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Contra Costa Council News 
The Contra Costa Council is a public policy advocacy organization
that promotes the economic vitality of Contra Costa County and the region.
 
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In This Issue
Council installs 2011-2012 executive team and presents Contra Costa Medal Award to AAA of Northern California, Nevada & Utah . . . Sue Rainey, Kris Johnson and Jim Melino also honored
View from the Chair: The year in review: taking a stand on public policy issues and contributing to the community
Contra Costa Economic Partnership News: Clean technology initiative launch has a strong start: now seeking public-private partnerships and additional funding . . . Academic summer camps prepare area students for a better future
Advocacy: Funding urged for 'critically important' Highway 4 bypass project . . . Senate District 7 should retain odd numbering to ensure representation . . . San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act, H.R. 1837: a 'water grab'
Giving Back to the Community: Volunteers take siding seriously at Habitat for Humanity 'build day'
Member News: Nadia Costa named Council representative to East County Habitat Conservancy
Task Force News Flash! Social Responsibility Task Force announces Contra Costa Philanthropy Awards
Task Force Briefings: July and August meetings schedule
New Members: Please welcome Don Hofer of Shea Homes and Tim Oshima and Catherine Wong of Simplera Benefits & Insurance Solutions

Upcoming Events

Today: Friday, July 8, 11:30 am-1:30 pm: 11th District Assemblymember
 Susan Bonilla
,
Hilton Concord, 1970 Diamond Blvd.

Monday, August 15, 10:30 am registration: 27th Annual Contra Costa Council Golf Tournament,
Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Round Hill Road, Alamo
Register here.

Friday, August 19, 11:30 am,
14th District Assemblymember Nancy Skinner,
Veterans Memorial Building, Lafayette

Visit the Council website or contact the Council office at 925-246-1880 for more information. 

June-July 2011


Don't keep the Council a secret!


The Contra Costa Council News is published to keep you  informed about Council events and activities. This issue and past issues are posted in the News section on our website.

Please share the news about the Council with your friends and colleagues.


June 9 Installation Recap
Sue Rainey

Sue Rainey

Council installs 2011-2012 executive team and presents Contra Costa Medal Award to AAA of Northern California, Nevada & Utah


Sue Rainey, Kris Johnson and Jim Melino also honored   


A huge throng of Contra Costa Council members and friends gathered June 9 at the Lafayette Park Hotel for the installation of the 2011-2012 Contra Costa Council Executive Committee, headed by incoming Chair David Bowlby of The Bowlby Group. Assisting Bowlby on the leadership team in the year ahead are Bob Brown, AAA of Northern California, Nevada & Utah, chair-elect; Keith Archuleta, Emerald Consulting, VP task forces; Judith Millard, Brown and Caldwell, VP task forces; Terry Bowen, Gray-Bowen, VP finance; James Brandt, Morgan Stanley, VP membership; Andrew Sabey, Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, VP events; Ron Wetter, Kaiser Permanente, VP communications; Peter McGaw, chief legal counsel; and George Smith, GBR Smith Group, LLC, immediate past chair.

 

AAA of Northern California, Nevada & Utah was awarded the 2011 Contra Costa Medal Award for outstanding service to the community and its support of the Council.

 

Sue Rainey, longtime Contra Costa Council director and Walnut Creek civic leader, was honored with the Distinguished Service Award, a surprise announcement. Rainey has served as chair of the Council and of the Contra Costa USA committee, was a member of the Moraga Town Council and served three terms on the Walnut Creek City Council. She was a director of the Contra Costa Sanitary District, founder and president of the Contra Costa Sewer and Water Agency, chair of the Contra Costa County Local Agency Formation Commission and a member of the Corporate Advisory Board for Saint Mary's College, School of Education, among her many credits. In accepting her honor, Rainey praised the Council as "the most amazing organization" and said she was "so proud" of the work it has accomplished.

 

Receiving the Outstanding Task Force Chairs Award were Kris Johnson of Kleinfelder and Jim Melino of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, new co-chairs of the Transportation Task Force this year. Together, they instituted the highly successful Transportation Task Force education series, exploring alternative sources of funding for transportation projects. Three forums--held March 25, April 27 and May 20--offered great information from sought-after experts to sold-out audiences.

