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The Rockridge News, June 1986, page 3

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Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council, 6225 Ross St.,Oakland
- 658-9523 -

E

Rockridge Area Neighborhood
Fundraiser A Tremendous Success!

On Saturday, June 7, crowds thronged Chabot Road
between College and Claremont, looking for household items,
the perfect exercycle, a good book for the beach, or any
number of other items available for sale at the Rockridge Area
Neighborhood Fundraiser.

When Neighbors tired of shopping, they ate hot dogs
and baked goods and listened to live music. Sparkles the
Clown amused the children with animal shapes made from
balloons. The Afternoon Raffle capped the event when prizes
donated by Rockridge Area merchants (see box below) were
awarded.

A wonderful day with wonderful weather and it happened
because people joined in and worked together. The
Neighborhood Mobilization Committee (see “Committees and
Camels”, page 3) worked hard and organized well to provide a
program to entertain as well as to raise money for RCPC
operating expenses.

Committee members Mary Biagini, Teddy Elston,
Annette Floystrup, Andrea Gabriel, Don Kinkead, Liz
Maxwell, Diane Ravnik, Ethel Ruymaker, Meg Trahey, and
Mike Wilson met regularly to plan schedules, select events,
contact merchants, and collect and clean garage sale
merchandise. Many others helped along the way and at the
event including Barbara Anderson, Jo Biagini, Connie Brand,
Jim Clark, Melpo Chilimidos and Tony Chilimidos, Susan
Cummins, Lincoln Cushing, Julie Dewey, Caryn Dombroski,
Mr. & Mrs. Floystrup, Peter Goldsmith, Jack Gillen, Andy
Kahn, Jack Nunberg, Pat Ozawa, Ray Perman, Liz
Rebensdorf, Mike Stevens, Evelyn Velson, and Sally Weare.

Was it all worh it? You betcha! RCPC coffers are now
$3,000 fuller! The money will be used for past bills and
future expenses such as flyers, mailings, and the newsletter,
and to establish a fund for legal expenses.

Thank you for your help and support.

(‘The Rockridge News Thanks These Rockridge Area Merchants For Their
Contributions To The RCPC Neighborhood Fundraiser Success!

~

Merchant

Bosco’s Picture Framing
Chest of Drawers
Chimes Market

Contributi
Framing Services

Brass Candlestick Holder
Gift Certificates, Soda Pop

Claremont Home Video Video Club Membership
College Avenue Shell Charcoal

Curds & Whey Wine and Bar-B-Que Sauce
Eddie’s Liquors Soda Pop

Edible Complex Gift Certificate

The Finishing Touch Woven Rug

Floral Arts Pantry Nutty Fruit Confection

Coffee, Gift Certificate
Placemat and Napkin Sets
Gift Certificate

Hudson Bay Beans
John A. Brown
— & Earth Bakery

Meret Contributi
Norleen Sound Service Gift Certificate
Norman’s Lunch For Two
O’Toole’s Gift Certificate
Pendragon Books Gift Certificate
Rockridge Antiques Pewter Vase
Rockridge Café Dinner For Two
Safeway Market Hot Dog Dressings
Sierra Club Posters

Such A Business

V.B.C. Children’s Clothing
Yoshi’s

Zachary’s Chicago Pizza

Baby Stroller
Gift Certificate
Dinner For Two
Stuffed Pizzas

NX

Pa

June 19 = 7:30 pm

Thursday
Saturday June 21 11-3 pm
Tuesday June 25 1:30 pm
Hall Room 115.
LS Thursday July 17 7:30 pm

RCPC June General Meeting, College Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Presentation by Wilson Associates. See story Page 4.

Informational table in front of College Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Planning Commission Vote on Wilson Associates Application. City

RCPC July General Meeting, College Avenue Presbyterian Church.

The Rockridge News

June 14, 1986

Page 2

The EIR And Dreyer’s Proposed Expansion

What’s happening with Dreyer’s plans right now?

The planning process is a big step in Dreyer’s plans.
What’s happening with the Environmental Impact Report?
What is the current time frame for the public hearings on the
proposal? What is the role of the City Planning Commission
and Staff?.

City Calls for EIR

After Dreyer’s filed their plans, the City called for the
preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to
assess the effect of the project.

The City directed the Corporation to select an EIR
preparation consultant from a list provided by the City, and to
order a report examining the project’s impact on such areas as
traffic circulation and parking problems, visual effects, noise,
air quality, land use and relationships to City policies,
geology and hydrology, energy consumption, and effects on
public services and facilities.

