2017 Newsletter Archive

Over the past few weeks, our neighborhood has experienced an uptick in high-profile robberies. I take this very seriously and have been working with the Berkeley Police Department and our City Manager to address these issues.

I have set up and attended neighborhood meetings with Berkeley police officers and am willing to help your neighborhood if you haven’t reached out to me. I also encourage your neighborhood, if you haven’t already, to set up a neighborhood watch organization.

To form a group or join a Neighborhood Watch, please contact the Community Services Bureau at 510-981-5806. After your initial meeting, a local beat officer will attend your regular meeting to provide information about crime conditions in your neighborhood, crime prevention, and ways to focus on safety in and around your home. Our Berkeley Police Department Area Coordinator is Officer Sean Tinney [email protected]

For more information on how to get started, please visit http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Police/Home/Neighborhood_Watch.aspx

Also, please download a neighborhood watch packet here.

Please remember to always report theft incidents that don’t require immediate police attention. For instance, if you accidentally left your car unlocked overnight and someone rummaged through the vehicle, it is very important to report that via the online crime reporting system. BPD meets regularly to determine where/if they need to allocate more officers in a particular area. Reported incidents can influence how many officers are allocated to a particular area. Please remain vigilant.

Finally, I will continue to discuss with City management beats, staffing, and circulation throughout our district in order to ensure we are utilizing our City resources appropriately and employing effective strategies to deter crime. I share your concerns in wanting Berkeley Police Department to have a plan to suppress robbery and I support efforts to address crime in our neighborhood. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have further questions.

Elmwood Business Vacancies

I have been meeting regularly with our Economic Development director to address vacancies in the Elmwood. He reports that there are no new issues or “red flag” root causes threatening the overall economic health of the district. Some of the businesses have closed/are closing for unrelated and unique situations. For instance, Jeremy’s and Lululemon were thriving over the past year with record sales, but the owner of each business chose to pursue other opportunities.

That said, there is a decades-long trend of non-food retail sales being generally flat in Berkeley, primarily due to competition from the Internet and big box retail in neighboring cities. It’s been tougher to find new, independently-owned retail businesses that are looking to take over new spaces. That’s why I think it’s incredibly important to patronize our local businesses on College Avenue!

Nevertheless, the vacancy rate is still within the bounds of what is considered “healthy” and our Economic Development Director feels confident those spaces will be filled shortly after vacancy.

Your Input is Needed to Help Berkeley!

Use the City’s new online engagement tool – Berkeley Considers – to provide input on the Berkeley Strategic Plan, a blueprint to guide City priorities for improving our service to the community.

The survey, which will take less than 10 minutes to complete, is an opportunity for you to communicate what you think are the most important issues facing the Berkeley community. The input from you and others’ will inform the goals and priorities included in the Berkeley Strategic Plan, which will serve as a guide for how we allocate our time and resources over the next two years and beyond.

Access the Strategic Plan survey on Berkeley Considers through Tuesday, February 28th.

March 10, 2017

Happy March!

UPCOMING EVENTS
There are two very important meetings on Saturday, March 18.

Berkeley Emergency Prep Fair
The Berkeley Emergency Prep Fair is on Saturday, March 18 from 10:00AM-2:00PM at Le Conte Elementary School at 2241 Russell. This is a FREE community-wide event that is geared for the whole family. Join us for interactive demonstrations, onsite training, tips and information, kids activities, music, and so much more.

Measure T1 Workshop
There will be a T1 community meeting on Saturday, March 18 from 10:00AM-1:00PM at the Frances Albrier Community Center in San Pablo Park at 2800 Park St. This will be a joint meeting of the Public Works Commission and the Parks Commission. There will be three meetings (March 18, March 25, and April 8) to seek community input on the T1 bond program to fund parks and City buildings. For more information, contact Roger MIller at 981-6704.

POLICY UPDATES
There are quite a few items on the agenda for March 14. Here are a few highlights:

Recreational Opportunities and Equity at Willard
I authored a referral to ask our City Manager, Parks and Waterfront Commission, and 2×2 BUSD and city committee to determine the best course of action for increased recreational equity in South Berkeley, including but not limited to the re-opening of Willard Pool. I have authorized staff to develop cost estimates for a minimal level of repairs to get Willard Pool operational. Our Mayor Jesse Arreguin, Councilmember Ben Bartlett, and Councilmember Kriss Worthington have co-sponsored this with me.

Willard Pool closed seven years ago; as a result, the residents of Berkeley, particularly South Berkeley, have lost an important centerpiece for aquatics education and community building. I believe this is a public health issue, an equity issue, and a recreational issue.

Alta Bates
The Mayor, Councilmember Sophie Hahn, Councilmember Kriss Worthington and I have co-sponsored an amendment to our municipal code regulating changes to health care facilities. Among other specifications, this item will ensure that appropriate notice is delivered and posted and public hearings are conducted prior to the closing of a hospital, clinic, or outpatient facility that serves the City of Berkeley. As you may recall, I authored a couple of items last year regarding the potential closure of Alta Bates. Council unanimously passed a resolution I co-authored opposing the closure of Alta Bates. This is another step in trying to ensure that the city safeguards our citizens’ health. In addition, Council will also be voting on adopting a resolution supporting Senate Bill 687, authored by our State Senator Nancy Skinner, which will give the State Attorney General the authority to oversee and consent to the sale/closure of nonprofit hospitals and emergency rooms.

Sidewalks
There are three items on the action agenda related to sidewalk access. The first item in the Traffic Engineer Regulations specifies what objects are exempt and prohibited on sidewalks. The second and third items address sidewalk safety for people with disabilities.

Berkeley BABIES and Berkeley Mothers Initiatives
I introduced, and Council passed, two proposals to help Berkeley parents: the Berkeley BABIES Initiative and the Berkeley Mothers Initiative.

Berkeley BABIES Initiative
The BABIES Initiative directs the City Manager to ensure that all publicly accessible City buildings have at least one baby changing station installed in both a women’s and a men’s restroom, or an all-gender restroom. In addition, this measure also mandates businesses to have diaper changing accommodations in both men and women’s publicly-accessible bathrooms. This is incredibly necessary and helpful to any parent who is taking care of a child and on the go.

Berkeley Mothers’ Initiative
We need to make sure that nursing mothers readily have information on where they can pump. The Berkeley Mothers Initiative clarifies that all City buildings provide and maintain least one private place reasonably close to an employee’s workspace for breastfeeding mothers to pump, and make that information readily accessible.

I’m proud that both the Berkeley BABIES Initiative and the Berkeley Mothers Initiative passed unanimously!

Extensions to Residential Preferential Parking
In response to petitions from neighbors, I voted in favor of extending the Residential Preferential Parking Program along a portion of Claremont Avenue. The Residential Preferential Parking Program gives priority parking to residents in designated areas. For more information about the Residential Preferential Parking, click here, and to download the RPP application, click here.

Crime Update
Over the past few weeks, I have had several neighborhood meetings to address crime in our neighborhood with the Berkeley Police Department. My office will be more than willing to set up a meeting with you and your neighbors as well.

As a first step in addressing crime, Councilmember Susan Wengraf and I want to create a voluntary database of private security cameras throughout Berkeley. This was previously addressed by Council and merits revisiting. BPD has informed us that a database like this would greatly assist them in apprehending repeat perpetrators.

Keep in mind that the City maintains an active crime prevention webpage which you can access here. In addition, Berkeley Police offers the following services:

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design where BPD come out to your home to evaluate for safety
Vacation Watch
Sign up for NIXLE which will email and text you up to the minute emergency information.

Finally, please program Berkeley Police Department’s emergency number into your phone 510-981-5911. Also, program the non-emergency number as well. 510-981-5900.

Commissioner Spotlight: Kieron Slaughter
I’m delighted to introduce Kieron Slaughter as my Commissioner to the Housing Advisory Commission.

Kieron was born and raised in the city of Berkeley, and as a child grew up exploring the area’s unique parks and open spaces. As an adult, his favorite parts of the city have expanded to Berkeley’s community facilities, employment centers, and public transportation. He was drawn to the commission through his love of the community and his desire to give back and contribute his expertise. He is interested in finding new, innovative ways to increase affordable housing and efficient development.

As a new commissioner, Kieron is eager to get to know the lay of the land and the other members of the Housing Advisory Commission. In future, he wants to focus on creating a broad range of housing types, particularly medium-density housing. He is also passionate about the future of transportation in Berkeley, and would like to see the city take a leadership role in adapting to car sharing, bike sharing, and public transport. Kieron is the father of twins and enjoys showing them around the Bay Area in his free time.

Sincerely,

Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8

Check out my website: www.LoriDroste.com

Need a street or sidewalk repair? Want to report illegal dumping?

Use Berkeley’s online 311 form (either through the General Request form or a specific topic) or call 311 from a landline, or 510-981-2489. Please note that my office routes all the service requests we receive through this customer service center, so your request will be handled most efficiently by directly contacting 311.

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March 31, 2017

Happy Spring!
PARTICIPATE AT COUNCIL MEETINGS FROM HOME!

