
Extracted text · highlighting “John Gussman”
Rockridge News Sponsored by * THE RoCKRIDGE COMMUNITY PLANNING COUNCIL * 5856 COLLEGE AVENUE #130" OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA® 94618 Circulation: 4,500 Residences; 200 Businesses Vol. 4 No.8 Issue No. 42 December 16, 1989 Scissors City This issue of The Rockridge News is a coupon clipper’s delight. With a few deft snips of your scis- SOrs, you Can register your candidacy for a position on the RCPC Board of Directors (page 2), ask the City Council to resume live coverage of their meetings (page 6), and make a donation to the Neighborhood Legal Fund (page 3). Ah, yes. The Legal Fund. Rocked by earthquakes and socked by the holidays, donations to the fund have been less robust this past month. Nevertheless, the need con- linues. The suit against the City 1s beginning its move into the courts (page 3) and expenses are on the rise. Please take a moment now to make your donation for the Neighborhood. — Don Kinkead A\ll! WE Gy ae ee Ml on; NO 2 o o Aw Ly, 000 Si 000 $14,000 $12,000 $10,000 12/10/89 | $8,513. ‘ste ee ee $8,000 o eLaapeemes weer “~~ $4,000 2) 9/16/89 ($250.00: Start Monday Jan 3 7:30 PM Tuesday Jan 9 7:30 PM Wednesday Jan17 7:30PM Saturday Feb19 TBA Wednesday Feb21 7:30PM RCPC Membership To Vote For New Board Members In 1990 Two Polling Dates: February 17 and 21 Neighborhood voters will cast their ballots in February for five new members of the ten member RCPC Board of Directors. The new directors will serve a two year term, until 1992, Outgoing directors are Beth Allen, Barbara Anderson, Lisa Curet, Nancy Dutcher, and John Gussman. Directors Glen Jarvis, Don Kinkead, Brooke Levin, Bill Manley and Andréa Walhof will serve through 1991. Neighbors Vote ByLaws Update At the November 15 RCPC general meeting, Neighbors approved bylaws changes to update RCPC election pro- cedures and clarify boundaries. ELECTION SCHEDULES The annual election meeting will now be held in February, with an alter- nate voting date on the Saturday before the meeting. A separate “candidates’ forum” will be held earlier in the month. Proxy voting is abolished. MEMBERSHIP AREA REFINED Other amendments adopted delete that portion of the membership area in Berkeley, and clarify that when a mem- bership boundary is along a street, both sides of the street are included (except along 51st Street). CANDIDATE PROCEDURES AMENDED A change adopted by the board of directors at its most recent meeting will now provide that persons wishing to become candidates for election to the board may do so by notifying the direc- See “Procedures,” page 3 Dates Calendar Events Calendar Dates VoTER ELIGIBILITY Voters must be at least 18 years of age and will be asked to verify their residence within the Rockridge area as defined in the ByLaws of the Rock- ridge Community Planning Council. (See Page 2 for a written description of the membership boundaries.) New ELECTION PROCEDURES Procedures for the 1990 annual election will reflect changes adopted by the general membership in Novem- ber. There will be an alternative vot- ing time for at least three hours during the day on February 17th, the Saturday immediately preceding the annual meeting date, the third Wednesday evening in February. Also, there will be a Candidates’ Forum on Thursday See “Election,” page 2 Hrason’s Greetings From RECPBC and The Rotkrisge Retws There will be no December General Meeting RCPC Board Meeting City Council RCPC General Meeting College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 5951 College Avenue Kirst day of RCPC Election. Time and location to be announced. RCPC General Meeting/Election: 2nd Day College Avenue Presbyterian Church Garden Center, Lake Merritt. RASP Grant. (Check with City Clerk.) eee nee ee ee ee OF FES ee Pe Be Se ee Page 2 The Rockridge News December 16, 1989 Ls, Election Notice On February 21, 1990, the Rockridge Community Planning Council will hold its annual elec- tion meeting. Directors will be elected to fill five (5) seats on the Board of Directors. Voting will commence at 7:30 p.m. at the College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 5951 College Avenue. The polls will also be open on Saturday, February 17; the place and time will be announced