Emeryville Taiko performing at Oakland Asian Cultural
Center's 2009 Lunar
New Year Celebration Event
(Photo courtesy of Oakland Asian Cultural Center)
COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH COUNCILMEMBER
KERNIGHAN
Monday, March 16: The Future of the Grand Ave/Walker Ave Parking Lot
Monday, March 23: The Future of the Lakeshore Ave/Wesley Ave Parking Garage
OTHER CITY-RELATED MEETINGS
Thursday, March 19: Community Meeting on the Bicycle Wayfinding Signage System
Monday, March 23: Creating a Vision for the Oakland Central Estuary: First Community Workshop
Tuesday, March 24: Community Briefing on the City of Oakland 2007-2014 Housing Element
Thursday, March 26: Rent Board to Hear Change in Debt Service Pass Through
OTHER EVENTS
Saturday, March 14: Oakland Chinatown Oral History Project
Saturday, March 21: Plant Exchange for Home GardenersMonday, March 23: Oakland Food Policy Council: An Introduction
Sunday, March 29: East Bay SPCA's Free Health Shots and Services for Dogs
. ..Coming in April
REPORTS
City of Oakland's Budget Woes and Related Ballot Measures
Specific Plans for Lake Merritt BART Area and Upper Broadway Retail Area
Feather River Camp, an Oakland TreasureFox Theater Opens
Oakland Asian Cultural CenterLotus Bloom, a Family and Child Resource Center, Now on Park Boulevard
EVENTS
Monday,
March 16: The Future of the Grand Ave/Walker Ave Parking Lot
Barnett Hall, behind the Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Avenue, 7:00 pm.
Join Councilmember Kernighan and staff for a discussion of the future of the Grand Ave/Walker Ave parking lot. The City is considering putting this lot up for sale, either to be operated privately for parking or for possible development in future years. This is sure to evoke lots of strong responses. Join us as we discuss the issues.
Monday,
March 23: The Future of the Lakeshore Ave/Wesley Ave Parking Garage
Barnett Hall, next to Trader Joe's, behind the Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Avenue, 7:00 pm.
There is a proposal for the City to enter into a long-term ground lease for the operation of the Lakeshore Avenue parking structure. Councilmember Kernighan wants to meet with the surrounding merchants and residents to discuss the pros and cons of this idea. Please join us.
Thursday, March 26: Councilmember Kernighan's "State of the City"
Town Hall Meeting at Lakeview Elementary
Lakeview Elementary School, 746 Grand Avenue, 7:00 pmI invite you to join me for a town hall meeting on March 26, where the topic of the discussion will be the state of the city. I will share my perspective on a variety of subjects--a frank assessment of what's happening at City Hall, the management of City government and the difficult choices coming up for the City Council as a result of a huge budget deficit. I plan to spend most of the time taking questions and comments, with the focus being on priorities for City-funded services and quality of life in our neighborhoods. Despite the bleak budget news, we will also try to look at the positives of life here in Oakland. - PK
Thursday,
March 19: Community Meeting on the Bicycle Wayfinding Signage System
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 4
The City’s Bicycle Master Plan adopted in 2007 calls for developing route signage for the bikeway network, building on existing bikeway signage that includes directional and distance information to major destinations. Come to the meeting and offer your thoughts. You can see the signs for yourself on Market Street between 3rd Street and the Berkeley border. Get involved by participating in these events:
Other community meetings on the subject will take place at the following:
• Tuesday, April 21, 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Presentation at the East Bay Bicycle Coalition monthly meeting, Rockridge Library (5366 College Ave).
• Saturday, April 25, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm: Bicycle ride hosted by Walk Oakland Bike Oakland. Meet at Market Street and 3rd Street (near West Oakland BART).Sunday, May 31 is the deadline for public comments. Send your input here. More information here.
Monday,
March 23: Creating a Vision for the Oakland Central Estuary: First Community
Workshop
Workshop held at Unity Council Senior Center, 1701 E. 19th Street, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The Central Estuary waterfront area of Oakland, also known as the "Central Waterfront", is the subject of a planning effort that will refine the policies presented in the Estuary Policy Plan and guide their implementation through zoning regulations. The City of Oakland is creating a Specific Plan and environmental document to determine a common vision for the Oakland Central Estuary. This plan will provide a framework to support development while balancing land-use goals with environmental and economic interests. Building upon previous visioning efforts, the City will convene several community workshops to gather public input throughout the planning process.The Central Estuary extends from 19th Avenue at the north to 50th Avenue to the south and from I-880 at the east to the Bay at the west, as depicted in this map here.
