Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tsunami inundation map for Emeryville
If you are interested in an official map (from the state in 2009) for potential tsunami inundation for Emeryville, click here to see it.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tax help information from Assemblymember Nancy Skinner
If you need help with your taxes, click here to get information on free tax services.
Honoring Emeryville's Joyce Jacobson
Click here to read about 14 women honored by Nancy Skinner this month, including Emeryville's Joyce Jacobson.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
CIP budget has been postponed
The CIP (Capital Improvement Program) budget discussion planned for March 15 has been postponed as city leaders wait to see what happens to redevelopment at the state level. The CIP projects are projects that are funded by redevelopment money and are planned out in 5 year increments. They range from public projects, like parks, fire station, Art Center etc. to assisting private and non-profit developers with subsidies, like the Marketplace parking, or affordable housing. The projects listed on the survey that you received, and that we asked for community input on, will most likely not have any funding if redevelopment ends. Deliberating on them is premature and irrelevant if redevelopment is ended. We are waiting to see how the state legislature acts on Jerry Brown's proposals, and should know more in the next 2 weeks.
I was glad to hear from staff that over 200 people returned surveys to solicit public input. Thank you to all of you who did. I recognize that some felt there was not enough information to make good choices, and I agree that we have a long way to go on gathering public opinion, but having notification that this discussion was happening and hearing from those who were interested in having their voices heard was one step on the way to greater participation.
The Council had voted to sell bonds to further our CIP goals (on Feb 15), but we stopped the sale (on March 1) until the state settles the course they intend for redevelopment. All is on hold right now, but we are getting regular updates on the state's decision making progress.
If you have specific questions on this, please feel free to email me directly.
So, feel free to come to the March 15 city council meeting (don't have the agenda yet), as you are always welcome to hear what the city council is discussing, but know that the CIP budget will not be discussed at a study session on that day.
I was glad to hear from staff that over 200 people returned surveys to solicit public input. Thank you to all of you who did. I recognize that some felt there was not enough information to make good choices, and I agree that we have a long way to go on gathering public opinion, but having notification that this discussion was happening and hearing from those who were interested in having their voices heard was one step on the way to greater participation.
The Council had voted to sell bonds to further our CIP goals (on Feb 15), but we stopped the sale (on March 1) until the state settles the course they intend for redevelopment. All is on hold right now, but we are getting regular updates on the state's decision making progress.
If you have specific questions on this, please feel free to email me directly.
So, feel free to come to the March 15 city council meeting (don't have the agenda yet), as you are always welcome to hear what the city council is discussing, but know that the CIP budget will not be discussed at a study session on that day.
Open discussion at community forum
On Saturday, February 26, Residents United for a Livable Emeryville (RULE) organized a community forum at the Bay St. Community Room. It was attended by many people, over 40 by my count, and there was time for mingling, eating excellent food (donated by many fine restaurants and coffee shops in town), and a planned program.
I was given a chance to speak about my vision for Emeryville, which very much aligns with RULE. I first got involved with city issues more directly through my RULE work, and ran for city council feeling that there was a progressive segment of the population that was not being recognized in the status quo. The points that I spoke on last Saturday are the ones that I often write about here:
Following my speech we had time for questions and informal conversation. We talked about redevelopment and the possible changes that are coming from the state's budget. We discussed the new bonds that the redevelopment agency had voted to issue. (We have since directed staff to wait on selling any bonds, to see how the state's plans to limit or end redevelopment will play out over the next few weeks.) I appreciated having the chance to talk openly and address concerns. Too often, in council meetings, there is little opportunity to answer questions that come before the council.
One of the important tasks that RULE is working on now is the city council election this fall, November 2011. There are 3 city council seats up for election. Any residents of Emeryville who might be interested in running for city council, please contact me and I would be happy to talk with you about serving your community in this way!
RULE members had also posted paper on the walls to elicit input from folks who attended about what issues were important to them, to expand the topics RULE will consider addressing in town.
I want to appreciate the work that RULE members put into this wonderful community forum. It was mentioned at the meeting that this kind of event should happen more, and in rooms all over town! I would welcome coming to an event that you plan in your neighborhood, or in your community (maybe an HOA meeting). Please let me know if there is an opportunity for me to speak with a group of interested folks!
I was given a chance to speak about my vision for Emeryville, which very much aligns with RULE. I first got involved with city issues more directly through my RULE work, and ran for city council feeling that there was a progressive segment of the population that was not being recognized in the status quo. The points that I spoke on last Saturday are the ones that I often write about here:
- Victories of organized input in 2010: ECDC not outsourced, IKEA warehouse not put next to residential community, Measure J bonds passed to build a new school and rec facility
- Participation matters in Emeryville -- get on a committee and get involved because you can make a real difference in a small town like this
- Redevelopment is changing in Emeryville from the state's budget mandates -- still uncertain as to what that will mean for us (**CIP budget decision has been postponed from March 15, see next blog)
- November 2011's election is an opportunity for change, a way to flex the power of interested people
- I see Emeryville as a place in the future that is more family-friendly: with larger units for families, better design that connects housing to the community, affordable housing, stronger schools, more parks, one that is more bikable, walkable, -- and we can work together to get there!
Following my speech we had time for questions and informal conversation. We talked about redevelopment and the possible changes that are coming from the state's budget. We discussed the new bonds that the redevelopment agency had voted to issue. (We have since directed staff to wait on selling any bonds, to see how the state's plans to limit or end redevelopment will play out over the next few weeks.) I appreciated having the chance to talk openly and address concerns. Too often, in council meetings, there is little opportunity to answer questions that come before the council.
One of the important tasks that RULE is working on now is the city council election this fall, November 2011. There are 3 city council seats up for election. Any residents of Emeryville who might be interested in running for city council, please contact me and I would be happy to talk with you about serving your community in this way!
RULE members had also posted paper on the walls to elicit input from folks who attended about what issues were important to them, to expand the topics RULE will consider addressing in town.
I want to appreciate the work that RULE members put into this wonderful community forum. It was mentioned at the meeting that this kind of event should happen more, and in rooms all over town! I would welcome coming to an event that you plan in your neighborhood, or in your community (maybe an HOA meeting). Please let me know if there is an opportunity for me to speak with a group of interested folks!
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