2021 Newsletter Archive

Happy New Year! I hope you are all staying safe during this unprecedented time. I feel very fortunate to live in a community like Berkeley and are grateful for constituents like you. Please find some updates below.

If you traveled or celebrated with people you don’t live with over winter holidays, quarantine

Staying home for 10 days after an exposure stops the spread of COVID-19

If you traveled outside the Bay Area to celebrate winter holidays, spent time with travelers from elsewhere, or gathered with anyone outside your household, quarantine at home for 10 days to avoid spreading COVID-19 to others.

Mixing with other households creates a high risk of COVID-19 exposure, a risk that’s heightened amidst an unprecedented spread of COVID-19 nationwide.

It’s a good idea to quarantine if you:

Gathered with people you do not normally live with – especially if you were indoors, less than 6 feet apart, or around anyone not wearing a face mask.
Travelled outside the region – especially on planes, buses, trains, or other shared vehicles.

The activities that put you at risk may have seemed as routine as a child coming home from college or a plane trip to see a grandparent. But in a pandemic with a virus that spreads easily through breath, preventing further infections is something each of us can help do.

Quarantines stop the spread.

The fundamentals of staying in quarantine are straightforward. Stay home for 10 days and monitor your symptoms for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19 or engaging in a high-risk activity.

Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19
If possible, stay away from others in your home, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19.

Testing is a snapshot in time

A negative test doesn’t mean you don’t have COVID-19, especially when in quarantine.

The amount of the virus in an infected person may be undetectable at first. A negative test on any previous day doesn’t rule out testing positive later in the disease process.

That makes quarantines essential. While everyone should stay home when sick, an estimated 50 percent of COVID-19 cases are infected by people who didn’t have symptoms or know they were sick. Quarantines can stop the otherwise exponential domino effect of COVID-19 spread.

Health Order requires quarantine for close contacts of COVID-19 positive cases

The City of Berkeley’s Quarantine Health Order requires people to quarantine if they were exposed to someone with — or presumed to have — COVID-19.

Public health workers, known as contact tracers, use interviews with a person who tests positive to identify and reach out to close contacts — people who might be potentially infected and spreading COVID-19.

Someone is considered a close contact if they were within 6 feet of someone infectious with COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can also be a close contact if you shared food or utensils with, had direct physical contact with, or were sneezed or coughed upon by someone sick with COVID-19.

Quarantines are different than isolation, which is required of those who test positive or are presumed to be positive for COVID-19.

With virus surging, continue to limit activities after quarantine ends

The entire Bay Area, including the City of Berkeley, is currently under a Regional Stay at Home Order, imposed by the California Department of Public Health. While this Order remains in effect, everyone should stay home except for essential needs and avoid gathering with anyone outside their household.

When you leave for work, groceries, or other essential errands, you greatly reduce potential exposure — and chances you’ll need to quarantine — by keeping your trip short, wearing a face covering, and staying at least six feet away from those outside your household.

$500 million California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

Announced by Governor Newsom and the Legislature, the program supports small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 and the health and safety restrictions.

The State of California and CalOSBA are committed to ensuring small businesses have access to the support, resources and capital they need – and this support is fundamental to California’s COVID-19 response.

Today we launched the new website CAReliefGrant.com so that you can review information on eligibility, prepare your business documents and get ready to apply!

Applications for Round 1 will open on Wednesday, December 30th, 2020, and close end of day on Friday, January 8th, 2021. Round 2 will be announced in the near future. Eligible small businesses and nonprofits may apply during these times, directly, at CAReliefGrant.com, or with assistance from a partner.

One of the state’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Lendistry, is supporting the state to distribute these grants and partnering with other CDFIs and small business centers to assist you with your application. To connect to a partner or find more information on the program and requirements, visit CAReliefGrant.com or join one of our small business webinars available daily in multiple languages. If interested in a webinar briefing on the grant program register here.

COVID Cases and Vaccine Updates

As of Monday, January 4, there have been 1,996 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Berkeley and 12 deaths. This is an increase of 642 cases and three deaths over the last 30 days. You can read the latest numbers on our COVID-19 dashboard.

Less than 6% of intensive care beds are available across our entire region–and we still have not seen the impact of spread that occurred over the winter holidays. Hospitalizations in Alameda County continue to climb to record highs, with 442 people currently hospitalized, 109 of whom are in ICUs. The Bay Area region (which includes the nine-county Bay Area plus Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties) ICU capacity is at 5.9% and dropping quickly. Two of the five California Regions, Southern California and San Joaquin Valley, currently have an ICU capacity of 0.0%. Under the current State’s Regional Stay at Home Order, the current restrictions will remain in place until ICU capacity goes above 15%.

There have been 160,767 tests conducted on Berkeley residents since records began on March 2, with an overall positivity rate 1.39% and a four week positivity rate of 2.23%. For information on how to get tested, click here.

Vaccine Updates

There have been 2,075 doses of the COVID-19 that have been delivered to Berkeley. The first 975 went to Alta Bates to provide to their healthcare workers. The other 1,100 went to the City of Berkeley that will go to healthcare workers under Phase 1A (details on phases below). Of the 1,100 doses given to the City, 494 were administered last week, with the rest being administered this week. Additionally, skilled nursing facilities are receiving vaccines for both residents and workers through the CDC Pharmacy Partnership Program.

Our public health department is following guidance from the CDC and the California Department of Public Health to determine priorities. Here is the breakdown of priority groups. Note that Phases 1B and 1C are subject to change.

Phase 1A (vaccinations underway)

Tier One:

Acute care, psychiatric and correctional facility hospitals.
Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and similar settings for older or medically vulnerable individuals.
Paramedics, EMTs, and others providing emergency medical services.
Dialysis centers.
Staff of residential and inpatient Substance Abuse Disorders treatment, and staff of residential and inpatient mental health facilities.

Tier Two:

Intermediate care facilities for persons who need non-continuous nursing supervision and supportive care (staff only).
Home health care and in-home supportive services.
Community health workers, including promotoras.
Public health field staff.
Primary care clinics, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Centers, correctional facility clinics, and urgent care clinics.
Regional Center staff (service providers for individuals with developmental disabilities).
Staff of outpatient Substance Abuse Disorders treatment, mental health facilities, and crisis stabilization units.

Tier Three:

Specialty clinics.
Laboratory workers.
Dental and other oral health clinics.
Pharmacy staff not working in settings at higher tiers.
Persons working in the mortuary service industry.

Phase 1B (to begin later this month)

Tier One:

Age 75 and over.
Food and agriculture.
Education and childcare.
Emergency services.

Tier Two:

Age 65 to 74 years with underlying medical conditions/disabilities that place them at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness and death.
Incarcerated individuals – jails and prisons.
Homeless/unhoused.
Transportation and logistics.
Industrial, residential, commercial.
Critical manufacturing.

Phase 1C

Age 65 to 74 years.
Age 16 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions/disabilities that place them at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness and death.
Water and waste management, defense, energy, chemical and hazardous, communication and IT, financial services.
Government operations/community services

Vaccines are expected to be available to the general public in Spring, but it will still take time for everyone to get vaccinated due to the complex logistical challenges.

Sincerely,

Lori Droste

Berkeley Vice Mayor

www.LoriDroste.com

Want to request a City service?

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.

Holiday tree disposal

If you have a holiday tree you are ready to dispose of, please remove all lights, decorations, tinsel, plastic bags, and plastic tree stands. You can cut trees up and place them in your cart for curbside collection, or drop off whole trees at the City’s Transfer Station.

Curbside collection

Cut your tree up so it fits into your green plant debris cart with the lid closed. Whole trees can damage the City’s collection trucks and will not be picked up if left on the curb.

Flocked, or “snow-covered” trees are not compostable. If you have a flocked tree, cut it up and place it in your refuse cart.

If you don’t have tools to cut your tree to fit into your cart, the Berkeley Tool Lending Library is a great resource for free tool rental.

Tree drop off

You may also drop off holiday trees at the City’s Transfer Station at 1201 2nd Street (off Gilman). Remember to remove all lights and decorations before bringing in your tree.

The Transfer Station will take compostable trees for free through the end of January. There is a $29 fee to drop off flocked or plastic trees.

The Transfer Station is open 8am-4:30pm Monday-Saturday, and will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s days.

Berkeley Relief Fund Needs Donations

Many of our businesses have been able to creatively reopen through outdoor dining, retail modifications and reduced capacity. While this pandemic surges and capacity shrinks again, our small businesses, arts and tenants need our continued help.

Donations from last spring to the Berkeley Relief Fund, combined with City funds, supported 700 small businesses, 63 arts organizations and kept 214 families in their homes. Funds raised from the community totaled over $1.4M. The goal is to have the Berkeley community and beyond match the City contribution of $3M. We are 1/2 way there!!!

For this holiday season, Can you make a tax-deductible donation to the Berkeley Relief Fund?

www.berkeleyrelieffund.org

Berkeley is special because of our special businesses, dynamic arts organizations and the diversity of our people. We need to come out of this pandemic as healthy as possible.

Our goal is to raise an additional $1.7 million by the end of the month. These funds will be used by small businesses, many of them owned by women and/or people of color, to keep their businesses operating by paying wages, rent, and other operational expenses. Grants will also be provided to tenants who have been financially impacted as a result of COVID-19.

There is hope around the corner, with the distribution of vaccines to begin later this month. However, too many people need help now and cannot wait for the pandemic to end. Consider donating today to the Berkeley Relief Fund to support your fellow Berkeley neighbors. Your support will make a difference. Donations are tax deductible.

Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley Can Provide Affordable Home Renovations, Big and Small.

Habitat provides limited income renters and homeowners up to $10,000 of free home repairs or accessibility upgrades. For homeowners who need more extensive work, Renew Alameda County’s 1% interest loans with no payments up to $150,000 may be the answer to fix up your home! Learn more about both programs here.

APPLY FOR CIVIC ARTS GRANTS BY JANUARY 19

Berkeley-based artists, art nonprofits, and festival organizers can apply for Civic Arts Grants. These grants provide funding to strengthen the local ecosystem of arts and culture.

Depending on their size, organizations can receive up to $12,000 – money that often allows them to leverage more outside funding. Berkeley’s Civic Arts grants have supported dozens of organizations large and small, ranging from institutions like Freight & Salvage and the Aurora Theater to smaller groups like the Berkeley Ballet Theatre, Capoeira Arts Foundation, La Peña Cultural Center, and Youth Spirit Artworks. This annual support for a broad spectrum of organizations helps build a thriving base of arts and culture for the region.

Individual artists can receive up to $4,000 to produce new work, which comes with a requirement that Berkeleyans have an opportunity to view the work for free. In past years, this may have been through a gallery showing, reading, or performance. During COVID-19, it may mean a socially distanced outdoor event or a digital production shared online. The Civic Arts Program will organize an online public presentation for all individual grant awardees to showcase their work for the community during Spring of 2022.

Festival grants support a range of events throughout Berkeley from small, first-time events to large-scale, established festivals. These grants can be up to $7,000, depending on the size of the event. Festivals will need to comply with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. Organizers should consider virtual formats or outdoor experiences that support social distancing.

Applications due January 19, 2021

All grant-funded activities must take place within the City of Berkeley between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

Applications are due by 5pm on January 19, 2021. Review the guidelines and get details on the application process on the Civic Arts Grant Program webpage.

Last year, Berkeley’s Civic Arts Grants provided over $500,000 in funding to local artists, arts organizations, and festivals. Continuing this program during the COVID-19 pandemic will help ensure equitable access to high quality arts and culture for Berkeley residents and visitors alike during challenging times.

If you’re an artist, nonprofit arts organization, or festival producer seeking to enrich Berkeley with arts and culture, we hope you’ll apply for one of our grants. If you know others who might be interested, please spread the word!

For questions, contact the Civic Arts Program at [email protected] or (510) 981-7539.

Back to top

February 10, 2021

With vaccine supply limited, sign up for notification lists

The very limited national supply means that it will take many months for vaccines to reach the general population.

No matter what your age, you can prepare by understanding what your health care provider’s process is and signing up for general notification lists.

The City of Berkeley’s list will be used to notify people when new vaccination opportunities are made available by Berkeley Public Health.

No matter what list you are on, keep tabs on your email and take immediate action when you receive a notification that you are eligible to make an appointment.

School Reopening Update

As a parent to two young children in Berkeley public school, I want to see students return to in-person learning as soon as possible. I know that our children’s health is suffering during this pandemic; emergency room data over the past year has shown that ER visits for children’s mental health needs increase. I know this firsthand. I’m in regular contact with school board members and am also convening a meeting next week with key city, BUSD staff, and various PTA heads to discuss this dire situation.

As a former public school teacher, I also understand that our educators want to be vaccinated. I have been advocating strenuously for teacher vaccination prioritization in the new 1b tiers, if a return to the classroom hinges on this issue. Since Berkeley is its own health jurisdiction, I feel if any place can do this, Berkeley can.

January 2021 state public health guidance states that schools that have not yet reopened can open again for in person instruction in the Purple Tier for grades TK-6 when adjusted case rates are below 25 cases/100,000 population per day for at least 5 consecutive days. As of Feb. 8th, Alameda County has an adjusted case rate of 23.1 cases/100,000 per day.

Consequently, our public health official and City of Berkeley COVID-19 team have determined that TK-6 schools are able to open safely as of this week.

Once Alameda County has been in the Red Tier for several days, grades 7-12 will be able to open. Grade levels that cannot currently open under the state schools guidance continue to be allowed to provide in person services and supports under the cohort guidance.

Berkeley’s public health officer’s and my position is that when schools adhere to public health guidelines and carefully implement and layer key mitigation strategies (i.e., face coverings, use of stable groups, physical distancing, etc.), in-person instruction can be offered safely and successfully. The most recent health order aligns the City of Berkeley with the current state schools guidance that details this approach.

City of Berkeley staff have worked closely with BUSD and the private school community since March 2020 to support safe school reopening through ongoing individualized technical assistance to schools (along with child care and youth providers) and resources.

In response to the latest guidance, the City of Berkeley’s schools team is:

issuing clarifying information to schools and responding to many questions;
putting in place a Reopening Plan review team to evaluate schools’ Covid Safety Plans (CSPs) and reopening plans;
developing criteria for evaluating CSP’s; and
establishing process flows and evaluation and communication tools to enable the City to meet the seven-day turnaround requirement for feedback on CSPs.
Nevertheless, the timeline for reopening BUSD schools is still unknown. Other factors, as detailed in the school readiness dashboard here, must still be settled within the school district and teacher negotiations in accordance with state law. Currently, it is the position of the statewide unions that it is not safe to reopen elementary schools until we are in the “red tier” of community spread, and there is an opportunity for educators to be vaccinated while the school district’s position is that it is safe for teachers to return to the classroom. I want to see the school district and union come to an agreement as soon as possible.

I want to state unequivocally that I believe students need school for socioemotional and academic growth. I also understand that teachers are really concerned for their health. I promise you I am working hard on these issues and having conversations daily about how I can help in my role as an elected official for the city of Berkeley.

Sincerely,

Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor

Home

Want to request a City service?

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.

Back to top

March 22, 2021

COVID-19 Updates – Appointments Available for March 23-27

Sign up quickly for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment March 23-27 if you are a Berkeley or Alameda County resident who is at least 65 years old, have a state-defined underlying health condition, or live or work in Alameda County and are at increased risk of exposure in one of the following sectors:

public transit workers, including airport and commercial airlines
education and childcare
emergency services
food and agriculture, including restaurants, grocery, convenience stores

Those who fit into one of these groups can now register for an appointment at a vaccination site at the foot of Buchanan Street in Albany:

These appointments align with state guidelines, which you can examine for further detail. After scheduling, you will receive a confirmation email with the date and time of your appointment. We will verify appointments with identification at the site. You will not be asked about immigration status.

Curative staff will assist you with scheduling your second dose appointment after you receive your shot, while you are waiting in the post-vaccination holding area.

For technical support or assistance scheduling your appointment, call Curative, Inc. at 888-702-9042. COVID-19 vaccines are free to everyone. You do not need insurance to get a vaccine. However, those who have medical insurance will need to provide their insurance information.

People with certain underlying health conditions eligible

Those who have certain underlying health conditions that put them at highest risk for serious COVID-19 illness qualify for vaccination at state-run sites as well as the City of Berkeley site.

People with these conditions are strongly encouraged to seek vaccination with a primary health care provider or system, or in an alternate clinical setting. Check first with your usual health care provider.

Cancer, current with weakened immune system
Chronic kidney disease, stage 4 or above
Chronic pulmonary disease, oxygen dependent
Down syndrome
Solid organ transplant, leading to a weakened immune system
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies (but not hypertension)
Severe obesity (Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m2)
Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hemoglobin A1c level greater than 7.5%

Learn how to upload your medical ID, how to verify your employment, and learn about transportation assistance for seniors here.

As case rate dips, assess and manage risk as new open activities open

City rules align with state restrictions for “red tier.” You can learn more about what that means for Berkeley here.

Zoning Update

On March 25, 2021 Council will be discussing equitable zoning reform as part of the City’s Housing Element update. Berkeley is required to zone for approximately 9,000 units and we want to begin the state-mandated required community input process earlier than usual before late 2022 adoption. Any major zoning revisions go through a variety of analyses, including a public safety assessment. Find the full agenda and participation link here.

Read the item I authored with Mayor Arreguín, Councilmember Kesarwani, and Councilmember Taplin here.
Do you have questions? FAQs regarding this proposal are here.

This is an action item to follow up on Council’s commitment to end exclusionary zoning by 2022, which we passed unanimously. Read the Resolution.

Elmwood Theater Reopening Survey – Please Participate

Rialto Cinemas is taking time to make a plan to re-open when they are able to safely do so. They want to hear from you! Please take a moment to complete the Re-Opening Survey and share your thoughts and feelings about coming back to the movies.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor
www.LoriDroste.com

Want to request a City service?

Back to top

March 26, 2021

Vaccine Appointments Opening Up: 65+, Public Transit Workers, Janitors, People with Underlying Health Conditions, etc.

Appointments available March 30-April 3

Sign up quickly for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment March 30 – April 3 if you are a Berkeley or Alameda County resident who is at least 65 years old, has a state-defined underlying health condition, or lives or works in Alameda County and are at increased risk of exposure in one of the following sectors:

public transit workers, including airport and commercial airlines
janitors, in any industry
emergency services
food and agriculture, including restaurants, grocery, convenience stores

Those who fit into one of these groups can now register for an appointment at Berkeley Public Health’s mass vaccination site at 1 Buchanan Street:

After scheduling, you will receive a confirmation email with the date and time of your appointment. We will verify appointments with identification at the site. You will not be asked about immigration status. Curative staff will assist you with scheduling your second dose appointment after you receive your shot, while you are waiting in the post-vaccination holding area. For technical support or assistance scheduling your appointment, call Curative, Inc. at 888-702-9042. COVID-19 vaccines are free to everyone. You do not need insurance to get a vaccine. However, those who have medical insurance will need to provide their insurance information. Vaccinations are only for those with appointments.

