From the Desk of Police Chief Mark Nagel
Orinda Police are sympathetic to the serious nature of the violent crime that occurred on September 26, 2016. The Officers and Detectives are working diligently to solve the crime. There are complexities to investigations that without strong leads can take time to solve. As much as we would like to give daily updates, doing so could compromise the investigation and ultimately the case during trial. We appreciate all of the comm
unity support and want to encourage anyone with information to contact us. Orinda is a safe community and this type of crime is very rare. With that said, we encourage everyone to always be alert and aware of their surroundings.
Crime Statistics for September 25 - October 1 are not currently available
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Public Works and Engineering Services
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16 Annual and Measure J & L Pavement Rehabilitation Project
The City's Measure L and J Program is funded each year through a combination of .5% Sales Tax (Measure L) and bond (Measure J) funds. The scope of work for this program consists of repairing/reconstructing the worst most used residential streets and the associated drainage pipes under the roadways. To see the list of streets scheduled for repair in 2016 and their construction status
click here.
Last week contractor Bay Cities Paving & Grading, Inc. placed asphalt concrete (AC) along Sally Ann Road (see pictures below) and partially along Moraga Via. The contractor initiated paving activities on Estates Drive, Oakwood Drive, Candlestick Road and Warford Terrace.
North Lane Storm Water Mitigation Project
Last
week Bay Cities Paving & Grading Inc. replaced the chain link fence and electrical panel at EBMUD's water treatment plant. The contractor continued trenching activities along North Lane (see picture below) and initiated planting and hydroseeding the bank of San Pablo Creek. This week the contractor will remove the creek diversion and finalize planting and hydroseeding along the banks of the creek. The contractor will also complete the installation of the 60 inch reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) along North Lane.
Upon completion of this project, the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) will replace a main sewer pipe along the upper portion of North Lane. This work will take two (2) to three (3) weeks to complete. Once the sewer pipe replacement CCCSD project is finalized, the City of Orinda will pave North Lane as part of the 2016 Annual and Measures J & L Pavement Rehabilitation Project.
Santa Maria Park & Ride Lot Stabilization Project
Beginning on Thursday, October 6, 2016,
approximately two-thirds of the parking spaces in the Santa Maria Park & Ride Lot will be closed for construction. The project to stabilize the slope and repair the damaged area of the parking lot will last until the beginning of December. Please find alternative parking during the project and note that traffic control measures will be in place in the parking lot and along Santa Maria Way. The contractor, Freethy Excavating, will begin construction on October 10, 2016
. The first week of work will include mobilization, installation of traffic control, clearing and grubbing of vegetation, removal of concrete curb, and the installation of 19 stabilization piers on the west side of the lot.
BART - Downtown Access Ramp & Lighting Project
Bids were opened for the BART - Downtown Access Ramp and Lighting project on Tuesday, September 13, 2016
. Two bids were received, and the lowest bid was approximately $250,000 above the engineer's estimate for the project. At the October 4
th
City Council meeting, staff will be recommending that City Council reject all bids for the project and that the project be re-advertised at a later date. The busy construction season may have reduced the competitiveness of the bids, and re-advertising may provide lower bids.
Staff is considering adjustments to the scope that may reduce costs, such as clarifying a defined staging area for the project, allowing limited-term night work to close the sidewalk between the BART station and Theatre Square, and shifting the construction schedule to spring so that cost savings may be realized for earthwork, clearing and grubbing, irrigation, and landscaping items.
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Parking Study Results to be presented to the Orinda City Council
TJKM, the traffic engineering firm hired by the City to prepare a parking study
will present their findings and recommendations of the
Orinda Downtown and Affected Neighborhoods Parking Study to the
City Council on Tuesday, October 4, 2016. The meeting will begin at 7:00pm
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Upcoming Council and Committee Meeting Schedules
Citizens' Infrastructure Oversight Commission - Special Meeting
Monday, October 3, 2016 6:30pm
Sarge Littlehale Community Room, City Hall
City Council
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, October 4, 2016, 7:00pm
Library Auditorium, Orinda Library
26 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563
Click Here for Meeting Materials
Mayor's Community Liaison Meeting
Tuesday, October 11, 2016, 8:30am
Sarge Littlehale Community Room, City Hall
22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 9456
Planning Commission
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 7:00pm
Orinda Library Auditorium
26 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563
Parks and Recreation Commission
Wednesday, October 12, 2016 7:00pm
Orinda Community Center, Room 7
28 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563
Art in Public Places Committee
Monday, October 17, 2016 3:30pm
May Room, Orinda Library
26 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563
Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC)
Monday, October 17, 2016, 7:00pm
Sarge Littlehale Community Room, City Hall
22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563
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IT'S TIME TO REBUILD.
