Extracted text · highlighting “schools”

a Rockridge News

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

Vol. 3 No. 5 Issue No, 29

October 15, 1988 7 Circulation: 4,500 Residences; 200 Busin

New Library A Top
N’hood Priority:
How To Build It?

An overwhelming 64% of Neighbors
responding to the recent RCPC Residents’
Survey stated that a new permanent
branch library was their most desired
improvement for Rockridge.

Ever since March, 1987, when it be-
came clear that the Rockridge Branch
library had to move from its home of 63
years at College and Miles Avenue, the
community has been exploring ways to
fund and construct a new library.

Wuere Wu Ir Be Locatep?

The community, the Library staff and
we City of Oakland have considered a
number of different sites for a new library.
Late in March of 1987, Oakland’s Off-
Street Parking Commissioners offered to
donate land for a library at the city-owned
Art Stone Site at 5372 College Avenue
near Manila Avenue. To date, the Art
Stone site generally is considered to be the

See Library, page 4

RCPC Meeting Change

Not Ghouls, But Goals
Community Forums Slated To Help
Shape The Future Of Rockridge

Goals to guide future use of the Commercial areas of Rockridge are the focus of the
first Rockridge Community Forum scheduled Thursday, October 27 at Claremont
Middle School, 5750 College Avenue, from 7 pm to 10 pm. On the three following
Thursday nights, the remaining Community Forums will focus on Residential Land Use
(November 3), Parking and Circulation (November 10), and Design and Public Ameni-

ties (November 17).

Look For This Poster Advertising Purpose Or Forums
The Forums « Plan To Attend! The purpose of the Community Fo-

