October 15, 2020
It is more important than ever to complete the Census.

Don’t let time run out on your chance to be counted and to protect critical funding for the infrastructure, programs and services that our communities rely on.
“If you live here, you count here!”
LAST CHANCE to Get Counted in the 2020 Census!
Tuesday, October 13, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that self-response and field data collection operations for the 2020 Census will end on October 15, 2020.

This announcement came on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court decision granting the administration’s request to halt the census.

Here is what you need to know to make sure that you and everyone you know is counted:

  • Internet self-response will be available across the nation through October 15, 2020 through 11:59 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST), (through 5:59 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 16, 2020). Visit my2020census.gov to respond today.

  • Phone response will be available for its regularly scheduled time on October 15, 2020. Click here for a schedule and a list of numbers.

  • Paper responses must be postmarked by October 15, 2020.

  • Nonresponse Follow-up (NRFU) census takers will continue resolving nonresponding addresses through the end of the day on October 15, 2020. If a Census employee knocks on your door, please answer and complete your Census.

It is not too late! Count Me In!
Contra Costa is Offering Free Flu Shots at COVID Testing Sites

Making flu shots available at COVID testing sites is part of the County’s larger effort to get more people vaccinated before flu season arrives.

Getting vaccinated is more important than ever this flu season.

Vaccination will help keep hospitals from being overwhelmed by flu patients while they also care for those with COVID-19.

Contra Costa Health Services will also be hosting a series of free one-day flu vaccination clinics in October.

No appointment needed
  • Vaccinations available to everyone age 6 months and older
  • All are welcome, regardless of insurance or immigration status
  • No ID required
  • No social security number needed
  • Flu shots are not included in a public charge assessment
  • Please wear face coverings

For more information, call (925) 313-6767 or visit cchealth.org/flu
Businesses and Services Reopening Guide

See Contra Costa's Openings at a Glance (9/29/20)

Need COVID-19 posters or flyers for your business?
for tools available in several languages.

CCHS Recommends Planning Safe & Planning Ahead for Halloween.
Are You Ready To Vote?

All 37 of our secure outdoor drop boxes for the November election have been installed! Boxes will be opened on Monday October 5.

See the list of locations: http://cocovote.us/drop-boxes
Contra Costa Health Services Shares Recommendations for 
Voting Safely in Upcoming Election
 
In order to help people exercise their right to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of California and Contra Costa County have taken great steps to make voting in the November 3 election as safe as possible. 

Voters will be able to use a number of approaches and are encouraged to protect their health and the health of others while doing so. Read More...
 
Donating is a safe process and people should not hesitate to give or receive blood or platelets.

For a limited time, the American Red Cross will test all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies as an additional health service to our donors. 

To schedule an appointment Click Here or call 1-800-733-2767

For more information about the Red Cross visit redcross.org.
Critical Fire Conditions, Strong Wind, Hot Temperatures
National Weather Service
Issued: 3:00 PM PDT Wednesday, October 14, 2020

  • A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the North Bay Valleys & Mountains, East Bay Valleys & Hills including the Diablo Range, and the Santa Cruz Mountains valid through 11 AM PDT Friday
  • A Wind Advisory has been issued for the North Bay Foothills and Mountains from 10 PM PDT Wednesday through 11 AM PDT Thursday 
  • A Heat Advisory has been issued for the entire Bay Area and the Central Coast valid 11 AM Thursday through 9 PM PDT Friday
SIGN UP FOR cwsalerts.com.
LISTEN FOR EVACUATION ALERTS.
IF YOU ARE ASKED TO LEAVE, GO!
Prepare for Wildfire Season and Evacuation
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office have published a guide for County residents to help prepare themselves, their families, and neighbors in the event of a wildfire.

View and download: 
and 
Prepare for Public Safety Power Shutoff Events
PG&E provides details of its Community Wildfire Safety Program and shares ways customers and communities can plan and prepare for Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events.
Evictions and Tenant Protections during Covid-19
September 23, 2020 - See Press Release (PDF): Contra Costa County Passes Ordinance for Eviction Protection and Rent Freeze to Provide Additional Protections through January 31, 2021. See Urgency Ordinance No. 2020-25 (PDF).

