Measure G is on Your Local November Ballot!

After months of feedback from hundreds of El Cerrito residents, the City has placed Measure G on the November 5 ballot for voter consideration.

If approved by a majority of El Cerrito voters, Measure G would reauthorize El Cerrito’s existing 1-cent sales tax until ended by voters, extending a source of locally-controlled funding that cannot be taken by the State, without raising existing tax rates.

Measure G was placed on the ballot after months of outreach to and feedback from local residents, who consistently prioritized the basic local services that existing voter-approved funding supports.

As noted in our 2024 budget adoption, the expiration of current local funding would require the City to make budget changes equivalent to a 10% across the board cut of all City services, programs, and staff.

Measure G continues existing local funding accountability requirements including continuation of independent citizen’s oversight, mandatory financial audits, and yearly reports to the community to ensure that all funds are spent as promised.

Please look for local Measure G on your November ballot

For more information about Measure G please visit el-cerrito.org/MeasureG.

El Cerrito Poet Laureate Tess Taylor Receives National Fellowship to Lead Impactful Poetry Programs in El Cerrito

The City of El Cerrito’s Poet Laureate Tess Taylor received a highly competitive fellowship from the Academy of American Poets, including a $50,000 award to support her in undertaking meaningful poetry projects that will enrich the lives of residents here in El Cerrito. Tess Taylor is planning a number of community events to support poetry in the community though Fall 2025. Join Tess as she kicks things off at one of the following two events:

• El Cerrito Library Authors Series, September 14, 10:30 - 12:00 pm, El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave.
• Community Poetry Circle with Poet Laureate Tess Taylor, Monday, October 21, 2024, 7:00 - 8:30 pm, Hana Gardens Senior Center, 10870 San Pablo Ave.

Click here to learn more about Tess Taylor and the City of El Cerrito’s Poet Laureate Program.

Join us for a United Against Hate Week Film Screening at Rialto Cinemas

Celebrate United Against Hate Week by attending a FREE showing of Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life at Rialto Cinemas Cerrito on September 26, from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm. The film documents Pittsburgh's powerful community response to hate in the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Click here to learn more.

City Hall Gallery Space Exhibition

August 28 to December 13

Artist's Reception -

Friday, October 18, 2024, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at

El Cerrito City Hall

El Cerrito artist Mimi Sheiner presents "Near and Far." Many pieces in this exhibit were completed on site, in or near El Cerrito. Others were created further abroad.

CITY CLERK

Candidate Update for November Election  

As of the close of the nomination period, the City of El Cerrito had a total of five candidates qualified for placement on the November ballot to elect three City Councilmembers. The qualified candidates (and their ballot designations) are listed below in the order they will appear on the November Ballot, based on the random draw conducted by the Secretary of State on August 15, 2024.  

• Lauren Dodge (Design Researcher/Landscaper) 
• Courtney Helion (Art Conservator) 
• Lisa Motoyama (Incumbent) 
• William Ktsanes (Educator) 
• Rebecca Saltzman (BART Director/Mother) 

Information on candidates is available on the City’s website at www.el-cerrito.org/2024Candidates  

Nomination Period for Write-In Candidates - The nomination period for write-in candidates opens on Monday, September 9, 2024 and will end on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 6:00 pm. Write-In Candidates are subject to the same requirements as other candidates with the exception that their name and ballot designation will not appear printed on the ballot, and no information will be included in the voter information guide.  

Qualifying as a write-in candidate allows write-in votes cast for the individual to be counted. For more information, please contact the City Clerk at cityclerk@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us or 510-215-4305.  

For more information on the upcoming election please visit www.el-cerrito.org/elections.  

Recent City Council Meeting Highlights

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 (Regular Meeting)

• Received Workplan and Accomplishments from Environment Quality Committee and Financial Advisory Board
• Amended the City's Classification Plan
• Extended Lease Agreement with Kensington Police Protection & Community Services District
• Held Public Hearing for Fire Hazard Abatement 

Upcoming City Council Agenda Items (Subject to Change)

• Sundar Shadi Garden Club Awards
• 4^th Quarter General Fund Budget Update
• Biennial Conflict of Interest Code Update 
• Permanent Outdoor Dining Ordinance

The City Council reduces the regular meeting schedule for the months of July, August, and September to the 3rd Tuesday of the month only. Upcoming meeting dates, agenda materials and public comment instructions are available online at el-cerrito.org/CouncilMeetingMaterials as well as video archives. For questions or more information, please contact the City Clerk at cityclerk@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us or 510-215-4305. 

