tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77275358756565836602024-02-07T09:58:43.419-08:00Jennifer West - Emeryville City CouncilEmeryville has transformed itself into a regional success story, but our residents deserve a greater opportunity to have their voices heard when decisions are made in our city.Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-52536310355237600892014-10-24T23:31:00.002-07:002014-10-24T23:31:52.062-07:00Got Mosquitoes?I hope you don't have mosquitoes... but in <a href="http://www.mosquitoes.org/" target="_blank">Alameda County there is a Mosquito Abatement Agency</a> that monitors and responds to mosquito problems because it is a public health issue. Emeryville's member who represented us on that agency no longer lives in town, and the Council is looking to appoint a new resident to serve. The monthly meeting pays $100/meeting, and you would be greatly appreciated. This is for a person who enjoys serving the community and is interested in these issues.<div>
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More information is <a href="http://www.mosquitoes.org/" target="_blank">on their website</a>, and <a href="http://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=917" target="_blank">an application to the city council is available here</a>.</div>
Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-27387897785696153842014-10-24T22:56:00.004-07:002014-10-24T22:56:49.963-07:00Affordable Units at Parc on PowellMy family and I have watched with anticipation as the scaffolding came down from in front of the huge construction project down the block. Yes, the first portion of the new apartments at Doyle/Stanford/Powell/Hollis are nearly done. The second phase should be near completion by 2015.<br />
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There are <b>21 affordable units</b> included in this project, and those units are available to household that qualify based on income. The applications for these units are <b>due next Friday, October 31</b>. Generally, there is a lottery system after all applications are received.<br />
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For more information, please <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/parconpowellbmr/home" target="_blank">go to the Parc on Powell website</a> which also has the application and the qualifications.Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-45784778613512601642014-10-20T17:27:00.002-07:002014-10-26T21:42:40.544-07:00Vote YES on Measures U and V!<b>Measures U and V are critical for the financial well-being of the City of Emeryville going forward.</b> We are still adding residents and workers with newly constructed apartments and new commercial spaces in town, all with a reduced budget due to the loss of redevelopment (in 2012 we lost our $30 million/year redevelopment funds). Emeryville was unusual in losing such a significant part of our budget as 95% of our town was in a redevelopment agency.<br />
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By voting <b>YES on Measure U</b>, we will make Emeryville a Charter City, which <b>will keep our town exactly the same</b>, except for ONE THING - the ability to put in place a Property Transfer Tax when a property is sold/bought.<br />
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By voting <b>YES on Measure V</b>, we can collect from each property sale a one time tax -- $12.00/$1,000 value plus the current $1.10/$1,000 that is currently assessed and split with the county -- less than what Berkeley or Oakland collect, but significantly more than what we are currently allowed to collect as a General Law City. Most of the funds will come from commercial property sales. We are losing out on this revenue now. It will vary year to year, but we missed out on nearly $10 million over the past few years, not having this one time tax in place. Large developments sold can mean potential improvements to parks, streets, or other capital projects -- Bay Street recently changed hands as well as Novartis.<br />
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<b>Please help Emeryville to maintain police and fire services, maintain our parks and think about how to pay for public works projects for our streets, sewers and other projects going forward. </b>This money cannot be taken by Sacramento.<br />
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And the realtors are the ONLY organization opposing these two measures.<br />
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<b>The Chamber of Commerce supports them; every council member supports them, every city council candidate supports them.</b> You can support our town, too!<br />
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Don't let the outside lobbyists buy your vote or fool you. Wow. They sure do have a lot of money to spend on our little city. (More than $85,000 I heard.)<br />
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For more info and facts, go to the City Website and read up on <a href="http://www.emeryville.org/index.aspx?NID=981" target="_blank">Measure U</a> and <a href="http://www.emeryville.org/index.aspx?NID=982" target="_blank">Measure V</a>.<br />
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Also, I simply have to refute the inaccurate information on the mailer I got this week:<br />
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<li>Becoming a Charter City means it will be <b>harder </b>for citizens to put charter amendments on the ballot than it currently is for putting ballot initiatives on the ballot. Charter cities require 15% of voters' signatures when gathering, rather than a 10% of voters' signatures threshold in place as a general law city.</li>
<li>The Council deliberately put a very narrow and simple charter together so that <b>only one thing</b> is changed by Measures U and V - the Real Property Transfer Tax. We think our current form of government is working nicely, and there is no need for salary increases for council members beyond what is allowed as a general law city. Excluding and legalizing businesses may require a charter amendment and any amendment would have to go to the voters. Now, as a general law city, the city council can do much more just by ordinance... Council members and residents can place ballot measures on the ballot now, it will only be harder when we are a charter city.</li>
<li><b>Most residents will be completely unaffected by Measures U and V</b>. About 66% of residents are renters. Only those who own property will pay a portion of the new Real Property Transfer Tax, and that will only be at the time a property is sold.</li>
<li>If you do not own property in Emeryville, these measures will not impact you at all, except that your city will continue to be able to fund the valuable services and maintenance that you enjoy.</li>
<li>More sales in terms of numbers might be residential in Emeryville, but in terms of the <b>amount </b>of the Real Property Transfer Taxes collected, most of the funds will be from the larger commercial properties, but only when they change hands. Most residential properties are lower in value than the commercial properties -- after all, about 75% of land use in Emeryville is commercial.</li>
<li>These funds are critical if Emeryville is to keep our streets maintained, our police and fire first-rate, our parks nice and if we are to be able to pay for capital improvements. I know you value Emeryville for these reasons. We just need to find new ways to keep our standards and pay for improvements now that redevelopment is gone.</li>
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Thanks for your attention to this very important set of ballot measures. <b>Vote YES on U and V!</b></div>
Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-34305566660435587992014-10-20T16:53:00.001-07:002014-10-20T16:53:15.179-07:00Let me tell you why I support Scott and Dianne...<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been honored to serve the City of Emeryville for the
past 5 years as a council member. I have worked hard to ask tough questions and
communicate with you, my constituents. I have sent regular email updates, asked
for your opinions, chatted with you at the grocery store, come to your
communities, and responded to emails. I
have valued public participation and transparency, raising the expectations for
our city to respond to your needs. We have accomplished a lot, but there is
more to be done. It is time for me to pass the torch to folks I trust.</div>
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I endorsed both Dianne Martinez and Scott Donahue for city
council because I am impressed with the skills and talents they would bring to
the city council. They have different skills, and I would like to highlight how
they would balance each other as leaders in town.</div>
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Dianne is an intelligent and personable candidate with
common sense. I think Dianne will follow my path of bringing people together,
creating and strengthening partnerships that are so essential in our ever more
regional world. Spanning business and resident interests, Dianne will continue
to create an environment for strong collaboration and connection. She will be a
person who will work well with all council members.</div>
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Scott has been my advisor while I served on council. He has
a strong history of all things Emeryville that I have relied on, and he is
willing to listen and thoughtfully consider other people’s ideas, and share his
own. He is passionate about quality of life issues, since he has seen the
growth Emeryville has achieved, and values the possibilities for smart
development with a practical side. </div>
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Better bike connections, parks and public works projects will be priorities for both candidates.</div>
