Chuck Swanson Announces His Retirement!
After 7 ½ years with the City of Orinda, Chuck will step away from his position of Public Works and Engineering Services Director effective Friday September 16, 2016. Chuck lived and breathed infrastructure improvements; particularly as it related to implementing the City's multi-phase Roads Plan. Chuck staffed the Citizens Infrastructure Oversight Commission (CIOC) prepared and presented staff reports to the City Council, responded to citizens' infrastructure concerns, and worked on short-term and long-term solutions to the infrastructure challenges in the City.
Chuck looks forward to working on his cars, cooking, putting in a backyard, and generally enjoying a well-earned rest after doing a fabulous job for the Orinda community and the City organization.
Larry Theis, the City's Senior Engineer will step in as the Acting Director upon Chuck's retirement.
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Public Works and Engineering Services
Invitation to Field Demonstration of Pavement Condition Assessment
On Wednesday July 27, 2016, from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm, the City of Orinda's Public Works and Engineering Services Department invites the general public for a field
demonstration of the pavement condition assessment process for Streetsaver. The meeting location is at the corner of Avenida de Orinda and Orinda Way at 9:30 am.
Every two years, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), under the Pavement Management Technical Assistance Program (PTAP), selects a consultant to perform visual inspections of streets in the City of Orinda. The consultant evaluates the streets in accordance with MTC standards and the Streetsaver program. As a result, each street in Orinda receives a pavement condition index (PCI) from zero (0) to one hundred (100), zero being "very poor" condition and one hundred being "newly constructed" or "recently reconstructed".
Over the next 3 to 4 weeks, the City has Nichols Consulting Engineers performing pavement condition assessments on all of our public streets in order to prepare the City's bi-annual pavement management report. Nichols Consulting Engineers will lead the field demonstration on July 27th and will explain how the PCI is assigned to a street.
2016 Annual and Measure J & L Pavement Rehabilitation Project
Last week City staff, construction management consultant CALTROP Corporation, and contractor Bay Cities Paving & Grading Inc. held their pre-construction meeting. Other agencies and utility company representatives attended the pre-construction meeting, such as Town of Moraga, Lamorinda School Bus Program, Contra Costa County Public Works, AT&T, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
Also last week, the City issued the Notice to Proceed (NTP) with the execution of the construction contract. The work shall commence on July 18, 2016 and the contract has a duration of one hundred (100) working days. City staff, contractor and construction management consultant will continue to meet with PG&E personnel to discuss the coordination between the paving schedule and the schedule of PG&E activities in Orinda. Since 2015, City engineering staff and PG&E engineers have been meeting on a regular basis to coordinate PG&E lowering their shallow underground gas lines on all streets that will be paved in 2016. PG&E has experienced delays in their work plan and need to keep up the pace with the City's contractor's pace. This coordination effort with PG&E is on-going. The coordination with PG&E for the 2017 paving project started in January 2016.
This week, the contractor will start pothole activities, monument preservation and
minor concrete work at Ivy Drive, Ramona Drive, Descanso Drive and Whitehall Drive.
North Lane Storm Water Mitigation Project
The contractor Bay Cities Paving & Grading Inc. finalized the excavation of the first launching shaft at the south entrance of the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) water treatment plant, installed the boring machine into the shaft and started the jack and bore operation (see pictures attached). From this shaft, the contractor will launch, via jack and bore operation, the new 60-inch diameter reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) under EBMUD property to San Pablo Creek. Also this week, the contractor installed a temporary creek diversion at the San Pablo Creek, on EBMUD and Orinda Country Club property, to temporary dewater the area where they will build the outfall structure.
 
This week the contractor will continue the jack and bore operations from the launching shaft under EBMUD property to San Pablo Creek and will start the excavation of the area where the outfall structure will be built.
Citizens' Infrastructure Oversight Commission (CIOC) - The CIOC held their July meeting this past week. The agenda focused on planning discussions for how the new Measure L Bond funds will be spent and what the scope of work will be for the Program Manager that will be brought in to manage the program. Staff presented a summary of the Measure L vote that showed the measure passed with a yes vote of 68.48% (66.67% was the minimum needed to pass). In the coming months CIOC will be working on criteria used to select the roads that will be repaired. It is currently estimated that all the PCI<25 roads, including the roads that have dropped below 25 between 2012 and 2016 will be repaired by the end of 2018. The CIOC will be working with City staff and interested Citizens to develop the new criteria for going forward with the program and spending the $25 million raised by the bonds. CIOC also provided feedback regarding hiring a Program Manager who will be retained as proposed with the bond measure. CIOC started discussions on what they see the scope of work a Program Manager should be asked to provide. Discussion on these two topics will be continued at the next meeting on August 10.
