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Mayor: Bright future for city ing less than expected and an estimated $12 million rolling in over the next two years, courtesy of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. If all goes as expected, then the positive outlook will ripple through the community. The mayor indicated that city leaders will continue supporting current local businesses, while also working to attract other high-paying employers. Work is well underway to craft a business attraction and job growth master plan for over 430 acres surrounded by Lone Tree Way to the north, Heidorn Ranch Road to the west, Sand Creek Road to the south and Shady Willow Lane to the east. The area — branded as The Innovation Center @ Brentwood
by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
BRENTWOOD Mayor Joel Bryant used his first State of the City address this week to present Brentwood as a stable entity with a bright future. The 45-minute address, conducted over Zoom, touched on the city’s current state and future hopes, encompassing the municipality finances, current and future economic development efforts, public safety plans and other topics. “As a community, Brentwood is one of the most wonderful places I have ever lived, and I continue to hear that from our families here,” he said. Bryant hinted the city’s finances are stable, with property taxes up, the general fund reserve sitting at 30%, sales taxes slump-
see Mayor page 22
by Dawnmarie Fehr Correspondent
BRENTWOOD The City of Brentwood welcomed Alexis Morris as its new community development director last week. Morris comes to Brentwood from Antioch, where she worked as a planning manager. She said she is excited to dig into her new position and coordinate all the different aspects of community development for Brentwood. “I think this position is important to the City of Brentwood to bring all the different parts of development together,” Morris said. “This position is important to coor-
dinate all those parts for the city and I’m excited to be doing it here, I feel very privileged to have been offered this role and I’m excited about what we can accomplish going forward.” Morris was offered the position after its previous holder, Casey McCann, retired last summer. City Manager Tim Ogden said there was no rush to fill the vacancy in the interest of producing budget savings during the pandemic. He noted Assistant City Manager Terrence Grindall stepped in when necessary to handle any issues, and will help Morris during her transition. “Alexis will serve the city well with her technical background, experience in planning and economic development and knowledge of the
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by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
Photo by Stuart Correa
A
chevy moves down Oak Street during the Motoring in May event on May 8 in Brentwood. Dozens of classic cars cruised from TJ Maxx into the city’s downtown.
MORRIS regional community,” Ogden said. “She adds more diversity to my executive team as well, and will provide great insights to our leadership efforts.” Morris has worked in both
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public and private sectors, managing in the areas of community development, environmental planning, and economic development since 1998. She has a master’s degree in community development from UC Davis, and – as an Antioch native – an intimate knowledge of East County. Morris said she had always admired Brentwood’s management of growth and its residents’ quality of life. She kept tabs on open positions with the city and jumped when she saw this opportunity come up. “I grew up in Antioch and live in East County, so I’m familiar with Brentwood and I’ve spent a lot of see New Director page 22
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May 14, 2021
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REGIONAL In the first of three drought-related announcements made earlier this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded the state’s drought emergency declaration to an additional 39 counties including Contra Costa. Approximately 30% of the state’s population and 41 of 58 counties are now in a drought emergency. Newsom made the announcement from the San Luis Reservoir in the Central Valley on Monday, May 10. That reservoir is currently holding 57% of it’s seasonal average and less than half of its full capacity, conditions that are common in reservoirs across the state. The governor’s comments came three weeks after a state of emergency was declared in Sonoma and Mendocino counties due to drought conditions in the Russian River watershed. “We have to recognize that we’re living in a world that we’re living in a world that we weren’t designed to live,” Newsom said. “We have a conveyance system, a water system, that was designed for a world that no longer exists. It’s incumbent upon us to acknowledge that. It’s incumbent upon us to reimagine a different future, a much more resilient, a much more vibrant, a much more dynamic waterdelivery system here in this state.” Dry conditions for two consecutive years have been exacerbated by above average temperatures that have accelerated the snow melt in the Sierra Nevada and Cascades. Snowpack accounts for 30% of the see Drought page 22
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