YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 19, No. 14
READ THE DAILY NEWS AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET
City changing tree upkeep requirements by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Oakley leaders hope that changes to the city code will branch out to increase the clarity of obscure tree maintenance statutes. The proposed changes, which the council could finalize as early as next week, establish guidelines for tree maintenance, replacement, debris removal, liability and responsibility. The amendments are meant to resolve tree complaints the city receives — including those dealing with unclear city and adjacent-landowner mutual maintenance responsibilities for public-property trees. City Manager Bryan Montgomery has said that about 95 percent of potential issues are
The Spring has sprung Honoring Fire Heroes
currently handled civilly between neighbors, without need of outside intervention. But, the agency needs an enforcement mechanism for those outlying property-damage cases. “What we are doing is providing an effective means for us to address real-world situations that we have encountered in the city,” said City Attorney Derek Cole. Proposed requirements include: mandating that property owners maintain street trees — that is, any tree intentionally planted or growing within a public right-of-way or public easement — to prevent hazardous conditions or structural damage to things such as water and irrigation lines, pools and buildings; requiring property
The community is invited to the fire district’s first volunteer recognition ceremony. Page 5
Vagabond’s Around Town
M
other Nature gave us a glimpse of spring this week, captured here with a beautiful scattering of lupines along Rose Avenue in Oakley. To view more photos of the event, visit www. thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows
Delta designated national heritage area
This year’s 20th edition of the East County Welcome! Guide has arrived. The 2019 magazine celebrates the beauty and diversity of East County while offering useful and helpful information to make your life more fun, efficient and productive. Pick up a copy at your local Chamber of Commerce; the Brentwood Press office, at 248 Oak St.; or from numerous racks throughout East County. For a complete list of locations, visit www. thepress.net/site/newsstand_locations.html. If you prefer reading the guide online, you’ll find it there, too. Just hop on to www.eastcountywelcomeguide.net.
SAVE NOW
by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
A 10-year effort to obtain federal recognition of the Delta as a place of special significance recently culminated with President Trump’s signing of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, and the establishment of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area (Delta NHA). “National heritage areas are National Park Service recognized places where people have made an important contribution to the landscape,” explained Erik Vink, executive direc-
Scan QR code with your mobile device.
tor for the Delta Protection Commission (DPC). “Unlike a national park or a national monument where it’s all about the natural features, a national heritage area is about the interplay of the landscape with the role of people, the culture and the local economy where (people) have made a significant contribution, and where they tell an important story.” The Delta NHA is one of 55 NHAs in the country and the first to exist entirely within the state of California. “From our perspective, the real see Delta page 30
Service • Repair • Installation
Contractor’s Lic. #533790 C-20
925-625-4963 • www.fairviewair.com
The Vagabond Players bring their talent and enthusiasm to area seniors. Page 11
Success On The Green
Heritage boys’ golf team is on track to win Bay Valley Athletic League championship. Page 20 Calendar................................31 Classifieds.............................25 Cop Logs................................29 Education ..............................8 Entertainment.....................11 Food........................................10 Opinion..................................18 Pets.........................................12 Sports.....................................20
Advisory Council
10% OFF Any Service
FAIRVIEW HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. Connect with The Press!
Photo by Tony Kukulich
see Tree page 30
Welcome! Guide is here
April 5, 2019
www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
www.ebparks.org/activities/rin/default.htm
Activity Guide INSIDE
A seat is available to the public on the County Connection Advisory Committee.