Oakley Press 06.24.16

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www.thepress.net | Daily news!

Vol. 16, No. 26

YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER

Online survey says yes to new gateway monument sign by Corey Hunt Correspondent

Oakley city leaders are looking to stir up more excitement after an online referendum offered residents a new gateway monument sign at Main Street and Second Street, which will be linked with other revitalization projects this summer. Thanks to Peak Democracy, a program designed to tighten the gap between government and citizenry, voters took part in the poll through the city’s Engage in Oakley component on its website – eventually opting for a bronze design with metal lettering, a metal base and a brick wall. It will be the cherry on top of the city’s overall plan, focuses on a significant downtown overhaul, with expanded roadways and new utilities installed. Despite coming out on top, the design only received a total of 37 votes out of a total of 76 votes cast. Just over 200 people visited the site altogether, despite

the city council urging participation when it decided last month to leave the matter up for residents to decide. Still, officials see the results as positive and hope that more people will take part as engagement potentially shifts to more important projects like large undeveloped lots or unused buildings that could serve the wishes of a majority of voters. “The Peak Democracy software that drives Engage in Oakley breaks away from the chaos and noise of social media and provides a civil, structured dialog to allow users to provide input on ideas they support or don’t support,” said Mayor Kevin Romick, pointing out that the gateway monument selection was the third item to be put up for a vote on Engage Oakley. “It appears that each new topic is generating more interest.” The previous polls, which asked residents to review, then see Monument page 30A

June 24, 2016

Real Info On Real Estate

This week’s special edition gives you all the tools to make smart real estate decisions. Page 1B

Get Ready For Fireworks

There’s no shortage of fun with the area’s many Independence Day celebrations. Page 12A Rendering courtesy of City of Oakley

This rendering of a proposed new city gateway monument sign was voted on by residents through the city’s online Engage in Oakley program.

Vazquez wins PBA50 Classic

Structure of future fire board in question by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer

The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board put its plan to move to an elected board on the backburner this week, pending further study of the issue. Earlier this month, the board decided to ask voters in November to approve their proposal to switch from a nine-member appointed board to a five-member elected body. However, the plan has been postponed until the board decides whether the future governing body would be elected

“ If the board contracted to a five-member body, the first step likely would have to be to reduce the number of directors by means of attrition, which would mean the district would not move to an elected board for several years.

ECCFPD Chief Hugh Henderson at-large or by yet-to-be divided wards of the district. Regardless of how the board chooses to proceed, district officials said this week that it’s likely to be complicated.

“The district’s legislation allows for the district to switch from an appointed board to an elected board,” said Fire Chief Hugh Henderson. “We may also increase or decrease the number

of directors, and we can allow the voters to elect directors, from either at-large or by division. That being said, the enabling legislation does not lay out how to do that all at the same time.” The law states that voters can approve transitioning to an elected board in the November election, with new directors elected in November 2017. However, if voters also approve a reduction in the number of directors, in this case from nine to five, current directors cannot be reseated or replaced until that election, which see Fire board page 30A

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In-Shape Health Clubs to open new SafeSplash swim schools in East Bay.

Noel Vazquez slays Pete Weber to win the PBA50 Northern California Classic. Page 26A Calendar.............................25A Classifieds..........................26A Cop Logs.............................18A Entertainment..................13A Food.....................................12A Health & Beauty...............19A Milestones.........................10A Opinion...............................20A Pets......................................15A Sports..................................21A

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