District 3 Newsletter  -  July 18, 2019

Project Ready-to-Learn Brings Full Backpacks, High Hopes to Students

Annual Backpack Drive for Contra Costa County Students from July 15 to August 9
 
The average family spends more than $700 each year on backpacks, school supplies, and new clothes for their children. Many low-income families are struggling to make ends meet and cannot afford these back-to-school expenses. Thousands of children enter schools throughout Contra Costa County every year ready to learn, but without all the needed resources to help them get the most out of their educational experience. To help these students prepare for the school year, Volunteer Emergency Services Team in Action (VESTIA) is launching its 2019 Project Ready-to-Learn backpack drive on Monday, July 15, with the call for new, filled backpacks continuing through Friday, August 9.
 
Project Ready-to-Learn  is a collaboration between the nonprofit VESTIA, and Contra Costa County Employment & Human Services Department (EHSD). Together they provide more than 1,500 NEW backpacks filled with school supplies to students in need.  This effort not only helps them learn, but provides relief for their parents who are struggling to financially support their children's school needs.
Two Ways to Donate a Stuffed Backpack
  1. Online purchase of filled backpacks - Through VESTIA's partnership with the Sydney Paige Foundation, donors can conveniently shop online for a new backpack and supplies from one source. Listed by grade levels, the site allows you to choose the backpack and corresponding supplies. Delivery can be directly to VESTIA or to the donor.  For more information, or to place an order, go to https://sydneypaige.roonga.com/vestia. 
  2. DIY stuff a backpack - Community members can shop, stuff, and deliver a NEW, high-quality backpack filled with new school supplies themselves in order to donate. A supply list by grade level is available on the VESTIA website at https://vestiainc.org/project-ready-to-learn/.  You can drop off stuffed backpacks between Monday, July 15, and Friday, August 9, at one of the following locations:
 
Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union
1051 Detroit Ave., Suite A
Concord
(9 a.m. to 5 p.m., M-F / 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat.)
 
Kaiperm Diablo Federal Credit Union
325 North Wiget Lane, Suite 130
Walnut Creek
(8 a.m. to 4 p.m., M-F)
 
Kaiperm Diablo Federal Credit Union
1600 South Main St., Ground Floor
Walnut Creek
(8 a.m. to 4 p.m., M-F)
 
Rakestraw Books
3 Railroad Avenue
Danville
(9 a.m. to 6 p.m., M-F / 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat./ 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.,Sun.)
 
CC County Employment & Human Services Department
Pleasant Hill office*
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., M-Th
*call to schedule delivery (925) 521-5064
 


Clerk Recorder's Office Open Until 7:30 pm on Thursdays

The Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder is pleased to announce the return of our annual Extended Summer Hours program. Attached is a news release and flyer for your coverage consideration and to share with your networks.
 
Now in its fifth year, this popular program is where our office stays open until 7:30 pm on Thursday nights in the months of July and August. The goal is to provide more convenience for residents who may not be able to make it to our office during normal business hours.
 
Our office has served nearly 1,000 customers with these extra hours over the past four years.


Census2020 News


To keep up with Census 2020 happenings, 
please complete the survey at 

We need YOU to help ensure that 
everyone is counted!
Room For One More?

 
District Attorney's Community Academy

Family Justice Center Grand Opening


CCCOES Power Outage Preparedness

 
Missed the Board of Supervisors Meeting?

You can see  the most recent Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors meeting  starting at 6:00 p.m. on the following Thursday on CCTV. 

You can view meetings online the same week they are held, usually within 48 hours. To find the recording online, visit the Video Library page.
 
Community Forum


Kirker Pass Road Northbound Truck Climbing Lane Project

Contra Costa County Public Works to Begin Construction on the Kirker Pass Road Northbound Truck Climbing Lane Project

The project will improve safety and reduce congestion along Kirker Pass Road from the Concord Pavilion to the northern Hess Road intersection by constructing a truck climbing lane in the northbound direction. 

Pavement widening will occur on the east side of the roadway to provide a 12-foot truck lane and 8-foot paved shoulder. The widening will require constru ction of six retaining walls adjacent to the roadway. 

The project also includes paving both the north and southbound lanes between the City of Concord/County limits to approximately 4,200 feet north of North Hess Road. 

Construction will begin on Monday, May 13, 2019, with completion in the Spring of 2020, barring unforeseen circumstances. 
Construction operations will be scheduled to minimize impacts to commute traffic.

More information for this project can be found at  http://www.cccounty.us/pwdmap.



FREE BART Tickets with Discover & Go

The Contra Costa County Library is once again offering free BART tickets for use with  Discover & Go  reservations from July through October. County residents who are 18 or older can submit a request for BART tickets by clicking on the banner ad on their Discover & Go pass starting July 1st. 

To sign-up for BART tickets, view your July - October reservation on your Discover & Go account: 

1) Click the "Print/Download" button 
2) Click on the 511 banner on your Discover & Go pass to request your BART tickets. The banner will look like this: 

BART tickets will be mailed to cardholders' homes approximately five business days prior to their museum visit. The offer is limited to one request per household (for up to two $15 BART tickets) and is available while supplies last. This promotion is a partnership between 511 Contra Costa and the Library, and is intended to encourage the use of public transportation to visit museums.

