The relationship between the cities of Hercules and Pinole could seemingly not be any more strained. A principal reason — if not the only reason — is the continued shared operation of the wastewater treatment facility just over the Pinole border. Hercules has formally left the joint facility (opting for a switch to WCWD or even construction of a new facility) and tempers seem to flair every time the Joint Powers Authority board meets. Or so the minutes tend to suggest.

The meeting on June 23 is a great example. Apparently, freakishly-high measurements of copper and mercury were recorded during recent sampling events and the offending materials supposedly came from Hercules. The ensuing conversation became rather tense and City Manager Nelson Oliva took exception to the issue and blasted Pinole for their own faults in wastewater operations. Exclusive audio of that conversation follows (transcript below).

Note: If you don’t recognize the voices of the Hercules City Manager and Pinole Mayor, it is likely because the two reportedly had head colds at the time this meeting took place. (At least that is what I was told.)

The verbatim draft minutes (as recorded by board secretary; audio above slightly modified for context and clarity)…

Nelson Oliva, City Manager for the City of Hercules, When we meet with them we will ask them the question about the follow-up in reference to this letter.

Debbie Long, Mayor for the City of Pinole, Exactly. We need to have this response to protect all of us; what I am saying is as we all know email is not always the best form of communication to address an issue like this.

Virginia Fuiita, Council Member for the City of Pinole, Was your City Council aware of this situation? ,

Nelson Oliva, City Manager for the City of Hercules, It is operations, no

Virginia Fujita, Council Member for the City of Pinole, So they were not notified?

Nelson Oliva, City Manager for the City of Hercules, No, it was operation

Virginia Fujita, Council Member for the City of Pinole, If not the whole City Council the Sub-Committee Members, was they notified?

Nelson Oliva, City Manager for the City of Hercules, No, it was operations

Debbie Long, Mayor for the City of Pinole, It seems to me is a little more than operations, but that is my impression.

Nelson Oliva, City Manager for the City of Hercules, Let me go back this seems to be a tiff for tagger, we know by statements made by your Engineer, that you are discharging almost a half-million gallons of clean water into your sewer streets, coming from infiltration system, and if we are going to talk about dealing with important issues to the plant why are we not talking about that issue, that is a half-million gallons per day more than we need to be putting into the plant, which then would accommodate any additional flow that we could send in, and we would not be talking about leaving, but we don’t want to addressed the infiltration problem because in the words of Dean, it is cheaper to treat it than to fix the leak problem. We are working on fixing the leaks in the system because that is the right thing to do from an environmental approach. To come here and be chastised because we got a letter about why staff did or did not respond to your staff and continue to relive the point, I think it is a little bit… we understand it, we get it, if we were responsible we will deal with all the issues that came from that, if it is coming from somewhere else I think that is more alarming to us to make sure that it is not sipping into the system, you know, we get it, we understand the message, we are moving forward and I don’t think that has anything to do with jeopardizing our relationship, I think we are supposed to be working together to make sure we have the most effective system that we can to provide the services based on its age and ability to treat the waste water and dealing with the governing state agencies that we look up or respond to, but I did not come here to get chastised and bitten over and over again and neither did my Council. I want to move forward and be a good partner– we have been a good partner. I understand you used the word trust, you know there are a lot of things we would talk about trust, that I don’t even want to get into right now, because I believe on moving forward, with all respect we will respond to your letter in writing, we hope that the Water Regional Control Board responds in writing also, so that we can deal with the reprecautions that come with this, and, if we are responsible, we will deal with all the reprecautions, as simple as that.

Debbie Long, Mayer for the City of Pinole, That’s fine, that’s all we want is to make sure that everyone is aware appropriately.

Nelson Oliva, City Manager for the City of Hercules, Thanks very much

Nelson Oliva, City Manager for the City of Hercules, Alright thanks

Tom Lochner reports… “Mayor Kris Valstad and Councilman Joe Eddy McDonald will face two challengers in their bid for re-election to the Hercules City Council in November — one a City Hall outsider [John Delgado], the other a member of the Planning Commission [Myrna de Vera].”

The unofficial campaign slogans still stand.