tums is to gather community input on

preliminary goals for the Rockridge Area
Specific Plan. The RCPC - RASP
Committee has prepared a draft version of
the goals which is printed on the first page
of this issue’s insert. The final version of
the goals will direct future work on the
substance of the Rockridge Area Specific
Plan.
Drart Goats To Be DEBATED
The draft goals are drawn from several
areas: the results of the recently com-
pleted residents’, merchants’ and com-
mercial property owners’ surveys; com-
munity brainstorming sessions held at
~~~"See RASP, page 2

ROCKRIDGE

See you at the
Series!

The RCPC
General Meeting
is postponed to
Wednesday,
October 26,
7:30 PM.

m AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING @ LL
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1988 7:30 PM

COLLEGE AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
5951 CoLLEGE AVENUE

a Aleta Cannon
= Art StoneProperty/Library (see article, page 1)
w Rockridge Area Specific Plan (RASP)

Honored Guest: Aleta Cannon, Councilmember District 3

Dates Calendar Events Calendar Dates
Tuesday Oct 18 7:30 pm City Council Meeting Council Chambers.
Wednesday Oct 19 1:30 pm Planning Commission City Hall, Room 115
— Monday Oct 24 7:30 pm North Oakland Community Golden Gate Recreation Center 1075 62nd Street
Development Committee
Wednesday Oct 26 7:30 pm RCPC General Meeting College Avenue Presbyterian Church. See Agenda Box.
Thursday Oct 27 7pm Rockridge Community Forum Claremont Middle School 5750 College Avenue
Wednesday Nov 16 7:30 pm RCPC General Meeting College Avenue Presbyterian Church.

The Rockridge News

October 15, 1988

@ Foop anp DRINK

Best DessERT

Best BuRRITO

Best Pizza

Best Ice CREAM

Best CHOCOLATE OVERDOSE

Best VEGETARIAN POTSTICKERS

@ Music, Books, Fasrics, HAIRCUTS
Best Music CLus

Best Toy STORE

Snips, 5335 College
Best PLace For New THREADS
Poppy Fabric, 5151 Broadway

Orb Weaver, 5326 College

“Rockridge Bests’? Make
Express’ East Bay Best List

F or the last ten years, The East Bay Express has surveyed its read-
ership and writers for businesses providing “the best of...” their
services. Compiled from surveys of Express readers and staff

writers, results of The Best of the East Bay have guided many people
to new sources of pleasurable shopping and entertainment.
A number of Rockridge area businesses were listed in the 1988 Best Of selections.
Congratulations to all! Herewith, The Best of Rockridge:

Best SELECTION OF WINES BY THE GLASS
First Runner Up: Oliveto Café & Restaurant, 5655 College Avenue

First Runner Up: La Farine, 6323 College Avenue

First Runner Up: College Avenue Burrito Shop, 5359 B College Avenue
Zachary’s Chicago Pizza, 5801 College Avenue

Double Rainbow, 6099 Claremont Avenue

Chocolate Climax at Creme de La Créme, 5362 College Avenue

Hunan Garden, 5500 College Avenue

Yoshi’s Japanese Restaurant & Night Spot, 6030 Claremont Avenue
Best BooksTorE REMAINDER TABLES, BEST EMPLOYEES
Pendragon Books, 5560 College Avenue

First Runner Up: Such A Business, 5533 College Avenue
BEsT CHILDREN’S HAIRCUTTING SALON

Best PLACE For BuTTons To Go Wits Your NEw THREADS

RASP, from page 1

several RCPC General Membership
meetings last fall; on recommendations
from the UC Graduate Planning studio on
College Avenue/Rockridge published last
May; and on concerns raised in regular
meetings of RCPC Standing Committees.

Consensus Is THE GOAL

During each Community Forum, the
neighborhood at large will have an oppor-
tunity to discuss, alter, and add to these
draft goals. The desired outcome of each
meeting is the consensus of the partici-
pants of the meeting. This is not simply
a result of a majority vote. The idea is
that, at the end of the evening, after care-
ful listening, debate and compromise,
participants will feel basically satisfied

with the final statement of goals.

Facmirator To Assist

Each meeting will be moderated by
Mrs. Bonnie Jameson, a professional
facilitator, who, with the assistance of a
professional recorder, will help maintain
the focus of the meetings. The facilitator
plays a neutral role and enables all points
of view to be heard and respected.

Wuat’s THE Next STEP?

The community forums also are ex-
pected to motivate neighbor’s participa-
tion in the next phase of the process: the
formulation of specific objectives, poli-
cies, and programs for Rockridge.

Each of the four subject areas will
require further study on questions such as
the extent of the problem/need, the effec-
tiveness of exisiting policies and pro-

Chabot PTA Hears
Of School Reform

On October 10, more than sixty par- ~~

ents of the Chabot PTA heard School
Board President Sheila Jordan report on
this year’s priorities of the Oakland
School District. They include creating
“high intensity” classrooms for 4th, Sth,
and 6th grades, expanding the use of
computers and other technologies, con-
tinuing the exchange with Russian stu-
dents and teachers begun this Summer,
and school budgeting reform by delegat-
ing greater decision-making to local
school sites.

Ina lively question and answer period,
Ms. Jordan expressed her chagrin at the
District recent budgeting process. After
passing what it thought was a balanced
