See Inside
March 19, 2021
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As county moves to Red Tier, Concord mayor optimistic about year ahead BEV BRITTON The Pioneer
In reviewing a year that “pushed our emotional limit and changed the way we lived,” Mayor Tim McGallian projected an optimistic view during the State of the City Zoom address on Feb. 22. “We still have much to do, and the fight is not yet over. We all need to be part of that movement, that solution or that helping hand. But know that we cannot go it alone,” McGallian said in a speech that highlighted examples of community unity. Given that the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce hosted the virtual event, the state of local businesses was often front and center. McGallian pointed to the city’s $730,000 Small Business Grant Program and the
See State of City, page 5
JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Pete Cruz/The Pioneer
Spring blooms at City Hall follow an optimistic State of the City address by Concord Mayor Tim McGallian Feb 22. The city survived 2020 in better financial shape than predicted and will continue with community aid and support for small business. Passage of Measure V assures the city can move ahead with pavement and infrastructure improvement plans.
Former Concord mayor Dan Helix dies at 91 JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer
Dan Helix, who played a key role in Concord politics and community life spanning over five decades, passed last week at the age of 91. General Helix served as mayor of Contra Costa’s largest city from 1972-74 during his first two terms on the City Council from 1968 – 1976. He was later a director of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District. Helix was appointed 34 years later to fill a vacancy on the Concord Council in 2010 and then was re-elected as the highest vote getter for a four-year term in 2012. During that time, he was elected mayor by his colleagues and remained on the City Council until his term expired in December 2016. A Korean War veteran, Helix retired as a major general in the U. S. Army in 1989 after serving 41 years on both active duty and in the Army Reserve after enlisting as a private in 1948. His final military assignment was as Deputy Commanding General,
DAN HELIX, AUGUST 24, 1929— MARCH 9, 2021
Sixth U.S. Army, at the Presidio of San Francisco. He earned the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with “V” Device and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, among other commendations. KEY FIGURE FOR CONCORD PAVILION Helix was a key driver in the construction of the Concord
Pavilion. As mayor and city councilman in the early 1970s he negotiated with developer Ken Hofmann to get 122 acres of rolling land as a site for the Pavilion. It was part of a large parcel of over 300 acres on Kirker Pass Road that Hofmann was looking to develop for homes. The Pavilion opened in 1975. Decades later, Helix was mayor when the City Council most recently contracted with Live Nation to continue operating the outdoor amphitheatre. A key element of that 2013 agreement was to reclaim the name Concord Pavilion for the venue. Dan and Mary Lou Helix founded the Concord Pavilion Associates in 1976 to support the performing arts at the nearly new facility. His wife of 67 years, Mary Lou, was a concert pianist. The Helixes hosted a number of fundraisers to enable more performing arts concerts—-not all of which were financially viable from ticket sales alone—- to be presented at the Pavilion. In his final public effort on behalf of Concord he was the first chairperson of the Con-
cord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Citizens Advisory Committee in 2018. Helix abruptly resigned late in his first year as chair because he said the City had not given the committee members sufficient time to “get up to speed” on the complex project. He said, “Unfortunately, instead of small sips they [the CAC members] received a flow of information as out of a fire hose.” CITY OF CONCORD HONORS ITS OWN
To pay tribute to Helix, Concord Mayor Tim McGallian authorized the City of Concord flag to be flown at half-staff for one week beginning Mar. 11. Mayor McGallian said, “The legacy of Dan’s service and the wisdom of his example will continue to guide the City of Concord.” Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano said, “This is a sad time for our community because the Concord Family has lost a public servant who gave so much to us. The City of Concord is grateful for his leadership and I am hon-
ored to have been his friend.” Councilmember Edi Birsan served four years with Helix on the Council. “It was not widely known that Dan took part in the lunch counter sit-ins in South Carolina protesting segregation. Additionally, as a member of the City Council [during his first tenure] and as Mayor, he stood out and stopped city dealings with the all-white policy of the social clubs in the city.” “This is a great loss for our community. Dan served his country and community with great intellect, he attacked issues head-on and always asked the right questions. I cherish my time serving with Dan and knowing him. He was a wonderful, caring and generous person,” long-time councilmember Laura Hoffmeister said. Councilmember Carlyn Obringer added, “General Helix was an instrumental figure in the City of Concord. His leadership helped to ensure the financial stability and community spirit which defines our city. I greatly
