City Council Meeting Highlights - April 7, 2015
Here are a few highlights from the April 7th City Council Meeting......
Items for the Good of the City
- Announcement of the Wagner Ranch Nature Area Wildlife Festival on April 19th
- The City Council and Contra Costa County Sherriff's Department recognized Reserve Officer Derek Brown for 25 Years of Service
- The Council issued a Proclamation recognizing April as Alcohol Awareness Month in Orinda
Public Hearing on Housing Element
The City Council held a public hearing and provided direction to staff to move forward with the selection of the Santa Maria Alternative site (See additional information in Planning Department Update)
Public Hearing and Request for Historic Landmark Designation of Frank Lloyd Wright Home
This item was continued to the April 21st City Council meeting.
Request for Mills Act Contract for Frank Lloyd Wright Home
This item was pulled by staff and will be brought back to the City Council at a later date.
This new feature of the Orinda Outlook is meant to serve as a highlight of items from the April 7th City Council Meeting. To view the meeting in its entirety or review meeting materials including Agenda, Minutes and Staff Reports please click HERE!
Upcoming Meetings
City Council and Commission Meetings for 04/13/15 to 04/17/15:
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 City Council
Special Budget Meeting
4 p.m. Library Auditorium, Orinda Library
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 Planning Commission
7 p.m. Sarge Littlehale Community Room
Wednesday, April 15, 2015 Wilder Subcommittee
CANCELLED
The Rescheduled Capital Improvement Plan Meeting has been set for Monday, May 4th at 8:30am at the Orinda Community Center Founder's Auditorium
Voting Box at City Hall for the May 19th Election
The very popular Red Box will be back at City Hall on April 20, 2015!
In addition, the Contra Costa County Elections Department will also have a
Red Box at the April 25th Farmer's Market!
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 Orinda Starlight Village Players Season Auditions
The Orinda Starlight Village Players (ORSVP) are holding their season auditions today, Monday, April 13 at 7 p.m. in the Orinda Community Center carpentry room. You will be asked to read from scripts provided. Those interested in Pinocchio will sing with musical director Ray Christensen.
The 2015 season of shows are: Black Coffee by Agatha Christie directed by Suzan Lorraine Chessman which will run Friday and Saturday nights from June 5 through July 4; Sunday June 28 and Thursday July 2.
Madness on Madrona Drive by Louis Flynn directed by Jill Gelster which will run Friday and Saturday nights from July 24 through August 15; Sunday August 9 and Thursday August 13. Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio adapted and directed by Malcolm Cowler which will run Friday and Saturday nights from September 12 (No September 11 performance) through October 3; Sundays Sept. 20 and 27; and Thursday October 1. For more information call Jill at 925-528-9225 or email info@orsvp.org
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Parks & Recreation
Ribbon Cutting for Pine Grove Playground on Tuesday, April 14!
Please join the City Council for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Pine Grove playground on Tuesday, April 14 at 3:30 p.m. The City is excited to add a new playground to our inventory of park amenities and would like to encourage our youngest residents to climb, jump, and run at the new playground.
Spring Break Camps were a hit!
Orinda Parks & Recreation offered half day camps the week of spring break that included baseball, carpentry, dance, softball and tennis camps. This year we added the Hit and Run Baseball/Softball camp run by National Academy of Athletics which teaches the skills required for success in youth baseball or softball by using drills to teach proper throwing, fielding, hitting, base running and pitching techniques. Both campers and parents were pleased with this new camp! One parent wrote, "My son participated in the baseball camp in Orinda this week. His coach was outstanding. I wish that all instructors were as enthusiastic, supportive, and educational as he was. My son had no baseball experience and was also the youngest, but Jason taught him some essential skills and constantly encouraged him."
If you missed out on the fun it's not too late to sign up for summer camps held weekly beginning June 15 through August 24. Check out what's being offered in Orinda's Summer Activity Guide.
Teens Volunteer at Sibley Regional Preserve
Members of the Orinda Teen Advisory Council participated in an invasive plant removal at the Sibley Regional Preserve on Saturday, March 28. Sibley staff provided the group with tools specifically designed to remove French Broom, an upright, evergreen shrub, about ten feet tall. Although French Broom has a pleasant bright yellow look to it, it does not originate from California and will outcompete our natural vegetation, killing species of local plants and negatively affecting our wildlife. Park Ranger Jim Rutledge supervised the event and provided free snacks as a thanks to our teens. This annual event has become a favorite of the teens and we hope to continue in the future.
Imagine through Art
Learn to use a variety of media and extend your understanding of art concepts. By participating in art children and adults can explore their inner creativity and let their imaginations run wild. Susan McAllister, an Instructor who offers classes through the City of Orinda, provides introductory art classes for youth and watercolor classes for adults. To learn a little bit more about her classes, click here.
