Runners of the half-Marathon crossing finish line on Broadway and Telegraph
in
Oakland's First Annual Marathon
City Council Considers How to Close Budget Gap - April 29
Crime Down in Oakland
Update on Weekend No Parking Zone on Lakeshore Ave Next to Lake
Lake Merritt Water Quality ImprovementsResidential Disabled Blue Zone Renewal
Rebuilding Together Oakland Needs Volunteers!
Oakland Vies to Become Google’s Ultra High-Speed Internet Test Site
EVENTS
Sunday, April 4 Community Easter Events at Franklin Recreation Center and Bella Vista Park Sunday, April 4 Grand Avenue Clean-up Tuesday, April 6 BART Holds Community Meetings to Outreach to Under-Represented Groups to Help Improve Fare and Service Policies Saturday, April 10 Fairyland Celebrates Arbor Day Saturday, April 10 CANCELLED: Monthly Morcom Rose Garden Work Party – Come on Earth Day, April 17 Instead Wednesday, April 14 Oakland EarthEXPO 2010, an Environmental Fair at Frank Ogawa Plaza Wednesday, April 14 Visioning the Future: Chinatown and Area Surrounding Lake Merritt BART Station -- A Community Meeting Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday until April 15 (Tax Due Date) Free Tax Preparation Services (VITA) Offered by EBALDC Saturday, April 17 Earth Day - 40th Anniversary Celebration. Clean It! Green It! Mean It! at Park Locations
Thursday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 28 Two Neighborhood-Specific Meetings regarding Proposed Residential and Commercial Re-zoning Saturday, April 24 School Yard Sprucing at Edna Brewer Middle School Saturday, April 24 5th Annual CORE Citywide Emergency Response Functional Exercise Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2 Grand Re-Opening of the Transformed Oakland Museum of California: 31 Hours of Celebration Thursday, May 6 Community Workshops on the Draft Energy and Climate Action Plan (ECAP) Friday, May 14 4th Annual Oakland Indie Awards Celebrating Social & Environmental Impact of Oakland’s Independent Business & Artists – Ticket Purchase Required Monday, May 17 Citywide Zoning Update Community Workshop on Draft Citywide Zoning Changes, Maps
EVENTS
Sunday, April 4: Community Easter Events at Franklin Recreation Center
and Bella Vista Park
Bunny's Pancake Party at Franklin Recreation Center – 1010 E. 15th St.
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Join us for a fun & FREE family event!!! Easter Egg Hunt, Pancake Decorating, Face Painting, Arts-n-crafts, Games and tons of fun!
Please Pre-Register online here. Registration Activity# 91432.401. Walk-in registration will also be open.
Questions? Please contact us at 510.238.7741Easter Events at Bella Vista Park - Free, and Everyone Invited
2631 11th Avenue, just below E. 28th St
• 11:30 am Brunch
• 12:00 pm Easter Service
• 1:00 pm Easter Picnic & Activities
• Easter Egg Hunt
• Relay Races
• Easter Crafts
• Bounce House
Questions? Contact here, 510.567.4654
Sunday, April 4: Grand Avenue Clean-up
10:00 am to 2:00 pm – Please help clean up the triangle across from the Grand Lake Theater (weeding and spreading mulch), and possibly do a bit of work on the Walker/Oakland Municipal Parking lot!
Meet in front of the Grand Lake Theater at 10:00 am or join workers in the triangle anytime between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
Even if you can only spare an hour, your help will be much appreciated! Gloves, tools, water and snacks will be provided.
Coming this summer: a work day with Caltrans to clean up the I-580 eastbound Off Ramp
Tuesday,
April 6: BART Holds Community Meetings to Outreach to Under-Represented
Groups to Help Improve Fare and Service Policies
Oakland San Antonio Center, 2325 E.12th St., 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Message from BART: Beginning Wednesday, March 31, BART will embark on an ambitious and unprecedented public outreach strategy to hold 17 community events in just 22 days.These series of community meetings will target minority and low-income communities along with those who have limited English proficiency. The purpose is to ask these typically under-represented communities the most effective ways BART should reach out to them so agency officials have a better understanding of their needs before making major transportation decisions.
As the BART district continues to grow and become richer with its diversity, BART is looking for ways to expand and improve its outreach to minorities, women and other under-represented communities particularly when it has significant changes to service, or to implement transportation decisions that affect all its customers. The goal of these meetings with the under-represented communities is to renew BART's contact with them and listen to their recommendations on how to further enhance BART's outreach process so they are aware and a part of major transit decisions at BART.