Better BART telephone town hall- Tuesday, October 4, 2016
BART connects you to the people you love, the places you enjoy, and to the countless opportunities the Bay Area has to offer. BART has a plan to rebuild their aging system after 44 years of service, and to reinvest in the parts of BART that keep you moving.
Join in for a Better BART telephone town hall-
Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 6:30pm - Contra Costa County
To register for the call and to join the live webcast
click here!
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They are Back!!!!
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Mr. Crow at the Community Center
Explore! Discover! Dream!
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Ms. Dolly Crow on Moraga Way
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A party of Crows....and volunteers Midge Zischke and Nita Roethe
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A big thank you goes out to the Orinda Garden Clubs
for the new Orindians!!!
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Parks and Recreation
New School Year, New Orinda Teen Advisory Council!
The Orinda Teen Advisory Council (OTAC) participated in the Annual Miramonte Clubs Day on Thursday, September 22. OTAC presented to potential new members and handed out informational material that provided students a better understanding of OTAC's accomplishments throughout the year. The Council received a tremendous response as over 60 students signed up to receive additional information about OTAC and joined the contact list.
One of the key components to the Orinda Teen Advisory Council is understanding how important it is to be helpful and give back to your community. As such, every month the OTAC selects a charity and a donation item that the committee collects on behalf of the charity. For the first donation drive of the school year, OTAC has decided to support the Bay Area Crisis Nursery by gathering diapers, formula, baby clothes and toiletries. Please bring at least one of these items to the October meeting or drop them off at the Orinda Community Center anytime during the month of October.
October Senior Calendar and Newsletter are now available!
Check-out what is coming up in October here in Orinda. You can receive the
senior calendar
and
newsletter
directly to you on the monthly basis either by hard-copy mail or by email. If you'd like to subscribe email the Parks and Recreation Department at
[email protected]
or call (925)254-2445. You don't want to be left out on trips, workshops, classes, events and more! Here are a few items coming up:
Wisdom Workshop about Clipper Cards
Community members are invited to attend the
County Connection: Better Understanding of the Senior Clipper Card
workshop. Attendees will learn about the benefits of using the Senior Clipper Card for transit fares, how the card works, which locations can add money to the card, and tips on troubleshooting will also be provided. The Presenter, Mary Burdick, will also have cards available for purchase. This Wisdom Workshop will be held on October 7 at 10:30 a.m. in Room 8 at the Orinda Community Center, located at 28 Orinda Way. This is a free workshop and registration is not required.
Is it your closets, garage, a spare room, or your workspace that needs to be organized? Clear out the clutter and use your space more efficiently. This workshop will provide the tools and resources necessary to begin the process of de-cluttering areas of your home to get you more organized! This workshop will be held on October 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Gallery Room at the Orinda Library, located at 26 Orinda Way. The cost is $25 for residents and $29 for non-residents. To register
click here
and search for barcode 21483 or call (925) 254-2445.
Annual Halloween Parade and Holiday Bazaar Around the Corner!
The Halloween Parade for Tots will be held Thursday, October 27 at 1:00 p.m. in the Orinda Community Center Park. Parents are encouraged to come and bring their toddlers in costume to follow Glenda the Good Witch in a stroll around the park. Halloween themed activities will also be available for those wanting to participate.
This year will mark the 40th anniversary of the Annual Holiday Bazaar and it is promised to be the best year yet! The bazaar is scheduled for Saturday, November 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will be held in the Orinda Community Center, located at 28 Orinda Way. With many returning favorites and exciting new vendors, here is a sneak-peek of what can be expected: gourmet caramels, one-of-a-kind handbags, unique jewelry, handmade knitted items, and delicious jams, hand crafted stationary, homemade soaps, custom clothing, beautiful pottery, original art and more! With over 50 vendors to be expected, do not miss the opportunity to start your holiday shopping off right.
