
Extracted text · highlighting “Many Merchants”
oes —— The Rockridge News Sponsored by - The ROCKRIDGE COMMUNITY PLANNING COUNCIL + 5856 College Avenue #130 - Oakland California - 94618 Circulation: 4,500 Residences; 200 Businesses Vol. 2 No. 10 Issue No. 22 Neighbors Elect RCPC Board; Board Names Officers Rockridge Neighbors cast their ballots and filled the ten RCPC Board of Director positions at the annual election held during the General Membership meeting on January 20, 1988. Six directors were re-elected to serve another term: Barbara Anderson, Nancy Dutcher, John Gussman, Don Kinkead, Brooke Levin, and Ray Perman. In addition, four new directors were elected: Beth Allen (Boyd), Steve Belcher (Locksley), Glen Jarvis (Benvenue), and Michael Peltz (Shafter). An eleventh Director remains to be appointed by the College Avenue Mer- chants Association (CAMA). The following Directors were elected Board Officers at the first Board meeting on February 1, 1988: Chairperson, Barbara Anderson; Vice-Chair, Brooke Levin; Secretary, Ray Perman; Treasurer, Don Kinkead. Also, Chairpersons were appointed for the following committees: Current Planning/Zoning: Brooke Levin (653-7522) Design Review: Glen Jarvis (654-5953) RASP Steering: Kerry O’Banion, Chair (658-1608 ) Michael Peltz (658-2713) Board Liaison Rockridge News: Don Kinkead, Editor (655-7474) Art Stone Development: Marc Beyeler (654-6787) Membership Boundaries Enlarged At its first Board meeting of the year, the new RCPC Board of Directors amended the RCPC By-Laws to enlarge the mem- bership boundary. The membership boundary of RCPC now cor- responds more closely to the generally-accepted definition of the Rockridge neighborhood and to the Rockridge News distribu- tion area as well. RCPC boundaries now generally extend northerly to the end of Chabot Road, easterly to Margarido and Mendocino Avenues, southerly to 51st Street, and westerly to Colby and Claremont Avenue. As in the past, membership in RCPC is based solely on residence within the RCPC boundaries. There are no membership fees or dues, although donations are welcomed. (See Treasurer’s report, page 3). February 13, 1988 Rockridge Moving Toward Library Funding After several months of discussion and research, an RCPC/ CAMA committee is completing a proposal for Neighborhood funding of a new library branch proposed for construction on the Art Stone property (5372 College Avenue), a site purchased last year by the City for an off-street parking lot. Discussions with the City have revealed that no City funds are available to construct the new branch library to serve Rockridge. The City is agreeable, however, to using a portion of the Art Stone property for a library branch if funding is secured by the Neigh- borhood. Choosing A Feasible Alternative After investigating a variety of other funding sources — includ- ing joint public/private development — the committee has con- cluded that no State or Federal monies are available and that the site is not large enough for a public/private development project. In the committee’s view, the only feasible alternative appears to be a Neighborhood property tax bond issue. An assessment bond issue would require the approval of sixty per cent of Neighborhood property owners within the boundaries of an assessment district. The district would be established and approved by property owners via a petition circulation drive, a process that would take up to six months. Preliminary estimates indicate that an annual charge of $30 to $40 per parcel would pay off the full bond issue in 20 years. Community Design Process Within the next few months — when specific requirements for the library’s permanent branch and the legal and financial require- ments of the proposed bond issue are established — the committee will bring a proposal to the RCPC Board and to the General Membership for a decision on the project design and financing. In the next six months, the committee is recommending acom- munity design process to develop specific plans for the building and parking lot. The committee has had many discussions about site design with Neighbors and local residents. Adjacent resi- dents and business owners are adamant that any development not adversely affect their property. Many Rockmnidge residents