budget in June, the Board was confronted
with a $5 million deficit in August. This
forced a cut of thirty four positions and
limited school improvement plans. She
was also surprised to learn that some
classes had not received their math texts.
Teachers in the audience reported that this
problem was not limited to Chabot.

Several other schools have also not re-\

ceived textbooks yet.

The local school-site decision making
proposal grew out of a conference spon-
sored by the Oakland Teachers Associa-
tion at Mills College on May 7. Partici-
pants learned that when decentralized
decision making has been tried, students,
parents, and teachers report greater satis-
faction and higher levels of achievement.
The District formed a Working Group on
School-Level Empowerment this Sum-
mer to plan to implement these ideas.

Parents of Chabot students are invited
to review and discuss the Working
Group’s proposed plan Saturday, Novem-
ber 19, 9 amin the Willie D. Harper Build-
ing Community Hall, 314 E. 10th Street.
For more information, call Chabot School
Principal Pat Christensen at 655-3285 or
Ms. Sheila Jordan at 836-8199,

— Richard Silva
grams, and the appropriateness of alter-
Native or new policies and programs.
Four working groups will be formed to
study these questions and make specific
recommendations to the City.

— Michael Peltz,

RASP Committee Chair 658-2713
— Barbara Anderson,

RCPC Chair 655-3499

October 15, 1988

The Rockridge News

Page 3

Planning Commission Acts On College
Avenue Applications; Others Pending

— The September 17 issue of The Rock-

ridge News reported on several recent
College Avenue development project and
business applications submitted for plan-
ning review. The Planning Commission
has held public hearings on the items, with
these results:
* Noble Pies, 5417 College

The Planning Commission approved a
use permit for a full service restaurant (9/
14). The conditions of approval recom-
mended by RCPC were adopted in gen-
eral.
¢ Gift Express, 5406 College

The Planning Commission approved a
use permit for beer and wine sales (10/5).
The Commission adopted RCPC’s recom-
mended condition of approval, limiting
beer and wine sales to packaged gift bas-
kets.
* Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream,

5919-5921 College

The Planning Commission voted
against the RCPC recommendation for
denial and approved (10/5) a use permit to

allow for ground floor office use in

Dreyer’s former retail storefronts for a
period of up to two years.
¢ Mark Schisler, CPA,

5714 Broadway

The Planning Commission denied the
requested variance to legalize conversion
of a residence to office use (10/5). The
applicant is expected to appeal the deci-
sion to the City Council.

te te re te 2% te re te te
PENDING APPLICATIONS

The following applications are still
pending before the Planning Commission
and are also under consideration by RCPC
Zoning and Design Review Committees.
The status of each proposed project fol-
lows:
¢ Keenan Land Company,

5800 College Avenue at Birch Court

This newly amended application in-
cludes a request for a minor conditional
use permit, Design Review and a variance
to exempt the project from the off-street
loading dock requirement. The applica-

‘etion is being reviewed at the staff admin-

istrative level with a public comment
period through October 19, 1988.

The RCPC Board recommended ap-
proval subject to conditions (see

September Rockridge News). The De-
sign Review Committee, after several
working sessions with the applicant to
refine the design, also forwarded a recom-
mendation for approval to the Planning
Commission.

¢ John Allen, 5295 - 5313 College

An application has been submitted for
Design Review to alter the facades of
existing buildings (Halley’s Cleaners,
The Pizza Depot), and to add a second
story to the former Holistic Institute.

After review by the RCPC Design
Review Committee and the RCPC Board,
RCPC sent a recommendation for denial
to the Planning Commission. The appli-
cation will be reviewed at staff adminis-
trative level and the staff decision may be
appealed to the Planning Commission.

The RCPC recommendation was
based on design concerns including in-
compatibility with adjacent building
types and styles, jarring colors, excessive
height (45') adjacent to residences, auto-
mobile-oriented rather than pedestrian-
oriented design of the six towers, and the
lack of a landscaping plan.

* Michael Higgins, 5319 College

This application is for a use permit to
allow on- and off-premises sale of beer
and wine. The new wine shop, formerly
known as the Curds and Whey Wine shop,
would be located 45’ north of its current
location.

A new use permit is required because
the shop intends to move to a new loca-
tion. The old location no longer will be a
wine shop. The RCPC Board voted to
recommend approval of the application at
the public hearing before the Planning
Commission on October 12, 1988.
¢ Kenneth Monnens,

5308 Bryant Avenue

The proposed project concerns a resi-
dence located in the commercial (C-31)
district, two doors down from College
Avenue. The applicant converted it to an
office use five years ago, and now must
legalize the conversion by securing an