BART is encouraging people to attend these meetings in person if possible. The agency will provide refreshments. BART will also provide translation and child care services if requested 72 hours in advance. Those who need these services should visit www.bart.gov for more information.
Should people not be able to attend the meetings in person, they can still share their thoughts through a survey BART’s posted on its website.
Complete details of all 17 meetings are listed on the attached document.
Saturday, April 10: Fairyland Celebrates Arbor Day
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Join children and families, tree enthusiasts, arborists, tree inspectors and some Fairyland characters to give much-needed loving care and maintenance to 100+ large trees in this special part of Oakland’s urban forest. Sponsored by Oakland Public Works and the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arborists, and generously funded by PG&E, the event will provide community education sessions on composting, wood milling demonstrations and a special Arbor Camp for non-climbers and professionals alike.
RE-SCHEDULED: Monthly Morcom Rose Garden Work Party – Come
on Earth Day, April 17 Instead
Saturday, April 10: Cancelled: Monthly Morcom Rose Garden Work Party – Come on Earth Day, April 17 instead. The monthly work party has been moved back one week for just this month so that it coincides with the all-important Earth Day.
Wednesday, April 14: Oakland EarthEXPO 2010, an Environmental Fair at
Frank
Ogawa Plaza
Frank Ogawa Plaza – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Oakland Public Works Environmental Services hosts this festive environmental fair, one of the region's lead-off events connected with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Oakland EarthEXPO 2010 will showcase how all of us, working together, can continue to make our city even more sustainable. The celebration will bring together 100+ community groups and environmental organizations, businesses and agencies to exhibit, and several thousand downtown workers and residents. Go here for flyer. Questions? E-mail here for more information.
Wednesday, April
14: Visioning the Future of the Area Surrounding Lake Merritt
BART Station including Chinatown: A Community Meeting
Do live or work in Chinatown? Are you a Laney College student or faculty member? Do you live or own property located within 1/2 mile of the Lake Merritt BART station? Then you will be interested in this opportunity to share your vision for the future of these areas.
Where and When: Metropolitan Transportation Commission Auditorium, 101 8th Street (across from Lake Merritt BART station) – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – RSVP here ( RSVP not required but preferred). Light refreshments will be served at the meeting.
The City of Oakland, joined by Bay Area Rapid Transit and Peralta Community College District, are preparing an Area Plan for the area around the Lake Merritt BART Station. The planning area includes Chinatown; Oak Street in Jack London Square east to 5th Avenue; part of the Eastlake; Laney College campus; Oakland Main Library and Oakland Museum of California; the Downtown Education Complex that OUSD will start to build shortly; the 12th Street reconfiguration project at the south end of the lake that will start soon; and County, BART, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, East Bay Municipal Utility District and Peralta Community College District Administration buildings.
This is the first of four community workshops that will take place over the next 18 months to discuss your vision for the Lake Merritt Station area. Issues will include future land uses and development; desired character of the area; transportation infrastructure for pedestrians, bicycles and cars; connectivity with other surrounding neighborhoods; and anything else that the community thinks is important for the future of this special area of Oakland.
Go here for up-to-date information on the plan and to view documents as they are prepared. Return regularly to the site for more information.
Every Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday until April 15 (Tax Due Date): Free Tax Preparation Services
(VITA) Offered by EBALDC
Asian Resource Center, 310 8th Street; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm; Saturday -11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Since 2003, the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) has been a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) provider as part of the United Way of the Bay Area's Earn It! Keep It! Save It! campaign. EBALDC operates one of only a few VITA sites in Oakland Chinatown where low to moderate income households are offered free income tax preparation services, asset development materials, and pre-screening for food stamps. Working families and individuals are also assisted in claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit, and in accessing financial services and training.
EBALDC has two free tax preparation sites – one in Oakland’s Chinatown (at the Asian Resource Center) and one in East Oakland at the SparkPoint Center. Please call 510.287.5353 to make an appointment. Both sites will be open until April 15th.EBALDC also offers VITA services at the location and times below:
SparkPoint Center, 885 69th Avenue Suite 102, Oakland, CA 94621:
Monday, Thursday -1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 17:
40th Anniversary Celebration: Earth Day - Clean It! Green It! Mean It!
at Park Locations
9:00 am to 1:00 pm unless otherwise noted.