have made specific suggestions for site development, including out- door seating and reading areas, special art work, or a Neighbor- hood kiosk. —Marc Beyeler Dates Calendar Events Calendar Dates * Tuesday Feb 16 7:30 pm City Council Meeting * Wednesday Feb17 7:30 pm RCPC General Meeting * Monday Feb 22 7:30 pm Zoning Meeting * Tuesday Feb 23 7:30 pm City Council Meeting * Wednesday Feb 24 1:30 pm City Hall. College Avenue Presbyterian Church. Dimond Library, 3565 Fruitvale Avenue. See Story page 5. City Hall. Planning Commission Meeting City Hall, Room 115. Regular meeting. cacy ER TARR PRE ETTORE EE OES DE ETE EP I FLEE IST SBVE EE DIESEL EN LIE EDGES EERE IS ESE BONERS NEEM EERERSER: ae >a rE ee ese eo ie eee ie eee ieee eee th eee 8 Oe eeeeeEeEeeEeEeEeEeEeeeeeeeeES eee eee eee Oo eee oe ae Early Rockridge Giant: en cee Ce] ae SS a= _- ll tii J. Ross Browne and Pagoda Hill By Annalee Allen Rockridge was home to one of Oakland’s earliest distin- guished (and flamboyant) citizens. This man of unusual talents and abilities was the 19th century author, government agent and diplomat J. Ross Browne. In the 1870s, he built a magnificent estate he called Pagoda Hill in what was then the unincorporated Temescal district. It was located where Ross Street meets Chabot Road. Today’s Ross Circle was the circular drive which once wound its way to the entrance of the palatial home. Although he traveled all over the world, Browne chose Oakland as the place to raise his large family. Once, lecturing in New York in 1862, he wrote his family, “I would rather cultivate cabbages in Oakland, a thousand to one.” Born in Ireland in 1821, Browne spent his early years in Kentucky. His father, a minister, had been driven from his home- land for speaking out against English poli- cies. The minister’s son dreamed of seeing the world, but his family was. not wealthy. Young Browne learned an important skill —- shorthand. Thus equipped, he started out to combine a liter- ary career with gov- ernment service. He first came to . | California in 1849 to act as of ficial rebor(bex for the drafting of the State Constitution. While out West, he wrote many articles and essays for magazines such as Harpers. He often embel- lished his work with humorous and droll sketches, His work has been looked upon not only as absorbing adventure stories but also as important historical records of the West’s pre—Civil War days. In J. Ross Browne: Confidential Agent In Old Califor- nia, Richard H. Dillon placed him with Mark Twain as a member of the ‘Western frontier school of American writing.” In fact, Twain and Browne were friends; Twain visited Browne in Oakland when he came West. Many of Browne’s stories found their way into Twain’s writings and it is believed that Browne’s travel logs were the inspiration for Twain’s /nnocents Abroad. Mark Twain was not the only well known author to be in- fluenced by Brown. Herman Melville made use of Browne's impressions of whaling (taken from his Etchings of a Whaling Cruise) when writing Moby Dick. Browne reported on what he saw and experienced with humor, shrewd insight and broad minded tolerance. Although he was known for his humor he did not hesitate to comment on injustices. As a government agent investigating the life of California Indians, Browne brought to light the deplorable conditions they endured. When Browne purchased his property, the site was several miles outside of town, a bald hillside with scant vegetation and rocky outcroppings. He set out to create landscaped gardens and verdant forests. The towering eucalyptus trees on the hilltop above Ross Circle visible today were no doubt planted at this time. Acting as his own architect, Browne built an extravaganza of Byzantine and European influences. An awed journalist visiting him in 1875 wonderingly described the edi- fice as, “...a cupola from Moscow here, a Chinese gateway there, a Moorish dome on a French roof, a Saracenic belfry with a Japanese temple — all tossed together like the vagaries of a traveler’s dream. Inside were objects, furnishings and paintings collected on world rhe travels. The name } “Pagoda Hill” was chosen to commemo- rate the fact that he had once served as minister to China. A small pagoda shrine stood at the entrance of the drive. The