approved use permit. In addition, the
applicant would like to add a second story
which would bring the total floor area of
the project in excess of 3,000 square feet.
Four off-street parking spaces would be
required; currently the property provides
only one off-street parking space. The

applicant, therefore, has requested a park-
ing variance. The public hearing before
the Planning Commission is October 19.

The applicant met with the RCPC
Zoning Committee on October 10 to dis-
cuss the project. Major concerns with
Building Code requirements for the pro-
posed project surfaced at that meeting; the
applicant will follow up the items with the
City and discuss the matter further with
the community.

There is a strong possibility that the
application will be postponed. Check
with the Planning Department at 273-
3911 prior to attending the public hearing.

Letters To

The News

Dear Editor:

I have been a block captain distribut-
ing the newsletter to my neighbors since
publication began. I have been willing to
do so based on my belief that it is impor-
tant for residents to have easy access to
information on issues concerning our
Neighborhood. The Rockridge News
has done a good job reporting most sides
of local issues.

However, the September issue left me
with a most uneasy feeling. I question the
wisdom of giving Marge Gibson-Haskell
a monthly forum to voice her opinions.
She is our elected representative to the
City Council. It is important for The
Rockridge News to report on her Council
activities and how she votes, especially on
issues affecting our Neighborhood. The
Rockridge News should be providing
analysis of the performance of our City
officials and agencies as it relates to the
Rockridge neighborhood. The Rock-
ridge News should not be a forum for the
political agenda of any particular City
official, even our own Council represen-
tative. If Ms. Haskell wishes to solicit
votes, pro or con, on ballot measures, she
should be required to do so in paid politi-
cal ads.

Is this the Marge Gibson Haskell
Newsletter or is it The Rockridge News?

— Susan Sage

@ The Rockridge News encourages
letters to the Editor. Anyone with a point
of view differing from Councilmember
Marge Haskell or any other newsletter
contributor is encouraged to send it in for
publication. — Editor
Page 4

The Rockridge News

October 15, 1988

Library,
from page I

most feasible location for construction of
a new library. The three-parcel site is
large enough to support a neighborhood
library with required parking plus 24 off-
street public parking spaces.

How Bic Wa It Br?

In response to a Library Users Survey
published in the October, 1987 issue of
The Rockridge News, Neighbors indi-
cated they want a branch library with
general book stacks, adult and children’s
reading areas, and a small general meet-
ing/reading area. Such a facility could be
accommodated in a 4,500 to 5,500 square
foot building.

Wanat Wit Ir Loox Like?

The exact design of the new library
remains an open issue at this stage, al-
though there no disagreement that a sub-
stantial landscape plan should also be a
part of any design. The design for the new
Library would be subject to the City’s and
RCPC’s design review process, allowing
for plenty of opportunity for community
input.

How Wu Ir Be Paw For?

Based on discussions with the City, no
General funds are available to construct
the new branch library. In the Fall of last

year, after investigating a variety of other
funding sources— including joint public/
private development — the RCPC Art
Stone/Library Committee also concluded
that no State or Federal monies are avail-
able, and that the Art Stone site was not
large enough for a public/private develop-
ment project. The Committee recommen-
dation to pursue the apparently only fea-
sible alternative, namely, an assessment
bond issue, was adopted by the RCPC
Board in January, 1988.

Based on preliminary estimates, the
bond issue would cover the cost of con-
struction of the library building plus site
improvements which could range from
$600,000 to $900,000. Depending on the
boundaries of the assessment district and
total project costs, per parcel charges
could amount to between $25 and $35 an-
nually. Creation of an assessment district
requires the approval of 65% of the prop-
erty owners within the district boundaries.

Liprary AND Housinc:

AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL

As of September 1988, the comer
property at 5380 College Avenue, cur-
rently Moderno Furniture and a now
unoccupied residence north of the Art
Stone site, became available for purchase.
If the corner property were to be acquired,
it would be possible to include a residen-

tial element as part of a mixed use project.
As an alternative to the assessment district
concept, the Art Stone Committee pro-

poses that the City or RCPC acquire the ~

site and expand the project to include
housing.

Development of housing on the site
would address community interest in ad-
ditional rental units and possibly could
finance library construction without new
taxes.

This mixed use concept would include
the Library, a small commercial/retail unit
on the ground floor, apartments on the
upper floors, and required parking.