The Scoping Process

Planning Director Alvin James established the EIR
topics in consultation with Associate Planner Willie Yee, Jr.,
other City officials, representatives of the Corporation, and
with RCPC Board Members Barbara Anderson and Richard
Smith who attended “‘scoping meetings” at City Hall.

When a report is required, the City issues a Notice
Preparation Statement inviting comment from affected
agencies and groups. Responses are a part of the scoping
process. RCPC’s Legal Committee submitted a Statement of
Response with emphasis on the issue of Dreyer’s non-com-
pliance with Oakland’s Comprehensive Land Use policy and
Zoning regulations for the R-35 and C-31 zones.

Consultants Prepare EIR

When the scope of the report was established, Dreyer’s
hired Environmental Impact Planning Corporation (EIP), 319
11th Street, San Francisco 94103, to prepare the EIR.

Linda Peirce, Vice President of EIP and Project
Manager for the Dreyer’s/Rockridge report, said that her
company was established in 1968 and now has offices in San
Francisco and Oakland. Ms. Peirce said most of their work is
for cities and other governmental bodies; the company has
done much of the EIR work for Oakland’s Downtown Area.
Overall, she said, the company has prepared close to a
thousand EIR reports.

Ms. Peirce explained the process: “Working with the
City, we first prepare an Administrative Draft covering the
areas designated in the scoping process. Although we were
selected by Dreyer’s, the City of Oakland is our client and the

Planning Staff will review the Administrative Draft for
completeness and adequacy and retum it to us for revisions and
corrections.

“We will prepare a revised report incorporating the
City’s comments and print a copy which the City will
circulate for public review for a period of forty-five days as
mandated by law in the Califomia Environmental Quality Act.

“During the public review period, the Neighborhood
and other interested citizens, and affected public agencies such
as CalTrans, make their comments about the report and its
topics. These comments may be made in public hearings and
in letters.

“When the public hearing period is ended, we prepare a
final report which we present to the City for its action.”

Public Hearing Schedule

Except for the statutory time period of forty-five days,
Ms. Peirce could offer only a general time period for the
different parts of this process. She said preparing the
Administrative Draft takes six to eight weeks, and the
company has worked on it for four weeks. The City will take
a month for its response prior to the public hearing. She felt
the City might take another month or so after the hearing
period to complete its compilation of the final draft. She
added that the process for this report was likely to be lengthy
rather than brief because the Planning Department has stressed
the importance of addressing the concerns of the
Neighborhood. Ms. Peirce’s time estimations bring us to a
public hearing date of sometime in August.

Willie Yee, Jr., is the Associate City Planner in charge
of the EIR for this project. His phone number at City Hall is
273-3911; address: Zoning, 1 City Hall, Oakland, 94612.

Mr. Yee’s time estimates calculations are similar to
Ms. Peirce’s. He pointed out that a special evening hearing
would be held in the Neighborhood toward the end of the
Public Comment period and before the preparation of the
Final Draft. An on-site hearing like this is an unusual step
in the process, he said, and was added in recognition of the
Neighborhood’s concern and interest.

Mr. Yee discussed what happens after the final EIR
Teport is prepared. It is submitted to the City Planning
Commission which reviews it and certifies it as a final report.
The Planning Commissioners then vote on the Dreyer’s
Zoning applications for a Major Variance and numerous Major
Conditional Use permits. The decision of the Planning
Commissioners can be appealed to the City Council who may
sustain or override the Commission’s decision. The City
Council’s decision can be appealed to the Courts.

reyer’s...Dreyer’s...Dreyer’s. The word buzzes around the Neighborhood like an angry Bumblebee.

Buzzing from Neighbor to Neighbor, the word pollinates concerns. ..questions...confusion!

This article is the first in a series that will examine the facts and figures, the history and fantasy surrounding the
proposed expansion by Dreyer’s Corporation in the Rockridge Neighborhood.

We will look at the history of the Rockridge Neighborhood, the history and present status of Dreyer’s Ice Cream
Corporation, and the Corporation’s plans. The purpose of the series is to get as much correct information to the

Neighborhood as possible to encourage discussion.

Your response and point of view are welcome at all times. Please write in care of the Rockridge Community

Planning Council, 6225 Ross Street, Oakland, CA 94618

Page 3

June 14, 1986

The Rockridge News

Walking The College Avenue
Police Beat

Waal, podnuh, it ain’t High Noon, and Gary Cooper’s
gone Home, but there’s still Law West of the Pecos. There’s
sull Law West of Broadway, too, for that matter.

On any week—day, you can see this Law in the person of
one Officer Hugo Gonzales of the Oakland Police Department.
Hugo is the Beat Patrolman for College Avenue, making a
circuit of the Avenue and surrounding neighborhoods from
Broadway to Alcatraz during his daily patrol.