 

In addition to other congratulatory messages, Assemblymembers Susan Bonilla, Joan Buchanan and Nancy Skinner, and state Senator Mark DeSaulnier, presented David Bowlby with a state Assembly proclamation, saluting him on his new role as Council chair.

 

(View photos of the event on the Council website.)

 

The Council thanks sponsors Chevron, John Muir Health, Kaiser Permanente and the Shell-Martinez Refinery.

 

Photo by George Csicsery

View from the Chair
George Smith

The year in review: taking a stand on public policy issues and contributing to the community

 

By George Smith, 2010-2011 Chair, Contra Costa Council


It has been an incredible honor and privilege to serve as chairman of the Contra Costa Council for the past year. I want to thank the executive committee and the board for the opportunity to serve in this role, and all of you for your support and encouragement.

Summarizing the highlights of the year, at the top of my list is having the opportunity to work side by side with many bright and capable people, who have set themselves apart from their peers in terms of a combination of leadership, intelligence and business savvy-while being sensitive to the environment and to those who are not as privileged. This is the kind of leadership that drives the mission of the Council: to provide advocacy on public policy issues affecting the economic vitality and quality of life in the Greater East Bay region.

I want to especially thank Linda Best, our leader as president and CEO of the Council, and Terry Shoaff and Nanette Fukushima for their tireless efforts in planning and implementing the Council's activities. I also want to recognize and thank Cheryll LeMay, immediate past chair, who will be stepping down from the executive committee after many dedicated years of service.

I want to recognize Task Force VPs Ron Wetter and Keith Archuleta, and all Council chairs and co-chairs. Our goal this year was to strengthen the task forces and implement succession planning. We selected new task force leaders, who have done an incredible job. I've attended many of the task force meetings this year, and have been amazed at their quality and the leadership and investment of time by the chairs and co-chairs.

We encouraged more joint task force participation this year on overlapping issues, such as water issues in the Delta, environmental (AB 32) and transportation (SB 375) legislation. Our high-energy Membership VP Jim Brandt led the effort to increase new member signups and renewals of existing memberships.

We also set a goal to get involved in the 2010 election process. In September, we hosted a candidates' debate for the Assembly District 15 election, and took a position on Propositions 20, 21, 23, 24 and 27.

We've had a very busy year in terms of Council events, many of which involved key elected officials as our main speakers. Highlights of the 20 different events include:
  • Blue-ribbon panel on pension reform in the public sector, August 5
  • Annual golf tournament at Round Hill, August 16
  • Congressman George Miller luncheon on small business, August 25
  • District 15 candidates' forum with Joan Buchanan and Abram Wilson, September 10
  • State Senator Mark DeSaulnier's Sacramento update, October 1
  • Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla reception, December 15
  • Supervisor Karen Mitchoff reception, January 12
  • Contra Costa USA, featuring Bob Woodward, Willie Brown, Sunne McPeak, etc., January 27
  • Board of Supervisors Chair Gayle Uilkema's State of the County address, February 10
  • Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan's Sacramento budget update, March 11
  • State Controller John Chiang luncheon, April 21
  • Annual Small Business Awards luncheon, May 6
  • State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson reception, May 17
  • Transportation Task Force education series exploring mass-transit funding and financing, March 25, April 27 and May 20
  • And last but not least: we volunteered at two Habitat for Humanity days, giving something back to the community.
It's been a great year! To implement our mission, we've taken a stand on public policy issues and contributed to the community, while increasing the Council's visibility in the process. You will be in excellent hands in the coming year under the leadership of David Bowlby, the executive committee and the board. I thank you again for the honor of serving as chair, and for your support and encouragement.
Contra Costa Economic Partnership News
Cleantech launch

Rep. John Garamendi (wearing red tie) is flanked by Bobby Ram (at left), Peter McGaw, George Smith and Bill Kelly

Clean technology initiative launch has a strong start: now seeking public-private partnerships and additional funding

 

The June 29 official launch of the Greater East Bay economic development initiative, a business-led effort to position the Greater Bay Area region as a leading center of clean energy and water technologies, was a huge success by many measures. Yet as many of the speakers noted with enthusiasm at the hour-long program held in a packed room at the Bishop Ranch 3 Conference Center, the key implementation phase of the initiative lies ahead; it will require additional support in terms of public-private partnerships, business and industry participation, resources and funding.