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The two candidates complement each other well, and as a team,
both in their campaign and on the council, will bring a cohesive, dynamic
energy that will carry on the work I have done.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please join me in voting for Scott Donahue and
Dianne Martinez on November 4!</span></span>Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-5528403603544109632014-10-02T05:44:00.000-07:002014-10-25T12:17:08.020-07:00Election recommendationsAbsentee ballots will be coming your way soon. I wanted to share my recommendations on the various measures and candidates you will find on the ballot.<br />
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Vote Yes on Measure U<br />
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Vote Yes on Measure V<br />
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Vote Yes on Measure K<br />
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Vote Yes on Measure BB<br />
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Vote for Scott Donahue for Emeryville City Council<br />
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Vote for Dianne Martinez for Emeryville City Council<br />
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Vote for Christian Patz for Emery Unified School Board<br />
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Vote for John Affeldt for Emery Unified School BoardJennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-16389520714858250262014-10-02T05:13:00.001-07:002014-10-02T05:13:02.367-07:00Horton St. Bike Boulevard thoughtsTuesday morning, September 30, was the second community meeting to hear from residents and businesses about the proposed temporary and experimental traffic calming on Horton St. bike boulevard. The goal of traffic calming on Horton is to reduce the number of cars and reduce the speed of cars.<br />
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It was great to see 30 people turn out at 9:00 am, and we had a lively hour and a half of sharing points of view. I listened and learned from the people who came. Here are my take-aways.<br />
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<b>Follow the Bike/Ped Plan.</b> At this time, what is called for is Level 4 traffic calming. Level 4 means that there are additional measures put in place to slow car traffic down, with either horizontal (meaning side to side, weaving) traffic calming, like chicanes or narrowing, or vertical (up and down) traffic calming like speed humps. By slowing cars, we can hope some drivers will choose other more efficient routes, and avoid Horton. How many of you avoid roads with speed bumps when possible?<br />
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<b>Provide more data.</b> We don't really know where all the cars are coming from and where they are going. We are not trying to trick drivers or add to their frustration levels at traffic congestion in town, but we are trying to say this street is being protected for bicyclists. Staff suggested putting up speed signs by Thanksgiving that tell drivers what speed they are going, and will also record the number of cars and their speeds. Sherwin Williams' Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which is on the October 7 city council agenda, will be completed over the next 9 months or so, and will provide additional data on this area and the impacts that that development project will bring, including on traffic. It includes a traffic study.<br />
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<b>Don't pit neighborhood against neighborhood.</b> I think that some feel that a Level 5 diverter (which would close Horton to through car traffic either at 45th/Sherwin and/or at Stanford) would benefit some and hurt others. I disagree, in that the overall goal is to reduce ALL traffic on Horton, and I think that it would be effective in that, but I heard very clearly that others are concerned about "dumping" confused cars into the Park Ave district. With proper signage posted, we would hope to alert drivers to any closures or otherwise persuade them to find another route.<br />
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<b>Safety is critical.</b> This is one of the reasons I have been concerned about the proposed Level 4 traffic calming possibilities. Some of the Level 4 options narrow the road and put cars in conflict with each other, rather than with bikes. There are other options for Level 4 that I think would be safer options.<br />
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<b>There is history here.</b> Apparently, when the Chiron/Novartis/Grifols campus was being approved, Horton was considered an alternative route and pressure release for the traffic impacts on Hollis St. Now, we are reversing that goal by putting the Horton cars back on Hollis. There is no doubt that Hollis will be impacted.<br />
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<b>Do it right and don't chicken out. </b>Let's think this through and NOT repeat what happened in the Triangle neighborhood a few years ago. In that case, diverters were put in and then taken out within a few weeks, as the neighborhood reacted. The Level 4 traffic calming in the Triangle has NOT decreased vehicle counts on their streets, but it has decreased speed. As critical as it is to get some kind of traffic calming put in (since Horton has long had more than 3,000 vehicle trips per day, the maximum for a designated Bike Boulevard in Emeryville), it is o.k. to gather this kind of input and plan it out accordingly.<br />
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<b>The real goal is to decrease vehicle trips in Emeryville in general, in my opinion.</b> I think we will have to look at this overall for the city, not just for one street. Making driving in Emeryville less attractive is important, along with improving alternatives to driving. This includes looking at parking, Emery-Go-Round, bike and pedestrian connectivity, and thinking more globally about how these policies interact.<br />
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<b>Keep access for local use</b>. We need to look carefully at the places people need to get to and how they can get there now and with new measures put in place.<br />
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The Plan calls for Level 4 traffic calming now and in two years, Level 5 diverters, if the numbers are not sufficiently reduced. That coincides with the Sherwin Williams development - with construction starting in 2016 or so. We can plan for that and decide not to go that route if Level 4 has the impacts we hope for.<br />
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Please stay engaged on this topic, as it is an important part of our city's overall plan for changing the dominance of the car in town, at least on one street. When some asked why we need to worry about this at all, I put forward my ideas about the need to recognize "complete" streets, that support all modes of travel, and the "bike boulevard" which elevates the bicycle over the car in terms of priority and treatment.<br />
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Horton is a special street in many ways. It is not predominantly residential now. It is wide and has long blocks between stop signs. There is not parking on much of it. All of this contributes to fast driving, without the "natural" traffic calming that comes with greater pedestrian activity or narrowing.<br />
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One person bravely said, and I agree, that this is not something that can be worked out by studying alone. There is a certain amount of trial and error with these attempts to change behavior. I am glad that we have a grant to pay for the engineering and design work, and that it will be relatively inexpensive to put in "temporary" and "experimental" measures, so that we can really try out a few things. Let's be open to ideas.<br />
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When I was in Minneapolis last week for a national conference (RailVolution) on public transit and bike/ped issues, I was very impressed with that city's bike supportive culture. They are trying things that other places have not tried. Let's be bold and try something on Horton, and let's make it Level 4 traffic calming for now. Thanks again to all who have attended a meeting, or sent in an email with your thoughts. There will be more opportunities to engage!Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-62323774784559206912014-08-02T16:14:00.001-07:002014-08-02T16:14:20.217-07:00Development Impact FeesEmeryville has put in place new fees to be charged to development projects as they get permits to build. These impact fees will pay for three things: transportation improvements, parks, and affordable housing. The staff report from our July 15, 2014 city council meeting are available for you to read <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18425408022014022101441.PDF" target="_blank">here</a>. These fees help to replace some of the funds we lost when redevelopment was dissolved. Some redevelopment funds (20%) were required to be used for affordable housing before 2012.<br />
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Putting these fees in place first required <b>nexus studies</b> to be done, showing how new development will create an additional need for transportation improvements, parks and affordable housing. The nexus studies took a year and a half to complete, and they are available for you to read. They are very interesting, both in the methodology and the statistics shared. All are available on the city website at <a href="http://emeryville.org/index.aspx?NID=971" target="_blank">http://emeryville.org/index.aspx?NID=971</a>.<br />
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<b>Transportation Impact Fees</b><br />