2016 Citywide Bicycle Route Signage and Striping Project
The City of Orinda will be installing bicycle route signage and striping along major corridors throughout the City of Orinda this summer.
The bicycle routes included in the map below are: El Nido Ranch (from St. Stephens Drive to City Limit), Via Las Cruces - St. Stephens Drive (from Honey Hill Road to El Nido Ranch), Glorietta Boulevard (from Moraga Way to City Limit), Rheem Boulevard (from Glorietta Boulevard to City Limit), and Overhill Road - Tara Road - Southwood Drive (from Glorietta Boulevard to Moraga Way). Chrisp Company will be installing signs on all the listed routes. Chrisp Company will also be performing striping along El Nido Ranch Road and Via Las Cruces (between Honey Hill and Las Vegas) to provide bike lanes. The work will be completed by July 26.
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PG&E Removes Multiple Transmission Towers and Power Lines in Orinda
Clear skies and unobstructed views will be in store for local residents after Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) removes seven transmission towers and approximately 4,300 feet of power lines from the Orinda skyline in July. The approximately 85-foot steel towers and power lines once transmitted 115 kilovolts of electricity to local substations, but are no longer required.
"When in use, transmission towers and power lines are vital tools for serving our Bay Area customers safe and reliable power. However, Orinda is one of the Bay Area's most scenic communities and we are pleased to safely remove this decommissioned equipment and restore the natural aesthetics of this area," said Vic Baker, senior manager of PG&E's Diablo Division.
Construction begins the week of July 11. The removal of the towers and cables requires use of cranes and helicopters to safely dismantle and transport the equipment.
The towers are located near the following streets: Brookwood Road, Longridge Road, Oak Road, Stein Way, Lloyd Lane, Moraga Way, Sunrise Hill Road.
PG&E crews will work in the area from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the duration of the project, pending safe weather conditions.
There will be occasional traffic breaks during the helicopter work and flaggers will be in the area providing traffic control.
"We remind drivers to stay safe and not be distracted by helicopters overhead," said Baker.
The project is expected to be complete by the end of July.
For questions, or additional information, please contact:
Tara Mortimeyer, senior electric outreach specialist, @ T3M6@pge.com or 415-257-3401
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 24,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
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Upcoming Council and Committee Meetings
Art in Public Places
Monday, July 18, 2016, 3:30pm
May Room, Orinda Library
26 Orinda Way, Orinda CA 94563
Traffic Safety Advisory Committee
Monday, July 18, 2016, 7:00pm
Sarge Littlehale Community Room, City Hall
22 Orinda Way, Orinda CA 94563
City Council Regular Meeting
Tuesday, July 19, 2016, 7:00pm
Library Auditorium, Orinda Library
26 Orinda Way, Orinda CA 94563
Historical Landmarks Committee
Tuesday, July 26, 2016, 3:00pm
Community Center Room 7
28 Orinda Way, Orinda CA 94563
Finance Advisory Committee
Wednesday, July 27, 2016, 6:00pm
Sarge Littlehale Community Room, City Hall
22 Orinda Way, Orinda CA 94563
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Planning Department
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION UPDATES
NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS:
- 34 Charles Hill Road: The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on July 26, 2016 at 7:00PM to consider Design Review, Elevated Deck Permit and Tree Removal Permit applications for a new multi-level, 5,626 adjusted square-foot (6,026 gross) single-family residence on a 54,191 square-foot lot.
- Lots 232 & 233 (Sleepy Hollow Lane): The Planning Commission held a public hearing and considered Design Review applications for new single-family residences on Lots 232 and 233, and a Tree Removal Permit application to remove one Coast Live Oak tree on Lot 233 to facilitate construction of the single-family residence at 120 Sleepy Hollow Lane. The existing residence and tennis court, located on portions of both Lots, will be demolished.
ACTION:
By majority (5-2) vote, Design Review for both Lots and the Tree Removal Permit application for Lot 233 were approved with additional conditions pertaining to roofline (Lot 233) and exterior color palette revisions (Lot 232). An amended Statement of Official Action to note additional conditions set forth by the Planning Commission, was also adopted in the motion.
- Special & Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission 7/26/2016: A Special Meeting of the Planning Commission will be held on Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 5:30PM in the Library Garden Room located at 26 Orinda Way. The purpose of this meeting is to provide training by the City Attorney regarding procedures, rules, regulations, and laws relevant to the Planning Commission.