 

Members of Congress from the Bay Area, including Reps. John Garamendi, George Miller and Jerry McNerney, joined Alex Mehran, CEO of Sunset Development and chair of the Contra Costa Economic Partnership, in praising the work of the regional initiative to date. The initiative has been undertaken by the Contra Costa Economic Partnership in cooperation with the economic development entities and workforce development organizations in the three-county region, including the Tri-Valley Business Council, East Bay Economic Development Alliance and Solano Economic Development Corporation.

 

The work of the leadership team and participating companies included diagnosing industry segments, determining core cluster segments, identifying cluster companies, and bringing together industry leaders to set collaborative priorities and develop a strategic action plan. The project was funded by the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County through a grant of federal dollars that came from the California Workforce Investment Board.

 

"This program is using the economic power of our region to make innovation bloom, blossom and grow," said Rep. Garamendi, who noted the importance of government working with business, as evidenced by the initiative. "This is the way to do it," he said, citing the need for a national permitting policy andenergy policy.

 

Rep. George Miller praised the collaborative nature of the program, the focus on innovation and jobs, and the work involved in creating the strategic plan, which included discovery of the real assets and the potential of the region. "The choice of water and energy is key and absolutely related," he said. Rep. Jerry McNerney said the initiative "shows the kind of entrepreneurial initiative this region has."   


Other speakers included Bobby Ram, managing director and director of global community relations at SunPower Corporation and chair of the Clean Energy Cluster segment; Gary Darling, general manager, Delta Diablo Sanitation District and chair of the Water Technology Cluster segment; Gary Craft of Craft Consulting; Stephen Baiter, executive director, Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County; and Barbara Halsey, executive director of the California Workforce Association and former head of the California Workforce Investment Board.

Read the article
about the launch in the San Francisco Business Times, and watch for more news about this important economic development initiative.

 

Contra Costa Television will air the Greater East Bay Clean Technology Initiative Launch event on Tuesday, July 19, at 9 p.m. and on Wednesday, July 20, at 10 a.m. CCTV is Comcast channel 27, Astound channel 32 and AT&T U-verse channel 99. For additional air dates, visit the CCTV program guide.   

 

Academic summer camps prepare area students for a better future 

 

The Contra Costa Workforce Initiative, a program of the Contra Costa Economic Partnership (CCEP), is again co-hosting three summer camps in 2011 for area high school students, many of whom are receiving college credit. The highly successful camps are made possible by a consortium of industry, high school and community college partners, including the Contra Costa County Office of Education, Contra Costa Community College District and Cal State University East Bay's Concord Campus.
 
Presenting sponsor for all three camps is Chevron, which provided a major grant for the Workforce Initiative's 2010-11 industry pathways program, including the summer camps and ongoing teacher professional development. John Muir Health and BioRad provide additional support.
 
The first camp, the seventh annual Engineering, Construction & Manufacturing Summer Camp, was held June 20 to 24 at Diablo Valley College. A capacity registration of students and teachers participated in the five-day camp, which featured site visits to SunPower, USS Posco, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Discovery Center and the Northern California Carpenters Apprenticeship Training Center.

Students and teachers will learn about careers in biotechnology at the seventh annual Biotech Camp, which will be held July 11 to 15 at CSU East Bay's Concord Campus. During the week-long session, students will explore a variety of areas in science, including biofuels, disease, forensics and stem cells. They will learn about research and biotechnical applications through morning lectures and interactive labs and discussions. Participants will visit the surgical technology program at Mt. Diablo Unified School District's Adult Education offices and state-of-the-art worksites at Amyris, the Joint Biofuels Energy Institute and John Muir Laboratories.

