To: Board of Supervisors
From: Thomas Geiger, County Counsel
Report Title: ADOPT Resolution No. 2026- recognizing the retirement of Kate Andrus from Contra Costa County
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution recognizing the retirement of Kate Andrus from Contra Costa County, as recommended by the County Counsel.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
BACKGROUND:
See Resolution Text
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
None.
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
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IN THE MATTER OF Recognizing the Retirement of Kate Andrus from Contra Costa County
WHEREAS, Kate Andrus graduated from Cal State Hayward with a degree in Business Administration and spent 25 years as a professional in the commercial finance industry before attending law school and receiving her law degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) in 2005; and
WHEREAS, Kate came to the County Counsel’s Office in July 2008 as a Deputy County Counsel and found a home specializing in complex real estate and business transactions that directly impact the lives of those who live and work in the County; and
WHEREAS, among her many accomplishments, Kate played an integral role in the County’s Los Medanos Healthcare District dissolution project, working with the County Administrator’s Office and Health Services Department to prepare the County’s application to LAFCO to dissolve the district, which was approved and resulted in a new County grant program serving the health and wellness needs of area residents; and
WHEREAS, Kate provided legal advice and assistance to the County team tasked with redeveloping the Oak Park site in south Pleasant Hill, including drafting numerous agreements and other legal documents and negotiating contract terms with public agencies and developers, which resulted in a new library for Pleasant Hill, new homes, and future soccer fields; and
WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kate advised County departments on critical real estate matters, including drafting emergency real estate agreements to secure sites for hospital bed overflow and temporary homeless shelters and working on the Project Homekey transaction, allowing the County to purchase a former motel for use as housing for homeless individuals, resulting in a 770% increase in the number of shelter beds permanently available in East County; and
WHEREAS, Kate worked on other real estate projects benefitting those experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness, including the lease and renovation of a former call center to create 54 microhousing units in San Pablo for use as permanent supportive housing, and the lease of approximately 40 motel rooms in Concord for use as transitional housing; and
WHEREAS, Kate’s patience, hard work, and attention to detail has been invaluable in seeing all of the projects she has been involved with come to fruition; and
WHEREAS, Kate has the thanks and gratitude of the entire County Counsel’s Office for all she has done to further the office’s mission of providing excellent legal services to its clients and advancing the County’s priorities; and
WHEREAS, Kate’s presence in the County Counsel’s Office will be missed not only for her leadership and commitment to public service, to the office, and to Contra Costa County, but also as a role model, mentor, and friend to all who have worked with her; and
WHEREAS, we are proud to celebrate this professional milestone in Kate’s career, and to honor her and thank her for her leadership and dedicated service to Contra Costa County and the County Counsel’s Office.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors does hereby congratulate Kate Andrus on her retirement and extends its sincerest thanks to Kate for her 17 years and seven months of distinguished service to Contra Costa County.
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