CENA Web Newsletter January 2006

INDEX

Article 1 “UC Southeast Campus Development”

Article 2 “And….More Congestion When the 4^th Bore is Built??”

Article 3 “New Stores on College Ave”

Article 4 “Lawsuit: City & UC”

Article 5 “Important Notice on Berkeley’s Creeks Ordinance”

Article 6 “The Rains Have Come to Claremont Canyon”

Article 7 “Neighbors Helping Neighbors in New Orleans”

Article 1

UC Southeast Campus Development by Janice Thomas and Wendy Markel

For the Claremont-Elmwood residents renovation of Memorial Stadium is not the real

news. The real news is that our fragile and over-stressed neighborhood is being asked by University planners to accept the Southeast Campus Integrated Projects. (http://www.cp.berkeley.edu).

From points east and south, this alarming set of projects would demand access through the Claremont-Elmwood neighborhood via Tunnel, Ashby, College, The Uplands, Claremont, Belrose, Derby, Warring and Piedmont Avenue en route to campus. Did you know that the planned project not only includes the stadium “retrofit” but (a) four stories added to the current height of the classic Memorial Stadium!!!, (b) a new seven-story building, (c) an amphitheater, (d) an underground parking garage for 1,200 cars, (e) a new glass building attached to the stadium for student athletic training? This latest University expansion will greatly increase traffic through our residential neighborhoods, where we are already feeling extreme congestion pressures in the form of weekday commuter traffic and weekend traffic for campus events.

Our neighborhood needs environmental consideration. The CENA neighborhood must not become the background scenery for commuters traveling between the Caldecott Tunnel 4^th bore and the southeast campus parking lot. Connecting the dots between the imminent 4^th bore and southeast campus development should be CENA’s wake up call.

Upon settlement with the City of Berkeley, the University can develop 1,270 new parking spaces over the next 15 years without additional environmental review. One thousand two

hundred of those parking spaces will be located in the part of campus only accessed through our CENA neighborhood from the south and through the northside neighborhoods at the other end. In addition, because of the topography, the north-south corridor along Piedmont Way remains the easternmost passage and vital link to adjoining hillside neighborhoods and to the other side of town.

We don’t pretend to understand all the ins and outs of the integrated projects. The plans and schematics are still sketchy. We do know that if the Haas School of Business and the Boalt

School of Law are both seeking larger facilities, there will be more day and night auxiliary activities especially in the unnecessary amphitheater. Construction of the glass “High Performance Sports Center” begins a short year from now while the stadium retrofit project is being deferred until full funding is secured. With the project off in the future, design details are especially vague leaving the community with many unanswered questions and left to wonder about possible new, more intensive use of the stadium. Page 11 of the Initial Study states “the integrated projects may include some expansion of stadium use beyond football for major public interest events”. We wonder what this sentence might mean.

You would think that during this time of thoughtful reflection about emergency response planning and disaster mitigation, the University would consider safer alternatives for each and every project. Is it responsible to increase population density, building density, and traffic congestion far away from major transportation systems and through CENA’s narrow residential streets? Wouldn’t you think the Hayward Fault would cause pause? Bisected lengthwise by an active fault, the stadium sits on a bed of unconsolidated soil in a liquefaction and landslide zone. http://seismo.berkeley.edu/geotour/tourmap.html. Meanwhile the underground parking lot will be in the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone, and when the big one hits, the entire project could be a catastrophe. Please share your concern for this development by e-mailing the Berkeley Daily Planet, opinion@berkeleydailyplanet.com, or write the Planet at 3023A Shattuck Ave, Berkeley CA 94705, or e-mail the University Chancellor, chancellor@berkeley.edu, or write to your favorite newspaper. 1

Article 2

And…More Congestion When The 4^th Bore is Built??

