HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02071995 - 1.64 1 .62 thru 1.64, and 1.66
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on February 7,1995, by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Smith, DeSaulnier, Torlakson and Bishop
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE
Item No.
1.62 LETTER dated January 18, 1995, from B. Morgan, Chairman, Contra Costa County Farm
Bureau, 5554 Clayton Road, Concord 94521, requesting that the Board not adopt the
proposed private rural road design standards.
"REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
1.63 LETTER dated January 24, 1995, from Rev. Curtis A. Timmons, Chair, Human Relations
Commission,2425 Bisso Lane, Suite 120-A, Concord 94520,requesting provision of office
equipment/supplies and compensation for travel expenses.
"REFERRED TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
1.64 LETTER dated January 25, 1995, from Edith Valle-Riestra, 140 Cora Court, Walnut Creek
94596, suggesting that the County consider installing a three minute light alarm at the
speaker stand in the Board of Supervisors Chambers.
"REFERRED TO GENERAL SERVICES DIRECTOR
1.66 LETTER dated January 27, 1995, from D. Contreras, District Manager, Mt. View Sanitary
District, P. O. Box 2757,Martinez, inviting the Board to the dedication of the District's new
filtration ultraviolet disinfection system on February 25, 1995, in Martinez.
"ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct coy
an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: p 7 , E as y
PHIL BATCHELOR,C16rX of the Board
of Supervisors and County Administrator
Deputy
CC : Correspondent
Public Works Director
Budget Committee
General Services Director
January 25 , 1995
Contra Costa County RECEIVE®
Board of Supervisors
651 Pine JAN 2 71995
Martinez , CA
Dear Supervisors : CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS �
3a. CONTRA COSTA CO.
On January 18th an editorial in the CONTRA COSTA TIMES
indicated , "a change in attitude" for your board, with "a new
openness toward the public and a willingness to hear people
who had felt ignored" . I sincerely hope that is true.
Along that line may I make a suggestion? My under-
standing is that for non-agenda items citizens are given the
opportunity to speak before the board for three minutes. At
the end of that time the chairman has the responsibility of
ending the speech. All the speakers should be bound by the
same rule.
However, in the past, I have observed that some speakers
are cut rather short and others are allowed to ramble on well
past the three minutes.
The City Council of Walnut Creek has a similar ruling.
But they have a very fair, equitable method for enforcement..
At the speakers' stand is a set of three buttons (lights) -
green, yellow, and red. Green, of course, is for the start
of the speech, yellow is lit up for a warning that only one
minute remains , and at red the speaker must stop upon finishing
' his/her sentence.
Technically, there are different time limits depending
upon whether it is an agenda item, a representative for an
organization, etc. But the method can be just the same, with
different times set.
It should not be expensive to install such a system,
but it would be a clear sign to your constituents that you
are, indeed, being fair - as you should be .
I would appreciate a response to this proposal. Per-
haps Gayle Bishop, as the supervisor from my district, would
be so kind?
Sincerely,
0, Ute- .
Edith O. Valle-Riestra
140 Cora Court
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Enclosure (newspaper article)
1.2A—Contra costa 1"inies ,z vveonesaay, January "ia, iaaO
JK_
DI-ITTORIAL" S
i
i
'
Aty � _ s 0 �gor
de
San Ramon City Council-
County SupemsorS vow
j
woman Pat Boom said, "There's no
openness in government longer that brick wall there.
"Now there's a chain-link fence,
he Contra Costa County and we can stick our fingers
Board of Supervisors has an through and talk to each other. And
' opportunity to improve its eventually the fence will come
I relationship with cities and resi- down."
dents. Susan Prather, an advocate for
And it appears to be headed in the poor, and Don Mount, a com-
the right direction. munity leader opposed to question-
--. For years, the board had been able road projects, both say they
viewed by many local officials and can at least be heard by county su-
interest groups as a closed organi- pervisors.
zation beholden to special interests The supervisors themselves have °
such as developers and garbage pledged to be more open and to lis-
companies.. ten better to their constituents.
Fortunately,that image is chang- DeSaulnier, a former Concord
ing. Four of the five members of the city councilman, said the county of- I
Board of Supervisors-have served ten appeared heavy-handed and ar-
`– bitra toward municipal overn-- _
_ no more than two years. rY P g
Jeff Smith and Gayle Bishop ments.
came aboard in 1993. He vowed to change that attitude
and to reach out to local officials to
Mark DeSauInier was appointed include them in policy.decisions.
in 1994 and was subsequently The new attitude of openness
elected. Jim Rogers was elected last bodes well for Contra Costa.
November. The only long-term There are many important issues
member is Tom Torlakson. to settle, including decisions on
There is more than just a change building a new hospital, several
of faces on the board. housing developments and garbage
There also is a new openness to- contracts.
ward the public and a willingness Closed-door decisions on these
to hear people who had felt ig important matters cannot be toler-
nored. ated.
I