Extracted text · highlighting “Brooke Levin”

, *ne Rockridge News

Sponsored by = THE ROCKRIDGE COMMUNITY PLANNING COUNCIL ® 5856 COLLEGE AVENUE #130" OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA = 94618
April 16, 1988

Vol. 2 No. 12 Issue No. 24

Circulation: 4,500 Residences; 200 Businesses

BART Directors Hear Rockridge
Station Development Proposals

BART Board members reacted strongly when four commer-
cial and residential development proposals for the westem sec-
tion of the Rockridge BART parking lot were presented to the
Public Affairs, Access, and Legislation Committee for discussion
Friday, April 5.

In a slide show review of the proposals, Mr. Kerry O’Banion
and Mr. Terry Margerum of BART’s Joint Development Divi-
sion described developer qualifications and preliminary develop-
ment concepts for the strip of land running down the west side
of the parking lot between the freeway and Miles Avenue.

BART Board Responds

Responding to the proposals, Director Wilfred Ussery said
development discussion for this site violated a process the Board
established to consider only proposals for stations with a BART
General Plan. The Rockridge station has no such plan, he said.
Director Robert S. Allen said there should be no residential uses
on BART stations at all because people are put too close to

See Rockridge Station..., Page 2

It’s On The Agenda...
General Membership Meeting To
Feature Anti-Drugs Handbook, Just Say Go

Oakland neighborhoods have banded together in recent weeks
for a hard-hitting frontal attack on the drug scene.

Growing out of a project sponsored by SPAGGIA, residents
in the San Pablo area have published the self—help pamphlet Just
Say Go: A Handbook to Move Drug Dealing Out of Your
Neighborhood.

This practical guide proposes concrete ways for Neighbors to
organize and work with various City departments to harass and
ultimately drive out the criminal connections from our commu-
nity.

A representative from SPAGGIA, the San Pablo
Avenue-Golden Gate Improvement Association, will be the
featured speaker at the April RCPC General Membership
meeting, next Wednesday, April 20, at 7:30 pm, at the College

Endorsement On Hold
RCPC Board, Dreyer’s Unable To
Resolve Chabot Road Properties

After four meetings between Dreyer’s representatives and a
committee of the RCPC Board, RCPC’s Board of Directors
remains unable to give Dreyer’s the desired “‘100% endorsement”
of their revised plans for expansion on College Avenue. When
questioned April 8th about the Board’s position, RCPC Chairper-
son Barbara Anderson stated, “In many ways, we are very close
to reaching an understanding...we basically are for Dreyer’s new
concept... we already are making a big concession by not oppos-
ing an international company headquarters in a residential neigh-
borhood with a small commercial strip, but we’re unwilling to
give up residential property for twenty-two parking spaces.”

Anderson explained that the Board is opposed to that portion
of the proposal which calls for demolition of two homes on
Chabot Road and conversion of residentially-zoned land to
commercial use (parking). In the Board’s view, to endorse the
revised concept in its present form would be contrary to the goals
and principles of RCPC which have guided the organization for
the last 15 years.

Houses at Risk

Dreyer’s presented their new concept to the RCPC general
membership on March 16th and responded to questions from the
audience. The main feature of Dreyer’s “new concept” —the
removal of the ice cream manufacturing plant— was received
favorably by the community. The neighborhood also was gen-
erally accepting of Dreyer’s plans for a new three-story office
building totalling 65,000 square feet with retail frontage and
parking for 100+ cars.

Community members attending the March 16th meeting filled
out questionnaires surveying individual concerns and opinions of
the revised concept. Overall, the responses supported the Board’s
preliminary position that the new concept holds promise and is
fundamentally workable. But Rockridge residents urged the
Board to meet with Dreyer’s to seek alternatives to the proposed
demolition of two homes (4 units) that would provide an addi-
tional 20+ off-street parking spaces next to Chabot Road.

The community also expressed concerns about traffic, circu-

Avenue Presbyterian Church, next to Dreyer’s. See Dreyer’s, Page 3
Dates Calendar Events Calendar Dates

Tuesday Apr 19 7:30 pm City Council Meeting
Wednesday Apr 20 1:30 pm Planning Commission Meeting
7:30 pm RCPC General Meeting
Tuesday Apr 26 7:30 pm City Council Meeting
Thursday Apr 28 7:00 pm Alameda County Solid

Waste Authority

Council Chambers, City Hall.

