Below Market Rate (BMR) Homes Workshop  

January 13, 2014

A workshop will be held on January 13, 2014 to provide potential buyers with details of the application process and the requirements for purchase of the below market rate homes in the Orinda Grove project, developed by Pulte Homes, Inc. The project includes 65 market rate homes and eight (8) below market rate homes. The site also includes a new Orinda Union School District office building, new City-owned ball fields and a tot lot.

The first opportunity to qualify to purchase one of the below market rate homes will be given to households with at least one member who is currently employed in Orinda and has worked in Orinda for one year or more and meets the

• Household must have four or more members
• Household's gross annual income cannot exceed 120% of area median income adjusted for household size, as follows:

• 4-person household: $112,200
• 5-person household: $121,200
• 6-person household: $130,150

To obtain further information, please plan to attend the public workshop on January 13, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the auditorium in the City of Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way. (Child care will be provided by the City during the public workshop.) 

Information, including the initial application, is available on the City of Orinda's website, www.cityoforinda.org.

If you have further questions, email Christina Ratcliffe in the City of Orinda Planning Department at cratcliffe@cityoforinda.org.

The City of Orinda is accepting initial applications from applicants who meet the basic eligibility requirements. Initial applications must be received by the City no later than February 18, 2014. All eligible applicants will be entered into a drawing for the purchase of a below market rate home.

"The Nation's 2nd Friendliest City" 

The City is accepting applications for a full-time Associate Engineer position in the Public Works and Engineering Services Department. For more information on this employment opportunity, please visit the City's employment page at www.cityoforinda.org.  

The final filing date for this position is Monday, January 27, 2014.

After many years of planning, design and construction the new bridge is nearing completion.   The contractor has completed paving the approaches to the new bridge and is close to opening the bridge to two-way traffic.  The remaining work is to raise the existing manholes, pavement striping, landscape restoration of the disturbed areas and final site clean-up. The bridge should be fully open to traffic next week after the striping is completed.

  "The Nation's 2nd Friendliest City"

Specialized Patrol Services (J Team)

By Chief Scott Haggard

One of the many benefits associated with contract police services with the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is the use of the Sheriff's vast resources free of charge. Resources include search and rescue, emergency support and equipment, helicopters, K9 units, and support patrol personnel.

Due to the spike in residential burglaries, I requested the help of the Sheriff's Specialized Patrol Services Unit "J Team" to assist us in battling the increase in burglaries. You may have noticed them around in the neighborhoods the week before Christmas.

The "J Team" is a select group of deputies who respond to assist Sheriff's Patrol throughout unincorporated Contra Costa County. The "J" stands for "justice" and there is debate in the Sheriff's Office regarding the origin of that moniker. The primary function of the team is to support patrol by tackling certain crime problems using a variety of methods including area saturation, use of informants, undercover work and surveillance. The team does not respond to calls for service unless it is an emergency so that they are able to focus on the task at hand.  I will continue to request support from the J Team in an effort to decrease  crime in our community.  

Additional information can be obtained by calling the Orinda Police at (925) 254-6820.