Pacheco, Clyde, Port Costa and portions of Walnut Creek, and in East County, the cities and communities of Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley, Bay Point, and portions of Brentwood.
CCWD Board President Ernesto Avila provides an update during the CoCo Taxpayers Association luncheon on May 23, 2025. Photo: Allen D. Payton
Half of the district’s water is provided to treated water customers and the other half to raw water customers, Avila stated and then spoke about ensuring adequate “water supply during disasters such as fire and earthquake emergencies.”
“When PG&E outages occur all of our tanks go full,” he shared. “Water only stays sweet for six to seven days to meet the water quality requirements of the state.”
“Lake Shasta is where we get all of our water from through the Central Valley Project,” he continued. “It’s currently 94% full.”
The district owns Los Vaqueros Reservoir for storage, which is currently 93% full. But “we can’t just draw water whenever we want,” Avila stated. “All of our intakes are screened to protect fish.”
“We are out of our drought,” Avila added. However, “during the drought there were no constraints on water supply for development and growth.”
Source: CCWD
Canal Replacement Program
There have been “landslides on the west side of the canal and repairs can cost millions,” he stated and spoke of the district’s “Canal Replacement Program” which will cost “$1 billion”.
“Nobody likes to raise rates,” Avila continued. “We’ve replaced four miles, so far and have 16 miles to go. It will be a pipeline”
Asked what happens to the pipe during an earthquake he said, “If it’s an older pipe, it will probably crack. We’re looking at a very ductile pipe that can move easily.”
Avila then spoke about providing enough water to meet the demands of residential growth including “redevelopment of the Concord Naval Weapons station” where “15,000 homes” are projected to be built.
“Ten percent of the district’s water is provided through recycling,” he stated. “We want to bump that up to fifteen percent.”
Budget & Water Costs to Users
“Energy costs have been the greatest increases from 2020 to 2024, medical coverage is second greatest,” he shared. Those are followed by “pension and OPEB (other post employee benefit) liabilities.”
“The average customer spends about $3.00 per day for water,” Avila stated. “The cost is 1.3 cents per gallon per day.”
He compared that to EBMUD rates which are at 2.0 cents per gallon.
Contra Costa Water District Production Costs. Source: CCWD
According to the slide show from his presentation, costs to the district for water production include the following:
INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE – Pipeline Renewal, Canal Replacement, Water Treatment Plant Upgrades;
PURCHASED WATER
WATER SUPPLY AND RESOURCE PROTECTION – Water Supply Planning, Watershed Management, Recreation;
SYSTEM OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE – Water Treatment, Water Delivery, Leak Inspection and Repair;
ADMINISTRATION – Human Resources, Safety, Accounting and Payroll;
CUSTOMER CARE – Customer Service, Billing, Water Efficiency Support, and Public Affairs; and
COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT K-12 Water Education and Field Trips, and Internships.
The district has an AAA Bond Rating which keeps interest costs on bonds down, Avila shared.
He was then asked about “money going to DEI programs. I this something you should be doing anymore?” Avila responded, “there are three employees dedicated to it. There are 317 employees which is 30-40% of the budget We have one person in Human Resources dedicated to it. We have a $200 million per year budget. Not even one percent is dedicated to it.”
“It’s about trying to enhance the culture for our employees to work together better,” he added. “We review it every six months. Our Master Plan is on the website.”
Asked about “EPA clean water requirements getting tougher each year” Avila spoke about “unfunded mandates we have to comply with. We work with various associations and collaborate on a national level as regulations are mostly at the federal level.”
“Our biggest concern is the issue of diminishing return on conservation,” he explained. “During the drought, people in our area reduced use by 25 percent while Southern California only reduced 2-3 percent.”
According to the chart in Avila’s presentation total water use has actually decreased over the past 17 years even though the population has significantly increased.
Source: CCWD
No Los Vaqueros Capacity Increase Due to Too Much Cost and Regulation, Offline for Too Long
Asked about increasing capacity at Los Vaqueros, Avila said, “The district spent $10 million on raising the…reservoir, for a cost/benefit analysis funded by the state. It was over subscribed with more customer demand than supply, 250,000 versus 120,000 acre feet.”
“But with so many constraints on pumping water into the reservoir, demand dropped to 50,000 acre feet then to zero,” he continued. “The cost increase with inflation went from $800 million to $1.6 billion, mainly from more material and labor cost increases, plus, engineering costs.”
Finally, Avila shared, “Los Vaqueros Reservoir would have had to be offline for six to seven years. It just wasn’t viable. They knew that, going in. The issue was negotiating supply from EBMUD and others” who “couldn’t guarantee any water.”
He also spoke about future supply including the proposed offstream Sites Reservoir project west of Colusa in the Sacramento Valley.
“In California, for every one million acre-feet of storage, there is eight to nine acre-feet of surface storage,” Avila stated.