Affordable Housing Waitlist Opportunities

Click to view August 2024 Affordable Housing Opportunities– All Bay Area Counties (Courtesy of openhousesf.org).

Check out the Doorway Housing Portal to view affordable housing listings across the Bay Area here or visit housingbayarea.org 

Virtual First-Time Homebuyer Workshop: August 24 @ 9AM

If you are a first-time homebuyer and considering homeownership in the Bay Area, this workshop has been designed for you! Learn more about budgeting, credit repair and down payment assistance programs. To register, visit echofairhousing.org or click here. 

Grant Funding: El Cerrito Plaza TOD Project

In October 2023, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in collaboration with San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and Related California applied for funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Pathways to Removing Obstacles (PRO) to Housing Program. PRO Housing provides grant funding to communities that have been actively taking steps and demonstrating progress in expanding housing production. In June, the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) at El Cerrito Plaza Station was award $2.5 Million to support infrastructure improvements as part of the mixed-used master plan that will deliver 743 new housing units with 47% designated as affordable. Read more here or visit www.el-cerrito.org/TOD.  

In July, the El Cerrito Plaza Station TOD was also awarded $2.4 Million through the MTC, Priority Sites Program, sponsored by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Regional Early Action Planning Grant 2 (REAP). This grant award will be used to fund predevelopment activities that will support the construction of 70 affordable housing units as part of Phase I - Parcel A, South. The TOD has secured nearly $55 Million in grant funding to date. 

El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce: Women Mean Business – Thursday, September 26

Join the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce for Women Mean Business, an informative networking event dedicated to celebrating and sharing women’s achievements and contributions to our community. Enjoy a panel discussion featuring local women business leaders, networking opportunities and refreshments. Connect, learn and inspire with fellow businesspeople at this event. This event is open to all, and registration details can be viewed here. 

Building Permits For July, 108 building permits were issued, 15 of which were solar permits and 1 was for an ADU. Currently, the application processing time for building permits requiring plan check is up to 15 days after the date a complete application is submitted. Over the counter permits are available in person during counter hours or can be submitted via email at buildingapplications@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us and will be issued within 1-2 business days. Please visit www.el-cerrito.org/permitcounter for more information. 

Operations

Fire Season started early in 2024. El Cerrito Fire Department responded to requests for mutual aid to the Park Fire (429,263 acres), the Thomson Fire (3,789 acres), the Lake Fire (38,664 acres), the Shelly Fire (15,520 acres), and the Borel Fire (59,288 acres). El Cerrito firefighters are some of the highest trained and skilled firefighters in the state and are frequently requested to fill specialty positions on large fires. The Fire Department's out- of-county mutual aid responses are funded by the California Office of Emergency Services and ensures the City of El Cerrito will receive help from outside sources in the event of a major wildfire. 

Captain Hoyer-Nielson, Firefighter Driscoll, and Firefighter Becker responded to the Park Fire as part of a five-engine strike team. The crew faced high heat and burnt terrain for over a week as they battled the largest fire in 2024. The Park Fire destroyed 686 structures, consumed 429,263 acres, and required 5,426 firefighters to suppress.  

Captain Ciappara, Engineer Clarine, Firefighter Driscoll, and Firefighter Vernarecci were one of the first fire engines to respond to the Park Fire in its first few hours. The crew witnessed the massive smoke plume as the fire spread across the landscape.  

Captain Carrion, Engineer Clarine, Firefighter Driscoll, and Firefighter Vernarecci responded to the Shelly Fire as part of a five-engine strike team. Captain Carrion captured images of the fire advancing over a hillside toward homes they were defending. The Shelly Fire consumed 15,520 acres, injured 8 people, and required 701 firefighters to suppress.  

Captain Renshaw responded to the Lake incident as a communications specialist. Captain Renshaw set up repeaters across the rugged terrain to ensure firefighters in the remote areas could communicate with the incident commander and other units. Captain Renshaw witnessed the massive smoke plume of the 38,000-acre fire. The Lake Fire destroyed 5 structures, injured 7 people, and required 447 firefighters to suppress.  

Captain/Paramedic Hoyer-Nielsen, Engineer Janes, Firefighters Becker and Vernarecci responded to the Thompson Fire as part of a five-engine strike team to defend homes and check burned areas for possible restarts of the fire. The Thompson fire destroyed 36 structures and consumed 3,789 acres.  

Training

The El Cerrito Fire department started Command College, a curriculum that teaches fire officers how to manage major incidents and large fires. Command College runs every Wednesday from 9:00 am to 11:00 am through 2024.  

