City of Orinda est 1985
 Orinda Outlook
"The Nation's 2nd Friendliest City"

For the week of August 5, 2013

 By City Manager

Janet S. Keeter

Police Activity

  

We are experiencing another upswing in burglary activity and our officers are concentrating their efforts on combating this activity.

 

Weekly Property Crime Stats:

 

Auto Burglaries:                                        Residential Burglaries:

10 block of Orinda Way                              140 block Overhill Road (attempted)

20 block Via Floreado                                   40 block La Campana Road

  0 block of Bates Blvd.                                 40 block Van Tassel Lane

                                                                    200 block El Toyonal

 

Although we are diligently working on these thefts, Chief Haggard asks each of you to please keep your eyes open in your neighborhoods and report unfamiliar/suspicious vehicles or people. A quick call to the Police can assist greatly in preventing and solving these crimes. If you are home during the day make it obvious someone is home by playing a radio or TV that can be heard by the front door. If you go out front or are by a window, take a look around and report anything out of place. If you see unfamiliar vehicles look at it as best as you can to get the make, model, color and license placard. This information greatly increases our chance of locating the vehicle if it leaves the area. The license placard can give us the information on the registered owner and if they are local or not from the area.

Orinda Police arrests include, a Warrant arrest for DUI,

and an arrest for public drunkenness.

 

The Investigation Unit authored a search warrant for a computer seized from an identity theft ring. The detectives hosted the Lamorinda investigation meeting in which three Lamorinda agencies discussed crime trends and shared information in order to enhance our ability to solve crimes in the area. The unit also reviewed 2012 security audits for all local schools for the upcoming 2013 school year. The detectives assisted  the Lafayette Police Department with surveillance of a suspect in the City of Vallejo.

 

Sergeant Djajakusuma and Officer Gray attended the IMPACT team quarterly meeting/training that was held at the Danville Police Department. The IMPACT team members are officers who are trained to investigate major traffic collisions which results in a fatality.  Sergeant Djajakusuma also attended the quarterly Contra Costa County Operations Group meeting at the Pleasant Hill Police Department. The group is comprised of all police agencies in the county. The group's main task is to review Contra Costa County Protocols and make appropriate changes and/or revisions. The revised protocols are forwarded to the Contra Costa Police Chiefs Association for approval. The protocols were established to ensure uniformity in police response throughout Contra Costa County.

 

Chief Haggard was interviewed by the Orinda Weekly for an upcoming article.  Officer Zach Williams was interviewed by a Boy Scout to achieve his citizenship merit badge. The young man asked Officer Williams the difference between a robbery and a burglary and what people could do to protect themselves against burglaries.

Planning Department

 

1 Wilder Road Assisted Living Project: In response to our request for proposals to prepare an environmental impact report (EIR) for AMG's proposal to develop the 1-acre site across the street from the Wilder Ranch House, we received proposals from five well qualified firms.  The cost of preparing the EIR and processing the development application will be borne by the project proponent.  Staff will request Council authorization to enter into a contract with one of the firms at a future Council meeting.

 

Upcoming Meetings:

 

Planning Commission  -  August 13, 2013

  • 2 Alice Court - Request for extension land use approvals for a new single family residence
  • 34 Broadview Terrace - Design review for a new single family residence
  • Lot 80 in Wilder Subdivision - Design review for a new single family residence
  • 10 Avenida de Orinda - Land use applications for Fountainhead Montessori

Planning  Commission  -  August 27, 2013

  • 118 Barbara Rd. - Design review for a new single family residence
  • 5 Oak Knoll - Design review for a new single family residence
  • 261 Monte Vista Ridge - Design review and exceptions for a new single family residence

City Council  -  August 20, 2013

  • Housing Element Update and Discussion

Parks and Recreation

 

The last two weeks were devoted to older teens participating in the Creative Writing and Leadership Camps. Some of the topics and activities in the first ever Orinda Teen Leadership Camp included leadership principles, team-building exercises, discussions about what makes a good leader, resume writing, and even how to lead and teach activities. Participants took a behind the scene tour of City Hall which included a presentation by City Manager, Janet Keeter  to the teens on leadership, the governmental structure of the City of Orinda, the path she took to becoming City Manager and the importance of listening and continuing to learn. The Leadership Camp concluded with the teens putting their knowledge and skills learned into action by leading activities for children in one of the Orinda day camps.

 

The Opera in the Park, with Open Opera on Sunday on July 28, was a tremendous success. Over 1000 people came to listen to opera, socialize, and eat and drink! The Seniors Around Town and the Orinda Senior Services Committee brought approximately 40 seniors together for the warm evening and had a special section where the seniors could gather. This community event was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Orinda and supported by the City of Orinda, Orinda Parks and Recreation Foundation and the Orinda Community Center Auxiliary. The sixth Opera in the Park is being planned for July 27, 2014!

 

 

 

  Photo provided by Michelle Lacy

CERT Monthly Meeting Notice

On Monday evening, August 12th at 7PM in the Orinda Library Garden Room, Lamorinda CERT will be hosting its eighth monthly training of 2013. The topic for August is "Triage for All Ages".
 

Click Here for information on this and all upcoming meetings. 
Janet Keeter
City Manager
  
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