A Message From the Supervisor
Greetings! The summer season is here and in full swing. I hope families are finding time to enjoy these longer days together. I encourage residents to get out and take advantage of the many recreational amenities of their beautiful and bountiful Alameda County communities. Please continue to exercise additional caution on our roadways. As you’ve likely noticed, there is a great deal of activity going on— children are out and about playing, and more bicyclists and pedestrians are enjoying our rural roadways.
While you’ve hopefully enjoyed a bit of down time, perhaps soaking up the summer sun, your Alameda County Board of Supervisors have continued to work hard for you. I am pleased to report that the County Board of Supervisors adopted a balanced $2.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2014-2015. The Board voted in strong support of a county-wide transportation measure for placement on the November ballot and the County has continued to make strides in sparing our clean air. Learn more about these topics, a new Alameda County energy plan, upcoming festivals, youth volunteer opportunities, and much more in this newsletter.
It is my great privilege to serve you. As always, please contact me regarding any County-related issues, comments or questions you may have. You may reach me at 510-272-6691 or email me at district1@acgov.org. Visit District 1 on the web at District1@acgov.org.
I am honored to represent you and I hope to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Scott Haggerty
Board of Supervisors Actions
Ever wonder what your Supervisor does during the weekly Tuesday Board of Supervisors Meeting? Here are some of the board actions from the last quarter, which impact the residents of District 1:
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On June 3, 2014 the Board of Supervisors authorized the Auditor-Controller to adjust the budget by increasing revenue in the amount of $2,421,480 in order to effectuate a pass through of federal Low Income Health Program reimbursement to Washington Township Health Care Districts Hospital. This funding will help absorb the cost of providing services to those without health insurance.
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Also on June 3, the Board authorized staff to pursue actions that could result in the formation of a new Joint Powers Agency to implement a Community Choice Aggregation program for Alameda County
- On June 10, 2014 the Board of Supervisors approved $1.2 million contract with Axis Community Health Center to make tenant improvements to their newly purchased primary care clinic in Pleasanton. This funding will help nearly double the capacity to serve low-income individuals and families in the Tri-Valley.
- On July 8, 2014 the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution approving the 2014 Alameda County Transportation Expenditure Plan (the "Plan") and placed a 30-year extension and augmentation of the existing half-cent transportation sales tax on the 11/4/14 general election ballot, which will fund projects and programs listed in the 2014 Plan. .
 FREE Bike Valet Service during the Fremont Festival of the Arts
On the weekend of August 2nd and 3rd, Supervisor Haggerty will co-sponsor a FREE bike valet service available during this year’s Fremont Festival of the Arts. Last year, the event drew over 300,000 visitors— that’s a lot of vehicle traffic! The bike valet service will be equipped to accommodate 200+ bicycles at a single time. Scooters and skate boards may also be checked into the “bike corral”.
With all the hassle of finding available parking during such a widely attended event, festival goers may want to consider biking instead of driving. The bike valet will be available both Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am-6:00pm at the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Liberty Street, just behind the stage. Be sure to utilize this great FREE service!
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 2014-2015 County Budget
On June 27, the Board of Supervisors adopted a $2.8 billion budget for fiscal year 2014-15, closing a $67.1 million funding gap. Effective July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015, the adopted budget funded 9,518 full-time equivalent positions, avoiding lay-offs or major cuts to programs. Working with leaders from throughout the County organization, partners in labor and community based organizations, and other stakeholder groups, a combination of permanent ongoing program reductions, revenue increases and one-time strategies were employed to close the gap. While $67 million is still a large amount of money, shortfalls have decreased significantly since the county’s all-time budget shortfall high of $177 million during of the depth of the recession in 2009-10. There is more good news with housing values increasing and unemployment decreasing in Alameda County. However, upon closer examination, there remain pockets of Alameda County communities that lag behind and we continue to deliver crucial safety-net services to these residents. For more information on the County’s budget click here.
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 Alameda County Community Choice Aggregation
The Board of Supervisors has voted to pursue a plan that would allow the County to become its own energy provider for County residents. Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) in Alameda County would allow a Joint Powers Authority to become an energy purveyor and to purchase electrical energy on the wholesale market from any source, be it local, nuclear or renewable sources, fossil fuel or small producers (such as home solar energy). An Alameda County CCA would compete with traditional private utilities to provide energy to consumers within jurisdictional lines. Upon formation, all energy consumers within the County would be automatically enrolled as customers, with the option to opt-out and return as a customer to the prior energy provider at any time, and without penalty.
A CCA gives the consumer the choice of where their energy comes from, and it offers this choice at a competitive rate, oftentimes at rates less than what they would be paying to an investor-owned utility. A CCA is a consumer-owned, non-profit program. Its sole purpose is to provide cleaner, greener and more renewable energy to consumers.
Within a CCA, the customer has the choice of not only where their energy comes from, but also to what level, or percentage, of “green” or renewable energy they wish to consume.
On June 3, the Board authorized staff to pursue actions that could result in the formation of a new Joint Powers Agency to implement a Community Choice Aggregation program for Alameda County. With the expectation that all goes well, and the results of a full feasibility study indicate that a CCA would be successful in Alameda County, an Alameda County program could be up and running by 2017.
Click here to learn about the existing CCA’s of neighboring Counties.
