City of Orinda est 1985
 Orinda Outlook 

For the week of August 17, 2015

       By City Manager  

      Janet S. Keeter
Parks and Recreation

Last Movie in the Park!!!
 Movies in the Park will conclude with community favorite
Frozen Sing-a-long on August 20, 2015.
Summer movies are held at Orinda Community Park and begin at dusk.
We would like to thank the Orinda Park and Recreation Foundation
and the Orinda Community Foundation for their generous
financial support for this series.

Weekly Instructor Spotlight            
The Orinda Parks and Recreation Department strives to better the lives of residents of the Orinda community now and in the future by offering access to the serenity and inspiration of nature, outdoor spaces to play and exercise, facilities for self-directed and organized recreation, positive alternatives for youth, and activities that facilitate social connections, human development, the arts, and lifelong learning. To help cultivate this type of environment the City contracts with remarkable independent instructors who can provide specialized programs and classes. We will be "spotlighting" one instructor per week.

 
    

This week we'd like to introduce you to Chris Herrick with the Lamorinda Wrestling Club, who has answered a few questions which we would like to share.
 
1. How did you become interested in the subject which your class focuses on?
I grew up in western Pennsylvania which has a strong wrestling tradition. My grandfather was the head wrestling coach at West Virginia University so wrestling has always been part of my life.
 
2. What experience do you have teaching on the subject?
I wrestled from the age of 7 to 18 and got back into the sport when my son turned seven. I started off volunteering with the Walnut Creek Wrestling Club and decided, along with Co-coach Chris Cooper, to bring wrestling closer to the Lamorinda area so we partnered with OYA.
 
3. What is your favorite part about what you teach?
I love teaching kids that wrestling is not about brute strength or aggressiveness but about learning technique in order to control an opponent. Kids quickly learn that it is not the strongest kid who wins but the one who is a student of the sport and has the focus and patience to learn proper technique.
 
4. What do you hope students will learn/gain from your class?
Kids build self-confidence, learn how to defend themselves and build an appreciation for the world's oldest and greatest sport.
 
"No one who ever gave his best regretted it." - George Halas
Public Works and Engineering Services

2015 Annual and Measure J & L Pavement Rehabilitation Project
An important milestone for the City of Orinda was reached last week as the largest paving contract in our history was awarded!  This contract will kickoff residential road repairs using 2014 Measure J Bond funding. The City received four bids and awarded the construction contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Bay Cities Paving & Grading, Inc. based out of Concord, CA, in the amount of $5,218,808.30. The project will rehabilitate the worst residential streets with the most traffic usage. The project includes more than 25 street segments, equaling more than 8 miles and are spread throughout the City. Construction is expected to start at the end of August/early September and will continue through the end of the year. City staff will be working with the contractor to establish a schedule in order to provide updates  regarding when each street will be worked on in roughly two week windows. More information will be posted on the City's website and in the Orinda Outlook, so please check back for updates.  
Contra Costa Transportation Authority Update Meeting
City staff met with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) Director and his staff to be updated on the proposed 2016 sales tax ballot measure and the associated Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP), and the status of the Countywide Transportation Plan (CTP) Update. CCTA presented the current revenue estimates, which could be generated, and reviewed the process and schedule for preparing the TEP which will define how the revenue could be spent. CCTA will be working with the cities, county and other stakeholders over the coming months to have a TEP ready for approval in July 2016, in anticipation of having a ballot measure for the November 2016 election. In light of the overlap between the TEP and the update to the CTP, the CCTA has delayed final approval of the CTP and will be running the CTP approval on a parallel schedule with the TEP.
From the Desk of Police Chief, Mark Nagel

The Orinda Police Department responds to an average of 2000 false alarms each year. Patrol Officers are spending valuable patrol time responding to false alarm calls which cuts into preventative patrol measures of other police duties.
 
The City of Orinda Municipal Code 8.12.070 states: "A. For every Orinda Police Department response to a false alarm in excess of two during any ninety (90) day period, the subscriber of the errant alarm shall pay a false alarm fee." The fee for false alarms is $281.00.
 
Alarm systems are a valuable asset to crime detection and crime prevention. The City of Orinda promotes the effective and proper use of alarm systems. You can help reduce the likelihood of additional false alarms if you:
  1. Be sure to have a good quality alarm system that has been installed by a licensed alarm company.
  2. Train your family members and all of your employees on the alarm system to ensure they are familiar with the code and how it works.
  3. Have your alarm system tested on a regular basis.
  4. Be sure your alarm company provides you with a cancellation code and make sure all authorized users know the code. In the event of an accidental activation of your alarm, immediately contact your alarm company.
  5. If your residence has a perimeter fence or gate that has a lock or security code, make sure that our alarm company has the most up to date information when providing an alarm call to the 24-hour dispatch.
City Celebrates 30 Years of Incorporation!
 