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"Does Your YES Mean NO?"
Public Policy & The League of Women Voters
can help you decide on the propositions
Come to Be Informed--Public Policy Program
Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Social Time begins at 9:30 am, Program at 10:00 am
Location: Orinda Community Fellowship Hall, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda , CA
A glut of propositions will confront voters in this year's November election...17 to be exact.
And that doesn't even include local/community initiatives!
Your ballot can be intimidating, particularly with the countless ways supporters and opponents try to spin the propositions to their advantage. It is estimated that California voters will endure close to $100 million in television advertisements about these measures before casting ballots in the November 8 election.
Are you prepared to make an informed choice about whether to:
- repeal the death penalty
- make it easier to execute someone by setting time limits on appeals
- legalize recreational marijuana
- impose a tax surcharge on the wealthy
- place limits on prescription drug costs
- impose background checks for people wanting to buy ammunition
If you strive to be an informed voter, join us on October 18th as representatives from the League of Women Voters present the Pros and Cons of the Propositions on this year's ballot. They will provide materials with more specific information about each issue so you can make an informed choice at the polls. You will be able to participate in lively small group discussions and clarify (or change!) your opinion.
This meeting is open to the public, so invite your friends and neighbors.
F
or more information, visit the AAUW-OML website: oml-ca.aauw.net.
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Berkeley Artist Creates Orinda Landscape for Bart
This Orinda landscape by Berkeley artist Miwako Nishizawa
using a traditional Japanese woodblock technique. (Courtesy of BART)
A recent article in the East Bay Times introduces posters by Miwako Nishizawa which use atraditional Japanese woodblock technique and shows one of three original posters she created using the woodblock printing method to depict how nature intersects with the city landscapes in Orinda.
See article below:
PUBLISHED: September 27, 2016 at 2:51 pm | UPDATED: September 28, 2016 at 7:01 am
OAKLAND - BART has chosen Berkeley artist Miwako Nishizawa to create art for stations throughout the transit system.
A native of Kyoto, Japan, Nishizawa uses the traditional Japanese woodblock technique moku-hanga. According to a BART news release, the abundance of nature in the Bay Area reminded Nishizawa of Japanese landscapes.
Nishizawa rides BART daily, according to the news release. She created three landscapes for BART's 2016 poster art series, showing views of Oakland, Orinda and Fremont, the latter two with BART trains.
"In Fremont the sunrise is just beautiful, gorgeous," Nishizawa said in a statement that is part of the news release. "In Orinda the fog is so mysterious, so beautiful . . . I thought it's great for this project to include people so that's why I included Oakland."
Nishizawa's art is displayed at 33 of BART's 45 stations, including El Cerrito Del Norte, El Cerrito Plaza, North Berkeley, Downtown Berkeley and Ashby, said BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost.
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For more information and to complete the forms needed to enter the contest,
Click Here!
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Planning Department
DOWNTOWN UPDATE:
Downtown Follow-Up Scheduled for
October 18, 2016, City Council Meeting
At the September 6, 2016 meeting of the City Council, Planning Director Drummond Buckley presented a report outlining downtown planning options and community engagement strategies. After receiving the report, listening to public comments and asking questions of staff, the City Council directed staff to return at a future City Council meeting with the following:
- A more detailed strategy to engage downtown property owners.
- Regarding a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) option from the nonprofit ULI.
a. Present suggested questions or issues that ULI could address as part of the TAP process.
b. Invite a representative from ULI to answer questions from the City Council
3.
Provide additional information regarding the potential services of Main Street America as it pertains to downtown planning
4.
Identify potential grant sources for restoration of San Pablo Creek.
Staff has scheduled this follow-up for the October 18, 2016 City Council meeting.
A representative of ULI will be present at this meeting to
answer questions of Council regarding the TAP process.
For more information regarding planning for downtown,
the following items are available online:
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PLANNING COMMISSION UPDATES:
(Action Updates from September 27, 2016 Meeting)
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS -
29 Bates Boulevard:
The Planning Commission held a continued public hearing to consider a Design Review application to construct a 1,302 square foot addition located at the rear of an existing 3,431 square foot residence. The residence is located within the Ridgeline Overlay District.