The tidal mud flats that stretch a significant distance into San Pablo Bay are the predominant reason bringing ferry service to Hercules is costly, both initially and with respect to channel maintenance over time. And this is never more evident than during low tide when the great expanse of mud flats are clearly visible…¹

Current plans for a future ferry suggest that the landing would be offshore accessed by a pier (compared with the Larkspur landing which is essentially onshore within a dredged channel), however the proposed landing location is still within the mud flats. In fact, the landing would have to be pushed out a considerable distance further from what is currently drawn (approximately 1000 feet) to avoid the mud flats completely. And dredging would still be necessary in the shallow waters at that location.²

The extent of the mud flats can be seen on historical topographic maps (from 1959 below)…

As well as in aerial imagery (from June 2005 below, which must have been photographed during low tide)…

A ferry operating from Hercules, of course, is far off — 2014 at the earliest, and likely much more later than that (decades potentially). Funding for dredging efforts however, in the amount of $9m, has been included in our congressman’s request for appropriations in FY11. Rep. George Miller (D, CA-7) had also included the appropriations request in the 2010 WRDA. In any case, funds have not yet been appropriated.

While the City of Pinole has begun restoring the Pinole Creek channel and improving access to the trail on their side, the Hercules side is likewise in need of improvement and increased access to the lower portion of the Pinole Creek Trail.

In addition to the two ends of the trail — one at the abandoned Railroad Avenue, the other near the Pinole Senior Center across from Fernandez Park — there currently are two unofficial entrances to the Pinole Creek Trail from the adjacent neighborhood.

One is a hole in the fence under a tree at the eastern end of Rosti (which is either man-made or an act of god)…

And another hole in the fence exists towards the western end of Rosti (the chain-link fence could be replaced with redwood and wire mesh fencing, similar to other parks around the city, with defined openings for pedestrians/cyclists)…

A sizable triangular-shaped area of land (approximately 700 sq. ft.) is available at the westernmost edge of Rosti for a mini-pocket park, perhaps with benches or picnic tables (of course, the land may not be available for the City to use, e.g., floodway, easements, etc.)…

One could interpret the developer’s presentation from two weeks ago in two different ways: (1) Favorably, that the developer is “in it for the long haul;” and (2) Unfavorably, that the developer (Red Barn) is likely laying the foundation — a substantive financial explanation — for an eventual exit from the project.

The developer has signed letters of intent with Cinema West (who run a similar facility in Livermore) for Cinema Town and the Fresh & Easy grocery chain for Market Town.

However, as Tom Lochner reports, “[Red Barn developer Tom] Weigel said the company soon will present a new master plan for Market Town to the planning commission.”

This may provide the rare opportunity to fix the proposed streetscape/pedestrian interaction along San Pablo Avenue and restore the Main & Main principle adopted by the Central Hercules Plan in 2000. Current plans for Market Town (shown below) feature an elaborate driveway and parking area along the San Pablo Avenue boundary.

Instead, an urban streetscape could replace the driveway/parking and a more welcoming pedestrian-oriented element could be added to the corner at Sycamore Avenue, perhaps even a pedestrian ramp landing that many councilmembers seem to be so fond of (i.e., maybe this is a priceless opportunity to finally fix the San Pablo and Sycamore intersection and quit simply pushing the critical issue to the next project).

A defined creek channel is now visible after one week…

The removed brush has been temporarily placed on the adjacent Chelsea Wetland site…

And the connection with Orleans Drive on the Pinole side has also been cleared to make way a more formal entrance to the trail (not sure if the utility pole and guy wires will be removed; hopefully)…

Dan Romero has decided not to run. That leaves incumbents Kris Valstad (the current mayor) and Joe Eddy McDonald (the one that doesn’t care for the job) vying for reelection against newcomer Myrna de Vera (current Planning Commissioner) and John Delgado (who lost in 2008).

The unofficial campaign slogans follow…

• Kris Valstad: The best is yet to come.
• Joe Eddy McDonald: Ignorance is bliss.
• Myrna de Vera: Change is good.
• John Delgado: I am not Don Kuehne.

The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) — or, perhaps more accurately, the Richmond School District — needs new leadership. The behemoth school district is broken, broke, and fails to provide the quality education Herculeans deserve and pay for.