spectacular house was visible for miles. Browne was a de- voted family man. While away on his travels, he wrote many letters to his wife and children. He died un- expectedly at the relatively young age of 54 in 1875. Learning of his death, the poet Joaquin Miller wrote a moving eulogy for his friend. It concludes with these words: “J. Ross Browne was something more than a traveler; he was a careful, thoughtful student; the world was his university; and all man-kind his school fellows. You search his books in vain for any unkind word or irreverent illusion... Peace and rest to the weary trav- eler, the gentle friend, the brave, strong state builder of ’49.” Despite his apparent wealth, Browne was not economically secure. He had mortgaged heavily against the property. Browne died without leaving a will. The family continued living on the estate, but eventually it was sold. The exotic mansion housed a private academy for a few years. It was tom down in the twenties to make way for development. Above Ross Circle today there stands a quaint Victorian cottage. It is thought to be the gardener’s cottage to the estate. It is all that remains of J. Ross Browne’s Pagoda Hill. Sources: Knave, The Ultimate Victorians, Stephanie Manning, Oakland History Room. Photo: California College of Arts and Crafts. Annalee Allen is Vice-President of the Oakland Heritage Alliance and a resident of the Rockridge Area. +. 7 - ee” t. oe : Ye Ce" ; = 2 a a eee -_—s January 16, 1988 The Rockridge News Page 3 Rockridge Community Planning Council Finances — 1987 THe Money: Wuere It Came From ANp Wuere It Went The end of one year and the beginning of another is a good time to look back at past progress and ahead to new goals. In last month’s issue of The Rock- ridge News, RCPC Chair Barbara Ander- son discussed some of the achievements of 1987. Goals for 1988 include continu- ing work on the Area Specific Plan, working with the City to re-establish a permanent Rockridge Branch Library, staying in touch with changes proposed for College Avenue and the Rockridge Area, and keeping the Neighborhood as informed as possible about all these events. None of this work would happen without donations of money and time from residents who seek constructive change for their Neighborhood, and many people gave freely of both during the past year. Donated time is incalculable, but the RCPC totalled $3,680 from January 1 through December 31, 1987. Money’s habit is to go out faster than it comes in, and we have not been able to change this pattern so far. RCPC had the usual organizational expenses of photo- copying, office supplies, fees, etc., com- mon to other organizations, and met those expenses through donated funds. RCPC also had the expense of producing and printing eleven monthly issues of an eight page newsletter distributed by an intricate volunteer network to 4,500 homes and businesses. Early in the year, newsletter costs were paid for with donations. As the newsletter grew in size and popularity, its costs also grew. The production staff turned to advertisers to help meet costs and to help publicize local businesses. Toward the end of the year, advertising revenue was close to meeting the total meeting... but not entirely meeting. A steady stream of donations is the surest way to provide the funds necessary to meet day-to-day organizational costs and is a necessity for effective planning for the future. It is time at this point in the new year to thank past donors for their support and genorosity, and to encourage them to do it again this year. It is time to ask those who have not donated before to do so soon. To make it as easy as possible for everyone, each issue of The Rockridge News has a handy coupon to record donation details and send along with a check. This issue also includes a pre—addressed donation envelope. If yours is missing, please send everything to the address on the coupon. Naturally, all donations are tax deduct- ible: RCPC is a registered non-profit corporation. Thanks, always, for your support. record shows cash donations made to __ newsletter production cost. Close to —Don Kinkead Treasurer, RCPC ——“‘OOONOOO#OCROrromMiness el oo INCOME BY PERCENTAGE INCOME SouRCcE Amount %/Tora EXPENSES BY PERCENTAGE Donations $ 3,680. 