The City’s Keep Oakland Clean and Beautiful will sponsor this global day of environmental education, action and change by hosting thousands of volunteers at multiple locations in parks, creeks and neighborhoods from one end of Oakland to the other. Commit to a hands-on day of service! Here are sites in and near District 2:
• Bella Vista Park – Between 10th and 11th Aves, behind and adjacent to Bella Vista Elementary School, 1025 E. 28th St. – 10:00 am to 12:00 pm – This is a monthly volunteer day of service in the park initiated due to City staff cut backs! Go here for flyer.
•Cleveland Cascade – 2250 – 2300 Lakeshore Ave – Pruning, planting and graffiti removal.
• FM Smith Park – 1969 Park Blvd – Weeding and general sprucing
• Gardens at Lake Merritt – 666 Bellevue Ave next to Lakeside Garden Center – Come tackle the weeds and prune new growth
• Lake Merritt – Meet at courtyard of Lake Merritt Boat House, 568 Bellevue Ave – Clean-up and graffiti removal around Lake Merritt
• Lincoln Recreation Center Vicinity – Meet at the Rec Center (250 10th Street) for clean-up of nearby streets and sidewalks
• Morcom Rose Garden – 700 Jean St off Grand Ave – More planting at the new Butterfly Way Station and Sheet Mulching (come learn how!)
Go here for a listing of volunteer locations throughout Oakland. Visit here to host your own beautification and cleanup site, or for more information.
Thursday, April 22 and Wednesday,
April 28: Two Neighborhood-Specific Meetings regarding Proposed
Residential and Commercial Re-zoning
Learn about proposed zoning changes for each of two neighborhoods and commercial districts. Draft zoning regulations and draft zoning maps will be presented for the residential and commercial zoning districts.
• Thursday, April 22: Rezoning Proposal: Lake Merritt to 14th Avenue – FM Recreation Center, 1969 Park Boulevard – 7:00 pm – Go here for flyer.• Wednesday, April 28: Rezoning Proposal: 14th Ave to 23rd Ave – Salvation Army Garden Center Chapel - 2794 Garden St at 27th St – Go here for flyer.
Go here for an overview in newsletter format of the huge undertaking to bring the City’s zoning ordinance up-to-date. Go here for the City’s Zoning Update Web page
If you can’t make the meeting about your neighborhood, you have another chance at a public meeting on May 17 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Fruitvale/San Antonio Senior Center, 3301 E. 12th Street.
Saturday, April 24:
School Yard Sprucing at Edna Brewer Middle School
3748 13th Ave – Weed, mulch and plant! Students who work at least two hours qualify for a drawing for an I-Pod shuffle or to have their tardies cleared. Go here for more.
Saturday, April 24: 5th Annual CORE Citywide Emergency Response Functional
Exercise
9:00 am to12:00 noon, throughout multiple Oakland neighborhoods, advanced registration is required here.
The Oakland Fire Department is gearing up for the annual CORE Citywide Emergency
Response Functional Exercise to enhance neighborhood preparedness to respond to an earthquake scenario including physical evacuation.As in the past, the exercise will take place in dozens of neighborhoods across the city. NeighborhoodWatch groups are also being invited to attend for the first time. For more
information on how you can participate, please contact Emergency Services Director, Renee Domingo at 510.238.3939.Click here for more info.
Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2: Grand Re-Opening of the Transformed
Oakland Museum of California: 31 Hours of Celebration
11:00 am on Saturday to 6:00 pm on Sunday
Thirty-one hours of continuous, round-the-clock, free public programs will officially launch the reopening of the transformed Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) after a two-year, $58 million renovation and re-envisioning of the presentation of its art and history collections. On display will be the dramatically different presentation of the Museum’s collections, inviting visitors to discover the many stories of California and to explore their own contributions to the state’s social, artistic, and environmental heritage. The Museum’s transformation is enhanced by the renovation and expansion of its landmark Kevin Roche building.The Oakland Museum’s Opening Celebration Weekend, presented by Target, will begin with a public ceremony on the steps and in the street in front of the 1000 Oak Street entrance with a Native American Ohlone blessing, marching band, spectacular site-specific aerial dance performance by Project Bandaloop created especially for the opening, and more. The festivities continue through Sunday.