Weigh in on a new homeless proposal.
Last year, the Open Government Subcommittee (of which I am a member) asked Council to adopt an online platform which allows residents to provide input on Council action. As a result, we have a new online engagement program called Berkeley Considers. The first Council agenda item that you can weigh in on is Mayor Arreguín and Councilmember Hahn’s Pathways Project, which outlines a homeless tent-cabin village with navigation centers and a 1,000 homeless person plan, to address homelessness in Berkeley. You can read about the proposal in Berkeleyside or see the full details for yourself, and provide comments via the online platform here. Alternatively, you can feel free to provide comments to City Council at [email protected] or [email protected].

POLICY UPDATES
Recreational Equity and Health Care Facilities
I am happy to report that my referral to address recreational equity in South Berkeley, including but not limited to the re-opening of Willard Pool, passed unanimously on March 14. This is just a first step but nevertheless, I am excited. In addition, the amendment to our municipal code regulating changes to health care facilities also passed that night.

Security Camera Database
On Tuesday, Council also passed an item I co-sponsored with Councilmembers Susan Wengraf and Kriss Worthington to ask the City Manager for an update on a previous referral to create a voluntary database of security cameras to help police solve serious crimes.

Ashby Avenue Pedestrian, Bicyclist, and Traffic Improvements
I am also thrilled that Council approved the contract for intersection improvements at Ashby/Claremont and Ashby/Hillegass. We soon will have improved pedestrian and bicycling safety in our district!

Homeless Services
Paul Buddenhagen, Director of Health, Housing and Human Services also presented an overview of the City’s homeless services. I strongly suggest you check it out if you want to learn more about homeless services.

APRIL 4 COUNCIL MEETING
This is a partial list of agenda items for the upcoming April 4th City Council meeting that may interest you. You can see the full agenda here.

Sidewalks
The traffic engineer’s report regarding sidewalk access will be discussed. It outlines various items that are exempt from regulation as well as items that are prohibited (i.e. items over 15 square feet, 5 foot horizontal, or 7 feet high).

Gender Pay Equity
An item I co-sponsored regarding gender pay equity is returning from the Commission on the Status of Women to Council for a vote. You can learn more here.

Homelessness
Council will be discussing the Pathways plan described in the first paragraph.

Library Appointments
There are also several items on the agenda related to the Board of Library Trustees Board. This is a complicated matter that was recently covered in Berkeleyside. In short, there is an item on the agenda to remove two board members, and two other items related to appointments to the board.

As always, I welcome your feedback. You can email me directly at [email protected] or [email protected] or email the City Clerk at [email protected] if you would like your comments to be part of the supplemental communications to Council and part of the public record.

CHANGE IN APRIL OFFICE HOURS
In place of my regular office hours, I will be holding this month’s office hours with Mayor Jesse Arreguín at Cafe Roma on Sunday, April 9 at 11:00am.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Spring Egg Hunt Extravaganza at Willard Park | ALL AGES
Saturday, April 15th from 9:30am-1:00pm. $6/youth

You don’t want to miss the City of Berkeley’s annual Spring Egg Hunt Extravaganza. The day will be filled with tons of fun activities, including a petting zoo, a visit with the Spring Bunny, spring-themed arts and crafts, an interactive kids carnival with fun prizes and Bunny Hop dance lessons! Youth participants will receive a basket to collect all their spring goodies. Youth ages 11+ can participate in a fun scavenger hunt for prizes! Call 981-5150 for more information. Pre-register online or register on-site day of event.

Egg Hunt times:
1 year old: 10:00am
2 years old: 10:20am
3 years old: 10:40am
4 years old: 11:00am
5-6 years old: 11:20am
7-8 years old: 11:40am
9-10 years old: 12:00pm
11+ years old: Scavenger Hunt (ongoing)

Measure T1 Workshop
There will be a T1 community meeting on Saturday, April 8 from 10:00-12:00 at Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library to seek community input on the T1 bond program to fund parks and City buildings. For more information, contact Roger MIller at 981-6704.

Sincerely,

Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
Check out my website: www.LoriDroste.com

Need a street or sidewalk repair? Want to report illegal dumping?
Use Berkeley’s online 311 form (either through the General Request form or a specific topic) or call 311 from a landline, or 510-981-2489. Please note that my office routes all the service requests we receive through this customer service center, so your request will be handled most efficiently by directly contacting 311.

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May 12, 2017

Happy May! I’m excited to report that my Legislative Aide Kerry Birnbach is back from her sabbatical. Welcome back Kerry!

Coming to Council: Policing policies and Library Board appointments are just a couple of items on the May 16th agenda, see details below. Please communicate with Council at [email protected] and [email protected] to provide your opinion on any of the agenda items.

Policing
Two items will be on the Council agenda on police agreements. Lately, there has been a bit of debate on Council and in the community whether the City should continue with these police agreements. You can find those items here and here. The City Manager recommends approving these agreements to protect public safety and assist in investigations. The staff reports cover several areas of policing:

The first item is for funding of a reinforced paneled van to allow safe transport of police officers and residents. Berkeleyside wrote a piece on this potential acquisition. The second item covers a multitude of topics, some of which were recently discussed in a Berkeleyside piece on police training.

Urban Areas Security Initiative–Urban Shield. This is an annual regional/international multi-day exercise designed to prepare civilian and public safety government officials for natural and human-made disasters. In the City of Berkeley, fire, police, emergency services, public health, and civilian staff participate in this exercise based on real-life scenarios.

Urban Areas Security Initiative–Berkeley Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services. Fire Department and Emergency Services have participated in various disaster-related scenarios (water point of distribution, shootings, joint information system planning, etc.). In 2017, Berkeley intends to participate to provide opportunities to test large scale shelter plans in case of an earthquake.

Urban Areas Security Initiative–trainings. UASI provides free training to Berkeley Police on medical training for mass casualties, response to school shootings, disaster recovery, hazmat response, explosive devices, etc.

Urban Areas Security Initiative–grant funding for terrorism, disaster and emergency preparedness. Over the past nine years, the City has received funding for a live video x-ray system for bomb disposal, 3D laser scanners, the aforementioned panelled van, and other (non-weaponry) equipment.

Northern California Regional Intelligence Center Information / Information Sharing- NCRIC is a partnership between federal, state and local public safety agencies, and coordinated with the FBI’s Bay Area Joint Terrorism Task Force, facilitates the legal sharing of terrorism and crime information. The City of Berkeley can access this information but only shares suspicious activity reports (see below).

Suspicious Activity Reports sharing-The criteria for these reports are outlined in General Order N-17 (a policy which is not up for debate on Tuesday). Non-violent civil obedience, political opinions, religious beliefs are exempted from these reports. In 2016, there was one report. SARs reports are reported to City Council and made public.

Library Appointments
Recently, Council passed a Fresh Start resolution and removed two members of the Board of Library Trustees. City Council will now consider whether to appoint Libby Hadzima Perkins, the new Board of Library Trustees’ recommendation, or Mayor Arreguín’s choice, John Selawsky, to the Board. If you are interested in reading more, Berkeleyside has written extensively about the issue.

Pedestrian Rights
In addition to co-sponsoring a budget referral to increase the City’s traffic calming budget, I’m proposing two items to improve pedestrian safety:

The first item asks the City Manager and the Transportation Commission to review and craft policy solutions to improve pedestrian accessibility immediately surrounding construction or sidewalk upgrades. The second item asks the City Manager and Transportation Commission to develop policies to improve pedestrian crossing at busy intersections, where walk signals come on only when requested.

T1 Implementation and Public Works Capital Improvement Projects
On Tuesday, there will be updates on Measure T1 implementation and capital improvement projects. You can find that information here.

Additional updates:

Berkeley Bike Plan
Berkeley passed a groundbreaking bike plan at the last Council meeting. I requested that staff address the concerns many of you share around bicycling and pedestrian safety on Claremont Avenue. We also still need to use funding that the City was promised from Safeway to address traffic concerns so embedding this into the bike plan approval directs staff to acquire that money as soon as possible. To learn more, please read Emilie Raguso’s article.

Emergency Access in the Hills and Disaster Preparedness
Along with the Fire and Disaster Safety Commission, I am working alongside Councilmembers Susan Wengraf and Sophie Hahn to address emergency vehicle access in the Berkeley Hills. This is a very important disaster preparedness issue to address and I urge you to take a 5 minute survey located here. Also, please save the date for a Thursday, June 8th community meeting at the Northbrae Church at 7:00pm.

The Berkeley Disaster Prep Neighborhood Network is also looking to get more involved in our neighborhood. For more information on how to get engaged, please contact them at [email protected]

Budget
At our last meeting, we began to discuss our FY 2018 and FY 2019 biennial budget. We face some big challenges, including a $5M and $5.3 million operating deficit in FY 2018 and FY 2019. We clearly will have some tough choices ahead of us.

Willard Playground Construction
Willard Playground is receiving an upgrade! The tot playground and pathway between tot playground and tennis courts will be closed during renovation. Tennis courts will remain open during daylight hours with modified access on the west side of the courts. Ball wall and practice court area will be closed for staging during construction.

