>Alameda County budget hearings begin

ALAMEDA COUNTY — Budget meetings, Monday, April 8, 1:30 p.m. ENTIRE AGENDA HERE | Tuesday, April 9, 1:30 p.m. ENTIRE AGENDA HERE

>>Regular board meeting, Tuesday, April 9, 9:30 a.m.
ENTIRE AGENDA HERE | Next meeting: April 23.
-HERE’S $35M. NO THANKS- Alameda County will forego $35 million in state funding to rebuild Camp Sweeney, a restorative justice program in unincorporated Alameda County. But the decision Tuesday will also save taxpayers money. The Board of State and Community Corrections allocated the grant in 2008 for a rebuilt 150-bed camp contingent on the county gaining ownership of the property. The county would pitch in roughly $20 million. The county’s General Services Agency estimates because of rising construction costs and added due diligence associated with the grant that could run up to two more years, the cost of the rebuild will skyrocket to $100 million. By declining the $35 million grant, the county can actually save $25 million by completing the project by 2022, according to a staff report.

CASTRO VALLEY – Municipal Advisory Council meeting, Monday, April 8, 6 p.m.
ENTIRE AGENDA HERE |
-INSIDER INFO- CVMAC Chair Marc Crawford, a prominent contractor in south county, is asking for information from county staff about interest by a property owner who has stated interest in redeveloping the land  on the corner of Grove Way and Redwood Road that includes Trader Joe’s and a church for a mixed-used project including 199 housing units. The item is curious since no official application has been offered by the property owner, as of yet.

>Oakland

OAKLAND — Council committee meetings, Tuesday, April 9, starts at 9 a.m.
FINANCE COMMITTEE | PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE | COMMUNITY & ECON DEVELOPMENT CMTE | LIFE ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE | PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE | Next council meeting: April 16.
-CANNABIS EQUITY PROGRAM- An informational report before the Finance Committee on the city’s Cannabis Equity Program is quite glowing. The program intends to help groups that historically were greatly affected by the War on Drugs by promoting equitable opportunities in the city’s burgeoning cannabis industry. “In sum, the City of Oakland has changed the national conversation around cannabis legalization, according to a staff report.  Read the whole report HERE.

>Hayward looking out for city employees

HAYWARD — Special council meeting, Tuesday, April 9, 7 p.m.
ENTIRE AGENDA HERE | Next meeting: April 16.
-EMPLOYEE HOME LOAN PROGRAM- In the past, the council has expressed a desire to support city employees who desire to live in Hayward. The city is discussing whether to institute a “pilot program with $1,500,000 from City Reserve Funds for up to 10
$150,000 down payment loans.” Proposed terms of the program: Down payment must be 2.5 percent of total purchase, interest rate at 1 percent above the city’s portfolio rate during the first five years. Principal payments deferred during the same period.

-PAID CITY HOLIDAY- The council’s three Latino official will offer a referral asking staff to consider making Cesar Chavez Day a paid holiday for city employees. The holiday just recently passed, but the referral, if supported by a majority of the council Tuesday night, hopes to have the change in place by March 2020.

>BART budget presentation

BART — Regular board meeting, Thursday, April 11, 9 a.m.
ENTIRE AGENDA HERE |
-BUDGET SHORTFALL- BART is looking at a $6.9 million budget gap, according to a presentation to be give to the board Thursday morning. Passenger revenue was down during the current fiscal year by $5.6 million. Low weekend and nighttime ridership continues to be a trend for the transit authority.

FREMONT — Special council meeting, Tuesday, April 9, 7 p.m.
ENTIRE AGENDA HERE | Annual housing element report | Next meeting: April 16.

AC TRANSIT — Regular board meeting, Wednesday, April 10, 5 p.m.
ENTIRE AGENDA HERE | Next meeting: April 24.
-SMALL SHORTFALL- AC Transit staff estimates a fairly minuscule $387,000 budget shortfall for the next fiscal year on $467.7 million in revenues.

EAST BAY MUD — Regular board meeting, Tuesday, April 9, 1:15 p.m.
ENTIRE AGENDA HERE | Next meeting: April 23.

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