in the January issue of The Rockridge News. Persons interested in becom- ing candidates for the board of di- rectors should notify the Board of Directors in writing, no later than January 5, 1990. (or sent by cer-. tified mail, no later than January 3, 1990.) ) Candidates must be at least 18 years of age, and must reside within the RCPC boundaries. RCPC Membership Boundaries (Amended November 15, 1989) That area of the City of Oakland lying within the following boundaries: Begin at the intersection of College Avenue and Woolsey Street in the City of Berkeley, and proceed in a direct line to the end of Chabot Road in the City of Oakland; then due south to Broadway; then along Broadway to the intersection of Broadway and Brookside Drive; then in a direct line to the intersection of Ocean View and Mar- garido Drive; then along Margarido Drive to the intersection of Margarido, Manila, and Acacia Avenue; then along Manila Avenue to the intersection of Broadway and Monroe Avenue; then along Monroe Ave- nue to the intersection of Monroe Avenue and Carlton Street: then to the intersection of Carlton Street and Broadway Terrace; then along Broadway Terrace to the inter- section of Broadway Terrace and Broad- way; then to the intersection of Broadway and Slst Street; then to the intersection of Sist Street and Clarke Street; then to the intersection of Clarke Street and Claremont Avenue; then to the intersection of Clare- mont Avenue and Colby Street; then to in- tersection of Colby Street and Woolsey Street; then returning to the intersection of Woolsey Street and College Avenue. RCPC Election Procedures, Schedule Set For 1990 Vote Election from page 1 evening, February 15th. On recom- mendation of the Elections committee, the membership eliminated proxy vol- ing, and supported expanded coverage of candidates’ views in the monthly newsletter. CANDIDATES SOUGHT Candidates for the 1990-1992 Di- rector positions must send notice of their interest in writing (see convenient “Statement of Intent ” coupon below or write) to: Nancy Dutcher, Secretary Rockridge Community Planning Council 5856 College Avenue #130 Oakland, California 94618 Friday, January 5 Candidates must be at least eighteen years old, interested in the purposes of the organization, and a permanent resi- dent within the membership bounda- ries. Statements of intent must be re- ceived at the above address no later than January 5, 1990 (or sent by certi- fied mail no later than January 3, 1990). Subject to verification of eligibility, candidates will be listed in the January 12, 1990 issue of The Rockridge News. Each candidate may submit a statement for publication in the newsletter. Statements must not exceed 150 words and must be received at the above address no later than January 5, 1990, or mailed, subject to the same filing requirements as above. RCPC Election Schedule: 1990 Deadline for receipt of Statement of Intent and Candidate’s Statement Friday, January 12 Wednesday, January 17 List of Candidates and Candidates’ Statements published in January Rockridge News RCPC General Membership Meeting College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 7:30 pm Thursday, February 15 1990 Election Candidates’ Forum, College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 7:30 pm Saturday, February 17 1990 Annual Election of RCPC Board of Direc tors (Alternate daytime Polling Date) Wednesday, February 21 1990 Annual Meeting, Election of RCPC Board of Directors College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 5951 College Avenue, 7:30 pm ge pie i) Ae EE, SGA NELLA RI ea , Statement Of Intent To Be A Candidate For | | The RCPC Board of Directors 1990-1992 I hereby state my intent to be a candidate for the RCPC Board of Directors (1990-1992). Iam 18 years of age or older and I reside permanently within the RCPC membership boundaries. Name: Address: Phone (Work): Send to: Nancy Dutcher, Secretary 5856 College Avenue #130 L. Phone (Home): I enclose my Candidate’s Statement (150 words maximum length) for publication in the January issue of The Rockridge News. Rockridge Community Planning Council Oakland, California 94618 Statements must be received at the above address no later than January 5, 1990 (or sent by certified mail no