CONTACT: Harumi Murata, murata@ci.oakley.ca.us, (925) 625-7006
Juliet Casey, jcasey@losmedanos.edu, (925) 473-7322

The City of Oakley and Los Medanos College Announce
Oakley Entrepreneur Program
Free workshops support small and emerging local businesses

Oakley, Calif. – The City of Oakley and Los Medanos College kick off monthly small business workshops beginning next week. The first is scheduled for noon on Friday, September15, via Zoom. Visit https://bit.ly/3ioTNNG to register.

“It’s truly exciting to witness the incredible growth in community interest in our workshops,” said Harumi Murata, economic development analyst for the City of Oakley. The workshops have grown in popularity since the city first developed the program with Los Medanos College in 2021.

“With a blend of rich history and innovative learning techniques, these workshops promise to foster growth, networking, and knowledge among our community’s current and aspiring business leaders,” Murata said.

The workshops give participants a deep dive into crucial aspects of starting a business with the guidance of an experienced instructor. Instructor Carol Jensen, who is also a faculty member at the Los Medanos College, presents the 90-minute interactive virtual format that allows attendees to pose real-time questions and receive immediate, informed answers, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and its practical application. The diverse participants are at various stages in their entrepreneurial journey, including Los Medanos College students just embarking on their entrepreneurial aspirations, while others already own established businesses, including brick-and-mortar establishments in the Bay Area. On average, the class welcomes a versatile group of 15-30 people throughout the year.

Historically, Oakley has been a cornerstone for budding businesses.

“This isn’t just another workshop,” Murata said. “We are continuing a legacy of nurturing small businesses. That is something that we take pride in, and we are making an impact on the Bay Area community, and we intend to keep the momentum going.”

About the City of Oakley
Oakley is a community of over 43,000 people in East Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area, the City sits along the picturesque California Delta and is centrally located- 55 miles east of San Francisco and 55 miles south of Sacramento. Oakley offers big-time opportunities with a small-town charm that draws people in for fishing and boating. It is a rapidly growing area with new schools and neighborhoods that now share what was once an agricultural landscape. Follow the City of Oakley on Facebook, Instagram, and @CA_Oakley on X.

About Los Medanos College (LMC)
LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.

# # #

The City of Oakley is accepting applications for a seat on the Contra Costa County Advisory Council on Aging for a two-year term. The term will commence upon appointment by the Oakley City Council and approval by the Board of Supervisors, but no sooner than October 11, 2023. Applicants must be 18 years of age and a resident of Oakley to apply.

The Advisory Council on Aging is appointed by the Board of Supervisors to advise them on all matters associated with the planning, development and administration of programs relating to older adults in accordance with the Older Americans Act. The Advisory Council on Aging typically meets the third Wednesday of each month, 9:30a.m.-11:30a.m. at 500 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill. Additional information may be obtained by visiting the County’s website at www.co.contra-costa.ca.us or by phone at (925) 602-4175.

Applicants should be aware that upon appointment, an additional application and financial disclosure documents are required to be completed for the County which must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. Also, applicants may be required to participate with a sub-committee(s). For details, please contact Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Senior Staff Representative Anthony Macias at (925) 602-4175.

Applications will be considered by the Oakley City Council during a future regularly scheduled meeting. Applicants are encouraged to be available during the meeting to be interviewed.

Applications are available by clicking here, by email or by mail. The application period will be open until filled. Completed applications should be submitted in person or by mail to the Office of the City Clerk located at 3231 Main Street, Oakley, California, or submitted via email to vreonis@ci.oakley.ca.us. For questions regarding applications, please contact Libby Vreonis, City Clerk, at (925) 625-7013.

The Contra Costa County Library Commission was established by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian. The Library Commission is comprised of 24 voting members and 4 non-voting members.

A vacancy exists for Oakley’s seat on the Library Commission for which applicants are sought. The current term expires June 30, 2025.  

The Library Commission typically meets on the third Thursday evening of January, March, May, July, September and November. The City of Oakley does not provide compensation.