Submitted by Ann Smulka & Sally Williams

CENA board members voted in September 2005 to join the Caldecott Tunnel 4^th Bore Coalition, a group of neighborhood and business associates who advocate for the concerns of residents surrounding the Hwy 24 corridor regarding the Caldecott Tunnel Improvement Project. The Coalition currently has a neutral stance on the Caltrans Tunnel proposal, awaiting the Environmental Assessment-Environmental Impact Report (EA-EIR) to be released mid to late January 2006. The Caltrans Environmental Assessment will cover three options that Caltrans has studied: no-build, 2-lane tunnel and 3-lane tunnel. The project’s western limit is the Broadway exit of Hwy 24. The tunnel will take 4.5 to 5 years to complete and will cost between $3.5M (2 lanes) to $4.8M (3-lanes).

On the plus side, a 4^th bore will provide 4 lanes of traffic in both directions all the time, if Caltrans is true to their stated purpose of improving the flow of traffic in the non-peak direction. Improving the flow of traffic in the non-peak direction could conceivably improve the air quality (idling cars worsen air quality) as well as improve travel time.

Some concerns, however, are:

• If congestion in the non-peak direction is relieved, will the smoother flow of traffic attract more trucks down the Hwy 24 corridor and conceivably increase the noise level and decrease air quality? The Port of Oakland is planning large expansion, and more truck traffic to/from the Port is likely. Noise from Hwy 24 goes UP the canyon; Berkeley residents around Hillcrest and Roble Road bear the brunt and residents north of Tunnel Road get highway noise, especially at night (I was surprised at the noise during the night from the Hwy 24 repaving work). Soundwalls don’t do much for noise headed up a canyon, yet they’re Caltrans’ standard solution to noise problems. We want Caltrans to look at other mitigations.
• If a 3-lane bore (5 lanes of traffic in the westbound direction) is constructed, will the additional lane incent people to drive instead of using public transit? And is Caltrans 4% traffic increase a valid estimate? With more traffic on Hwy 24, will noise levels merit noise mitigation at the BART station?
• How will a new tunnel, whether 2-lane or 3- lane, affect the flow of traffic on Berkeley’s main corridors (Tunnel, Ashby, Claremont & Telegraph) that lead to/from Hwy 24? During the morning commute, will it increase congestion at the MacArthur Maze (580/24 junction), which could cause drivers headed to points north of exit Hwy 24 to take Ashby Ave to Hwy 80 to avoid the Maze? Drivers on Tunnel Road/Ashby Ave treat it more like a speedway than a residential street. Particulate matter is another concern, as is the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Caltrans says they have studied several intersections in Berkeley. They couldn’t name them at our recent meeting, but they say they’ve collected data on Tunnel/Domingo and Ashby/Claremont. Berkeley’s Transportation Commission, recommended that Caltrans study intersections all the way to MLK in the west, the Oakland border in the south, and Dwight Way in the north. 1

Article 3

New Stores on College Avenue by David Salk, Merchant

The corner building at Ashby and College, now owned by Gordon Commercial, is undergoing extensive renovation and seismic upgrade. John Gordon is restoring this building and will make it a treasure for the Elmwood. New businesses have already committed to opening in 2006. “Snow” will be serving high quality desserts featuring homemade ice cream and in-season organic ingredients. “Lola” will be featuring accessories for the home. If you know of businesses that are interested in locating in this building, please contact John Gordon at 510-704-1800 or john@gordoncommercial.com.

The soda fountain at Elmwood Pharmacy has re-opened in grand style with some old favorite menu items and some new ones. The food and social scene has never been better. By now, you probably know that our beloved Elmwood Theater has re-opened with new, more comfortable rocking chair style seats and improved leg room. The Elmwood Merchants are pleased to sponsor free movies for kids and seniors. Stop by your local Elmwood store for details. The Elmwood Merchants will be holding regular promotions, sales, wine tastings, demonstrations in 2006. To be notified of special events and sales, e-mail me at dsalk@clipon.com and make the subject line “Elmwood E-Tree”. 1

Article 4

Lawsuit: City & UC by Dean Metzger

Most of you have probably heard about the settlement earlier this year of City of Berkeley’s lawsuit against UC. Those of us opposed to the City’s acceptance of the terms consider it very bad for the citizens of Berkeley. It was done in secret meetings with no public input. City officials who made the agreement try to assure us that they have the City’s best interest at heart, but if you read the terms, it is hard to believe this. The City gave away its right to have final say over future decisions, because under the terms of the settlement the Board of Regents have the right to veto any plans for downtown. This is why it is illegal. They cannot take away the City’s right to plan and approve development of itself. The citizens of Berkeley have been removed from the development process, because any decisions we make can be overruled by the University.