Learn how to upload your medical ID, how to verify your employment, and learn about transportation assistance for seniors here.

History Made with Zoning Reform

Once again, Berkeley made history on Thursday night by voting unanimously to move forward with comprehensive equitable zoning reform. If you have questions about what was passed, please click on this link. I’m proud to have helped bring attention to inequities in our zoning code and am excited we are launching the community process outlined in our proposal. I want to highlight a terrific article published about my mentor and local Berkeley resident, Dorothy Walker. It’s a fascinating article about her attempts over the years to desegregate schools and pursue equity and justice in our community. It’s definitely worth a read.

Back to School Traffic Safety

Berkeley Schools are beginning to return to in person instruction. The Berkeley Police Department wants to draw attention to this unusually timed back-to-school, especially regarding traffic and pedestrian safety.

Elementary schools are set to have groups of students return to campus on Monday March 29th, and again on Monday April 12th. Middle school students will begin returning Monday April 12th.

As students return to school, and to their school commutes, we urge all Berkeleyans to be extra careful and aware of traffic safety issues. Members of our community commute by diverse methods, including by car, bus, bicycle, and on foot! We ask all the members of our community to read this information from the State Office of Traffic Safety, and be extra cautious as our smaller community members resume their school commutes.

Rental Relief

Low-income tenants or small landlords in Berkeley struggling to pay rent or utilities because of the pandemic can apply online for assistance to cover both past and future costs.

Tenants who can apply are those who make less than 80 percent of the area median income. Grants will be first given to those tenants who:

live in subsidized affordable housing units OR
make less than 30 percent of the area median income

Qualifying landlords in this phase are those who have 5 units or less. See Alameda County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program website and apply online for Tenant Assistance or Landlord Assistance. Low income tenants in Berkeley needing more information or assistance with the online application can call the Eviction Defense Center at 510-452-4541. También se puede leer sobre la Programa de Asistencia de Alquiler de Emergencia en Español. Si Usted es un inquilino de bajos ingresos en la Ciudad de Berkeley y necesita ayuda con llenar la aplicación, llame al Eviction Defense Center. 510-452-4541.

The City also provides financial assistance for those facing eviction for certain non-pandemic reasons, including domestic violence and unexpected medical or disability expenses. See our Housing Retention Program page for details.

April 12, 2021

Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 13th at 6pm, the Berkeley City Council will be hosting a special meeting to discuss the Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) for the University of California, Berkeley. The LRDP is renewed every 15 years and is the primary blueprint for the University’s development plans for the next 15 years. As part of this process, the University is soliciting written comments from the public to provide input on its draft LRDP and draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The public comment period is open until Wednesday, April 21 at 5pm.

Comments can be sent:

Via mail to: UC Berkeley, Physical & Environmental Planning, Attention: 2021 LRDP and Housing Projects #1 and #2 Draft EIR, 300 A&E Building, Berkeley, CA 94720-1382

Or via email to: [email protected] Include “Draft EIR Comments: 2021 LRDP and Housing Projects #1 and #2” in the subject line.

Written comments will be responded to in the Final EIR. UC Berkeley plans to submit the updated LRDP and EIR to the UC Regents for approval later this year.

Participation info for Tuesday’s Council meeting:

Note that public comment at the Council meeting does not substitute a written comment to the University.

To access the meeting remotely: Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device: Please use this URL https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85445489790. If you do not wish for your name to appear on the screen, then use the drop down menu and click on rename to rename yourself to be anonymous. To request to speak, use the “raise hand” icon by rolling over the bottom of the screen,
To join by phone: Dial 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free) and enter Meeting ID: 854 4548 9790. If you wish to comment during the public comment portion of the agenda, Press *9 and wait to be recognized by the Chair.

Sincerely,

Vice Mayor Lori Droste

April 16, 2021

We’ve opened over 2,000 first-dose COVID-19 vaccine appointments for next week at Berkeley Public Health’s mass vaccination site, located at the foot of Buchanan Street in Albany.

Everyone over the age of 16 who lives or works in Alameda County is eligible. 16 and 17 year olds need parental consent to receive the vaccine, and must be accompanied to the vaccination site by a parent or guardian.

Visit myturn.ca.gov to make an appointment

To book your spot:

Complete the eligibility information on the MyTurn homepage. This will bring you to a new page listing available appointments at several nearby locations.
Scroll down to the “More Options” section and select “Buchanan St. Parking Lot (next to Albany Bulb).”
After scheduling, you will receive a confirmation email with the date and time of your appointment. We will verify appointments with identification at the site. You will not be asked about immigration status.

COVID-19 vaccines are free to everyone. You do not need insurance to get a vaccine. However, those who have medical insurance will need to provide their insurance information.

Scroll down for more information about sign-up assistance, parental accompaniment requirements for 16 & 17 year olds, and transportation assistance for senior or disabled residents.

More appointments are available through Curative today. Please sign up below. If you have not been vaccinated, sign up for notification lists.

More ways to find vaccine appointments

As of April 15, everyone 16 and older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine statewide. Please be aware that vaccine supply remains limited, and it will take time for everyone to get vaccinated.

These appointments may fill up quickly. If you don’t get an appointment immediately, please know that more vaccines will continue to come and everyone throughout our community will get an opportunity to get vaccinated.

Once the Buchanan St. spots are full, try looking for appointments through:

MyTurn.ca.gov: Use MyTurn to book appointments at many vaccination sites across the region, including the Oakland Coliseum, which is open to everyone who lives or works in Alameda County.
Your health care provider: Review vaccine information on your provider’s website. Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Stanford Health Care.
Local pharmacies: You may be able to secure an appointment directly through a pharmacy near you. See vaccine information from: CVS, Rite Aid, Safeway, and Walgreens.

Buchanan St. vaccination site: Sign-up help, documentation requirements, and transportation assistance

Sign-up assistance

For technical support or assistance scheduling your appointment, call Curative, Inc. at 888-702-9042.

Second doses

Curative staff will assist you with scheduling your second dose appointment after you receive your shot, while you are waiting in the post-vaccination holding area.

Instructions: uploading photo of medical ID card

If you have health insurance, you’ll be asked to upload a photo of your medical ID card when scheduling your appointment. Follow these steps to add your card:

Take a photo of your card.
Send the photo to your email.
Open email and save the photo to a file on your computer.
Upload the photo from the saved file using file manager.

If you are unable to do this on the insurance page, click on the box that says “I do not have my insurance card” and click continue to move to the next screen. You may have to enter some additional medical information. Bring your medical card with you to the appointment.

If you do not have health insurance, disregard these instructions. You do not need insurance to be vaccinated and will not be charged to receive a vaccine.

Parental consent & accompaniment for 16 & 17-year olds

Parents and guardians of 16- and 17-year-olds living in Alameda County will need to accompany their children to their appointment. Parents or guardians as well as the teens receiving the vaccine will need to bring identification with a birthdate to the site.

Transport option for Berkeley seniors, disabled

For Berkeley residents who need assistance getting to the site, a ride service supported by the City can help some people get to their appointments for a $15 fee.

After you’ve scheduled your vaccination appointment, call Easy Does It at (510) 704-2111 to check your eligibility, register for services, and schedule a ride.

Easy Does It will ask health screening questions to ensure the safety of the rider and the driver. Personal protective equipment is worn by drivers, and face coverings are required of riders.

No matter what list you are on, keep tabs on your email and take immediate action when you receive a notification that you are eligible to make an appointment.

Healthy Streets Update – Hillegass Ave.

I’m happy to report that Hillegass Ave. between Woolsey and Dwight is now a designated ‘Healthy Street.’ Healthy Streets is a public health emergency response program that creates more opportunity for Berkeleyans to safely get exercise, sunshine, and fresh air during the pandemic.

Using Healthy Streets

Healthy Streets will be marked with barriers and signs at block entrances, along with signs midblock reminding people to slow down, social distance, and cover their nose and mouth.

Healthy Streets is about everyone sharing the road. We ask everyone traveling on a Healthy Street to be courteous to others and stay aware of the environment for their safety.

When using Healthy Streets, please:

stay 6 feet away from people you don’t live with
cover your face
share the road
observe a 15mph speed limit
watch for pedestrians, bikes, and cars
pass with care
if you’re moving slowly, let others pass

You can see a complete map Healthy Streets and provide program feedback here.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor
www.LoriDroste.com

Want to request a City service?

AC Transit Talks Start April 26

Join us for “Transit Talks” – our new and interactive approach for community engagement.

What is “Transit Talks”?

Transit Talks is a series of virtual community gatherings featuring AC Transit Board Directors and staff. The purpose of these meetings is to provide community updates on bus service, health & safety initiatives, and projects.

When are the meetings?

We’re kicking off Transit Talks on 4/26/21 and running through 5/13/21, which can be attended via web, livestream, or dial-in. For community specific details, visit actransit.org/talks or call Transit Talks Information Lines:

510-891-7205 for English
510-891-7210 for Spanish
510-891-7286 for Chinese

We look forward to your participation.

May 5, 2021

As the semester winds down, students are preparing to move out in late May. Resources to support a safe and clean moveout are here: http://calmoveout.com/

Community Town Hall On Fire Safety – May 19th

The month of May is National Wildfire Prevention Month. It’s that time of year when we all need to turn our attention to the risks of wildfire in our area and focus on prevention and preparedness.