Public Education & Outreach

Captain Dawson, Firefighter/Paramedic Williams and Firefighter/Paramedic Van Wyck met with the students at the El Cerrito Preschool Co-op to discuss fire safety and expose the children to what a firefighter looks like when they enter a house.  

The El Cerrito-Kensington Fire Department is now accepting registration for CERT classes that begin on October 2, 2024. The registration form can be found at el-cerrito.org/CERT

Calls for Service  

The El Cerrito Police Department (ECPD) handled 2,047 calls for service in July. To read more about the types of calls the ECPD handles, check out our Nixle Feed at www.local.nixle.com/el-cerrito-police-department/.

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Major Case Update 

Fatal Hit and Run 

On 7/10/2024 at 11:38 pm, El Cerrito Patrol Officers responded to the report of a person down in the #1 southbound lane of San Pablo Avenue, just south of El Dorado Street. Upon arrival, officers determined the man was the victim of a hit and run collision. Officers immediately initiated life saving measures. Unfortunately, the man succumbed to his injuries at the scene.  

The suspect and suspect vehicle fled the scene before officers arrived. El Cerrito Police Detectives and collision investigators responded to the scene. Detectives were able to identify the suspect’s vehicle using video surveillance from nearby businesses and the El Cerrito network of Flock Safety License Plate cameras.  

A 26-year-old man from Richmond was identified as the driver and arrested. The case was presented to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and the man was charged with Vehicular Manslaughter without Gross Negligence, Felony Hit-and-Run with Injury, and Driving Under the Influence of an Alcoholic Beverage and Causing Injury. 

National Night Out

Thank you to our community and all of our wonderful National Night Out hosts! It was another wonderful event, and we love getting to chat, connect, and discuss concerns with our community members!   

Employment Opportunities with the ECPD 

Interested in Becoming a Police Officer? 

The ECPD is currently looking for candidates for Police Recruit and Police Officer. These jobs offer an unmatched ability to make positive change in our community and offer great benefits to boot! If you or someone you know is interested in joining the ECPD team, please have them check out our available positions at: el-cerrito.org/jobs.

Hillside Natural Area Fire Resilience and Forest Conservation Planning  

COMMENTS DUE AUGUST 25th 

With a grant from the California Coastal Conservancy, City staff and consultants, with input from the public, have developed the Draft Hillside Natural Area Fire Resilience and Forest Conservation Management Plan (Plan). The purpose of the Plan is to guide the City’s fire fuel reduction, native forest conservation, and maintenance activities.  

The Draft Plan is available for review by visiting the project website at el-cerrito.org/hillside. The City hosted a Public Workshop on August 3, 2024 to review the recommendations included in the Draft Plan and answer questions. There is still time to provide feedback on the Draft Plan. Public comments on the Draft Plan can be submitted from the project website by August 25th.  

Recent Fire Fuel Reduction & Vegetation Management Work  

During the week of July 29, Public Works tree contractors improved a one-half-acre fuel break on Motorcycle Hill in the Hillside Natural Area behind the 7500-7700 blocks of Potrero Avenue. Several invasive Monterey pine trees were removed, existing native coast live oaks were pruned for fire safety, while French broom, poison oak, and other ground fuels were mowed and removed. 

On August 12, at Baxter Creek Gateway Park, the same Public Works tree contractor completed the first phase of a pruning project to improve sight lines throughout the park, and for bike/ped pathway clearance. For more information, please contact Environmental Programs Manager/City Arborist, Stephen Prée, at spree@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us . 

ADA Modification – Sidewalk and Curb Ramp Project 

The ADA Modification - Sidewalk and Curb Ramp Project was completed ahead of schedule in early August. Accessibility and safety improvements were constructed at the Waldo-Ashbury intersection and Community Center driveway. Additionally, sidewalks were repaired at over 20 locations along Richmond St., San Pablo Ave., and Arlington Blvd. For the list of locations and background project information, please click here to see the report to the City Council. 

Track All of Your Positive Climate Actions & Join the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge! 

Many of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan’s (CAAP) actions will require community members to take action in their own lives - to reduce waste, for example - and cannot be completed through municipal policies alone. Achieving the CAAP’s goals will require combined efforts from the City and El Cerrito’s residents, businesses and visitors. To help the community reduce their carbon footprint, El Cerrito has joined the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge, a free resource (available in English and Spanish) where you'll find actionable steps, rebates and resources to save water, energy, waste and money. See how each action improves your carbon footprint. 