See Helix, page 3
Summer start for new Buchanan Field terminal The Federal Aviation Administration will provide the remaining $6 million for the The planned $11.7 million, project to replace a 30-year-old 20,000 sq. ft. airport terminal at temporary facility. Buchanan Field Airport Barring unforeseen developreceived its own shot in the arm ments, construction would as the Contra Costa County begin this July or August – with Board of Supervisors commit- estimated completion by the ted $5.7 million from the sale of end of 2022. revenue bonds in late February. Two double-wides pushed together currently house the operations. The proposed single-story terminal is three times the size of the present facility and will be erected on the existing terminal’s footprint. “It’s a slight upgrade from what’s there now,” said Keith Freitas, director of airports. Moving ahead with this project brings to fruition the long-envisioned Master Terminal Plan at the airport. It’s also viewed as a sign of the facility’s readiness to rebound from the DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent
Next issue, April 16, Deadline, April 7
Marathon Petroleum to convert to renewable fuels by ‘22
The new terminal at Buchanan Field in Concord will be three times the size of the present building.
economic setbacks suffered because of the pandemic over the past 12 months. Along with accommodating the administrative offices, fire rescue and emergency response facilities and terminal space for JSX (JetSuiteX), the new facility will be plum for attracting another provider of air service from the Concord airport. JSX is currently Buchanan’s lone commercial operator, pro-
viding charter service to Burbank and John Wayne Airport in Southern California. Freitas acknowledged that JSX saw a 16 percent decline in business during the past year. But, he said, the future is bright as its plans to expand to new markets like Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego, Portland and Seattle. Similar slowdowns hit business and corporate aircraft traffic at Buchanan from
March to June, but Freitas noted this area of the airport has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. “It’s been pretty steady and pretty consistent,” he said. Compared to airports solely dependent on commercial traffic, Buchanan has diverse operations and a variety of revenue streams that have
See Airport, page 3
Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s board of directors this month approved plans to convert its Martinez refinery into a renewable fuels manufacturing facility. The conversion comes on the heels of the local plant on the Martinez/Concord border going on “indefinite idle” last year in the midst of the drop in fuel demand during the height of the pandemic and subsequent decrease in vehicle and airline traffic largely due to stay-at-home orders across the county. “Marathon Petroleum is focused on meeting the world’s growing energy needs and reducing its carbon emissions intensity,” MPC President and CEO Michael J. Hennigan said. “Converting the Martinez refinery to a renewable fuels facility is an important addition to our growing portfolio of renewables projects and aligns with our strategic priorities of strengthening the competitive position of our assets, implementing commercial strategy changes and strategically deploying our capital.” Marathon expects to start producing renewable diesel in Martinez next year. They will build to full capacity by 2023. Engineering work has begun, and Marathon has applied for relevant permits with the expectation that construction will start this year. It is estimated that four million hours by building trade workers will be required to complete the project. At full capacity, MPC expects the Martinez facility to produce about 730 million gallons per year of renewable fuels – predominantly renewable diesel – from such biobased feedstocks as animal fat, soybean oil and corn oil. That output roughly compares to the 2.5 billion gallons of petroleum fuels previously produced. Renewable diesel has a significantly lower carbon footprint than petroleum diesel. The Martinez conversion is also consistent with Marathon’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas intensity (emissions per barrel of oil equivalent processed) 30% below 2014 levels by 2030. When the shutdown was announced last year, Concord Congressman Mark DeSaulnier was among the key voices calling for a conversion in products coming from the Martinez plant so that many of the 700 full-time and 250 to 2000 contract employees would not permanently lose their jobs. A Marathon spokesperson says up to 150 employees will be working during this interim period. No firm figure is available on full-time employees when the plant is in full operation, although it’s acknowledged it will be much fewer than when the 700 employees were producing nearly four times the expected renewable diesel output in Martinez
See Marathon, page 4
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