58% Ads, Rockridge News $ 2,626. 42% Rent, Meeting Space — 3% Torta.s $ 6,306. 100% Accounting, Fees - 5% ZA Donations EXPENSES Supplies, Postage — 2% To RCPC — 58% Photocopying — 5% Photocopying $ 341. 5% Other — 4% # Office Supplies $ 168. 2% 3 Accounting, Fees $ 360. 5% Rockridge News: Rent, Meeting Space $ 210. 3% Production, Printing — 81% Rockridge News $ 5,598. 81% Other $ 248. 4% Tora.s $ 6,925. 100% ‘ | | : | f Enroll Me as a Supporting Donor to the Rockridge Community Planning Council! | | Ves ° I have enclosed a check payable to RCPC for my tax-deductible donation for a year’s registration | | and other support areas I have checked off: ! : Suggested minimum; $10 per category | hap Don Kinkead | | | Address $ Registration Donation 5626 Oak Grove Avenue | Bee Oakland, CA 94618. || | City/Zip: $ Rockridge News Donation Thank you! }| | Phone }. See eee eee ieee eee eee eee ee le ————————————EE—EE—E—EEEEEEEeEeeeeee— Ol ee Page 4 January 16, 1988 RockKRIDGE Uppares ee weer + Crry Councirt To Vote On $8,500 REQUEST After more than eight months and nearly as many levels of public review, RCPC’s request for $8,500 for Community Devel- opment Block Grant funds has reached the last step in the ap- proval process. Staff will bring the request and the proposed contract before the City Council at its regular meeting on March 1, 1988 at 7:30 pm. RCPC is requesting the grant to fund the first phase of a three phase project which will result in an Area Specific Plan for the Rockridge community. The Phase I project, “Building Community Consensus in the College Avenue/Rock- ridge Area,” will entail.defining the Community’s Goals and Objectives through a series of public meetings. At each meeting, the community will critique Draft Goals and Objectives based on data to be collected in three separate planning surveys (of resi- dents, merchants, and commercial property owners). All Neighbors are invited to come to City Hall on March Ist at 7:30 pm to show support for RCPC’s grant request! + DREYER’S The Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the pro- posed expansion of Dreyer’s corporate headquarters in Rock- ridge is stll under review by the City of Oakland Planning Staff. When staff review is completed, the EIR will be sent back to the consultants. After the consultants have finished responding to the City’s concerns, the Draft EIR will be released for public review and comment. Citizens will have approximately 45 days to review the document. Public hearings on the EIR and Dreyer’s proposed project will be held in the Neighborhood. + STREET—SWEEPING FoLLow Up Rockridge Neighbors have reported getting letters from the City regarding initiation of parking controls (the Signs!) for monthly street-sweeping. Some letters have gone out to blocks where Neighbors already had circulated petitions against street- sweeping. Apparently, some blocks have not fulfilled necessary conditions (e.g., required percentage of signatures) and therefore must circulate a new (the City’s) petition. Neighbors are advised to check the status of each block, and to follow-up after petitions are submitted. Call Mr. Drew Windsor, 273-3846, of Oakland’s Office of Public Works for additional information. Computer assistance for PC-compatibles: * Hard disk setup, reorganization, and backup * Software installation ¢ Tutoring - File transfers between programs Rachel Holmen 658-1889 The Rockridge News ROCKRIDGE PET CARE Pet Sitting/Medical Care Post-Surgery Nursing House Calls e bandaging * injections ¢ fluids * some grooming MICHELE, Licensed A.H.T. (415) 658-9307, + CCAC CONSTRUCTION PLANS The California College of Arts and Crafts has plans to con- struct a new 11,000 square foot facility on its campus to house an Art Gallery, photo lab, and painting/drawing studio. At the public hearing on January 27th, Planning Commissioners heard Broadway neighbors complain about parking problems already generated by CCAC students. The RCPC Board requested an analysis of the current parking provided by CCAC, and clarifi- cation of the parking requirements for the new building. The public still can address comments to the Planning Staff by phone (273-3911) or in writing (re: File No. CM 88-5 (ER 88-2), Zoning, 1 City Hall Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612). + COLLEGE