Councilmember Susan Wengraf


 
Newsletter #67

                   

                                             October, 2018 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

    Saturday night, for the first time, PG&E issued a warning that they might be cutting electricity in the Berkeley hills as a preventative measure in anticipation of hazardous weather conditions of high winds, low humidity and high temperatures. I am signed up for AC Alert, so I received the message at 9:38 pm. As a result, I was able to get out my lanterns and flashlights, charge my cell phone, and put perishable food in the freezer.  Luckily, the warning was cancelled Sunday afternoon.

    Please sign up for AC Alert, so that you too, can be prepared. You can sign up here.

    In this newsletter, I have tried to respond to specific questions and concerns from constituents. You will find an explanation of how to calculate the effects of some ballot measures on your tax bill. I have also provided a download for notices to place on cars parked on narrow streets that may be blocking emergency vehicle access.

    If you are eligible to vote but not registered, you have until October 22nd to register to vote in the November 6 election. Find instructions here.

    My best,
 
 
 
Susan Wengraf
list  
bartDowntown BART Plaza Opening - Finally!
    The  new Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza  will be having its  grand opening celebration at 4 pm on Thursday, October 18. Join us with a celebration and ongoing programming at the new plaza.

  There will be a ribbon cutting on opening day, followed by the unveiling of Michael Christian's "Home" sculpture accompanied by the Berkeley Symphony, followed by the premiere presentation of the new immersive sound art composition by Chris Brown and an evening of live music at the Berkeley Live Stage.
pollingVoter Polling Place Alert
Voter pamphlet     I have received calls from residents living in District 6 that the Voter Information Guide they received in the mail assigns them to a polling place in Pleasanton!  This is an error. If you vote absentee, it is not an issue, but if you like to actually go to the polls to vote, you must make sure that you know the correct place to go.  Polling places have been consolidated, so your assigned polling place may be different than last time. Please check your Voter Information Guide or call (510) 272-6973 if you suspect a mistake.

taxCalculating Tax Amounts of Some Ballot Measures

    Many district 6 residents have requested information about the financial impacts of some of the November 6th ballot measures.

    Measures G and O are based on the assessed value of your property.  To calculate what you will be paying in taxes, you can first find your assessed value by clicking here.  Enter your property address and click 'SUBMIT'

     Once you have the assessed value, shown as "Total Net Taxable Value" at the bottom of the table, (see example below) you can then calculate the tax you would be charged based on the amount in the specific ballot measure.

Assessed value sample

  For example, Measure  G will levy a fixed tax rate of $24.50 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.   Using the assessed valuation of $722,189 in the example above, the tax would be $24.50 x 7.22189 = $176.94.

    Measure O has an initial tax rate of $23 per $100,000 assessed valuation, so using the same assessed valuation as above, the tax would be $23 x 7.22189 = $166.10.
camerasSecurity Camera Registry
Security camera
Register your Security Camera with BPD's Camera Registry.
    A few years ago, I introduced legislation to develop a voluntary database of security cameras in Berkeley.  Now that this idea has been implemented by our Police Department, residents who have installed security cameras can register to let BPD know that you have a security camera and you're willing to voluntarily share footage if they are investigating a crime in your neighborhood.
 
     Many residents and business owners currently operate security systems which could aid in criminal investigations, and our police department has had great success from community members who have supported investigations by providing footage from their security systems. 
 
     Registering your security camera information simply lets the police know that you may be willing to share your camera's footage.  Registering does not provide the Berkeley Police Department with direct access to your camera. Registration is completely voluntary and free of charge. Your personal information will be kept confidential by the Police Department and will only be accessed by law enforcement personnel who are conducting an investigation. Registration may be withdrawn at any time.
 
     The process for registering your camera only takes a few minutes to complete.  You will be asked to provide basic information on where your camera(s) are located.  Once you have completed the registration process, a member of the Berkeley Police Department will follow up with you to confirm your registration.
 
     The Berkeley Police Department is committed to fostering strong community-police relationships in order to prevent and reduce crime.  Find out more and register here. 

clearanceEmergency Vehicle Road Clearance
    The Fire Department depends on roadways that have adequate clearance to access your neighborhood safely and quickly during emergencies.  Cooperation and involvement from homeowners in each hillside neighborhood is critical to prevent obstructions, like illegally parked cars and overgrown vegetation, that prevent or slow emergency responders and impede your safe escape in the event of a wildfire.

    At the last Fire Safety Community Meeting, I promised to send you a master template for a note that can be left on a car or truck that is blocking safe fire truck or ambulance access. Please download and print this and take a few with you when you walk your dog or go out for a stroll.  I am hoping that a gentle reminder will help to make our hills safer for everyone.

    Click on the image below to download a pdf file that you can then use to print out as many notices as you want.
Parking clearance

acalertEmergency Notifications
 
    AC Alert will be Berkeley's primary emergency alerting system for the public. It is one of the tools the City of Berkeley uses to communicate emergency information and instructions to the community. AC Alert can send:
  • Voice alerts to phones
  • SMS text messages
  • Email
  • TTY/TDD messages
    Listed AT&T "land lines" are automatically included to receive voice messages from AC Alert for emergency warnings. Community members must sign up to receive voice or text alerts on cell phones, VoIP phones, unlisted phones, TTY/TDDs or through email.
    If you want to receive emergency alerts and updates, sign up for AC Alert.

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three11311
  • 311 Need a new refuse can?
  • Have a favorite pothole you want filled?
  • Want to report illegal dumping?
CALL 311
 

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