Saturday afternoon activities center on the innovative and creative spirit of California, while Saturday evening and overnight activities take on a more adult flavor with dancing, food and beverages, participatory conversations and classes merging into early morning yoga and bubble magic, followed by family-themed events all day Sunday. The thirty-one hours of programming are designed as a thank you to Oakland voters who supported Measure G, which provided funding in part for the Museum’s transformation. All events are free of charge and open to the public.
Check the Museum’s website frequently for details and updates on the Opening Celebration Weekend program.
Thursday, May 6: Community
Workshops on the Draft Energy and Climate Action Plan (ECAP)
Elihu Harris State of California Office Building at 1515 Clay St, near the 12th St BART station – Workshop times will be announced soon at the website here.
The City of Oakland is developing a community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (ECAP) to identify actions the City can take to help minimize energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the Oakland community.
City staff will hold two community workshops to gather public input on the draft ECAP, which is scheduled for release on Earth Day, April 22. The draft ECAP will be available for download through the City's website here.
Friday, May 14:
4th Annual Oakland Indie Awards Celebrating Social & Environmental
Impact of Oakland’s Independent Business & Artists – Ticket
Purchase Required
Congratulations to all the Nominees! There were a record breaking 690 nominations submitted - all celebrating local businesses and artists in Oakland. Click to see a complete list of Nominees.
Winners will be announced at the party - come help us celebrate! You'll get to taste Oakland wine, beer, chocolates, teas, baked goods, dips, sauces, tapas and so much more! Talk to hundreds of other Oakland lovers, and chill to Oakland tunes.
Party
Friday May 14, 2009
5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Jack London Pavilion, 98 Broadway (formerly Barnes & Noble)
Tickets On Sale Now here - $20 each
Sponsorships for starving artists, entrepreneurs and others for whom ticket price is a barrier. Contact us for details.
Festivities
-Tasting of Oakland Food, Wine, Beer, Tea, and more! Lots of veggie-friendly food options.
-Award Presentations
-DJ spinning all-Oakland tunes
-Displays from Unwrapped! vendor artists and businesses
More Details & Photos from Last Year here.
Sponsorships Available
Be a sponsor and get in front of hundreds of small businesses, artists, civic leaders, community organizations, and Oakland residents! See sponsor packet for details
Want to get involved?
- Be a food or drink vendor
- Musicians - get on the set list!
- Volunteer
- Spread the word to your list-serves, blogs, and anywhere else Oakland-lovers congregate. Thanks!
Contact Andrea or Erin at 510.663.2253 to get involved.
Don't forget to walk, bike, ferry or BART to the event, if you can!
Monday, May 17: Citywide Zoning Update Community Workshop on Draft
Citywide Zoning Changes, Maps
Fruitvale-San Antonio Senior Center, 3301 E. 12th Street, Suite 201, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This workshop will focus on proposed Zoning changes to the central part of Oakland.
The City of Oakland invites residents, property owners, business owners and developers to attend one of three upcoming workshops on the draft residential and commercial zoning regulations and maps. At these workshops, City staff will highlight proposed residential and commercial zoning changes for different areas throughout the City. Each workshop will focus on distinct areas of Oakland as noted below. This effort is the first comprehensive update of zoning regulations since 1965. The resulting zoning regulations will determine how Oakland is developed and built in the future.The first Citywide Zoning Update Community Workshop will be held at the North Oakland Senior Center (5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, April 26, 2010. This workshop will focus on proposed Zoning changes to West and North Oakland including the North Oakland Hills.
The second Citywide Zoning Update Community Workshop will be held on Monday, May 17, 2010, at the Fruitvale-San Antonio Senior Center (3301 E. 12th Street, Suite 201) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This workshop will focus on proposed Zoning changes to the central part of Oakland.
The third Citywide Zoning Update Community Workshop will be held on Thursday, June 10, 2010, at Frick Middle School (2845 64th Avenue) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This workshop will focus on proposed Zoning changes to East Oakland and the South Oakland Hills.
At the community workshops, staff will highlight proposed changes to the residential and commercial zoning regulations. Detailed draft zoning maps for each geographic area will also be presented. Some of the proposed changes include: consolidating zones whose standards are essentially the same; new Floor-Area Ratio Standards for lots with greater than 20% slope in lower density residential zones that, when combined with lot coverage and height limits, provide an effective way to control building bulk and scale; several types of new design regulations for commercial areas located along the city’s major corridors to improve visual quality, pedestrian-friendliness; and new, fine-grained approach for regulating height, bulk and intensity of buildings along commercial corridors.