Finally, in response to a question, he said, “Water from a canal behind a house is not grandfathered in if the home is sold.”
The next CoCoTax Members and Board Luncheon will be held on Friday June 27, 2025, at 11:45 AM at Denny’s Restaurant, 1313 Willow Pass Road in Concord, and will feature Oakland Mayor recall leader Seneca Scott as the speaker. Advance registration is available on the CoCoTax website where you can pay online, or bring cash or check on Friday and pay at the door: $25 for members, $30 for guests. www.cocotax.org/event-6189658/Registration
About CoCoTax
Founded in 1937, CoCoTax leads the way in providing fiscal oversight of local government. We actively resist unwarranted taxes and fees, discriminatory regulations, ill-advised public expenditures and government secrecy, inefficiency and waste. For more information and membership visit www.cocotax.org.
About CCWD
The Contra Costa Water District delivers safe, clean water to approximately 520,000 people in central and eastern Contra Costa County in Northern California. Formed in 1936 to provide water for irrigation and industry, we are now one of the largest urban water districts in California and a leader in drinking-water treatment technology and source water protection. For more information visit www.ccwater.com.
The Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax) invites you to attend a Board and Members Meeting Meeting at Denny’s Restaurant at 1313 Willow Pass Road, Concord, on Friday June 27, 2025, at 11:45 am. Please register in advance on the CoCoTax website where you can pay online or bring cash or check on Friday and pay at the door: $25 for members, $30 for guests.
MEET OUR SPEAKER: SENECA SCOTT
Seneca Scott moved to Oakland in 2012 to work as the East Bay Director for SEIU Local 1021, representing and negotiating improvements to wages and working conditions for thousands of workers in East Bay cities, most notably Oakland. He also co-founded community groups Bottoms Up Community Gardens and Oakhella.
In 2020, Seneca ran for City Council to bring a voice to his neighbors that he felt was being ignored.
He later led the successful effort to recall Mayor Sheng Thao and started the YouTube channel Gotham Oakland. He also frequently posts on X about the failures of Oakland’s progressive leadership.
Seneca has worked as a Labor leader and community organizer for over 20 years. He earned his B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
Oakland’s Crisis and Its Implications for Other Cities and Counties
Despite levying high taxes, Oakland suffers from high crime, business closures, blight, and uncontrolled homeless encampments. The City has also faced repeated fiscal crises in recent years.
As Seneca will discuss, the explanations for Oakland’s problems include public corruption and the dominance of a progressive ideology which sounds noble but does a disservice to most residents.
We’ll also learn what lessons Oakland’s troubles might hold for neighboring cities, and whether we in Contra Costa County have anything to worry about
Fire fuels reduction efforts in the East Bay parks. Photos: EBRPD
$8.3 million in grants; $2.6 million in district matching funds
By Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, East Bay Regional Park District
The East Bay Regional Park District is set to spend $10.9 million over the next three years to reduce fire fuels at Anthony Chabot, Tilden, and Wildcat Canyon Regional Parks, Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, and Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline. The funding will help reduce wildfire risks by removing dead and dying trees and hazardous vegetation on over 600 acres. Dead trees burn hotter and faster and can cast embers long distances, igniting new fires.
These efforts are in addition to ongoing fuels reduction work districtwide, including large-scale projects at Anthony Chabot Regional Park (544 acres) and Tilden Regional Park (39 acres), a 16-person year-round fuels reduction crew, and annual goat, sheep, and cattle grazing. In 2024, the Park District’s fuels reduction crew removed hazardous fire fuels on 104 acres in 11 parks. Additionally, more than 86,800 acres of parkland are grazed annually by cattle, sheep, or goats.
“The grant funding enhances our ability to protect the public and safeguard our natural landscapes,” said Park District Interim Fire Chief Khari Helae. “Securing the funding is a testament to the Park District’s efforts—from planning to permitting—to manage the detailed grant application process and its proven ability to carry out large-scale fuels reduction projects in support of the community.”
2025 Grant Funding Allocations Map. Source: EBRPD
The $10.9 million for fuels reduction projects includes $8.3 million in grants, with $6.1 million coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), $2.1 million from the California State Coastal Conservancy, and $100,000 from the U.S. Forest Service. FEMA funding was obtained in partnership with U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, who secured $1.5 million in the 2023 budget, and U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, who secured $1.4 million in the 2024 budget.
An additional $2.6 million comes from required Park District matching funds, which include general funds and voter-approved local revenue measures like Measure FF. These local revenue measures enhance the Park District’s ability to qualify for and secure grant funding by providing required matching contributions.
Fire fuels reduction source of funds. EBRPD
“These projects are vital to reducing wildfire risks in the East Bay,” said Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth. “We thank FEMA, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Eric Swalwell, the California State Coastal Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service, and Park District voters for their support and for prioritizing wildfire mitigation in the East Bay.”