The transportation impact fees are supported by <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18425308022014022331778.PDF" target="_blank">this study completed by Fehr & Peers</a>. Originally established in 1998, the transportation impact fees have already paid for many improvements from our previous list, and are based on new trips generated by different land uses. There is a new list of approved projects that the fees can go toward on pages 11-15 of the report, totaling approximately $100 million. Many of these projects will improve transportation not only for cars, but for transit, pedestrians and bicyclists as well, as we continue to improve our multi-modal transportation elements. The fee can be adjusted by the council from time to time. We set the transportation impact fee at 20% of the maximum allowed by the study.<br />
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<b>Park and Recreation Impact Fees</b><br />
The park and recreation impact fees are supported by <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18425108022014034118292.PDF" target="_blank">this study completed by Willdan</a>. These fees cannot pay for facilities that fix our existing deficit of parks, but can pay for new parks needed based on the new development. Right now Emeryville has park acreage of 1.32 acres per 1,000 service population (which includes people who work in town and use the parks now, but at a weighted or reduced number). Parks are very expensive to develop in a place like Emeryville, with limited open space, often requiring the removal of other uses first. We set the park impact fee at 25% of the maximum allowed by the study.<br />
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<b>Affordable Housing Impact Fees</b><br />
The affordable housing impact fees are supported by <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18424808022014035109986.PDF" target="_blank">this study of residential development</a> and <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/1842490802201403520487.PDF" target="_blank">another study of non-residential Jobs-Housing nexus for development</a>, both completed by Keyser Marston. These fees will go toward new affordable housing units developed in Emeryville, recognizing the need for units affordable to all who work in our community. Every new market rate unit in Emeryville increases the need for affordable housing as well, since the future residents will eat at restaurants, buy things at retail stores and get their cars fixed. Each new unit will cause a fee of $20,000 per unit to be paid toward future affordable housing, well below the $35,600 allowed by the study. For commercial, the council established the fees at $4/sf, instead of the $66.00 to $244.00/sf fee maximum allowed by the study.<br />
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Here is a <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18424608022014035355268.PDF" target="_blank">table showing projected fees</a> from future developments in town.<br />
This <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18424508022014035438776.PDF" target="_blank">table compares Emeryville's proposed fees</a> with other nearby cities.<br />
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The fees adopted for affordable housing were higher for commercial and office use than the staff had initially proposed. Instead of $2/square foot, the council voted to raise it to $4/sf.Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-72733382856397952792014-08-01T23:19:00.001-07:002014-08-02T14:11:18.596-07:00Emeryville Center of Community Life (ECCL)At our special council meeting on Wednesday, August 6, 2014, the city council will be considering our agreement with Emery Unified School District (EUSD) to move forward on the Emeryville Center of Community Life (ECCL) project you can see starting construction on San Pablo Ave at 53rd. This project is the culmination of years of planning, and will create <b>a single K-12 school with a Recreation Center, Library and health and community services</b>, all under one roof. The staff report for this item is <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/1845370801201411104149.PDF" target="_blank">here</a>. The supporting resolutions and contracts are quite long, but can be found on the <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=348&doctype=agenda" target="_blank">agenda</a>, item number 6.1.<br />
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The council has two items to consider:<br />
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<li>the <b><a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18454008012014111802389.PDF" target="_blank">Joint Occupancy Agreement</a></b>, which covers </li>
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<li>Project Lease</li>
<li>Finance Agreement</li>
<li>Governance</li>
<li>Operations, Maintenance and Shared Use Agreement</li>
<li>Design and Construction Agreement</li>
<li>General Conditions</li>
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<li>The <b><a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18454208012014111845680.PDF" target="_blank">construction contract with Turner Construction</a></b>, which came in at $58.6 million.</li>
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Please attend the meeting if you can make it to hear updates on the project and share your opinion on the ECCL project. City Hall is at 1333 Park Ave.</div>
Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-12494860131778512262014-08-01T23:00:00.002-07:002014-08-02T16:17:17.188-07:00Minimum WageAt our special meeting this coming Weds, August 6 (starting at 6:00 pm), the council will be considering whether to direct staff to bring back an item on setting a <b>minimum wage</b> for our city. You have likely heard lots about this topic recently, as Oakland and Berkeley both are in the process of considering this as well -- Berkeley by ordinance, and Oakland by ballot measure. The Bay Area is an expensive place to live (just look at our recently submitted <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18426708012014110310115.PDF" target="_blank">Housing Element</a>), and workers earning the lowest permissible wages are not able to get by. A <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18453608012014110427553.PDF" target="_blank">report</a> analyzing the Lift Up Oakland ballot measure that will be on the ballot in November said that the measure would bring an raise to 40,000 workers in Oakland alone, 79% of whom are Latino or African American workers, with a vast majority in their twenties or older (not just teenagers). This is a social justice issue.<br />
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I am eager to hear the staff presentation and listen to my colleagues discuss this important issue as well. Please join us and bring your thoughts and comments!<br />
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Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at City Hall, 1333 Park Ave. starting at 6:00 pm!Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-49902481554611900292014-08-01T22:52:00.001-07:002014-08-01T23:03:08.364-07:00Charter City Update August 2014On Weds, <b>August 6</b>, 2014, at 6:00 pm at City Hall, the City Council has a special meeting and one of the items is considering placing a Charter City ballot initiative on the ballot for November 4, 2014. There are many good reasons to vote for this ballot initiative, which I will explain further below. The Council is considering funding measures to diversify our revenue sources.<br />
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First of all, <b>a Charter City is not the same as a Charter School</b>. Charter cities (as distinguished from General Law cities) have the opportunity to enact charter amendments. <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18423908012014105849688.PDF" target="_blank">Our drafted Charter</a> is very short and simple, no tricks or big changes. The only amendment that the Emeryville City Council is interested in enacting at this time is a <b><a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/18426408012014110159103.PDF" target="_blank">Real Property Transfer Tax</a></b> (which will also appear on the November ballot, and will be considered next Weds, August 6 as well). This tax at the time of sale of a property will provide funds to partially replace those we lost when redevelopment agencies were dissolved two years ago. The tax is being considered at $12 per every $1,000 of valuation at the time of sale. This is lower than both Berkeley and Oakland's $15 per $1,000.<br />
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Taken together, these measures would create a <b>guaranteed source of local funding</b> for vital city services that, by law, cannot be taken by Sacramento, ensuring our tax dollars stay local for the benefit of Emeryville residents.<br />
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Emeryville residents enjoy the benefits of our clean, safe, and well-maintained city. Because our police and fire services are top-notch, Emeryville is a desirable place to live and do business. These measures help the city to <b>maintain excellent public safety services</b>.<br />
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These measures help support the services that make Emeryville a great community and are important to our local quality of life, such as neighborhood parks and open space, youth and senior services, and clean, safe streets and roads.<br />