For awhile in Oakland and other urban areas, the foot
patrolman was a thing of the past, a pedestrian anachronism in
a motorized age too concerned with getting from point A to
point B to pay attention to what was happening in between.

People wearied of the indifference and distance implied
by a Police Officer in a patrol car and pressed for the
restoration of the Beat Cop.

Such changes do not come easily to cities and police
departments, and Oakland is no exception: The College
Avenue Merchants Association and other merchant groups
worked for three years to get foot patrols established in
business districts.

Now that struggle is over, the good works of the Beat
Patrolman can be seen, and everyone is pleased. Bill Chung,
owner of the Rockridge Cafe and President of the College
Avenue Merchants Association, says, “It’s great! A walking
patrol can’t stop all crime, but Hugo has cut down a lot of the
Petty crime that used to go on. He knows what’s happening
and who to watch out for.”

Hugo is pleased, too. “I volunteered for this assignment |

and I feel fortunate to have been selected. Neighbors and
businesspeople have given me tremendous support and
Cooperation, and I try to respond the same way.”

Being a policeman on foot is not easy, Hugo explained.
“I rely on citizens and passersby for help when I’m away from
my car or when back-up from other officers is not available.”
He pointed out he is only as effective as people want him to
be. “If I get a call when there is a problem or if people bring
me information about potential problems, I can be much more
helpful than if nobody does anything.”

And how helpful has he been? In the last year, Hugo
made more than fifty arrests for such crimes as possessing
illegal weapons, assault, assault with a deadly weapon, petty
theft, drunk driving, sale of controlled substances, and
panhandling. Nuisance and petty crime is way down.

College Avenue has the lowest incidence of robberies in
the City, but that is a statistic that could change at any time,
according to Hugo. He keeps a sharp eye, because “this area
has some unique access problems, considering BART and the
freeways, that can make crime conwol difficult.” He stressed
again the importance of citizen participation in law
enforcement: for emergencies, call 911; for non-emergencies
call 273-3481.

The next time you see Officer Hugo Gonzales on patrol
on College Avenue, give him a hearty wave and a thanks for
his help in making the Rockridge Neighborhood a pleasant
and safe place to be.

Wanted: Block Captains for Chabolyn Terrace; 5200
block of Manila; Desmond and Glendale; 5300 block Miles
Ave.; 63rd St. between Colby & Hillegass...

—cal!l Bobbie Kinkead 655-5608

RCPC Life Blood
On Committees And Camels

Conventional wisdom has it that a camel is a horse
designed by a committee. You will find no such misbegat
creature on the RCPC range!

A powerful feature of the Rockridge Community
Planning Council is its all-volunteer committee structure,
organized to enhance an effective Neighborhood organization.
The creatures created by these committees do the jobs they
were designed to do.

Issues of the Rockridge News refer to activities of the
committees in general, but do not discuss them in particular.
Following is a list of the committees, a description of their
functions, a brief note about on-going projects and activities,
and, most importantly, the name and phone number of the
Person to contact to volunteer your help and expertise.

If you are interested in these committee activities, or if
you have a particular skill, talent, or knowledge to contribute,
we welcome your participation.

Zoning and Planning Committee- monitors
applications before the Planning Commission and works with
potential developers to ensure that the spirit as well as the
letter of our C-31 Zoning is respected. Recent activities
include ‘negotiation to reduce hours and strengthen litter
contol efforts by the new Columbus Pizxza owners and
ensuring public input in the Planning Commission’s
consideration of the Wilson Associates’ application for a
blanket conditional use permit (see page 4). To join in their
work...

Contact: Barbara Anderson 655-3499.

Distribution Committee— designs, implements and
Maintains communication in the RCPC/Rockridge Area
Neighborhood. Flyers and newsletters are distributed by 120
Block Captains to residences and businesses in the Rockridge
Area. As the “muscle and backbone” of RCPC, their goal is
to distribute 4,300 newsletters and to expand distribution
from the Berkeley border down Broadway to 51st Street and
down to Telegraph. To help with this goal...

Contact: Bobbie Kinkead 655-5608

Design Review Committee- considers _the
aesthetics and practicalities of proposed developments and
proposed changes in approved projects in the Rockridge Area.
Most recently, this committee worked successfully with
Wilson Associates to maintain the Market Hall building
height in conformance with Zoning regulations. This
committee also works with the Zoning and Planning
Committee on questions of sign design and appropriateness.
Have a say in the way things look in the Rockridge Area...
Contact: Richard Smith 653-0630.