*Ordinance Amended September 30, 2020 - See Press Release
GET CONNECTED, CONTRA COSTA!
You may be eligible for low-cost internet service from a local provider. Online access is more important than ever during this time of distance learning, replacing in-person medical appointments with telemedicine, applying for jobs online, and working remotely.

EHSD is teaming up with EveryoneOn and the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) to help Contra Costa residents who are eligible connect with affordable internet service and computer device offers.

To learn more about getting digitally connected, visit 
Friendship Line for Seniors
As many older and at-risk Californians continue to stay home to minimize exposure to COVID-19, feelings of isolation and loneliness may be increasing.

To offer support, Institute on Aging and the California Department of Aging want to share with you all additional resources to bring awareness to the toll-free warm line, Friendship Line California.

As you may know Friendship Line California is both a crisis intervention hotline and a warmline for non-emergency emotional support calls connecting individuals to a friendly conversation 24/7.

Call 1-888-670-1360 now for an ear ready to listen and warm voice. You don't have to feel alone.
FREE Virtual Worm Composting Workshop
A FREE Virtual Worm Composting Workshop will be offered by the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development on Saturday, October 17, 2020 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. 
 
You will learn how to make your own worm compost. Vermicomposting (“vermi” is Latin for “worm”) is the process of using worms to process organic food waste into nutrient rich soil. Worms eat decaying food waste and produce vermicompost, a very effective soil supplement. The worms will produce both a liquid fertilizer and worm castings (a fancy name for worm poop). Worm poop is the best compost! It is a solid, odor free byproduct of worm digestion. You can collect your worm castings periodically and use them as a soil addition, soil conditioner, or even light mulch.
 
The instructor, Todd Sutton, an expert with more than 28 years in the environmental field, has appeared on national television including Discovery and History channels, and has educated thousands on waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and composting. 
 
Did you know that each person is responsible for an average of 700 pounds of material disposed in landfills annually? According to a recent California study, an average of 37.4% of the waste from households is potentially compostable (yard and food waste). You can make a difference by just composting at home.
 
All Contra Costa County residents are welcome. Reservations should be made by calling 925-674-7831 or email maureen.parkes@dcd.cccounty.us. Make sure to reserve your place today! To learn more about composting or recycling, just go to www.cccrecycle.org.
Tri Delta Transit Seeking Community Input
Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority (Tri Delta Transit) is seeking community input to improve public transit service in eastern Contra Costa County.

Over the last few years, new housing developments, a new Los Medanos Brentwood campus and commercial and retail centers have been built in the Tri Delta Transit service area. These changes have impacted both traffic patterns and the places passengers want to go.

Tri Delta Transit keeps pace with these changes by regularly evaluating service and asking the community for input. Tri Delta Transit service will also need to be adjusted to serve the new Oakley Park & Ride lot which is expected to open in the fall of 2021.

The Transform Tri Delta Transit project will first seek input from residents to learn what is important to them. An interactive survey is available on the project page at http://www.transformtrideltatransit.com and invites users to design a new transit system using an interactive game to make improvements that are of value to them.

Tri Delta Transit will compare that feedback to its existing service and revise its system to better meet the needs of current and potential riders. The survey is also available on paper or can be taken over the phone by calling 925-285- 8076 8am to 8pm weekdays.

Those who give their input will be entered to win one of three $35 Amazon gift cards.

“The Transform Tri Delta Transit project is an exciting opportunity to learn more about how our community envisions the future of Tri Delta Transit’s service in eastern Contra Costa County.” stated Tri Delta Transit CEO, Jeanne Krieg.

Tri Delta Transit expects to have its revised routes and transit improvements ready to present to the community this winter when they will conduct another round of outreach and feedback on the proposed changes.