Click here for more info about the Central Estuary.
Tuesday, March 24: Community Briefing on the City of Oakland 2007-2014
Housing Element
Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 1 – 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
The City of Oakland invites you to attend a community briefing about the new Public Review draft of the 2007-2014 Housing Element. Senior staff from the Community and Economic Development Agency will be on hand to answer questions and hear comments in a participatory and informational presentation.
State law requires cities to update their Housing Elements every five years—showing how and where new residents and new population growth will be accommodated. Housing Elements guide the City’s housing efforts, by documenting policies which encourage:
- the construction and rehabilitation of affordable and market rate housing
- housing for seniors and those with special needs
- first time homebuyer programs
- foreclosure assistance
The purpose of this meeting is to inform the public about the details of the Housing Element, and to receive comments, while the Housing Element is still in draft form. Formal adoption of the Housing Element is expected to take place in several public hearings during late spring/early summer of this year.
Since 2007, over 1,000 units have either been built or are currently under construction in Oakland. The City has approved 5,000 more units, and an additional 7,000 units are in some stage of pre-development. The Housing Element documents where there is vacant land, infill sites and potential sites for new housing to meet the regional housing goals of approximately 14,000 new units over the next five years. No changes to current zoning or regulations are proposed in the Housing Element.
The City has sent this Public Review draft of the Housing Element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and has made that draft available to the public, on the website. Go here.
The attached flyer summarizes key points of the City of Oakland 2007-2014 Housing Element. If you are interested, please come to the community briefing to discuss the details.
Thursday,
March 26: Rent Board to Hear Debt Service Pass Through
Regular Meetings, the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm, City Hall, Hearing Room 1.
Oakland's Rent Stabilization Ordinance sets rules governing annual rent increases for buildings built before 1982. There is an annual adjustment formula that is tied to inflation. Certain exceptions allow increases beyond the usual rate. One exception is for costs of major capital improvements and another is based on substantial increase in debt service costs (typically for a property owner who has recently purchased a building and has a new loan). The debt service exception has been a major complaint for tenant advocates, as it has often resulted in drastic rent increases. Rental property owners generally support the debt service pass-through. After several years of debate on the issue, a formal proposal will come before the Rent Board on March 26 to amend this exception. The proposal is being drafted by the City Attorney's Office, but is not finished yet (and I don't know what its provisions are), but when it is, it will be available at the following link here.
Saturday,
March 14: Oakland Chinatown Oral History Project
3 pm to 5 pm, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Pacific Renaissance Plaza (2nd Floor) in Oakland Chinatown, 388 9th Street (between Webster & Franklin St).
Join the Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) as the StoryCorps presents excerpts of recently recorded stories from the OACC's StoryCorps partnership, as well as clips from the StoryCorps collection. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, and can be heard on NPR's Morning Edition, and on the web here.
Learn how to record your story, and how your organization can partner with StoryCorps to record the stories of your community. Also, learn more about OACC's Oakland Chinatown Oral History Project. Light snacks will be served.This will be a community opportunity to listen to excerpts of recently recorded personal stories about Oakland Chinatown as well as clips from the StoryCorps collection. Free and open to the public.
For more info, contact Sarah Geis at (415) 655-7869, sgeis@storycorps.net
Saturday, March 21:
Plant Exchange for Home Gardeners
3811 Lakeshore Avenue – 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm – Parking is easy and this is a free event.
Go green this Spring. Recycle, trade, and save. Have plants you must prune or divide? Bring your excess to our plant exchange and take home new plants for your yard just in time for spring planting. All types of plants are welcome, from cuttings up to full size. Create an instant new garden on a shoestring budget. Garden accessories and accents are also welcome—umbrellas, clippers, books on gardening, pots, stepping stones and even goldfish.
Last year, more than 300 people participated and more than 1,500 plants, large and small, found new homes. It was a great way to meet new neighbors and foster community spirit. Grand Lake Ace Garden Center donated plants and Comcast Cable came out to film the event. Volunteers helped make the experience smooth and easy.
Want to donate plants before the event? No problem. Interested in volunteering in the afternoon? We happily accept. Bring: newspaper, bags and/or cardboard boxes to carry plants home in.
Tell us a bit about the donated plants. Go here [link not set yet] for a Plant Information Form. Please fill out and attach one form to each plant you bring. Their new owners will really appreciate it!