City-Wide Outreach Committee- opens and
maintains dialogue with other Oakland Community and
Neighborhood Organizations. Members of this committee
have met with the Oakland Community Council to discuss
RCPC concerns about the Dreyers expansion proposal.
Future activities involving City Council Members are
planned. You may...

Contact: Annette Floystrup 652-6794

(See Committees, Page 4)

The Rockridge News

June 14, 1986

Page 4

Notes From Neighbors...
To The RCPC

Dear RCPC:

Thank you and all the people working to civilize
Dreyer’s. My pet peeve is that this management killed the
coffee shop. It was the last eating place on the Avenue for
families, the elderly, people living alone, and anyone wanting
a pleasant reasonable meal, anytime. For the future— I don’t
want their huge monolith dominating our area; their tail
wagging our dog.

—Connie Kidder
Dear RCPC:

You are providing a great service for the neighborhood,
especially for those of us who can’t find time to do much.
Here’s my contribution for newspaper costs.

—Gary Lippman
Dear RCPC:

Keep fighting Dreyer’s! Keep cranking out those news-

letters and posters! Here’s my check to support the cause.
—Jeff Abrahams

Seeking 1 BR Rockridge Apartment

I currently reside in Rockridge and wish to
remain in the area. I am a responsible, non-
smoking professional woman. Please call:
Andrea Gabriel 486-3984 (9-5) or
658-7904 (Eves. & Wk-ends)

Committees... from pg. 3

Neighborhood Mobilization Committee~  organ-
ized to involve Neighborhood residents and others in
fundraising and support of RCPC activities. This group spent
April and May planning and organizing the June 7 garage
sale/block party and concurrent raffle. Other fundraising
activities within the Rockridge Area are planned for the future.
You can be a part of this...

Contact Don Kinkead 655-7474

Legal Committee- researches and applies legal
remedies to concerns expressed by the RCPC Board and
Members. This group of attomeys and other concerned
Neighbors views judicious application of the law as a serious
tool effective in advancing the interests of RCPC and the
Neighborhood. Learn more about it...

Contact: Peter Goldsmith 772-6344

Media Action Committee— plans, coordinates and
encourages publicity and other visual statements of the goals
and activities of RCPC. Their visible weekly picketing of
Dreyers has evolved as an equally visible information table in
front of the College Avenue Presbyterian Church. Dreyer’s
proposed plans, RCPC newsletters, flyers, and other printed
matter is posted on a large signboard to present as clear a
picture as possible to passers-by. The table and signboard are
Set up Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm following the Thursday
RCPC monthly General Meeting. Spend a little time in the
sun...

Contact: Lincoln Cushing 658-9523

Wilsons Seek Permit Approval

On June 11, 1986, the City Planning Commission will
consider Wilson Associates’ request for a blanket Major
Conditional Use permit for their Market Hall development.

The Market Hall project, approved by the Commission
in October, 1984, consists of a 3-story building at College
and Shafter Avenues, with parking at the rear.

Oakland Zoning Regulations require that the sale of food
and alcoholic beverages be permitted only upon the granting
of a Major Conditional Use permit, after adequate public
hearing.

Sue Parker, Board Member of the College Avenue
Merchants Association, said the City Council approved this
zoning requirement after CAMA joined with other Oakland
merchant associations to draft it when a proliferation of
restaurants and franchise food operations on Piedmont Avenue
resulted in predatory rents which reduced the variety of retail
services.

A use permit normally is granted to one business
operation at a time. Wilson Associates is applying for one
permit for thirteen business operations— three restaurants and
ten food purveyors. Tony Wilson said his development seeks
blanket approval because, “We have been asked by prospective
tenants whether the building is totally committed to the sale
of food.”

Ms. Parker asked, “Why should the Wilsons be treated
any differently from other landlords who have to seek
individual permits for food service businesses?”

Mark your calendar and plan to attend these meetings to
discuss the application and give your views:

June 19: RCPC General Meeting (College Avenue Pres-
byterian hurch, Fellowship Hall, 7:30 PM), Wilson
Associates present their proposal for further discussion;
everyone invited!

June 25: Planning Commission, Regular meeting, City
Hall, Room 115, 1:30 PM (vote taken on the application at
this time).

(Chimes Grocery }

5642 College Avenue
At Rockridge BART

7 AM to Midnight
7 Days A Week

= 428-9256 ——

See Our Selection Of
Special Foods
« Magnani’s Bar-B-Que Chicken »
¢ Zachary’s Half-Bakes «
¢ Pastries «
¢ Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice «

or Store USE

No, 60)
Clerk Date

\ AJ