- 01
False.
The initial budget for the bridge (early 2013) WAS $3.2 million (MM)
Staff required additional funding to $4.8MM in 2015
Staff required additional funding to $7.2MM in mid 2018
Staff required additional funding to $9.2MM in late 2018
Staff required additional funding to $9.7MM in 2019
Staff required additional funding to $11.6MM in 2020
Staff required additional funding to $12.1MM in mid 2021
Staff required additional funding to $12.8MM in late 2021
As of January 2022, hundreds of thousands of dollars and several months worth of environmental remediation work still remains (replanting banks, etc), so additional funding requests/requirements are still possible.
- 02
During the 12/8/21 Town Council meeting, the Town Manager stated "there has been some mention of fire abatement work" for the Town's "hundreds of acres of land" and attributed abatement delays to rain in late October.
The statement is false and misleading.
Fire abatement was required to be completed by mid-May, the Town received several violation courtesy notices from the fire district during the summer, and then ultimately received six official citations in November for its continued failure to conduct required fire abatement on its properties.
In addition, the Town was well aware of abatement requirements and deadlines; it earlier this year had reviewed, endorsed and approved fire code updates that specifically set forth abatement requirements and their associated deadlines.
The Town Manager's comments were in response to a resident complaint about the Town's failure to adhere to the ordinance it had approved and for ignoring courtesy notices from the fire district. The Town Manager's comments failed to acknowledge the citations the Town received and implied that the current remedial, citation-driven fire abatement work was being done in the ordinary course of business, with any delays attributable to weather.
A casual viewer easily would be misled by this spin and obfuscation. Indeed, it was effective enough for one councilmember to commend the Town staff for its commitment to fire abatement which remained unfulfilled almost seven months past the legal deadline.
It wasn't effective enough to escape our fact check. Fail.
Our story on this is here.
- 03
FALSE.
Both have detailed noise regulations; Orinda's specifically calls out amplified sound and outdoor events.
Click here for the story.
- 04
In its staff reports for recent Planning Commission and Town Council meetings during which both were reviewing and being asked to approve a revised water conservation ordinance, Town staff referenced State legislation and stated it has been submitting required reports since 2015.
Those statements are false.
According to the State's Department of Water Resources website and a non-profit environmental watchdog group, the Town hadn't submitted any reports until 2020 at the earliest.
Our story is here.
- 05
FALSE.
The 2015 Master Storm Drain Study says the "condition of the storm drain system in Moraga is very good."
Click here for the article.
- 06
FALSE.
The total cost nears $2,400,000. The town's answer omits the cost of purchasing the real estate itself for approximately $1.2MM.
Article here.
- 07
FALSE.
The committee report specifically indicates it did not analyze spending. At all.
Click here for article.
- 08
- 09
FALSE.
The hourly rates being paid to interim employees include benefits and CalPERS retirement costs.
Article here.
- 10
- 11
FALSE.
The town only spends 10%-25% of existing EPA clean water money on its intended purpose.
Article here.
Fact Checks
Each quote below comes straight from Town Hall - either from documents or spoken words.
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Click on each statement to see the results of our fact check.
Fact check