The workshops are key opportunities for Oaklanders to learn about and provide input on draft regulations and maps. They are the fourth and final round of scheduled community workshops on commercial and residential zoning prior to taking proposals to the Zoning Update Committee for review, which is anticipated to start in late May/June. Once vetted at the committee level, the draft regulations and maps go to the Planning Commission and City Council for review and approval, which is anticipated to begin in the fall. Planning Department staff welcomes your comments on the draft proposals throughout the process.For more information about these workshops and the Citywide Zoning Update process, visit here, call the Zoning Update line at (510) 238-7299 or e-mail here.
All three workshops are wheelchair accessible. To request materials in alternative formats, or to request an ASL interpreter, captioning or assisted learning device, call (510) 238-7299 or TTY: (510) 238-3254 at least three business days in advance. Please refrain from wearing scented products to the workshops so persons who may experience chemical sensitivities can attend.
Citywide Zoning Update Background
The City of Oakland began efforts to complete a Citywide Zoning Update in 2007 to bring the zoning regulations and designations in line with the General Plan Land Use and Transportation Element that was adopted in 1998.Tremendous progress has been made in the last two years with the Oakland City Council adopting new zoning for the city’s industrial areas in June 2008 and new zoning for the Central Business District in July 2009. The Zoning Update process for the commercial and residential areas began in September 2008.
The existing framework of 12 residential and 20 commercial zones is not consistent with the General Plan and has not been comprehensively updated since 1965. In addition to soliciting feedback from the general public, two Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) were formed and provided input to City staff.
Draft zoning proposals for Commercial and Residential zones will be presented to the Zoning Update Committee of the Oakland City Planning Commission beginning in May/June 2010.
REPORTS
City Council Considers How to Close Budget Gap - April 29
Tax revenues to the City are coming in even lower than previously projected. As a result, the General Fund budget for next fiscal year (starting July 1, 2010--three months from now) is a staggering $43 million out of balance. The Council will be making decisions this month and next for how to close that gap. There was a Special Budget Hearing on April 1 (which will be re-broadcast on cable Channel 10 on Sunday morning, April 4) and another one scheduled for April 29.
At the April 1 Council meeting, the only decision made was to cut 15% of the budget of all Elected Officials departments. (Mayor, City Council, City Attorney, City Auditor).
Most of the meeting focused on cuts proposed by the City Administrator to the arts and cultural institutions. 25% - 50% cuts had been proposed for the cultural institutions owned by the City but operated by non-profit boards, such as Fairyland, The Zoo, Chabot Space and Science Center, Peralta Hacienda, and the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. A 50% cut to the cultural arts grants had been proposed also. For two hours, artists and students eloquently argued that the arts grants leverage lots of other funding, and spin-off a great amount of economic activity that generates taxes, supports small businesses, and brings visitors to Oakland, not to mention enriching the lives of countless Oakland young people. (Many of the arts grants are for teaching arts in the schools.) No vote was taken, but a majority of the Council agreed that a 50% cut was too severe and that something more proportional to the cuts that will take place in other City services would be in order.
To learn more about the overall budget dilemma the City is in, I recommend looking at the City Administrator's report. It puts the numbers in context and makes recommendations for closing the gap. It is a combination of cuts and a suggestion for a major public safety parcel tax.
Here is a snapshot of the situation from the first page of the report: "Less than four years ago, in FY 2006-07, the City collected over $471 million in General Purpose Fund revenues and by year-end had nearly $56 million in reserves. . . . In FY 2010-11, the City is projected to collect just under $400 million in revenues by year-end and have only $10.4 million in GPF reserves. . . . . During the same period, while the GPF-funded workforce shrank by 12.5%, personnel costs in this fund have dropped by less than three percent."
Every possible solution to this problem involves decisions that are abhorrent to just about everybody (major cuts to every service, including Police and Fire, libraries, and/or more taxes.) The Council is not of one mind yet, but we will nevertheless debate and make a decision in the coming month. I will let you know what options I am considering before the next Budget hearing and of course I am very interested to hear the thoughts of my constituents in the meantime.
The next Budget hearing of the City Council will take place on April 29. Reports and official recommendations will be available on-line at the City's website by the evening of April 16.