Implementing this alternative plan
could involve RCPC as a non-profit de-
velopment group petitioning the City for
money to build market rate housing, and
as an active participant in all design and
construction phases of the project.

Wuat Next?

Time is of the essence. The commu-
nity must decide how to proceed on the
project program and financing.

Learn more details of these proposals.
Come to the RCPC General Meeting on
October 26 at 7:30 pm and share your
thoughts.

Call Jim Calkins (653-7522) or Marc ~

Beyeler (654-6787), Art Stone/Library
Committee Co-Chairs, for further infor-
mation.

= Fall Semester Music and Art

Music

Dance

Art | Comprehensive Art

Jewelry Making

Ceramics
Drama

Circus
Arts

VIDEO

Cartooning/Animation

Orff-Schulwerk, Choir, Group and Private Instrumental Lessons
Piano, Percussion, Brass, Woodwinds, Recorder, Guitar, Jazz Ensemble

Creative Movement, Pre—Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz Dance

Painting, Drawing, Clay Work, Sculpture, Collage, Print-Making

Theater, Musical Theater, Swashbuckling (fencing for the stage),
Mask Plays, Storytelling

Juggling, Tumbling/Acrobatics, Balancing, Tightrope, Unicycle

East Bay School of the Arts

1501 Powell Street » Emeryville » 94608
Just three miles and seven minutes from Rockridge
CaLL 652-3727 For Fatt SEMESTER INFORMATION AND SCHEDULE
DIRECTOR: JANET BLAIR

—
Mason McDuffie Realtor

%& Rockridge Resident
13 Years

* Experience

* Integrity

%* Top Producer

Gree

Home

547-5752

Office

526-5143

October 15, 1988

The Rockridge News

Page 5

CAMA Report

Thanks For Harvest Festival Success!

m= CAMA wishes to thank our neighbors and merchants
who helped make our Harvest Festival the most successful
ever!
= Merchant’s Brainstorming Dinner Monday, October
24, 7 pM in the new dining room at the Rockridge Cafe. All
CAMA members: join your fellow merchants for a brain-
storming social. CAMA will provide the dinner and drinks.
@ Neighborhood Alert: Don’t Feed The Panhandlers
1. Panhandling is illegal!;
2. Panhandlers too often use the money for drugs or
alcohol;
3. If you want to help, give to a reputable charity that
has some control over where the money is spent.
m If you have questions or comments about CAMA,
please contact me at 428-9256.
Thank you.
— Eddie Zeidan, President

Tired of
Changing
Vacuum Cleaner
Bags?

With the new CMS-1000™
Carpet Maintenance System,
you're not only spared the
trouble of replacing dirty,
dusty bags, you also get a
machine with better
cleaning potential
than any upright
vacuum cleaner on
the market today!
For a free demon-
stration, call the
number below.

Shop With College Avenue Merchants
Shop Oakland

Amway Products Distributor
Mike & Gloria Rourick
655-8509

ROCKRIDGE

MUSE

Come, blow your own horn
Ye artists out there,
Do drop us a line
To tell Rockridge where:
your dance will unfurl
your poetry sung
your music performed
your art will be hung
This column's for you
It promotes artists’ news,
In Rockridgean land
Advise: Rockridge Muse

— Margret Elson

m Readers please note: The Rockridge News is published the week-end before
the third Wednesday of each month except August. Events scheduled before
that week-end should be received not later than the first of the preceding
month. Send to: Margret Elson, $425 College Avenue, #2, Oakland, CA
94618. While every effort will be made to accommodate all announcements
received, The Rockridge News cannot guarantee space in every issue nor
assume responsibility for errors.

CCAC Plans Art And Food Fest

On Saturday, October 29, the California College of Arts and
Crafts (CCAC) opens it s doors and welcomes art and food lovers
of all ages to Harvest Art/Fest ’88, an all day event (10 aM to 3
pm), featuring a sumptuous barbecue by Oakland’s renowned
owner/chefs: Bay Wolf’s Michael Wild, Broadway Terrace’s
Albert Katz, Oliveto’s Maggie Klein, and CCAC’s Good and
Plenty Cafe’s Victoria Wise and Susanna Hoffman. Other attrac-
tions include open studios, pumpkin-carving and mask-making,
Patrick the Magician, Puppeteer Lewis Mahimann and perform-
ances by the Oakland Opera, and a tour of the newly restored
historical landmark, Macky Hall.

Using the best of local ingredients, the Harvest Barbecue
features smoked, marinated baby back ribs with barbecue sauce,
garlic bay leaf chicken, grilled oysters with tomato tarragon
sauce, sausages by famed Bay Area sausage maker Bruce Aidells,
salads of grilled seasonal vegetables from Greenleaf Produce,
confetti cole slaw and Spanish beans.

Admission, which includes the barbecue and a beverage, is
$15/adults, $5/children under 12. Reservations should be made
in advance with Visa or Master Card by calling the Alumni Office
at 653-8118 between 8 am and 5 pm. Proceeds go the CCAC
Scholarship Fund. The school is located at 5212 Broadway at
College Avenue.

GaraGE NEEDED!
Rockridge residents seek garage to rent
for compact car.

Please call Jeff or Barb at 653-9077.

Ee Been PCY?
Page 6

The Rockridge News

October 15, 1988

Of General Interest:

A Look At Multi-Bedroom Housing
Proposals & Park Space

NortH OaKkLANp ImpacteD Housinc UppaTE

In response to complaints from Desmond Street and
