This year the East Bay Regional Park District (District) celebrates its 80th anniversary. While the District was founded in 1934, it wasn't until 1964 that the voters in West and Central Contra Costa County approved an annexation into the District and opened the first regional park within Contra Costa County. On Tuesday, August 5th, General Manager, Bob Doyle, and Board Director, Beverly Lane, shared a brief history of the District with the Board of Supervisors and received a resolution in the District's honor from the Board of Supervisors.

Congratulations to the East Bay Regional Park District on eight successful decades of preserving and maintaining open space, parks and trails for the public to enjoy!

If you'd like to view the presentation to the Board of Supervisors please click here.

The San Ramon Valley Citizen Corps Council (SRVCCC) is a coalition of the City of San Ramon, Town of Danville, Contra Costa County, the San Ramon Valley Fire District and San Ramon Valley Unified School District who collaborate and partner to improve emergency readiness within all aspects of the San Ramon Valley. SRVCCC gave a presentation to the Board of Supervisors on August 12, 2014 to update the community on the Residential Care Facility Evacuation Training program. This program aims to address those members of the community who are the most vulnerable during a disaster, and their focus includes senior safety, evacuation planning and drills for residential care homes, and planning assistance for facilities caring for children and adults with special needs.  

SRVCCC obtained an Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant to produce a Residential Care Facility Evacuation video to help demonstrate the special circumstances and challenges that exist during the evacuation of residents and to provide staff the needed tools to take action during an emergency. It has been translated into three languages, English, Spanish and Tagalog, and is now being made available to agencies throughout the State.  

On July 21st, CCTV launched the live television and webcast talk show "Veterans' Voices." The monthly show, a joint production of Contra Costa Television and the County's Veterans Service Office, will feature a range of guests and topics. Viewers can watch on CCTV, or online, and can ask questions during the show via email, phone or an online chat.

Hosted by Nathan Johnson, Contra Costa County's Veteran's Service Officer, the show intends to give veterans in the area access to information and the services available to them.

The most recent showing of Veterans' Voices aired August 18th. The show re-airs on Mondays at 7pm, Wednesdays at 11pm, and Saturdays at 11am.

On Monday July 21st, I had the honor of participating in a celebration for the Lower Walnut Creek Pacheco Marsh Project, along with Congressman Mike Thompson, District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover, representatives from Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, East Bay Regional Park District, and Muir Heritage Land Trust. Thanks to the leadership and effort of Congressman Mike Thompson, management of a four-mile stretch of a 22-mile flood control project along Walnut Creek will be transferred from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the Contra Costa Flood Control and Water Conservation District. 

The transfer returns this portion of Lower Walnut Creek to local control, which allows for the opportunity to directly perform habitat restoration and improved flood control protection.   The ability to implement habitat restoration along the creek serves to provide better quality habitat for fish and birds and the overall enhancement of habitat in the County's watershed.

I would like to provide an update on the work being done in the Walnut Heights/San Miguel neighborhood in unincorporated Walnut Creek.  I have been working with the Contra Costa County Public Works Department to address safety concerns within this community. Together, we have held several community meetings to discuss road safety and pedestrian/bike improvements for Walnut Boulevard.  The community has been very responsive and engaged in the process of formulating a project scope for safety improvements in the neighborhood.  We appreciate their feedback and have used this information to guide the Walnut Boulevard Pedestrian and Bicycle Project.

I am pleased to inform the community that the Walnut Boulevard Pedestrian and Bicycle Project is on track and construction began the first week of August. As you may recall, this project consists of installing a pedestrian path on the northeast side of Walnut Boulevard near Walnut Heights Elementary School, from Bellows Court to Clarkin Court.  The pedestrian path will consist of an asphalt paved road shoulder as well as concrete sidewalk in certain locations.  You can view project site plans and maps here.  

The project will also include Class III bike route signage from Bellows Court to Mountain View Boulevard, two speed feedback signs will be installed near Sutherland Drive, and a push-button operated crosswalk beacon at McConnell Lane. These improvements are important safety measures allowing for safer access for bicyclists and pedestrians, especially children walking to and from school. This project has secured funding through the Central County Area of Benefit Program, which receives funds through payment of traffic mitigation fees by developers.

We anticipate project completion by early October, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Construction will begin on the school end and move easterly to Clarkin Court.  You can expect there to be some traffic delays and single lane closures during weekdays after 9:00 AM when work is in progress. 

We look forward to celebrating the opening of this Pedestrian and Bicycle Path with a Groundbreaking Event. As the date approaches, we will notify the community in hopes that you will join us! If you need additional information or have any questions regarding this project, please contact Lia Bristol at (925) 521-7100.