Tell your friends and neighbors, the more the better.
For additional information, visit here.
Questions? Contact here.
Monday,
March 23: Oakland Food Policy Council: An Introduction
James Irvine Foundation Conference Center, East Bay Community Foundation, 353 Frank Ogawa Plaza near 14th & Broadway – 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Come learn about the now-forming Oakland Food Policy Council. Contribute to making access to healthy, affordable food a right and a reality for every Oakland resident. Keynote speaker: Judith Bell, President, PolicyLink. Refreshments. RSVP here.
Questions? Contact Alethea Harper here or (510) 654-4400, X233. For more information, go here.
Sunday,
March 29: East Bay SPCA's Free Health Shots and Services for Dogs
East Bay SPCA is hosting a free shot fair for dogs at the Ira Jinkins Community Center, 9175 Edes Ave, Oakland, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. Free services include:
- DHPP/DHLPP shots for dogs six weeks and older
- free rabies shots for dogs 4 months and older
- low-cost micro-chipping available for $10 cash only
Please bring dogs over 4 months old on leash. Puppies under 4 months must be in a carrier. Special thanks to Oakland Animal Services and Pet Food Express.
Thursday,
April 2: “Culture Clash at 25”, Free Event presented by the
Oakland Public Library and the Oakland Museum of California
A free event presented by the Oakland Public Library and the Oakland Museum of California, sponsors of the 17th Annual National Library Week Celebration – James Moore Theatre, Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street at 10th (enter through 10th Street door). Seating is limited (first come, first served); doors open at 6:30 pm, event begins at 7:00 pm.
Join Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza of Culture Clash for an intimate evening in which they discuss their long successful theatre career and read excerpts from such classic works as Culture Clash in America, Chavez Ravine, and Zorro in Hell. Copies of Culture Clash’s books will be on sale in the Museum’s Store.
Born in San Francisco’s Mission District in 1984, Culture Clash has evolved into one of the nation’s leading Chicano/Latino performance troupes. Called “Sharp, cutting and on the edge” by the Los Angeles Times, Culture Clash offers a unique blend of comedy and shrewdly observed political satire. Their work ranges from sketch comedy to full-length plays, and has been produced at universities and theatres throughout the nation. Now based in Los Angeles, Culture Clash is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
For more information about this event, please call the library’s Community Relations Office at (510) 238-3271 or 238-6713, or go here. The Oakland Museum of California is located one block from the Lake Merritt BART station (for directions, see here). Parking is available in the underground garage and also in the lot at the Kaiser Events Center next to the museum on 10th Street.
Sign interpretation or other accommodations will be provided by calling (510) 238-3271 or (510) 834-7446 (TTY) at least five working days prior to the event.
City
of Oakland's Budget Woes and Related Ballot Measures
The Budget Deficit and City Services
Families and businesses are suffering in this economic downtown, and the City budget is as well. The City's next fiscal year starts on July 1, 2009. There is a projected imbalance between revenues and expenditures of $57 million in our General Fund - a huge shortfall. The Council will be having formal budget discussions starting at the beginning of May, when the Mayor presents his proposed budget. We don't know yet what the Mayor will propose for expenditure cuts and possible revenue enhancements. But we do know that drastic reductions in expenditures will be required, so Councilmembers are starting to engage the community in discussions about priorities.
Naturally, the first thing that most people suggest is "cut the fat", "cut the big salaries for management", and "get rid of the top-heavy management." I wish that is all it would take. If we eliminated every single manager in the City, it wouldn't get close to saving $57 million. This subject of City management and efficiency will surely be a subject of discussion at my upcoming community meeting.
Putting the numbers in perspective:
At the start of fiscal year '08-'09, the total City budget was about $1.06 billion. There are generally two categories of revenues: restricted funds and the General Purpose Fund (GPF). The GPF budget started the year at $491million. Most of our basic City services have to be paid out of the General Fund, and that is the fund where we have the worst deficit. In the current year, we had a $42.5 million deficit, so we just made big cuts in October and also used one-time revenues to plug that hole. (The one day a month City shutdown is one such cost-saving measures. A whole year of that saves only about $4M in the General Fund.)
