Concern Over County Pressure Regarding Fire Station 94

Dear Mayor and Council Members,

I write to express growing concern over what appears to be a pattern of heavy-handed pressure from Contra Costa County officials regarding Fire Station 94.

Recent statements by Supervisor Diane Burgis in The Press amount to political coercion, urging the City to override the Planning Commission's denial of the proposed downtown fire station based on fear, despite legitimate concerns about design compliance and land use. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident:

Contra Costa Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Burris used a recent emergency in Discovery Bay to make a political argument, stating: "Once the station in downtown Brentwood is built, incidents like this will be mitigated sooner." This would be equally true for a Sand Creek location—suggesting this was more about advocacy than analysis. But again this is an appeal to fear.

Online remarks from another County officials have gone so far as to issue veiled threats toward a City Council member, as documented in the attached screenshot from Nextdoor. This crosses the line from persuasion to intimidation.

We urge you to take note of these tactics. The County's approach seems aimed at bypassing the Downtown Specific Plan, undermining the Planning Commission's unanimous decision, and disregarding the original dedication of the veterans' memorial property.

Please continue to stand for transparent planning, respectful governance, and community-driven solutions. We support building a new fire station—but in a location that is legally appropriate, forward-looking, and respectful of Brentwood's values.

Respectfully,

J. Travis Martin

Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10789