District Drops Labor Negotiations Training Over Recording Dispute

The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Board breezed through a short meeting Thursday but not before a notable standoff: a state mediator tapped to lead negotiations training refused to participate if the session was recorded, and the Board chose transparency over preparation, pulling the item entirely. The remainder of the six-minute meeting saw a consent calendar sail through with a significant outside-counsel rate hike tucked inside.

• Board cancels negotiations training after state mediator balks at being recorded

• Consent calendar locks in 30% rate increase for outside labor counsel, to $560/hour

• New district salary schedule for all job classifications takes effect immediately

• Public hearing set for Aug. 20 on Alamo sewer reimbursement fee ordinance

The Board removed two agenda items before taking up any regular business — its negotiations training session and a related closed session on labor talks — after a dispute over recording.