This was handed out at the Dec. 9, 2009 meeting at the Crockett Community Center
Community Funding in Jeopardy!
As president of the Crockett Community Foundation, I wanted to make everyone aware of recent developments that will affect the communities of Crockett, Port Costa, Tormey and Rodeo. For the past fifteen years our towns have benefited from a Good Neighbor Agreement between the (now) Conoco‐Phillips refinery and the community; an agreement which was negotiated as a result of tireless work by members of our community in the wake of the refinery’s devastating 1994 Catacarb toxic release. The Good Neighbor Agreement provided an annual sum of $300,000 to be split between the downwind communities of Crockett and Rodeo as well as the John Swett Unified school district. The original agreement ends this year, but there is a clause for good faith renegotiations to continue the agreement for another fifteen years.
For the past 15 years, the Crockett Good Neighbor funds have been administrated by the Crockett Community Foundation and have been used to provide vital assistance to the populations of Crockett and Port Costa. From enabling cultural events, to supporting area youth groups and senior programs, to preserving the wonderful historic buildings in our community, the Good Neighbor Agreement funds have been put to extraordinarily positive use. On October 8th, however, the Crockett Community Foundation received a letter from Tom Stewart, a spokesperson for ConocoPhillips’ CAP (Community Advisory Panel), informing us that they are canceling our scheduled presentation, and that the Good Neighbor Agreement will not be renewed. This presentation, that so many volunteers have been working on for several months, illustrated the many benefits to our communities resulting from the funding mandated in the Good Neighbor Agreement, and showed in detail how the money has been spent over the last fifteen years.
Conoco’s decision to end the Good Neighbor Agreement means a big loss of funding for the communities of Crockett, Port Costa, and Rodeo. The Crockett Community Foundation board is looking at options to try and negotiate with ConocoPhillips about extending the agreement and we seek your support in convincing Conoco‐Phillips to renew the Good Neighbor Agreement. The foundation recently sent a letter to Conoco‐Phillips asking them to reconsider their actions and enter into negotiations immediately. The foundation also sent a letter to County Supervisor Gayle Uilkema seeking assistance to enforce a clause in the original Agreement requiring the refinery to conduct good faith negotiations with the community regarding an extension of the funding for another 15 years. Hopefully ConocoPhillips will reconsider its failure to negotiate in good faith with the community.
It is very important that everyone affected by this situation attend the meeting and voice their opinions. We want to make everyone aware of this distressing development, and that the all‐volunteer CCF board is responding to the best of our ability to make sure a new agreement with ConocoPhillips is reached quickly. I urge everyone to make their voices heard and let our industrial neighbor know that we expect them to be a good neighbor and honor the Good Neighbor Agreement! The official ConocoPhillips decision maker on this issue is Rand Swenson, Plant Manager A copy of the original Good Neighbor Agreement is available online at www.fenceline.net/sea/GNA.pdf or in the foundation office at 444 Loring Ave.
A website has also been set up to collect signatures and comments, and to provide both provides information about the Good Neighbor Agreement and an outlet for community opinions. There are articles and studies that evaluate and explain how it came to be and the important role it plays between industry and communities.
WWW.CRGNA.ORG This website is particularly important because it collects pertinent information all in one accessible spot, but also because articles posted on it also remind us of the environmental and safety concerns that the Good Neighbor Agreement addressed.
Without this agreement continuing, will ConocoPhillips be responsible to hold itself to the same standards? In terms of various noxious and poisonous pollutants, our health will depend upon it!
Our county supervisor, Gayle Uilkema, has always helped Crockett and its neighbors so I’m sure she is concerned about this situation. Supervisor Uilkema’s contact information is below. Please contact her and give her your opinions and ideas about these recent development affecting our families and community. I am also available (along with other CCF board members) if you have questions or need further information.
Chris Goehe, President Crockett Community Foundation
P.O. Box 155
Crockett Ca 94525
Email: info@crockettcommunityfoundation.org
Tel: 510‐787‐9708
Fax: 510‐787‐1346
PLEASE CONACT THE REFINERY MANAGER AND OUR COUNTY SUPERVISOR AND LET THEM KNOW YOU WANT A GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT NOW!
Rand H. Swenson, Refinery Manager
ConocoPhillips Company San Francisco Refinery
1380 San Pablo Ave.
Rodeo, California 94572
(510) 245‐4400
Honorable Gayle B. Uilkema, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
Supervisor District 2
651 Pine Street, Room 108A
Martinez, CA 94553
Email: gayle@bos.cccounty.us
Tel: 925‐335‐1046
Fax: 925‐335‐1076
Editors note: Although they were invited, neither Ms. Uilkema, her representative, nor a spokesperson for ConocoPhillips attended the December 8, 2009 community meeting discussing the Good Neighbor Agreement. Please let them know that this is an important issue for our communities.