Topics will including the Brown Act (California's open meeting law), the California Public Records Act, due process requirements, ex parte communication, guidelines for use of City email, guidelines for professionalism, the Fair Political Practices Act, and other rules governing conflicts of interest. The regular meeting of the Planning Commission will commence at 7:00PM in the Library Auditorium.
NEW PROJECT APPLICATIONS:
- 26 Berkeley Avenue: A 283 square-foot addition and interior remodel of an existing 2,544 square-foot residence on a 9,825 square-foot lot. Proposed project requires design review because the proposed addition would result in a floor are ratio that exceeds the allowance, without design review, of 2,274 square feet for the lot size.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR UPDATES:
Kite Hill Road (APN: 260-272-018): A Tree Removal Permit application has been received to remove one protected 15" Coast Live Oak Tree located approximately 20 feet from the back fence line of 635 Cross Ridge Terrace.
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Planning Options for Downtown Orinda
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
On Tuesday, August 2, 2016
the City Council will receive a report by the Planning Department regarding planning options for downtown Orinda. The goal of the report is to present various options for downtown planning in terms of the output or "product" (i.e., the type of planning and the subject matter), the study area, community and stakeholder engagement strategies (process options), data collection and presentation/technical studies, environmental review, and staffing options. For context, the report will also explain which City documents contain existing downtown regulations, plans, and policies, and it will summarize relevant existing studies and pipeline projects.
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Parks and Recreation
Fall Soccer Deadline is Fast Approaching
Orinda Youth Association (OYA) Soccer is a recreational league in which players are introduced to the fundamentals of soccer and given the opportunity to develop their skills against equal competition. Teams are randomly selected and everyone plays at least half of every game. Practices are once a week on weekday afternoons and begins the week of August 29. Games are played on Saturdays and begins September 10 and are held through October 29. The U5-U10 Divisions feature small-sided games. Small-sided games help younger players get more involved in each game, sharpen their skills and develop confidence in their abilities. Separate leagues are for girls and boys in each age division.
The deadline to register for OYA Fall Soccer is August 1. Registrations after August 1 will be taken only as space is available. Please register soon to ensure your child's spot on a team and to qualify for the lower price. All registrations taken on or after August 2 will incur a late fee. To register for OYA sports online
click here
> select Youth/Teen > click the "League" > and select the appropriate league.
Coaches Are Needed
We invite you to be a part of your child's experience by becoming a head or assistant coach. Watch the children on your team develop sportsmanship, improve their skills, make new friends, and have fun. Coaches also receive priority on roster requests. All coaches are required to complete a Live Scan (fingerprinting) procedure. Each coach that completes an online certification training, provided by the
National Alliance for Youth Sports
, or attends an in person training will receive a 40% refund on their child's registration (limit one refund per coach). If interested, please indicate when registering or email
tfaulk@cityoforinda.org.
Waste Reduction Efforts during 4
th of July Parade
The City worked with Republic Services for a second year to track waste and recycling rates during the 4
th
of July Parade. Republic Services contracts with
Futures Explored, Inc.
to provide station monitors at waste stations during special events. Futures Explored is a non-profit organization that assists adults with developmental disabilities to cultivate life skills and work-related training.
For this event, Futures Explored, Inc. provided six volunteers to staff each of the six waste stations. Two job coaches were also present to help the Team Supervisor manage the workers. In order to facilitate a higher diversion rate, the Futures Explored supervisor and job coaches going to different stations with trash grabbers and resorted any incorrectly sorted materials into the proper receptacle. With these efforts we were able to divert 82% of our waste during the 4
th
of July event. Republic Services and RecycleSmart also participated in a public information booth during the event. Staff provided information about various diversion programs and tested the community's knowledge with a trivia wheel.
Upcoming, Weekly Summer Entertainment
Concerts in the Park are already half-way through the summer line-up. Next up is an Annual community favorite, Lamorinda Idol with Arts in Bloom will be held on July 19. Finalists and runners-up will perform during the concert starting at 6:30 p.m. while Arts in Bloom will start at 5:00 p.m.
Disney's live adaptation of
Cinderella
will be shown during the July 21 Movie in the Park. The film's leading lady finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and step-sisters after her father passes away but later finds a life full of love and happiness.
These two events are free and open to the community. Both the Concert and Movie in the Park are held at the Orinda Community Park located at 28 Orinda Way. We hope you can join us before the summer evenings are over.