Roll out of the new transit service is expected in summer 2021 with the opening of the new Oakley Park & Ride following in the fall. The new Oakley Park & Ride lot will be located on Main Street, northwest of East Cypress Road. Once complete, it will offer 168 free commuter parking spaces.

To learn more, visit TriDeltaTransit.com
Pavement Repairs on Vasco Road
Contra Costa County Public Works will conduct pavement repairs on Vasco Road beginning on

October 12, 2020 through October 15, 2020
barring unforeseen circumstances.

Work will occur between
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
weather permitting.

Work will take place between Marsh Creek Road and Walnut Boulevard. Drivers should expect delays. Message boards will be placed in advance to advise drivers of work and expected delays. Current social distancing protocol will be observed.

Funding for this project is provided by the One Bay Area Grant Program and gas tax revenues provided by the SB1 Road Repair and Accountability Act. More information for this project can be found at http://www.cccounty.us/pwdmap. 
Fish and Wildlife Committee Accepting Grant Applications
The Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee is now accepting applications from individuals and groups interested in enhancing the fish and wildlife resources of the County.

Grant applications must be received by
Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.

The Fish and Wildlife Committee strongly encourages applications related to public education, improving habitat, scientific research, threatened and endangered species, and resolving human/wildlife interaction issues.

In addition, the Committee wishes to fund one or more projects that increase collaboration with law enforcement agencies, the court, and community cultural organizations on enforcement issues and education focusing on communities that may be unaware of local fish and game laws. Projects that provide multilingual signage and educational materials are encouraged.

The Fish and Wildlife Committee awards grants for prospective expenditures to non-profit organizations, schools, and government agencies. The Committee generally does not recommend funding for operating costs and overhead, such as benefits or utilities, or on-going staff support for an organization. Further, projects awarded monies from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund must meet the requirements of Section 13103 of the Fish and Game Code.

Funding for the grant program is generated from fines for violations of the Fish and Game Code and Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors receives the Committee’s recommendations and holds final decision-making authority over the awarding of grants. During the 2020 grant cycle, a total of $112,914.00 was awarded to 17 projects. The awards ranged from $611.00 to $18,500.00.

Application materials may be obtained on the Fish and Wildlife Committee website or by contacting Maureen Parkes of the Contra Costa County Conservation and Development Department by phone (925-674-7831) or e-mail (maureen.parkes@dcd.cccounty.us).
District 3 Committee Openings

Assessment Appeals Board
1 District seat
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.
 
County Service Area, P-2A Citizen Advisory Committee (Blackhawk)
1 seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled

The County Services Area, P-2A Citizens Advisory Committee advises the Board of Supervisors on the needs of the Blackhawk community for extended police services which shall include, but not be limited to, enforcement of the State Vehicle Code, crime prevention, litter control, and other issues.

You must reside within the Blackhawk community to serve on this board.

Police Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public and are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM, at the Blackhawk Police Service District Office at 1092 Eagle Nest Pl.

County Service Area, P-6 Citizen Advisory Committee (Discovery Bay)
2 seats
Closing Date: Open Until Filled

The County Service Area P6 Citizens Advisory Committee advises the Board of Supervisors on the needs of the Discovery Bay community for 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.

You must reside within the Discovery Bay P-6 boundaries (Zone 501-505) to serve on this board.

The Committee meets quarterly on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 6:00pm located at the Discovery Bay Community Center, 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd. in Discovery Bay.


First 5, Contra Costa Children and Families Commission
1 District seat
1 Alternate seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled

First 5 Contra Costa helps young children start school healthy and ready to learn. They invest in programs and advocate for policies focused on children during their first five years, the most important time in children's development.

The commission meets on the second Monday of each month at 6pm located at 1485 Civic Court, Suite 1200 in Concord.

Library Commission
1 Alternate seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled

The Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian; provides a forum for the community to provide input concerning Library operations, and recommends proposals to the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian which may improve the Library.

The Commission meets on the 4th Thursday of every other month at 7pm located at 777 Arnold Drive in Martinez.

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.

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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://contra.napanet.net/maddybook/ 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 Lea.Castleberry@bos.cccounty.us  
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