MARTINEZ, CA (MPG) - The Mayor’s State of the City Breakfast was not just talk of budgets and paving projects. Andrew Dunn, Pecos League Baseball Commissioner kicked off the program by announcing the name of the new Martinez team, the Sturgeon. Police Chief Sanjit Sappal wrapped it up with tales of a major drug bust that originated in Martinez last year.                    

Mayor Rob Schroder has worked assiduously to get a baseball team for Martinez, and he looked happy to have Dunn at the Creekside Church event on February 11.

When Dunn, who is also the new team’s sponsor, gave Senator Bill Dodd (D- District 3) a new, blue Sturgeons hat, he helped Schroder into a Sturgeon jersey bearing the number 29. “I am the 29th Mayor of Martinez,” Schroder told the Martinez Chamber of Commerce audience.

After sponsors of the former Martinez baseball team encountered legal and financial troubles, Martinez went without baseball for a year. The Mayor commented, “It’s kind of like Martinez baseball has risen from the ashes,” then he joked about the idea of naming the team Phoenix.

The Mayor’s speech touched on successes of the past year and he thanked the community for passing the tax bonds that helped pay for a significant number of street paving projects, Waterfront Park and other park improvements, and an increase in police personnel that will provide for a full-time school resource officer.

Schroder said an important city goal for the coming year is to finally complete the long-overdue Martinez Master Plan Update and maintain the kind of budgeting that has resulted in a small excess.

Before introducing City Manager Eric Figueroa, Schroder praised him, and Michael Chandler, the deputy director of administrative services for expediting the city’s 2019 accomplishments. Schroder observed that there have been eight city managers since he became mayor in 2002.

Figueroa, who coincidentally was hired by the city at about the same time as the Mayor’s Breakfast for 2018, added details to the themes established by Schroder.

“I’m like the umpire you don’t want to hear much from,” Figueroa remarked. Then he modestly explained that he keeps things moving. “Our goal is to enhance the quality of life,” he stated.

Moving Waterfront and Marina plans forward, polling a couple of potential annexation neighborhoods, securing the Alhambra Highlands property for open space, constructing a parking structure downtown and continued Downtown Revitalization are the 2020 challenges, according to the city manager. “Although it (Downtown) may not be the biggest source of revenue, it defines us,” Figueroa said.

Police Chief Sanjit Sappal enthusiastically wrapped up the event describing 19 new employees hired since April 2017, high-quality training, and Martinez Detective Zach Leske’s part in last year’s Guzman Drug Trafficking Case. It involved 40 Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, several Sheriff’s Departments, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security, plus the Martinez Police Department, according to Sappal’s comments.

He said the Guzman case resulted in 15 arrests, 11 Federal warrants, and 12 indictments. 

It all started with an ordinary traffic stop that led to a probation search and a mid-level drug illegal dealer in an organization that operated in other California cities and in Mexico. That was the result of good police work and training, according to Sappal. 

The Chief shared a humorous story at his own expense. He was walking through the station. As he passed by a conference room he noticed a table covered with drugs, guns, and cash. (…not an ordinary event at the Martinez station) With social media in mind, the first thing he did was get his phone out to take a photo. The officer’s on the case instantly stopped him because the case was still active.

Finally, Sappal described the scale of the homeless problem in Contra Costa County and in Martinez. He outlined the progress that has been made in the past year through a community and faith-based program led by Councilwoman Noralea Gipner and Martinez Police Resource Officer Rodney Brinser. They have mobilized private and county efforts to provide food showers, clothing, counseling, housing and other necessities for homeless people in Martinez.