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Please share your thoughts on these ballot measures, and help Emeryville by supporting them this Fall!Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-40816148989147032492014-05-04T12:15:00.001-07:002014-08-01T22:53:19.360-07:00Charter City and Property Transfer TaxThe City Council has directed staff to prepare a ballot measure for the November 4, 2014 election making Emeryville a Charter City, as most of our neighbors already are. Only charter cities can increase their Property Transfer Tax. As a general law city, we are restricted to follow state guidelines for how to organize and run our city. A charter city has greater autonomy, in that we can set our own guidelines through charter amendments passed by the electorate. <a href="http://www.emeryville.org/index.aspx?NID=645" target="_blank">More info on the city website here</a>.<br />
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Because redevelopment went away two years ago, Emeryville has had to adapt, as 95% of our city was inside a redevelopment area, and we received significant funding for our budget and capital improvements from redevelopment as a result. Today, the council is looking at ways our neighboring cities have traditionally paid for these things, and one of those tools is the Property Transfer Tax. The Property Transfer Tax is a fee paid at the time of a property sale or transfer. Our current fee, which is the maximum allowed under general law, is about 5% of what Alameda collects and about 4% of what both Berkeley and Oakland collect. If we become a charter city and increase this tax, we have a lot of room to gain funds for critical capital improvements, and will still be competitive compared to our immediate neighbors.<br />
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The Property Transfer Tax is not going to be a consistent source of funds for the city, as it depends on how many parcels change hands year to year, and on what those parcels' value is according to the market. Looking back over the past several years, if we had had in place Alameda's higher rates, Emeryville could have collected between $800,000 - $13 million/year, instead of the current $38,000 - $600,000/year. These fees are paid when a property is sold, and are often split by the seller and buyer as closing costs.<br />
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<b>March 18</b>: City Council directed staff to bring back a charter city ballot measure. <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/16760505042014120247185.PDF" target="_blank">Staff report is here.</a><br />
<b>April 22:</b> City Council approved the "narrow" or limited charter city idea, and directed staff to engage a consultant to poll on this ballot measure, along with the range of Property Transfer Tax we would consider. <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/pn1rdwtrixbts4oexo2du3fk/17803605042014115734857.PDF" target="_blank">Staff report is here.</a><br />
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I hope you will support the charter city measure and the property transfer tax to help Emeryville find new funds to continue to improve our city.Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-66684586734708751042014-05-04T11:26:00.001-07:002014-05-04T11:26:09.738-07:00Impact Fees: Transportation, Housing and ParksThe City Council is considering Impact Fees to help Emeryville maintain and improve roads, parks and create affordable housing. These fees would be levied on any new residential or commercial developments in town.<br />
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These three fees will help to replace some of the redevelopment funds that we no longer have. There are three types of fees we are considering, and all funds that come in are designated to each type of improvement, as their adoption is based on studies that show how new development in town needs to pay for the impacts associated with that development. All studies we conducted justify the maximum fees that could be collected. What the staff is recommending is something far below that cap. Finding the right mix of fees so that we are not discouraging development is important.<br />
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<b>Transportation Impact Fees</b><br />
We have had a Traffic Impact Fee in place since the 1990s. This means that what we are doing is updating the reasonable amount that can be collected on each unit or by square footage (for non-residential). It also means that we have a new list of projects that can be funded through this fee. Most of the projects are improvements for bicycles and pedestrians. Car infrastructure improvements have been the focus in the past, and now we need to encourage fewer cars and more alternative transportation modes to reduce the traffic in town.<br />
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<b>Affordable Housing Impact Fees</b><br />
Every new development, even market rate developments, directly create an increased need for affordable housing in our region. A new unit brings people who will buy groceries, eat out, shop at clothing stores, use housecleaners -- and all of these actions require staff who are not paid adequately to live in the expensive Bay Area. As housing costs go up (and they are doing so in Emeryville), we have to make sure there is good affordable housing. I think this is critical, and one of my biggest jobs as a leader here.<br />
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These fees will help, but will not cover the cost of adequate affordable housing. We will continue to find other sources of funds to ensure we are creating a "just" Emeryville where all incomes are welcome.<br />
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<b>Parks and Recreation Impact Fees</b><br />
Emeryville is a dense 1.2 square mile urban village, and we need open space to make it a desirable place to live and play! Particularly for families, but for all residents and employees, we need more open space. These new fees cannot pay to remedy the historic lack of open space, but can pay for more parks that are required to support new development. Building parks in infill locations is very expensive, as it can mean relocating tenants and tearing down buildings. But look at how many people were enjoying the Movie in the Park at Doyle Hollis on Friday night! This is a critical need as well, and we must have a way to pay for new parks.<br />
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Please see additional information in the <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=322&doctype=agenda" target="_blank">staff report</a> from the April 1 study session (special city council meeting). This will be coming back to council at the May 20 or June 3, 2014 meeting. The impact fees have gone to various committees in April for input.<br />
<br />Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-17755663343649936862014-02-19T22:07:00.001-08:002014-02-23T16:15:38.364-08:00Joshua Simon leaving the school boardJoshua Simon has served on the Emery Unified School District's Board of Trustees for 12 years. He and his family are moving to Oakland, and March 26, 2014 will be his last meeting. EUSD is looking for applicants to fill his position, with a process that will be announced soon. I encourage any interested folks to reach out to me and I will put you in touch with someone on the School Board. As my neighbor, I will greatly miss Josh and his family! I thank him for his dedication and years of service.<br />
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The school district is also in the process of hiring a new superintendent. More information on that is <a href="http://www.emeryusd.k12.ca.us/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1388849800588" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Josh's letter is below:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dear Neighbors,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It has been a privilege to serve the
Emeryville community as a member of the Emery Unified School District Board of
Trustees for over 12 years. Unfortunately, my professional
responsibilities as the newly hired Executive Director of a nonprofit community
development corporation and the needs of my family, have combined to require
that I resign my position as School Board Trustee effective March 31<sup>st</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With two teenage daughters, we are
moving from our two bedroom, one bathroom condominium to a much larger
condominium in downtown Oakland. Our new
home will accommodate our family's needs, and has room for our parents in
the future. We continue to own property in Emeryville and we intend to move
to Emery Bay Village after the Center for Community Life is completed. In the meantime, I will remain involved as a
tax payer and future neighbor of the Center of Community Life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am grateful to <b>my colleagues on the school board</b> for
their dedication to supporting the work of our teachers, students, families,
guardians and the community. I feel honored to have had the
opportunity to work with School Board members John Affeldt, Miguel Dwin and Joy
Kent. The sound leadership of Board
President Melodi Dice has been a rock of stability in the changing tides of
school funding. The dedication and
professionalism of these board members over many years has been inspiring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am also grateful for the
thoughtful partnership of the <b>Emeryville
City Council</b> whose work has demonstrated that “partners power student
success.” Closer integration of City afterschool programs with school
programs has enhanced work in the classrooms and teachers have been able to buy
homes in Emeryville through the City’s first time homebuyer program. Under the leadership of City Manager Sabrina
Landreth, I have no doubt that Emeryville will continue to improve as an
“Age-Friendly City”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have been impressed by the many
ways that <b>business leaders have stepped
up</b> in support of education in Emeryville.