General Purpose Fund revenue comes from property taxes, sales tax, business license tax, fines, fees and generally things that Oakland residents pay more or less directly. The other revenues are from sources that restrict the use of the funds to specific purposes. The restricted funds are the main sources of revenue for our Community and Economic Development Agency and our Public Works Agency. Since those funds have to be spent in particular ways, they are not available for general public services such as police, fire department, children's programs, senior programs and libraries.
To give you some perspective on what services cost, here are some round numbers of departmental budgets following the October 08 revisions:
Police Dept.--------------Total funds $220 M, of which $198 is from the General Fund
Fire-----------------------Total funds $115 M, of which $104 is from the General Fund
Library-------------------- Total funds $23 M, of which $10.8 is from the General Fund
Parks & Rec-------------- Total funds $20 M, of which $12.4 is from the General Fund
Finance & Mgt. -----------Total funds $45 M, of which $27 is from the General Fund
Public Works--------------Total funds $109 M, of which $2.2 is from the General Fund
Econ. Dev. Agency-------- Total fund $99 M, of which $2.3 is from the General Fund
In October, every department budget was cut, except for Police, which actually grew by about $22 million (see explanation below). We have already cut the Libraries, Museum, Information Technology, and maintenance services to the bone. So the next $57 million is going to mean major changes that no one is going to happy about.
What caused the budget imbalance?
The short answer is that our personnel expenditures have increased faster than our revenues. The main increase is for police salary and benefits. Several years of labor negotiations with the OPOA (Oakland Police Officers Association) finally ended with an arbitrator's ruling in 2008. The arbitrator's decision gave the City a number of improved management rights, but it also gave significant salary increases to sworn police personnel. It resulted in about a l5% increase for police costs in one year. That was a big hit to the City budget.
Civilian wages and benefits are a much smaller component of the General Fund budget, but over the past 13 years, they, too, have increased considerably faster than inflation, and more importantly, faster than most of our revenues. For the past 13 years, civilian employees have received a 4% cost of living increase each year. The City was able to keep up with the costs in recent years because we were receiving so much money in Real Estate Transfer Taxes during the real estate boom. That was very unwise, and lead to expectations by City employees for salaries and benefits that are not sustainable over the long-term. The boom is over and so is our big source of revenue. The rest of our revenues are flat or slightly down. The City needs to get its personnel expenditures in line with what our actual resources are, and that is proving to be a big shock to everyone who works at the City (and to those of us who are trying set policy for the City). The City is currently negotiating with the two labor unions that represent most of our civilian employees. Negotiations are not concluded, but it is conceded by all sides that no cost of living increase will be possible this year, and in fact other "give-backs" are on the table.
For the first time in years, City management and City Council are taking a much more realistic look at what level of expenditures can be sustained over the long-term. The City's long-term pension obligations are part of the picture. The adjustment is likely going to be very painful for employees and public alike. But there are also opportunities to re-think the way we do business to make the delivery of public services more cost-effective for the tax weary public.
Is there any Good News?
Budget-wise, the only good news is that the City will get some amount of money from the federal stimulus package. The Mayor's office and City staff are working on that now. The caveat is that the federal money cannot be used for general operating expense--the only exception would be for police services. OPD is actively pursuing the new federal public safety funds. The other federal stimulus funds will be mainly for infrastructure improvements, and some hopefully for job training.
The City will be sponsoring several community meetings on the budget in the next few months. I will keep you posted.
Upcoming Ballot Measures being Considered
In light of the impending shortage of funds, the Council is now considering several ballot measures that will help somewhat. At the March 17 Council meeting, we will be considering setting a Special Election for late June, at which the following measures may be placed:
--A repeal or modification of Measure OO (Kids First set aside)
Last November, voters passed a new version of the Kids First set aside--called Measure OO. It increases the amount of money that must be set aside from the General Fund to pay for youth programs. The problem is that it does not provide new revenue to do this--it merely mandates that the General Purpose Fund make the money available.
I am a big fan of the programs funded by this set aside, but I believe that Measure OO increased the set aside by too much, especially given the City's shortage of funds for basic services. At the next Council meeting, March 17, at least two measures to change Measure OO will be debated and voted on by Councilmembers. One is a total repeal of Measure OO, which would reduce the amount of Kids First money by about a third of what was spent this year. About $15M was used this year. The total repeal would take it back to about $10.1M). The second is a compromise, which would change the funding formula to 3.5% of the unrestricted General Fund (which this year would yield about $14.1M). The original Kids First measure was set at 2.5% of general fund. The 3.5% is a little less than would be required by Measure OO this year, and dramatically less than the 5% in future years. I am supporting the compromise at 3.5%.