Every year for the past many years I have co-hosted a community town hall on Fire Safety with Councilmember Susan Wengraf and Councilmember Sophie Hahn. This year, due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, we will host a Fire Safety Town Hall via Zoom, with capacity for 500 attendees, on May 19th at 7pm.

While wildfires are a natural part of California’s landscape, climate change is driving longer fire seasons in California, starting earlier and ending later. The length of fire season is estimated to have increased by almost three months. Drought conditions are contributing to dire predictions about what to expect this year.

Our Fire safety Zoomposium panel will focus on Prevention and Preparedness and how Berkeley is working to keep you safe during fire season. We will learn about our new evacuation plan and other strategies for early notification, vegetation management, and the Safe Passages program. We will also learn about how to organize your block or neighborhood as a FireWise group.

Due to the limitations of the webinar format, we are requesting that questions be submitted by Monday, May 10th at 5pm to: [email protected]

Town Hall on the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act

Councilmembers Rashi Kesarwani and Susan Wengraf are hosting a community forum on the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act. It will take place next Wednesday, May 12th at 5:30pm-7pm. They discuss the proposed TOPA ordinance with tenants, rental property owners, affordable housing developers, and others. To RSVP, go here.

Vaccine Appointments Available To All Over 16, Regardless Of City Of Residence

Protect yourself, your family and our community: get vaccinated

Use myturn.ca.gov to book local appointments, such as at the City of Berkeley site off Buchanan Street in Albany, the Oakland Coliseum and other sites across the state and region. MyTurn is available in 14 languages.

For online booking, MyTurn will ask your age, where you live, and where you work. The portal will then show you a list of places where you’re eligible, both nearby and far away. When searching MyTurn:

Scroll through the list to find an option that works for you. Remember, the closest or most convenient site may not be at the top of the list.
For the fastest and easiest booking, look for a blue “Schedule appointment” button. For these sites, you’ll schedule your appointment directly on MyTurn, without being taken to a separate booking site.

For phone assistance, you can call the CA COVID-19 hotline at (833) 422-4255, which has translators available to support 250 languages. For Curative technical support or assistance scheduling, call 888-702-9042.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor

www.LoriDroste.com

Want to request a City service?

AC Transit Talks

Join us for “Transit Talks” – our new and interactive approach for community engagement.

What is “Transit Talks”?

When are the meetings?

Transit Talks runs through 5/13/21, which can be attended via web, livestream, or dial-in. For community specific details, visit actransit.org/talks or call Transit Talks Information Lines:

510-891-7205 for English
510-891-7210 for Spanish
510-891-7286 for Chinese

We look forward to your participation.

The Bay Area Book Festival is back!

This year’s Festival is entirely online until May 9th, making it easy to see and interact with some of the most exciting authors of our time from your home! The conversations channel the power of literature to renew and rekindle our imaginations and spirits after an unprecedented year. See Nobel Laureate Kazuo Ishiguro (Klara and the Sun); bestselling climate fiction “prophet” Jeff VanderMeer; civil rights activist and viral TED speaker Valarie Kaur; world-renowned therapist Dr. Irvin Yalom with Joyce Carol Oates; and more.

Middle-graders and teens will enjoy “Davey D” hip hop historian, master chef Kwame Onwuachi with his new cookbook/memoir for teens, and bestselling authors!

All youth events are free (but registration required to help keep Zoom rooms safe). Adult events are a mix of free and ticketed (with economical passes available). All include access to the recording for 10 days post-event. Check out the full line-up at BayBookFest.org

Interested in Joining a Fire Patrol?

NALCO (https://n6brk.info/) is a local am radio group that supports an amateur radio Fire Patrol during fire season each year. Patrols consist of driving predetermined routes in or near the Berkeley Hills and reporting any hazardous conditions by radio to our central (net) control, who in turn communicates with the Berkeley Fire Department (BFD). Patrol routes pass near and through District 8.

Participants in the Fire Patrol receive annual training, are asked to take part in three scheduled responses (Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day), and to do patrols on high fire danger days when NALCO is activated by the BFD. There are never any patrols during active fires.

Our annual Fire Patrol training is about to begin, and we would like to invite anyone in your District with an active Technician radio license or above who has a portable ham radio (hand-held or vehicle mounted) and is interested in taking part in the Fire Patrols this year to participate. According to the FCC, there are over 800 operators with active licenses in Berkeley.

They would need to join NALCO (this is required by the BFD to provide Fire Patrol insurance coverage) and to sign up for the free training. Annual NALCO membership is $25. NALCO has a weekly net and a monthly meeting that members are encouraged to attend, but there is no requirement to do so. There is usually an after-meeting presentation on a topic of interest (e.g., MESH radio, APRS – the Automatic Packet Reporting System, etc.). We’ve also provided support for events such as the Berkeley Half-Marathon and Albany Stroll, and we have MOUs with the City of Berkeley, UC Berkeley, and the City of Albany to help provide emergency communications as needed.

If anyone is interested in Fire Patrol please contact Chris Cullander at [email protected]

Request For Proposals – Organizations Serving Populations Most Impacted By COVID-19

Pending Council approval on May 11, the City of Berkeley anticipates issuing a Request for Proposals inviting community partners to assist Berkeley residents who are most impacted by or vulnerable to COVID-19. If your organization supports any of the communities listed below, please consider applying to join our efforts against COVID-19.

Target Populations: Berkeley residents who are most impacted by or vulnerable to COVID-19, including:

People from Latino or Latinx communities
People from African American or Black communities
Non-English speakers
Essential workers
Day laborers
Home-bound older adults, older adults in congregate settings, or senior housing residents, settings, or senior housing residents
Residents of low income or subsidized housing
Residents in multi-generational households
People without a permanent residence

We expect to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) on May 12 with proposals due by June 1. Approved vendors would enter into a contract from approximately August 2021 and ending no later than July 31, 2023. Total Funds Available: $700,000. Types of Services: Organizations may apply for one, two or all three services in the RFP:

Individual and group outreach, education and engagement regarding COVID-19 prevention, testing, vaccination and contact tracing efforts.
Hosting mobile or pop-up COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics, including engaging community members’ attendance.
Individual support services to isolated individuals referred from the City of Berkeley including provision of hotel/ temporary housing and food to ensure isolation compliance.

Where to find information about the RFP on May 12: www.CityofBerkeley.info/RFP/

Work at Echo Lake Family Camp This Summer

The City is looking for applicants to work at Echo Lake Family Camp:

Potential staff with recreation work experience: They have tons of diverse applicants for whom this will be their first job, but are now looking for folks with some experience.
Applications for camperships and CIT positions: There are still lots available in both categories!

Apply here: https://www.cityofberkeley.info/RecreationEmployment/

May 14, 2021

For Those 12-plus, Vaccine Appointments Now Available In Berkeley

Sign up online to reserve a dose for yourself, your family

Parents or guardians can now sign up for COVID-19 vaccine appointments for kids at least 12-years-old, who’ll be able to get shots starting Thursday in Berkeley and throughout the region. The City of Berkeley coordinates two sites that this week are using the Pfizer vaccine approved for those 12 and over:

1 Buchanan Street, Albany, May 14-15. 9am-5pm.

Reserve a spot through MyTurn: complete eligibility information, then scroll down the “select location” page until you see “Buchanan St Parking Lot (next to Albany Bulb).”
A parent or guardian will need to accompany their child to the appointment.

Civic Center Park, behind 2180 Milvia St., May 14. 10:30am-6:30pm.

Create a free Carbon Health account and reserve a spot.
Those under 18 need permission from a parent or guardian via a signed consent form, parent or guardian present at vaccination, or phone call to parent or guardian
Note: Appointments for 12-15 year olds are drop-in only at this time.

Drop-in availability depends on supply. Making an appointment is the best way to confirm a dose for yourself or your child.

MyTurn will also offer other locations, such as local pharmacies, supermarkets with pharmacies and other. Private healthcare providers like Kaiser, Sutter Health and Stanford Health Care now vaccinate both members and nonmembers.

As Students Move Out, Keep Berkeley Clean

As Cal students move out for the summer, tenants and landlords can help keep our streets clean and safe by planning ahead, using City of Berkeley services, and properly disposing of the items they no longer need.

Dumping mattresses and other items on the sidewalk creates a mess, can be a safety hazard, and doesn’t promote reuse. Please use the available mattress collection and recycling options for mattresses and box springs. Avoid fines for illegal dumping that can reach up to $1,000 a day.

Plan ahead with prepaid trash bags or extra pickups

Start thinking now about what to keep and what to discard. The property owner or authorized contacts listed on the refuse account can call 510-981-7270 to take advantage of these City services:

Order extra curbside collection or a short-term dumpster.
Schedule a free Bulky Waste Pickup for extra refuse (for 1-4 unit properties).
Purchase prepaid trash bags or plant debris bags (for 1-4 unit properties). Prepaid trash and plant debris bags can be purchased at the Transfer Station or the Berkeley Ace Hardware.
Curbside mattress collection is available for 1-9 unit properties this year for up to 2 mattresses or box springs at no charge.
Take a variety of items directly to the Transfer Station. Residents may drop off up to 2 mattresses or box springs and up to 2 electronic devices for free.

Find ways to reuse unwanted items

Keep reusable items out of landfills. Abandoned furniture and debris on sidewalks or in the public right-of-way can result in citations and fines up to $1,000 a day.

Unopened Food: Help neighbors in need by donating unopened food to the Berkeley Food Network.
Furniture and Household Goods: Reuse stores like Urban Ore accept some furniture and household items in good condition.
Textiles: Drop off textiles, including clothing, shoes, handbags, backpacks, and linens/bedding at the Textile Recycling Drop Box at the Berkeley Recycling Center for reuse.
If using sites like Craigslist, Freecycle or Nextdoor for reusable items, take precautions when arranging pickups or drop offs – all parties should wear face coverings, keep six feet apart, avoid physical contact, and wash their hands before and after the exchange.