Set up your profile to calculate your carbon footprint, choose actions that are right for you and track your individual and community's progress. Help us reach our goal to save 20,000 pounds of CO2 in 2024. Join today! 

El Cerrito del Norte Complete Streets Project – Construction of Stage 2 Underway! 

Progress continues on the del Norte TOD Complete Streets Project with Stage 2 of construction now underway. In August, the construction crews began building the bicycle lanes on northbound San Pablo Avenue. By October, they will start Stage 3 on the southbound side of San Pablo Avenue building bicycle lanes. 

Please slow down while driving through the construction area, and be mindful of safety for workers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Thank you for your patience while construction is underway. For questions or comments about this project, contact: transformingdelnorte@gmail.com, or the project hotline: 800-930-3720.  Visit: www.el-cerrito.org/transformingdelnorte. 

Save the Date: Upcoming Workshop on Richmond Street Complete Streets Improvement Project 

As part of the community engagement phase of the project, the City’s design team will be hosting a community workshop on Thursday, September 12, from 6:00 - 7:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about the project and share your feedback. Visit the project website for more information and updates. 

Storm Drain Repair Project 

Construction will begin this month to repair storm drain facilities at 5 locations in the city: Colusa Ave and Hotchkiss Ave, Donal Ave and Navellier St, Schmidt Lane and Navellier St, Hillside Natural Area at Schmidt Lane, and King Drive north of Moeser Lane. The work will be completed by A3 Pipeline, Inc., the City’s contractor, and is scheduled to be completed in October. 

The City began development of the project in 2023 after the extremely heavy rainy season revealed deteriorated storm drain facilities including storm drain pipes and channels. These locations were identified as high priority based on the condition of the storm drain facilities, impacts to adjacent and downstream properties, and impacts to a designated pedestrian route. For additional project information, please click here to see the report to the City Council. 

EBMUD Wildcat Pipeline Project on Richmond Street The EBMUD Pipeline Project is getting closer to completing the installation of their main line across the City. Along Richmond Street, crews are restoring damaged sidewalk, traffic striping, and repairing asphalt. On Ashbury Avenue, their boring crew is completing the final lengths of pipe installation underneath the Ashbury-Fairmount intersection. Moving forward, main line testing and asphalt repair work will continue into October. For more information, visit www.ebmud.com/wildcatelcerrito.

More Compost Giveaways in August & September for El Cerrito Residents & Businesses! (Now 1st & 3rd Saturdays) 

The City of El Cerrito has added two additional compost giveaways for the months of August and September this year. Along with the regularly scheduled giveaways every 3rd Saturday of the month (August 17th & September 21st), nutrient-rich compost will also be made available on the 1st Saturdays of the month (August 3rd & September 7th). 

El Cerrito residents and businesses are welcome to take up to 5 cubic feet of compost per household or business (approximately seven 5-gallon buckets) while supplies last. Bring your own shovel and containers! For more information email green@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us or call (510) 215-4350. 

Registration Is Open for the Fall Citywide Garage Sale! 

Consider hosting a garage sale at your home, school or church on Saturday, October 12th, 2024! Registration is now open, and online registration forms can be submitted on the City website: Fall Citywide Garage Sale Online Registration. Printed registrations forms are available at the El Cerrito Recycling and Environmental Resource Center (7501 Schmidt Lane, El Cerrito). You can also download a print version of the Registration Form at el-cerrito.org/garagesale. Please make checks out to "City of El Cerrito" when providing payment along with your printed registration form. 

Registration deadline is Sunday, September 15, 2024 at midnight.  

Questions? - Send an email to green@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us or call the El Cerrito Recycling & Environmental Resource Center at (510) 215-4350. 

New Red Curbs on Navellier St and Hagen Blvd.

The City’s Engineering team has been evaluating and addressing requests from residents to improve traffic safety in their neighborhoods. As part of these traffic safety improvements, the Maintenance team recently installed 16 feet of red curb on Navellier Street at the intersection with Manila Avenue and 20 feet of red curb on Hagen Blvd at the intersection with Morris Avenue to improve visibility at both intersections. 

Road Safety Corner 

With the new school year, we wanted to highlight school safety and share reminders for not only students walking and rolling to school, but also drivers. Please be aware of safety features within school zones, including yellow crosswalks and posted speed limits. See below for additional safety tips.