Here is welcome news on a very important topic: The number of serious crimes in Oakland has been steadily decreasing for the past year. Take a look at this chart which compares the first three months of 2010 with the first three months of 2009. It is wonderful to see this significant drop in crime after the previous three years of constantly high levels. Much appreciation to OPD, which has in my opinion played a large role in this improvement.
Though the overall numbers are coming down, crime is still a reality in some areas. My office continues to communicate closely with community members and the Police to keep our neighborhoods safe.
Update
on Weekend No Parking Zone on Lakeshore Ave Next to Lake
Two weeks ago, I sent out an email survey regarding the No Parking zone for weekend and holiday afternoons that exists on Lakeshore Avenue next to Lake Merritt. The No parking zone was instituted over 20 years ago due to nuisance behavior associated with cruising and partying on weekend afternoons. Those issues have not been present for many years, so Councilmember Nadel and I wanted to find out if people would like to keep or remove that No Parking zone. Almost 400 people responded and 79% of those said they would like the No Parking zone to be removed.
I agree with the majority of respondents that the No Parking zone is no longer needed. I also know that people living all over the city would like to come to the Lake and enjoy the new park improvements. Therefore, Councilmember Nadel and I are putting forward a change in the parking ordinance to remove the weekend and holiday afternoon prohibition on parking. In its place we are proposing a limit on the amount of time parkers can park there in order to ensure turnover so that there is plenty of opportunity to find a parking space. However, the legislative process takes quite awhile. The matter is expected to come to the Public Works Committee on May 25 and to full Council shortly thereafter. In the meantime, I've asked our City staff to install a few more signs advising of the current restriction because many people do not see the No Parking signs and are getting ticketed as a result.
Future study: The streets around the Lake are going to be part of a comprehensive parking study that the City is beginning. Areas of the city will be evaluated and recommendations made as to parking time limits, where parking meters should go, how much should be charged, etc. The goal is to look at parking availability relative to demand, transportation needs, economic development and environmental issues, rather than as just a revenue-generating activity.
Lake Merritt Water Quality
Improvements
Measure DD, the Oakland Trust for Clean Water and Safe Parks bond, passed in 2002, is the source of most of the funding for the improvements underway around Lake Merritt. Another major aim of Measure DD was to improve water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency had listed the lake as an impaired water body because of floatable trash and low dissolved oxygen. The latter creates anaerobic conditions on the bottom of the lake that are inhospitable to aquatic life. While fortunately an impaired water body is not a toxic clean-up situation, it does need to be addressed. Those are the water quality indicators that are being addressed by the Measure DD-funded improvements.
So what improvements have taken place? Two inactive aeration fountains have been replaced and reactivated. Upstream, four new CDS (continuous deflective separation) filters have been installed on storm drains flowing into the lake. They capture huge amounts of trash and oil before they reach Lake Merritt. In addition, as a pilot program, inlet screens have been installed on several individual storm drain inlets, which capture trash. Since the CDS units and inlet screens are underground, it is likely most people haven’t noticed them, and because the trash and oil they remove never come into the lake, they might not know they are there doing their job. The newest CDS unit was installed near the Rotary Nature Center a few weeks ago.
At the Municipal Boat House, a bioswale was installed in what may look like ordinary landscaping. It’s located between the parking lot off Lakeside Drive and the lake. Rain and other water flowing from the street and parking lot settles into the bioswale, percolating into the soil, which cleans out the contaminants (automobile oil, for instance) that otherwise would enter the lake. This is the first of the bioswales that will be installed at the lake and along the channel in future improvements.
Still to come is the 12th Street Re-do, arguably the project that will have the biggest impact on the lake’s water quality. The contract for the work was approved by the City Council recently (go here for a report in the March E-News) and groundbreaking will take place in May. That project will improve water quality in the lake in several significant ways. The four restrictive culverts under the 12th St dam, which total 48 feet in width, will be replaced with a clear span bridge over a 100-foot-wide open channel. A similar bridge will be built at 10th Street. As a result, the tidal exchange flows in and out of the Lake, which are muted today, will more than double. That tidal action is expected to have a substantial impact on anaerobic conditions at the bottom of the lake (the conditions that are inhospitable to aquatic life). In addition, there will be more CDS filters, two linear solids-capturing devices, bioswales, two water quality basins, and a tidal marsh, all of which will improve water quality.