other neighborhoods concerned about impacts arising from
the sprouting of a large number of additional bedrooms on
existing residences, a majority of RCPC members at the
September General Meeting voted to request that the Plan-
ning Code be amended to address parking impacts while
maintaining setback requirements.

It was further requested that your Councilmember in-
vestigate what formal action was required to initiate this
change. I learned that a letter should be sent to the City
Council from RCPC requesting the Council to direct the
Planning Commission to prepare an ordinance and institute
hearings on this matter. I am presently awaiting this
communication. During the same week, the neighbors
around Mountain Boulevard and Pinewood also met and
are considering similar action.

Wiip Oren Spaces

Ballot Measure AA will make a substantial impact on
our environment, if it is passed by the voters. It will
authorize capital expenditures for open space and other
projects by the Regional Park District and cities and
counties in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

For Oakland alone, it could mean $10.4 million for
parks, and additional $4 million for the Oakland Zoo. For
Rockridge, if the Specific Plan for the area is so prepared,
we may wish to seek funding from this source to improve
our trail to Lake Temescal so that this will become an
easily accessible open space area for those who live in
Rockridge. If the measure passes, the cost would be about
$5.63 per year per $100,000 assessed valuation.

If you wish to discuss this or other matters with me,
please call 273-3266.

Marge Gibson-Haskell

City Council District 1

Rockridge Avenue/taman & Doty

SO MUCH FOR A QUIET PLACE i
WITH A YARD AND A WHITE Picker Fence! *

654-1704
FIREPLACE REPAIRS
since
1982

DRYCLEANUS.A.
ET LEK
Thank you, Rockridge community
for welcoming us
to the neighborhood!

BOB & KATHLEEN LORBEER
DRYCLEAN-USA
5701 COLLEGE AVENUE

When buying and selling in
the Rockridge District,
it makes good “cents”

to call Rockridge Realtors.

Rockridge Realtors
655-2330

October 15, 1988

The Rockridge News

Page 7

Rockridge Crime Increase

Community Crime Resistance Program Grant
Targets North Oakland District Beat 13

Pioneered by the City of Oakland in
1969 under the name “Home Alert.”,
today’s “Neighborhood Watch” program
is based on a format proven to be the best
crime prevention tool in the
country! Residential burgla-
Ties, street drug dealing and
other crimes have been re-
duced significantly in areas
where Home Alert members
are active. It is no wonder the
Oakland Police Department is
deeply committed to the pro-
gram.

To expand this crime pre-
vention service, Lieutenant Fred Peoples,
OPD’s Community Services Division
Commander, received a one-year grant
from the State Office of Criminal Justice
Planning to establish a Community Crime
Resistance Project in the College Avenue
area identified by OPD as Beat 13.
Creatine New Home ALERT Groups

‘we Beat 13 extends from 45th Street to the

west to Alcatraz on the north, and Broad-
way on the south, and is often described as
the College Avenue area in North
Oakland. Residential burglaries in this
area increased by 32% despite a citywide
decrease. The increase in burglaries could
be due to several street drug “hot spots”
adjacent to the target area. Beat 13 has no
identifed hotspots but four nearby beats
have 21. Experience indicates that Beat
13 is bearing much of the burglary burden
from those hotspots.

There are 44 Home Alert groups in the
target area; however, 27 (61.4%) of them
did not hold a meeting in 1987. A goal of
this program is to establish 22 new Home
Alert groups (a 50% increase), and reacti-
vate and update existing groups.

Sublet Wanted

For 1 or 2 months anytime
between December and March
for visiting grand parents.
Rockridge or
Elmwood area preferred.
655-5211 (evenings)

HOME ALERT
NEIGHBORHOOD

WE IMMEDIATELY REPORT
ALL SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES

\70_OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT

TarGeT AREA PLANNING COMMITTEE

Home Alert Coordinator Officer Char-
les Patrick, his assistant Mrs. Willie
Huey, and Crime Prevention Consultant
Ms. Dorlista Dawson (hired
specifically to supervise the
implementation of this com-
munity self-help crime pre-
vention project) are begin-
ning an intensive outreach
campaign focussed on Beat
13.

They will spend time
getting to know Beat 13
residents, their neighbor-
hood and their needs. They will recruit,
train, and equip volunteers with the sup-
port materials and organizational struc-
ture necessary for success. A Target Area
Planning Committee will develop crime
prevention strategies and adapt them to
the specific needs of Beat 13 residents. In
addition to burglary and drug abuse prob-
lems, the Home Alert program addresses
self-protection, earthquake safety, hand-
gun safety, drinking and driving, and
other contemporary topics.

Opportunity For INVOLVEMENT

If your street suffers from a high crime
level and you are willing to spend 1 or 2
hours a month to alleviate the problem,
contact Dorlista Dawson or Officer Char-
les Patrick of the Community Services
Division, 273-3066, to talk about partici-
pating on the Target Area Planning Com-