City Hall, Room 115.

Dreyer’s, City Tax, Drug Pamphlet

Monroe Street Conversion Appeal, See page 4.
Draft County Hazardous Waste Management Plan
Public Hearing, Oakland Public Library

Main Branch, 125 Fourteenth Street, See page 5.

Page 2

The Rockridge News

April 16, 1988

RCPC Committee Organization

RCPC's work and achievement on behalf of the Rockridge Neighbor-
hood is accomplished by a number of volunteer —staffed committees
working with the RCPC Board of Directors.

Inthis brief description of RCPC committees and their activities, you
may find a place to put some time and energy.

For further information, call the Chair of the committee(s) that
interests you. For more general information, call RCPC Chair Barbara
Anderson at 655-3499.

ZONING

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 working with Broadway area neighbors opposing conver-
sion of residential to commercial use at Monroe Avenue.
Chair: Ms. Brooke Levin 653-7522

Desicn REVIEW

Considers the aesthetics of new development projects on Col-
lege Avenue as well as exterior changes (including signs) to ex-
isting projects. Most recently, the committee reviewed three new
Tetail spaces to be built by Wilson Associates on the College
Avenue “‘cement boat” property near Kales.

Chair: Mr. Glen Jarvis 654-5953
LEGAL ADVISORY

This group of attorneys and other concerned Neighbors views
judicious application of the law as a serious tool effective in ad-
vancing the interest of the community.

Co-Chairs: Mssrs. Mark Aaronson 655-5211, Peter Goldsmith
655-3031
Speciric PLAN (RASP)

Directs efforts to plan for the future of Rockridge through a
reexamination of our neighborhood’s goals and objectives. Re-
cently boosted by a Community Development grant from the
City, the committee is about to launch a survey of residents,
merchants, and commercial property owners.

Chair: Mr. Kerry O’Banion 658-1608
PARKING AND CIRCULATION

A brand-new committee to deal with “old concerns,” such as
speeding on residential streets, blocked driveways, off-street
parking deficiencies, commuter parking burdens, and other
street-oriented issues. Committee members will look into the
Residential Permit Parking program and other ways to deal with
the pervasive driving machines.

Chair: (Available)
ArT STONE

A joint committee of merchants and neighbors interested in
the future of the former Art Stone property at College and Manila
Avenues. Current proposals call for a mixed use development
with a new Rockridge Branch library as the showpiece.

Chair: Mr. Marc Beyeler 654-6787
OuTREACH:

Opens and maintains dialogue with other Oakland Commu-
nity and Neighborhood organizations. Members of this commit-
tee have met frequently with City Councilmembers to discuss
RCPC and citywide concerns.

Chair: (Available)
NEWSLETTER PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION

Designs, implements and maintains communication in the
RCPC/Rockridge area neighborhood. The Rockridge News is
supported by donations and paid advertising. Flyers and news-
letters are distributed by 120 Block Captains to residences and
businesses from the Berkeley border to 51st Street.

Chair: Mr. Don Kinkead 655-7474

Rockridge Station Development

from page I

freeway noise. Director Margaret K. Pryor asked if the Oakland
City Planning Department was aware of the proposals and said
the most important entity to satisfy is the community affected by
such development. Director John H. Kirkwood said he felt
BART was short on development close to stations, but did not
feel the Rockridge station was the place for high density residen-
tial development.

The Proposals

According to Mr. O’Banion, the proposals were submitted on
the initiative of each developer and not as a Request For Proposal
from BART.

He said each of the proposals made by local developers
Wallace-Olson (Orinda Theatre project developer),
Sprincin-Smith, Inwood, and Wilson Associates (developers of
the Rockridge Market Hall) calls for office/retail development on
the corner of College and Miles, zoned C-31/R-70. Three
proposals would also put up to seventy-five residential units built
over underground parking on the balance of the property, zoned
R-35. The fourth development proposes surface parking only on
the balance of the site to serve the office/retail space.

One developer also proposed to lease but not develop a second
parcel of land (the one with all the Redwood trees) at Forest and
Shafter Avenues.

