RICHMOND

U.S. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Richmond, has announced the passage of five water infrastructure provisions to benefit Contra Costa County as part of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022. The WRDA was included as part of the James Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7776), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 350 to 80. It has moved to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

“I am proud to deliver these projects for our district that, when fully funded, would improve our community’s water supply and infrastructure and protect our local environment,” said DeSaulnier. “WRDA’s passage is a critical first step in ensuring Contra Costa County has the federal support it needs to protect our increasingly scarce water supply.”

“In working to secure a new Environmental Infrastructure program for the Delta, Congressman DeSaulnier demonstrated his leadership on such matters not just for the county but the entire region,” said Karen Mitchoff, who chairs the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.

Specifically, the following projects are now eligible for funding and support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

• West County Wastewater District’s living levee to help protect against coastal flooding while safeguarding the local ecosystem in North Richmond;
• West County Wastewater District’s forcemain project to upgrade the sewer collection system to protect local waterways and support environmental justice communities;
• efforts in Contra Costa County and across the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to bolster water supply and conservation, protect critical habitats and natural resources, and address the effects of climate change.

In addition to these projects, DeSaulnier successfully included provisions to bolster local efforts to address invasive species in the Delta that threaten the region’s water system and to encourage the beneficial reuse of materials that can be used to create or restore critical habitats and protect against flooding. WRDA is biannual legislation that supports improvements to our nation’s ports, inland waterways, dams, flood protection, ecosystem restoration, and other water resources infrastructure that are essential to our environmental protection, economic growth and global competitiveness.

— U.S. Rep. DeSaulnier’s office

BERKELEY

Help build community center for local unhoused youth

Sustainable Housing at California (SHAC) is an interdisciplinary team of UC Berkeley students working with Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA), a Berkeley-based nonprofit that provides art jobs and job training programs to unhoused youth to be an environmentally sustainable part of the solution to the Bay Area’s housing crisis.

SHAC is designing and building the Sustainability, Education and Arts Development (SEAD) Center that will anchor the expansion of YSA’s existing Tiny Home Empowerment Village for unhoused youth to house 20 to 30 additional local youth. Based on desires voiced by current Tiny Home Empowerment Village residents and input from industry experts, the SEAD Center will provide a venue for youth to study, socialize and receive professional development services while incorporating sustainable technologies and practices to reduce its environmental impact.

SHAC needs the public’s help to build the next Tiny House Empowerment Village and SEAD Center. Please support this project by donating or sharing SHAC’s GoFundMe campaign (gofund.me/7e838641) to help cover construction and material costs to bring critical housing and recreational space to unhoused youth in Oakland.

— SHAC

City reminds residents to reduce waste this holiday season

As you celebrate the holidays, staff at the city of Berkeley’s Zero Waste Division hope you also take some steps to reduce holiday waste.

When selecting your tree this holiday season, consider a plan that reduces waste and is made with the city’s disposal rules in mind for when the season is over. Living trees can be rented for the season or planted in your yard after the holidays to avoid waste altogether.

If you decide to buy a cut tree or have other ideas for your holiday tree experience, know how to dispose of it later. If you’re considering a cut tree, know that the city only composts the tree itself. Avoid trees that have been “flocked” — covered with chemicals mimicking snow — as they cannot be composted.

When it’s time to dispose of a compostable tree, you’ll have to remove all lights, decorations, tinsel, plastic bags and plastic tree stands. You’ll also have to cut them into pieces less than 3 feet long to fit inside your green compost cart with the lid closed.

If you don’t have the tools to cut your tree to fit into your cart, you can borrow them for free from the Berkeley Tool Lending Library (bayareane.ws/berktoolibrary) at 1901 Russell St. Trees left on the curb won’t get picked up, as they can damage the city’s side-loader collection trucks.

You may prefer dropping off discarded trees at the city’s Transfer Station (bayareane.ws/berktranstation) at 1201 Second St., off Gilman Avenue, which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays except for Christmas and New Year’s days, when it’s closed.

For compostable trees, the Transfer Station offers free drop-off in January. Starting Feb. 1, the station will charge $27.75 plus a $3.50 environmental compliance fee. For flocked or plastic trees, the station charges a $38.50 fee plus the $3.50 environmental compliance fee.

— city of Berkeley

EL CERRITO

City’s minimum wage rising to $17.35 an hour on Jan. 1

Starting Jan. 1, the city’s minimum wage will increase from $16.37 per hour to $17.35 per hour. The city minimum wage standards require all employers to pay their employees no less than the minimum wage for all hours worked in the city of El Cerrito, regardless of where the business is headquartered (employees who work less than two hours a week within El Cerrito are exempt).

Each year, the wage will increase based on changes in the local Consumer Price Index. Employers and workers with questions about the El Cerrito minimum wage
ordinance can visit el-cerrito.org/wages or email wages@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.

— city of El Cerrito

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