mittee, becoming a Home Alert Block
Captain, or to suggest the names of other
concerned citizens living in Beat 13. The
Oakland Police Department welcomes
your suggestions and assistance.

— Dorlista Dawson

Annual Drive To Collect
Used Eyeglasses

Last year’s eyeglasses collection drive
was a huge success! We sent over 300
pairs of glasses to the Medical Mission.

This year during October and Novem-
ber, members of College Avenue Presby-
terian Church will again be going door to
door in the Neighborhood to collect
unwanted prescription glasses. These
glasses will also be sent to Medical Group
Missions, a group of Christian doctors
and volunteers who provide eye care to
needy people in Central and South Amer-
ica. An important part of their service is
fitting people with used prescription
glasses donated by concerned individuals
in the U.S.

If church members do not connect
with you, please call the church office at
658-3663 and leave your name and ad-
dress for a pick-up.

— Matt du Plessis

FAVE

FINE GEMS
CUSTOM DESIGN
REPAIRS
ESTATE JEWELRY
5482 COLLEGE AVENUE
OAKLAND
547-7181
GRAND OPENING

ais

MONTE RARY
s AMERIAN
” GRAFTS

eam

ARTIST-
DESIGNED

= FREY

Page 8

The Rockridge News

October 15, 1988

CA0Ed

The Full Service Copy Center

DESKTOP PUBLISHING

MAC / 18M / Laser Printing

FAX & TELEX SERVICES

* COMPUTER CLASSES
& CONSULTING

+ COMPUTER/GRAPHIC
DESIGN

+ WORD PROCESSING

+ BUSINESS, OFFICE &
COMPUTER SUPPLIES

+ HIGH QUALITY COPIES

* LASER COPYING

+ BINDERY SERVICES

+ BUSINESS CARDS &
STATIONERY

+ UPS SHIPMENTS

+ PRIVATE MAIL BOXES

654-6504

5856 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618

(1 Block to Rockridge BART)
FAX: 415-654-1133

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Now In-House OCR Text/Image Scanner
IBM-Mac File Transfer
More Mac SEs

M-Th 8am-9pm
Fri 8am-8pm
Sat 9am-7pm
Sun 10am-6pm

HUDSON
BANA
LEAS

FEATURING

GRAFFEO COFFEES
5405 College Ave « Oakland ¢ 658-9622
Open M-F 8-6 Sat & Sun 8-4

Kid’s Halloween Special
Chimes is pleased to offer to our
neighborhood children
a FREE Halloween trick or treat bag.
Just stop by between October 24-31,
and we’ll give you one for
the asking! — while supplies last.

Halloween Supplies at Chimes!

We’ll have plenty of bag candy, snacks,
beverages, and party supplies
for your Halloween festivities!
And, we’re open till Midnight daily.

Please note our new Opening Hours
for Saturday & Sunday
We’re now open at 9 AM on
Saturdays & Sundays.

\ New Weekend Hours! J

7 AM to Midnight Monday-Friday
9 AM to Midnight Saturday & Sunda
5642 College Avenue At Rockridge BART
428-9256

The Rockridge News is published monthly in Oakland

except in August and is sponsored by The Rockridge
Community Planning Council.

us

Got something planned you'd like to have The Rockridge

News tell about? Call Don Kinkead at 655-7474 or write to
5626 Oak Grove Avenue, Oakland 94618 (of course!) and let

know.

wa November issue deadline is November 6th. |

Special RASP Supplement # The Rockridge News October 15,

— Getting Results: Part II
RASP Draft Goals

Draft Goals For The Rockridge Area Specific Plan
For Discussion At Community Forums

To BE HELD AT
CLAREMONT Mippe ScHoo., 5750 CoLLEGE AVENUE

I. CommerciaL Lanp Use Goats

TuursDAy, OCTOBER 27, 7 PM TO 10 PM.

Strengthen continuous ground level retail frontage on College Avenue.

Increase business diversity on College Avenue.

Prevent the predominance of any particular type of business.

Retain and create additional residential uses above ground floor commercial uses.
Address present and future commercial parking needs.

ee SS

II. ReswenTiAL Lanp Use Goats

Tuurspay, NOVEMBER 3, 7 PM TO 10 PM.

Prohibit encroachment of commercial and office uses into adjacent residential neighborhoods.

Identify specific opportunities for construction of additional multiple family housing.

Maintain use integrity of existing single family residential units.

Maintain quality of existing housing stock.

Retain and create additional residential uses above ground floor commercial uses.

Retain and enhance the existing scale, density, and architectural character of established residential areas.

(
AWAY ES

TI. Parkinc & CircuLaTion Goats

Tuurspay, NoveMBER 10, 7 pm To 10 pm.

Coordinate public transportation systems to reduce traffic and parking problems.
Address present and future commercial, residential, and commuter parking needs.
Confine non-local traffic to arterials and decrease through-traffic on residential streets.
Increase availability of short-term parking on College Avenue.

Discourage long-term parking on residential streets.

Increase the safety and convenience of pedestrians.

Reduce impacts of commuter parking.

AAG Ob

IV. Desicn & Pustic AMENITIES GOALS

Tuurspay, NovEMBER 17, 7 pm To 10 PM.

Provide for a public library in the Rockridge neighborhood.

Retain and enhance the existing scale and architectural character of established residential areas.

Retain and enhance the existing scale, distinctive design elements and pedestrian-oriented character of College Avenue.
Strengthen existing Design Review of all exterior building improvements and new construction on College Avenue.