Since its inception in 2011, Discover & Go has met Contra Costa County Library's goal of providing access to culture inside and outside the library by partnering with over 90 northern California cultural destinations, and making over 1,000,000 visits possible for library cardholders. 

511 Contra Costa is a comprehensive Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program that promotes transportation alternatives to the single occupant vehicle and encourages "green commutes". For more information, visit  511contracosta.org . 

The following venues are valid destinations for the BART ticket promotion. Try 511-Contra Costa's  Trip Planner  feature to plan your Discover & Go trip. 

Asian Art Museum | Beat Museum | California Academy of Sciences California Historical Society | Children's Creativity Museum Chinese Historical Society of America Museum |
 Contemporary Jewish Museum de Young Museum | Exploratorium | Habitot Children's Museum International Art Museum | Lawrence Hall of Science | Madame Tussauds San Francisco McConaghy House (Hayward Area Historical Society) | Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment Museum of the African Diaspora | Oakland Museum of California | Ripley's Believe it or Not! San Francisco Dungeon | San Francisco Museum of Modern Art | UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive | Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

For more information about the program, please contact the Contra Costa County Library at  [email protected]  or (800) 984-4636. 

Not everyone can make it to the polls on Election Day, which is why you have the ability to vote early both in person and by mail.
 
Voting by mail gives you flexibility in casting and returning your ballot. It's simple too. Ballots are mailed 29 days before Election Day along with voting instructions and information on how to return your ballot. 

Place your marked ballot in the return envelope and seal it. Be sure to sign the addressed return envelope. Without a signature the ballot cannot be counted.
 
Become A Vote-By-Mail Voter!
You can become a permanent vote-by-mail voter and have a ballot mailed to you before every election. To become a permanent vote-by-mail voter: http://registertovote.ca.gov/ 
 
Complete the Online Registration Form and select "Yes" in the vote-by-mail box.
Concerts:   By The River and In The Park



Destination Wedding Season is Here!

District 3 Committee Openings

The Board of Supervisors receives valuable input and community participation from numerous citizen advisory boards on a range of issues. Boards usually meet monthly on a regular basis.

Candidates for these positions must live in District 3 or any specified boundary area for special districts. District 3 is comprised of the cities of Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood, and the unincorporated communities of Blackhawk, Diablo, Bethel Island, Byron, Knightsen and Discovery Bay.

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District 3 Committee Openings

Mental Health Commission
1 Consumer seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
 
To review and assess the community's mental health needs, services, facilities, and special problems, in order to advise the Board of Supervisors concerning local mental health services and programs.
 
The Commission meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. located at 550 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill.
 
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District's Fire Advisory Commission
1 seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
 
To review and advise on annual operations and capital budgets, review Fire District expenditures; advise the Fire Chief on district service matters; and serve as liaison between the Board of Supervisors and the community served by the fire district.
 
The Commission meets on the 2nd Monday of February, April, June, August, October and December located at the Administration Building, 2010 Geary Road in Pleasant Hill.
 
County Service Area, P-6 Citizen Advisory Committee (Discovery Bay)
1 seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
 
To make reports and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on extended police protection services which shall include, but not limited to, enforcement of the State Vehicle Code where authorized by law, crime prevention, and litter control.
 
The Committee meets quarterly at 6:00p.m. located at the Discovery Bay Community Center, 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd. in Discovery Bay.
 
Knightsen Town Advisory Council
2 seats
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
 
The Knightsen TAC advises the District Supervisor on land issues and planning matters affecting the Knightsen community.
 
The Knightsen TAC may also advise the District Supervisor on services which are or may be provided to the community by Contra Costa County or other local government agencies. Such services include, but are not limited to, public health, safety, welfare, public works, and planning.
 
The Knightsen TAC will meet on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm located at the Knightsen Garden Club, 3067 Knightsen Avenue in Knightsen.
 
Assessment Appeals Board
1 Alternate seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
 
The Assessment Appeals Board conducts impartial hearings on property assessment disputes between taxpayers and the county assessor. Based on the evidence presented at these hearings, the appeals board determined the value of the disputed property or determines other matters of property tax assessment within the board's jurisdiction.
 
Qualifications:
Applicants should possess five or more years of professional experience in California as one of the following: licensed real estate broker, attorney, certified public accountant (CPA) or public accountant, property appraiser accredited by a nationally recognized professional organization, property appraiser certified by the Office of Real Estate Appraisers, or property appraiser certified by the State Board of Equalization.
 
Compensation:
This is a volunteer position. Assessment Appeals Board members are compensated for their time at hearings and reimbursed for their mileage to attend assessment appeals hearings.
 
The Assessment Appeals Board meets every Thursday at 9:00 a.m. located at 651 Pine Street, Room 107 in Martinez.
 
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Background: The Board of Supervisors receives valuable input and community participation from numerous citizen advisory boards on a range of issues. Boards usually meet monthly on a regular basis.
 
Candidates for these positions must live in District 3 or any specified boundary area for special districts.  District 3 is comprised of the cities of Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood, and the unincorporated communities of Blackhawk, Diablo, Bethel Island, Byron, Knightsen and Discovery Bay.
 
You may also download an application from the County's website at  http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/3418 .

Applications should be submitted to the Clerk of the Board's office (925-335-1900) located at 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553.

For more information, including on how to apply, you may contact Supervisor Burgis' Deputy Chief of Staff, Lea Castleberry at 925-252-4500 or [email protected]