Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Forum topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
HazMat commission sets public forum for hazardous materials outreach, settles venue and program
Summary
The Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Commission's Operations Committee confirmed a public forum focused on hazardous materials awareness (including lithium‑ion battery safety), selected likely venues and narrowed panelists to county response and regulatory agencies, and set a tentative agenda and schedule.
The Operations Committee of the Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Commission on its May meeting confirmed plans for a public forum to educate residents about hazardous materials hazards and county resources, including battery-safety guidance and household hazardous-waste disposal. The committee instructed staff to finalize a venue and outreach materials and to circulate links to agency presentations before the full‑commission meeting.
Committee staff said they had "confirmed reservation at the Admin Building in Martinez" for the main chamber but noted the room is classroom-style and less suitable for table displays; the union IBEW hall was discussed as a lower-cost alternative with more open space but would require separate AV setup and has limited availability. Commissioners weighed tradeoffs between built‑in county AV/recording and the IBEW hall's layout, with staff noting the county provides security at no cost.
Members agreed a draft schedule: 03:30–04:00 p.m. check‑in and tables; 04:00–04:05 short chair introduction; 04:05–05:15 presentations from four to five agencies (10–15 minutes each); 05:15–05:30 moderated Q&A (index‑card questions); 05:30–06:00 table time for one‑on‑one follow‑up. Panelists the committee prioritized for stage presentations were Community Warning System, Contra Costa County Fire (hazmat response/battery safety), Central Sand (household hazardous waste acceptance), County Health (hazmat services), and Bay Area Air Quality Management District (emissions/inspections). The remainder of participating agencies will be invited to staff tables during the check‑in and mingle period.
To improve public access, commissioners instructed staff to post the fire department’s battery safety video on the commission website and provide YouTube links with a minute mark so viewers can jump to the relevant segment. Organizers also recommended QR codes at tables, a one‑page participant handout at check‑in with agency contact information, and prewritten chair remarks to keep the meeting on schedule. Brown Act notice and how to advertise the event (as a "special meeting" or "public forum") were discussed; staff will ensure the event is posted with appropriate legal notice.
Next steps: staff will confirm the venue and date (committee discussed a September weekday), secure AV/recording arrangements, and circulate a final agenda and speaker list. Commission members agreed to sign up to staff tables and help with setup and cleanup.
The committee adjourned after directing staff to report these logistics to the full commission and to proceed with public outreach preparations.
