Planning Department 

J&J Ranch Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) -  The Draft EIR for the 13-lot Joaquin Moraga Adobe was published for public comment last week and is available at City Hall, the Library and on the City's Website at www.cityoforinda.org.  The 45-day comment period ends on March 20, 2015.  After the response to comments are prepared and the Final EIR is prepared, Planning Commission public hearings to consider the project will be held.  Staff anticipates Planning Commission meetings to be held in May 2015.

Planning Commission

February 10, 2015

• 138 Oak Road - Design review resubmittal for a new 4,680 adjusted square foot single-family residence on a vacant lot.
• 19 La Encinal - Request for a one-year extension of the land use approvals (design review, tree removal permit and exception) to allow a new 3,337 gross square foot single family residence. The approval was originally granted on July 26, 2011. Three extensions have been previously granted.
• Wilder Landscape Master Plan - Modifications to the size and quantity of trees required around the residences in the Wilder subdivision.

February 24, 2015

• 36 Las Vegas - Design review application for a new 4,530 gross square foot two-story single family home. The existing residence on the site will be demolished.
• 72 La Cuesta Drive - Re-submittal of a design review and elevated deck permit applications to allow a 441 square foot addition to a two-story 2,111 square foot residence that was previously approved by the Planning Commission
• 30 Marston Road - Design review, elevated deck and tree removal permit applications to allow a new two-story 3,737 adjusted square foot single-family residence on a vacant lot

Projects Received -

• 31 Vista Del Orinda - Grading on a slope steeper than 15%

Crime Statistics for 01-25-15 to 01-31-15

2 - Auto Burglary                                      100 block Scenic Drive

                                                      70 block Moraga Way

1 - Panhandling Arrest                              Orinda Safeway

1 - Forgery                                                30 block E Altarinda Drive

1 - Stolen Vehicle Recovery                     10 block Lavina Court

1 - Welfare Check Arrest                          Theatre Square

1 - Drunk In Public Arrest                         Orinda Library

1 - Identity Theft                                       100 block Goodfellow Drive

1 - Petty Theft                                           10 block Los Amigos

Parks and Recreation    

Little Feet on the Tennis Courts

Youth tennis programs provide motor skill and hand-eye coordination development for young children, it's also a great opportunity to introduce them to the great sport of tennis. To learn more about one of our Youth Tennis programs, watch our new Orinda Youth Tennis video featuring Tennis Instructor Drew Diefenbach. To view the video,   click here.

Orinda Teen Advisory Council has been busy...

At this month's Orinda Teen Advisory Council (OTAC) meeting teens made Valentine's Day cards for patients at the Oakland Children's hospital. This has become an annual tradition to try and brighten the day of children who are staying at the hospital over Valentine's weekend. The members also chose the Princess Project for their March donation drive. The Princess Project promotes self-confidence and individual beauty by donating prom dresses and accessories to high school girls who cannot afford them. If you have a lightly worn or new dress and/or accessories that you wish to donate, please bring your items by the Orinda Parks and Recreation office between now and March 2.

 Also, OTAC is partnering with Rx Safe Lamorinda to hold Red Watch Band Training on Saturday, February 28. The Red Watch Band Movement is designed to end alcohol and prescription drug overdose deaths by providing students appropriate training in order to effectively intervene in an alcohol or drug related emergency. Upon completion of this training, each student is given a red watch. The red watch signifies to others completion of the training, therefore if someone recognizes a friend experiencing an alcohol or drug related emergency they can seek a friend wearing a red watch for help. If you or someone you know wishes to partake in this training, please contact Troy Faulk, Program Coordinator at tfaulk@cityoforinda.org. The training will take place on Saturday, February 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

  Pickleball Every Thursday!

Looking for a new low-impact sport that's easy to learn? Drop-in at the Orinda Community Center Park Tennis Courts on Thursdays, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and give Pickleball a try. Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis. New players are welcome and encouraged to jump right in! Paddle and ball rentals are available on the court. This fun, drop-in program cancels in rainy weather.

 Pine Grove's newest playground is now open!

Public Works and Engineering Services

Lamorinda Fee and Finance Authority (LFFA): The LFFA has been working on updating the Nexus Study that establishes the Transportation Impact Fees that are collected on development in Orinda, Moraga, and Lafayette. Last week,  the elected officials that serve on the LFFA received a presentation and began a discussion of the methodology for calculating the fees and the projects that the fee will be used to construct. The consultant and staff received input and will return with additional information at the next meeting on March 2.

Southwest Area Transportation Committee (SWAT): At the recent SWAT meeting, the Committee approved the update of the Lamorinda Action Plan and it submission to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) for incorporation into the Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP) update. Once CCTA adopts the CTP the Action Plan will come back to SWAT for final adoption. The SWAT also received the 2014 annual report for the 511 Contra Costa Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program and reviewed and commented on the scope of work for a proposed update to the I-680 High Capacity Transit Study.

2014 Pavement Management Program Update: The City has received the latest update of the Pavement Management Program. Every other year the City receives a grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to update the City's pavement management program. This report is an update of the data used by the City in the StreetSaver software and keeps the City certified with the MTC's pavement management program. For 2014 MTC assigned Capitol Asset & Pavement Services (CAPS) to work with City staff to prepare this report. As in previous years, this report and the associated StreetSaver data will be used to guide the City in improving and maintaining the City's roads.

The key points of this update are:

• The City's systemwide PCI is now at 48 or in Poor condition
• The good news is that the arterial and collector roads are in fair to good condition with average PCI's of 78 and 66. The school routes are at 55.
• The bad news is the residential roads are in poor condition with an average PCI of 35
• The cost to bring the entire system to an optimum PCI of 85 is $59.2 million over a five year period.
• The report contains a scenario that approximates the Road and Drainage Repair Plan, Phase 2 (adopted in July 2014). This scenario is based on repairing all the residential roads with a PCI less than 25 first. The systemwide PCI should be at 63 at the end of five years.