--A parcel tax to fund parks and median maintenance
Obviously, any new tax measure is going to be controversial. Here is the reason we are considering it: Most of our street lighting, tree, and landscape maintenance services are currently funded by the LLAD (Assessment District). It was passed many years ago, and yields about $17 million per year for these services (including water and electricity for streetlights and parks.) The problem is that it is a flat assessment which does not rise with inflation. On the other hand, the costs of maintenance personnel, gas, water and electricity have risen each year, so we have used General Funds and other funds to cover the full cost of these services.
In the October budget revisions, the LLAD-type services were cut dramatically. We went from 186 full-time jobs to 134 full-time jobs. These workers are responsible for maintaining every park, median, street tree and streetlight in Oakland. In July, even more layoffs will have to take place unless we find an additional revenue source. The impact of having dramatically fewer workers will really start to be felt during the summer when the parks are in high use and plants are growing.
The proposed parcel tax to supplement the LLAD would raise $8 million per year, which is enough to restore the recent cuts. The per-household tax is at the rate of $48 per year. I am considering putting this on the ballot, but only if there is a guarantee that a certain number of maintenance positions will be maintained.
--An increase in the Hotel Tax
The Council already agreed to put this hotel tax increase on the ballot. By definition, the tax is paid by people staying in Oakland hotels. The proceeds would be used for two basic purposes: one half to fund the Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau, and one half to fund three of our major cultural institutions (Zoo, Museum, and Chabot Space and Science Center). The hotel industry is willing to support the increase because they want a strong Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote tourism and business visitors to Oakland.
Specific Plans for Lake Merritt BART Area and Upper Broadway Retail Area
In addition to updating the City’s zoning ordinance (more on that at the end of this article), the City has been funded to develop two Specific Plans, one for the Lake Merritt BART area and the other for the Upper Broadway Retail area. What is a Specific Plan? State law authorizes cities and counties with complete general plans to prepare and adopt specific plans. These plans can serve as a bridge between the General Plan and individual development proposals, and contain both planning policies and regulations. They often combine zoning regulations, capital improvement programs, detailed development standards, and other regulatory schemes into one document tailored to meet the needs of a specific area.
Broadway Retail Corridor Specific Plan
Oakland has long been the nation’s largest under served trade area for comparison goods, defined as merchandise sold in apparel, department, specialty (such as jewelry shops and gift stores) and home furnishing stores for which consumers typically like to shop by comparing quality and prices. Unlike other mid-size cities that draw shoppers from surrounding areas, Oakland stores do not even serve the demand from its own residents. Oakland currently “exports” 75% of its potential sales in this category or roughly $1 billion in sales every year to the neighboring communities of Emeryville, San Leandro, San Francisco and Walnut Creek. While the city has many wonderful, unique stores, it lacks many larger retailers and a critical mass of retail selection. This dearth of retail options discourages its residents from shopping locally.
At my urging the City Council decided in 2006 to make retail recruitment and development a high priority for the city. A consultant team, led by Conley Consulting Group, was hired to evaluate retail enhancement opportunities and create an action plan to implement specific retail revitalization activities in shopping areas across the City. One of the major opportunities identified by the Conley Group was The Upper Broadway area as a destination retail area.
The Upper Broadway Strategy developed in the retail study represents an effort to guide City officials in developing strategies to provide destination retail and mixed use development along Broadway between West Grand Avenue and I-580. Broadway is the city’s “Main Street” and is significant because of its proximity to Downtown, its location near two BART stations and on a major AC transit bus route as well as its relationship to adjacent residential neighborhoods including the adjacent medical campuses of Kaiser and Summit/Alta Bates, the successful existing Piedmont Avenue retail street, and the edge of Lake Merritt. Recommendations contained in the Upper Broadway Strategy will serve as the basis for the Specific Plan, which will provide an area-wide set of development regulations and requirements, including the distribution, extent and location of land uses, infrastructure standards and financing mechanisms for public improvements.The goal of this project is to create a Specific Plan that provides for an urban mixed use, mixed-income development with major retail and high density housing development opportunities. Infrastructure improvements for bicycle, pedestrian, transit, and parking that provide connections with transit, regional and local commercial and activity centers, and housing in surrounding neighborhoods will be integrated into the project.