Residential
Disabled Blue Zone Renewal
Currently, the City is renewing Residential Disabled Parking Zone (RDPZ) applications. Renewal letters were mailed on March 8, 2010 to more than 500 residences where a RDPZ (blue zone) was installed on the curb more than two years ago. If you received a renewal form, then you must submit the completed form and required documentation to the City’s Transportation Services Division by May 9, 2010 or your blue zone may be removed. The RDPZ renewal process will result in the removal of blue zones only if the original applicant fails to show that he/she continues to meet basic eligibility criteria.
The goal of this renewal program is to ensure that original applicants remain eligible for existing residential blue zones. If the original applicant has moved, passed away, stopped driving or no longer holds a State-issued disabled parking placard, then the blue zone may be removed. Federal and state requirements for on-street accessibility features such as blue zones have become more stringent over the past several years. The City’s technical requirements for residential blue zones are more restrictive now than when these 500 plus blue zones were installed. The City is not, however, removing existing RDPZ for technical violations at this time because we know how much residents depend upon these zones.
The renewal form must be completed and returned by May 9, 2010 along with the following documents:
1. Evidence that the original applicant holds a current, permanent State-issued disabled person placard identification card.
2. Copies of the original applicant’s current driver’s license and current vehicle registration. These documents must list the address where the RPDZ is installed.*
* The City may allow a full-time, live-in caregiver to submit his/her own driver license and vehicle registration card in lieu of the original applicant. These documents must list the address where the RPDZ is installed.
Questions? Contact Joe Watson, Transportation Services Division 510.238.6268 (V) or 510.238.2007 (TTY)
-- article by Transportation Services Division
Rebuilding Together Oakland Needs Volunteers!
It's time for all good volunteers to sign up for a date in April to help out your community members in need. RTO is seeking recruits for the following dates:
• Saturday April 3
• Saturday April 10
• Sunday April 11
• Saturday April 17
• Sunday April 18
RTO provides free home repairs for low income seniors and disabled persons living in Oakland. They need skilled as well as unskilled volunteers on all workdays at all sites.
RTO provides morning snack, lunch and a tee shirt for all volunteers. Please bring your own refillable water bottles as we will not be handing out plastic water bottles.Please respond to Rachel Matthews here at your earliest convenience with:
• headcount
• date you are available
• home repair skills if any of you or anyone else in your group
Please request a minor waiver if you have students who are ages14-17. All student groups must provide one adult (parent or teacher only) for every five volunteers.
For more information, please contact Rachel Matthews.
Oakland Vies to Become Google’s Ultra High-Speed Internet Test Site
The City of Oakland joined about 600 other communities nationwide recently in a spirited competition for the privilege of becoming a test-site for Google’s experimental ultra high-speed broadband networks. With speeds more than 100 times faster than the typical consumer-grade broadband connection, the ultra-fast fiber is intended to stimulate the development of new applications and innovations not currently possible with existing bandwidth. Google’s intent is to see just how communities will use virtually unbridled Internet bandwidth.
In the fierce competition for the coveted honor, Oakland branded its effort “Oakland digs the gig!” and created a Facebook page and YouTube channel dedicated to demonstrating the community’s commitment and enthusiasm. Even Mayor Dellums got involved, creating a video promoting Oakland to Google and encouraging citizens to post their comments to Facebook and YouTube.
Oakland’s application began as a grassroots effort with a community team of businesses, entrepreneurs, non-profits and literacy and technology task force members. The team has worked collaboratively with the City’s Department of Information Technology to submit a an application. Oakland's diverse community, its myriad non-profit and for-profit organizations, its geography and embedded infrastructure put it in a competitive position.
There are many reasons why Oakland would be a good choice, but one of the best is its people. Oakland is encouraging businesses, non-profits and residents to voice their support by posting comments or video on Facebook and YouTube, using these social media platforms to state why Google should come to Oakland, describe what they would do with ultra-fast access to the Internet and—perhaps most importantly—show Google the spirit of Oakland. The Facebook and YouTube channels will be up until Oakland is notified of a decision, which is anticipated at the end of the year.
For more information about the Google Fiber to Communities project, go here. To view the Mayor’s video or post one of your own, go here. To post a comment on Oakland Digs the Gig Facebook page, go here.
