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Concord Pioneer • www.concordpioneer.com
July 20, 2018
City a partner in plan for Galindo low-income apartments BEV BRITTON Concord Pioneer
The City Council approved $5.5 million to support construction of $25 million in low-income apartments at 1313 Galindo St. Resources for Community Development (RCD) is proposing a 44-unit project that will serve the veterans of Concord, as well as seniors, people
with disabilities and small families. Responding to feedback from the city, RCD revised plans so that 55 percent of the apartments are one-bedroom units – up from 36 percent in the original proposal. RCD also will set aside 10 units specifically for homeless vets. RCD estimated the affordable rates would be $519 a month, vs. $1,360 a month for the
average tenant. Much of the discussion at the June 26 meeting revolved around how best to market to target populations and concerns about RCD’s Lakeside apartments, including parking and gate operation. While Councilwoman Laura Hoffmeister praised RCD for its “good track record” in Concord, Councilwoman Carlyn Obringer was
ly looking into alternatives. “We may replace it with paper, or go to washable plates,” says Santiago Morales. “We will be changing over, but either way it will cost the customers more money.” Polystyrene, commonly referred to as Styrofoam, is a petroleum-based plastic used in single-use disposable products, such as cups, clamshell takeout containers and other food service ware. Although polystyrene is recyclable, most centers will not accept it due to its light weight. With 95 percent air, it is unprofitable to process. The foam containers can take up to 500 years to decompose and account for up to 25 percent of the world’s landfills. In addition, polystyrene containers are a major component of urban litter. They can clog storm drains and wind up in the Bay and local waterways, where they leach toxins into the water.
It is the second most abundant form of beach debris in California, and marine animals can easily mistake it for food. Attempts to ban the product statewide have failed in the Legislature since 2008; hence individual jurisdictions, including seven other Contra Costa cities, have enacted local bans. In an attempt to inform the public, the city of Concord has reached out to the Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Todos Santos Business Association, Contra Costa County Climate Leaders, Meals on Wheels and Monument Impact. The city also notified major retailers, such as Safeway, Lucky, Costco and Grocery Outlet. The polystyrene ban is part of Concord’s efforts to meet the state’s 2020 requirement to divert 75 percent of solid waste generated by businesses and multifamily developments from the landfill.
City bans styrofoam food packaging effective Jan. 1 JOHN T. MILLER Correspondent
The Concord City Council voted unanimously to enforce a ban on polystyrene packaging, joining about a hundred other municipalities in California prohibiting its use. Councilwoman Carlyn Obringer, who introduced the proposal, said the ban would “reduce waste by requiring food or beverage service ware that is readily reusable, recyclable or compostable, reduce human health risks associated with polystyrene, reduce the risk of harm to wildlife and improve water quality.” The ban will go in effect on Jan. 1, 2019, with a five-month grace period to allow food distributors to use up their supply of polystyrene containers. The owner of the popular Tortilleria El Molino on Monument Boulevard appreciates the grace period and is current-
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tenths of a mile to BART but right in between bus stops and just over half a mile from Todos Santos Plaza.” By partnering with local community organizations, RCD will offer free support services such as after-school and summer youth programs, computer skills and budgeting. “All our of developments have resident services, which are social services offered to the residents free of charge to ensure that they can stay in the housing and also thrive,” noted RCD executive director Dan Sawislak. Concord has $14 million
available for affordable housing, with a goal of 3,478 units by 2022. Novin DevelopmentHabitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley recently submitted a proposal to increase the allocation of affordable units at the existing Argent apartments on Willow Pass Road. According to housing program analyst Sophia Sidhu, the Housing and Economic Development Committee will review that plan in August. A proposal may also be coming from Community Housing Opportunities before the September deadline.
BEV BRITTON Concord Pioneer
will include state university officials, those experienced in higher education trends, members of the county’s Community College District and the Mt Diablo Unified School District, workforce development advocates and representatives from major regional industries. The committee will consider socio-economic demographics, educational trends and projections, the physical site along with any environmental constraints, public-private partnerships, different college formats, campus designs and funding options. “This process allows for a lot of different content, ideas and discussion to take place, but it’s also very structured – making sure we get through this
process efficiently in a ninemonth period,” Iacofano said. In talking about the potential of a new campus, Councilman Ron Leone used the word “exciting” several times. “I really see this as an anchor-type project for the Naval Weapons Station. Once this gets established, there will be so much synergy in not only businesses surrounding it but also I anticipate there could be economic development because of the students coming through,” he said. “It has so much merit and benefit for our community.” The city estimates it will cost $105,000 for MIG’s services. MIG will come back to the council in August with a finalized plan for the committee.