Recycle items that can’t be repurposed

For recyclable items that can’t be repurposed, use your building’s recycling carts or bins to recycle. Not sure if an item is recyclable? Review guidelines.

For single-family homes or small apartment complexes with Ecology Center Recycling collection, review the Ecology Center’s recycling guidelines for program specifics. Extra cardboard can be bundled and placed curbside next to your Ecology Center recycle cart on your recycling service day.

For items that can’t be recycled curbside:

The Recycling Center located at 669 Gilman Street accepts a variety of recyclable items, including clothing and household textiles, scrap metal, appliances, cooking oil, and cardboard boxes.
Electronics: Computers, televisions, microwaves, stereos, and programmable gadgets should never be put into garbage cans, debris bins or placed curbside. Recycle up to 2 electronic items at the Transfer Station for free. The Computer & Technology Resource Center (located at 2nd & Page St. in Berkeley) takes most electronic devices for free. Learn more about the items they accept at ewastecollective.org or call them at (415) 883-1428.
Household Hazardous Waste: Hazardous items like paint, cleaning supplies, batteries, and fluorescent bulbs cannot be placed in curbside containers, and must be disposed of properly. Visit StopWaste.org/hhw for drop off sites.
Check the StopWaste.org RE:Source Guide to find local reuse, repair, recycling, and safe disposal options for almost anything.

Keep Refuse Workers Safe

Please take precautions to keep refuse and recycling workers safe. For both refuse and recycling, all your materials should fit inside your cart with the lid closed completely. If boxes are too big to fit inside your recycling cart, break them down and cut them apart.

Report Illegal Dumping

We can all play a valuable role in keeping our streets clean and safe. If you see illegal dumping, call 311 or 510-981-2489 to report.

Community Town Hall On Fire Safety – May 19th

The month of May is National Wildfire Prevention Month. It’s that time of year when we all need to turn our attention to the risks of wildfire in our area and focus on prevention and preparedness.

2021 Fire Fuel Chipper Program

Note: Households in the designated chipper zones will receive a brochure in the mail with more information. The Fire Fuel Chipper program is operated by the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department’s Urban Forestry Unit.

This program includes the use of an onsite chipper to dispose of vegetation that has been assembled by residents and left near the street. The Vegetation Debris Program, which is operated by Public Works’ Zero Waste Division, offers delivery and pick-up of 30-cubic yard bins to neighborhoods that have a larger need for green waste disposal. Both programs allow residents identified in the Fire Surcharge Area to dispose of hazardous vegetation/fire fuels. Learn more here.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor
www.LoriDroste.com

Want to request a City service?

Monthly work days have started up again in Garber Park

Spring is the best time to get outdoors. Please join the Garber Park Stewards for their monthly workday, the 3rd Saturday of month, 10AM-Noon. All are welcome to join, no experience necessary, this month on May 15. Opportunities to work alone or in small, social distancing groups, as well. For more information, contact Shelagh at [email protected] or visit garberparkstewards.org.

Pets being turned into shelters are declining – help us understand why

If you’ve found a lost pet, had your pet go missing, or adopted a pet in the Bay area within the last five years, we want to hear from you.

Complete an online survey to help Berkeley Animal Care Services better understand animal sheltering trends in the Bay Area. Your feedback will help us match our services to the needs of pet owners our community.

We’ve seen a sharp decline in the number of pets entering our animal shelter since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Berkeley Animal Care Services took in 844 dogs in 2019 and only 517 in 2020. We saw a similar drop in cats – we received 358 in 2020, 146 fewer than the year before. Other shelters in the region and across the country are experiencing the same trend.

We want to understand what’s behind the decrease in these numbers, and whether there are opportunities we can build on to minimize the number of pets entering shelters going forward.

Take the survey

Thank you for your participation, and please share this survey widely.

June 4, 2021

I wanted to update you on several key developments within Berkeley as they relate to public safety. Public safety has always been a priority of mine and I’m increasingly alarmed by the crime reports in Berkeley, and particularly in the Elmwood. I want to state very clearly that you have my commitment to pursue policies to improve the lives of our residents so everyone can feel safe. Please take a moment to complete this public safety survey. My fundamental focus during this budget cycle will be infrastructure and public safety and health. This budget cycle will be incredibly important and I encourage you to provide your thoughts on our budget. You can email me, City Council, and/or attend and provide feedback at the Mayor’s forum on the budget on June 8th at 5:30. You can also submit a question for the forum here. Details are available on the Mayor’s website here.

Additionally, mark your calendars for a public safety forum with Mayor Arreguín, City Manager Dee Williams-Ridley, Interim Police Chief Jen Louis, Public Safety Committee Member Susan Wengraf, and Health, Housing, and Community Services Director Lisa Warhuus on June 24th at 7:00pm. Please RSVP by emailing Kerry at [email protected] and we will send you a link. You can also submit questions by emailing her as well.

What is the city doing to help unhoused mentally ill individuals?

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the mental health crisis many communities are facing. It is also important not to conflate mental health issues with housing status. We know, however, that approximately 42% of our homeless community self-report psychiatric conditions according to a 2019 Alameda County Everyone Home Homeless Count. While it is important to realize that the vast majority of unhoused individuals are neither mentally ill nor violent, we have seen incidents recently from mentally ill individuals in our community, some of whom are homeless. Our city staff provides extensive resources for services, shelter, and housing to our unhoused population but due to COVID-19 social distancing protocols, city shelters and drop in centers have not been operating at full capacity and individuals are living on our streets. Instead, they pivoted to provide food distribution and increased street outreach.

Regardless of housing status, the City needs to take a proactive approach in addressing the simultaneous mental health and public safety issues occurring in our streets. It is clear our mental health system is broken. Not only is it broken throughout the state of California, it’s fundamentally broken specifically in Alameda County. The Department of Justice said that Alameda County’s mental health system is unconstitutional. For those mentally ill individuals who are unhoused, the problems are compounded. There is much more to say, so please attend our forum on 6/24.

So, what is the City Council going to do about it?

On May 27th, at the budget committee, Mayor Jesse Arreguín and I made a motion to direct the City Manager to bring a budget proposal to Council to expand public safety and mental health services to deal with the present public safety crisis and violence in the community. Furthermore, we are going to engage in further discussions with the county about Laura’s Law and engage with our state officials on pilot programs for conservatorships. I encourage you to participate in both the Mayor’s town hall on the budget, advocate for this public safety/mental health team, and attend our forum on June 24th.

Bay Area Health Officers Support California Face Masking Guidance

The Association of Bay Area Health Officials, representing 12 Bay Area Health Officers and their Local Health Jurisdictions, strongly supports the California Department of Public Health’s strategy to continue with current masking guidance until June 15, when the State will align with the CDC’s updated masking guidance.

The CDC’s updated masking guidance is grounded in evidence showing that vaccines are extremely effective in protecting vaccinated people from infection, severe illness, and death, and preventing them from spreading COVID-19 to others. Additionally, increasing vaccination in our communities helps mitigate the spread of new variants that are more likely to infect those who are unvaccinated. This helps protect people who cannot yet get vaccinated, such as children younger than 12, as well as people who may not get full benefit from the vaccine, such as people with weakened immune systems.

With almost half of California’s population over age 16 fully vaccinated, and nearly 65 percent having received at least one dose of vaccine, great progress has been made across the state in vaccinating eligible residents against COVID-19. However, large numbers of residents are still unvaccinated, not yet fully vaccinated, or not eligible to be vaccinated. This next month is critical to ensuring more of our residents can access vaccinations, and that businesses and other entities are able to prepare for implementation of the CDC’s updated masking guidance.

Because COVID-19 continues to circulate here and abroad, the best way for residents to protect themselves is to get vaccinated. A person is fully protected two weeks after they complete their vaccine series, which is a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

“Thanks to so many in our community who have gotten vaccinated, we have come a long way and can finally start to see a return to normalcy in our area,” said Dr. Nicholas Moss, Alameda County Health Officer. “This next month is our chance to further increase vaccination rates. Wear your mask now, so we can get to June 15 together.”

Safe, free, and effective COVID-19 vaccines are now available to everyone age 12 and up. Book an appointment or find a walk-in clinic near you.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor

www.LoriDroste.com

Want to request a City service?

AC Transit Projects in Berkeley

Dana Complete Street Pilot Project

The Dana Complete Street Pilot Project in Berkeley’s Southside neighborhood will construct a bus passenger boarding island, a two-way protected bikeway, and traffic signal improvements on Dana Street from Bancroft Way to Dwight Way. The project will improve bus reliability, as well as pedestrian and bicycle safety. On-street parking and commercial (yellow curb) and passenger (white curb) loading zones on Dana Street are proposed to move from the west side to the east side of the street to allow construction of the protected bikeway and bus boarding island, and to provide emergency vehicle access. The Pilot Project is being developed in coordination with the City of Berkeley and is associated with the Southside Complete Street Project.

Telegraph Avenue Rapid Corridors

Telegraph Avenue is being pursued to enhance reliability and reduce travel time by improving traffic signals and upgrading or relocating bus stops along Telegraph Avenue north of 51st Street. The Project intends to enhance transit operations along the corridor and service quality for bus lines 6 and 800, bringing them in closer alignment to the improvements recommended in AC Transit’s Major Corridors Study.