Office Hours
I will be holding office hours on Friday, June 2nd from 9:30 – 11am at Cafe Roma on College Ave. at Ashby Ave.
UC Berkeley Graduation and Moveout

Graduation and Commencement: Berkeley Commencement is on Saturday, May 13 at Memorial Stadium and individual departmental ceremonies will take place from May 13 to 19. Find information about commencement here, and you can learn more about the individual department graduations here.
Cal Move Out: Cal Move Out is coming (mid May to early June). The campus is partnering with the city, the ASUC and other student groups to decrease the environmental and social impacts of illegal dumping in near-campus neighborhoods at the end of the academic semester. Student leaders are increasing their outreach to help students to plan ahead to reduce waste, increase recycling and reuse, and avoiding fines for illegal dumping. The city is also planning to increase their citation rate. And all partners will promote the use of pre-paid trash bags to property owners, managers and students. If you are a landlord or property-manager for Cal students, you can download the Cal Move Out Flyer to share with your student tenants and contact the city’s customer service division to request extra trash service. More resource are available online at CalMoveOut.berkeley.edu — updated regularly. These efforts are in alignment with the zero waste goals of UCOP,the Berkeley campus and the city. Remember, you can always check out upcoming campus events on the campus calendar. The Registrar’s office also has the academic calendar for this and coming years available for you to view.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
www.LoriDroste.com

As always, I welcome your feedback. You can email me directly at [email protected]. You can also contact my legislative aide and constituent services coordinator Kerry Birnbach at [email protected]

Need a street or sidewalk repair? Want to report illegal dumping?

Use Berkeley’s online 311 form (either through the General Request form or a specific topic) or call 311 from a landline, or 510-981-2489. Please note that my office routes all the service requests we receive through this customer service center, so your request will be handled most efficiently by directly contacting 311.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Family Game Night ALL AGES

Bring your family, friends, favorite board games and prepare to have a great time! Join neighbors from the community for some friendly competition. Whether you enjoy old favorites like Candyland, Monopoly, and Scrabble or if you prefer games like Apples to Apples and Catch-Phrase, all games are welcome. Light food and refreshments will be provided.

Friday, May 12th from 6:00-8:00 at Willard Park. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 981-5144 for more info.

Rose Garden Grand Reopening on Saturday, May 13!

Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Where: Rose Garden

Interested in Backyard Cottages?

Please join this group to provide your input on creating this type of housing. Come on May 19th, 11:30-2:00 to the East Bay Media Center at 1939 Addison Street in Berkeley. The Facebook Page has more information https://www.facebook.com/events/812855348870593/

Save the Date–Fire and Safety Community Meeting

Please attend a Fire and Safety Community meeting on June 8th at 7pm at the Northbrae Community Church at 941 The Alameda. Police and Fire will be there to present. Stay tuned for details!

June 5, 2017

Many of you wrote to my office regarding proposed changes to Group Living Regulations put forth by Councilmember Worthington at our last meeting – thanks for your feedback. That item was postponed for a vote until September 12th, 2017. Our next Council meeting will be on June 13th, and our agendaincludes the FY 2018-19 proposed budget, and several items related to housing development.

For those of you interested in fire safety and crime prevention, I would encourage you to attend a community meeting with the Berkeley Police Department and the Berkeley Fire Department this Thursday, June 8th, at 7:15pm at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, Berkeley.Council members Wengraf, Hahn, and I have arranged for two panel discussions highlighting what you can do to be prepared and what actions the City is taking.

Scroll down to read additional updates and community events!

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
www.LoriDroste.com

Need a street or sidewalk repair? Want to report illegal dumping?
Use Berkeley’s online 311 form (either through the General Request form or a specific topic) or call 311 from a landline, or 510-981-2489. Please note that my office routes all the service requests we receive through this customer service center, so your request will be handled most efficiently by directly contacting 311.

City Moving Toward New Website
As many of you know, we have begun the process of upgrading our website, cityofberkeley.info. The upgrade will include a new look and feel, new navigation and site organization, new technology, and streamlined site content. The goal of this project is to create a website that is easy to use, supports our services, and saves time for both staff and our community.

As part of this process, we are implementing a web governance structure intended to create consistent standards for web content in what has so far been a very loose, anything-goes system. We are currently developing new guidelines and standards for web content, along with a set of tools and templates to help staff create high quality, effective pages.

Community Crew Day in the Elmwood
Community all Crew Day with the Ashby and Elmwood Ave neighborhood on July 20 2017. City staff will provide lunch, tools and supplies. Contact our office to join.

Berkeley World Music Festival
The festival showcases Bay Area’s dazzling world music scene. With 24 music acts, the weekend festival offers something for everyone! Saturday June 10th, MLK Jr. Civic Center Park Noon – 6 pm. Sunday June 11th, Telegraph Ave. at Haste St., Noon – 9 pm. https://www.berkeleyworldmusic.org/

June 8, 2017

Reminder: Fire Safety and Crime Prevention Meeting Tonight
This is another reminder that I am co-sponsoring a fire safety and crime prevention meeting tonight with Councilmembers Wengraf and Hahn, Thursday, June 8th at the Northbrae Community Church (941 The Alameda) at 7:15pm.

Special Council Meeting on Policing on June 20th
I wrote to you all in May about several policing decisions the City of Berkeley will be making. We were unable to discuss this item at the May meeting so it has been moved to June 20th. Here is a link to the newsletter where I outline what we will be discussing.

Community Crew Day in the Elmwood: CORRECTION
Community Crew Day with the Ashby and Elmwood Ave neighborhood on Thursday, July 20, 2017. City staff will provide lunch, tools and supplies. Contact our office to join.

Over the past three years, I have worked tirelessly on issues of housing affordability and displacement. Carol Galante, President Barack Obama’s former Assistant Secretary of Housing, Professor Karen Chapple, founder of the Urban Displacement Project, and several other housing affordability and displacement experts and scholars have joined me in authoring an op-ed on a few concerning policies that are being proposed on Tuesday, June 13th’s agenda. Read our op-ed below.

California’s Leading Housing Affordability and Displacement Experts Sound the Alarm on Berkeley’s Housing Proposals

The Bay Area is suffering from an enormous affordability crisis. Rents have risen rapidly and displacement throughout the region is on the rise. As a result, communities of color, young people, teachers, and many, many others are driven away and excluded from living in Berkeley.

Land use policies, the underproduction of housing, rising income inequality, and the legacy of Proposition 13 are some of the main culprits of the housing crisis. Berkeley needs to make a serious effort to address these important issues. Unfortunately, many items on the June 13th Berkeley City Council agenda have the potential to worsen affordability and displacement. We urge the City Council to think critically before adopting policies which may harm our most vulnerable community members. We have highlighted just two of the many housing policies Berkeley City Council will discuss on June 13. Please write to the Mayor and Council to voice your concern over these proposals so they don’t make Berkeley even more exclusive and expensive.

Downzoning (Item 46)

Item 46 asks city staff and Planning Commission to consider downzoning Berkeley, among other things. Downzoning means that fewer housing units would be built in Berkeley in the midst of an unprecedented housing crisis. Many scholars, including our co-signers Michael Lens and Paavo Monkkonen, have studied the effect of land use policies and have concluded that downzoning leads to higher housing costs and economic and racial segregation. After the Supreme Court outlawed the enforcement of racial covenants in 1948, cities like Berkeley passed restrictive zoning laws to prohibit Chinese laundromats, African American dance halls, and apartments in wealthier and whiter parts of the City, with the underlying goal of excluding low-income communities of color. Policies like downzoning are similarly restrictive and favor millionaire homeowners over residents of apartment buildings. In fact, progressive cities like Seattle are going the opposite direction, with a new Mandatory Housing Affordability program. Downzoning would be a disastrous step backwards for Berkeley, and will undoubtedly worsen affordability and lead to even more displacement and exclusion.

Raising housing fees and requirements without updated data (Item 53)

Item 53 is a proposal to raise fees and requirements on new housing units to levels that exceed the City’s most recent 2015 affordable housing nexus study recommendations (p.36). To be clear, we support reasonable fees and policy choices that encourage the production of as much subsidized below market rate (BMR) housing as possible. While both market rate and subsidized housing address displacement, our co-signer Karen Chapple’s own study showed that subsidized units do it better. However, the proposed changes could hinder overall market rate and affordable housing production because:

The proposed fees and onsite BMR requirements are significantly higher than neighboring cities. For instance, the proposed affordable housing impact fee is over six times the current amount of West Oakland’s multi-family housing fees (in July, it will be over triple the amount). The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently had to adjust their requirements because voters had the foresight to require an economic study to ensure that the requirements were not set too high and didn’t inadvertently kill housing production.

The proposed housing fees, the onsite BMR requirements and calculations, and the annual indexing mechanism are arbitrarily assigned and have not been qualified by a new nexus study or an updated third party financial feasibility analysis. The most recent feasibility analysis used outdated land values and excluded recently passed school and arts fees. The dramatic changes of the last two years are not accurately reflected in either the 2015 or 2016 studies.

In theory, charging higher fees to market rate developers can lead to a more equitable city. But in practice we won’t know until we analyze the evidence. In short, it would be a huge mistake if Council passes any new fees or BMR levels without a proper nexus study or updated feasibility analysis. If the levels are set too high (and they are likely to be among the highest in the Bay Area), we will drive new housing to other cities and will not likely see any affordable housing–or any housing–in Berkeley for a long time.