The last of our concerts for the 2015 season occurred last Tuesday night with Cami Thompson and the Cosmopolitans!  Over 400 community members enjoy ed this incredible jazz band sponsored by the Rotary Club of Orinda. The 30th anniversary of Incorporation for the City of Orinda was celebrated at the concert with Mayor as a speaker and both past and present council members in attendance.

Orinda beach balls were given out as well as green and white cupcakes.
A great time was had by all!! 
Upcoming Council and Committee Meetings

City Council Regular Meeting
Tuesday, August 18, 2015, 7:00pm
Library Auditorium, Orinda Library
26 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563

Finance Advisory Committee
Wednesday, August 26, 2015, 6:00pm
Sarge Littlehale Community Room
City Hall, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563

Mayor's Community Liaison Meeting
Tuesday, September 1, 2015, 8:30am
Sarge Littlehale Community Room
City Hall, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563

Citizens' Infrastructure Oversight Commission
Wednesday, September 9, 2015, 6:30pm
Sarge Littlehale Community Room
City Hall, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563

Parks & Recreation Commission
Wednesday, September 9, 2015, 7:00 pm
Orinda Community Center, Room 7
28 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 9456

Public Works Aesthetic Review Committee (PWARC)  
Monday, September 21, 2015, 9:00am
Sarge Littlehale Room, City Hall
22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563
 
Crime Statistics for August 9, 2015 to August 15, 2015

Description
Statistic
Location
Vehicle Theft
2
600 Block Tahos Road
  
100 Block Lombardy Lane
   
Identity Theft
3
20 Block Warford Terrace
  
200 Block Orchard Road
  
90 Block Tappan Lane
   
Arrest - Possess Dangerous Drugs
1
Donna Maria Way / Sager Ct.
   
Arrest - Probation Violation
1
Altarinda Road/Santa Maria
   
Planning Department 

August 11, 2015
  • 31, 33, 35, 37, and 39 Wilder Road  - Design review applications for new single family homes proposed by Taylor Morrison of California, LLC. 31 and 33 approved. 35, 37 and 39 continued to August 25 Planning Commission meeting (5-0 vote).
  • 19 La Encinal - Extension of design review, tree removal permit and exception approvals to allow a new 3,337 square foot single family residence. Approved final extension for 1 year (4-1 vote).
  • Review and discussion of Planning Commission Rules and Procedures. Review and discussion initiated and continued to August 25 Planning Commission meeting (5-0 vote).
August 25, 2015
  • 1 Camino Sobrante - Commercial use permit to allow a bank (Chase Bank) in a Type I retail space. 
  • Code Amendments - Review and provide recommendations to the City Council on proposed amendments to the regulations pertaining to Landscape Structures (OMC 17.4.24) and Duration of design and other approvals (OMC 17.30.12, 17.44.1 and 17.44.3).
Continued hearings:
  • 35, 37, 39 Wilder Road
  • Planning Commission Rules and Procedures 
 Zoning Administrator
 
Approved
  • 3 Charles Hill Place - Elevated deck permit for a 320 square foot deck extension to an existing deck on the back (west elevation) of the home.
  • 24 Charles Hill Road - Design review for gate and fence along the western (street-facing) side of the property within the public ROW, and Exception Permit for a fence height of 6 feet rather than the code-allowed 4 feet.
  • 35 El Toyonal - Elevated deck permit for a 1,245 square foot deck in the rear yard of the property.
  • 28 Scenic Drive - Exception application to remove a rectangular portion of an existing attached garage that currently extends over the side property line. The resulting building will still be in nonconformance with setback requirements, at 3 feet from the side property line.
  • 28 Robert Road - Design review for a proposed 1,059 square-foot, single-story addition to an existing 1,854 square-foot, single-family residence, resulting in a 2,913 square-foot residence.
Posted
  • 211 Courtney Lane - Elevated deck permit application to rebuild and expand existing deck and replace part of the deck with a pervious patio.
  • 10 Wilder Road:  Use permit application for temporary sales trailer complex and construction trailer for Taylor Morrison of California, LLC at Wilder.
  • 106 Camino Don Miguel - Zoning Administrator Hearing 8/24 for a Hillside Grading Permit to allow grading on slope greater than 15%.
  • 59 La Espiral - Zoning Administrator Hearing 8/26 for a design review application for a 578 square foot addition to an existing single story 3,524 adjusted square foot residence.
New Projects
  • 378 Camino Sobrante - Design review application for 998 square foot addition to an existing 2,641 square foot home in the ridgeline overlay district.
Janet Keeter
City Manager
  
We would like to hear from you!
Send your comments or questions to:
or call 925-253-4291