YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 19, No. 37
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Council will Kicking up her heels appoint new member
September 15, 2017
Great Homes And Gardens
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
The Brentwood City Council has unanimously decided to fill its open seat, vacated by Councilmember Steve Barr’s recent resignation, through an application process. Interested candidates – who must be U.S. citizens, Brentwood residents and registered voters – can fill out applications online or obtain paper copies at the city clerk’s office, starting Monday, Sept. 18. Once confirmed as eligible, candidates are expected to have a chance to speak to the council during an Oct. 17 public meeting, during which time a winner will be selected. The replacement will serve out Barr’s term, slated to end December 2018. Barr resigned earlier this month amid plans to move to far Northern California. The council this week opted to fill the void through an application process instead of other possible options such as holding a special election at an estimated cost of between $64,628 and $96,142; or immediately appointing see Council page 30A
The Press’ special edition has all you need to make your home and garden beautiful. Page 3B
New DA In Town
Photo by Tony Kukulich
M
ary Ann Ancheta, a pace runner for the half marathon, celebrates her finish during the Delta Harvest Run in Brentwood, Sept. 10. Proceeds from the event will support East Contra Costa County food banks and pantries, shelters and college scholarship funds for local high school students.
Fire district looking at funding options by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
As the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) continues to seek solutions to its funding woes, at least three community-suggested options appear to be off the table – for now. The district’s legal team this week released an analysis that downplayed the feasibility of the district declaring a state of emergency or relying on property-tax revenue reallocation measures. “This is truly just an opportunity to talk through the issues,” said Shayna van Hoften, legal counsel for the district. “These are issues that have been the subject of discussion.”
“ Anyone who has an idea, a thought, a plan to bring more resources into this district in order to save lives … is greatly encouraged and appreciated.
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Joel Bryant, ECCFPD board president The ECCFPD, which comprised eight stations in 2008, is down to just three stations to serve nearly 115,000 residents over 249 square miles. The problem stems almost entirely from the district’s property-tax allocation being set with the approval of Proposition 13 in 1978 when volunteer departments were sufficient to cover all of
East County. The grassroots organization East County Voters for Equal Protection (EVC) has publicly advocated that the district declare a local emergency under the California Emergency Services Act, which the group states was written into law as a tool for public servants who find themselves in a situation in which
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they are unable to provide adequate public services. However, van Hoften said only a city or county – or a city and a county together – can declare a state of local emergency. Examples of local emergencies under the act include air pollution, fire, flood, epidemic, riot and drought. “There is often rhetorical value in using words like ‘emergency,’ and there is certainly no legal prohibition against doing that,” van Hoften said. “However, there is also no legal vehicle for this board to take any sort of enforceable action to declare a state or condition of emergency.” Van Hoften has previously
Supervisors choose a replacement for former District Attorney Mark Peterson. Page 5A
Tennis Star Breaks Slump
Freedom High tennis phenom breaks school’s 20-year losing streak. Page 23A
see Funding page 30A
Business................................ 6A Calendar............................. 31A Classifieds.......................... 27A Cop Logs............................. 29A Entertainment.................. 10A Food..................................... 11A Health & Beauty............... 21A Milestones......................... 18A Pets...................................... 15A Sports.................................. 23A
Parkinson Forum
Harvey Victims
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Parkinson Association of Northern California set to hold their annual conference.
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Kaiser Permanente donates $1 million to victims of Hurricane Harvey.