One newcomer in this year’s election is Jason Freeman (the three incumbents are running for re-election), and his press release is attached below. Freeman has an impressive background and a website he says will grow with positions on issues in the near future.

As an advocate of local control and small school districts however, I asked Freeman about his position on creating localized trustee areas (or “districting”) within the District to allow for a more representative school board. Such an effort had built up support in 2008, but the County rejected the ballot measure in order to offer a better opportunity for a parcel tax to pass.

The candidate, an El Cerrito resident, responded appropriately but also rather predictably. “I would favor consideration of a districting plan,” Freeman said, “possibly a balance of districts and at-large. In theory, at-large seats should get balanced representation for everyone since every vote is equal. However, that clearly has not been the perception from many voters.”

“There are no perfect solutions,” Freeman continued in his response. “I think the bigger concern is the lack of candidates from the northern part of the district. [Hercules and Pinole leaders] have tried to recruit candidates, but they have found few people willing to take the plunge.”

Although there is value — and honor — in trying and failing miserably in a school board election (one largely controlled by Richmond and El Cerrito), that’s sort of like asking a high school sophomore to try out for the Yankees. He may have a better shot with a minor league team, or the A’s.

EXPERIENCED EDUCATOR SEEKS SEAT ON WEST CONTRA COSTA SCHOOL BOARD

Jason Freeman, a former classroom teacher with 13 years of experience in education, filed papers on Friday to run for the West Contra Costa school board.

“I have worked at all levels of education — from the classroom to Washington, DC — and I have seen success in many forms. Our district faces great challenges, and now is the time to build upon examples of success from our own and other communities. Our community must come together to support our schools, and I have the experience to make that happen.”

Freeman’s career in education has focused on building networks and coalitions, primarily supporting science and math education for youth in underserved communities. As the founding director of the Coalition for Science After School, Freeman brought together over 600 organizations, including science museums, providers of afterschool programs, and community groups, to advocate for and implement science learning beyond the school day. Freeman helped unite teachers, families, and community members who wanted better public schools for their children as a teacher and part of the founding team of the IDEA Academy (now IDEA Public Schools), recently recognized as one of the best schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Former student and recent college graduate Sandy Garcia says, “Jason Freeman is one of those teachers a student will never forget. He lays the foundation for learning and then challenges the student to do more. He is sincere about his passion for giving each child the opportunity for a quality education. … He was one of the first teachers to mention a college education, something I was completely unaware of before then. I am proud to say I am one year away from completing my master’s program and I owe my success to teachers like him.”

Freeman recognizes the difficulties faced by an incoming school trustee — a structural deficit, mounting debt, safety problems, and declining enrollment — and offers a new perspective in addressing those challenges. “Funding for education is changing nationwide, and districts must be prepared to compete for support. The districts where everyone is working together will be rewarded, and I will work to ensure that West Contra Costa is not left out.”

Freeman is a trustee of the West Contra Costa Public Education Foundation, which supports public education throughout the district. He and his wife Gretchen, who is also a science educator, live in El Cerrito with their one-year-old daughter Sydney.

CONTACT: Jason Freeman, 510-592-4573, jason@jasonfreeman.org

Residents have likely noticed the construction work underway along the lower reach of Pinole Creek…

It is the first phase of the Pinole Creek restoration (a City of Pinole project called the “Demonstration Project”), paid for through grant funding, and should be completed this January.

The project runs from the Railroad Avenue bridge to Orleans Drive, and includes the following:

• Excavate channel to provide an increased level of flood protection;
• Construct approximately 2,400 linear feet of floodwalls on both sides of the creek;
• Construct a new pedestrian entry from Orleans Drive;
• Construct 1,200 linear feet of mixed use trail;
• Restore 2.55 acres of marsh plain and adjacent upland habitat;
• Install new native landscape improvements and remove non-native trees (including palms apparently);
• Construct a pathway lighting system along the Pinole side of the creek;
• Construct two creek accesses on the Pinole side; and
• Install interpretive signs and benches.

Although much of the work is being done on property within the City of Hercules (in fact, the majority of the creek in this area is within the Hercules boundary), the City is not involved, and no mention of the project is mentioned on the City’s website. (The two cities are apparently not talking to one another at this point in the relationship.)

