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June 14
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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 16, No. 24
Voters turn down library bond
It’s a wrap for 2016
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
T
Photo by Richard Wisdom
Local residents come together to help a very special young man. Page 6
see Bond page 34
Task force proposes fire funding fix by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
A new tax could give the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District the money it needs to solve its financial woes and increase service, according to the task force formed to aid the three-station district. The utility users’ tax (UUT) would be based on district residents’ Pacific Gas & Electric Co. electricity services, landline and cellular phone bills and cable usage, said Brentwood City Manager Gus Vina, a member of the task force. If approved by voters, it would start at 6.5 percent of utility fees and rise to 9 or 10 percent to align with fire station construction and personnel hiring and training. “The UUT is income-sensi-
“ The idea is that everyone gets to take
care of their own issues on their own. Each jurisdiction can solve their problem.
Gus Vina, Brentwood city manager tive, meaning that if you have a 5,000-square-foot home and your PG&E bill is $500, the UUT applies to that,” Vina said. “Hypothetically, if the UUT is 10 percent, you are paying $50, but if I am in a one-bedroom apartment and (my) PG&E bill is $30, I’ll pay $3. It’s sensitive to people’s income and standard of living.” The plan calls for Brentwood and Oakley city councils and Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to each propose separate UUTs to their residents,
with the goal of collecting up to $15.6 million to open three more stations in Brentwood, two more in Oakley and one more in the unincorporated area of the district. If all jurisdictions pass the tax, it would bring the total number of stations to nine, which is the recommended number listed on the district’s master plan set to be released in July. However, the district could end up with fewer than nine stations, since the plan calls for only those jurisdictions that pass the
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Farm Fresh Harvest Fest
Get ready for the annual, agricultural-based event in downtown Brentwood. Page 10
he graduating class of Freedom High School for 2016, celebrates the end of ceremonies with the traditional tossing of the caps. For more photos of area high school graduations, see page 8.
Oakley voters closed the book on the city’s attempt to build a new library Tuesday night, while Brentwood Union School District (BUSD) officials continue to sweat out the results of their measure for school construction and improvements. Oakley’s Measure K, a $12 million bond that would have allowed the construction of a new, 20,000-square-foot library and learning center, garnered 53.51 percent of the votes, but needed a twothirds majority to be approved. “Although a majority of Oakley voters saw the need for a new library, the two-thirds super majority makes for a difficult obstacle to overcome,” said Oakley Mayor Kevin Romick. The failure of Measure K in Oakley means there
June 10, 2016
tax to receive stations. “The idea is that everyone gets to take care of their own issues on their own,” Vina said. “Each jurisdiction can solve their problem.” The financially strapped district closed two of its five stations in May 2015, leaving just three engines to serve the needs of about 105,000 residents spanning 249 square miles. A fourth station will reopen in July, but is slated to close in July 2017 if additional funds aren’t found. Adding the additional stations the UUT could provide could improve response times to four minutes in urban areas, eight minutes in suburban areas and 12 minutes in rural areas, according to the task force. District officials see Fire page 34
Summer Lunch go to news/WebExtras!
This summer, schools will serve free breakfast and lunch for children 2 to 18.
Chevy’s New Wheels
Freedom High Takes NCS Title
Falcons defeat Foothill in the North Coast Section championship game. Page 23 Calendar................................35 Classifieds.............................27 Cop Logs................................33 Education................................5 Election....................................7 Entertainment.....................11 Food........................................10 Health & Beauty..................12 Milestones............................14 Sports.....................................23
Loving Shakes
go to news/press releases Livermore Shakespeare Festival brings local talent together in the Bay Area.