Please urge City Council ([email protected]) to do the following:

Oppose downzoning (Item 46) which would perpetuate the affordability crisis
Support Councilmember Lori Droste’s recommendation (Item 51) for feasibility analysis on assessed fees for housing development every two years and
Oppose raising fees (Item 53) unless a new nexus study or an updated feasibility study is completed and recommends higher fees.

Our most vulnerable community members and the next generation needs you.

Carol Galante, former President Barack Obama’s Assistant Secretary for Housing,Donald Terner Distinguished Professor of Affordable Housing and Urban Policy, and Faculty Director of UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Karen Chapple, Founder of the Urban Displacement Project and UCB Professor of City & Regional Planning

Jeff Vincent, Deputy Director and Co-Founder of the UCB Center for Cities and Schools

Denise Pinkston, Bay Area Council Housing Committee Co-Chair and co-author of the state’s new Accessory Dwelling Unit legislation, Senate Bill 1069.

Michael Lens, Associate Faculty Director, UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies and Assistant Professor, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

Paavo Monkonnen, Associate Professor of Urban Planning, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

Lori Droste, Berkeley City Councilmember

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
www.LoriDroste.com

June 26, 2017

Happy Summer. I hope you all are enjoying the summer weather.

I wanted to write because Berkeley has been in the news over the past week because of the June 20th special meeting on policing and subsequent arrests. I also wanted to update you on the Mayor’s proposed budget.

POLICING

I wrote to you in May about the decisions Council faced regarding police trainings. As expected, it was a controversial City Council meeting and many people attended. There has been a lot of media attention surrounding that meeting (the rushing of the stage after the vote, and subsequent arrests) so I wanted to give you my rationale for my votes.

Accept an Urban Areas Security Initiative grant to fund the purchase of a reinforced police van
The vote was 7-2. I voted yes.

In the rare occasion when there is an armed gunman on the loose, Berkeley police currently borrow a protective vehicle to transport police officers and civilians safely. The vehicle we use currently is a much more “militarized” vehicle than the Ford van we voted for on Tuesday night (pictured, c/o Berkeleyside). I think it is important that we can transport our officers and civilians safely. If the City did not accept this grant, we would have had to take money from the General Fund to purchase a similar vehicle to ensure officer safety.

Approve relationship with Northern California Regional Intelligence Center (NCRIC)
This vote was 5-4. I voted yes.

As you can see this item was a close vote. If the City severed our relationship with NCRIC, the police would not be able to input partial license plates into a NCRIC database. Many crime victims can only remember part of the plate number after an incident and the NCRIC database allows police to use this database to follow up immediately, regardless of incomplete information. The City of Berkeley does not provide license plate data to NCRIC but is allowed access to that data. BPD has unequivocally and alarmingly said that removing access to this database would dramatically and negatively affect the resolution and prevention of crime.

Many critics expressed concern with information sharing. The City of Berkeley only provides NCRIC with Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), of which there was one of last year. Since I have been a Councilmember, there has been an average of 1.5 suspicious activity reports per year. In the previous year, one of the suspicious activity reports involved a hate crime directed toward a local rabbi. I think this is important information to share. All SARs reports are reviewed by City Council and internally evaluated.

Agreement for the Distribution of UASI grant funds
The vote was 8-1. I voted yes.

This vote allows Berkeley to enter into an agreement with the City and County of San Francisco to receive funding for equipment (not weapons) to support disaster and emergency responses. Some of the trainings provided through UASI include hazardous material training and earthquake preparedness, open water rescue, and mass casualty operational response.

Allow Berkeley Police to participate in Urban Shield this year and establish a subcommittee to report back in 6 months on alternate trainings and concerns.
This vote was 6-2-1. I voted yes. In the process of the voting, protesters rushed the stage and surrounded the Council members.

This is the vote that garnered the most attention. Urban Shield is a free multi-day regional training exercise that jurisdictions across the nation participate in to respond to man-made and natural disasters. This year’s emergency services (OES) event includes a regionally coordinated shelter response in case of a massive earthquake. In Berkeley, Fire, Emergency Services, Police, Public Health and civilian staff use the training. Although some critics have urged the City to participate in other trainings, our first responders have indicated that no other regionally-coordinated free training of this scale currently exists. Even if the City Council decided it did not want to participate with other cities in disaster preparedness coordination, the City of Berkeley could not at this point provide the training on its own because of financial and logistical barriers. Personally, I think a city is more resilient when we work with our neighbors instead of go-it-alone.

Many Urban Shield critics seem to be concerned with the SWAT team scenarios and an expo which displays police wares and weaponry. The City of Berkeley’s fire and police departments do not purchase anything at this expo. It is true that Urban Shield provides opportunities for police to participate in responding to mass shooting and hostage-taking scenarios based on real-life events. I think an important point that is overlooked is that Urban Shield does not set policy. For instance, if there are concerns with the City’s use of force policy or SWAT policy, that does not change through Urban Shield withdrawal.

I understand that this is a sensitive and important issue, especially in light of troubling national developments and conversations on police-community relationships. I remain firmly committed to social justice as well as ensuring the safety and civil rights of my constituents.

THE BUDGET

Mayor Jesse Arreguin has released his proposed budget this year. Please take a look at it. Of the $2.3 million that is recommended for a vote on Tuesday, here are some of the big ticket items:

Funding for anti-displacement programs (~1 million)
Pathways project (250K)
Center for Independent Living (140k)
Berkeley Civic Arts program (140k)

On the same night, Councilmembers Wengraf, Maio and I have asked Council to follow up on the City Auditor and City Manager’s recommendation to specify when and under what conditions Council would be allowed to draw funds from the General Fund Stability Reserve. Our concerns mirror the Auditor’s concern that the City should not raid its reserves and compromise our City’s fiscal integrity. As our City Auditor Ann Marie Hogan says, “we need to be able to protect our most vulnerable residents and programs from federal funding cuts and other emergencies.”

There are several other important decisions on the agenda that night, including but not limited to changes to the affordable housing mitigation fee, an ongoing feasibility analysis for housing development, Pathways project to address homelessness, and recommendations for Measures T1 and U1.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
www.LoriDroste.com

Need a street or sidewalk repair? Want to report illegal dumping?

Sign Up to Participate in National Night Out 2017

National Night Out is an annual event designed to strengthen our community by encouraging neighborhoods to engage in stronger relationships with each other and with their local Public Safety and City Officials. Learn more and sign up here.

AC Transit Fare Increase

Detailed information about the July 1 fare change is available at www.actransit.org/rider-info/fares-tickets-passes. AC Transit Customer Service can also provide additional assistance in multiple languages at (510) 891-4777.

What Won’t Change

The cost of a Day Pass will not change. The pass gives riders unlimited rides in a day for a flat $5 fare. The cost for youth, seniors and people with disabilities will stay at $2.50.

What Will Change

All Local and Transbay Cash Fares
All Clipper Local and Transbay Fares
All 31-Day and Monthly Passes

New Emergency Alert System Coordinates with County – Berkeley residents and community members should sign up at www.ACAlert.org to receive emergency messages for Berkeley and jurisdictions across Alameda County.

A Message From EBMUD re: Berkeley Water Quality

Dear neighbor,

Recent news stories have carried alarming headlines about your tap water. As your water supplier, EBMUD would like to provide information directly to you about this issue. EBMUD drinking water quality remains in full compliance with all state and federal regulations. To ensure continued compliance, the District has been taking action over the last several months to stem rising levels of disinfection byproducts.

Municipal water agencies like EBMUD are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the State of California Division of Drinking Water, under the state and federal Safe Drinking Water Acts. We protect public health through a two-step process to filter and disinfect all water we deliver. These processes remove Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Giardia intestinalis, and other water-borne pathogens that can cause illnesses such as diarrhea, cholera and Hepatitis A:

Filtration: Water passes through filters of sand, gravel, and charcoal with various pore sizes, to remove dissolved particles, like dust, parasites, bacteria, viruses, and chemicals.

Disinfection: A disinfectant (chlorine or chloramine) is added to kill any remaining parasites, bacteria, and viruses, and to protect the water from germs when it is piped to homes and businesses. (Disinfectants can be added before filtration and/or after, depending on the water treatment plant).

Over the past few years, in our regular collection and analysis of water samples throughout the distribution system, the District began to see a rise in the concentration of trihalomethanes (THMs) – a disinfection byproduct formed when chlorine reacts with naturally-occurring organic matter in water. THMs are present in all public drinking water systems and are regulated so they don’t approach levels that may present a risk to public health. Those concentrations don’t exceed state and federal standards, but they are above EBMUD’s internal water quality goals. This prompted EBMUD to take action.

The increase in THMs can be attributed to more natural organic matter and sediment in EBMUD’s water supply. To address this challenge, months ago, EBMUD increased water quality sampling, implemented operational changes and, this June, a new flushing program. These immediate steps are in addition to long-term infrastructure upgrades already underway.

EBMUD expects that these immediate steps, plus short and long-term infrastructure upgrades already underway, will bring these disinfection by-products to levels where they have historically been: well below state and federal requirements.