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July 10, 2016 to July 16, 2016
Arrest - Drunk in Public - July 11, 2016 - Moraga Way/Woodland Rd
Report concerns the arrest of suspect for being drunk in public. Officers received a call to check the welfare of a person sitting in the dirt talking to self.
Arrest - Drunk in Public - July 14, 2016 - Ardilla Road
Officers received a call to check on the welfare of a subject sitting in a vehicle for approximately 3 hours. Subject was unable to stand and showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol.
Arrest - Minor in Possession of alcohol - July 15, 2016 - Safeway
Report concerns the arrest of suspect for stealing alcohol from Safeway.
BART Police
Public Intoxication/Arrest - Orinda Station
7/16/16, 1449 hours
A male suspect detained by an officer for reportedly jumping onto the track way was found to be too intoxicated to care for himself. The officer placed the suspect under arrest for public intoxication and booked him into the county jail. No complaint was sought for trespassing on the track way as the initial reporting party/witness was not available.
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Calls for Service
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| 911 ABANDONED |
4 |
OUTSIDE ASSIST |
10 |
| ABANDONED VEHICLE |
1 |
PARKING DETAIL |
33 |
| ACCIDENT PROPERTY |
2 |
PATROL REQUEST |
15 |
| ALARM FALSE |
28 |
PROM SHOOT |
2 |
| AUTO BURGLARY |
1 |
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY CHECK |
1 |
| BARKING DOG |
1 |
RECKLESS DRIVING |
4 |
| CIVIL |
5 |
RUNAWAY JUVENILE |
1 |
| CVC MOVING DETAIL |
40 |
SCHOOL CHECK |
1 |
| CVC NON MOVING DETAIL |
26 |
SECURITY CHECK |
12 |
| DRUNK IN PUBLIC |
2 |
SERVICE TO CITIZEN |
38 |
| DUI MISD |
1 |
SUSP CIRCUMSTANCES |
7 |
| FOUND PROPERTY |
1 |
SUSP PERSON STOP |
5 |
| FRAUD FALSE PRETENSES |
1 |
SUSP VEHICLE STOP |
7 |
| IDENTITY THEFT |
1 |
SUSPICIOUS SUBJECT |
2 |
| JUVENILE DISTURBANCE |
2 |
SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE |
2 |
| LOST PROPERTY |
1 |
TC - PROPERTY DAMAGE |
2 |
| LOUD NOISE |
1 |
TOW |
2 |
| LOUD PARTY |
1 |
TRAFFIC HAZARD |
3 |
| MEDICAL HOSPITAL |
1 |
TRESPASS |
1 |
| MOTORIST ASSIST |
1 |
VACATION HOUSE CHECK |
15 |
| OCCUPIED STALLED VEHICLE |
1 |
VANDALISM |
1 |
| ORDINANCE VIOLATION |
2 |
VEHICLE THEFT |
1 |
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WELFARE CHECK |
2 |
| Arrests |
| WARRANT ARREST |
2 |
DRUNK IN PUBLIC |
2 |
| DUI MISD |
1 |
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For Information on Crime locations visit
www.crimereports.com and type in Orinda
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Summer is here,
but it's not too early to get your tickets to
fall's biggest community-wide party benefitting the
Orinda Starlight Village Players
and a variety of other Orinda charities!
Dancing with the Cars
kicks off the Orinda Classic Car Show weekend
on Friday, September 9th and will be held this year at the Orinda Country Club.
The party theme is "The Italian Job," so naturally will feature an exclusive showing of hopped-up and heist-ready Mini-Coopers,
as well as some magnificent Mazeratis and fabulous Ferraris.
Compari-infused cockails, a hearty Italian dinner, silent and live auctions,
and dancing to Dino (of course!) is included.
Seating is limited and the party is always a sellout!
Tickets are $110.00 per person until August 15 ($125.00 thereafter)
OR
bring your friends and purchase a table for 12
at $1,200.00 until August 15 ($1,400.00 thereafter).
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Orinda Farmers Market
Morning Market & Music - Saturdays 9:00am - 1:00pm
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National Night Out is Tuesday, August 2, 2016
National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community.
It furthermore provides an opportunity to bring people and police together.
Neighborhoods across the nation host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts
and other community events with safety demos, seminars,
youth events, visits from emergency personnel and exhibits.
Thousands of communities nationwide will be supporting the
"33rd Annual National Night Out"
(NNO) emergency, crime and drug prevention events
and getting to know your neighbors.
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