IT’S YOUR PAPER
It’s Pierce, Diaz, Catalano
www.claytonpioneer.com
November 11, 2016
925.672.0500
HOwARD GELLER
MAYOR’S CORNER
Mayor Geller says ‘farewell’ to eight years on the Council
During my eight years on the City Council, Clayton traditionally operated with a balanced budget without major issues. With our limited funds and a small retail tax base, it takes frugality and the ability to look at the big picture to protect what our forefathers created for this marvelous small city. We have faced many challenges over the past eight years, including police department turnover that exceeded the norm, an extended drought wherein trying to maintain public landscaping was a daily issue and the loss of our Redevelopment Agency funds. If that weren’t bad enough, the state – through “claw backs” – has made us pay back money spent on lawful activities using redevelopment funds. But I am happy to say we have survived it all with balanced budgets. This year, we added two more solid department heads to the staff: Mindy Gentry as community development director and Chris Wenzel as chief of police. Coupled with our “star” finance manager Kevin Mizuno and city manager Gary Napper, we now have what I consider one of the strongest management teams assembled to serve our community. Here are some events that will occur this next month: Election: With Election Day around the corner, we have all been inundated with mailers touting whom to vote for, as well as information about measures and propositions. Our forefathers fought for the right to vote, which many people living in other countries do not have. I encourage all to be wellinformed and read all sides and opinions. If you do not vote, you are allowing someone else to make decisions for you. Veteran’s Day: Concord/ Clayton VFW Post 1525 will host our local Veteran’s Day service at Willow Pass Park at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11. It will be a one-hour ceremony followed by a veterans’ softball tournament. Thanksgiving: This has always been one of my most enjoyable holidays, with friends and family gathering to eat one of my favorite meals. For me, it’s all about the turkey, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce and apple pie. I wish you and yours a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.
Tamara Steiner/Clayton Pioneer
INCUMBENTS JULIE PIERCE AND JIM DIAZ AND NEWLY ELECTED TUIJA CATALANO keep track of election results at an election night party at Pierce’s home. All three were elected to the City Council by a decisive margin.
CVCHS, DLS to NCS playoffs
Jason Rogers
THE BATTLE OF CONCORD IN THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS IS COMING NOV. 18. Clayton Valley Charter and De La Salle will battle in the first-ever North Coast Section Open Division football playoff game next Friday at Owen Owens Field on the Spartans campus. The two Concord schools have faced one another only once before (1986) in the NCS playoffs and last met in the 2013 season opener where DLS pulled away in the second half for a 34-14 victory. Pictured, CVCHS junior quarterback Kenny Gardner Jr. (5) tried to outrun three Campolindo defenders as the Ugly Eagles won the inaugural Diablo Athletic League Foothill Conference championship 50-15. Tight end Dino Marraccini (17) looked to give his QB a block. See page 10 for complete story.
Two girls keep bike project on steady course
Olivia and Emma Forrester started their Two Girls and a Bike Project when they moved to Clayton in 2015. Since then, they have purchased and/or refurbished three bicycles for Toys for Tots, First Place for Youth and Youth Homes Inc. During November, they will Send comments to the mayor at be raising funds to refurbish a hgeller@ci.clayton.ca.us. women’s mountain bike for donation to STAND!, a local domestic violence shelter. Residents of the shelter will use the bike to run errands, attend classes or even commute. They are calling the bike the Transformer because it will transform lives. The girls cleaned the bike
and took it to Clayton Bikes for repairs and a tune-up. Next, the girls outfitted the bike with new gear, including handlebar mirrors, a cell phone holder, bell and travel bag. The refurbished bike, along with informational material on domestic violence, will be on display at Clayton Fitness, 1516 Kirker Pass Road, during November. The girls will periodically visit to discuss their project to anyone willing to provide a small cash donation. Donations can also be made through the website www.2girlsbike.com. For updates on fundraising projects, visit the website or fol- OLIVIA (LEFT) AND EMMA (RIGHT) DETAIL A BIKE before sending low the Two Girls and a Bike it to Clayton Bikes for repair. Next the bike will be outfitted Project on Twitter or Instagram. with new gear and delivered to a group home/shelter.
Clearly pleased with their performance, Clayton voters sent incumbents Julie Pierce and Jim Diaz back to the City Council for four more years. Planning commissioner, Tuija Catalano won the seat vacated by Howard Geller who elected not to run for a third term. The three join David Shuey and Keith Haydon who each have two more years left on their current terms. Pierce has served on the Council since 1992. She also serves on the Contra Costa Transporation Authority and is president of the Association of Bay Area Goverments. This will be Diaz’ second term. He has a background in law enforcement and security. He previously served on the planning commission. All three list downtown development as a top priority. Pierce hosted an election night party at her home where the three candidates, friends, family and officials from local agencies and surrounding cities awaited election results.
City says ‘time out’ on parolee housing
A recent inquiry from a county contractor asking for the city’s policy on parolee housing prompted some quick action by the City Council at the Nov. 1 meeting. Community Supervised Housing (“halfway house”) allow a non-violent, non-sexual parolee to serve out his or her remaining sentence within the community. The Public Safety Realignment Act, (Assembly Bill 109) passed in 2011 transferred the responsibility for managing parolee housing and parolee support programs to the counties. The Contra Costa Realignment Plan (passed in October 2011) then shifted the burden to the cities. Since the Clayton Municipal Code does not contain any regulations or operating policies for community supervised housing, a “time-out” was needed while the city considers the impact such housing would have on the community. “The intent is not to permanently ban these uses, but to give the city time to study locations, concentrations and distance from schools, parks and day care facilities,” said Community Development Director Mindy Gentry in her staff report. With nearly half (48.8 percent) of parolees reoffending within three years following release, there is potential for negative impacts to the community if there were several facilities in an area or if they were near schools or parks, Gentry said.
What’s Inside
Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Community Calendar . . . . .15 Directory of Advertisers . . . .7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 School News . . . . . . . . . . . .8
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