Starting this week, The Press will present From the Dais, a wrap-up of the most recent meetings of local government bodies in Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch and Discovery Bay. The column will allow us to provide additional information about the activities of your elected representatives. Look for it on the second and fourth Friday of every month.

Brentwood City Council

The Brentwood City Council at its July 24 meeting approved a mitigated negative declaration for a pipeline that will distribute non-potable water for use on city-owned landscaping. The system will run along Grant Street from O’Hara Avenue to Fairview.

The council also ordered work to begin on the $3 million first phase of the project, which will allow the use of recycled water to irrigate about 29 acres of street and park landscaping now receiving fresh water. The system will save about 30 million gallons of potable water per year, and since the recycled water comes from the city’s wastewater treatment plant, it will reduce the amount of treated water now discharged into Marsh Creek.

The council also approved a trio of expenditures to improve parks: $205,000 will be used for rubberized safety surfacing for the Veterans Park Universal Abilities Playground Project; $105,000 for the to expand and provide more courts and shade structures for the Veterans Park Bocce Court Expansion Project; and $94,000 for the installation of dog play equipment, site amenities and synthetic turf for the King Park Dog Area Expansion Project.

Antioch City Council

The Antioch City Council at its July 24 meeting received updates from Contra Costa County Fire Chief Daryl Louder and Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando regarding public safety in the city. Louder lobbied for a parcel tax to help prevent station closures. Cantando announced that crime has increased in every category compared to the same time last year, due to the department’s downsizing to 35 sworn officers

Councilman Brian Kalinowski suggested that the non-sworn community service officer be re-hired soon to try to help allow sworn officers spend more time on the street. Cantando told the council that the lack of officers has resulted in an average of 329 arrests per month so far this year, down from 432 per month in 2010.

Kalinowski also announced the July 20 deadline for the sale of Kelly’s Card Room at 408 O St. between current owner Albert Cianfichi and Blarney LLC passed without the two parties striking a deal. The council gave the green light on finding the lowest bidder to improve traffic signals at Delta Fair Boulevard and Belle Drive, Auto Center Drive at Costco Way/West 18th Street and Delta Fair Boulevard and School Street.

The council also announced that vacant positions on the Planning, Parks and Recreation and Crime Prevention commissions, plus the Board of Administrative Appeals, have been filled.

Discovery Bay CSD Board

The Discovery Bay Community Services District (CSD) on July 18 unanimously approved the purchase of a 50-foot towable Genie Boom Lift for district use.

“We spend a considerable amount of money each year for arborists, tree trimming etc.,” said General Manager Rick Howard. “We believe we can minimize some of those costs by purchasing our own boom.”

Howard reported that the town spends nearly $30,000 annually on tree-trimming needs, including the use of outside contractors to prune not only the community’s palm trees, but a variety of tall trees that cannot be reached with a standard ladder.

“Anything over 14 feet is not included in the (town’s outside landscape) contracts,” said Landscape Manager Fairin Perez, who added that a minimum of $6,000 annually is spent on the rental of boom lifts.

The estimated cost of the boom is nearly $50,000, an investment estimated to pay for itself in approximately two years. The water and wastewater departments – including the town’s water contractor, Veolia Water – can also utilize the boom for some of their high-reaching needs.

Oakley City Council

As part of its furlough program, the Oakley City Council did not hold a meeting on July 24. The council will host its next meeting Aug. 14.

The city is still seeking applicants to fill two of its three seats on the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Board of Directors. Applications are available on the city’s website, www.oakleyinfo.com, or at City Hall, 3231 Main St. Applications may be requested via e-mail at marquez@ci.oakley.ca.us. Completed applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 24.

The ECCFPD Board currently meets the first Monday of the month in the evening. No compensation is provided for board members.