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2015 ORINDA ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER FAIR
This year, the Orinda Association (OA) is sponsoring its very first "Volunteer Fair," on April 18th, from 9 am to noon, in the Orinda Library Plaza. The OA is inviting anyone curious about volunteering to drop by the Library Plaza and connect with representatives of many Orinda service and nonprofit groups, including the Orinda Arts Council, the Orinda Junior Women's Club, the Orinda Historical Society and Museum, the Friends of the Wagner Ranch Nature Area, Orinda Rotary and many more.
These groups are seeking help from a wide range of potential volunteers, from high school students through seniors. Service groups like Orinda Rotary and Orinda Juniors will have membership information.
Plus, the Orinda Association will have information on its own Volunteer Center programs - including volunteering as a driver for its popular Seniors Around Town (SAT) program, the
Fourth of July, as well as volunteer information on the many organizations throughout Lamorinda. So come and drop by to check out volunteer opportunities here in Orinda!
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Upcoming Community Activities
Orinda Action Day
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Orinda Volunteer Fair
Saturday, April 18, 2015
9:00am - 12:00noon
Trivia Bee - Orinda Chamber and Orinda Rotary!
Friday, April 24, 2015
Orinda Masonic LodgeHall
9 Altarinda Road, Orinda
State of the City Luncheon with Orinda Chamber and Orinda Rotary
Save the Date: April 29, 2015
Click Here for more information!
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Lend a hand to beautify our community!
 Orinda Action Day
of Community Service
Sponsored by Orinda Community Foundation
in partnership with City of Orinda
Lend a hand Saturday, April 18, 2015 from 9:00am to 12:00 noon for Orinda Action Day of Community Service to beautify our community. Check in at the Orinda Library Plaza beginning at 9:00am; light refreshments available. Volunteers will receive a free tee shirt. Projects take place from 9:00am - 12:00 noon. Report back successes at 12:00 noon after project completion to the Library Plaza, enjoy music and light lunch for volunteers.
Help clean up our community...
Many are within walking distance of the Library.
Kids under age 12 are welcome with parent or youth leader supervision.
Projects are available in the following categories.
* Downtown Clean-Up
* BART area
* School Projects
* Creeks/Streams/Paths
* Parks/Gardening
Be prepared to lend a hand...
Don't forget to bring hat, sunblock, water and tools as needed for your project. Wear suitable work clothes and closed toe shoes.
Trash bags and light refreshments are provided
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Adults Learn to Read Free
Volunteer Tutors Needed!
Project Second Chance (PSC) is the Contra Costa County Library's adult literacy program. If you are interested in volunteering to help an adult learn to read, write and spell better, registration is open for the next tutor training class, which begins April 22. No previous teaching experience is required. Please click here for more information or call 925.927.3250. Together we can make a difference!
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Public Works and Engineering Services
Lamorinda Program Management Committee (LPMC) - At the monthly LPMC meeting, the committee received a presentation from Nelson/Nygaard on the Lamorinda Service Plan alternatives. This plan looks at various alternatives to provide shuttle type service(s) within the three communities to the town centers and BART and thereby reduce congestion at peak hours and improve public transportation access to community destinations. The LPMC provided Nelson/Nygaard and City staff with comments on the three recommended alternatives of feeder service to BART, flexible transit services and improved school services.
Citizens' Infrastructure Oversight Commission (CIOC) - At the recent CIOC meeting the Commission reviewed a draft of the 2014 Annual Report to City Council, draft discussions of how the roads that will be repaired in 2016 will be selected and held a discussion on updating the current Road and Drainage Repairs Plan (approved in April 2014). Discussions on the road selection and plan update will be on-going over the next few months.
Camino Pablo Pavement Rehabilitation - The City met with Caltrans this week to discuss the proposed encroachment permit work along Camino Pablo between Santa Maria Way and Brookwood Road. Ghilotti Bros. is demolishing existing sidewalk or pavement areas to construct new ADA accessible pedestrian and driveway ramps. These locations include a driveway into the entrance of Beverages and More and select pedestrian ramps near the intersections of Brookwood Road, Camino Sobrante, Miner Road, and Orinda Way. These areas will need the placement of wood forms prior to the pouring of concrete for the new ramps. Generally the concrete will need to cure up to four to five days before it can be opened up to the public. The paving work will begin in the next couple of weeks with grinding down the existing pavement surface, then repairing any localized base failures, and finally overlaid with new hot mix asphalt. In addition, new poles are on order to complete the signal upgrades at the Camino Pablo intersections of Brookwood Road and Santa Maria Way which is likely to occur in a couple months.
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2nd Annual Orinda Rotary and Orinda Chamber of Commerce
Trivia Bee!!
 
Orinda Masonic Lodge 9 Altarinda Road, Orinda
Candy info@orindachamber.org
Friday April 24, 2015. Doors Open at 5:00pm
Dinner at 6pm
Game Starts at 7:00pm SHARP!