BART staff said development would take 100 parking spaces
of the current 840 available in the lot, 70 of which would be
regained by restriping spaces and paving over the ivy patch at the
corner of Miles and Forest Avenues. The net loss of spaces, 30,
would be replaced when the second deck of BART parking now
under study is completed. BART would receive approximately
$3 million from development of the site.

RCPC Point Of View

RCPC Chair Barbara Anderson spoke to the committee to
emphasize the need for a process that would give BART guidance
from the community in considering any development option. She
also pointed out that a BART General Plan for the station could
be combined with current planning for the Rockridge Area
Specific Plan (RASP).

Rockridge Neighbors Mr. Steve Belcher, Mr. Marc Beyeler
and Mr. Don Kinkead were also present at the meeting.

— Don Kinkead

THE WAY YOU CONDUCT YOUR
LIFESTYLE IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO
YOUR HEALTH

Every move you
make depends on
your back. When
back problems do
occur, they require
prompt and profes-
sional treatment.

Chiropractors...
We Can Help

Dr. Sallie MacNeill
Dr. Daniel M. Karan
6101 Colby « 652-0705

April 16, 1988 The Rockridge News Page 3
Dreyer’s
from Page I RCPC Alternatives

lation, buffering, building size and bulk, shadowing of the
Church, and viable retail spaces.

Unresolved Issues

So far, Dreyer’s has agreed to offer the threatened houses for
sale and to cooperate in their relocation to new sites. However,
three remaining issues regarding land use still had not been
addressed by Dreyer’s in discussions through

The RCPC committee has explored the following ideas with
Dreyer’s as ways to address the primary concern of preserving
viable housing stock and the residential character of Chabot
Road:

1. Locate House 1 at the rear of Parcel 2, and support zoning
clearance to use Parcel 1 only for parking, leaving Parcel 2 as is;

2. Remove and relocate Houses 1 and 2,
leave Parcel 2 as a ‘greenbelt’ buffer, and use

April 8th with the RCPC committee:

1. Conversion of two residential parcels on
Chabot Road to parking (See Insert: Parcel 1,
immediately next to Dreyer’s property, and
Parcel 2, adjacent to Parcel 1 to the West, and
Parcel 3, adjacent to Parcel 2 to the West);

2. Concern that the surface parking lot will
be used to bootstrap future commercial devel-
opment; and,

3. Concern that this project will be a prece-
dent for other conversions of residential par-
cels to commercial use next to the C-31 dis-
trict.

Dreyer’s Position

Parcel 1 for parking;

3. Remove and relocate House 1 and
rezone Parcel 1 from R-35 to C-31, and
retain Parcels 2, and 3 as is;

4. Retain House 2, remove and relocate
House 1 and re—draw the C-31 zone bound-
ary, merging the rear part of Parcel 1 with
Parcel 2;

5. Retain houses on Parcels 1 and 2 and
reconfigure the design of the surface parking
lot to gain more spaces on the C-31 parcels
only;

6. Retain houses on Parcels 1 and 2 and
pursue joint development with the City or a

@CUEEE

Dreyer’s continues to insist that they must
be able to use all of the first two residential
parcels on Chabot Road for their parking lot (22 spaces) and other
non-residential uses.

Dreyer’s would agree to leave Parcels 1 and 2 as “landscaped
buffer or greenbelt” (no houses), if the City or someone else
would build them a parking garage (at no expense to Dreyer’s)
either on the Claremont side or under their new office building.

Dreyer’s has also suggested that they would be willing to
leave the house on Parcel 2 if they could remove the rear house
on Parcel 3 and put part of the parking at the rear of Parcel 3, as
long as no net square footage of property was lost.

private developer of a parking structure which
would be within the C-31 boundary and ac-
ceptable to the community, to address anticipated parking needs.

Thus far, none of these suggestions has resulted in any solu-
tion.

Looking Ahead

Further talks between RCPC and Dreyer’s are still a
possibility. If Dreyer’s decides not to pursue the new concept and
to go ahead with the original proposal, the next step in the
planning process will be publication and public review of the En-
vironmental Impact Report.