Consistent partners who have worked to power student success include Pixar,
Madison Marquette, Expressions Center for New Media, 45<sup>th</sup> Street
Artists Cooperative, the Townhouse Restaurant, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Jamba
Juice, Wereham Development, the Emeryville Chamber of Commerce and many others.
The Work of the Emery Ed Fund to
coordinate these efforts has been invaluable.
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most of all, my family is grateful
for the twelve years of excellent education that our daughters received at both
the Emeryville Child Development Center and Emery Unified School District. My daughter Sarah was well prepared for her
current interest in engineering by the teachers at Anna Yates and my daughter Maya
continues to be inspired by the work of the <b>Anna Yates Elementary School Theater Club</b>. (Don’t miss their next
performance at the Emeryville Senior Center on Salem Street on March 28<sup>th</sup>
at 6pm and March 29<sup>th</sup> at 3pm.
Call the Anna Yates Elementary School office at 601-4917 for more
information.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The School District has made great
progress toward becoming a model full-service community school. Our
integration of healthcare, parent resources, after school activities and
community resources into our schools, has reduced barriers to education and supported
teachers to do their best work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am particularly thankful to <b>Congresswoman Barbara Lee</b> for her
support of the Family Resource Center and her work to upgrade our High School
Gym to be a safe shelter in times of crisis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am also thankful for <b>Alameda County Superintendent Sheila Jordan</b>
and <b>Alameda County Supervisor Keith
Carson</b> who have provided invaluable guidance throughout our transformation
process. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The District’s strong relationship
with Peralta Community College to bring college level courses to our High
School is very exciting, and I must thank <b>Superintendent
John Sugiyama, Superintendent Debbra Lindo and School Board member Miguel Dwin</b>
for their leadership of this work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">State Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner and State Senator Loni
Hancock</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> have been great partners in
fighting for the needs of children and families in Emeryville. Without their hard work at the state level,
our efforts to improve Emeryville’s school district might not receive the
critical attention that we require from the California Department of Education
and other State Agencies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With the community’s support, we
have started construction on our new community school and will now have
adequate facilities for the District’s partnerships and collaborations. Funds
are now available to build the facility required to house the combination of
recreation, health and pre-k through grade 16 education services that comprise
our community school partnerships. I am proud that the Measure J Bond
Oversight Committee recently reported that all Measure J funds are being spent
appropriately and responsibly, and that Moody’s recently gave us a very high
bond credit rating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am confident that the District’s
transition dream team of past superintendents <b>John Quinn and John Sugiyama</b> will support our extraordinary
professional staff and teachers to continue building on our progress to date.
With the support of EUSD’s amazing staff, I have great confidence in the
continued improvement of our school district.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The board intends to discuss the process for filling my
position at the February 26th School Board meeting.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I regret that I will
not be at that meeting due to work travel, but I look forward to continuing to
serve the community until the end of March.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most of all, thank you for being a community
that consistently supports safe quality schools for the Emeryville community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joshua Simon</span></div>
Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-8555145487536681342014-02-17T15:35:00.005-08:002014-02-17T15:35:46.414-08:00Capital Improvement Program 2014It is time to weigh in on what larger <a href="http://www.emeryville.org/DocumentCenter/View/6371" target="_blank">capital improvement projects</a> you think are the top priority for the next 5 years. We have limited funds to spend and lots of projects that are deserving. Please help us out by attending a committee meeting (which are listed on p.11 of this <a href="http://www.emeryville.org/DocumentCenter/View/6371" target="_blank">packet</a>), coming to the <b>community meeting on Saturday, March 1, 10:00 am - noon</b> (at City Hall, 1333 Park Ave.), or <a href="http://www.emeryville.org/DocumentCenter/View/6371" target="_blank">reading over the projects</a> and sending your opinion to me and the rest of the council members.<br />
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This CIP process has been a long time in coming. We started this process once before in 2011, just before redevelopment was dismantled in 2012, and are just now ready to tackle it again. The total amount we have to spend is approximately $95 million. The number of projects is about 75. Read through the list of projects staff have identified. Some are in your neighborhood, some will improve traffic circulation in town, or help improve bike/ped facilities. There is something for everyone. Please get informed and share your opinion.<br />
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Background: Now that Redevelopment is gone, the City of Emeryville is trying to figure out how much money we can use toward capital intensive projects. For the past 35 years, these projects have been paid for by redevelopment funds (at between $12 million and $51 million per year), which were based on the growth of property taxes over the years. As properties were improved, tax revenues went up and that gain was put into redevelopment (and was borrowed against). We will be paying off those redevelopment loans for a number of years still.Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-4299160697457085832014-02-16T19:14:00.001-08:002014-02-17T14:56:31.162-08:00Only one more year... are you ready to join the council?In December, I announced that I will finish my city council term in the Fall of 2014, and that I will not be seeking re-election. I have announced my intention this early because I would like to encourage anyone who is concerned about good policy decisions in Emeryville to run. I would love to find two great candidates to support!<br />
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When I ran in 2009, I expected a four year term. With our change of elections to even years (to align with County, State and Federal elections and greater voter turn-out), I ended up with a 5 year term (as did all other sitting council members and school board members). I will spend my fifth year working hard on furthering my initiatives, but will leave the council at the end of 2014. If you are a person who is interested in local issues, from small details to larger policy, please consider talking with me about the city council race and the position!<br />
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Some of the things I have learned:<br />
<ol>
<li>This work is very gratifying, and an individual with community support can make a real difference in our urban village.</li>
<li>It is hard to balance family commitments and a demanding job with this important work. The pay is not worthy of the position, but there are good health benefits provided.</li>
<li>I know that the changes we are seeing in Emeryville for the better (more attention paid to bike/ped facilities, more family friendly units in projects) are not because of me, but may be a result of increased public participation and a shift in priorities. This is about a group effort, not one individual.</li>
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I would also like to let you know about <b>Scott Donahue</b>, who is one of my trusted advisors for all things Emeryville. He has lived in town for over 30 years, in the artists' co-op, and he has announced that he is running for city council in 2014. I think that he will do a fantastic job, with thoughtful consideration of issues and a strong sense of where Emeryville is going. Please support me by helping elect Scott. I would like to find one more candidate to run with Scott as well.<br />
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<b>Thank you</b> to all of you who have shared opinions with me, served on committees, met with me, supported or challenged my ideas! I truly enjoy making sense of our opportunities, and correcting wrongs. Here is to big accomplishments in 2014!<br />
