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HomeMy WebLinkAbout00. (Handout) Written Public Comment_Jack Peabody (read into record) (Handout) 00. Public Comments (Read into the record) From: Central San To: Secretary of the District Subject: SPEAKER/COMMENT CARD ID#2749-Jack Peabody Date: April 20,2023 01:24:56 PM 6M8 COMMENT/SPEAKER CARD ID#2749 Submitted on Thursday, April 20, 2023 - 1:24pm I wish to submit a written comment. Hello Board Members, I learned about your little produce project from some online articles I read from Edible East Bay and Salon, known as the Aglantis/CoCo San Sustainable Farm. While I can applaud any charitable action on Executive Director Carolyn Phinney's part, I must say I'm a bit miffed that a huge property that could earn income for my sewer district is being rented for only a dollar a year and includes a "free and near limitless supply of water" as the Salon article stated. Now I know first- hand that there is nothing FREE in life and it just means someone on the other end is footing the bill. I don't understand why a sewer plant has any business allowing someone to create a community farm "to make vegetables more affordable or free" for food banks and local school districts on my sewer taxes. I just don't see the connection here especially when I also know that land is scarce and those almost 15 acres of land are being rented for only one dollar a year. Central Contra Costa Sanitary District's board member and past president Mike McGill was quoted in these articles and includes him as "a loyal supporter and volunteer" and said it was his idea to give the free land away for this nominal donation. The article goes on to say that "As it turned out, McGill had a lead- albeit on land that was literally both dirt cheap and dirt poor to divert more of CCCSD wastewater away from the bay and toward a project that demonstrates the value of recycled water." So, here's the thing - I did a public records request to see if you folks all did your homework and know the value of the land you own and lease and it turns out you sure do. This land is not dirt cheap. It's worth quite a bit of money! On August 30, 2022, a rental survey of 14.80 acres was done by your agency and the yearly rental value of that land was estimated at a whopping $520,000 per year! I was surprised to see this since a month later your Board of Director's Position Paper for your Special board meeting on September 22, 2022 to consider leasing to Aglantis for another 10 years clearly states that the current market lease rate for that land is only $258,000 a year. While I'm no mathematician, that's a difference of $262,000 that was not correctly reported here. More than a quarter million dollars! Clearly this agency prefers to give money away and pass the buck onto the taxpayers. Under the section on Comparable Public Benefit to District, your Position Paper says, "However, a discussion of the Farm's comparable public benefit is necessary before executing a new lease with the proposed favorable terms, to ensure no gift of public funds." I'd like to know how leaving $519,999 on the table every year for 10 years is NOT a gift of public funds? That's almost 5.2 million dollars! Your no different than any other corrupt public agency that only wants to raise taxes to fund fat executive salaries and, in this case, fund a Board member's pet project off taxpayer money. I am sick and tired of this. Stop passing the buck to us hardworking people who are trying to get by in this challenging economy. It's time to clean up the crap and replace your board members with honest people who will stop raising our taxes and do right for our American people. Someone here is getting duped that this is something good to do in the name of charity, when I think this is clearly someone's hidden agenda. No taxpayer in this community should be funding this Farm project. It's time for accountability. My speech/comment is not about an item on the Agenda. I wish to address the Board during the PUBLIC COMMENT item on the agenda. [item number] Submitted by: Jack Peabody You are receiving this e-mail because you signed up at our website: Central Contra Costa Sanitary