Point CAFE Café manager Maurice Younessi, of College Point Café, has requested permission from the Planning Commission to sell beer and wine. Mr. Younessi states that the Café will close no later than 8 o’clock in the evening. The RCPC Board, in its recom- mendation to the Planning Commission, voted not to oppose the application provided that the beer and wine sales remained accessory and secondary to the sale of food, and that there would be no storefront window signs advertising the sale of alcoholic beverages. + Op Brancu Liprary DESIGN REVIEW The RCPC Board reviewed plans for a refurbishing of the building formerly housing the Rockridge Branch Library. Devel- opers Anne and Larry Olund will lease the ground floor for three retail spaces with separate entrances on Miles and College Avenues. Acting in an advisory role to the Planning Staff, the Board proposed that exterior storefront design include recessed doorways, awnings, non-reflective glass and street trees—all characteristics common to most College Avenue retail frontage. Concordia HIGH SCHOOL ‘ College Preparatory Program for Grades 9-12 - Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges . Transportation available from Rockridge and Fruitvale BART stations and Montclair (connections to Alameda, S.F., and Contra Costa) * Thursday Tours, 10:30 a.m., for parents and students * Admissions Testing on March 10 ic eam Preparation for College in a Supportive Environment Campus located at 6325 Camden St. (near Mills College) Oakland Call 632-4332 for more information ——— Scarce ee ede fo Tee, 2 ee ee oe SL ee he go sen ee ee Be ot, eee a Sh Ce eee | a Melee ok eo ee ek ee ee ee ee ee ee ee oe et eet January 16, 1988 Page 5 The Rockridge News Automotive Servicing/General Retail Sales City Asked To Clarify Zoning Closing a potentially damaging loophole in the Zoning Ordi- nance definition dealing with automobile servicing in commer- cial areas is the goal of recent steps taken by the Upper Telegraph Coalition (UTC) in its effort to improve Telegraph Avenue. The Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC) sup- ports this effort, and sent a letter to City Planning Commission Chairman Doug Jones asking the City to consider the definition and interpretation of the commercial activities listed in the Zoning Ordinance as “General Retail Sales” and “Automotive Servicing”. UTC has received letters of support from sixteen other busi- ness and neighborhood groups seeking changes in retail business classification when automotive servicing is performed. Clarify- ing the definitions is important because there are various types and degrees of auto servicing associated with these activities. Auto supply stores, which may have as many as ten bays for services from lube and oil changes to installing mufflers, are presently classified as “General Retail Sales” and are allowed in most commercial zones in Oakland without a Conditional Use Permit. The community groups contend these facilities would be more properly classified as “Automotive Servicing”. On the other hand, shops selling items primarily other than auto supplies, which service automobiles as an incidental part of the business, are properly classified as “General Retail Sales.” A lock and key shop which incidentally also works on auto locks would be an example. UTC is sponsoring a public meeting with City Planning Di- rector Alvin James to discuss modification of these activity types on Monday evening, February 22 . The meeting will be held at the Dimond Library, 3565 Fruitvale Avenue, at 7:30 p.m. —by John Wagers MELVIN MIKELL Janitorial Service PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SPECIALISTS CLEANING: Floors « Walls » Windows * Carpets COMMERCIAL « INDUSTRIAL « RESIDENTIAL Reasonably Priced Dependable Service Licensed * Insured PL & PD FREE ESTIMATES 547-8767 TEPPING SELL SMART, BUY SMART innovative Marketing and Personal Service with Attention to Detail For a free market evaluation of your home or property call Bill Pelter or Sue Seligsohn, Realtor Associates: 843-5353 The Real Estate Specialists in Rockridge Homes and Income Properties Children’s Hospital Expansion Plans Draw Neighborhood Ire Forty angry North Oakland Neighbors were present ata recent public hearing before the