Contra Costa Hazmat operations committee finalizes logistics for Sept. 11 public forum

The Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Commission’s operations committee on Aug. (during an operations committee meeting) focused its session on finalizing logistics for a public forum scheduled for Sept. 11, agreeing on volunteer roles, outreach materials and deadlines while clarifying how the public should report hazardous-material incidents.

Mary L. Bortz, chair of the operations committee, opened the discussion by identifying the forum planning packet and a promotional flyer and asking staff to walk through the proposed agenda and logistics. Committee staff led the operational decisions: Adam Springer, assistant director of Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials programs, said staff will manage webinar hosting, run a dry-run with IT ahead of the forum and post presenters’ slide decks on the County website if they are submitted on time. “We’re gonna do a dry run again with the IT here,” Springer said, noting the county will test camera focus and the Q&A workflow before the event.

Why it matters: the forum is designed to connect residents directly with county and partner resources for hazardous-waste questions and non-emergency concerns, while giving attendees the ability to follow up individually with agencies at info tables after the presentations.

Major decisions and deadlines. Committee members…