2008 Board of Supervisors

A five-member Board of Supervisors, each member of whom is elected on a non-partisan basis from a separate district where he/she lives, governs Contra Costa County. Within the broad limits established by Article XI, Section 5 of the State Constitution and the State Government Code, the Board is the governing body of County government and of 186 special districts. The Board enforces various State statutes and enacts local legislation to serve and protect County residents. The Board establishes general policies and plans for the operation of County government.

As defined by General Law, the duties of the Board of Supervisors are as follows:

• Appoint most County Department Heads, except elected officials, and provide for the appointment of all other County employees.

• Provide for the compensation of all County officials and employees.

• Create officers, boards and commissions as needed, appointing members and fixing the terms of office.

• Award all contracts for public works and all other contracts exceeding $25,000.

• Adopt an annual budget.

• Sponsor an annual audit made of all County accounts, books and records.

• Supervise the operations of departments and exercise executive and administrative authority throughout County government through a County Administrator.

• Serve as the appellate body for planning and zoning issues.

• Serve as the County Board of Equalization (the Board has created an Assessment Appeals Board to perform this function).

Supervisorial districts are reviewed every ten years and are redrawn after each census to balance their populations. The last redistricting occurred in 1991 and the next review will occur in 2002. Terms of office of the Supervisors are four years. Supervisorial elections are held concurrently with the Presidential Election for three supervisor seats (for Districts 2, 3 and 5) and with the Gubernatorial Election for the other two seats (Districts 1 and 4). The Board fixes the salary of the Board members. A Chairperson of the Board, chosen from the membership every year, presides at all meetings of the Board and appoints committees to handle work involving the major programs of the County. For information about Board Committees, click here. 

The Board of Supervisors holds regular weekly meetings at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday mornings at the County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Room 107, Martinez. All meetings are open to the public, and the public is encouraged to attend. Persons who wish to address the Board should complete the form provided for that purpose and furnish a copy of any written statement to the Clerk.

All matters listed under CONSENT ITEMS are considered by the Board to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless requested by a member of the Board or a member of the public prior to the time the Board votes on the motion to adopt.

Persons who wish to speak on matters set for PUBLIC HEARINGS will be heard when the Chair calls for comments from those persons who are in support thereof or in opposition thereto. PERSONS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD MAY BE LIMITED TO THREE (3) MINUTES. After persons have spoken, the hearing is closed and the matter is subject to discussion and action by the Board.

Requests for reconsideration of a land use (planning) decision must be submitted in writing to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 10 days of the Board’s decision, and must identify the new information which was not before the Board of Supervisors when the decision was made.

The County will provide reasonable accommodations for disabled individuals planning to attend Board meetings who contract the Clerk of the Board at (925) 335-1900; TDD (925) 335-1915. An assistive listening device is available from the Clerk, Room 106.

Copies of taped recordings of all or portions of a Board meeting may be purchased from the Clerk of the Board. Please telephone the Office of the Clerk of the Board, (925) 335-1900, to the make the necessary arrangements.

Forms are available to anyone desiring to submit an inspirational thought nomination for inclusion on the Board Agenda. Forms may be obtained at the Office of the County Administrator, or Office of the Clerk of the Board, 651 Pine Street, Martinez, California.

Applications for personal subscriptions to the weekly Board Agenda may be obtained by calling the Office of the Clerk of the Board, (925) 335-1900. The weekly agenda may also be viewed on this web page by clicking here:  Weekly Board of Supervisors Agenda.

The Closed Session agenda is available each week upon request from the Office of the Clerk of the Board, 651 Pine Street, Martinez, California, and may also be viewed on this web page by clicking here: Closed Session Agenda.