To find out more about this issue, or to review our water quality report and data, visit:

www.ebmud.com/water-and-drought/about-your-water/water-quality/disinfection-byproducts-drinking-water/

Sharla J. Sullivan
Community Affairs Rep., East Bay Municipal Utility District
Phone: (510) 287-7208, Email: [email protected]

Passport Services No Longer Available

Effective July 1, 2017, the City Clerk Department will no longer serve as an acceptance facility for passport applications. The Berkeley Main Post Office (2000 Allston Way) and the RSF (2301 Bancroft Way) are still open for passport services. Customers may also wish to search passport acceptance facilities on www.travel.state.gov. The elimination of passport services is due to changes in the staff availability for passport acceptance agent duties. All appointments are booked through July 1, 2017.

July 21, 2017

I hope you are having a great summer!

Next week City Council meets for the final time before our summer recess, which lasts until September. There are several items on our agenda, but I wanted to highlight one in particular:

Several years ago, my predecessor Gordon Wozniak introduced a pilot program to double parking fees on football game days in neighborhoods nearby campus. Since then, I’ve heard from many neighbors that violations still occur. In response, I requested that the City assess even higher parking fees on game days. I’m pleased to report that next Tuesday, the Transportation Commission is recommending that fees be increased from $72 to $300 for illegal parking on game days in Residential Parking Permit zones A, B, and D. The Commission also recommends eliminating 2-hour parking on game days in those neighborhoods. You can read more about the item here. I believe the higher fees will deter more people from parking illegally in surrounding neighborhoods.

Every year the City of Berkeley does a Fire Fuel Chipper and Vegetation Debris pickup throughout certain neighborhoods in Berkeley. This is a great opportunity to clear excess vegetation around your house and reduce fire hazards. The City crew will be chipping branches and collecting bagged vegetation in some parts of District 8 from July 24 -28. To see a map of participating streets and get instructions on how to participate, read more here.

Note: Office hours for August are cancelled. Contact my office if you need to schedule an appointment.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District
www.LoriDroste.com

Bike share comes to Berkeley

Berkeley now has a bike sharing system, allowing riders to take advantage of 120 bikes and 10 bike share stations designed for one-way trips.Berkeley’s bikes and bike stations that launched today will be part of a larger network that will allow people to more easily connect to BART and AC Transit as well as other bike share stations in Oakland and Emeryville.

When the system is complete in 2018, Berkeley will have 37 bike share stations and 400 bikes in our city’s 10 square miles. The finished network of 7,000 bikes will include Emeryville (100 bikes), Oakland (850), San Francisco (4,500) and San Jose (1,000). See the map of current and future stations to see where you can travel to.

Commissioner Spotlight

I’m happy to introduce you to Ethel Murphy, my appointee to the Commission on Aging.

Ethel has continuously resided in Berkeley since 1980. She graduated from City College of New York and attended Cal as a visiting student for her final year of undergraduate coursework. She went on to UCLA for graduate work in Economics and to receive a masters in Library Science. After becoming involved in community organization and volunteer work during the Vietnam War, Ethel traveled abroad and returned to the United States for library positions in Iowa and Colorado and work for a major bank in Texas. In 1980, she returned to Berkeley and pursued a career with the Social Security Administration in Richmond. After retiring, Ethel returned to school, taking classes with the Berkeley Adult School and with UC Berkeley. Ethel is a passionate lifelong learner and is currently taking classes on documentary films, contemporary films, and short stories.

As a commissioner on the Commission on Aging, Ethel is determined to preserve adult education in the Berkeley community and has given testimony in Sacramento on the necessity of lifelong learner programs. Alongside her work in the commission, Ethel enjoys playing bridge with her friends, volunteering with the North Berkeley Senior Center, volunteering with her synagogue and with the Jewish Community Center, and working with the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity which advocates for immigrant rights. Commissioner Murphy aims to use her activist experience and passion for education to inform community members about the importance of ensuring that adult education remains accessible and available for those who strive to be lifelong learners.

August 10, 2017

I hope you’re enjoying summer. Here are a few exciting events happening in Berkeley:

Coffee with a Cop hosted by the Berkeley Police Department

Hope to see you at Espresso Roma (1549 Hopkins Ave) on Wednesday, August 16, 2017, from 11:00am to 12:30pm for Coffee with a Cop. No agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, share concerns, and meet some of the team who works to keep you safe.

Move In and other Campus Events

Cal Move-In Day is Monday, August 14, 2017, with a limited move-in will take place Sunday, August 13. This means roughly 7,000 incoming undergraduates and their families will drive to the residence halls, unload belongings, and visit the campus. Please plan accordingly. Please feel free to contact the staff in New Student Services ([email protected]) if you have any questions.

Additional dates to add to your calendar:

First day of Instruction: Wednesday, August 23
Golden Bear’s 2017 Football Season: The first home game of the is Saturday, September 9 at 2pm.

Movies in the park

Join neighbors, bring friends, build community- watch some of your favorite movies under the stars! The City of Berkeley’s Recreation Division is hosting a FREE outdoor movie series on Friday nights in its beautiful parks, featuring some popular family films. A large portable 20′ x 12′ inflatable movie screen and premium audio visual movie equipment for outdoor cinemas make Movies in the Park a spectacular event.

August 25th, Zootopia at James Kenney Park, 1720 – 8th St., 8:00pm

September 22nd, LEGO® Batman at Willard Park, 2730 Hillegass Ave., 7:30pm

East Bay Bike Party

Tomorrow, Friday, August 11, the East Bay Bike Party (EBBP) will bring hundreds of bicyclists to Telegraph Avenue between 8:30 and 9:30 pm for the first stop of the night. The EBBP (this is not affiliated with Critical Mass) is a mobile party for riders of all ages, experience levels, and types to meet, ride, and play in the East Bay. Because this is an early stop, kids and families will be in attendance. TheTelegraph Business Improvement District is working with EBBP and the City to close off a block near the newly-opened Mezzo, Raleigh’s, Huckleberry bikes, and the soon-to-be-installed bike parking/sharing on Telegraph Avenue.

Free Summer Movie At BAMPFA

Outdoor Showing of Passing Strange: The Movie. By Spike Lee, featuring: Stew, Daniel Breaker, Eisa Davis, Colman Domingo. The spectacular, one-of-a-kind musical Passing Strange was developed and premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and went on to be a Broadway hit, winning multiple awards including a Tony. Spike Lee captured the show on film, retaining its energy while also taking us behind the scenes.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Refreshments will be available.When: Saturday, August 19 8:00 PM More info here.

Summer Concerts at Willard Park

Join us this Saturday for live music concert at Willard Park, the second in our summer music concerts in Berkeley Parks. The once a month series from July through October features different genres of music in the afternoons in various parks throughout Berkeley. Sponsored by the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Waterfront, these family friendly events are filled with fun, food and music and entertainment from Berkeley musicians and Bay Area bands!

August 12 – 12:00 – 4:00 pm
Summertime Soul, Lloyd Gregory & Friends; Downtown Rhythm; Up Close & Personal
Willard Park – 2730 Hillegass Avenue

September 16 – 12:00 – 4:00 pm
LatinFest, En Vivo; Mariachi Mexicanisimo, Costa de Oro (Ballet Folklorico)
Grove Park, 1730 Oregon Street

October 14 – 11:00 – 4:00 pm
Harvest Festival, Tortilla Soup: Spazmatics; Motor Dude Zydeco
Cedar Rose Park, 1300 Rose Street between Hopkins and Cedar Streets

Bring your blankets and low back beach chairs to enjoy music on the lawn at these beautiful parks. All events and music are family friendly and will contain recreation activities for the children. No alcohol or controlled substances allowed. Live performances begin at 1:00 pm so come early and bring your blankets, umbrella, and low back beach chairs to enjoy music on the lawn at these beautiful parks.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
www.LoriDroste.com

Need a street or sidewalk repair? Want to report illegal dumping?

Commissioner Spotlight

I’m happy to introduce Doctor Carol Brosgart, my Community Health Commissioner. Carol is a longtime Berkeleyan and passionate public health advocate.

Carol grew up in Canada before moving to Southern California as a teenager. Once in the US, Carol realized that healthcare was far less accessible than it had been in Canada . She moved to Berkeley in 1968 to attend UC Berkeley where she received her BS in Community Medicine. She went on to complete a degree in medicine from UC San Francisco. She did her pediatric residency at UCSF and a preventive medicine and public health residency at UC Berkeley School of Public Health and the California Department of Public Health. Carol has been committed to community health advocacy since her undergraduate days at Cal, where she helped lead the establishment of the first women’s day at the Berkeley Free Clinic, followed by an independent Women’s Clinic. Carol served as the Medical Director of Alameda County’s Central Health Center from 1978-1987. She was the founding Medical Director of the East Bay AIDS Center at Alta Bates Medical Center from 1987-1998. She has been a leader in education, care and research for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and Viral Hepatitis B and C. Carol served as VP, Clinical Research at Gilead Sciences from 1998-2009. She returned to public health as the Chief Medical Officer at Children’s Hospital Oakland, and then served as a Senior Advisor on Science and Policy at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, until 2014. Carol is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF and remains active in research and health policy as a consultant in infectious diseases and liver diseases. As a commissioner on the Community Health Commission, Carol wants to preserve and improve access to care in our city and in this county. She is particularly determined to ensure that emergency care remains accessible to Berkeley residents. In her free time, Carol enjoys exercising, participating in her book club of 32 years, and spending time with her husband, five children and their spouses, ten grandchildren and a long-time community of friends. Ultimately, Commissioner Brosgart aims to transform healthcare from a privilege to a basic human right.

