The City of Orinda Offices will be

closed on Monday, May 26, 2014

 in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday

City offices will re-open Tuesday, May 27, 2014

If you need to contact the Orinda Police Department during this office closure, please call 925-284-5010.

You will be connected with the Contra Costa Sheriff's Department Dispatch Center for assistance.

Orinda's Sleepy Hollow neighborhood has been recognized as a Firewise Communities/USAŽ site by the national Firewise Communities program for its efforts to reduce the vulnerability of homes and landscapes to wildfire.

The award was presented during a Community Meeting at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Orinda on Thursday, May 8th. The meeting was attended by Sleepy Hollow residents, representatives from the Moraga-Orinda Fire District, Cal Fire, Janet Keeter- Orinda's City Manager, Police Chief- Mark Nagel, Ken Gallegos the Sleepy Hollow School Principal and Tonya Hoover, California's State Fire Marshal.

"We just don't want to think about wildfire burning homes in our neighborhood but we know it can happen here. That's why it's so important to keep working together to keep our neighborhoods safe." said Deb Stephenson, Sleepy Hollow's FireWise Community representative. Sleepy Hollow is the first community in Contra Costa County to be recognized as a Firewise Community, joining many other communities nationwide that have been recognized since the program's inception in 2002.

Planning Commission

May 13, 2014

Training Workshop

The City Attorney led a training workshop for the Planning Commissioners and discussed the Brown Act and Ex-parte communications. Planning staff, the City Manager, City Clerk and Council Liaison to the Commission were also in attendance.

Regular Meeting

• 47 Orchard - Design review for a new 11,882 adjusted square foot single family residence and a general use permit for 2 new detached garages -
  Approved
• 23 Big Leaf Way - Design review and elevated deck for a new 3,376 square foot single family residence at Wilder - Approved
• 519 Miner Road - Design review and tree removal permit for a new single family residence - Continued to June 24, 2014.
• Capital Improvement Program General Plan Consistency - The Commission found the CIP to be consistent with the Orinda General Plan

May 27, 2014

• 120 Alta Haciendas - Design review, elevated deck, exception, and tree removal permits for a new 4,890 square foot single family residence on a vacant lot

Zoning Administrator:

Posted:

• 66 Muth Drive - Elevated deck

Approved:

• 10 Edgewood Road - Elevated deck
• 230 Courtney Lane - Elevated deck

New Projects:

• 24 Brookside Road - Design review and elevated deck permit for a second unit

Recently, the Orinda Police Department was notified of an elderly gentleman who walked away from an assisted care facility in Orinda. An immediate search was conducted by the care facility staff and unfortunately he was not located. Orinda Officers continued that search on foot and by vehicle through the surrounding streets and parks. As the day turned to evening hours, additional resources were called to assist with the search. The Contra Costa Sheriff's Office helicopter was called to fly over Orinda and search the open areas for a "heat signature" by utilizing the FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) camera and the Danville P.D. K-9 was called to attempt a track. These measures also did not locate the 70 year old gentleman.  A Nixle message was broadcast to residents in the event someone could have seen him walking on the street.  The Contra Costa Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team responded to assist with the search. Approximately 15 men and woman drove to the check point in Orinda and were put into action. With flashlights, walking gear, GPS devices and a search and rescue dog, all of the volunteers walked every possible direction and looked at every conceivable place the missing person could shelter for the night.

Due to the absence of a photograph and no concrete leads as to the direction of travel, the search was concluded at 3am. The following morning, a community broadcast call was placed by the Sheriff's Office (TENS Message) in the hopes of catching the morning commuters providing a physical description in the event he was seen walking on a street. Before noon, the missing person was located alive and well.

It is imperative Police and Search and Rescue have a recent photograph of anyone that might be at risk of walking away or getting lost. Please take a moment and photograph family members or anyone that needs care and have the photo available in the event they get lost and can't find their way home.

Public Works 

Citizens' Infrastructure Oversight Commission (CIOC): Staff provided a recap of the April 22, 2014 City Council meeting during which the Road and Drain Repairs Plan was approved. The Commission was also provided an update on the Master Drainage Study which is underway and scheduled for completion mid-summer.  The Commission also discussed partnering with the City of Lafayette on reconstructing White Oak Drive which starts in Lafayette and ends in Orinda. The CIOC will continue the discussion at a future meeting.