Planning Commission to oppose ele- ments of Children’s Hospital expansion plans that would close 52nd Street between Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, and the free- way. In the hearing held January 27 to consider rezoning the area bounded by 52nd Street, Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, 53rd Street, and the freeway from R-40 and R-SO Residential to S~1 Medical Center Zone, Children’s Hospital presented plans for an expanded “campus” that would be built across the 52nd Street right of way. The plans call for construction of a five story ambulatory service center, “atrium facilities”, a large circle drive for the private use of the Hospital and its patients, and a four level parking structure with room for 800 cars fronting 53rd Street. Since 52nd Street is the only direct access to essential services east of the freeway in the Temescal district on Telegraph Avenue and the Rockridge area at Broadway for residents living west of the hospital, its closure was strongly opposed by Neighborhood speakers. Concern over the idea had emerged previously at community meetings held to discuss the expansion plans and was evident at the hearing. “The Hospital has failed to respond to repeated requests for alternative designs,” Mr. Godfrey James told the Commissioners. Representing the 53rd Street neighborhood, Mr. James asked that rezoning be denied unless 52nd Street can remain open and asked that consideration of the zoning request be postponed until the Hospital presents a complete plan accept- able to the community. Mr. James gave members of the Commission a map showing how 52nd Street traffic would be diverted to residential streets several blocks away. Of particular concern to residents is the effect the proposed closure would have on police and fire depart- ment response time to the neighborhood. Other speakers supported by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) expressed similar concerns. At the close of testimony, petitions signed by over 700 residents opposing the rezoning and closing of the street were submitted to the Commissioners. Petition signing continues at the am/pm mini—mart at 52nd and Shattuck as well as in the Neigh- borhoods. Hospital representative Mr. Clifton Louie said the expansion was crucial to the continued success of the Hospital. Leaving the street open would be too dangerous to pedestrian patients, he said. Buidling either a tunnel or a bridge as suggested by Neighbors would be too expensive, he added. Other Neighborhood groups have offered their support to the Neighborhood. At its February meeting, the Piedmont Avenue Neighborhood Improvement League (PANIL) voted to write a letter of support for the 53rd Street Neighborhood position. Rockridge House For Rent 2 — Bedrooms with Den, Dining Room, Living Room w/ fireplace, renovated kitchen and yard. One block to Rockridge BART station. $1075/mo. Call Fran 284-1287 Ma tn a ac ee CIS aOR onthe Lm re, rer’ 36°11 ef & A2rruer a" a & © : ~ ~ FT SN a a ee a ree a, PTF OT aR ee ree rw seen! 25 ee ee eres ng ge ene ree eee en a, cote Ma Page 6 The Rockridge News January 16, 1988 Of General Interest: City Budget Scenario Pits Rock, Hard Place, And Neighborhoods Marge Gibson—Haskell At the January Rockridge Community Planning Coun- cil meeting City budget alternatives for fiscal year 1988-89 were presented by City staff and myself and these were explored by the members of the community. The consensus appeared to be that while no one likes an increase in taxes, even one as modest as $90 per parcel per year (with an exemption for those below the poverty level), far less does anyone wish to see a cut in services. Alternative revenue generating approaches were consid- ered, additional efficiencies in service delivery were proposed, but when all was said, these would not close the $12 million plus estimated gap. A significant concern was expressed — which I share — that the tax increase will actually be used to preserve and augment services and not be eaten up in additional invis- ible management levels. I will watch closely to ensure that this does not occur. Rockridge has concrete objectives that I want to see achieved. Unfortunately, all require more money than the City’s present budget projections indicate we will