later than January 3, 1990). De a eal cies a ak el i be i oe ae —— a as ~~ Qf om 0 Oe December 16, 1989 We" ae AT ee OO Cee BST VO e_F 4 BAe er &. OFS et i ee OO en The Rockridge News of ater ee re. ¢ 7*lA4 ? i a a Be ee a eee Page 3 From The | - Zoning Counter | MEDICAL INSURANCE EXCHANGE OF CALIFORNIA (MIEC) 6250 CLAREMONT AVENUE (ER 89-42/CMD 89-317) As reported in the October 1989 Rockridge News, the City determined that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was required. According to Mr. Charlie Bryant, City Environmental Officer, the applicant has yet to begin the process. SHELL STATION 5755 BROADWAY AT TAFT City staff denied the application for Design Review to modify the build- ing’s exterior. Denial was based on the Planning Department’s finding that “the proposed design does not take into consideration the significant visual exposure of the site. Broadway is one of the City’s primary arterial streets linking North Oakland with down- town.” No appeal was filed and the appeal period has passed. City DESIGN REVIEW The City Council approved the staff recommendation to move forward on city-wide design review. The check- list process proposed by Planning Di- rector Alvin James will now be refined by representatives of neighborhood groups, the AIA, developers and the Oakland Development Council, etc. Meeting dates will be publicized by the City. — Brooke Levin Rusty Miller, C.M.T. Rosen Method Bodywork A gentle, precisely attentive bodywork which facilitates and supports... ¢ the release of physical and/or emotional pain © the release of muscular tension ¢ the process of self-awareness and transformation (415) 653-9113 insurance available Where Is City Hall Now? CanYou Get There From Here? Because several City buildings were so damaged by the quake that they have had to be temporarily closed, some official offices and functions have been temporarily relocated to other ad- dresses. The following is a list of of- fices and current phone numbers: GENERAL INFORMATION — CITYLINE 444-2489 Office of Public Works 372-3961 1330 Broadway — 2nd Floor At the same location: Zoning Department 451-6210 also— 451-6321 Building Department 273-3443 Planning Department 451-6210 Permit Department 273-3444 Earthquake Damage Assessment 273-3137 Other Offices, Other Locations: City Manager 273-3301 475 14th Street Traffic & Engineering 273-3466 7101 Edgewater Drive — Compiled by Lisa Curet * ‘Storage Space Available in garage... Claremont-Rockridge area. Call 547-8070. (Not suitable for automobiles.) | RCPC Seeks Halt To Demolition Process In a step preliminary to beginning construction on their proposed head- quarters project, Dreyer’s has applied for demolition permits to raze struc- tures currently on the project site, in- cluding the two residences on Chabot Road near College. On December 13 — just as The Rockridge News went to press — RCPC filed a petition in Supe- rior Court to prevent the City’s issu- ance of demolition permits. RCPC believes that irreparable harm to the residential character of Chabot Road will result if the destruc- tion of these houses is not prevented. RCPC also contends that construction on the project at this time would preju- dice the community’s right to a full hearing on the merits of the case. Procedures from page 1 tors in writing no later than December 31 of any given year, unless a later date has been specified by the board. (For the 1990 election, the board has desig- nated January 5 as the deadline.) fs »’ Beginning Tai Chi Chuan Classes Starting January 10th. Strength, awareness, healing for body, mind, spirit. Centered, fluid, meditative movements. Gentle aproach. College Avenue location. Karen 268-1777 [Oa FEE ESE: ROCKRIDGE COMMUNITY PLANNING COUNCIL _ NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL FUND DONATION FORM Enclosed is my check payable to the RCPC Neighborhood Legal Fund to help cover expenses in the RCPC vs. City of Oakland suit (Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc. project approval). I understand this is a tax-deductible donation. $ NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL FUND Name: Address: borate 2 Rockridge Community City/Zip: Planning Council 5856 College Avenue #130 Phone Oakland, CA 94618 i i aes SANE