New committee will help focus city’s plans for campus
As part of the effort to bring a 120-acre university campus to Concord, the City Council reviewed formation of a new Blue Ribbon Committee of regional stakeholders. Last winter, the city selected MIG consulting to help form and guide the committee as part of the Campus District Visioning Project for the former Naval Weapons Station. At the June 26 meeting, the City Council heard plans for a nine-month process after the committee is convened in September. Daniel Iacofano of MIG said there will be “very targeted solicitations in specific roles” for committee members, which
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troubled by inadequate parking both at Lakeside and the proposed Galindo development. Some neighboring residents also spoke about parking issues, but overall public comments supported the new project and the council’s approval was unanimous. RCD officials said the Galindo project would likely have fewer cars per unit because of the nature of the clientele and proximity to mass transit. “The site is terrific,” said RCD senior project manager Alicia Klein. “It is very close to great transit, not only just four-
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days of stroke play that whittled the field down to the top 32. Bucey was seeded 11th after the 36 holes of stroke play, despite a slow start in the first round with four bogies. He then faced a grueling schedule of six more rounds of match play over four days to claim the trophy. He had to rally in a couple of the matches, including his 1 up win over UCLA junior and No. 4 seed Hidetoshi Yoshihara of Irvine in the 36-hole Sunday finals, Bucey found himself down by three after the morning 18 holes. With his dad Bob serving as his caddy, Bucey maintained a positive attitude, believing it was more Yoshihara’s excellent play than his shortcomings that accounted for the difference in the match. “I felt I was hitting it really well and if I could just make a couple more putts, I’d be back in the match,” he said. However, he fell back a further stroke before he birdied the 24th and 25th holes to halve the deficit and give him “a second wind and a shot of adrenaline.” He eventually tied the match, gave back a stroke and then retied for the lead on the 33th hole. He finally took the lead on the 35th hole when Yoshihara made bogey. They halved the par 5 36th hole, and Bucey claimed the Edward B. Tufts Trophy that includes all those illustrious previous champions.
GOLFING AT AN EARLY AGE Bucey says the family story is that his golf-playing dad chopped down a club for him to start playing at 2 years old. He began taking lessons at Boundary Oak in Walnut Creek as a kid. As he went to Silverwood Elementary and Pine Hollow Middle schools in Concord, he played lots of golf and also baseball in Clayton Valley Little League. When he began Clayton Valley High, Bucey realized that his
two favorite sports were both played in the spring and he decided to “really focus” on golf. He helped his Eagle teams to North Coast Section tournament appearances as a sophomore and senior. His junior year, the team didn’t qualify for NCS but Bucey did by finishing eighth in the section qualifying tournament. Following his CVHS graduation, the only college offer he received was Cal State East Bay. Bucey attended the Hayward school for two years, helping the Pioneers to the NAIA National Championship playoffs as a freshman and then individually as a sophomore. Bucey transferred to Chico State and enjoyed two years of success with the Wildcats with Coach T.L. Brown, who “helped me learn to really believe in myself. He gave me a chance when really no other coaches wanted me.” Along with senior teammates Eric Frazzetta, Kevin Rei and 2011 NCAA Division II champion Kyle Souza, Bucey’s Wildcats made it all the way to the 2012 NCAA championship match before losing to topranked Nova Southeastern in the finale. Their team is considered the best in Chico State history. The team won the NCAA stroke play title and also captured the school’s first California Collegiate Athletic Association league crown. Bucey’s Cal Amateur championship was his fourth Northern California Golf Association title, but by far the most prestigious. He earned a 10-year exemption to the State Championship, which relieves him of having to qualify each year. In 2017, he was an alternate in the tournament and didn’t get to play. “The exemption is great, because you need to shoot under par just to make it into State,” he says. He’ll be back in action next
Photo courtesy Bucey family
The Concord family storyline is that dad Bob Bucey (right) chopped down one of his clubs for two-year-old son Bobby to get him headed toward a lifetime playing golf. Mom Karen or dad Bob have been caddies when their son has won his four Northern California Golf Association championships, including the 107th California Amateur last month.
week in the Pacific Coast Amateur at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, where Bucey figures to compete against the top collegiate players in world amateur rankings.
FOUR WINS IN FIVE YEARS Bucey has won an NCGA Championship in four of the past five years, starting with the 2014 NCGA Amateur Stroke Play in a playoff at Poppy Hills. He teamed with Brett Viboch to capture the 2016 NCGA FourBall Championship. Last year, he won a playoff for the NCGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Poppy Hills, that time with mom Karen as caddy. He was denied back-toback Mid-Amateurs when he lost a playoff in the final match this May. Bucey is a member of Oakhurst Country Club, where his father is also a member. A business administration major, Bucey “always liked numbers” and went into accounting. He works in San Ramon as
an audit supervisor for Vavrinek Trine Day & Co. He says the company has been great about allowing him some flexible scheduling when he is in a multi-day tournament, especially since he assumed the supervisory position. Bucey heads out to Oakhurst, which is close to his Concord home near the Pavilion, to play a round after work at this time of year or practice phases of his game: chipping, putting. He can also be found under the lights at the Diablo Creek driving range. He says PGA pro Dave DeLong of Boundary Oak is the one coach who “got me so far.” Bucey says he doesn’t see DeLong as much as he used to, but “I can text him a video or just tell him what my ball is doing and he can fix me over the phone.” DeLong also coached another Clayton Valley High golfer, Domenic Mazza, when he placed second in the 2010 World Long Drive Championships.