The City has engaged WRT (Wallace Roberts Todd) to prepare the plan and documents required for environmental compliance. An extensive community participation process is getting underway now. The first Community Workshop on the Upper Broadway Retail Specific Plan--focused on the Project Vision and Goals--will take place on April 2 in the Mosswood Park Recreation Center, 3212 Webster Street, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The public is invited to participate.
Lake Merritt BART Specific PlanThe Lake Merritt BART Station Area is a neighborhood ripe for change. Over the past decade, Oakland has experienced resurgence in housing and commercial development. Many of these developments are within ½ mile of Lake Merritt BART station on the neighborhood’s periphery in Downtown, along Lake Merritt and the Waterfront. Despite this transformative growth, the area immediately around the Lake Merritt BART station has seen relatively little change in the past twenty plus years even though it’s a hub for government and institutional uses, is close to the forthcoming Measure DD improvements at the south end of Lake Merritt and along the Channel, and contains moderate density housing as well. A goal of this study is to unlock the promise of this station area as a new node for transit-oriented development that for the first time connects these neighborhoods.
The Specific Plan will propose land use changes in the station area that will reduce the real and psychological barriers to increased transit use from both the immediate area and surrounding neighborhoods, including the Chinatown business and residential districts, the Laney College Campus, Waterfront Warehouse District, the Loft District and the Apartment District. The plan will seek to reinforce and integrate the cultural and recreational resources that make this area unique.
Preparation of the Specific Plan and environmental document will include a robust community participation is a component of the Specific Plan’s development. The first Community Meeting will take place in early summer.
About the Zoning Ordinance Update
The City of Oakland is continuing to update its zoning regulations, which govern the physical development of land, to be consistent with the City’s General Plan (adopted in 1998). The City Council adopted new zoning regulations for Oakland’s transitional areas, which contain a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial uses, and its industrial areas (in 2006 and 2007, respectively). The City’s planning staff have held several community meetings regarding zoning regulations as they would apply to the Central Business District, which they will be bring to the Planning Commission in April 2009.
The City’s planning staff initiated the process to update residential and commercial zoning regulations last fall. Two rounds of community meetings have been held to date on the subject, with a third round of meetings planned for the late spring to review draft zoning concepts and maps. Planning staff hopes to bring draft regulations and mapping to the Planning Commission, City Council and their respective committees starting in the late summer/early fall, beginning with the Zoning Update Committee (ZUC) of the Planning Commission, which hears proposals for changes to zoning regulations before they are presented to the full Planning Commission. Proposed zoning that is developed as part of the Specific Plans for the Upper Broadway Retail Area and the Lake Merritt BART Area eventually will be incorporated into the City’s zoning regulations, once the Specific Plans are completed.
For more information on community meetings about the update of Oakland’s zoning regulations, check here.
Feather River Camp, an Oakland Treasure
Many years ago the City of Oakland opened a camp for Oakland families in the Plumas National Forest in the Sierra Mountains outside Quincy, California. Feather River Camp, as it is called, is now the longest-running Oakland recreation program. The Camp has become quite popular, with many families returning year after year. What is so special about Feather River Camp? Imagine thousands of brilliant stars in the night sky, the sounds of rushing water, the stillness of a quiet morning, sunny blue-sky days, and children’s laughter. This is the essence of Feather River Camp, a tranquil sanctuary that encourages community, connection, laughter, joy and a love of nature.
In recent times the Camp’s facilities have begun to show their age, and not so many years ago, there was even talk of closing the camp. Long-time campers took action, formed a non-profit organization called Camps in Common (CIC), and now contract with the City to operate the Camp. CIC has just completed its sixth year of operating the Camp, making long-needed improvements along the way. Under CIC’s management there has been a steady increase in camper attendance; approximately 25% increase since 2003. It offers a re-built youth program serving ages 7 – 16. In addition to improved programming, CIC has worked with the City to introduce a new septic system and bring the water treatment operations up to Health Department Regulations.
Measure WW, the East Bay Regional Parks District’s measure approved by voters in 2008, makes $500,000 available for infrastructure improvements at Feather River Camp. New roads, improved ADA accessibility, increased lighting throughout camp, and upgrades to the water treatment and septic systems are planned.
Some of the exciting programs for the 2009 camping season include:
Teen In-Job Training Program, a one-month program for youths at least 16 years old. They will be counselors for one week at the Youth Camp as well as work at Family Camp in the recreation department. They will get mentoring in the form of a class each afternoon on environmental issues, discovering nature, finding their leadership style and becoming responsible community members.