Elementary Arts

Teen Arts Camp Ages 11-15

Thank you, friends )

Day Camp Ages 6-11

and Neighbors, for

Cartooning/Animation * Ceramics ¢
Mural Painting * Jewelry making *
Comprehensive Arts Course * Jazz
Dance * Modern Dance * Circus *
Drama * Musical Theater * Clowning/
Mime * Video « Latin Percussion *
Steel Drums * Woodwinds ¢ Brass *
Choir * Guitar * Jazz Ensemble

Music ¢ Dance ¢ Cartooning/Animation °
Art ¢ Swashbuckling (fencing for actors)
¢ Drama * Video © Circus * Clowning *
Creative Writing * Bookmaking ¢
Storytelling * Puppetry ¢ Musical
Instrument Building * Puppet & Mask
making * Costume & Set Design *
Swimming and Sports after noon. Location:

East Bay School of the Arts

Location: St. Mary’s College High 1501 Powell St., Emeryville

School, Albany

Hours:
Elementary 9:00— 12:00 or 9:00— 5:00
Teen 9:00— 12:00, 1:00— 4:00

East Bay School of the Arts

CALL FOR CAMP OR SPRING SEMESTER BROCHURES: 652-3727
DIRECTOR: JANET BLAIR * 1501 POWELL ST., EMERYVILLE

Sessions:
June 20 — July 8, July 11 — July 29

your timely and gen-
erous response to the
recent envelope
fund-raising drive.

Thank you, volun-
teers, for your time
and effort in behalf
of our Neighborhood.

Thank you, read-
ers, for your com-
ments and observa-
tions about the news-
letter.

Thank you, all.

Page 4

The Rockridge News

April 16, 1988

Call For Fiscal Controls

RCPC Board Votes Support

For Tax Measure

The Board of Directors of the Rockridge Community Plan-
ning Council voted April 4 to endorse the ballot measure known
as the “Neighborhood Services Retention Act of 1988” (NSRA)
and prepared a draft letter for review at the April general meeting.

Passage of the NSRA would mean a tax of $90/year for 1 —
4 unit residential properties and a tax of 5¢ - 15¢ per square foot
for commercial properties. Apartments of five and more units
would pay $40/unit.

The tax measure expires after four years, establishes a
citizen’s advisory committee and calls for the City to create a five
year financial plan.

In addition to those items, the RCPC Board proposes that the
tax measure should be fortified by Oakland City Council passage
of the following measures, as binding resolutions, before June 7,
1988, to improve fiscal accountability:

1, That the City will begin long-term financial planning
immediately;

2. That the Citizens Advisory Committee, in addition to meet-
ing and advising the City Council regarding expenditures of reve-
nues raised by the tax, will sit as a Finance Commission to review
and advise the Council on the overall budget process; and,

3. That the City will utilize private managers and auditors to
review each City Department’s performance and will implement
the recommendations of the auditors for each Department, in-
cluding the Finance Department.

Plan to attend the RCPC General Meeting Wednesday, April
20, 7:30 pm, at the College Avenue Presbyterian Church for a
more complete discussion of this tax issue.

Applicant Appeals To City Council
Planning Commission Votes To

Deny Monroe Street Variance

On March 23, the Oakland Planning Commission voted 3 to
1 with one abstention and one member absent to deny the request
of Mr. Aubrey La Brie for a Major Variance to use the residence
at 6000 Monroe Street as a law office.

This vote was in accordance with the recommendation of
Planning Commission Staff who acknowledged the testimony,
letters and 176 petition signatures of Rockridge Area residents
opposed to granting the requested variance.

The following Rockridge Neighbors attended the March 23
meeting: Mr. Stan Booth, Ms. Lillian Delcre, Mr. Gary Lippman,
Ms. Judith Musante, Mr. Steve Parmelee.

Mr. La Brie appealed the decision to the City Council who
will hear the matter at City Hall on April 26, 7:30 pm.

Broadway area Neighbors are coordinating the reponse to this
proposal. Call Mr. Parmelee at 653-6020 for additional informa-
tion about letter writing, phone calls and car pools to the hearing.

— Steve Parmelee

Production and distribution of the Rockridge News is all a volun-
tary effort. There is, however, a substantial monthly printing bill.
Your donations to RCPC help meet that cost. Thank you for helping.

City Finances: Where Does
Oakland Get Its Money?