The Environmental Sciences Summer Camp at Cal State University East Bay's Concord Campus will be held July 25 to 29. This year's session will feature a balance of lectures, hands-on labs and field visits. Students and teachers will hear from leading experts on the Delta ecosystem, wetlands, invasive species, water/wastewater, renewable energy, ocean health and the Bay Delta, climate change, and personal decision-making and issues-oriented dialogue. They will also conduct research at the Dow Wetlands, and explore the relationships between water and wastewater through visits to Contra Costa Water District and Delta Diablo Sanitation District, and complete a team project, delivering a public service announcement before a panel of industry experts.

In all, some 180 students and 40 high school teachers are participating in the program, supported by about 65 industry partners.   

Advocacy

Funding urged for 'critically important' Highway 4 bypass project


The Contra Costa Council encouraged the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to support the proposed amendment to the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) Program (Resolution CMIA-P-1011-07), which was approved by the CTC on June 22-23. The amendment will provide $25 million in CMIA funds to the critically important SR4 Bypass Freeway Conversion Project (Phases 1 and 2) in eastern Contra Costa County.


"The SR 4 Bypass Freeway Conversion Project, which was submitted for consideration by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and the Route 4 Bypass Authority, fully meets (and to a great degree exceeds) the criteria set forth by the Commission in its March 23, 2011 'call for projects,'" wrote Council President and CEO Linda Best on June 20 to CTC Chair Dario Frommer. Best noted that the SR4 project: 1) has been "shovel ready" for approximately two years pending available funding, and with the CMIA allocation, it is our understanding could be advertised and under construction by the end of this calendar year; 2) will improve mobility along the highly congested SR4 corridor, improve travel times and reduce delays along the corridor, and improve connectivity between rural, suburban, and urban areas within Contra Costa County and the Bay Area; and 3) will improve operation and safety along the SR4 corridor through the completion of a new interchange, and construction of a median to separate opposing traffic, and improve access to jobs, housing markets, and commerce within Contra Costa County.

"The project is also an element of a very successful local effort to replace the existing and functionally obsolete SR 4, which passes directly through the cities of Oakley and Brentwood with a new state-of-the-art limited access highway," added Best. "Improvements along the corridor to date have been locally funded, primarily with developer impact fees (over $200 million in local funds to date!). The project, which has strong local and business community support, also has the support of both the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)."

Senate District 7 should retain odd numbering to ensure representation


As a constituent of the new draft Senate district that will include most of Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa Council has called on the California Citizens Redistricting Commission to assign an odd number to the district as the commission goes through the process of renumbering the districts.


In a letter to the commission on June 22, Council President and CEO Linda Best noted that the Council, whose mission is economic vitality and quality of life, has nearly 400 members representing business and industry, education, local government, labor and non-profit organizations. "It is critical that we are directly represented in the Senate as the Legislature addresses the many public policy issues that affect our economy," she wrote.
 
"The majority of our district is now in Senate District 7. It is an odd-numbered district, and we are due to elect our next senator in 2012. If you choose to make our Senate district an even-numbered district, there will be no election for state senator until 2014. Thus, our current senator will need to step down, leaving us with no directly elected representation in the state Senate for two years. It is unacceptable to disenfranchise the residents and businesses of Contra Costa and Alameda counties in this manner.

"Cities, elected boards, non-profits and businesses in this district all have need for representation from a state senator duly elected by the people of the district. State funding for education, transportation, health and human services, parks and recreation, water resources and a host of other services are critical for the district. We need a senator elected by us to represent us to ensure we receive our fair share of state resources," continued Best.

For more information about the state redistricting program and to view the draft maps, visit the California Citizens Redistricting Commission website.

San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act, H.R. 1837: a 'water grab'


In a June 23 letter to congressional representatives, the Council voiced strong opposition to the content and context of HR 1837, introduced by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) and colleagues. (As noted by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the proposed legislation would block or repeal protections for the Bay Delta under the Central Valley Improvement Act, the Endangered Species Act, as well as state law. The potential implications are far-reaching and potentially highly damaging to the Bay-Delta ecosystem, a wide range of water interests and the Bay Delta Conservation Plan process.)

