Board of Supervisors

Public Works Trades Workers Tell Board They're Underpaid by $12K-$20K as Bargaining Looms

Four county building trades workers used public comment to demand higher wages, hazard pay, and standby compensation ahead of upcoming labor negotiations.

Why it matters: Retention of skilled tradespeople is critical to maintaining 600+ county buildings; workers say current wages force 60-hour overtime months and make homeownership in Contra Costa impossible.

Board Votes 4-1 to Put Emergency Health-Care Sales Tax on June Ballot Despite Data Accuracy Controversy

Supervisors approved placing a five-year 0.625% sales tax on the June 2 ballot to offset projected $1 billion-plus healthcare losses from federal HR1 cuts and rising costs.

Why it matters: Without new revenue, the county hospital faces insolvency by FY2029 and up to 90,000 residents risk losing Medi-Cal coverage, straining emergency rooms and private health systems countywide.

County's 1,100 Social Workers Honored as Care Court Expands Safety-Net Role

EHSD, Contra Costa Health, and the Public Defender's Office jointly recognized over 1,100 county social workers during National Social Work Month.

Why it matters: Social workers investigated 9,100 child abuse reports, supported 879 foster youth, and connected 1,700 criminal justice clients to services last year—forming the county's front-line safety net now under fiscal threat.

County Ag Department Reports 8-Fold Increase in Intercepted Invasive-Species Parcels Over Last Decade

Agricultural Commissioner Matt Slattengren presented on the county's invasive species detection program, which now rejects 800 parcels per year, up from 100 a decade ago.

Why it matters: Invasive species cost the U.S. $120 billion annually; the county's detection dogs and inspectors are a critical first line of defense for local agriculture and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem.

Board Honors La Clinica's Jane Garcia After Nearly 50 Years Building Safety-Net Healthcare Empire

All five supervisors honored retiring La Clinica CEO Jane Garcia, who grew the federally qualified health center from a $2 million startup to a $170 million organization serving 85,000 patients.

Why it matters: La Clinica provides nearly half the county's safety-net primary care at 35 sites across three counties; Garcia's departure comes as federal healthcare cuts threaten the system she built.

Enhanced Care Management (ECM) Program Layoffs

Over 30 county employees and their representatives delivered impassioned public comment opposing proposed layoffs in the Enhanced Care Management (ECM) program at Contra Costa Health. Workers including public health nurses, homeless services specialists, medical social workers, and substance use counselors described how layoffs would devastate services for the county's most medically fragile and vulnerable residents. IFPTE Local 21 argued the ECM deficit was caused by management decisions, not worker performance or HR1. They requested: extending the layoff implementation date, a narrow-scope hiring freeze in Contra Costa Health, and creative alternative placements. Multiple physicians submitted letters through nurses describing how PHNs prevent ER visits, hospital readmissions, and medication errors. The item was not agendized so the Board could not formally respond, but Chair Burgis, Supervisor Gioia, and Supervisor Scales-Preston acknowledged the workers and expressed their value.

Head Start Program Monthly Update and Governance Training

Dr. Stewart and MJ Robb provided the monthly Head Start update. The program reached 99% enrollment in December, exceeding federal requirements. Early Head Start reached full enrollment for the fifth consecutive month, positioning it to shed its 'chronically under-enrolled' designation. A new meals vendor launched February 1 to positive reviews. The federal monitoring visit in January resulted in over 96% compliance across all five tools. Head Start received $12.4 billion in federal funding for FY26 including an $85 million increase. The annual governance training covered eligibility determination, planning cycles, and the respective roles of the Board, Policy Council, and management. Supervisor Gioia requested a joint meeting with the Policy Council.

Urban Limit Line Ballot Measure Renewal

The Board unanimously approved the written argument in favor of the 2026 voter-approved Urban Limit Line ballot measure, with a minor amendment to reorder paragraphs for stronger messaging about the 36-year track record. Supervisors Gioia and Burgis were designated to draft a potential rebuttal argument. No opposition to the measure was voiced.