City Manager Discusses Three Sources

Recently, Mr. Henry Gardner, Oakland City Manager, and
members of his staff held a series of meetings with neighborhood
organizations to discuss Oakland’s current financial situation and
to describe how Oakland gets and spends its money.

Discussion at the presentations frequently turned to which
sources of funds the City can use to run its day-to—day business.

According to the City Manager, money for the City’s operation
comes from three principal sources:

1,.The General Fund;

2. Oakland Redevelopment Funds; and,

3. City Bond Funds.

How the funds are collected and spent is guided by Federal and
State legislation.

Here is a brief overview of each funding source and its limita-
tions:

The General Fund

Money for the General Fund comes from locally collected
taxes: property tax, business license tax, sales tax and utility con-
sumption tax.

Money from the General Fund pays for City-wide municipal
operations: police, fire, parks and recreation, public works, librar-
ies, museum and general government expenditures.

The City’s projected budget deficit problem is with the General
Fund.

Oakland Redevelopment Fund

The Redevelopment Fund is created from property tax reve-
nues collected in the Central District. Two-thirds of the Redevel-
opment Fund comes from Central District property tax revenues
that would ordinarily be retained by the State of California and the
County of Alameda.

A portion of the Central District property tax, as well as
business tax and sales tax, is collected by the General Fund.

Redevelopment Fund money may only be used for economic
development projects in the downtown Central District and to
increase low and moderate income housing in the City.

By law, the Redevelopment Fund may not be used to pay for
municipal operations normally funded by the General Fund.

City Bond Funds

City Bond Funds are monies the City borrows to pay for capital
improvements such as street repairs, light fixtures, street cleaning
equipment, or rehabilitation of public facilities such as the
Oakland Auditorium (Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center). Bond
funds are repaid annually by the General Fund.

The City issues bonds when there is a financial benefit: by
borrowing the money at low tax exempt interest rates, the cost of
the capital improvement project is reduced because the City
invests the money it would otherwise have to spend.

The City benefits when the investments yield a higher return
than the interest the City pays for the bonds. This investment
income is used to help the General Fund.

Many complicated federal regulations govern the use of City
bond funds. For example, City bond funds may not be used to pay
for municipal operations normally funded by the General Fund.

The foregoing derives from information prepared and distributed by
the City Manager's Office: “Outline for Community Presentations;
January 4, 1988.” Call 273-3301 for further information.
April 16, 1988

The Rockridge News

Page 5

Hazardous Wastes? N.I.M.B.Y!

Not In My Back Yard (N.I.M.B.Y.) is said pejoratively to be
the rallying cry of the gentrifying yuppies seeking exclusionary
lifestyles, but no one can be accused of self-serving concems
when it comes to toxic wastes! Not In My Back Yard suddenly
is only a sensible response to a deadly problem.

If it doesn’t go in my backyard and you don’t want it in yours,
where can we put it?

A public hearing for Oakland residents is scheduled Thurs-
day, April 28, 7 pm, at the Main Branch of the Oakland Public
Library at 125 Fourteenth Street, to review and comment on the
Draft County Hazardous Waste Management Plan. The Plan,
submitted by the Alameda County Solid Waste Authority to the
State last month, analyzes current patterns of hazardous waste ac-
cumulation and projects these patterns to the year 2000. Special
emphasis is placed on small business wastes, and on ways to
achieve overall hazardous waste reduction.

Also included in the Plan are maps highlighting potential
locations for future facilities. Types of facilities include: transfer
stations; a hazardous waste incinerator; oil and solvent recovery
and recycling; a stabilization facility; and mobile systems for
carbon adsorption, precipitation, and neutralization.

Alameda County residents also have the opportunity to re-
view and comment on this draft Plan at three other public hear-
ings scheduled in other cities in April and May. Copies of the
Plan are available in public libraries, the Oakland City Clerk’s
office at 1 City Hall Plaza, and the County Planning Department.

For further information, contact Ms. Betty Croly, Alameda
Younty Planning Department at (415) 670-5400.