AC Transit Proposes Major Service Changes in Realign Draft Final Plan  

Realign is AC Transit’s comprehensive assessment of every AC Transit bus line in response to the substantial shifts in ridership and commute patterns since the pandemic. On August 2, AC Transit released the Realign Draft Final Plan which carries forward two major El Cerrito bus service changes that were initially proposed in Spring 2024:  

• Line 72R San Pablo Ave Rapid: Reduce weekday and weekend frequencies from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes.  
• Line 7 Arlington: Reduce weekday and weekend frequencies from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes. 

AC Transit indicated that these service reductions were necessary to free up resources to improve service reliability and frequency in other parts of the network. AC Transit is also preparing an “Unconstrained Vision Scenario” to show what type of service AC Transit could provide if additional resources were available, such as through the potential 2026 regional transportation revenue ballot measure.  

AC Transit invites the public to review and comment on the Draft Final Plan through September 11, 2024. This will represent the final opportunity for the public to provide input on Realign before the AC Transit Board of Directors makes its decision. The Realign Draft Final Plan, meeting dates, and ways to comment are available here: https://www.actransit.org/realign. 

Gig Car Share Operations to Conclude Dec. 27, 2024  

In early August, Gig Car Share announced that it will conclude operations in its San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle Markets, the two remaining areas where the car share service is still operating. Gig stated that rising costs, lower demand, and changing travel patterns contributed to their decision. In Fall 2022, Gig Car Share expanded its Bay Area market to include portions of El Cerrito, fulfilling City goals to expand the City’s transportation options and provide an alternative to car ownership. One comprehensive study showed that every shared car replaces as many as 13 private vehicles. Zipcar will continue operating in the City and City staff are evaluating opportunities to expand access to their services with additional vehicles. Gig’s announcement and information for members is available here: https://gigcarshare.com/ 

National Night Out – Public Works Recap 

Public Works was pleased to support 34 National Night Out (NNO) sites across El Cerrito by distributing road closure barriers with signs before the event and retrieving them after what was a very successful NNO evening. 

Encroachment Permits For July, 95 encroachment permits were issued. Currently, the application processing time for encroachment permits is no more than 7 days after the date a complete application is submitted. Permits can be submitted via email at encroachmentpermit@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us. Please visit https://www.el-cerrito.org/513/Encroachment-Permit for more info.

Summer Camp 2024 Concludes  

Thank you to all of the families, staff, instructors, and volunteers who made our summer camp 2024 program a major success. The Recreation Department offered ten weeks of summer camp between June 10th-August 16th. Over the course of these 10 weeks, families had over 200 camp options including weekly full-day and half-day options, tot camps, teen leadership programs, and residential camp Ravencliff. There were over 4,500 total enrollments, and we were able to serve over 1,300 different campers between the ages of 2-17.  

Line Dance Special Event! - Saturday, September 14, 2024, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm 

The first fall line dance event will be held on Saturday, 9/14/24, from 6pm-8pm at the El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane. Includes line dance instruction and light refreshments. Tickets are on sale now! el-cerrito.org/onlinereg/specialevents  

FREE! Drop-In Senior Social 

Community Center Patio Room, Wednesdays/Thursdays, 10am-12pm 

Drop-in Senior Social time strives to meet the social and recreational needs of independent seniors looking for space to visit and socialize with others. Various activities will be available. Email recreation@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us for more info. 

School-Based Programs Starting Soon! 

The El Cerrito Recreation Department is excited to return to the Harding, Fairmont, and Madera Elementary School campuses to provide Afterschool Childcare. Starting August 26 (the second week of school)*, City staff will provide supervision and lead outdoor games, sports, arts & crafts, STEM activities and more from dismissal to 6pm daily. More information, including fees, registration, and the Parent Handbook, is available at www.el-cerrito.org/childcare. 

In addition to Afterschool Childcare, the Recreation Department also brings recreational class opportunities to the elementary schools through the Afterschool Enrichment Program (ASEP). While not intended to be childcare, ASEP classes provide an alternate way to extend the school day in a way that is safe and convenient for families. Each of the three elementary schools has a unique calendar of classes ranging from sports, to performing arts, to mixed media arts and more.  

HASEP at Harding Elementary School 

Session 1: Tues, 9/3 - Thurs 12/19 

Online Registration: Wed, 8/21 at 9:00 am  

MASEP at Madera Elementary School 

Session 1: Monday, 9/9 - Thurs, 12/19 

Online Registration: Wed, 8/28 

FASEP at Fairmont Elementary School 

Session 1: Monday, 9/9 - Thurs, 12/19 

Online Registration: Tues, 8/27 

For more information, visit www.el-cerrito.org/asep.