"We urge that you exercise all of your influence to defeat H. R. 1837," wrote Council President and CEO Linda Best. "Our opposition is based on the proposed rejection of historic water delivery mechanisms in favor of just one region of the state. The proposal also rejects the current activities within California to develop policies to achieve co-equal goals for a reliable water supply and healthy ecosystem for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta."

"The context of H. R. 1837 is to reverse the efforts to achieve a healthy Delta so that one region can extract as much water as they desire at the expense of and damage to the Delta and other regions of the state. Such a water grab is unconscionable and should be defeated," she said.
Giving Back to the Community

Council Habitat team

Volunteers take siding seriously at Habitat for Humanity 'build day'


"It was the most organized volunteer work day we've ever had!" reported outgoing Council Chair George Smith with characteristic enthusiasm.

Council and family members who participated in the May 21 workday at Habitat for Humanity's El Rincon construction site in Bay Point earned their "free lunch." They worked all day, installing siding at the project's nine-home "green" development, which is being built using environmentally sustainable materials and methods.

The dedicated Council crew (pictured above) includes (front row, from left) Ron Brown, Dylan De La Housaye, Angela De La Housaye, Bruce Presser, Trudy Presser, (back row) Ellis Wallenberg, George Smith, Linda Jaffe, Ken Mintz, Peter McGaw, Steve Wrightson and Teri Wrightson.
Member News

East County Habitat Conservancy representative named


Nadia Costa, senior counsel at Miller Starr Regalia in Walnut Creek, has been named the Contra Costa Council representative on the Public Advisory Committee to the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy.
Task Force News Flash!

Social Responsibility Task Force announces Contra Costa Philanthropy Awards

 

Nomination deadline is Friday, September 1


The Contra Costa Council's Social Responsibility Task Force has announced the First Annual Contra Costa Philanthropy Awards breakfast, which will be held on Thursday, November 10, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the Hilton Concord. This will be an exciting program to recognize the wonderful philanthropic work being done throughout our county. Read more about this event and the awards.

Please give serious consideration to making a nomination and to sharing this link on the Council website with others who may be interested in this event. The nomination deadline is September 1, 2011. Nomination categories include awards for businesses, individuals and community service organizations. Award recipients must attend the awards event and be willing to be publicly recognized.

Wells Fargo is presenting sponsor. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available to underwrite this awards program. For questions, please contact Terry Shoaff at the Council office.
Task Force Briefings

July and August meetings schedule


New and prospective Council members are welcome to attend task force meetings. Please notify a task force co-chair prior to the meeting to confirm meeting topics, time and location, as details may change. To view task force agendas, policy papers and recent presentations, visit the individual task force pages on the Council website.

Workforce Development/Education Task Force . . . Wednesday, July 6, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . Contra Costa Workforce Development Board offices, 300 Ellinwood Drive, Bodega Room, Pleasant Hill. A discussion of local taxation funding for education with Kish Rajan and Tim Leong; a (SB 776) legislation subcommittee report by April Treece, Jennifer Ortega and Carmen Angula; and other discussion. Next meeting is Wednesday, August 3. Co-chairs: Joanne Durkee and Kathleen Robinson

Health Care Task Force . . . Thursday, July 7, 8:30 to 10 a.m. . . . No meeting in August . . . Morgan Miller Blair, 1331 North California Boulevard, Suite 200, Walnut Creek. Mark Herbert, district director for Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, reflected on the state budget and its impact on Contra Costa County; Dianne Dunn-Bowie provided Contra Costa health care updates; and Marianna Moore and Linda Best presented outcomes of the recent Safety Net Summit. Next meeting is Thursday, September 1. Co-chairs: Lynn Baskett and Steve Van Wart

Environmental/Manufacturing Task Force . . . Friday, July 8, 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. . . . Brown and Caldwell, 201 North Civic Drive, Suite 300, Walnut Creek. Jeffrey Jacobs, vice president, biofuels & hydrogen, Chevron Technology Ventures, offers an update on developments in alternative energy. Next meeting with be Friday, August 5. Peter McGaw and George Smith