—_

Rockridge Homes For Rent
* 2 Bedroom Upper Flat
* 1 Large Bedroom, Lower Flat
Both freshly painted, each with special features such as
Walk in closets, Formal dining room, Hardwood floors,
Large patio, New kitchen, etc.
Both close to BART for San Francisco commute.
First, last, and deposit. No pets.
Call 685-9411 weekday evenings for appointment to see.

)

TEPPING REALTY Co.

Residential * Commercial + Income * Group Purchases
“Buy smart! Sell smart!” ™

Available FREE on request:

1) Schedule of Buyers’ and Sellers’ Seminars
2) Buyers’ Kit or Seller’s Kit of “how-to” materials
3) Market Value Assessment of your home

4) Private Consultation to discuss your objectives

Call 843-5353

Ask for: Bill Pelter, Sue Seligsohn or Frederick Mitchell
Rockridge Area Real Estate Specialists

ROCKRIDGE

MUSE

Rockridge residents Raquel Lopez and her husband Augustin
Quintero perform traditional Andalusian and flamenco dances
with the flamenco dance troupe El Cuadro Flamenco on Satur-
day, April 30, 8:30 pm, at La Pefia Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck
Avenue, Berkeley. 849-2572.

Lopez and Quintero are directors of the group as well as
performers. They will be joined by internationally recognized
gypsy flamenco guitarist Augustin Rios. Tickets: $9, at the door.

And the Muse sez: Check out these College Avenue art exhibits the
next time you’re out and about...

Hudson Bay Café: Photos by Ron Atwood. Mr. Atwood began his
photographic career twenty years ago as a documentary film maker in
tropical Africa. (All photos signed and available for purchase.)

Rockridge Café: A bright and thoughtful collection of color photo-
graphs by Judi Wehrman.

The Edible: Acrylics and oils by Linda VanDeWall in a collection
of “Pantheistic Nudes”. According to the artist, it is “...an expression
of the will to dissolve into the forces of nature.”

Send brief announcements of artistic events including names, addresses and
phone numbers to: Margret Elson, 5425 College Avenue, #2, Oakland, CA

94618, not later than the end of the month preceding publication.
The Muse only promises to be as accurate as possible!

Drugs In Rockridge??
NO DEAL!

Drug activity in the Rockridge Area appears to be increasing.
Neighbors report “drug houses” and transactions on streetcomers
and in parking lots. Many have asked about the best way to
handle the problem.

Prevention: What can we do?

We are the “eyes and ears” of our Neighborhood and we must
stand together as a Neighborhood and as a city to eliminate drug
dealers from our community. How can we help as individuals?
What we see, hear and report can make the difference! The fol-
lowing information is provided by the Community Services of the
Oakland Police Department Home Alert Program. (Call
273-3066 for program information.)

What are some of the indications of drug activity?

One indicator is large numbers of people beginning to stand
on street corners making brief contacts with passing motorists.
Another indicator might be a great deal of vehicle traffic associ-
ated with one house, with the vehicles making stops at the house
for brief periods at odd hours. You might also observe drug
paraphernalia and packaging materials which have been dropped
on the street.

What should I do if I suspect drug activity

near my home?

Contact the Oakland Police Department:

273-DRUG (the 24 hour Drug Hot Line) or

273-3481 (non-emergency number).

In emergencies, call 911. You don’t have to give your name.

What information should I give the Police Department?

—names and addresses of possible suspects

the time and locations of suspected drug activity

—description of people and vehicles (LICENSE NUMBERS).
Page 6

The Rockridge News

April 16, 1988

Of General Interest:

Community Discussion, Support

Important For Tax Proposal
Marge Gibson-Haskell

I know that the proposed City parcel tax is something I
have discussed before, but it is important that, prior to the June
election, there be full community discussion.

The issue is now joined! The Chamber of Commerce has
come out in clear opposition to the proposed tax but neighbor-
hood groups either are in support or have not yet taken a
position. The Oakland City Council has coalesced in support
of the tax recognizing that service cuts are not consonant with
what our constituents wish.

Integral to Community support of the tax is the Council’s
commitment to involve the Community in a long range finan-
cial plan for the City, which would be possible now with a
secure source of funds.

Proposition 13 did more than just reduce property taxes.
By reducing the amount of income that the City could count
on each year to set its budget it forced us to rely on uncertain
federal and state grants. A revenue stream constantly subject
to flux cannot provide a basis for long range planning.

