MRC to Fund Marsh Restoration Near Refinery as Part of Settlement with Regional Water Quality Control Board
Also, school board approves 6% raise for teachers, other MUSD employees; students present findings of racial climate, equity on campuses; City plans DEI study session on Wednesday
PBF Energy’s Martinez Refining Co. will spend $2.25 million to fund restoration of a marsh near its Pacheco Boulevard refinery as part of a settlement covering alleged environmental violations with the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing by PBF.
In its quarterly financial report, PBF said the marsh restoration is part of a $4.5 million settlement that it negotiated with the water quality control board, which alleged that the refinery exceeded its effluent limitations and discharging to the Carquinez Strait without authorization in October 2022, January 2023 and June 2023; and failed to submit Climate Change Adaptation information. According to PBF, the water board initially proposed a $13.8 million civil liability assessment against the company over the alleged violations.
After negotiations, PBF agreed to the reduced assessment, with 50% of the amount dedicated to a Supplement Environmental Project (SEP).
“The parties are currently drafting the settlement agreement and stipulation for entry of administrative civil liability order,” PBF said in the quarterly report. “Once it is finalized, it will be presented to the RWQCB’s Board for final approval.”
Asked for details on the marsh restoration project, refinery spokesman Brandon Matson replied in an email on Friday: “We are still working through the details of the Supplemental Environmental Project (“SEP”) and are unable to comment further.”
School board approves raises for teachers, other employees
Following months of contentious negotiations that led to a strike threat by Martinez Unified School District’s teachers, the school board on Monday granted a 6% raise to its teachers union (the Martinez Education Association), along with other employee groups.
The raise comes on top of 19% in pay increases granted the previous two years. With the district facing a structural budget deficit as expenses continue to outpace revenues, it will need to tap into its reserves to fund the latest raise.
The MEA had initially asked for a 10% raise before dropping the request to 9.5%. District budget projections showed that such a raise would have depleted the district’s reserves within two years, leaving it effectively bankrupt.
The district had countered with a 4% raise proposal before the two sides settled on 6% (only 2% of which is retroactive to the beginning of the 2023-24 fiscal year, with 4% retroactive to Jan. 1). Under the new salary schedule, teacher salaries will range from $60,540 to $115,785, depending on education level and experience, based on a 186-day work year.
Chief Business Official Andy Cannon confirmed that the district will still be able to meet its required 3% minimum reserve level through the 2025-26 school year after factoring in the raises.
“I know this process was very emotional this year,” said school board member Anne Horack Martin, a former MEA member herself, at Monday’s meeting. “It took longer than it has taken since I’ve been involved in this district, which is a long time. I think that our being able to offer these raises not only to our teachers but to all of our bargaining units, all of our employees … is a real sign of our dedication to showing our appreciation to our employees, to valuing them.”
Said board President Courtney Masella-O’Brien: “Blood, sweat and tears, sometimes literally, went into making these agreements happen.”
(For anyone interested, I was the only person who made a public comment at Monday’s meeting on the contract negotiations and settlement. It can be viewed starting at the 3-hour, 9-minute mark of the following meeting video:)
Students discuss racism, equity at board meeting
Students from Alhambra High School and Martinez Junior High gave a detailed presentation during Monday’s board meeting about a new student-led program called SLAM! (Student Led Anti-Racism Movement) to address racial equity issues on school campuses.
The presentation detailed results of a survey that was conducted among MUSD students at the junior high and high schools during the fall 2023 semester. Among the highlights:
65% of 357 AHS students surveyed in the spring 2024 semester said that addressing equity issues on campus is important or very important
80% of 512 MJHS students surveyed said the same
62.5% of AHS respondents said they had observed racial slurs on campus
63.7% of MJHS respondents said the same
When asked what steps have been taken by students, staff and administrators to address and improve equity, the top answer at both schools was the creation and promotion of inclusive clubs.
In a positive sign from the most recent California Healthy Kids Survey, higher percentages of seventh-, ninth- and 11th-graders reported feelings of school connectedness in the 2023-24 school year than in 2022-23 (though still below 50% at the high school grade levels).
When asked whether their schools had worked to improve equity on campus over the preceding six months, large majorities answered “yes” or “somewhat.”
“I would like to see less hate on this campus against people's race, sexual orientation and gender identity,” one high school senior said in the survey.
This is the first year of what’s envisioned to be a three-year SLAM! program. Survey results revealed that 41% of AHS respondents and 46% from MJHS said they would be interested in joining the program next year.
School board member Yazmin Llamas applauded the students at the end of the presentation.
“Thank you for participating in this program. Thank you for being open and receptive to what you’re learning, and hopefully you are the starters of amazing seeds that will germinate in Martinez and create the change that we need in our society,” she said.
The school board will consider approving the contract for the second year of SLAM! at the March 20 board meeting. It is being funded with an anti-bias grant awarded by the state.
Monday’s student presentation can be viewed at the following link: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=36030321&AID=780597&MID=29801
Special City Council DEI workshop scheduled for May 15
Continuing on the topic of equity, the City Council will hold a special study session at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, to discuss “the possibility of forming a brand-new commission aimed at promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging within our community.” Residents are invited to join and share their thoughts and ideas, either in person at the City Council chamber or on Zoom.
“Some of the proposed tasks for this commission may include organizing inclusive events, enhancing our Sister City program, fostering better community relationships, and making policy recommendations to ensure everyone's voices are heard,” the city said in a Facebook post.
The agenda for the meeting and Zoom link will be posted at the following site: https://www.cityofmartinez.org/government/meetings-and-agendas?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1wvRVes3BcW6kyjVUbVKCskaVA36xNPup2nhUyQ4KSwA9hDT6YsrVwbMA_aem_AQlrew8nR0fPUTwPwglJjyY6qUf0aMO1OIYbKRa_wkEOf1rBk41bOHntFetwOBTNb1qVtZ88454W6zrSKk_3Ug9g
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