 | |
City of Orinda est 1985
|
|
"The Nation's 2nd Friendliest City"
For the week of August 19, 2013
By City Manager
Janet S. Keeter
|
|
Draft Housing Element
The Orinda City Council will continue discussion of the Draft Housing Element at its August 20, 2013 regular meeting which begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Orinda Library Auditorium. The City Council will not take any final action regarding the Draft document but will receive public comments and direct staff to make amendments as deemed appropriate. The document, in its current form, is draft and can be revised to reflect changes per Council direction.
|
|
Police Activity
Orinda Police arrests include, an arrest for driving under the influence, 2 arrests for drunk in public, a Warrant arrest for theft of access card and a Warrant arrest for petty theft .
The Investigation Unit continued their investigation on a residential burglary ring. The detectives wrote a search warrant for a seized computer. The warrant will allow the detectives to examine the hard drive in hopes of finding evidence.
Officer Cook attended a Traffic Collision Investigation course. The 40-hour course enhances an officer's ability to investigate a traffic collision.
Chief Haggard attended a three day Disaster Preparedness Class on Emergency Operations Management. A portion of the class involved a table top exercise in which an earthquake occurred and Chief Haggard acted as the Operations Chief where he managed the tremendous amount of initial information on the event. It was a great class and a good learning experience in Emergency Operations for our Chief.
|
|
|
Planning Department
Planning Commission Activity - August 13, 2013
The Planning Commission held a marathon meeting Tuesday night that ended around 12:20 AM. Twenty members of the public spoke on the Fountainhead Montessori application with ten speaking in support of the application and ten speaking in opposition of the application. Before considering the merits of the design review and use permit applications for the project, the Commission first considered the threshold question of whether or not the City's development policies and regulations allow the use in the Downtown Commercial District. On a 5-2 vote (McGrath and Baltodano dissenting), the Commission opined that the use is allowed, subject to a use permit. The item was continued to the August 27 meeting at which time the Commission will consider the merits of the land use entitlements and the applicability of the CEQA In-fill exemption.
Meeting With Orindawoods Residents
The Planning Director and City Manager invited the Orindawoods Homeowners Association President, Cat Schmidt to meet and discuss the Draft Housing Element and specifically about the proposal in the Draft document to amend the zoning of the 3.2-acre Santa Maria site in order to meet a portion of the City's affordable housing requirements. Ms. Schmidt and three other Orindawoods residents expressed their concerns with affordable housing on the site and inquired about alternatives to meet the State of California mandates.
|
Finance Department
As part of the ongoing effort to make financial information available to the public, the City of Orinda has developed financial dashboards that are viewable on the City's website. The dashboards graphically display financial information that is easy to read and understand. The financial information includes multi-year revenue, expense, fund balance, property tax allocation, and reserve balances for the City's general fund. To view the dashboards, go to www.cityoforinda.org and look on the right side of the page under Quick Links - "Fiscal Dashboards".
|
|
Public Works
Tarabrook Drainage Project - Last December when a sink hole appeared on Tarabrook at Evergreen the City began developing a project to replace the pipe that failed and created the sinkhole. Last week staff held a coordination meeting with our construction management consultant to set the construction schedule and project plan. We have sent an informational mailing to the neighborhood on the status of the project which includes a newly designed 36-inch reinforced concrete pipe to replace the failed 24-inch corrugated metal pipe. The new pipe will be installed at a depth of 25 feet utilizing a method known as jack and bore to minimize surface disturbance and impact to the neighborhood. As such, we plan to have Tarabrook and Evergreen remain open to traffic during construction although there may be one way traffic control as needed.
Master Storm Drainage Study - This week staff has been reviewing the five consultant proposals we received to perform a Master Storm Drainage Study of the City's drainage facilities. Staff will be bringing a recommendation to the Council in the very near future.
Manzanita Bridge - Construction of the bridge is moving right along. A major construction milestone will be reached later this week when concrete for the new bridge deck will be placed.
|
|
Parks and Recreation
August has been a busy month for camps with Orinda children and teens taking one of the many camps offered by the Orinda Parks and Recreation Department. This week, the Parks and Recreation Department has adult Beginning Bridge and Fall Prevention classes starting the week of August 19th.
For adults, although summer is almost over, there is still time to participate in an Orinda Senior Outing. Join us for a trip to Apple Hill on Aug 21st and enjoy apple butter, cider, caramels and so much more! Hop on the bus, meet other adventurers and take a trip to Apple Hill. There is plenty of time to shop and take in the views as we visit the ranches and orchards of Apple Hill. Lunch is provided. Transportation is made possible by a grant from Orinda Parks and Recreation Foundation. The trip leaves from the Orinda Community Center on Wednesday, August 21st, 9:00am-5:00pm, $41 (Orinda residents) /$47 non-residents. Two more weeks of summer camps remain with a variety of camps being offered. Our staff is also busy preparing for the fall youth soccer and water polo leagues.
The City of Orinda is hosting a quarterly Red Cross blood drive on Wednesday, September 11, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Department. An urgent need remains for platelet donors, as well as donors with O negative, B negative and A negative blood. Donating is easy. Stop by on your lunch break or on your way to work. Your community needs your help! To schedule your appointment or for more information, go to www.redcrossblood.org (sponsor code: ORINDA) or call 1-800 RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Your donation can save up to three lives! Help us reach our goal and make Orinda proud!
|
Student Transit Ticket Program
511 Contra Costa provides free public transit tickets as an alternative to driving your student to school for School Year 2013/2014. Qualifying students will receive two 12-ride County Connection transit tickets. Students must be registered in a public or private school (1st - 12th grade) in San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Lafayette, Moraga, or Orinda. This offer is available at a maximum of 3 students per household while supplies last. The application is available at:
http://511contracosta.org/schools/schoolpool-program/application/
Drive Less Commuter Incentive Program
Get $50 just to try another way to get to work! Whether it is one day a week or five days a week, you are making a difference to help improve air quality and to reduce traffic congestion by driving less and using a commute alternative. For more information regarding the 511 Contra Costa commuter incentives, visit
511cc.org/driving/ or you can contact Darlene Amaral, Transportation Demand Management contractor for the City of Orinda at (925) 973-2655 or damaral@511cc.org
.
|
Orinda Night Out
On Thursday, September 12th, from 5pm - 8pm, Orinda is celebrating our 6th Orinda Night Out. Last year more than 600 Orindans enjoyed events all around town. You still have time to plan an event in your neighborhood.
Some Orinda neighborhoods have a potluck, others party around the pool and still other bring in bouncy houses for the children and have an ice-cream party. There are so many ways to enjoy sharing an evening with your neighbors, meet those you don't know and share information to make our town safe.
Orinda City Council Members, City Manager, the Police Chief, Police Officers, MOFD Fire Personnel and Orinda Citizen Corps Council members are available to attend your event.
To schedule visits, please contact
pattiyoung1@comcast.net or phone 510-910-0311
|
Janet Keeter
City Manager
We would like to hear from you!
Send your comments or questions to:
or call 925-253-4291
| |
|
|
|
|