have: the Rockridge Specific Plan needs Planning Department staff support; the present temporary library has to be staffed even while we are debating the how of a permanent future library; the fire station must be kept open. This is what a tax increase would be all about. I regret that more of the Rockridge community could not be at the January RCPC meeting, but the Directors and many of the Block Captains were. I trust that they will discus with you the merits of the plan that was proposed. Also, the City Manager’s presentation will be taped and televised on Cable Channel 13 so that those who could not be present will have an opportunity to obtain detailed budget information. Please let me know your thoughts. If you wish more details about the why and how, I will provide them if you contact me or my office. I will be pleased to arrange for additional meetings or briefings if such is requested. RCPC and The Rockridge News present this column to assist regular communication from local officials. Give some thought to what you read here, then give a call: Marge Gibson-Haskell — 273-3266 City Council District 1 Henry Gardner — 273-3301 CityManager KALA GALLERY is featuring an exhibit of prints and pastels by noted Rockridge artist and resident Shane Weare throughM arch 11, 1988. The gallery, located in Berkeley at 1060 Heinz Street (near Ashby and San Pablo Avenues), is open Tuesday — F riday from 10am to Spm, and Saturdays from noon to 4pm. JUNE TAYLOI AND COMPANY BOOKKEEPING AND TAX SERVICES CRIMSON DUPLICATING CENTER Open 7 days / week PRINTING DESIGN Business cards GRAPHICS Letterheads ENGINEERING & Envelopes ARCHITECTS COPIES Flyers OFFICE SUPPLIES Brochures COPYING BINDERY TYPESETTING LAMINATING CAMERAGRAPHICS MAIL BOXES DESK TOP PUBLISHING !YPEWRITERS LASER COPYING RUBBER STAMPS COLOR COPYING LABELS FILM PROCESSING COMPUTER BANNERS 9251 Broadway at College Oakland, CA 94618 547-0646 a a a eo ok Stee Eee Ww wees e- i ee January 16, 1988 The Rockridge News Page 7 Time To Renovate Your Driveway? Consider This... By Ray G. Perman Are you frustrated by the lack of street parking in front of your home, parked vehicles crowding your driveway ramp muddy shoes from stepping into the flowerbeds, or twisted ankles from walking on what is left of your driveway? It might be time for a driveway renovation. You probably already have some good ideas on how you might like to rebuild your driveway. Nonetheless, it is worth- while to check some other references. The architectural section of most libraries includes planning books on driveway desi gn and buffering. “Driveways” by Sunset Publishing, regrettably no longer in print, 1s a good one, The City Building Department also offers a free booklet on driveway building requirements. You will probably want to widen the ramp, widen the drive- way area itself, create an area for loading, and possibly create space for a second car. You might want to combine efforts with your neighbor by sharing a right-of-way. This would allow a single driveway providing access to more parking. Also, a single, slightly widened driveway would leave more planting area on each side for improved planting. Keep the location and condition of water, gas, and sewer lines in mind when paving. EBMUD will install steel water box lids and lower water meter boxes which might be in ramp areas. In spain +++ @ paper slore YOU’RE INVITED ... FOR: A look at the new Verbatim ... your neighborhood stationery store. We have the latest in personalized stationery and invitations for all of life’s events. Our card selection has expanded and holds many new and different treasures. DATE: Monday through Saturday TIME: 10 am -6 pm PLACE: 5940 College Avenue Oakland 94618 415/655-0672 GIVEN BY: The new owner! ROCKRIDGE CAFE +s Fine American Food in a Casual Setting Newly Expanded Dining Room ¥ Bay Area’s Best Burgers * Fresh Pasta * Grilled Fish Calzone « Kebobs « Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner * Dessert Mon-Sat 7AM-10.30 PM — Sun 8 AM- 10.30 PM 5492 & 5496 College Ave. Oakland 653-1567 most cases EBMUD will perform this service for free. If the box must be relocated, EBMUD will charge. Call the Maintenance Division at 835-3000 x436 for questions about your situation. If the planned driveway comes close to