Project web page for the Rapid Corridors Project, including Telegraph Avenue and Dana Street, is found at the following: https://www.actransit.org/rapid-corridors

Fire Fuel Chipper Schedule 2021 – June 7 – September 24th

The Fire Fuel Chipper program is operated by the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department’s Urban Forestry Unit. This program includes the use of an onsite chipper to dispose of vegetation that has been assembled by residents and left near the street. The Vegetation Debris Program, which is operated by Public Works’ Zero Waste Division, offers delivery and pick-up of 30-cubic yard bins to neighborhoods that have a larger need for green waste disposal. Both programs allow residents identified in the Fire Surcharge Area to dispose of hazardous vegetation/fire fuels. https://www.cityofberkeley.info/fire_fuel_program/

Audit Release: Fleet Replacement Fund Short Millions

The City Auditor released a new audit titled Fleet Replacement Fund Short Millions. This audit outlines how the City’s fund to replace city vehicles and large equipment (Replacement Fund) is insufficient by millions of dollars, and has been poorly managed due in part to a lack of information and policy guidance. This shortfall may lead to higher long-term costs and may jeopardize the City’s planned transition to an all-electric fleet by 2030.

Timely replacement of fleet assets is important because keeping vehicles and equipment past their replacement date may result in excessive repair and maintenance costs.

The audit recommends Public Works collaborate with the City Manager’s Office to adjust the fleet funding model to account for the true costs of managing the fleet, update its electric vehicle transition plan, and ensure the new fleet management system has the accurate data needed to manage the Replacement Fund. The Public Works Department agreed with these findings and recommendations.

Virtual Green Home Tours Highlight How Local Residents Are Fighting Climate Change At Home

Learn how your neighbors are upgrading their homes to combat climate change at two virtual green home tours in June. These online events showcase sustainability features in 12 East Bay homes, including all-electric appliances, solar and battery storage, native gardens, and electric vehicle charging.

Each tour will be followed by a live Q&A with residents and homeowners. For those considering upgrades of their own, experts will be on hand to answer questions about heat pumps, air quality, solar storage, power outages, rebates, and more. We’ll even have an induction cooking demonstration.

Tours on Sunday, June 6 and Sunday June 13

There are two tour dates, each featuring six 10-minute home tours, followed by a 10-minute live Q&A:

Sunday, June 6, 10am-2pm
Sunday, June 13, 10am-2pm

All the homes in each tour – whether an apartment, house or ADU – are partially or fully electrified. Polluting gas appliances have been swapped out for efficient, all-electric alternatives powered by clean electricity from their local community choice energy provider. Recordings of the tours and expert presentations will also be available on the East Bay Green Home Tour website, along with other resources on electrification.

Green home tours support City climate goals

The City recently released a draft Existing Buildings Electrification Strategy which lays out a plan for the City to equitably electrify all buildings. In Berkeley and throughout the state, fossil-fuel powered buildings are the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Methane, the key component of natural gas, is a harmful greenhouse gas that traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide. By transitioning buildings to electricity, we can reduce methane leakages in the natural gas system, from extraction to pipeline to our homes and businesses. As the electric grid gets cleaner each year with the addition of more renewable solar and wind energy, the carbon footprint of all-electric buildings shrinks. All-electric buildings that have rooftop solar or purchase 100% renewable electricity are already zero-emission.

Building electrification is a key strategy to reach the City’s Fossil Fuel Free and Climate Action Plan goals. Building electrification also supports the City’s Strategic Plan goal to “be a global leader in addressing climate change, advancing environmental justice, and protecting the environment.”

The City is collaborating with local tour producer Verdant Communications & Project Management, the Ecology Center, and the Berkeley Climate Action Coalition Electrification Working Group to host this event. Join the East Bay Green Home Tour and discover from your neighbors how to jumpstart your electrification journey.

Links

Online registration: East Bay Green Home Tour
East Bay Green Home Tour schedule and speakers
Draft Berkeley Existing Buildings Electrification Strategy and Electrification Resources
Opt Up for 100% Renewable Energy through East Bay Community Energy

Back to top

June 16, 2021

Public Safety Forum

Mark your calendars for June 24th – I’m hosting a Community Safety Forum from 7-8:30pm. Mayor Arreguin, Councilmember Wengraf, our Interim Police Chief, City Manager, and and the head of our Health, Housing, and Community Services Department and I will discuss community safety, addressing mental health crises, and what Berkeley can do to ensure the safety of our residents.

RSVP to [email protected] for zoom information.

Helping Businesses Keep Their Parklets

Last night, City Council adopted a path to permanence for outdoor dining and commerce (Item 38) in response to a referral I put forward with Mayor Arreguin, Councilmember Harrison and Councilmember Robinson. Being able to provide service outdoors has helped our businesses and enhanced our streetscapes.

This will allow for parklets established during the pandemic to be converted to outdoor commerce installations. The renewable Outdoor Commerce Use fee payments will be coordinated with the annual business license renewal cycle and the annual Outdoor Commerce Use Fee will be commensurate with the corresponding block face’s price for parking. Additionally, grant funding to support existing outdoor commerce installations is still available. Click here for more information.

City Offices Open Now for Limited Hours

Wear a mask when you come, stay home if you’re sick

We have spent the past year serving our community from wherever possible — in the field, in offices and virtually. Thanks to safe, highly protective vaccines, we can now begin to serve you during regular hours in our buildings.

Starting June 15, all City of Berkeley buildings will be open from 10am to 2pm, Monday through Friday.

Some services will be open for extended hours. Check our website for the hours, location and details for the service you’re interested in. Some services may be accessible online or in another way that’s more convenient for you.

Make an appointment when possible, especially if you are looking to meet someone specific.

We’ll continue to use tools that have safely guided us to this point – face coverings, distancing, hand hygiene and staying home when sick. We encourage all who are eligible to get vaccinated – a safe, effective tool that not only protects you, but also reduces spread of COVID-19 to others.

These changes come as a state Health Order rescinds most rules, a status with which the City of Berkeley’s Health Officer has aligned.

We look forward to serving you wherever you are – including in our City buildings.

City Budget Update

Last night the City Manager presented her FY 2022 Budget, which includes allocations from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to address the COVID-19 pandemic and main departmental funding requests. As a member of the Budget Committee, I requested that the City Manager address and expand the City’s community safety and crisis response capacity. As a result, she has proposed the following:

Expanding prevention and outreach: leverage existing teams and community-based organizations, address basic needs (wellness checks, food, shelter, clothing, etc.), equipment and supplies. Estimated cost – $1.2 million
Crime Prevention and Data Analysis to support data driven policing / identify areas of community need: establish data analysis team (2 non-sworn positions), deploy problem oriented policing team. Estimated cost – $1.0 million

Additionally, I want to continue to fund infrastructure needs, traffic mitigations, mental health response, and support Willard Park.

Our next budget meetings will be on Tuesday 6/22 and Thursday 6/24 at the Budget and Finance Committee. Please feel free to email my office to provide input.

New Wildfire Evacuation Zones

Alameda County recently finalized new software to assist with evacuations in the case of wildfires. Berkeleyside provides a detailed explanation of what this means for you here.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor
www.LoriDroste.com

Want to request a City service?

Electrify Your Ride

Whether you are exploring plug-in cars or a new EV owner, there is a workshop to help you accelerate your clean vehicle journey. The EV 101 workshop discusses the wide variety of vehicles on the market today, and their respective ranges. Other topics include home and public charging, rebates and incentives, special programs for income qualified drivers, and tips for finding the right plug-in car for your lifestyle. The EV 102 workshop is geared for new EV drivers who want to take a deeper dive into charging, learn how to claim incentives, and get tips on saving money through an EV electricity rate. At these intimate workshops, you’ll have opportunity to talk with EV drivers and get your questions answered. Learn more and register here for a free workshop.

Back to top

June 28, 2021

Over the past few months, Council has been finalizing our City Budget. Today, Mayor Arreguin released his budget recommendations which you can read here. I’m happy to say that my budget request for a Willard Park Ambassador is included among his initial recommendations. If funded, this would allow for a Parks ambassador during daylight hours to help address safety concerns, build relationships with park users, and provide small maintenance support. The Budget and Finance Committee will discuss the Mayor’s proposal tomorrow morning, and then tomorrow evening, it will go before Council for approval. If you support this budget request, please email [email protected]

Willard Clubhouse Community Meeting – Thursday July 1st 6:30-8pm

Using Measure T1 funding, the City plans to update the Willard Park Clubhouse. The community input process began in 2019 and was postponed because of COVID-19. Now, City staff are restarting the planning process. At this meeting, they will gather feedback on the conceptual design of the Clubhouse. You can learn more about all Measure T1 projects here.

Zoom info: https://zoom.us/j/98034178023 passcode 514046

Phone info: +16699006833,,98034178023# Meeting ID: 980 3417 8023

Fourth of July Road Closures

The City of Berkeley, City of Oakland, East Bay Regional Parks, Moraga/Orinda Fire, Alameda County, CalFire, CalTrans and UC Berkeley are working together to mitigate fire risk throughout the City during the July 4th holiday. In response to significant regional concerns about fire safety and emergency vehicle access, Grizzly Peak Blvd between Skyline and Centennial Dr. will be closed to all thru automobile traffic along the following roads from 5:00am July 4th through 5:00am July 5th. Additionally, the following intersections will have electronic signage and personnel on hand to prevent thru traffic from entering:

Grizzly Peak / Centennial Dr
Grizzly Peak/ S Park Dr
Grizzly Peak/ Lomas Cantada
Grizzly Peak/ Claremont
Grizzly Peak/ Skyline

Please be safe!