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Planning Department
Housing Element
At its April 7, 2015 meeting, the City Council moved a step closer to completing the year-long process of preparing the Housing Element update to address the mandates of State law for the next eight years. A key decision point was selection of one of three alternatives to be zoned to allow residential development at up to 20 dwelling units per acre to accommodate 48 units. During the meeting, the Council unanimously selected the Santa Maria alternative. Existing zoning on the Santa Maria property allows development at 20 to 25 units per acre (64 to 80 units on a 3.2-acre portion of the property) and therefore, the change in the zoning to implement the new Housing Element will decrease the potential number of housing units that could be developed on the site. The site has been zoned for multi-family use since City incorporation.
At its April 21 meeting, the City Council is scheduled to certify the environmental impact report and approve the final 2015-2023 Housing Element. After Council approval of the Housing Element, it will be sent to the California Department of Housing and Community Development for final review and certification.
Planning Commission
April 14, 2015
- 19 La Encinal - Request for an extension of project approvals
- 25 La Campana - Design review and tree removal applications to allow the demolition of an existing house and construction of a 2,710 square foot single family home
- 52 Camino Don Miguel - Design review, elevated deck, and tree removal application to allow construction of a new 2,736 square foot two-story single family home with a 222 square foot elevated deck
Zoning Administrator
Approved
- 22 Warford Terrace - Design review application to construct a 1,324 SF single-story addition to the existing primary residence on the property
Posted
- 59 La Espiral - Design review application to allow a 578 square foot addition to an existing single story 3,524 adjusted square foot residence
- 116 Via Floreado - Exception application for reduced front setback (to 12.4 feet) for a 118 square foot addition
- 52 Ivy Drive - Exception application for a retaining wall and fence constructed without permits in the creek setback
- 91 Acacia Drive - Tree removal permit for one oak tree, approximately 23 inches in diameter, located in the front yard
- 49 Rheem Boulevard - Exception application to allow construction of accessory structures (including an outdoor pavilion, pool house, retaining walls, and miscellaneous landscape improvements) on an area with an average slope of 19%
- 61 & 63 Orinda Way - Temporary event permit to allow the 11th Annual Orinda Classic Car Show - Sat, Sept 12, 2015
- 4 Warford Terrace - Elevated deck permit to allow construction of a 837 square foot elevated deck
Projects Received
- 9 Big Leaf Road - Design review and elevated deck applications to allow construction of a new 3,798 square foot single family home on a vacant lot in Wilder Development
- 61 & 63 Orinda Way - Temporary event permit to allow the 11th Anniversary of the Orinda Classic Car Show - Sat, Sept 12, 2015
- 4 Warford Terrace - Elevated deck permit to allow construction of a 837 square foot elevated deck
- 7 Paintbrush Lane - General use permit to allow the installation of a 1,440 sq. ft. construction project management trailer
- 6 Kenmore Court - Exception application to convert an existing 380 sq. ft. carport into a garage
- 6 Lavina Court - Exception application to allow a fence over six feet in height
- 521 Moraga Way - Exception application to allow a 12 foot screen in backyard
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For information on Tickets and a Schedule of Events, click here!
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"Ready Lamorinda" Program - The "Ready Lamorinda" Program was initiated by Orinda resident, Diana Wilde. Diana worked with MOFD staff to develop the program as a community-based approach for neighborhood preparedness. The program is designed to help families and neighborhoods become better prepared for emergencies. The effort, which is sponsored by Orinda Citizen Corps Council, kicked off on February 25th at the Orinda Library Auditorium.
The test group for the program is the St. Stephens Hilltop Neighborhood (Orinda). The neighborhoods are organized using their existing NextDoor Neighborhood boundaries which allows the program to use the power of social networking provided by NextDoor.
Residents were invited to attend three 1½ hour meetings on different topics. At the meetings they heard from local experts about Family Disaster Planning, Working with Neighbors to Create a Neighborhood Emergency Plan, Crime and Fire Prevention, Setting Up a Simple Disaster Communications Plan, and Recovering from an Event.
Thursday night City Manager Janet Keeter attended the third session and presented information to the neighborhood about the City's Disaster Plan and the Emergency Operating Center (EOC). Police Chief Mark Nagel also attended as a resource.
Diana deserves a huge gold star for her contributions to enhancing disaster preparedness in Orinda by educating and informing neighborhoods of what can be done in advance of an event and how to then respond during an event. Hopefully many more neighborhoods will take advantage of this program.
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The Orinda Police Department would like to recognize and congratulate Orinda Reserve Officer Derek Brown for 25 years of service with the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office. Of those 25 years, 20 years have been with the Orinda Police Department. Every week Derek comes to the Orinda Police Department, puts on his uniform, and provides excellent service to the Orinda community. Derek was recognized in front of City Council on April 7th where he received his 25 year recognition pin. Congratulations Derek and thank you for your service!
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Orinda Reserve Officer Derek Brown and his wife (center) pictured with
members of the Orinda Police Department
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Weekly Crime Statistics 03-29-15 to 04-04-15
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Description
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Statistic
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Location
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Subject Stop Arrest
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2
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Shell Station
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Entrance to Wilder Park
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Auto Burglary
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2
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20 block Orinda Way
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Bank of the West
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Traffic Stop Arrest
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1
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Moraga Way @ Woodland Road
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