September 11, 2017

Council will be back in session this week and tomorrow we are discussing a large agenda, including an item for a community visioning process for the Adeline Greenway, an update from the Office of Economic Development, and a Special Session item modifying current Council policy on the Berkeley Police Department’s use of pepper spray in specific circumstances when dealing with violent activity in crowd situations. You can find the full agenda here.

The update from our Office of Economic Development provided some interesting and positive trends happening in Berkeley. A few highlights from the report are included here:

Berkeley’s economy has recovered to its pre-recession levels
Our unemployment rate is down to 3.2% (For comparison, California’s rate is 5.3% or Alameda’s rate is 4%).
Office vacancy rates increased slightly. They rose to 4.4% from a low of 1.5% in 2016, however Berkeley has lowest office availability in the East Bay
Annual sales tax performance increased from 2015 to 2016
Ground floor commercial vacancy rates decreased to 4.7% in 2017 from 6.5% in 2016
Housing development has showed signs of slowing
Housing costs for renters flattened in Q1 of 2017, consistent with other Bay Area regions

I am deeply committed to ensuring that Berkeley is able to provide homes for low and middle income earners. With regards to vacancy rates, while there are some new business vacancies in the Elmwood, there are plans underway to fill several open slots. With the changing nature of retail, it’s important to support our small businesses now more than ever. See the announcements below about an upcoming Wine Walk in the Elmwood.

I also wanted to provide a quick update about Willard Park construction. As you’ve likely noticed, the Willard Park play structure has been under construction. Due to unforeseen reasons, the construction has taken longer than expected, and is now set to open in October. Parks staff has provided a detailed update here.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
www.LoriDroste.com

Town Hall on Berkeley’s Paid Family Leave Proposal

The Commission on the Status of Women is hosting a town hall onSaturday, September 30 from 2-4 PMat the Tarea Hall Pittman South Berkeley Library featuring several panelists speaking about paid family leave. Read an East Bay Express article for more background here.

New Regulations for Short Term Rentals

A new City of Berkeley ordinance requires individuals who rent out any portion of their dwelling for lodging for less than 14 consecutive days to enroll with the City. Short-term rentals are often rented by property owners or tenants (“Hosts”) through online platforms such as Airbnb, HomeAway, and VRBO. Rentals done informally and without an online platform must still register with the City. The new online application and other resources are now available on our Short Term Rental page. Hosts must enroll no later thanOctober 31, 2017 to be in compliance with the City ordinance.

Movies in the park

Wine Walk in the Elmwood

Enjoy a leisurely Sunday afternoon stroll in The Elmwood and sample over 70 wines!

Tickets are available in advance for $25 each and $30 on the day of the walk, Sept. 24 at the ticket table on the lawn next to Wells Fargo Bank on Ashby Ave. Here you will pick up your wine glass and program. The program has a map with the participating locations and information about the wines being poured.

For tickets, more information on wines, participating retailers and restaurants, transportation, parking suggestions and more, go to www.ShopTheElmwood.com.

All proceeds benefit beautification efforts right here in the Elmwood District.

Take to the Hills

Come see a slideshow at the Berkeley City Club Friday Sept. 22, 12:30-1:30pm about efforts to repair Clark Kerr Trail, sponsored by the City Commons Club. The public is invited, doors open 11:45am, 2315 Durant Ave.

Cal Bears Football Season

View the full Cal Bears football season schedule here.Cal Athletics and other campus departments are working cooperatively with the City of Berkeley (Police, Fire, Transportation & Parking, and Waste Management) to ensure that game day needs of attendees and our neighbors are accounted for. Read more here.

International Shoreline Cleanup- September 16th, 9AM–12PM, Shorebird Park Nature Center, 160 University Avenue @ Seawall Dr

Come join this international effort to make a difference on our shoreline and in our oceans. We will collect data about what we find in order to help create laws that prohibit marine dumping. Bring gloves, sunscreen, water, and bags/buckets. Families welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult and have a waiver signed by their guardian. Only groups over 5 people need to pre-register, email: [email protected]

Commissioner Spotlight

I’m happy to introduce Michael Cooper, a District 8 resident, and my Medical Cannabis Commissioner.

Michael was born and raised in San Francisco and moved to Berkeley in 1975. He has been practicing law since 1969, and now works on insolvency and corporate restructuring law for Wendel, Rosen, Black, and Dean LLP. As a commissioner on the Medical Cannabis Commission, Michael enjoys interacting with the public and listening to their input as well as working alongside his fellow commissioners. He admires the political engagement of Berkeley citizens and appreciates their willingness to thoughtfully contribute to a community dialogue about cannabis. Michael points out that while medical cannabis use and distribution are clearly defined, regulations for recreational cannabis are still evolving. He looks forward to working with the Medical Cannabis Commission to evaluate existing regulations and to make recommendations about recreational cannabis use in Berkeley. In his free time, Michael enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling. His wife, Sheila, is a retired English instructor from San Francisco State University and author of Writing Logically, Thinking Critically, an English text now in its 8th Edition. He has three brothers living in the Bay Area, a daughter living in Los Gatos, and a son working on game design in Sweden. Commissioner Cooper looks forward to tackling the new regulatory challenges that recreational cannabis will present and aims to continue collaborating with the public to benefit the Berkeley community.

September 21, 2017

Great news! The City’s hardworking staff has completed renovations on the Willard Park playground. You can see a picture below.

As many of you know, Cal is preparing for a Free Speech Week from 9/24 – 9/27, which may include speaking appearances by Ann Coulter and Steve Bannon. The City is working closely with UC Police to ensure any protests during these events are peaceful. I would encourage you to sign up for Nixle alerts to get the latest updates and advisories from BPD. You can sign up for email alerts here, or text your zip code to 888777 for mobile alerts.

Our next Council meeting is scheduled for October 3rd – you can find the full agenda here.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
www.LoriDroste.com

Need a street or sidewalk repair? Want to report illegal dumping?

Wine Walk in the Elmwood

Enjoy a leisurely Sunday afternoon stroll in The Elmwood and sample over 70 wines!

For tickets, more information on wines, participating retailers and restaurants, transportation, parking suggestions and more, go to www.ShopTheElmwood.com.

All proceeds benefit beautification efforts right here in the Elmwood District.

Town Hall on Berkeley’s Paid Family Leave Proposal

The Commission on the Status of Women is hosting a town hall on Saturday, September 30 from 2-4 PMat the Tarea Hall Pittman South Berkeley Library featuring several panelists speaking about paid family leave. Read an East Bay Express article for more background here.

New Regulations for Short Term Rentals

Movies in the Park

Here’s another reminder to join neighbors, bring friends, build community- watch some of your favorite movies under the stars! The City of Berkeley’s Recreation Division is hosting a FREE outdoor movie series on Friday nights in its beautiful parks, featuring some popular family films. A large portable 20′ x 12′ inflatable movie screen and premium audio visual movie equipment for outdoor cinemas make Movies in the Park a spectacular event. It’s not too late to catch one of our upcoming films: September 22nd, LEGO® Batman at Willard Park, 2730 Hillegass Ave., 7:30pm

Harvest Festival

Join us Saturday, October 14th, 2017, 11 – 4pm at Cedar Rose Park for our final FREE Music in the Park Concert and the Harvest Festival.

Four Music in the Park concerts happen one Saturday a month in the afternoon from July – October, featuring different Bay Area bands and musicians. This event, combined with our Harvest Festival, will feature a Food Expo, Garden Expo, Community Resources, food contests and demos, and a Kids’ Zone with face painting, Hernan Cortez’ Bubble Theater, bounce house, balloon art, pumpkin and scarecrow making and much more! Get your groove on with live music from Tortilla Soup, the Spazmatics and Motor Dude Zydeco. Bring blankets, umbrellas, lawn chairs, and sunscreen. Kick back and relax for an afternoon in the park at a family friendly event filled with fun, food, music and entertainment from local Berkeley musicians and Bay Area bands!

Cal Bears Football Season

Commissioner Spotlight

I’m happy to introduce Jeff Vincent as my Planning Commissioner.

Jeff has lived in and around Berkeley for the past 16 years. He has lived in West Berkeley since 2005. Jeff moved to Berkeley in 2001 to pursue his PhD in City Planning at Cal where he focused on land use, community development, and public education policy. Prior to attending Cal, Jeff received his BA and Masters in Urban Planning at the University of Nebraska. Jeff is the Deputy Director for Cities + Schools at UC Berkeley where he looks at the role of the built environment in structuring success and equity for young people and families. Jeff is also the President of the Board of Directors of the Nia House Learning Center, a small non-profit Montessori preschool in West Berkeley that aims to make preschool accessible to all families, regardless of socioeconomic background. Jeff joined the Planning Commission with a strong interest in local democracy and political participation. He hopes to work on housing affordability issues and believes that Berkeley can, and should, accommodate additional housing across all income levels. In his free time, Jeff enjoys biking and going to the Berkeley Marina with his wife, Laurin, and their two children. Commissioner Vincent wants to help Berkeley remain a leader in the face of the housing crisis, and believes that the city can maintain its unique character while promoting new development that provides both market-rate and below-market- rate units.

