Councilmember Wengraf   
Councilmember Susan Wengraf


 
Newsletter #59

                   

August, 2017

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

    As promised in a previous newsletter, we have an updated report from EBMUD on THM levels in our water. The news is good.

    But I also have sad news. Former Councilmember Betty Olds, who represented the Berkeley Hills for sixteen years, passed away on July 16th. For those of you who never had the good fortune to know her, I hope you will take the time to read a story I wrote for Berkeleyside about Betty's amazing life.

    We also had a very dangerous wildland fire near Grizzly and Centennial that put to the test all the strategies and training that have been learned since the 1991 Tunnel Fire. As we look towards September, when temperatures rise and humidity falls, let us be mindful that we live in very dangerous fire country.
 
Best,
 
Susan Wengraf
list  
bettyBETTY OLDS DIES AT 96
Betty Olds
    It is with great sadness that I write to tell you that my mentor, my role model, my dearest friend, Betty Olds, passed away on July 16th.

     I served as Betty's legislative aide for 16 years. Here is the piece published in Berkeleyside about Betty's enormous contribution to the City of Berkeley and her fascinating life.
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waterWATER QUALITY UPDATE
 
    As many of you may remember, I have been actively engaged with EBMUD regarding water quality, and specifically THM contaminants being delivered to areas of the Berkeley Hills.  I have been waiting anxiously for the most recent test results for samples taken in July.  The news is good.  THM levels are down! Here is the press release that EBMUD sent out last week:
 
"As your water supplier, EBMUD is committed to providing information about water quality directly to you.  Most importantly, EBMUD drinking water quality continues to meet all state and federal standards.  These standards are developed to protect public health.  In June, we shared with you actions EBMUD was taking to address elevated levels of disinfection byproducts found in drinking water.  With the results of recent water quality tests, we have an important update for you.  Our latest tests show improvements in the levels of disinfection byproducts called trihalomethanes (THMs).  These compounds form when chlorine reacts with naturally-occurring organic matter in water and are found in all chlorinated drinking water systems.
 
"Tests conducted at 16 locations throughout EBMUD's service area in late July 2017 showed THM concentrations ranging from 30 parts per billion (ppb) to 57 ppb.  All sites are well below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 80 ppb.  This standard was developed to limit long-term exposure to THMs while balancing the need to disinfect water to protect the public from disease-causing pathogens.
 
"EBMUD detected changes in water composition early and adjusted operations, made system improvements, and increased flushing.  The recently approved 2018-19 budget includes significant investments in capital improvements, which will also improve water quality.
 
"Improvements in the organic makeup of EBMUD's water source, Pardee Reservoir, combined with our strong corrective actions are moving the water quality needle in the right direction.  While the recent test results are a positive signal, EBMUD's team of water quality staff continues to take action to limit the formation of disinfection byproducts in drinking water. EBMUD will continue testing and communicating with the public on this important issue.
 
"Background

"Municipal water agencies like EBMUD are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the State of California Division of Drinking Water, under the state and federal Safe Drinking Water Acts.  We protect public health through a two-step process to filter and disinfect all water we deliver to remove pathogens that can cause serious illnesses.  Over the past few years, in our regular collection and analysis of water samples throughout the distribution system, EBMUD staff began to see a rise in the concentration of THMs, which form when chlorine reacts with naturally-occurring organic matter in water.  Concentrations of this compound in EBMUD drinking water don't exceed state and federal standards; however, they exceeded EBMUD's internal water quality goals.  This prompted EBMUD to take proactive actions.
 
To find out more about this issue, or to review our water quality report and data, click here."
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fireGRIZZLY PEAK FIRE UPDATE
Grizzly peak fire crew
Photo: Berkeleyside 
 
   A fire broke out on Grizzly Peak, northeast of the UC Berkeley campus, Wednesday afternoon, August 2, leading to a multi-agency response involving hundreds of firefighters who worked tirelessly to keep the inferno from spreading.

  It has been confirmed that the fire was started by an arsonist. He has been arrested and charged.

    The five-alarm wildfire encompassed 20 acres at its largest. A coordinated and aggressive response from multiple jurisdictions, including CALFIRE, Oakland, Berkeley, EBRP, involving tankers and a helicopter in combination with calm winds and high humidity, and hundreds of skilled and hard working firefighters, contained the fire by Thursday morning. We were very lucky.  

Our EOC (Emergency Operations Center) was activated. City staff were at work planning for any possibility.  Make no mistake, this fire should serve as a vivid reminder of the threat that we face living in the Berkeley hills. You need to be prepared!

    It was just over 25 years ago that the 1991 fire in the Oakland hills burned over 1,500 acres, killed 25 people, and destroyed more than 3,000 homes in "the worst fire involving loss of life and property since the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906."

How can you get information during an emergency?
Are you ready, if you need to evacuate?
Everyone should have a bag packed with essentials: cash, medications, phone charger, info with contact numbers, change of clothing. You should also have an idea of where you are going. Relatives? Friends? Far enough away so that you are not in the path of the fire.

For more information on evacuation, read here.

Get the training you need. Sign up for CERT classes here.
 
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bartTWO DOWNTOWN BART ENTRANCES TO CLOSE
NOTICE - CLOSURE OF TWO BART
ENTRANCES - WEEK OF AUGUST 14
 
The week of August 14 BART plans to close two entrances to the downtown station: 
  1. Main entrance at NW corner of Shattuck/Center (in front of Chase Building, Exit B3 on image below)
  2. Entrance at the SW corner of Addison & Shattuck (in front of Revival Bar & Kitchen, Exit B1).
    These entrance will remain closed for demolition and construction of new entrances, and reopen in early 2018 with completion of the BART Plaza renovation project. (See image below)

Bart Closure  
BART users can use one of three remaining entrances: 
  1. New entrance at NW corner of Shattuck & Allston (in front of Walgreens,
    Exit B4 on image above))
  2. Entrance at NE corner of Shattuck & Allston (in front of Target, Exit A2)
  3. Entrance at NE corner of Shattuck & Berkeley Square (in front of Original Pollo, Exit A1)
If you have any questions about the closures or renovation project, please contact Aaron Sage at the City of Berkeley, 981.6399 or email ASage@cityofberkeley.info 
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policeBERKELEY POLICE ARE REACHING OUT
Coffee with a cop  
Have Coffee with a Cop!

Espresso Roma (1549 Hopkins Ave, at Monterey)
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
11:00am to 12:30pm

    No agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, share concerns, and meet some of the team who work to keep you safe.  

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Susan Wengraf
Berkeley City Council District 6
510-981-7160
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