Franklin Recreation
Center 2010 Spring & Summer Programs
Youth Soccer (Spring): For girls and boys grades 2 - 5. Fundamentals of Soccer. Focus on teamwork, character building, and skill building. Soccer runs April 13 - May 19. Cost: $30
Spring Day Camp: April 5 through April 9. While Schools are closed for Spring Break, Franklin Rec is OPEN. Program Hours: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Monday through Friday. Ages 5 & up. Cost: $70 (includes field trip)
Summer Day Camp: “OPR SUMMER CAMP EXPLOSION” begins June 21 through August 20. Program Hours: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Monday through Friday. Kids will participate in various developmental & fun activities, go on field trips, go swimming, and more! Ages 5 &up. Cost: $75 per week (includes field trips)FREE SUMMER LUNCH: We will be serving FREE lunches to children and youth up to 18 years old each day, Monday through Friday 12:00 pm to1:00 pm at Franklin Rec Center. Beginning June 21 through August 20.
Teen Scene: Every Friday during the Summer, Teens ages 13-17 years old can enjoy trips and tours with other teens to visit colleges and explore future Higher Education options, as well as enjoy recreational activities & adventures. Cost: $10 registration plus cost of trip admission.
Karate: Class is every Tuesday & Thursday. 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Ages 5 years and up. Excellent instructor who is great with kids! Learn self-defense techniques and build confidence. Cost: $25 per month
To register or for more information on any program, please contact the Franklin Rec Center at 510.238.7741. You may also register and find information online here.
Oakland Parks Coalition Honors Six District 2 Volunteers
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District 2 recipients of of Park Volunteer honors.
From left, Greg Hartwig, Ken Katz, Dawn Hawk, Peter Jung, (Pat K.), Isabella Lung (hidden behind Wendy) and Wendy Jung
I recognized six District 2 volunteers at the 2010 Volunteer Appreciation Evening, hosted by the Oakland Parks Coalition and co-sponsored with the City’s Keep Oakland Clean and Beautiful. The annual event salutes all the volunteers who toil to clean and green their neighborhood parks and medians and highlights a few each year for special recognition. These are the six volunteers from District 2 who were honored:
Wendy & Peter Jung – Since 1988 they have walked daily through San Antonio Park (16th Ave and Foothill), the City’s oldest and one of the largest parks, picking up trash, reporting malfunctioning sprinklers and trash containers in need of emptying. In addition, they also organized the landscaping of the Beaumont underpass (under I-580) by planting and maintaining drought tolerant plants.
Dawn Hawk – Leader of Friends of Bella Vista Park (10th Ave and E. 28th St), Dawn was part of the original community effort to transform the barren asphalt playground behind Bella Vista School into an oasis for neighborhood children to play safely. With the park’s transformation five years ago and subsequent installation of a restroom, programming now takes place there, thanks to East Bay Asian Youth Center and the City’s Office of Parks & Recreation.
Isabella Lung – A leader of the Cantonese-speaking Citizens Academy Alumni, Isabella organize regular clean-ups in the vicinity of Lincoln Square Park (11th St and Harrison) and other parts of Chinatown. Isabella and the rest of the Alumni group are always reading to help out on service projects and have even gone to San Antonio Park to clean up and inspire other residents to do the same.Ken Katz – A tireless advocate and steward for the Splash Pad Park (across from the Grandlake Theater), Ken was in on the ground floor of the transformation of the Splash Pad Park into the site of the wildly successful weekly Grand Lake Farmers Market. He has worked to balance the popularity and draw of the market with careful attention to its impact on the park land. He was instrumental in establishing the Splash Pad Park/Farmers Market Advisory Committee, a group of dedicated residents who meet regularly with the market’s management and City staff to identify problems needing attention. He often organizes weeding and planting work days in the park.
Greg Hartwig – Greg has sparked his neighbors to strive to transform the forlorn Morgan Plaza Park (E. 26th and Highland), with its dilapidated children’s play structure, frequently illegal dumpings and lack of regular maintenance, into an amenity. Seeking capital funding opportunities to transform the park, he and his neighbors recently applied for a Neighborhood Project Initiative grant from the City’s Redevelopment Agency for a landscaping project, which they propose to install themselves.
We are grateful to these six special people and the many other volunteers who take the initiative to do hands-on work to make their parks and neighborhoods clean and beautiful. Thank you for keeping our Oakland parks looking good and serving the community well.
Isabella Lung (bottom left) and members of the Cantonese Cantonese-speaking Citizens Academy Alumni