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor
www.LoriDroste.com

Want to request a City service?

PG&E hosts online webinars throughout each year for anyone who is interested in learning more about our Community Wildfire Safety Program. These virtual gatherings allow community members to learn more about wildfire safety and emergency preparedness, meet with PG&E representatives, ask questions and share feedback.

Please join us at our Alameda, Contra Costa and San Mateo Counties Regional Wildfire Safety Seminar on July 8th. Details below:

7/8/21 6-7:30pm Wildfire Safety Regional Webinar – Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Join Webinar, Toll-Free Attendee Dial-In: 1-866-501-6088, Conference ID: 4449479

Customers may access the webinar up to 30 minutes before it starts. Participants who do not have access to the internet are highly encouraged to use the toll-free dial-in feature to listen to the presentation and hear from PG&E subject matter experts. For anyone who is not able to join a live webinar, our presentations and video recordings of past webinars available to the public. View past presentations.

BUSD 2020 Report

The 2020-21BUSD Community Report is now available to the Berkeley community.

It covers the arc of the 2020-21 school year, from distance learning to reopening for in-person learning, and highlights the spirit and resilience of our school community this year. Take a look, and see how our amazing students engaged in public service, created moving performances, and became emerging leaders during this challenging year.

Back to top

July 15, 2021

Fire Prevention/Measure FF Update

Many of you have requested information about what the City is doing to address fire safety, specifically with the passage of Measure FF, approved by voters in 2020. Below, I’ve included a breakdown of how Measure FF funds are being spent in FY 2022.

Wildfire Preparedness (36% FY 2022 expenditures)

Recruit & hire retired annuitants
Vegetation Management Program (Includes wildfire info. & self-assessment mailer, performing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan, internal & contracted vegetation mgmt.)
“Safe Passages” program (assessing streets for adequate emergency vehicle access and recommending solutions)
Increase Capacity to Perform Inspections (from 800 to 8000 in Fire Zones 2 & 3)
Increase Community Outreach
Outdoor Warning System (Installation, training & community engagement)
Evacuation drills and fire zone education

EMS Recruitment (17% 2022 Expenditures)

Training and Improving Facilities (35% FY 2022 Expenditures)

Program Coordination, Paramedic Tax Deficit, Other (12% FY 2022 Expenditures)

In another positive step toward fire prevention, we’ve recently learned that East Bay Regional Parks will receive additional funding for fire prevention measures:

Park District Receives $13.5 Million for Wildfire Protection from State Budget

$10 Million Dedicated to Addressing Sudden Tree Die-Off in Regional Parks

To address wildfire prevention and fuels reduction needs in the East Bay hills, the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) received a direct appropriation of $13.5 million in the California State budget which was signed by the Governor this past Monday.

Ten million dollars of EBRPD’s State budget appropriation was proposed by Senators Nancy Skinner (D-9, Berkeley) and Bob Wieckowski (D-10, Fremont) and specifically to remove dead and dying trees in Regional Parks, a new tree mortality phenomenon occurring in several parklands. Three and a half million dollars of the State appropriation was proposed by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-16, Orinda) to provide for fire equipment that will improve the Park District’s ability to fight fires, including the replacement of its aging helicopter which is relied upon as a primary tool to drop water on fires burning in inaccessible terrain.

First noticed in the East Bay in October 2020, sudden tree die-off is affecting many different species of trees throughout California, including eucalyptus, acacia, bay, and pine. The estimated cost to remove the dead or dying trees in the 1,500 acres already identified is $30 million based on current tree removal contracts.

EBRPD locations most significantly impacted by tree mortality are Anthony Chabot and Reinhardt Redwood Regional Parks in Oakland, Miller Knox Regional Shoreline in Richmond, and Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley/Orinda.

Read the full press release here.

Willard Clubhouse Design – Save the Date

Thank you to those of you who have already provided feedback regarding the redesign of Willard Clubhouse. Please save the following dates. Our Parks staff will be hosting one in-person meeting and one via zoom:

Saturday, August 14 / 10am -11:30am on site at Willard
Thursday, August 19 / 6:30pm – 8:00pm Zoom (link to follow)

UC Berkeley- City of Berkeley Agreement on Long Term Growth

On Tuesday 7/14, Berkeley City Council voted to authorize a historic agreement governing future growth, city services and more with the University of California at Berkeley. The agreement represents one of the largest financial settlements a UC campus has provided to a host city and paves the way for expanded educational opportunities while balancing community concerns and prospective impacts on City services. More importantly, the agreement assures a voice for the City and Berkeley community in the University’s future development.

The tentative agreement approved by the City Council calls for the University to provide annual payments to the city for a total amount of $82.64 million over the next 16 years. The funding will support fire and city services, and projects supporting residents within a half mile of the UC main campus and Clark Kerr Campus, which encompasses a significant portion of our neighborhood.

Next week, the University of California Board of Regents will discuss and potentially vote on final approval of this tentative agreement. The final language of the agreement will be available after final adoption and execution by the parties.

National Night Out – Register Your Event by July 30th

National Night Out is a nationwide effort to make communities safer by building and strengthening relationships among neighbors. Strong neighborhoods help us become more resilient and improve our ability to recover after a disaster. After being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, this treasured annual event returns on Tuesday, August 3.

Each August, Berkeley neighbors come together for an evening of block parties, BBQs, and ice cream socials. Staff from Police, Fire, and other departments visit events throughout the city to say hello, as do Berkeley’s elected officials. Learn more about how to register here.

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor

www.LoriDroste.com

Back to top

August 2, 2021

Bay Area Health Officials Urge Immediate Vaccination And Issue Orders Requiring Use Of Face Coverings Indoors To Prevent The Spread Of Covid-19

Indoor Masking Orders Take Effect Tuesday

Vaccination continues to protect against severe COVID-19 illness, but with the COVID-19 Delta variant now infecting a small percentage of vaccinated people as well as many unvaccinated people, eight Bay Area health officers have issued Health Orders requiring masks indoors in public places.

The Orders require all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear face coverings when indoors in public settings, with limited exceptions, starting at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, August 3rd.

Vaccines remain the most powerful tool in the fight against COVID-19, including the Delta variant. Nonetheless, the Delta variant is infecting a small percentage of the vaccinated – who still remain strongly protected against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. In those instances of infection in a vaccinated person, a face covering prevents further spread. Bay Area health officials urge all unvaccinated residents 12 and older to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“We are deeply fortunate to have vaccines that so profoundly reduce the risk of severe illness and death from the newest, more dangerous variant,” said Dr. Lisa B. Hernandez, City of Berkeley Health Officer. “Adding a face covering when indoors with others, gives us all an easy, familiar and powerful tool.”

These Health Orders aim to reduce community transmission of COVID-19 and protect everyone. Health officials are very concerned by the substantial levels of community transmission now found across the Bay Area, especially among unvaccinated people. In part, this is due to the widespread COVID-19 Delta variant, which is substantially more transmissible than previous forms of the virus. Recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also indicates that even fully vaccinated individuals can in some cases spread the Delta variant to others, and so indoor use of face coverings provides an important added layer of protection.

The new Health Orders require wearing a well-fitting mask indoors in public settings. Indoor settings, whether public or private, are higher risk for COVID-19 transmission, especially when you are with people you do not live with. Health officials also recommend that all employers make face coverings available to individuals entering their businesses, and businesses are required to implement the indoor face covering order.

Today’s Health Orders are consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health, which recommend that fully vaccinated individuals wear masks while in indoor public settings. Bay Area Health Officers will continue to monitor data, including increasing vaccination throughout the region, to determine when the Orders can be adjusted or lifted.

Willard Clubhouse Redesign – Provide Feedback

Thank you to those of you who have already provided feedback regarding the redesign of Willard Clubhouse. Our Parks staff will be hosting one in-person meeting and one via zoom, details below. Please join us.

Meeting #1 – In Person

Date: Saturday, August 14, 2021

Time: 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Location: Willard Park, 2720 Hillegass Ave.

Meeting #2 – Zoom

Date: Thursday, August 19, 2021

Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Location: Via Zoom Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/92888454641 Meeting ID: 928 8845 4641 Passcode: 120995 Phone: +16699006833,,92888454641#

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor
www.LoriDroste.com

Back to top

August 12, 2021

Please join Berkeley Police Chief Jen Louis and me at Willard Park to discuss neighborhood safety concerns and engage with our Community Services staff. This will be an in-person event – just stop by, no RSVP necessary.

Thursday, September 9, 4-6pm at Willard Park

Willard Clubhouse Redesign – Provide Feedback in Person This Saturday or 8/19 on Zoom

Meeting #1 – In Person

Saturday, August 14, 2021, 10AM to 11:30AM, Willard Park, 2720 Hillegass Ave.

Meeting #2 – Zoom

Thursday, August 19, 2021, 6:30 PM to 8PM Via Zoom Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/92888454641 Meeting ID: 928 8845 4641 Passcode: 120995 Phone: +16699006833,,92888454641#

Let the City know about hazardous vegetation

The City’s Parks and Public Works staff are working to making our City more secure from the threat of wildfires. Help the City remove hazardous vegetation on City property/City Right of Ways. Call 311 or email [email protected] to report vegetation that needs to be removed.

Tools/workshops to help you make a fire workplan

Use our step-by-step guide to make a fire weather plan for your household ahead of time to address unpredictable and rapidly changing fire conditions – and use one of our upcoming workshops to ask questions and refine those plans.

Fire weather plans are even more important now as the severity and frequency of wildfires have increased. In addition, when the Berkeley Fire Department identifies rare days of “Extreme Fire Weather,” the department advises that hills residents all have plans to leave early.