September 26, 2017

I know that this is the third newsletter I’ve sent this month but there are several important issues and updates I want to provide. Below, I’ve summarized three Council items that I think you would be interested to know about, all on our October 3rd agenda: an impact study of closing Alta Bates hospital, Berkeley’s reserve policy, and a proposal for where to temporarily house homeless residents. I’ve also included a detailed update on the Fourth Bore project (traffic improvements on Tunnel Rd. and Ashby Ave) with project timelines.

October 3rd Council Items of Interest
I encourage you to email [email protected] with your feedback.

Item 8: General Fund Stability Reserve Usage Criteria

At the beginning of the year, City Council established minimum reserve levels. It was a great step towards fiscal responsibility. At that time, City Council stated its intent to revisit the remaining unaddressed recommendations from our City Auditor and City Manager regarding our stability reserve policy. Essentially, this item would make Council define the parameters for withdrawing funds. This is good government and I believe we should have clear rules about when and why we take money from our reserves.

Item 11: Health Impact Assessment for Alta Bates Closure

This item is a request from our Community Health Commission to do a Health Impact Assessment on the service changes planned at Alta Bates.The HIA consists of a thorough analysis of the closure’s impact on public health and safety, conducted by faculty at the U.C. Berkeley School of Public Health. The recommendation to conduct this assessment is in light of resident concerns that the shutdown would increase wait times, jeopardizing the health of patients in need of immediate care. Therefore, the HIA would serve as an important community education tool and give the City the information needed to appropriately respond to the proposed closure.

Item 17: Location and Facilities Recommendation for the Pathways Project

Last session, Council passed a conceptual Pathways proposal to develop a plan for temporary housing and services for our homeless community. This item provides details on where and what those services look like. Specifically, this item recommends building temporary modular structures to house 50 residents on Second St. between Cedar and Virginia Streets.

Tunnel Rd./Ashby Ave. Fourth Bore Update- detailed plans here

These traffic improvements were made possible by funding from the Caltrans/Fourth Bore Coalition settlement agreement with additional funding from the Safeway on College Project (for the Ashby/Claremont light) and City of Berkeley funds. Current and former District 8 Transportation Commissioners Mark Humbert and Ann Smulka deserve a lot of credit for their efforts as well!

Projects between Domingo and the Oakland border

Work is likely to start next week, possibly on Monday, Sept. 25th. Concrete work is minimal and is expected to take about 2-3 weeks, depending on weather, and some of the electrical items have 3-month lead times between order and delivery, so while the concrete work is relatively quick, the project will extend into late winter.

Location B – Tunnel/Uplands – Improvements include installing a new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) at the intersection, including new curb ramps and crosswalk striping. Work also includes a curb extension to reduce the speed at which vehicles can safely turn onto The Uplands.
Location E – Bicycle Improvements – Includes striping a dedicated bicycle lane in the eastbound direction, and improved bicycle markings in the westbound direction.
Location H – Tunnel/Oak Ridge – Improvements include adding detection to the Oakland Ridge approach that when activated, would trigger the signal at the Claremont Hotel driveway to provide a red light to vehicles on Tunnel Road to increase the likelihood for left turns from Oak Ridge.
Location K – Ashby/Telegraph – Includes new left turn signal heads and signal timing changes at the intersection.

Projects at Ashby/Claremont and Ashby/Hillegass

Work will likely begin mid-October/November and most likely be completed around March 2018.

Location A – Ashby/Claremont – Improvements include upgrading the signal to video detection, providing protected/permissive phasing for westbound approach, high visibility crosswalks, and a leading pedestrian interval (Note – Video detection is for signal operation. It replaces the in-pavement loops formerly used for intersection efficiency and capacity. They are not speed cameras.)
Location M – Ashby/Hillegass – Improvements include installing a new Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) at the intersection, including new curb ramps and enhanced crosswalk striping.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
www.LoriDroste.com

Need a street or sidewalk repair? Want to report illegal dumping?

Planning Director Executive Search – Give Us Your Feedback

The City of Berkeley has engaged The Hawkins Company, an Executive Search firm, to assist the City in identifying and recruiting candidates to serve as the new Planning Director. As a critical community stakeholder to the City’s planning and building initiatives, we would like for you to share your thoughts and ideas about the qualifications, qualities, and characteristics that would make an ideal candidate for the Planning Director. We’d like to invite you personally to attend a community engagement meeting taking place on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 5pm in the Multipurpose Room of the South Berkeley Senior Center, located at 2939 Ellis St, Berkeley, CA 94703. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas. Your input will help us develop the job criteria for the Planning Director. Please respond to[email protected]rkeley.info to let us know that you will be able to attend. If you are unable to attend but still have an interest in sharing your thoughts, please complete our brief 5 question survey by October 9, 2017. We thank you for your on-going work and commitment to the Berkeley community.

Need Assistance on a DACA Renewal?

If you or a loved one needs to access free legal services and application fee assistance related to DACA renewals, this list of Bay Area providers that can offer support. Please feel free to share widely!

Berkeley
East Bay Sanctuary Covenant www.eastbaysanctuary.org
2362 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704(510) 540-5296

Oakland
Centro Legal de la Razawww.centrolegal.org
3400 East 12th St., Oakland, CA 94601(510) 437-1554

International Institute of the Bay Area www.iibayarea.org
405 14th Street, Suite 500, Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 451-2846

San Francisco
International Institute of the Bay Areawww.iibayarea.org
657 Mission St., Ste. 301, San Francisco, CA(415) 538-8100
94105

First Annual Downtown Berkeley Pet Parade

12noon-1:30pm, Sunday October 15, on Shattuck Ave

The Pet Parade is in partnership with Berkeley Sunday Streets, which is celebrating its 7th year of closing 16 blocks of Shattuck Avenue for all ages to stroll, cycle, dance, and joyfully play from 11am-4pm. Start: Walgreen’s parking lot (Cedar and Shattuck). Kickoff is at 12noon and hosted by Holistic Hound with treats and water to get your furry friends all a good start!

October 17, 2017

The fires in the North Bay have been brutal and devastating. My heart goes out to all of those people who lost loved ones, homes, and animals. Well over a dozen of City staff have been evacuated, and at least one has lost his home. I’ve been so proud of the way we as a community have rallied to support one another in this tough time. Below are some examples of how City staff has provided assistance in the North Bay. I want to give a huge thanks to our amazing crews and those who came forward to help.

We have been rotating 12-person teams of Berkeley Police officers to the areas. We have sent a 3-person Berkeley Fire Department crew to help fight the fires directly. Staff from Emergency Services are helping coordinate the massive undertaking of managing this large-scale disaster.
Our Building and Safety Staff responded to a request for help by offering building inspectors – a critical role as people seek to return to homes and offices as soon as possible.
Berkeley Animal Care Services, our city shelter, has started taking in animals from affected shelters in the North Bay.

How you can help:

United Way of the Wine Country, special fund for fire victims: https://uwwc.upicsolutions.org/ecommunity/comm/SinglePageRegPledge.jsp
The Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership is mobilizing volunteers and donors: https://cvnl.org/
Red Cross Donations: https://www.redcross.org/donate/1017t

How you can prepare for future disasters:

Sign up for warning alerts from Nixle and AC Alert
Take a Community Emergency Response Team Training
Check out the information on Berkeley’s Disaster Preparedness Neighborhood Network
If your neighborhood doesn’t have an Emergency Supply, organize your neighbors and apply for one.
Read more at https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Ready/

How you can stay up to date on the air quality in Berkeley:

Check out http://www.sparetheair.org/. Berkeley falls within the “Coast and Central Bay” zone.
Check out https://airnow.gov/ and enter your zip code to learn about air quality.

Tonight, Council is meeting to discuss news helicopter noise, changes to administrative taxicab fees, the work plan for our Zero Waste Commission, and an annual report from our City Auditor, among other things. You can find the full agenda here.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
www.LoriDroste.com

Minimum Wage increases, sick leave benefits gained

The City of Berkeley Minimum Wage increased by more than a dollar on October 1, when most people working in Berkeley also obtained the right to accrue and use sick leave benefits with fewer restrictions than under state law.

For most employees of businesses and nonprofits, the minimum wage increased from $12.53 to $13.75 per hour. For young people enrolled in a government or non-profit run job training program, the Minimum Wage increased from $10.50 to $12 per hour.

Berkeley’s Paid Sick Leave ordinance requires that all employees earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Small businesses – those with fewer than 25 employees – may cap an employee’s accrual and use of paid sick leave to 48 hours per year. Larger businesses –those with more than 25 employees companywide — may cap employee’s accrual at 72 hours per year but may not cap the use of earned Paid Sick Leave. Read more at CityofBerkeley.info

As Flu Season Approaches, Vaccinate

Free flu shots for community members 3 years of age and older are available during the flu season at the City of Berkeley Public Health Clinic on Mondays from 9-11am and 1-4pm. The clinic is located at 830 University Avenue. Those between 6 months and 3 years of age needing a vaccination can call 981-5300 for help locating a source. Contact the Public Health Division at 981-5300 for more information or check our City of Berkeley Public Health website at www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/publichealth

Save the Date: Save Alta Bates Hospital Stroller Brigade

Organized by the California Nurses Association

What: Bring friends, families, and neighbors — and all available STROLLERS (no baby required) — for our march to save Alta Bates hospital! Pizza, water, and fun activities for kids!