Applications are available by clicking here, by email or by mail. Completed applications should be submitted in person or by mail to the Office of the City Clerk located at 3231 Main Street, Oakley, California, or submitted via email to vreonis@ci.oakley.ca.us . For questions regarding applications, please contact Libby Vreonis, City Clerk, at (925) 625-7013.

It is anticipated that an appointment will be considered by the Oakley City Council during a future City Council meeting of which applicants will be informed. All applicants are encouraged to attend the meeting to be interviewed.

Applicants should be aware that upon appointment, additional information and disclosure documents may be required to be completed for the County. For details, please contact Staff Liaison, Walter Beveridge, at (925) 608-7730 or Walter.beveridge@library.cccounty.us.

The Junior Recreation Leader Program is designed to give students, ages 13 – 15, a chance to gain first hand experience in the recreation field, which can prepare them for a variety of jobs in several fields.

Those interested in applying can click here to apply.

The City of Oakley wants to honor the graduating class of 2023! You have worked so hard for this moment and it’s your time to shine! Submit your senior portrait below to be highlighted on the Oakley Civic Center marquee.  

The deadline for submissions is April 9th. Senior portraits will be displayed from April 17th and May 20th  You will receive an email indicating what day of the week your submission will be displayed by April 16th.  

* If you do not have a Google account please email the requested information to rec1@ci.oakley.ca.us. We are unable to accommodate photo changes after you click submit.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS APRIL 9, 2023. IF YOU ARE SUBMITTING AFTER APRIL 9, YOUR PHOTO WILL BE ADDED BUT WILL NOT BE POSTED BY APRIL 16.

Click here to submit a photo of your senior to be included on the marquee.

The City currently utilizes an at-large election system, which means that the electors from the entire City choose each of the five Councilmembers. The Councilmembers are eligible to hold office no matter where in the City they reside.  A district-based election system, in contrast, is one in which the City is delineated into separate districts, each with one councilmember who resides in the district and is chosen by the electors residing in that particular district. To learn more about Districting and learn how you can be a part of it visit the Districting page by clicking here.

FOUR STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU FIND A DEAD BIRD

Dead birds are often the first sign of West Nile virus

 Step One

You find a dead bird. What do you do? Here in Contra Costa County, the first step is to call 1-877-WNV-BIRD (1-877-968-2473) or go online to report the bird to the California West Nile Virus Dead Bird Hotline. As you submit the information, the Hotline operator determines if the bird could be a good candidate for testing.

Step Two

The District receives information about birds deemed suitable for testing soon after the report is submitted. We assign a District employee to pick up the bird.

Step Three

Once the bird arrives at the District, the laboratory staff inspect the bird to determine if the reported information is correct. On occasion, the bird is not the species that was reported and cannot be tested. Most birds, however; are the correct species and can be tested. Our entomologist performs a preliminary test and then sends the bird to U.C. Davis for confirmation of West Nile virus infection. U.C. Davis typically informs the District if the bird had West Nile virus within a week.

Step Four

Once the District receives confirmation that a dead bird was infected with West Nile virus, they post the results on the District website and District employees place mosquito traps in the neighborhood near where the bird was reported to collect mosquitoes to test for virus if needed. They increase efforts to find young larval mosquitoes in nearby water sources and we let the person who reported the bird know that the bird tested positive for West Nile virus.

A Few of Your Questions Answered    

What Makes a Bird a Good Candidate for Testing?

• The bird is a raven, crow, jay or magpie which is in the Corvid family and is a species that can be susceptible to West Nile virus.

When Will the Bird Get Picked Up?

• Dead birds are often picked up on the same day as the report, but may be picked up the following day if the report reaches the District late in the day.
• There are no bird pickups on weekends or holidays.

 What if No One Calls Me Back

• If a District employee picks up the bird, but within a week, no one has called back, the bird may not have been suitable for testing or did not have West Nile virus.

Even in cases when a District employee does not pick up a reported bird, the reports are still very important because they still provide information to help the District conduct prevention and control efforts. Not all birds are tested but all reports are valuable.

The City’s Graffiti Rewards Program rewards citizens with $300 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals. For more information click here.