Both sides of the creek are jointly used by residents of both cities, so any improvement to the Pinole side is more than welcome, however improvements along the Hercules side are necessary as well (although what’s completed on one side does not necessarily need to be repeated on the other). The walking path could be paved and lit, and direct access to the trail could also be provided from Woodfield and Rosti (a hole in the chain-link fence is the only means of access).

One thing of note. A future phase of the restoration project includes the removal of the Railroad Avenue bridge (currently a constricting element for conveying flood waters), but the City’s plans for the adjacent Chelsea Wetlands restoration include the bridge remaining (another miscommunication). The Pinole plan includes replacing the existing pedestrian bridge with a larger one capable of accommodating emergency vehicle access, but is not part of this first phase of work. (I have advocated for the removal of both the Railroad Avenue Bridge and the lower, abandoned portion of Railroad Avenue as part of the Chelsea Wetlands restoration.)

Since both incumbents are running for re-election — including Joe Eddy McDonald, although he openly despises the position — the filing deadline for potential candidates is 5pm this Friday, August 6.

As reported in the Contra Costa Times, “Mayor Kris Valstad and Planning Commissioner Myrna deVera seek two open City Council seats, while incumbent council member Joe Eddy McDonald also filed but still awaited verification of signatures Tuesday.” The tension is palpable.

Myrna de Vera has released a statement (attached below) formally announcing her candidacy for City Council since qualifying.

Considering her outspoken role on the Planning Commission, coupled with support from the powerful Filipino contingent (including, alas, Vice Mayor Ed Balico), de Vera is seemingly quite the formidable candidate in a race largely dependent on name recognition and a dedicated group of supporters.

COMMISSIONER MYRNA DE VERA RUNNING FOR HERCULES, CALIFORNIA CITY COUNCIL

Myrna Lardizabal de Vera, a Planning Commissioner in Hercules, California, announced her candidacy today for Hercules City Council after meeting the qualifying requirements. De Vera will be participating in the November 2, 2010 Election which has two open Council seats.

In her statement, Myrna de Vera, an Asian American of Filipino ancestry, said: “I am running for City Council because I care deeply for the people of the City of Hercules and I want to serve my community. I believe that with my leadership experiences in the Planning Commission, my grass-roots community involvement, and my profession as a business owner, I will be a competent and committed representative for all Herculeans. I will vigilantly work for reforms to ensure our government’s consistent practice of high ethical standards.”

Since 2005, de Vera has served on the Planning Commission as Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. With appropriate credentials and experience garnered from earning her B.S. Architecture degree at the University of the Philippines, Myrna de Vera participated in the planning of projects such as the Waterfront, Intermodal Transit Station, Sycamore Downtown, New Town Center, and many more. She emphasizes, “I will continue working toward realizing our progressive vision of a transit-oriented, new urbanism-designed, and sustainable city. At the same time, I believe the city’s General Plan is long overdue and in dire need of being updated.”

Myrna de Vera’s appeal to Hercules’ stakeholders is primarily her volunteer work in diverse local organizations that, she admits, “hones my independent thinking, sharpens my skills in team leadership, and develops the inclusive decision-making process in any project or activity.” Hands-on experiences include being the Treasurer of the Filipino-Americans of Hercules, member of the Pastoral Council of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, and a volunteer at drives for the Asian American Donor Program. She is also a proud member of the Hercules Chamber of Commerce, Hercules Lions Club, and Filipino Americans of Contra Costa.

“During these challenging economic times, Hercules needs a leader with business experience to promote fiscal responsibility and economic development so the city will raise sufficient funds to strengthen public safety, educational, youth and senior programs, ” de Vera pointed out, acknowledging her business background which includes ownership of an insurance agency in San Francisco, California.

Recently, Myrna de Vera was honored as the 2010 Hercules Woman of the Year by the City of Hercules and given a Special Recognition Award by the Hercules Chamber of Commerce. Filipina Women’s Network also recognized her as one of the “100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the USA” for 2009 under the Policymakers and Visionaries category.

Myrna and her husband Manuel, sons Mark, Christian, and Emmanuel have been residents of Hercules, California for the past 19 years.

For more information about Myrna de Vera and her bid for Hercules City Council, contact CitizensForMyrnaDeVera@gmail.com.