YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 17, No. 43
READ NEWS YOU CAN TRUST AT WWW.THEPRESS.NET
P6 committee A royal moment updates the community
Team Hulken Battling Back
by Dawnmarie Fehr
Colten Guerra, 9, is fighting the recurrence of cancer, and the community is rallying in support. Page 4A
Correspondent
The Discovery Bay P6 Citizen Advisory committee held its quarterly meeting on Thursday, Oct. 17. During the meeting, board members received an update on the license plate reading (LPR) cameras being installed at the entrances to Discovery Bay, voted to fund the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office request for funding for community programming around town and discussed potential future projects. Lt. Matt Foley was on hand to report to the board that 11 of the 19 LPR cameras are up and running. “We have installed the majority of the cameras; all except those on the Highway 4 corridor,” Foley said. “Those are still pending review by CalTrans of our electrical diagramming that we’ve had our electrical engi-
Spirited Tours Spooky Sights Photo by Tony Kukulich
I
sabelle Carreon and Jay Butterfield, were crowned Liberty High School’s 2019 homecoming king and queen. Butterfield, Liberty’s quarterback, missed the annual school parade through downtown Brentwood in preparation for the team’s game, Friday, Oct. 18. The To view a video and a slideshow of the Lions lost to Pittsburg 24-21. event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia
see P6 page 30A
Decision time nears for Measure L by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
As decision day for Brentwood’s Measure L draws closer, The Press is taking a comprehensive look at the decisive issues that could determine the initiative’s fate. The measure – spearheaded by a group of local developers, including longtime Brentwood farmer and developer Ron Nunn – would move the mark at which urban development must stop, clearing the way for a proposed 815-acre project of up to 2,400 residential units (at least 80% age-restricted, active adult-specific), along with other elements, situated north of Balfour Road, east of Deer Valley Road and west of the Shadow Lakes and Brentwood Hills neighborhoods. The special election is set for Nov. 5. Fire service
East Contra Costa Fire Protection District leaders confirmed in September that the project’s effect on the already resource-stretched district will be mitigated through an $11 million memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the development group and district, which includes funding for a new fire station, equipment and personnel, if the initiative is approved. The deal binds the development group to construct and deed to the district an estimated $6.5 million engine station at the start of the 601st home’s construction — either on a two-acre plot within the development, or at another district-chosen location — and also pay the agency $1 million at the start of the project. A $2,333 fee would also be assessed on the project’s first 1,500 homes, and would cover equipment,
SAVE NOW
training and other associated needs to deploy the new station. An additional $1.5 million in district funds would be generated annually through a community facility district fee of no less than $650 per household, along with $2.5 million expected to roll in yearly through property taxes — both of which combined are expected to cover the new station’s estimated $4 million a year operating costs. “All the tortured logic, misrepresentations, and unrealistic expectations put forth by Measure L opponents does not change one plain fact: the Memorandum of Understanding with GBN Partners represents a significant step forward for the fire district,” said Stephen Smith, vice president of the fire board. “It does not solve the current underfunding; the board and staff continue to address that, and more will be
10% OFF Any Service
FAIRVIEW HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING, INC. Connect with The Press!
Scan QR code with your mobile device.
October 25, 2019
Service • Repair • Installation
Contractor’s Lic. #533790 C-20
925-625-4963 • www.fairviewair.com
forthcoming. It does address the situation that will occur several years out as the homes are built.” Project opponents have previously expressed concern that the large project will further burden an already-stressed, threestation agency, charged with protecting 249 square miles and an estimated 119,000 residents. “I worked on an ambulance in this area for a couple of years, and I can tell you we got stopped so many times trying to get to Brentwood, and out on Marsh Creek, it took us a long time,” said project opponent Jon Harvey. “We ultimately had to reroute; call in resources to come in from the other side. Who knows what the losses were from those time delays?” Kathy Griffin, who launched see Measure L page 30A
BART App
www.thepress.net/news/webextras
BART is expanding its pay-by-app carpool program to make it easier for riders to pay.
Press reporter discovers firsthand there are plenty of things that go bump in the night. Page 6A
Lions Fall To Pittsburg
Liberty Lions lose an epic clash of football titans in overtime homecoming game. Page 18A Calendar.............................31A Classifieds..........................27A Cop Logs.............................26A Entertainment..................11A Food.....................................10A Health & Beauty...............23A Milestones.........................24A Opinion...............................12A Pets......................................14A Sports..................................18A
PG&E Outage
www.thepress.net/news/press_releases
During PG&E’s recent outage, wind gusts exceeded 40 mph in 22 counties.