New Teen Camp (separating the boys and girls) for ages 12-15, featuring completing a challenge course and a mini 'vision quest', and including lots of exploring, hiking and sleeping outdoors under the stars, campfire building, archery, talent shows and skits/drama/theatre, arts and crafts. There will be a rite of passage during the week.Youth Camp (Camp Kidd & Camp Sierra), which is co-ed for ages 7-11. This is a very 'traditional' fun camp filled with games, sports, nature, campfires, and arts and crafts.
Family Camp, a safe and fun environment for families. Children run free and parents get some time off as well as quality time with their kids at mealtimes and during evening programs. Each evening has a family activity such as the weekly "Flower Power: Peace, Love & Harmony Dance"....a talent show, lawn games, scavenger hunts, ice cream socials and more. Family Camp has theme weeks that add a different flavor each week to daily activities, such as Youth Art & Jazz, Family Garage Band, African Dance, Folk Dancing and County Fair & Storytelling weeks.Registration for 2009 camp sessions has opened. For information about the City of Oakland’s Feather River Camp, go here.
View from the balcony at the new Fox
Most of you have heard that the Fox Theater in downtown Oakland has finally been restored and held its Grand Opening in February. It is now open for business as a concert venue. The interior of the theater is truly amazing. The Fox is located on Telegraph near 18th Street. It is the centerpiece of the renaissance of Downtown. Despite the recession, people are showing up in droves, both for concerts at the Fox and Paramount, as well as the great new restaurants such as Flora across the street. I encourage you to see a concert there. The good news for the Fox's concert promoter, Another Planet Entertainment, is that most upcoming concerts are sold out, but there are plenty more to come. Click here for their event calendar. A really interesting story about the saga of the Fox's restoration was written by the SF Business Times, available here.
Oakland Asian Cultural Center New Year Celebration
Pungmulgut with Suljanggo and OACC Resident Artist Dohee Lee Performing Korean Drumming
Tibetan Opera featuring songs, music, and dance by Chaksampa
...more from Tibetan performers
Traditional Chinese danceThe Oakland Asian Cultural Center is located on the second floor of the Renaissance Plaza in Oakland's Chinatown. It is a wonderful cultural venue, offering art and music classes for children and adults throughout the year. It also hosts performances in the auditorium. The mission of the OACC is to promote interest in traditional art forms from Asian cultures and to promote new creative expressions as well. These photos are from the recent Lunar New Year's Celebration, which featured performances by many groups, including Tibetan singing and instruments, Mongolian song and dance, Korean dance and percussion, Chinese dance, Taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations and much more. Check out the OACC website for more information on classes and performances. The auditorium is also available for rent and is a wonderful place for fund-raisers, dinners and performances.
Lotus Bloom, a Family and Child Resource Center, Now on Park Boulevard
A wonderful new resource for families has just opened at 2008 Park Boulevard, just across the street from F.M. Smith Recreation Center. It is called Lotus Bloom Child and Family Resource Center. For a $1 donation, pre-school age children and their parents can participate in structured and drop-in play groups, parenting courses, yoga and music classes while also getting plenty of opportunities to socialize with others their age.
The Lotus Bloom Child and Family Resource Center, which is funded by donations and grants from the a foundation, the County and Oakland's Fund for Children and Youth, was located for two years on International Boulevard in the lower San Antonio.
With a $35,000 grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation as well as other money, Director Angela Louie Howard says she has about a year of solid funding. Donations will help. People pay $1 or whatever they can afford each time they come. And in the current economic downtown, Louie Howard said people will come because they are desperately in need of low-cost places to take their children to play.
Lotus Bloom also offers programs at three other Oakland park and recreation sites. In June, the Children’s Book Project of the East Bay, currently located at the Grand Lake Neighborhood Center, will move to Lotus Bloom’s new home. At the grand opening on March 7, the place was packed with dozens of spirited tots and their parents. Also there to celebrate this great addition to the neighborhood were Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, Assemblyman Sandre Swanson and Councilmember Kernighan.
Debt Service Pass Through
- Rent Board Considers Change
If you are a landlord or tenant who is interested in issues pertaining to Oakland's Rent Stabilization Ordinance, you may want to learn about and speak up on an important issue coming to Rent Board soon. It is modifications to the current Debt Service Exemption to the annual rent increase allowance. A hearing is set for March 26 (click here for info) but the report is not out yet. When the report is ready you can access it here.