Retain buildings of historic and architectural significance.

Eliminate overhead wires, outdoor display advertising, and other obtrusive visual elements.

Increase recreational and passive open spaces.

7 Increase public facilities and amenities in the neighborhood.

nside: College Avenue Merchants Survey Results

SAA VES YE

College Avenue Merchants Survey Results

Last month, we presented the results of our surveys of Rockridge residents and College Avenue
property owners; this month, it’s the College Avenue merchants’ turn. The results shown below
were obtained from in-person interviews with 132 of the estimated 250 busines speople on the
Avenue. Residents’ results are also shown, so you can compare the answers of the two groups.

COLLEGE AVENUE OF THE FUTURE
MERCHANTS RESIDENTS
What would be the 3 MOST desirable public amenities for Rockridge?
More trees/landscaping 45% 51%
More trash cans 43% 20%
New library 42% 63%
Public restrooms 26% 12%
More beat cops 25% 25%
Remove billboards 23% 33%
More seating 20% 15%
More lighting 15% 8%
Recreation facility 14% 26%
Underground utility lines 12% 27%
More bike racks 11% 6%
Kiosks/notice boards 1% 5%
Which of these alternative futures for College Avenue would you like BEST?
More specialty food and retail shops 36% 9%
More local services oriented to residents 27% 54%
Just the way it is today 14% 18%
More rental housing along the Avenue/around BART 5% 1%
More offices including at ground level 5% 1%
Other 11% 5%
Which of these alternative futures for the BART station would you like BEST?
More BART parking on second deck under freeway 41% 40%
Second deck with shops/apartments on frontage 32% 25%
The way it is now (surface parking lot) 12% 22%
Shops/apartments but no more BART parking 4% 4%
Other 2% 4%
Which of these “looks” for College Avenue would you prefer?
The way it is now (1-3 story mix) 61% 78%
Continuous 2-3 story frontage 23% 11%
Taller buildings at key points 8% 3%
Other 1% 3%
What would be the 3 MOST desirable measures to improve parking?
Off-street parking lots on College Avenue 61% 33%
More BART parking on BART site 56% 57%
Increased parking requirements for new development 49% 57%
Shared use of BART lot 31% 30%
Parking permits for residents 24% 41%
Peripheral parking lots with shuttles

Survey Resutts: College Avenue Merchants

COLLEGE AVENUE TODAY
Type oF ACTIVITY MERCHANTS RESIDENTS

What 3 activities would you most like to see LESS of?

Hair stylists 21% 12%

Restaurants 14% 10%

Used/antique furniture 14% 15%

Bars 11% 15%

Laundries/dry cleaners 11% 9%

Thrift/resale stores 10% 8%

Video stores 1% 10%

Clothing stores 4% 5%
What 3 activities would you most like to see MORE of?

Banks 23% 1%

Clothing stores 14% 8%

Book stores 14% 28%

Gas stations 11% 2%

Restaurants 11% 8%

Childcare/preschools 11% 11%

Housing: rental 9% 13%

Professional services 8% 5%
What other activities would you like to see on College Avenue?

Fairs 16% 4%

Hardware store 14% 21%

Stationery store 7% 2%

Christmas decorations 5% _—

Post office 4% 2%
What are the 3 MOST significant problems of doing business on College?

Inadequate parking 80%

High rents 48%

Traffic congestion 48%

Crime, vagrancy 29%

Poor variety of other businesses 14%

Poor quality of other business 11%

Competition from other areas 9%

Poor quality of College Avenue environment 5%
What are the 3 MOST significant advantages of doing business on College?

Patronage by local residents 54%

Good quality of College Avenue environment 51%

Good variety of other businesses 44%

High traffic volume 39%

Good quality of other businesses 36%

Lack of crime, vagrancy 14%

Lack of competition 8%

Reasonable rents 7%

Survey Resutts: College Avenue Merchants

4
COLLEGE AVENUE TODAY (contiuep)
For the following list of business types, please say whether there are too many, too few, or just the right amount:
MERCHANTS RESIDENTS

Tyre OF BUSINESS TOO ABOUT TOO TOO ABOUT TOO
MANY RIGHT FEW MANY RIGHT FEW
Banks 1% 55% 38% 2% 73% 18%
Bars 14% 69% 10% 19% 68% 4%
Book stores 2% 49% 40% 1% 42% 50%
Childcare/preschools 2% 49% 22% 3% 49% 26%
Clothing stores 9% 46% 29% 14% 56% 23%
Florists 10% 10% 11% 11% 75% 6%
Gas stations 2% 67% 23% 9% 77% 7%
Gift stores 6% 59% 15% 18% 61% 12%
Hair stylists 36% 52% 2% 31% 56% 3%
Housing: rental 4% 36% 32% 12% 42% 27%
Housing: senior 2% 41% 24% 2% 33% 42%
Housing: low income 4% 40% 21% 12% 36% 26%
Laundries/dry cleaners 20% 67% 5% 21% 4% 5%
Printers/copiers 7% 10% 12% 11% 72% 9%
Professional services 3% 61% 20% 1% 64% 14%
Real estate/insurance 5% 70% 8% 18% 69% 2%
Restaurants 23% 46% 21% 22% 64% 9%
Specialty foods 5% 66% 18% 12% 70% 10%
Supermarkets 4% 81% 6% 3% 86% 5%
Thrift/resale stores 15% 67% 1% 19% 67% 1%
Travel agents 5% 79% 2% 8% 80% 4%
Used/antique furniture 20% 64% 7% 33% 56% 3%
Video stores 12% 68% 4% 22% 67% 2%

Thank you merchants, and, once again, residents for your time and help com-
pleting these surveys!

Now let’s see how all this work can start to pay off! Come to the community
meetings in October and November to discuss the results and help frame the
next steps for the Rockridge Area Specific Plan (RASP).

See the front page of this insert and The Rockridge News for dates and times.

— The RASP Committee