Brentwood City Council touts area youth

By Jake Menez Staff Writer

BRENTWOOD The Brentwood City Council put the city’s next generation front and center at their April 11 meeting. Council members were joined on the dais by local youth in government and the panel approved a new mural designed by students at Liberty High School’s Public Art and Design Academy.

“If there are any issues in the community, you need to have the answers,” Mayor Joel Bryant jokingly told the three student representatives. “We are in good hands. We got to spend some time with them today and our future is secure.”

April 11 was declared Youth in Government Day in Brentwood. Ian Cohen, chairperson of the Brentwood Youth Commission, noted that applications to fill the open seats on the panel close on April 20.

Regarding funding for the mural, Recreation Manager Thien Nguyen turned the pre- see Mural page 18

The proposed McDonald’s restaurant and Quick Quack Car Wash at the Laurel Plaza Shopping Center had both been denied conditional use approval by a previous City Council in May 2022.

Following the denials, the property owner, O’Hara Properties, sued the city in county Superior Court.

After subsequent negotiations with the developers, the two proposals were brought back with further modifications before the Council with City Attorney Derek Cole urging passage citing the financial risk to the city.

“Win or lose in court, it could be very costly,” Cole said Tuesday night.

Several residents appeared to oppose the projects, fueled by a neighborhood petition to the Council opposing the proposals signed by 900 residents, according to Tosha Gray and Shelly Fitzgerald of Oakley Residents United. Opponents were concerned over traffic safety, sound and environmental impacts of the two drive-through see Approves page 18

Estate Planning Strategies

By Todd W. Moeller, Moeller Estate Law

It may be difficult to think about today, but there will come a time when you or a loved one will not be able to make decisions for themselves. Physical or mental challenges may inhibit your ability to manage your own finances or healthcare decisions. Therefore, we strongly recommend that anybody over the age of 18 set up a Power of Attorney. Once you become an adult, nobody else is legally allowed to make decisions on your behalf or talk to doctors about your medical condition.

To cover important issues, you will need two separate Power of Attorney documents. One to address healthcare matters and another to cover financial matters. This article addresses financial powers of attorney.

Everyone with financial assets should consider setting up a financial Power of Attorney. Even if you are single and are not a homeowner, having a Power of Attorney in place enables someone you trust to control the use of your financial assets to manage your care if something happened to you.

If you’re married and share joint financial