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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 10, No. 13
Council OKs benefits deal by Samie Hartley Staff Writer
The Oakley City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to enter a community-benefits agreement with Contra Costa Generating Station, LLC even though the California Energy Commission isn’t expected to making its ruling about the proposed power plant until next year. If the CEC approves the construction of the power plant, which is to be located on 22 acres of the former DuPont property on Bridgehead Road, the community benefits agreement established between the city and CCGS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Radback Energy, Inc., states that CCGS will contribute approximately $6 million to the city to help fund capital improvement projects and establish a grant program to benefit local nonprofit organizations.
Under the agreement, CCGS will contribute $3 million for various transportation, landscaping and infrastructure improvements throughout the city. In the agreement, CCGS also commits to pay $2.8 million that will go toward potential environmental improvements. The community benefits agreement will also establish a $250,000 grant program that will benefit local nonprofits that serve Oakley. Potential candidates for these funds include La Clinia, which is scheduled to open in June, 4-H, and Friends of Marsh Creek. City Manager Bryan Montgomery said the community-benefits agreement is the result of hours of hard work, analysis and negotiation that also resulted in CCGS contributing $175,000 to pay for the city’s retainer fees for consultants and legal counsel that have been hired by the city to help City Coun-
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March 26, 2010
This Week Auto lovers get it in gear
Spring hockey
Looking for a reliable mechanic or some deals on wheels? Our Spring Auto Care guide puts you in the fast lane. Page 1B Photo by Richard Wisdom
indsay Quan and RT Ewing took advantage of perfect spring conditions this week to get in a little street hockey at Laurel Fields during their break from Freedom High. The user-friendly weather was expected to continue through the week.
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cil and staff better understand the CEC’s investigation process. “There are certainly some aspects of the plan that aren’t exactly what the City Council desired on this property,” Montgomery told the council, “but the analysis has
been conducted and what is being presented to (the council) is, with the community benefit agreement and the other economic benefits of the plan – it is worth our support. … see Benefits page 15A
Friends lend a hand A community service group is rallying to the aid of an Oakley family victimized by a recent homicide. Page 5A
Dial in the drama
High-tech transit proposed for East County by Dave Roberts Staff Writer
When eBART was initially proposed in 2000, transportation officials envisioned that by 2010 there would be light-rail, diesel-powered trains traveling 23 miles from the Bay Point BART Station to Byron, stopping at stations along the way in Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood. Unfortunately, the most that will be happening this year is construction of an eBART transfer platform at the Bay Point BART Station. The $500 million project was delayed and scaled back a couple years ago when Union Pacific Railroad refused to allow eBART trains to travel on its Mococo Line through far East County. Without access to an existing track, officials
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Source: eTranzUSA
A private company is proposing to provide mass transit, possibly to Discovery Bay, for half the cost of eBART. agreed that there was only enough funding to extend eBART 10 miles down the Highway 4 median from Bay Point BART to Antioch, with stations at Railroad and Hillcrest avenues. It could take many years for eBART to reach Oakley, let alone
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Brentwood or Byron, unless hundreds of millions more transportation dollars are found – a tall order for a federal government mired $12.6 trillion in debt and California struggling with a $20 billion deficit. But a private company has come forward offering to provide a
Frugal unions
go to news/WebExtras! A financial pro says banks aren’t the only lending institutions in town.
better mass transit alternative that would reach Oakley, Brentwood, Byron and possibly Discovery Bay for the same cost as it would take to get eBART just to Antioch. CyberTran International officials have been making presentations to East County leaders touting an innovative system with smaller, lighter, electric-powered, computer-controlled cars that don’t need drivers. The cars, which hold 24 passengers, can be accessed like an elevator: you push a button and go straight to your destination without stopping at stations along the way. And it promises to provide many more stations, perhaps one every mile or two. Because the cars are so much lighter (about one-tenth the weight of light rail), CyberTran’s construction cost could be as little
Our Sports Links hook you up with a colorful collection of athletic adventures. Page 20A
Plus: Auto Care Guide................ 1B Calendar ............................ 19B Classifieds ......................... 13B Entertainment ................... 9B Food .................................... 10B Health & Beauty ................ 8B Milestones ........................11A Opinion ..............................16A Sports .................................19A
see Transit page 15A
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Tuition tuneup
Diabetes defied
go to news/press releases A vehicle maintenance service is helping high school seniors pay for college.
go to multimedia/videos
Active 4 Diabetes held an event that raised awareness – and a little sweat.