The Contra Costa County Counsel has determined that P-6 zone funds generated by residents in the Discovery Bay West section of town for enhanced police services must be shared throughout the community.

That was the word handed down by Lt. Mike Burton this week during a special CSD meeting held at Timber Point Elementary School. The purpose of the public forum was to formulate input from the community on the sheriff’s current proposal for nearly half a million dollars worth of accumulated P-6 zone monies.

The purpose, however, took a temporary backseat to the news of the counsel’s recent decision, which came as a surprise to many in attendance who believed the issue of where the zone dollars can go was still up for debate.

“County counsel wrote an opinion that they (P-6 zone dollars) should be returned to Discovery Bay as a whole,” said Burton, who added that the decision was final and would not be revisited during the evening’s meeting. “I don’t see Discovery Bay proper or not, I see a community … that horse is not going to be run again tonight.”

Resident Bob Mankin disagreed. “The reality is that on a purely legal basis we get to decide if we want to share with the community,” said Mankin. “We’re going to have to revisit the question of return to source. That’s the reality.”

The P-6 zone plan proposed by Sheriff Warren Rupf, who also attended the meeting, calls for the implementation of two resident deputies, a crime specialist, a new patrol car and community surveillance cameras.

“The Board of Supervisors has asked the CSD to provide input,” said Rupf. “From there it goes back to the Board of Supervisors, and I assume they will put that (input) in balance with what we have proposed based on what they think is legal and proper. They (Board of Supervisors) are the decision-makers.”

During the 90-minute meeting, residents argued for and against a number of issues, including the formation of an oversight committee to monitor and provide input on the P-6 program.

Supervisor Mary Piepho, who was at the meeting, said the community discussion was a reasonable first step. “I think it was valuable (meeting) for everyone,” she said. “Now let’s move forward and listen to community and figure out how to work together and bring this timely asset to good use.”