Keep in mind that regardless of good intentions, the words of the agreement will decide our future, not the mayor or the chancellor – the regents will do so. That is why the agreement is being challenged in the courts. Berkeleyans for a Livable University Environment (BLUE) has asked the court to set aside the agreement so the City and University can work out a plan that benefits both of us.1

Article 5

Important Notice On Berkeley’s Creeks Ordinance by Shirley Dean

For more than a year, Neighbors on Urban Creeks has been actively working to protect both the rights of property owners and to preserve our creeks. We have attended every one of the City meetings on revising the Creeks Ordinance, made comments on the work being done by the City’s Task Force reviewing the Ordinance, and presented a proposal for revisions of the Ordinance based upon a survey of all property owners directly affected by the Ordinance. The City’s Task Force is now entering the phase when they will make recommendations to revise the Ordinance.

It is crucial that the voices of those most affected by the City’s Creeks Ordinance be heard on such important questions as: will you be allowed to rebuild what you have right now after a disaster?; why should you have to pay thousands of dollars for proving the location of what the City wants to regulate?; can you obtain a permit to expand or repair your home?; why do you alone have to pay the enormous expense of culvert repair when the culvert is part of the City’s storm drain system?; how can the pollution in our creeks be cleaned-up?

It is just as crucial for people who do not live on or near open or culverted creeks to be informed about and speak up regarding the Creeks Ordinance because whatever recommendations will be made, the future of your neighborhood may be at affected. What will happen to your home if there are significant changes to your neighbor’s home because of the Ordinance?

Because Neighbors on Urban Creeks wants everyone to be aware of and become a part of the response to recommendations that will impact neighborhoods throughout Berkeley, we will be holding a Second Town Meeting at the beginning of the year. This is an issue none of us can afford to ignore.

For information about the date, time and location of the Town Meeting or about the work being done by Neighbors on Urban Creeks, please visit our website at www.nucreeks.org. You may also contact Neighbors on Urban Creeks by e-mail at nucreeks@nucreeks.org or by mail at

91 Whitaker, Berkeley, CA 94708.1

Article 6

The Rains Have Come to Claremont Canyon

by Doris Willingham & Tim Wallace

Everyone who lived through the 1991 firestorm devastation salute this gift from Mother Nature with relief: the fire season of 2005 has come to an end. In 2001, ten years after the fire, the 300 member Claremont Canyon Conservancy was formed with initial funding from CENA and individual donors. The Conservancy promotes the long-term stewardship of the Canyon in cooperation with both individual property owners and the large public agency landowners (City of Oakland, East Bay Municipal Utility District, East Bay Park District, and the University of California). The goal is to reduce the wildfire danger to homes by educating about “defensible space” and to preserve and restore a healthy native ecosystem in the Canyon.

Much personal effort has gone into the Conservancy’s objective over the years. Volunteer work parties take on many projects. They remove non-native weeds and shrubs, widen and level paths, and conduct Nature walks exploring the geology, flora and fauna of the Canyon. They planted over 1,100 redwood seedlings in 2005 and plan to do the same in 2006.

The large landowner agencies are likewise not idle. To admire a truly remarkable transformation in the Canyon landscape, go up Claremont Avenue towards Grizzly Peak. Shortly before you reach the intersection you will see on the left a large area with redwoods, oaks and bay rather than the ubiquitous and highly flammable eucalyptus trees. Much of the understory has been cleared to give the area a light, open feeling. This work was accomplished by the University with the help of a FEMA grant. Some 6,000 Eucalyptus have been removed from University hillside property in the Canyon, and over 7,000 “eucs” have been removed along Grizzly Peak Blvd.