 County-wide Transportation Measure
At its meeting on July 8, the Board of Supervisors unanimously supported a county-wide transportation measure, and approved placing it on the November 2014 ballot. Previously, action had been taken by all 14 city councils in Alameda County with unanimous support sending a strong message that transportation is a high priority for their communities. The Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) is the sponsor of the measure. Elected representatives from Alameda County, all 14 cities, BART and AC Transit serve on the ACTC board. The $8 billion 30-year measure includes strong citizen oversight and funds a Transportation Expenditure Plan that includes:
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- BART, bus, senior, and youth transit will receive 48 percent of the funding.
- Another 30 percent will go toward maintenance and safety improvements on local streets.
- Select highway projects will account for about 9 percent of the funding.
- Bicycle and pedestrian paths and improved safety will receive 8 percent, and
- The remainder will go toward community development investments
In its study In the Fast Lane: Improving Reliability, Stabilizing Local Funding, and Enabling the Transportation Systems of the Future in Alameda County the Bay Area Council Economic Institute reports that this $8 billion investment is estimated to result in $20 billion in economic activity and 150,000 jobs in the Bay Area. This will be a huge long-term boost to the local economy and will deliver vital infrastructure improvements throughout Alameda County.
Community Recognition of the Quarter
Positivity and the compassionate nature of 22-year-old Livermore resident Shawn Amick, earned her the “2014 Make a Difference Award” by the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). The awards were established by the Tri-Valley SELPA to provide a platform for the formal acknowledgment of individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a positive difference in the life of a child with special needs.
Coming up through the special education system in Livermore herself, to have received this award specifically, for her work with special education students is not only unique, but also sensational.
Abundantly described as “compassionate, caring and empathetic" by her teacher supervisors, children are naturally drawn to Ms. Amick, with her gentle mannerisms, reassuring tone and encouraging, supportive nature. . .
Read the complete June 12, 2014 Community Recognition here.
 Water
To respond to the Governor’s declaration of a drought emergency early this year, many of us have resorted to buckets in the bath to capture water as we wait for it to warm up for our morning showers, and we are watching our green lawns wither and brown in the summer heat as we make major cuts to outdoor watering. To keep up to date on the status of local water restrictions and for tips and programs to help you conserve water, call your local water utility or visit their websites:
Alameda County Water District
East Bay Municipal Water District
Dublin San Ramon Services District
California Water Service Company
Zone 7 Water Agency
City Water Utilities:
City of Livermore
City of Pleasanton
City of Hayward
Water saving tips
 2014 Fremont 4th of July Parade
To celebrate Independence Day festivities, Supervisor Haggerty, his family, staff and friends rolled into Fremont’s 4th of July Parade in an antique 1930’s Alameda County fire truck driven by Alameda County Fire Chief, Dave Rocha. The traditional red, white and blue parade included creative floats, specialty units, and marching musical bands to make the Fremont Fourth of July Parade another star-spangled delight to over 10,000 spectators!
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 Summer Fun
The “dog days of summer” are upon us and as the temperature rises we should be mindful of the effects that heat can have on our health. Seniors, young children and people with health problems are especially vulnerable to the heat. If possible, remain inside during the hottest part of the day; when outdoors, wear a hat and sunscreen; and drink plenty of fluids. “Heat Wave: Are You Prepared?” is a helpful brochure published by the Alameda County Public Health Department. Get out of the heat and visit a designated Cooling Center in your local community. These are typically located in air conditioned senior centers or public libraries. Pets are also affected by heat and should also be protected. Visit the ASPCA webpage for helpful tips. Hot weather sometimes affects air quality. Download an app or sign up for “Spare the Air Alerts” issued by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
And when it’s not brutally hot outside, summer is also the time when many of us spend time outside hiking or biking. We enjoy an extensive trail system and bike network throughout Alameda County. The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest trail system in Alameda County, linking trails with local cities and park districts as well as with our neighbors in Contra Costa County. Visit these websites and visit a trail or dust off that old bike and take it for a ride soon!
East Bay Regional Park District
Livermore Area Recreation & Park District
Alameda County Public Works Share the Road Safety Program brochure
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 Bay Delta Conservation Plan
All of the water suppliers and utilities that serve throughout Alameda County communities obtain some portion of its water supply in a manner that affects the Delta. The Delta serves as the “hub” for the state’s water system which includes Alameda County communities. I encourage you to educate yourself about the latest efforts by the state to address the long-term water supply needs and environmental impacts to this very critical element of our water infrastructure. Visit Bay Delta Conservation on the web for for more information.
 2nd Annual “Bike it- I Like it!” Essay Contest in District 1 Schools
Congratulations to the winners of the 2nd annual "Bike it-I Like it!" Essay Contest! Supervisor Haggerty was pleased to once again partner with Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools to bring this year's contest to Brier Elementary School and Weibel Elementary School, both located in Fremont. With a turnout of over 200 essays, this year's contest yielded some compelling stories and many reasons for why bicycling is so important. Thank you to all students, parents, faculty and staff from both schools for their participation.
During special presentation ceremonies in June, winners from both schools were announced and prizes were awarded. There were two top prizes (bicycles complete with helmets and locks) awarded at both schools, as well as, a handful of alternative prizes for runners-up and for general participation.
The goal of the contest was to promote bicycle use and safety, and to educate District 1 students on the many health and environmental benefits of bicycling as a means of transportation. Essay questions, which were assigned on a voluntary basis, instructed students to clearly demonstrate their need/want for a bicycle and if they already had one, students were asked to focus on their thoughts regarding the importance of bicycle riding, exhibiting bicycle safety and abiding by the rules of the road.
2014 “Bike it-I Like it!” contest winners were:
Faria Rana and Hayush Dwivedi of Weibel Elementary School
Gloria Soriano and Yebin Shin of Brier Elementary School
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