Long range planning for the provision of services with
strong citizen involvement has been something that we have
discussed for a long time — but that has been it! A little
discussed portion of the proposed tax measure mandates that:
“The Council will appoint a fourteen person advisory commit-
tee (two individuals from each Council District) to advise the
Council on spending the revenue raised by the tax”. This body
will devote itself to the long range financial planning that this
City so desperately requires. Thus, with a more dependable
revenue stream we will have more control over our futures and
we can remove the seeming bump and lurch appearance of our
financial planning process. The benefit to our citizens is clear;
for instance, they will know that fire stations will not suddenly
be designated for closure.

The benefits are real — what is needed now is the
Community’s commitment.

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 + Henry Gardner — 273-3301
City Council District 1 City Manager

«»— Elegant Art-To-Wear! —<»

One Day Sale of Olive E. handpainted silk jackets
and scarves, and appliquéd vests and accessories.
Saturday, May 7, 10 am to 5 pm at our studio,
455 Hudson (in the Rockridge District).

Call 655-9345 for more information!

For Sale By Owner
50% interest in Craftsman Style Duplex.
Great for residence or investment.
Brown shingle. Yard. Off street parking.
$120,000. 336 Alcatraz Avenue 428-2564.

Chabot School Traffic
Neighbors Notch Win

For Kids’ Safety

School children walking to and from Anthony Chabot School
now have a safer route thanks to the persistence of the Chabot
PTA Traffic and Safety Committee and the responsiveness of the
Oakland Office of Public Works.

As detailed in the January issue of The Rockridge News,
traffic conditions were very hazardous for pedestrians at Keith
and Broadway, Patton Street and Miles Avenue, and along
Chabot Road. Accidents with injuries and too many near misses
involving school children prompted a long list of specific de-
mands from Chabot School parents which Public Works person-
nel have promised to implement by the end of April:

« Repaint crosswalks and other pavement markings near the
school;

+ Paint a new limit line on Chabot Road approximately 10 feet
north of the existing crosswalk at Patton Street;

* Relocate the school warning sign on Patton Street to provide
better visibility of the sign;

* Paint 20 feet of red curb in advance of the crosswalk on
Miles Avenue near Patton Street;

+ Install a stop sign on Patton Street at Miles Avenue;

+ Paint a crosswalk across Keith Avenue at Presley Way and
install appropriate signing; and,

+ Increase pedestrian clearance time for pedestrians crossing
Keith Avenue at Broadway.

Parents’ requests for additional stop signs on Chabot Road
and to prohibit right turns on red from Keith Avenue onto Broad
way were rejected by the Office of Public Works. The City’s
analysis concluded that Chabot Road traffic did not warrant more
stop signs, and that limiting right turns on Keith Avenue would
create more congestion.

Special thanks for all their work and time and congratulatons
for their success are due Neighbors Ms. Yvonne Dwyer, Ms.
Chris Winnicki, Mr. John Geltmeyer, Ms. Kathy Hagerty, Mr.
Jim Acker, Mr. Mike Dolan and Mr. Mike Pickering of the City.

If you have questions about the traffic study and improve-
ments around Chabot School , please call Mr. Kevin Cummings,
Office of Public Works, at 273-3466.

Ti Bacio To Go
Ti Bacio Ristorante

Offers Special Dinners for Two Persons

Or More At A Great Price

Q Choice of Lasagna, Egg Plant Parmagiana,
Linguini con Vongole

(fresh clam sauce), or

Fettucine Bolognese

~~ _/A (ground turkey with marinara sauce)
S with a quart of salad - $9.95
Specrat: 1/2 bottle of Chianti Classico — $5

We Accept Visa & MC

CALL AHEAD for your TO GO ORDER

20% Off Dinner Menu Prices On Other To Go Entrees
5301 College Avenue (at Clifton) * Oakland + 428-1703

+ with this coupon + Expires May 15, 1988

April 16, 1988

The Rockridge News

Page 7

Editor:

It is my understanding that a segment of Rockridgians would
like a specific library tax to pay for a new library structure.