exposed gas meters and/or circuit boxes, PG&E may require placing protective ver- tical posts. Call PG&E Service Planning at 437-2108 to check requirements. Typical driveway materials are asphalt and concrete. If you plan on redoing the ramp, sidewalk, or curb, the City requires you use concrete. Should your plans only include the driveway por- tion located on your property you may use other materials. Concrete may be mixed in a variety of colors. If selecting a color, ask to see an actual pour. Many contractors find showroom color samples to be unreliable. Driveways in the City of Oakland may be rebuilt by home- owners or a licensed contractor only. In selecting a contractor be sure to both request and confirm references. The average price to have a licensed contractor tear out and replace a driveway of about 800 square feet is between $2,000 and $2,500, for either asphalt or concrete. Homeowners lacking in the skill to complete the work on their own may cut costs by about 50% by doing the tear—out and form work on their own, letting the contractor do the finish work. (You need not rent a jack hammer to do the job. Pavement is designed for compression, not shear. This means that when a portion of the pavement is lifted off the ground with a crowbar, it can be easily broken by a less than Herculean blow from a sledge hammer. Next Issue: Creative Debris Disposal; Construction Requirements. Have Fun While Getting a Great Haircut! Video Games ® Toys ® Balloons ® Prizes “ —</ | 3 AHatrSalon 5335 Oakland Telephone for Kids College California 415 of All Ages Avenue 94618 547 7277 Ti Bacio Ristorante offers you a Dinner Special for 2 «to go* $9.95 Linguini con Vongole (fresh clam sauce) Tossed Green Salad Extraordinary Garlic Bread We Accept Visa & MC CALL AHEAD for your TO GO ORDER 20% Off Menu Prices On Other To Go Entrees 5301 College Avenue (at Clifton) * Oakland + 428-1703 + with this coupon + Expires March 12, 1988 ° fee F_ - ted Whee ta ke eer ee CCL ENTEEEN EE COs Sa S -_ Page 8 The Rockridge News January 16, 1988 Clean Oakland Program Special Trash Pickups Next Three Saturdays Thanks to the RCPC/Rockridge News distribution block- captain network system, Rockridge Neighbors will have a chance to participate in the free trash pickup service sponsored by the City of Oakland on Feb. 20, Feb. 27, and March 5. Most Rockridge Neighbors will get a large yellow garbage bag with their newslet- ter. Attached flyers will indicate on which Saturday the City trucks will be coming around to collect the bags. A Note of Explanation This is the first year RCPC has joined with the City of Oakland in planning the Special Trash Pickup Service. The process of meshing the City’s distribution system with the RCPC network : ae has been complicated. As a result, Rockridge Neighbors residing | | et on College Avenue, Broadway (and East of Broadway), and 51st were not included in the program this year. By next year, itis | ’ hoped, all Residents within the RCPC boundaries will get this | We ve Go ' special service. Valentine’s Day | | ee | Featuring: ee Car ds and Candy mene | . HIGH QUALITY COPIES ! .BINDERY SERVICES | | and « DESKTOP. PUBLISHING s - SWORD PROCESSING CS Champagne On Sale! |. 5856 College Avenue eS Oakland, CA 94618 _ + COMPUTER/GRAPHIC -(415)654-6504 = =§—=C*ESIGN' = = |} | | = Charles Heidsick (France) | _ SFAXATELEX —s_| | | em 8:00am.7:30pm PRIVATE MAIL. BOXES | | — $15.99/750ML (Reg 25.99) M-Tx 8:00 am- ooo cm Sev 8:00am- 7:00pm =. STATIONERY SUPPLIES| | SUPS&FED. EX, = | | FAX: -arsyo5a138 oat TLX: 9102503043 _& MUCH MORE Chimes accepts LONG HOURS! OPEN 7 DA ys! fi | Visa & Mastercard with $5 minimum purchase! 7 AM to Midnight 7 Days A Week 5642 College Avenue At Rockridge BART 428-9256 The Rockridge News is published monthly in Oakland except in August under sponsorship of The Rockridge Community Planning Council. FEATURING Got something planned you'd like to have The Rockridge GRAFFEO COFFEES | News tell about? Call Don Kinkead at 655-7474 or write to 5405 College Ave * Oakland * 658-9622 5626 Oak Grove Avenue, Oakland 94618 (of course!) and let Open M-F 8-6 « Sat & Sun 8-4 us know, | oo March issue deadline is March 6th. | eae ee ee eh ak us Hick +S NA TMA Wade SERENA Re nS Lame PIE ore Cie el La els th et SM Me SRS og Oe