YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
September 23rd
Vol. 19, No. 38
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District inks deal on ULL
Home Honoring 30 years of service Fall And Garden
by Tony Kukulich
Get advice from the experts on all your home and garden needs in this week’s edition. Page 1B
Staff Writer
During their Wednesday, Sept. 11, meeting, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) board of directors approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GBN Partners, LLC/Blackhawk Nunn, worth $11 million. In an ECCFPD press release, Fire Chief Brian Helmick said the agreement provides funding for a new fire station, equipment and personnel to mitigate the expected demand on fire services in the district, should Brentwood voters approve Measure L when it comes up for a vote in November. GBN is spearheading the passage of Measure L, which would expand Brentwood’s urban limit line to allow
Calling All Comedians Photo by Tony Kukulich
B
rian Helmick, East Contra Costa Fire Protection District fire chief, left, recognized Battalion Chief Jeff Burris for his 30 years of service to the district during a fire board meeting in Brentwood, Wednesday, Sept. 11. Burris got his start with the Byron Fire District in Sept. 1988.
see Deal page 26A
Opponents clash over ballot language by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The hotly contested debate over the proposed urban limit line expansion initiative in Brentwood recently took another twist. A judge required that an opposition group’s school funding argument be amended prior to appearing in the official voter information guide, sample ballot and all other election materials, after it was challenged by one of the measure’s proponents and ruled to be false and misleading. Superior Court Judge Steven K. Austin indicated in a court order that the statement “school funding is allocated based on student attendance, so homes without students do not create any ongoing school revenue” was false and misleading. The statement will now be
“ Brentwood’s state-mandated LCFF funding formula is based on school attendance. Homes without students won’t help with that.
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Amended ballot statement amended to read, “Brentwood’s state-mandated LCFF funding formula is based on school attendance. Homes without students won’t help with that.” LCFF refers to Local Control Funding Formula, the state’s school funding formula, enacted in 2013. The required change came after Bob Nunn, a member of the development group behind Measure L, filed a lawsuit against the argument’s authors — all opponents of the measure — challenging the validity of the statement.
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The court order indicates that the original statement is false and misleading, but it does not expand on that analysis. “It’s a nuance, but it’s a gigantic nuance, because basically the statement they were making was that this development doesn’t create any ongoing, new revenue, which is absolutely, completely false, and the judge agreed with us,” Nunn said. “This project creates millions of dollars in annual contributions to property taxes. Absolutely, it goes to local schools.”
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The proposed measure — spearheaded by a group of local developers, including longtime Brentwood farmer and developer Ron Nunn — would move the mark at which urban development must stop, clearing the way for a proposed 815-acre project of up to 2,400 residential units (at least 80% age-restricted, active adultspecific), with other elements, situated north of Balfour Road, east of Deer Valley Road and west of the Shadow Lakes and Brentwood Hills neighborhoods. Measure opponent Kathy Griffin, one of five authors of the challenged statement, asserts that the judge did not rule on the original statement, but rather required attorneys for both sides to come to a mutually agreeable compromise see Ballot page 26A
Military Forum www.thepress.net/news/webextras
Rep. Jerry McNerney holding forum for students interested in military academies.
Local funny man Bob-O Phillips has new event for novice comedians looking for some mic time. Page 8A
A Nail Biter Of A Win
Liberty football holds off Monte Vista after missed field goal. Page 17A Calendar.............................27A Classifieds..........................23A Cop Logs.............................15A Entertainment.................... 9A Food....................................... 8A Health & Beauty................. 6A Milestones.........................13A Opinion...............................16A Pet of the Week.................. 6A Sports..................................17A
Discount Pets
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Contra Costa Animal Services is offering reduced cost adoptions for dogs and cats.