Of course we would all like a new library. However, I
question the precedent that this proposed action sets. If neigh-
borhoods finance their own libraries we may eventually be asked
to help out with police services or fire services, etc. Perhaps we
should secede from Oakland and form the City of Rockridge.
This tax will only increase the already existing dichotomy in
Oakland between those neighborhoods that can afford to tax
themselves and those that cannot.

Before we so generously decide to tax ourselves and bail out
our city government it is essential that an investigatory group be
assembled to determine where money has been spent in the past
and exactly how much, by our development-loving,
anti-neighborhood city council. When our city council can
justify the appalling hand-outs they make to developers then
perhaps they can justify the lack of funds for our library.

David Self, a former city official and currently an attorney for
Oakland developers was recently quoted as saying his client “had
better things to do with his money than pay taxes”.

Well, so do I.

Sincerely,

Ronnie Polonsky
~e Open House At College Avenue se
Senior Activity Center

If you are 55 or older, you are are invited to attend an open
house on Wednesday, May 11, from 10 am to 1 pm at the College
Avenue Senior Activity Center, located at College Avenue Pres-
byterian Church, 5951 College Avenue, Oakland. Besides a great
lunch, there will be music by the terrific College Avenue Combo,
displays of activities available at the Center, and lots of fun and
friendly people.

The Center meets every Wednesday from 9:30 am to 2 pm.
Besides activities, lunch, and music, there are programs on health
care and consumer information, free diagnostics, and information
and referral services.

The nonsectarian Center is co-sponsored by Bay Area
Community Services, College Avenue Presbyterian Church, and
Pleasant Valley Adult School.

The Wooly Mammoth One of the very few
items that will not be
available at the Peralta
School Auction and

Chocolate Extravaganza

Friday, April 22 -7pm
at Peralta School
410 Alcatraz, Oakland

For Information: 654-8385

CAMA Notes
Merchants Elect Officers,
Plan Spring Festival

At its March General Meeting, the College Avenue Merchants
Association (CAMA) elected Officers and Directors for
1988-89. Terms of office run from July 1988 to June 1989:

Office Name Business
President: Eddie Zeidan* Chimes Grocery
Vice-President: Kevin Brown* Better Homes Realty
Vice-President: Alan Mac* Stanley Smith Insurance
Treasurer: Gerry Watson Bank of America
Directors: Bill Chung* Rockridge Café

Jean Astrinsky* Orb Weaver

Rockridge Rags
MecNally’s Irish Pub
Chimes Pharmacy
* Incumbent
We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please feel
free to contact any of the CAMA Officers or Boardmembers with
your ideas.

College Avenue Spring Festival

CAMA will hold its Spring Festival on Saturday, May 7,
1988, from 11 am to 5 pm!

Special events include: Free Cable Car Shuttle from Alcatraz
to Broadway with stops every block, a Clown, Music, Balloons,
Sale Prices, Food and Prize giveaways, and much more!

Housing And Service Station
Conversions Opposed

CAMA’s Board of Directors voted to oppose the proposed
conversion of a house on Monroe Street into a law office because
there is a shortage of housing in Rockridge and plentiful office
space available in Oakland. The Board also voted to oppose
conversion of the Shell station at Broadway and Taft Avenues to
amini—mart. We feel that since the parcel is zoned for residential
use and the neighborhood is opposed to any expansion, another
site should be used. (Ed. Note— See story below.)

— Eddie Zeidan 428-9256

Mini-Mart Idea Resurrected

The Planning Commission denied a use permit application for
a mini—mart at the Shell station at Taft and Broadway Avenues
in November 1986. The Rockridge News learned recently that
Shell Oil Company has retained Mr. Mitch Hardin to pursue
approval for a revised proposal.

In January 1988, Mr. Hardin contacted the RCPC Board and
some Neighbors living near the station to discuss a resubmission
of the proposal. He was reminded of the substantial Neighbor-
hood opposition to the mini-mart and encouraged not to reapply.

On April 11, he made a presentation to a North Oakland
District Council meeting, saying a survey showed new support
for the idea from the Rockridge Neighborhood. Mr. Hardin was
advised by the Council they would take no position without
hearing from the Rockridge Neighborhood first.

In addition to representing Shell Oil, Mr. Hardin is a member
of the Off-Street Parking Commission of the City of Oakland.

Joyce Seuss*
Mike Wheeler
John Gelinas