Land Use Task Force . . . Wednesday, July 13, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . Archer Norris, 2033 North Main Street, Suite 800, Walnut Creek. Beverly Lane, Ward 6 board member, and Bob Doyle, general manager, East Bay Regional Park District, will discuss land-use activities of the park district. On Wednesday, August 10, Michael Wright of the city of Concord will provide an update on the Concord Naval Weapons Station Concord Reuse Project. Co-chairs: Mike McGill and Ed Shaffer

Water Task Force . . . Tuesday, July 19, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . Archer Norris, 2033 North Main Street, Suite 800, Walnut Creek. Held two joint task force meetings in June, the first with Mike Machado, executive director of the Delta Protection Commission, discussing the Delta Primary Zone Study and the Economic Sustainability Plan for the Delta; a second July meeting featured Randy Fiorini, vice chair of the Delta Stewardship Council, who talked about development of the Delta Plan. Next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, August 16. Co-chairs: Bob Whitley and Ann Spaulding

Economic Development Task Force . . . Wednesday, July 27, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . City National Bank, 2001 North Main Street, Suite 200, Walnut Creek (close to Walnut Creek BART; validated parking). The June 22 meeting featured Jim Chapman, a partner in the Silicon Valley office of Foley & Lardner and recently recognized by the Daily Journal as one of the top 25 cleantech attorneys in California. (See presentation on the task force website page.) Next meeting is Wednesday, August 24. Co-chairs: Mike Conlon and Gary Craft

Social Responsibility Task Force . . . Thursday, July 28, 8 to 9:30 a.m. . . . Brandman University, 2950 Buskirk Avenue, Room 208, Walnut Creek. Planning the November philanthropy event and other activities. June meeting featured a presentation by Kimberly Scrafano, vice president, development and community affairs, Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay. Next meeting is Thursday, August 25. Co-chairs: Kate Ertz-Berger and Mark Hughes

Transportation Task Force . . . No meeting in July and August . . . PMI Offices, 3003 Oak Road, Walnut Creek (across from Pleasant Hill BART). In June, reviewed the successful three-part series on alternative funding for transportation projects, set the activities agenda for the remainder of 2011 and discussed legislative and other issues. Next meeting is Tuesday, September 6. Co-chairs: Kris Johnson and Jim Melino

Small Business/Entrepreneur Task Force . . . September meeting date to be announced, 8 to 9 a.m. . . . De La Housaye & Associates, 1655 North Main Street, Suite 260, Walnut Creek. At the June 28 quarterly meeting, discussed SB 582 and reviewed the task force's position on migrating businesses; revisited the Transportation Task Force presentation on AB 532 and internet tax issues; and had an update on the successful May 6 Small Business Awards Luncheon. Co-chairs: Angela De La Housaye and Zachary Sahar
New Members

Please welcome new Contra Costa Council members!


Shea Homes
Don Hofer, VP of Community Development
2580 Shea Center Drive
Livermore, CA 94551
925.245.3600 ph
925.245.8831 fax
www.sheahomes.com
[email protected]

America's largest privately owned home builder

Simplera Benefits & Insurance Solutions
Tim Oshima, CEO
Catherine Wong
2121 North California Blvd., Suite 290
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925.951.8035 ph
866.931.3212 fax
www.simplerabenefits.com
[email protected]
[email protected]

Works with companies and individuals to protect their assets and their earning capacity; also help employers provide competitive benefit plans to their employees.
About the Council

The Contra Costa Council is a public policy advocacy organization that promotes the economic vitality and quality of life of Contra Costa County and the Greater East Bay region. The Council engages on issues of critical importance to the business community and residents of the county, balancing the needs of a diverse region through policy efforts that provide for local and regional economic development while retaining our quality of life.

Through its task forces, the Council develops and supports policy positions to further its mission and sponsors educational forums for its members and the community.

For more information about the Council, please visit our website.

To comment on items in this newsletter, please contact Linda Best at the Contra Costa Council.

This issue was edited for the Contra Costa Council by Molly A. Walker of Walker Communications.

� 2011 Contra Costa Council