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If you are interested in running, please be in touch with me directly at <a href="mailto:emeryvillewest@gmail.com">emeryvillewest@gmail.com</a>. In April or May, I will participate in a <b>forum </b>to discuss what serving on the council means in our town, with Jac Asher, sponsored by Residents United for a Livable Emeryville (<b>RULE</b>). Details will follow.Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-72588065949582829252014-02-16T19:03:00.002-08:002014-02-16T19:03:49.375-08:00Stopwaste in 2014I serve as Emeryville's representative on the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, also known as <a href="http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp" target="_blank"><b>Stopwaste</b></a>. I greatly appreciate all that this government organization has done to make Alameda County a national leader in terms of how much of our waste goes back into the economy through recycling and compost (food scraps and plant debris). We (Stopwaste) are also responsible for banning single use plastic bags at most retail stores county-wide. We also have required commercial businesses and multi-family residences to offer recycling.<br />
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But we still find that people need an additional nudge or more education to further reduce the amount of "good stuff" that is going to landfill. You may have received a mailer recently that gives a snapshot of how well our community of Emeryville is doing on this, in comparison with other cities in the county. This mailer is paid for by a <b>"benchmark" fee</b>, that also pays for additional data collection, so we can measure how well we are doing. the fee is $1.51/year for most accounts, more for larger trash generators. Questions you may have can be answered <a href="http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=1264" target="_blank">here</a>, or you can email me directly at <a href="mailto:emeryvillewest@gmail.com">emeryvillewest@gmail.com</a>.<br />
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Another challenge that we face in Alameda County is how to fund disposal of <b>Household Hazardous Waste</b> -- materials that cannot safely be put in a landfill. Over the years, our money to fund this has gone down (as it is based on fees on landfilled materials, which have been decreasing -- yeah!), so Stopwaste is finding new money to support HHW disposal, while also making it easier for households to take HHW to the facilities (making the hours more frequent and more regular). Ideally, someday, we will be able to phase out more of these toxic substances from our store shelves, or charge the person buying it at point of sale to cover these costs, but for now, we are proposing a fee on all properties in the county to support these services. You may have received a letter recently informing you about this fee and how you may protest it, if you choose. It will be $9.55/year for all properties, added to property tax bills. It will only be in place for 10 years, and will be reduced if the cost of services is reduced or other funding sources are more than projected. Go <a href="http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=1272" target="_blank">here</a> to see answers to frequently asked questions.<br />
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I have asked for an information item on the March 4 council agenda to be sure we have a chance to discuss these fees at council. You may also contact me directly to get more information on these programs.Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-68634235070595534792013-11-01T23:34:00.000-07:002013-11-01T23:34:19.305-07:00Emery-Go-Round and WatergateI have heard from lots of people who live at Watergate over the past couple of weeks. Emery-Go-Round, which temporarily suspended its service beyond the Watergate office towers during sidewalk construction this summer/fall, announced that it would not reinstate the bus-stops out on the peninsula due to safety concerns and difficulty turning around. The Emery-Go-Round continues to stop at the Towers, which is a walk from the residential community.<br />
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Many people who live in Watergate (which constitutes about a fourth of the population of Emeryville) depend on the free shuttle service to get around without a car. Lives and travel patterns have been disrupted by this change, and everyone agrees -- we like our Emery-Go-Round! Watergate folks can get to MacArthur BART faster than most of us in town!<br />
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Well, I am a big fan of public transportation, so I do not take these changes lightly. In fact, abrupt changes like this make it clear that it is time to look carefully and comprehensively at public transportation throughout town and the area. There is a study being conducted now (dubbed EBOTS) that is looking at greater transit service in West Berkeley, Emeryville and West Oakland. See <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7727535875656583660#editor/target=post;postID=2335431263104087196;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=2;src=postname" target="_blank">this blog entry</a> for info on upcoming workshops. This crisis also shows how vulnerable chunks of town are to small and big changes -- changes that are not under the control of the city or your elected officials. Emery-Go-Round is predominantly funded by commercial property owners in town, and was set up originally as a shuttle for employees. The <a href="http://www.emerygoround.com/about-us" target="_blank">Emeryville Transportation Management Association (ETMA)</a> runs the Emery-Go-Round through a funding mechanism called a Property Based Improvement District (PBID). That funding and other options are being considered soon.<br />
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The City Council has been asked to weigh in on future plans for Emery-Go-Round and its funding source, the PBID, along with plans for a bus yard. We are planning a study session for Tuesday, Dec. 3, starting around 6:30 pm at City Hall, before our regular council meeting. Please come and tell us what you think!<br />
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Some in town have asked for increased service to West Oakland BART, for example. We know that ridership has continued to grow and the free shuttle serves over 1 million riders per year. AC Transit has reduced service in Emeryville over the years. I would like to hear from you about Emery-Go-Round and public transportation in general.Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-18641272716879441572013-11-01T23:14:00.000-07:002013-11-01T23:14:40.114-07:00Mentor a High School Senior Every senior at Emery High School is being matched with a mentor for the year. Please consider giving 1 hour per week to advise a young person getting ready to graduate from high school. More information is available on this <a href="http://emeryed.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/j/2F360816E703021A" target="_blank">flyer</a>, or by calling the Emery Ed Fund at (510) 601-4911.Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-1729428535647296662013-11-01T23:10:00.000-07:002013-11-01T23:10:57.956-07:00Capital Improvement Program (CIP) discussion begins Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013<b>On Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 pm, the</b> City Council will hold a special study session on our Capital Improvement Program (CIP). This is our first attempt after the end of Redevelopment (it has been 4 years since the last real discussion) to look at how we will spend our "capital" dollars over the next 5 years to improve livability in town. This will be a challenge as we have less money and will balance prioritizing sewer repairs, road infrastructure, parks, building maintenance, and other worthy projects, all with fewer dollars to spend. This study session which will last until around 7:15 is the beginning of a process (see below) with culminating Council action in March/April 2014.<div>
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The <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/n1d4fcejvgkc40md3zjdwbf2/91225110120131106152.PDF" target="_blank">staff report</a> lays out the following steps:</div>
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<li>Identify available resources</li>
<li>Identify priorities based on our plans that give us a roadmap for our future growth</li>
<li>Define priority results more precisely</li>
<li>Prepare a list of projects and programs for evaluation</li>
<li>Create a priority listing of projects and programs</li>
<li>Allocate resources</li>
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Come to City Hall (1333 Park Ave) and join in the discussion!</div>