More to go in 2006. The University plans to remove 50,000 non-native, fire prone trees from its property by 2014 and to create a network of defensible open space, safe evacuation routes, and fire containment zones to prevent the recurrence of a major firestorm. The EBRPD has also been active in removing large areas of broom, permitting the Conservancy to pull much yellow star thistle, and permitting three euc-cutting and buffer zone projects to occur in 2006 funded by USF&WS grants to the Conservancy.

In the wake of the 1991 fire the Cities of Oakland and Berkeley, EBMUD, the Park District, and the University and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory founded the Hills Emergency Forum, an interagency body pooling information and resources to address and mitigate the fire danger in the East Bay Hills. That organization has since grown with the addition of the City of El Cerrito and, importantly, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

With the help of ongoing private and public effort, we already see a changed Claremont Canyon to a more fire-safe environment. CENA is proud to be a founding member of the Claremont Canyon Conservancy and acknowledges and thanks the organization for its wonderful work from which we all benefit.1

Article 7

Neighbors Helping Distant Neighbors in New Orleans

By Laurent DeJanvry

When Hurricane Katrina, followed shortly thereafter by Hurricane Rita, hit Louisiana and Mississippi, and flooded New Orleans – not once, but twice – it all reminded me vividly of our own one-two punch disasters here in the Bay Area -- the 1989 Earthquake and 1991 Berkeley-Oakland Firestorm. Since my girlfriend and I are both passionate about dogs and could no longer sit back an watch image after image of stranded pets on flooded rooftops, we decided to head to New Orleans to help our southern neighbors and their beloved pets. Being a bit short on disposable income, our first charge was to raise money to help fund the cost of our trip. Through our family, friends and neighbors, we raised over $1,500 which was used to fund our rental car, gas, hotel, and the purchase of pet care supplies which we drove down to New Orleans from Jackson, Mississippi. We also collected donated items for the animal shelters – including approximately 30 handmade dog-cat beds from Kimberly Tinawi, co-owner of the Elmwood Market and fellow Elmwood neighbor and CENA-Board Member. We also collected numerous leashes, collars and other pet care supplies donated to us from PetFood Express and RedHound.

Most of our week in New Orleans was spent walking, feeding and cleaning up after hundreds of dogs who were the lucky ones to survive. We also spent an entire day dropping off food and water in the Gentilly and Lower 9^th Ward, which are two neighborhoods that were severely flooded up to 8-11 feet -- leaving boats, cars and massive uprooted trees on top of houses and people’s possessions completely destroyed and moldy. Rebuilding these area will be much like rebuilding the Oakland-Berkeley fires (who will have the heart to rebuild first?) yet more complicated by the socio-economic realities that plague this area of our country and its colorful residents.

What’s scary about these ‘natural’ disasters that occurred in both the Bay Area and New Orleans, is that in hindsight the physical and emotional damage caused by them could have been greatly reduced by better preparation, training, communication and collaboration. So while these disasters may be attributed to nature, the level of destruction on people’s homes, neighborhoods and lives is greatly determined by our proactive actions. What has also become clear to me from these terrible disaster is that our neighborhoods – whether our own neighborhood or a distant one - are inextricably linked by the ability to help each other in am emergency.

The main lessons I took away from my experience volunteering in New Orleans are:

• Help your direct and distant neighbors, because you don’t know when you’ll be in need of their assistance.
• If you ever have to evacuate your house/neighborhood, if at all possible take your pets with you.
• Prepare for disasters like they will happen tomorrow -- don’t hesitate to pull together your earthquake kit, talk with your family-friends-neighbors about an emergency plan, and think through all the possibilities and plan accordingly, like how placing a microchip in your pet with not only your contact information but the contact information of a family member or friend that lives in another part of the country could help you reunite with your pet if you’re separated in an emergency or disaster.

For more details and photos of our trip to New Orleans, please visit our blog at: http://kaloanimalrescue.blogspot.com/ 1