#Karen Rarey

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood City Councilman Makes Passionate Call for Teen-Youth Center

On Tuesday, the Brentwood City Council received a Brentwood Education and Technology Feasibility Study (Item D2) and what the city could do with the tech center. After the staff report, Councilmember Johnny Rodriquez spoke passionately of the need for a teen/youth center.

The move comes as Los Medanos College and the Contra Costa College District have used approximately 22,000square feet of the…

[eastcountytoday]

#94: A Chat with Ryan Raimondi, Mayor Candidate for City of Brentwood

On this episode, I chat with Ryan Raimondi who is running for Mayor of the City of Brentwod at just 18-years-old. Ryan shares why he is running for mayor, his background, and his variety of issues facing the city and what he hopes to accomplish.

  Episode Overview:

00:44 – Ryan explains why he decided to run for Brentwood Mayor

04:08 – Who is Ryan and what is his background?

06:15 – What was the…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood City Council Agrees in 4-1 Vote to Hire architect for Possible Brentwood Youth Center

Brentwood City Council Agrees in 4-1 Vote to Hire architect for Possible Brentwood Youth Center

On Tuesday, the Brentwood City Council agreed to allocate up to $100k to develop a plan for re-purposing the Brentwood Education & Technology Center into a facility focused on youth programing and services.

This was approved in a 4-1 vote with Councilwoman Karen Rarey dissenting.

The item came before the council after the ad-hoc committee met on July 1 to set goals and determine the next steps.…

[eastcountytoday]

2020 Election: Filing Deadline for Candidates Seeking Election is Friday

2020 Election: Filing Deadline for Candidates Seeking Election is Friday

For those looking to run for local office this fall, the candidate filing deadline is Friday, August 7 at 5:00 pm for city council/mayor seats, schools, community colleges and special districts.

Some of the races are filling up nicely, such as the Antioch Mayors Race which at one point had 8 candidates until Wade Harper withdrew on Friday—current candidates include Sean Wright, Monica Wilson,…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood: Deer Ridge Residents Could Vote on $50 a Year Landscape Improvements Tax

On Tuesday, the Brentwood City Council directed staff to move forward with the process that could result in a Prop 218 ballot to residents in an effort to improve landscaping within the Deer Ridge neighborhood.

If approved, residents in the Deer Ridge Neighborhood (LLAD 99-5) would vote on a tax which would spend $508,960 for for construction of landscaping improvements to Deer Ridge frontage…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood, Oakley to Hold July 4th 2020 Census Caravan

On Saturday, July 4, residents in the cities of Brentwood and Oakley are invited to participate in the Census 2020 Caravan. The goal is to bring attention to the 2020 Census.

As of June 22, the City of Brentwood had a self response rate of 73.3% compared to the 2010 response rate of 73.5%. In the City of Oakley, they have a rate of 67.5% while in 2010 they had 66.0%.

Overall, in Contra Costa…

[eastcountytoday]

#90: A chat with Political Consultant Mary Jo Rossi Ahead of 2020 Elections

#90: A chat with Political Consultant Mary Jo Rossi Ahead of 2020 Elections

On this episode, I chat with political consultant Mary Jo Rossi of Rossi Communications ahead of the 2020 election as candidates begin to announce. She provides both some advice and we talk needing to raise the bar locally in Contra Costa with elected officials.

01:04 – Intro, who is Mary Jo Rossi?

03:03 – Rossi explains we need people who want to raise the bar and lead with high standards and…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood City Council Receives 9212 Report in Response to Citizens Initiative for “Emergency Services”

On Tuesday, the Brentwood City Council received its 9212 report in response to the proposed “An Initiative to Add a New Chapter to the City of Brentwood Municipal Code Requiring the City of Brentwood to Annually Spend Additional Specified Funds for Designated Emergency Services”.

The report came at a cost of $45k as the council wished to have a consultant study the item and provide facts on what…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood City Council Opens Up $50k in Funding for Food Services to those Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic

On Tuesday during a special city council meeting, the Brentwood City Council agreed to spend $50k for food distribution to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will include both for food pantry and food delivery programs.

Last week, Councilwoman Karen Rarey brought forward the idea to provide $50k in funding for homebound seniors through Meals on Wheels and Brentwood Strong,the action at…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood Announces Special Meeting to Discuss $50k For Homebound Seniors Program

The City of Brentwood announced they will hold a special meeting of the City Council on Tuesday to discuss distributing $50k in funding to agencies and community organizations for programs and services that support homebound seniors and/other individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting comes after the April 14 meeting, the council directed staff to spend time on looking into the…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood Approves $192k Public Art Project, Location Moved to Sand Creek

On Tuesday, the Brentwood City Council agreed to move forward with a $192k art project that would be placed on Sand Creek Road near Highway 4 in the City of Brentwood.

Tuesday’s action was a continuation from the January Meetingwhere the council had concerns of the Balfour Road location in which the council agreed the Sand Creek location was a better fit for this piece of art because the area was…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood Council Approves 9212 Report in Response to Citizens Initiative for “Emergency Services”

On Tuesday, the Brentwood City Council approved the creation of a 9212 Report in response to the proposed “An Initiative to Add a New Chapter to the City of Brentwood Municipal Code Requiring the City of Brentwood to Annually Spend Additional Specified Funds for Designated Emergency Services”.

The report will cost the City of Brentwood up to $50,000 which was requested by Vice Mayor Joel Bryant a…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood City Council Defends Hiring of Tim Odgen Before 5-0 Vote

Brentwood City Council Defends Hiring of Tim Odgen, Votes Una

On Tuesday, the Brentwood City Council approved the hiring of City Manager Tim Ogden in a unanimous vote, but not before they defended the hiring after public concerns.

According to the terms, Ogden is set to be compensated at an annual salary of $246,900. The contract also states Ogden is to be compensated a minimum 5% salary compaction above the highest paid Department Director. The agreement…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood City Council Punts Decision on $192k Public Art Project

On Tuesday, the Brentwood City Council punted a decision to a later date on a proposed $192k art project that would be placed on Balfour Road near Highway 4.

Per City Staff, the agreement for the street art project was with Seth Palmiterof Motivated Metal after being selected by the Arts Commission and Ad-hoc Committee. The artist, who is out of the State of Maine, was chosen after a national…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood: EPA Announces $1.5 Million Grant for Three Creeks Parkway Restoration Project

On Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $1.5 million grant award to American Rivers for the Three Creeks Parkway Restoration Project within the City of Brentwood.

The Project will widen the creek to provide flood risk mitigation, plant trees and vegetation to provide habitat for fish and wildlife, and provide recreational opportunities. The ceremony was held at Monarch…

[eastcountytoday]

Brentwood Voters to Decide on Moving Urban Limit Line in November, Could Add 2,400 Homes

Brentwood Voters to Decide on Moving Urban Limit Line in November, Could Add 2,400 Homes

During 3-hour special meeting of the Brentwood City Council on Thursday, the council unanimously voted to hold a special election this November for voters to decide if they would allow expanding the urban limit line for development.

If approved in November, it would allow for development of 2,400 homes in an 815-acrearea on Balfour Road just outside city limits. Of the 2,400 homes, 80% will be…