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Our last CIP plan (2006-2011) is available <a href="http://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/93" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-23354312631040871962013-11-01T22:58:00.000-07:002013-11-01T22:58:15.475-07:00EBOTS - planning better transportation for our areaWorkshops are coming up for public input! Please attend one of the following:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f7fdf5; border: 0px; color: #1a2332; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="border: 0px; color: red; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.emeryville.org/index.aspx?NID=648" target="_blank">Emeryville-Berkeley-Oakland Transit Study</a> Community Workshops and Questionnaire</span></span></strong><br /><br />Help us improve transit in West Berkeley, Emeryville and West Oakland. Join us for a community workshop to explore future visions for transit in these three cities and to provide input on our transit study. Your ideas will help shape the future of transit in this area!<br /><br />* Thursday, November 7, 2013, 6:30-8:30pm<br />West Oakland Senior Center, 1724 Adeline St., Oakland<br /><br />* Saturday, November 9, 2013, 11:00am-1:00pm<br />James Kenney Community Center, 1720 8th St., Berkeley<br /><br />* Tuesday, November 12, 2013, 6:30-8:30pm<br />Emery Unified School District Office, Multi-Purpose Room<br />1275 61st St., Emeryville<br /><br />You can also fill in a questionnaire at</span>* </span><a class="Hyperlink" href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EBOTS" style="background-color: #f7fdf5; color: #35a217; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;" target="_self"><span style="border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong>https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EBOTS</strong></span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f7fdf5; border: 0px; color: #1a2332; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">* </span><a class="Hyperlink" href="https://es.surveymonkey.com/s/EBOTS_Spanish" style="background-color: #f7fdf5; color: #35a217; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;" target="_self"><strong><span style="border: 0px; color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://es.surveymonkey.com/s/EBOTS_Spanish</span></strong></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f7fdf5; border: 0px; color: #1a2332; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">For more information on the transit study, go to </span><a class="Hyperlink" href="http://www.emeryville.org/ebots" style="background-color: #f7fdf5; color: #35a217; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;" target="_self"><strong><span style="border: 0px; color: red; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">www.emeryville.org/ebots</span></strong></a><span style="background-color: #f7fdf5; border: 0px; color: #1a2332; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> or contact <a class="Hyperlink" href="http://www.emeryville.org/index.aspx?NID=648" style="color: #35a217; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" target="_self"><strong><span style="border: 0px; color: red; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Diana Keena</span></strong></a> at </span><span style="background-color: #f7fdf5; border: 0px; color: #1a2332; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> or 596-4335.<br /><br />The City of Emeryville is conducting this study using Federal Transit Administration funding through Caltrans, in collaboration with AC Transit, Amtrak/Capitol Corridor, BART, Berkeley Gateway Shuttle, City of Berkeley, City of Oakland, and Emery-Go-Round.</span>Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-44275120793282440322013-06-25T22:25:00.000-07:002013-06-26T22:36:56.594-07:00ECCL bike/ped path conversationThis evening about 40 people gathered at the Emery Secondary Site to talk more about the ECCL project and the bike/ped path that is in the General Plan for that site. In case you have not followed this issue, Emery Unified School District has asked the city to delete the path from that site saying that there is not space or money to put in the path with the new construction of our K-12 community school and center. Emery Bay Village residents have also asked for the path to be deleted citing security concerns. The Bike/Ped Advisory Committee (BPAC) asked to meet on the site today to walk through and talk about the concerns, trying to understand how we got to this point and how to solve this problem. The City Council voted NOT to delete the path from the General Plan a few months back. City staff pointed out that the path could remain in the General Plan, but that the project could also move forward without including it. Hmmm.<br />
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It was an animated discussion, although I left feeling discouraged. Several people called for creative thinking to break through and find a real solution. But road blocks are put up again and again, and some individuals didn't seem to be listening to all sides of the conversation. As to <b>when</b> the decisions are made and <b>how firm </b>those decisions are is always contentious. It isn't over until the building is built, one person said. Others said, the plans have been completed and the CEQA documents are in public comment now.<br />
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I feel that we need to envision the Emeryville we want to have and work steadily to get there. The General Plan process put "connectivity" and improving the pedestrian experience high on the list of goals. That is what all of the paths in the General Plan are about -- breaking up super blocks, where the only way to get from one quiet street to another is by going to the arterials, such as San Pablo, Hollis or Adeline. That is not pedestrian friendly to me.<br />
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And our brand new, we-want-to-feel-so-proud-of-it, hope-it-lasts-a-long-time Community Center and Full Service K-12 school should be setting the example, not shirking its pivotal role. Where better can we make a statement to kids, families and neighbors about encouraging alternative modes of transportation, reducing car emissions, encouraging physical activity and active transportation? I think kids should be able to walk or bike safely to school. It is all about priorities and the cost of everything... and what needs to change to make it all work.<br />
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The fear mongering about how dangerous a bike/ped path will be, with a sound wall and a security fence do not make sense to me. The street is dangerous as well, but we still put schools next to streets. Active uses tend to make places safer. And the increased cost of security personnel monitoring students may be mitigated by fewer vehicle miles driven, if we can put a cost on all the ramifications of our decisions, including the air we breathe and the lifestyles we choose. Saying that we are not ready for a bike/ped path, and will get it once we have erased all criminal activity nearby is giving in to defeat. We are building for our tomorrow.<br />
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The biggest surprise today is that the pool deck problem seemed to go away through the conversation. The sound wall can be placed closer to the property line (it will need shoring up seismically anyway , and a sound wall is planned to be built for the remaining length of the property line) and the visibility will be improved with a security fence between the path and the pool, with plenty of room to take a couple of feet off the deck for the path. The entrance to the pool is moving to the other side of the pool anyway it turns out! In fact that seemed like the easier problem to solve today, when compared to compromising a portion of the track around the football and baseball fields to get the path to fit on the north end of the property.<br />
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EUSD says that the path can go in during Phase 2. I am concerned that if Phase 1 doesn't get planned with the path included, there will be no political will to be certain that Phase 2 will include a path, especially if it will mean taking away the track or something that everyone has already gotten used to.<br />
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So, we had a wonderful chance to discuss, learn new things from each other, embrace community engagement and dialogue, but I am still not certain that this problem has been solved. Not yet anyway. We will keep trying. We have to if we want to realize our dreams for this wonderful town, Emeryville. We have to get it right!Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-38299586033813673512013-05-17T13:22:00.002-07:002013-05-17T13:26:27.832-07:00New City Manager Contract for Sabrina Landreth to be considered May 21, 2013 at 7:15 pmOn Tuesday, May 21, 2013, the City Council will vote on a contract for a new City Manager. Sabrina Landreth is the person we selected out of a large number of applicants, and I look forward to introducing her to the entire community. As I had mentioned previously, this is the biggest job of the council -- to find an inspiring leader to manage the operations of the city. I think we have found a real star.<br />
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Please come to the meeting to learn more and meet Sabrina. More info is available from <a href="http://web01.emeryville.org/sirepub/cache/2/nljo3psdb21pyxunygbqjf05/5287005172013011759742.PDF" target="_blank">the staff report</a> for item 5/14 in the revised agenda packet for May 21. We will have a more formal introduction of her once her contract is confirmed.<br />
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Here is the information from the interim City Manager: <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As you are aware, over the past several months the City Council has been engaged in a process to bring on board a new City Manager.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> The City Council has selected Sabrina Landreth to fill that role and the Council will consider an employment agreement with Ms. Landreth at their meeting next Tuesday May 21, 2013. Sabrina comes to Emeryville after working for the City of Oakland for several years, most recently as Deputy City Administrator and Budget Director. Sabrina holds an engineering degree from M.I.T. and a Master’s in Public Policy from U.C. Berkeley. Should the City Council approve the employment agreement on Tuesday</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> evening, Sabrina will start in her new role on June 24, 2013.</span>Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-39470593773245082872013-05-16T19:04:00.003-07:002013-05-16T19:52:32.354-07:00More on the Bike/Ped Bridge decisionI am not one to count chickens before they hatch. There is still some uncertainty in the funding source of the Bike Ped bridge, so I figure a little more background on the case is important to share. It is a complicated story. Here are some of the facts:<br />
