Highlights from February 16, 2016 City Council Meeting
Last night the City Council tackled a number of exciting topics and made great progress on a number of items. Here is a recap of last night's highlights:
- Recognized Parks and Recreation Summer Camp Program
- Approved the terms and conditions for the City of Orinda Represented Employees
- Approved placing a $25 million roads and storm drains bond measure on the June 2016 ballot. A super majority vote will be needed to approve this bond.
- Approved purchasing eight (8) additional security cameras and automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) for the Police to use to deter and solve crime. Two of the ALPRs will be installed at the entrance to Wilder to capture vehicles both coming into and out of the parking lot at the park and those traveling through on Wilder Road to the residential area, and an ALPR setup will be mounted on a patrol car.
Approved mid-year budget adjustments including:
- Converting Accounting Technician position to full-time
- Converting the Planning Department's Senior Administrative Assistant position to full-time.
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Upcoming Commission and Committee Meetings
Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC)
Monday, February 22, 2016, 7:00pm
Sarge Littlehale Community Room
City Hall, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563
Planning Commission
Tuesday, February 23, 2016, 7:00pm
Library Auditorium, Orinda Library
26 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563
Finance Advisory Committee
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 6:00pm
Sarge Littlehale Community Room
City Hall, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563
Tri-Cities Council Meeting
February 29, 2016 7:00
Lafayette
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Facing Life and Death: a film and discussion at the Orinda Library
February 25, 6:30 p.m.
Orinda Library Garden Room
The Orinda library is hosting a free screening of the film,
Facing Life and Death, by East Bay filmmaker, Dr. Michelle Peticolas.
Dr. Peticolas is a sociologist, filmmaker and longtime student of Sufism.
She teaches seminars on end-of-life and leads loss support groups around the Bay Area. She has been working in the field of death and loss for over 17 years.
Producer of the award winning documentary
Secret of Life and Death, she also presents at hospitals, hospices and
community groups around northern California.
Death is a subject that much of modern western society prefers to avoid. Following the 26 minute film screening with a moderated discussion, participants will share stories and listen to the stories of others. Visit her website at www.secretsoflifeanddeath.com
Sponsored by the Friends of the Orinda Library and
in partnership with Hospice of the East Bay
Free & Open to the public - No Registration Required
6: 30 PM in the Orinda Library Auditorium. 26 Orinda Way, Orinda.
For more information, call the Orinda Library at 925-254-2184
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Planning Department
The City is in the process of modifying its Zoning Code to comply with requirements of the City's previously adopted Housing Element. These proposed Zoning Code changes are scheduled to be considered by the Planning Commission on February 23, 2016, and are tentatively scheduled to be considered by the City Council on March 15, 2016. The following are summaries of the Zoning Code changes being proposed to implement the mandates of the City's State certified Housing Element:
- Amendment to Development Standards, Zoning Code Section 17.4.34 (B): Permitted Density: The Zoning Code currently states that housing in the High Density (HD) Overlay District "shall be developed at a density of 20 units/acre". Modified wording is being proposed to expressly state that housing "may be" developed at a density of "up to" 20 units/acre in the HD Overlay District. This change adds needed flexibility in developing a residential project.
- Amendment to Development Standards, Section 17.4.34 C: "Higher Permitted Density": In this section of the Zoning Code there is currently a provision that allows multifamily development to exceed 20 units per acre, up to a higher maximum density of 25 units/acre, "if the applicant can demonstrate that development at lower density is not financially feasible". This wording is proposed to be deleted. With the proposed deletion, residential density in Orinda in the HD Overly District can only exceed 20 units/acre as allowed under State Density Bonus Law.
- Amendments to the Use Permit Requirement for Multifamily Housing in the RM Residential Medium Density Zone (up to 10 units/acre): This proposed change involves modifying the Land Use Table in Section 17.3.3 to comply with an HCD mandate contained in the adopted Housing Element that requires the City to make multiple family housing a permitted use in the RM Zoning District. The change, which would apply only to the RM Zoning District, would remove the "U" Use Permit Requirement for multifamily uses in the "RM" Zoning Designation, thereby making multifamily housing a "P" permitted use in the "RM" Zoning District. All of the properties in Orinda currently zoned "RM" are already fully developed with multiple family housing, with the exception of an approximately 6 acre portion of Santa Maria Church site, that is zoned RM and is currently undeveloped.
- Proposed Amendment to the City of Orinda Zoning Map: Lastly, a change is proposed to the size and configuration of the "HD" High Density zoning overlay zone that applies to a portion of the the Santa Maria Church property. The City is proposing to reduce the size of this HD overlay zone from 3.2 acres to 2.4 acres, as 2.4 acres is the largest area needed to meet the City's Housing Element obligation.
If you have any questions concerning the proposed
Housing Element related Zoning Code changes please contact
Interim Planning Director Victor Carniglia at 925 -253-4210 or vcarniglia@cityoforinda.org
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 Lamorinda ShortDocs Film FestOpen for Entries Starting March 1
Inaugural festival to showcase "six-minutes or less" films by local filmmakers of all ages Lights! Camera! Action! Are you a local filmmaker or an aspiring movie director or producer? If so, please enter the first-ever Lamorinda Arts Council's Lamorinda ShortDocs Film Fest starting on March 1, 2016 The festival consists of workshops and a judged contest designed to not only promote local filmmaking, but also to encourage novice filmmakers of all ages to learn how to produce documentary films. For more information about the Lamorinda ShortDocs Film Fest competition and to enter, go to http://www.lamorindaarts.org/shortdocs
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District Seeks Applicants to Serve on
Parcel Tax Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee
The Orinda Union School District is seeking applicants to serve on its Parcel Tax Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. Currently there are two openings: one two-year term and one four-year term. The committee meets twice annually during normal business hours. The primary objective and purpose of this committee is to ensure that the parcel tax proceeds are spent for their authorized purpose and to report annually to the Board of Trustees and the public regarding the expenditure of such funds.
If you are interested in serving on the committee, please submit an application to:
Superintendent's Office
Orinda Union School District
8 Altarinda Road, Orinda, CA 94563
via email to kfrenklach@orinda.k12.ca.us,
or by fax to (925) 254-5261
Committee members will be approved by the Board of Trustees at the
March 14, 2016 meeting. Applicants will be notified of the final decisions by mail.
Application deadline is Friday, March 4, 2016, at Noon
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