Download our step-by-step guide to create your fire weather plan, which will help you:

Identify your trigger for leaving the hills
Decide where you will go
Identify evacuation routes.

Making plans to leave the hills during periods of “Extreme Fire Weather” puts you in the most control and is the best way to ensure your safety. Take control before a fire starts.

Workshops: Fire Weather Planning

Our Office of Emergency Services has created workshops for you to join a group discussion on ways to improve your Household Fire Weather Plan. To prepare your plan, you can also use our Wildfire Preparedness page and Wildfire Readiness video series. Plan to come to one of our workshops with your plan completed. Register online to attend:

Wednesday, August 18, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Register online.

Thursday, August 26, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Register online.

Make your own Fire Weather plan

Making a fire weather plan is something each household can do on their own. We’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you. The plan will help you identify your trigger to leave, decide where you’ll go and identify evacuation routes on foot and by car.

Employers should encourage, use all tools available to have employees vaccinated

The City of Berkeley’s Health Officer strongly recommends that employers use all tools they have available to increase workplace COVID-19 vaccinations – actions the City plans to model by mandating vaccination for its more than 1,500 employees.

Even as cases rise due to the highly-contagious Delta variant, the three rigorously-tested and FDA-authorized vaccines make people far less likely to get infected and also offer much greater protection against sickness, hospitalization, and death.

“Vaccines are already keeping workers, patrons and visitors safer and lowering the risk of outbreaks,” said Dr. Lisa Hernandez, the City of Berkeley Health Officer. “Increasing vaccinations in any workplace will strengthen its ability to stay open and keep employees healthy. Mandating vaccination and verifying proof of vaccination in the workplace is a best practice and I recommend it.”

Federal, state laws support employer mandates for COVID-19 health

Federal and state agencies overseeing workplace rights allow employers to mandate:

COVID-19 vaccination
viral testing
protective equipment designed to reduce infection
asking symptom status
sending employees home when exhibiting COVID-19 status

Federal and state law provide very limited exemptions from vaccination such as those for medical conditions and sincerely held religious beliefs.

For more information, see guidance from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel. To verify vaccination, the City Health Officer recommends documenting COVID-19 vaccination through vaccine cards or the state’s digital vaccine registry rather than self-attestation.

COVID-19 poses particular workplace risks

Workplaces bring together people from a variety of different households often in an indoor setting, an environment that increases the urgency for vaccines.

An essential protection for all is a face covering, which is already required in indoor public settings and workplaces in Berkeley, the rest of Alameda County, and six other Bay Area counties.

In those cases where a vaccinated person gets infected with the Delta variant, vaccines strongly protect them from severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

State guidelines require an unvaccinated employee to quarantine for at least 10 days if exposed to someone who tested positive. By contrast, a fully vaccinated worker would not need to quarantine unless they have symptoms.

Resources

Vaccine Record Guidelines & Standards (California Department of Public Health)
What you should know about COVID-19 related employment laws (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
Requiring Vaccinations subject to an Emergency Use Authorization (United States Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel
Employment Information on COVID-19 (Ca. Dept. of Fair Employment & Housing)
Message: Face Coverings required indoors in Berkeley, 7 counties (City of Berkeley)
Emergency Temporary Standards for COVID-19 Prevention in the Workplace (California Department of Industrial Relations – CAL-OSHA)
Request Digital COVID-19 Record – (California Department of Public Health)

Sincerely,
Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor
www.LoriDroste.com

Want to request a City service?

Move-In for new UC Berkeley students is just around the corner (Message from UC Berkeley)

Our new students will Move In between Monday August 16th and Wednesday August 18th –check in on those days is from 10 AM to 7PM. During this time, we anticipate that roughly 6,500-7000 incoming students and their families will be making their way through the streets of Berkeley to check in to their residence halls.

The Move In for Continuing Students is by appointment, on August 22, between 10 AM and 6PM. We expect to check in 1200 continuing students that day.

All students living in campus housing, whether fully vaccinated or not, will be required to take a Move-In COVID-19 test prior to getting keys. The testing will take place near our RecSports Facility on Bancroft Way between Dana and Ellsworth Street.

Traffic Circulation/Management:

Our Move-In Team is working with the City of Berkeley’s Transportation/Parking Department to develop a traffic management plan that minimizes impact on the neighborhoods that are adjacent to the campus. The plan places special emphasis on the South Side neighborhood that contains the majority of our Residence Halls.

The Golden Bear Orientation (GBO) Program:

Once our new students have moved into their residences they will participate in the Golden Bear Orientation(GBO), a comprehensive week-long introduction to Cal. For more information on the GBO, including schedules for planned activities please use the following link:

http://orientation.berkeley.edu/once-here/orientation
Back to top

September 30, 2021

The City Council has returned from its summer recess and I’m excited to share some of the items we’ve been working on.

City Council Back In Action

At our most recent meeting this past Tuesday, we passed the first reading of an enabling ordinance for Berkeley’s electric micromobility program. This program is similar to existing car-share programs—except it’s for shared electric bikes (e-bikes), scooters, and disabled-accessible vehicles. The program will establish rules, permitting requirements, and procedures for companies to get shared electric vehicles on Berkeley streets, with a focus on equity, accessibility, and keeping our sidewalks clear. The program is new, so we’ll be learning as we go, but this is a big win for mobility and climate-friendly alternatives to driving!

At our September 21st worksession, the Council received a presentation from planning staff on the City’s Housing Element update. The Housing Element is Berkeley’s roadmap to providing enough housing and affordable housing to meet Berkeley’s local and regional needs so that workers, families, and everyone who makes Berkeley Berkeley has a place to call home. The process is just getting started and there will be many opportunities for you to make your voice heard. Sign up on the City’s Housing Element webpage to get more information and get involved.

Help Decide the Future Shape of District 8—Literally!

Come to a virtual meeting at 1pm on Saturday, October 2, where you can learn how to help shape new City Council district boundaries and even submit your own maps on paper or using online tools.

The City’s eight Council boundaries are re-drawn every ten years using updated Census figures, but, for the first time in Berkeley, they’ll be drawn by an independent commission rather than elected officials.

Using public input, the Independent Redistricting Commission will draw eight districts with roughly the same number of people. They’ll look to keep communities with similar social and economic interests together. Read the City of Berkeley’s official announcement to learn more!

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87605788482
Phone: (669) 900-9128; Meeting ID: 876 0578 8482

This IS a Drill — Oct. 8-9 Citywide Virtual Drill: Leaving for Extreme Fire Weather, Evacuating for a Firestorm

On October 8th and 9th the City will be conducting citywide virtual drill exercises for all residents to simulate an extreme fire weather warning (Oct 8th) and destructive wildfire (Oct 9th). This exercise will help you and your family learn about how the City warns us about upcoming fire risks and alerts us to urgent evacuation orders. Take this opportunity to dust off your emergency and evacuation plans and make sure your household is prepared for the peak of fire season!

Escape From the Hills on Sunday October 17

In the event of a particularly dangerous and fast-moving fire, knowing how to quickly escape on foot can be essential if roads are blocked by downed trees, abandoned cars, or emergency response vehicles. To help you learn how to escape safely and quickly, Berkeley Path Wanderers are organizing an evacuation exercise to coincide with the upcoming 30th anniversary of the 1991 Tunnel Fire. On Sunday October 17, their volunteers will lead a series of walks to familiarize neighbors with walking options for escaping the hills in case of a fire or other emergency. Two of the walks are in District 8, one in Panoramic Hill and another in the Claremont Hills near the Oakland border. Check out the details and RSVP on the Path Wanderers’ website.

Football Game Day Parking Restrictions

Some areas in the City have more stringent parking restrictions and fines on the four days that UC Berkeley has home football games. These days are:

October 2
October 23
October 30
November 13

In particular, parking in portions of Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) Areas A, B, D, I, K, F, and G to the north and south of Cal Memorial Stadium is restricted to RPP permit holders ONLY from 8am to 11pm on football game days. Vehicles without a valid RPP permit in these areas will receive a $225 fine. On some streets closer to the stadium, even vehicles with a valid permit may be towed. Farther from the stadium, vehicles parked in violation of RPP restrictions in portions of Areas A, B, and D will be issued double parking fines on football game days. For a map of these restrictions and more information about UC Berkeley football game day parking restrictions, please click here.

Russell Street Halloween Festivities Postponed This Year
Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns and the fact that vaccines for kids under 12 aren’t yet available, the neighborhood representatives have indicated that Halloween festivities on Russell Street will not occur this year. Let’s all stay safe this year so COVID-19 hopefully won’t be haunting us in 2022, and we can bring our party back to life!

Ride Electric at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market

Saturday, October 2, 11am – 3pm

Civic Center Park, 1940 Allston Way

Test drive new & used Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Find eBikes for commutes, recreation and hauling kids & cargo
Talk to local EV drivers and eBike riders
Learn about credits, rebates, grants and loans
Enjoy lunch at the farmers’ market – earn market tokens for EV test rides
Masks required

Learn more and register to attend the event.

Interested in showcasing your EV or eBike? Please register as an EV or eBike owner and complete the EventBrite survey.

Please reach out to my office if you have any questions about any of these announcements or events, or if you have any other questions or issues you’d like to share. It is a privilege to serve you and District 8 and I hope you have a happy, healthy start to autumn!

Sincerely,

Lori Droste
Berkeley Vice Mayor
www.LoriDroste.com

Back to top

Remaining newslettters are in the new MailChimp format:

October 22nd, 2021

November 15, 2021

December 3rd, 2021