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The City of Emeryville sued the State last year because they did not allow us to use our bond money to proceed with 3 projects after the dissolution of redevelopment. There have been two state "end of redevelopment" laws. The first was in the summer of 2011 (ABx1 26), and the clean up bill in the summer of 2012 (AB 1484). The first took away the ability to enter into any new contracts with redevelopment funds, but it had a clause that allowed cities like ours to re-enter into contracts as long as they were subsequently approved by the Oversight Board. The Oversight Board (subject of <a href="http://emeryvillewest.blogspot.com/2012_02_01_archive.html" target="_blank">this blog</a>) has by design a seat for every large taxing entity that would have benefited from the funds freed up by the end of redevelopment, the funds that had previously been redirected toward redevelopment projects. The <b>week </b>before AB 1484 (which would no longer allow any agency to re-enter into agreements) went into effect , the City of Emeryville re-entered into agreements on 5 projects: ECCL, the Bike-Ped bridge, the Transit Center, the Arts Center and a loan repayment for brownfield remediation called the CIERRA loans. The <b>day </b>before AB 1484 went into effect, the Oversight Board approved three (not all 5) of those agreements. The OB did not approve the ECCL project and the Arts Center.<br />
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We won our case <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1dykOjN15KGWGNOVG5qRkJFN2c/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">(read the decision here)</a> in Superior Court in Sacramento based on these facts. The judge repudiated the Department of Finance's denial of those three projects moving forward, even though agreements had been re-entered and the OB had approved them in time. The total amount of bond funds in dispute is around $16 million and the bike ped bridge will cost around $12 million. The State has 30 days to appeal the decision, which might tie up the use of these funds longer.<br />
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The bike ped bridge is an important connection over the railroad tracks that divide Emeryville. Bikes and pedestrians can now cross the tracks on the 40th St. bridge, pedestrians can cross on the Powell St. ped bridge, bikes and pedestrians can cross at the Amtrak station, but the next place north of 40th where a bike can ride across the tracks is at 65th St. There is no doubt to me that increased access to Bay St. and the new Bay Trail connection, as well as the new east span of the Bay Bridge that will allow bikes and pedestrians, will be a great thing for Emeryville residents and visitors. Now to improve the bike and pedestrian experience on both sides of the tracks!<br />
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There is a bit more information on the bridge itself <a href="http://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=573" target="_blank">here</a>. Here is a <a href="http://www.biggscardosa.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103&Itemid=187" target="_blank">rendering of the bridge.</a> The site plan for Horton Landing Park is <a href="http://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/277" target="_blank">here</a>. Some FAQ from early 2008 can be accessed <a href="http://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/FAQ.aspx?FID=23&NID=573" target="_blank">here</a>. These answers indicate that the bridge would be open in 2010! Let's hope it is by 2015.Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-28583071821917300582013-05-10T23:32:00.001-07:002013-05-10T23:32:22.098-07:00Bike/Ped Bridge Victory on Bike to Work DayYesterday the City of Emeryville had a real victory! We won our litigation against the State of California, who had denied our use of Redevelopment funds to pay for the South Bayfront Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge and Horton Landing Park, after the dissolution of redevelopment.<br />
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It is a long and complicated story, but the short version for now is that the Department of Finance, which insisted on us turning over funds set aside for the Bike Ped bridge connecting Stanford and 53rd St. (east of the railroad tracks) with Bay St. (west of the tracks), lost, and the City of Emeryville, the residents of Emeryville, have won!<br />
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This is a wonderful decision that came on a day of celebrating bikes and connectivity with Bike to Work Day, May 9, 2013.<br />
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The Bridge had been planned over the past 10 years or so, and was ready to go to bid for construction 2 years ago when redevelopment was ended by the state. I hope that with this decision the city can move quickly on getting the project over the train tracks moving again. Having a better connection with Bay St. will be a huge asset for the retail area, the residents, employees, and for the region. With improvements coming soon for the Bay Trail through town, and with the bike and pedestrian access to the new east span of the Bay Bridge being worked on right now, this sorely needed bike link will be important for our town.<br />
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I will post more details on the court's decision soon.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7727535875656583660.post-36871862952753333382013-01-06T23:29:00.000-08:002013-01-06T23:29:11.725-08:00More Parking discussions, Sat 1/12 and Tues 1/15The Transportation Committee meeting on December 11 at the Fire Station on Hollis Street was very well attended, thanks in part to the efforts of Ken Bukowski. We had about 30 people there: residents, property owners, and business owners. Many points of view were expressed, and quite a bit of concern about changes, as well as frustration about the current situation.<br />
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This issue is not an easy or obvious one to solve. Emotions run high when it comes to parking. Some expressed the "right" to park for free in front of homes or businesses. Some pointed fingers at other property owners who have not handled parking needs correctly. Some said that we do not want to be like Oakland or Berkeley where parking is too hard or too expensive. Others said that permit parking will be the future, sooner or later. Some said there are too many empty parking garages, perhaps because of the fees charged there. Some say that the public doesn't respect private parking for customers, disregarding signs. Although many say that these problems already exist, there was real fear that any changes will make them worse, not better.<br />
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I recognize that parking management is very complex. I do not believe that Emeryville has a parking shortage. I think that we have a parking management problem, and that we should try to make sure that each street has spaces for the users who have priority for that area. If you are allowed to park for free all day long in front of your house or business, then it will be very hard to prevent anyone else from doing so as well, or worse, instead of you.<br />
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On Saturday, January 12 at 10:00 am, Ken Bukowski is hosting a <a href="http://www.epoa.us/north-hollis-parking-control-implimentation-plan-meeting-9am-dec-11-at-6303-hollis-st/" target="_blank">community meeting</a> at the Ralph Hawley School site at Doyle St. and 61st St. to have the opportunity to talk more about parking issues in Emeryville. I am grateful that he is allowing me to address the gathering for 10 minutes. Please consider attending and sharing your point of view as well. His flyers talk about a parking plan in a limited part of town that the City Council is considering implementing, and will be discussing on Tuesday, January 15, City Hall, 7:15 pm. The plan has been waiting on the shelf for 3 years. It is a sensible plan with a phased approach and monitoring in place to see how changes that are put in place impact availability. It does not include paid parking in the first year or two, only later in the plan. The initial changes include limited time parking, with the painting of green curbs on certain blocks. Later in the plan there is also the possibility of residential parking permits and business/employee parking permits, if there is a need to support these uses.<br />
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I know that we all need to do our part to reduce reliance on cars, not only in Emeryville, but in the region, in the state and the world. It is a hard change to make for many of us. We have already committed to these changes with our state laws, such as SB375. Regulating on-street parking is one way to change people's behavior. Free parking actually costs all of us a lot of money in the long run.<br />
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Please consider joining me on Saturday morning, or on Tuesday evening. I welcome your comments.Jennifer Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16225981714405658240noreply@blogger.com