For large scale vegetation management projects, the Park District utilizes a climate-friendly carbonizer to dispose of vegetation. The carbonizer burns organic matter at 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit with little oxygen, which produces very low emissions—especially compared to conventional disposal methods such as open pile burning or transporting debris long distances in diesel trucks. The resulting biochar is being used throughout the Park District to enhance soil health, improve water retention, and increase crop productivity, including at the District’s Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont.
Photo: EBRPD
The Park District Board of Directors will consider authorizing $1,883,261 in matching funds from Measure FF at their upcoming Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Measure FF was passed in 2018 by voters in the communities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Kensington, Oakland, Piedmont, Richmond, and San Pablo to provide funding to reduce fire risks, improve public access, and restore natural habitat. The Board of Directors previously authorized $500,016 in matching funds in March 2023.
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.
$10 to $15 million in spending reductions proposed to eliminate deficits; largest amount in police department budget mostly due to savings from vacant positions
Public Works Dept budget cuts would reduce landscape maintenance and watering, vandalism repairs, close restrooms at some parks
City Manager requesting switch back to one-year budgets
By Allen D. Payton
The Antioch City Council will hold another special meeting for a Budget Study Session for Fiscal Years 2025-27 on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, beginning at 5:30 P.M.
According to the City staff report, the “Council has requested that several budget models be provided for consideration and discussion. The City Manager is requesting City Council to consider the five models provided and direct staff which elements to incorporate into a final draft for Council to evaluate for adoption.
The City Manager and Finance Director are recommending that the City Council adopt a one-year budget that would amend FY25 and adopt FY26. This will allow staff to pursue thoughtful and vetted long term alternatives to revenues, programs and services to better build a sustainable budget. If this is amenable, the proposed FY27 budget will be a baseline to begin further evaluation. Another one-year budget would then be adopted in June 2026, with a goal to adopt a two-year budget in 2027 for the 2027-29 fiscal years.
MODEL 1: This is the baseline model initially presented to City Council that incorporated $8.7M in reductions in FY26 and $9.5M in FY27. Further refinements were made, resulting in $10.4M in total reductions in FY26 and $11.2M in FY27.
Over half of the reductions will be in the police department budget with most from vacancy savings.
MODEL 2 includes additional Expenditure Budget Adjustments of $1,339,138 for total reductions of $11,769,027 in FY2026 and $1,366,910 in FY2027 for total reductions of $12,648,455.
The Public Works Department budget cuts would result in “Reducing landscape expenditures by this much will result in the following implications: playground repairs will not occur; preventative tree maintenance will not occur; will need to shut off water to landscape in some areas; sign repairs will not occur; vandalism and accident repairs will not be made; will need to close bathrooms at some parks; dead or missing plants will not be replaced causing landscape to look barren; irrigation controllers will not be repaired or replaced; soundwall repairs will not be made.”
MODEL 3 includes additional “net” reductions of $941,482 in FY26 and $612,850 in FY27 beyond measures in Models 1 and 2 as the reduction in funding for the AQCRT (Angelo Quinto Community Response Team) offsets the cost of adding 4 positions. The General Fund meets the 20% minimum unassigned fund balance level in, FY26; however, the minimum fund balance should be at least $19,297,944 in FY27 to meet a 20% unassigned reserve, meaning that is it deficient by $8,479,375.
MODEL 4 builds on Model 3 and incorporates a 5% furlough (5% pay reduction/reduced work hours) for employees, excluding APOA and APSMA bargaining unit employees, and assumes all elected officials take a 5% stipend reduction as well as a full fiscal year implementation. A 5% equivalent pay reduction for APOA and APSMA positions would be $1,306,530 in FY26 and $1,350,062 in FY27 that Council should negotiate for not only further reducing the deficit, but parity as well, if a furlough is implemented.
$5M in Budget Stabilization Funds are utilized in FY26 and FY27. The 20% minimum fund balance is met and exceeded each fiscal year. The Budget Stabilization fund balance is projected to be $32,941,944 at the end of FY26 and $26,641,944 at the end of FY27 if $5M per year, if funds are used to offset the deficit.
MODEL 5 builds on Model 4 and incorporates a total of a 10% furlough (10% pay reduction/reduced work hours) for employees, excluding APOA and APSMA bargaining unit employees, and assumes all elected officials take a 10% stipend reduction as well as a full fiscal year implementation. A 10% equivalent pay reduction for APOA and APSMA positions would be $2,613,060 in FY26 and $2,700,124 in FY27 that Council should negotiate not only for further reducing the deficit, but parity as well, if a furlough is implemented.
$5M in Budget Stabilization funds are utilized in each of the next two fiscal years. The Budget Stabilization fund balance is projected to be $32,941,944 at the end of FY26 and $26,641,944 at the end of FY27 if $5M per year if funds are used to offset the deficit.
Meeting Details
The meeting will be held in the Nick Rodriguez Center at 213 ‘F’ Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. Public comments are not included on the agenda.