When: Sunday, November 5th, 11:30am – 1pm, Alta Bates Medical Center 2450 Ashby Ave.

Affordable Solar Options

Sign up by November 10th at www.bayareasunshares.org, a program that pools the buying power of individual participants to get more competitive pricing from solar companies and vehicle manufacturers. Bay Area SunShares promotes solar pricing that starts at 15% below the average market rate, and offers discounts for purchasing or leasing a zero emission vehicle. Homeowners who install solar on their rooftops may also be able to take advantage of a 30% federal tax credit. For more information, please see this press release.

November 5, 2017

Please join me for for these important and informative events:

Save Alta Bates – The Birth Place of the East Bay – Stroller Brigade
Join the California Nurses Association to help stop the Alta Bates closure! Bring friends, families and neighbors (and available strollers – no baby required) to join the stroller brigade as we march to save Alta Bates hospital. There will be pizza and fun activities for the kids. Sunday, November 5 at 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, 2450 Ashby Ave., Berkeley

ADU/Backyard Cottage Workshop
Have you considered aging in place or housing additional family members? The answer may be in your backyard! Join me and a panel of experts to discuss the potential of accessory dwelling units (ADUs, also known as backyard cottages) and how you can build one. The panel of speakers will cover how to get started, building and permitting FAQs, and financing tips. Thursday, November 16, 6-7:30pm at John Muir Elementary School Auditorium, 2955 Claremont Ave. Berkeley. Email [email protected] to RSVP or ask questions.

Community Workshop on Group Living Accommodation and Noise/Public Nuisance Ordinances
The City of Berkeley and UC Berkeley’s LEAD Center invites all residents and property owners to a workshop on the Group Living Accommodation (GLA) and Noise/Public Nuisance Ordinance. This workshop is offered to anyone seeking to learn about the ordinances and how they are enforced. Students, year-long residents, and city or campus staff are encouraged to attend. Thursday, November 16th, 6:30-8PM in the Redwood Room – 6th Floor of City Hall, 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley. RSVP here.

December 7, 2017

Every month, many of you reach out to my office about traffic concerns on your street: dangerous crosswalks, new traffic due to apps that reroute drivers, speeding issues, etc. This is very important to me and my office is working diligently on these issues. Please be aware that the deadline for traffic calming requests is Dec. 31. The application process, data collection, and staff analysis are a year-long process, so if you’ve considered applying for traffic calming, I would encourage you to submit your request in the next few weeks. The first step is a basic one page document.

For a detailed timeline and instructions on how to apply for traffic calming, go to https://www.loridroste.com/traffic_calming_requests. You’ll need to fill out an initial one page application by Dec. 31.
Traffic calming requests can result in several different outcomes: the City utilizes traffic circles, rapid flashing beacons, and speed tables as traffic calming measures but traffic calming requests often do not result in stop signs due to various state and federal agency regulations. Council has asked staff to provide more information on this matter.

We need to do more to address traffic in our neighborhoods. In June, Council increased the traffic calming budget by $50,000. Although it’s a start, it’s not nearly enough to keep up with all of the improvements needed and requested.

The City has implemented traffic mitigation measures (presentation will download) to allow for “Safe Routes to School” for Emerson Elementary School and work is currently underway to improve safe routes to school for John Muir and Le Conte Elementary schools as well. In addition, you will notice construction and safety improvements along Ashby Avenue and Tunnel Road with multiple improvements along the corridor.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
www.LoriDroste.com

Late Thursday Shopping in the Elmwood!

Please make sure to enjoy extended evening hours (until 8pm), discounts, and special promotions at some of your favorite Elmwood stores on Thursday nights.

Winter on the Waterfront and Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday, December 9 at 1:00pm

Join us in front of the Berkeley Yacht Club (1 Sewall Drive) for some winter fun for the whole family! We�’ll l have food, music, games, snow play, and visits with Santa. Don�’t forget to bring your jackets and blankets to bundle up and enjoy the parade of lighted boats as they sail by after dark.
* Arts & crafts activities * Face painting * Holiday music * Photo booth * Holiday treats & hot cocoa * Carnival games & prizes *
* Lighted boat parade (starts at 5:30pm)

For more information or to volunteer, call (510) 981-6740

BART Carpool Program expands to Orinda, Rockridge

Beginning November 13th, BART will reserve parking spaces in the permit area at the Orinda and Rockridge BART stations for commuters using the carpool app,Scoop. The app matches commuters into carpools the night before the trip to the station, and provides drivers with information on how and where to park. The Scoop to BART Carpool program aims to expand BART’s parking capacity, to create an easier parking experience for commuters. Most of the agency’s 48,000 parking spaces fill by 8:00 a.m. each weekday. Ninety-five percent of those spots are taken by solo drivers, according to a 2016 passenger survey. BART’s new program offers commuters the opportunity to secure a parking space in exchange for a shared trip.

To get guaranteed parking at Orinda and Rockridge BART stations: download the app at takescoop.com, use promo code BARTLOVE05 to receive a $5 credit, type in the BART station name, and schedule a ride either before 9:00 p.m. the night before the morning commute or by 3:30pm for that evening’s commute. Shortly after the deadline, Scoop notifies commuters who have matched with one of their 65,000+ users. Scoop coordinates with BART to help verify carpoolers and ensure smooth operations every morning.

This program was developed by MTC, BART and Scoop, and made possible with funding from a Federal Transit Administration Mobility On Demand Sandbox grant. BART, MTC, and Scoop plan to continue expanding this service to additional BART stations throughout this and next year. More information about this program can be found atRideshare.511.org or www.bart.gov/carpool

December 18, 2017

Wishing you a Happy Holiday!

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley City Councilmember, District 8
www.LoriDroste.com

Need a street or sidewalk repair? Want to report illegal dumping?

My next office hours: January 4th, 9:30am – 11am at Cafe Espresso Roma, [email protected] Ave. No appointment necessary – just drop by.

Give Input on City Contracts with Companies Constructing the Border Wall

Use the City of Berkeley’s online forum to weigh in on whether the City Council should prohibit companies involved in the construction of a border wall from contracting with the City of Berkeley. The proposal, Item 22 on the December 19 agenda, would direct the City Manager to develop an ordinance prohibiting such contracts.

Registered users on Berkeley Considers – found at www.cityofberkeley.info/considers – can post their comments online with or without their name. Anyone can view registered comments. The goal of the forum is to broaden civic discourse in a constructive and civil manner.

In the process, the intention is to create a more informed community and provide Council with a broader array of voices. The platform is operated by Peak Democracy, which has used its software and services to broaden civic discourse around the country and Canada.

When registering, you will be asked for your name and home address. This confidential information is used only by Peak Democracy to identify statements from residents in and near Berkeley – so that users know which statements are from local residents. They will keep your information confidential, they do not accept advertising, and they will not share contact information, as noted in the company’s Privacy Policy. Of course, community members can, at any time, mail the full council through one email address:[email protected].

Berkeley Lab Conducting Emergency Drill 12/19

As the recent horrific North Bay fires demonstrated, the ability to safely evacuate an impacted area in a time-sensitive manner is critically important. To this end, the Lab’s Emergency Management Team will conduct a rapid mass evacuation drill on Tuesday, December 19, starting at 2:30 p.m.

With the scenario of an encroaching wildfire, this drill is designed to test how quickly we can evacuate and/or shelter in place at the Lab in a safe manner. The drill will also be used to identify potential issues that may hamper a rapid mass evacuation. To learn more about the scope of the drill, you can read the two announcements about the drill on the Lab’s “Today at Berkeley Lab” website here. The Lab’s Emergency Management team has been in close communication about the drill with partners on campus and at the city.

Caroling in the Elmwood 12/19 and 12/21

Claudia from Your Basic Bird will host a celebratory gathering at 2901 College Ave (Your Basic Bird) at 5:30. At 6:00pm, caroling will begin in front of Sweet Dreams on the corner of College and Russell.

Berkeley Farmers Market Winter Crafts Fair

Saturday | December 23, 2017 | 10:00 am — 2:00 pm
Civic Center Park | 2151 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

Holiday shopping can be rough, especially if you care about responsibly sourced goods and supporting your local economy. Have no fear! Shop local this year at the Ecology Center’s 26th Annual Winter Craft Fair and find sustainably made, hand-crafted, and beautiful gifts from Bay Area artisans.

For two Saturdays in December, Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market welcomes local artists, artisans, and crafters that are committed to using sustainable practices. Find upcycled messenger bags, gorgeous wooden bowls from sustainably harvested wood, nontoxic jewelry, wildcrafted and natural body products. Peruse gifts while getting your grocery shopping done at the Farmers’ Market and good music.

Remember to bring your reusable shopping bag. Or find a handmade one there!