ACTION
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The Design Review application was approved unanimously.
NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS:
94 Tarry Lane: The Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider an Historic Landmark Designation application for a cast-iron lamp post originally installed at the triangle at the corner of Orinda Way and Camino Sobrante, now located at a private residence. The lamp post is proposed for historic landmark dedication due to its part in Orinda's history and as an example of an art deco ornamental post.
ACTION
- Direction was provided to Staff to draft a Resolution for City Council consideration in unanimous support of the Historic Landmark Designation application.
96 Camino Encinas: The Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider design review for Phase II of a home remodel which involves demolishing greater than 50% of walls, adding 445 square feet of living area, and rebuilding the pool deck and pool house. The resulting residence and accessory structures will be 4,685 square feet. Two exception permits are required: one permit for adding to the second story of the existing nonconforming house encroaching into the San Pablo Creek setback; and a second permit for rebuilding and changing the pool deck and pool house which also encroach into the creek setback.
ACTION
- Design Review and Exceptions Permit applications were unanimously approved.
PROJECT UPDATES:
Orinda Wilder Update: Of the 245 residential parcels within the Wilder subdivision, 21 now contain completed homes and another 53 are either in plan check for building permit, or under construction. More details regarding Orinda's newest neighborhood can be found in the chart below.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR UPDATES:
4 Fleetwood Court: The project proposes to convert approximately 620 square feet of den, bedroom and bath, which are located on the first floor, into an attached second unit. The proposed second unit would be a result of converting existing square footage and does not create new or additional square footage/living space.
95 La Cresta Road: 895 square foot addition to an existing 1,391 adjusted square foot home. Addition will include changes to all sides of the home and will enlarge the garage, entry, living/dining room, kitchen and master suite. Design review is required because the home is located within the Hillside Ridgeline Overlay District.
55 Donna Maria Way
: Demolish less than 50% of walls on an existing 2,840 square foot one-story single family home, convert a game room and storage space into a legal garage, and add 1,090 adjusted square feet including a guest suite, master suite, office and library. The resulting home will be 3,930 adjusted square feet.
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Contra Costa County Libraries to host
life science themed community events
The interactive, science-based festival includes presenters, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. The events are free and open to library guests of all ages.
Guests include the Oakland Zoo with some animals to help library patrons learn about animal senses and body parts. The Aquarium of the Bay is bringing a touch tank where guests will be able to reach in and touch the invertebrates. And the Insect Lab will allow patrons to touch, hold and learn about some creepy, crawly friends.
Guests will enjoy hands-on activities like DNA extraction kits with Bio-Rad, leaf rubbing, dissecting owl pellets, building bird houses and making clay fossils.
"Libraries are places to read and to learn beyond the pages of a book," said Pittsburg Community Library Manager Ginny Golden. "Many of our library events are interactive and engage all five senses for a more complete learning experience."
This year the Contra Costa County Library is celebrating a Year of STEAM. Programming at all 26 library locations across the county is focused on engaging students and library visitors in new, fun activities designed to introduce them to science, technology, engineering, art and math.
As part of the celebration this fall, the Contra Costa County Library is hosting Exploration Stations at library branches around the county. Each will have a different theme.
Exploration Station #2
Saturday, October 22
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Orinda Library
26 Orinda Way
Theme: Rad tech
Learn about flying drones, building robots and virtual reality.
Exploration Station #3
Saturday, November 19
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Hercules Library
109 Civic Drive
Theme: Earth and space science
Look at the sun through a solar telescope, pan for gold and make your own space helmet.
For general questions about the event, please call the Pittsburg Library at (925) 427-8390.
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ADAPT Lamorinda
(
Alcohol and Other Drugs Prevention Team)
HOW will the legalization of Recreational Marijuana affect your community?
*Young People
*Schools
*Law Enforcement
*The Environment
*Neighborhoods
Join us and be informed
Thursday October 20
7:00-8:00pm
Orinda City Hall
22 Orinda Way
Sarge Littlefield Community Room
For questions or additional information,
contact Jamie Rich at
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Orinda Farmers Market
Morning Market & Music - Saturdays 9:00am - 1:00pm
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