Yow Jor YOUr SUpporE: —— a ee eee ee Page 4 The Rockridge News December 16, 1989 Library Plans Advance Neighborhood Survey Supports Assessment Plan by Nancy Dutcher Thanks to eighty-six per cent of those responding to the recent library survey in support of an assessment dis- trict, the Rockridge Library Committee feels we can now move to establish the assessment district that will become part of a funding package for a new Rockridge Library. Meeting on Monday, December 11, Councilmember Marge Haskell, Ezra Rapport of the City Manager’s office, Terry Brown of the City Attorney’s office, and Nancy Dutcher and Andy Young of the Rockridge Library Com- mittee established a timetable to place an assessment district measure on the November ballot. Besides showing support for the assessment district concept, survey re- sults will also help determine the boundaries of the assessment district. Based on comments received on the Surveys, it is clear the assessment should be for a stated period of time and for a specific amount. Early in the New Year, we will begin collecting signatures on a peti- tion requesting the City Council to put the assessment district on the Novem- ber ballot. We are counting on a lot of Neighborhood volunteers to help with this signature campaign. The meeting with city staff and Marge Haskell was encouraging. The library committee fecls that by continu- ing on the path we established we will ensure the assessment district will be put on the November ballot, a first and very important step toward a new li- brary. Be A Tax Early Bird! Make your appointment to prepare your 1989 tax return now! Halliburton Financial Services ° 654-7565 Blocking Sidewalk Driveways Hazardous To Those On Wheels While it may seem harmless and inconsequential to park vehicles in driveways and thus obstruct sidewalks, for people pushing strollers, using wheelchairs, or riding bicycles, it’s not Telegraph Avenue Recycling Center Clones, Migrates The North Oakland Recycling Cen- ter, located at 59th and Telegraph since 1985, has been closed. A new pro- gram, run by the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse at 1027 60th Street (two blocks above San Pablo), is offering the same program with the same mate- rials and the same hours (7 days a week, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), In December, the Oakland Recy- cling Center will be opening a new recycling center at 27th Street and Sycamore under the 980 Freeway, of- fering donation and buyback services to North Oakland residents. The Depot program is a donations—only program. Call the Depot at 547-6470 or the Oakland Recycling Association at 655- 5373 for additional information. — Robin Boone tein? sig? Hig vig Hig? sig Hig. Hi sh vg ry GRAND OPEN Folies tnt goes to College. now open at two locations: 5821 college avenue (near rockridge bart) 4158 piedmont avenue oakland gifts you U lave! wearable art earrings jewelry scarves clothing cP PY oc RY His og Sy. HS og Hts. holiday hours: m-f 10-7, sat. 10-6, sun. 12-5 open till 8:00 piedmont location: dec. 14 & dec. 18-23 college ave location : dec 15 & dec 20-23 $5.00 off any purchase of $20.00 or more at the college avenue store thru dee 31 with this ad HEP HH Hin? Hig a Has 2 iy only frustrating, it’s dangerous. Even drivers who feel they leave ample room for pedestrians to squeeze by or step off the curb don’t realize the difficulty presented to “pedestrians on wheels.” Most baby strollers and wheelchairs are wider than those “ample” spaces and cannot step off curbs. Thus, one alternative for such sidewalk users would be to backtrack to find a useable driveway (one that’s not too craggy or steep), face traffic, and hope that passing vehicles will see the baby in the stroller, the child on the bike, or the person in the wheelchair in time to avoid an accident. The other alternatives — re-routing and using the street as a pathway — are inconvenient and just as perilous. The simple solution is for Rock- ridge residents to be more conscious of neighborhood parking practices, and to remind visitors, repair people, contrac- tors, etc., that blocking sidewalks (even “just for a minute”) could obstruct someone’s life. — Denise Sherer Jacobson acNeeaail 3 ee 33 -~=- oo ** 77 peee - $+ «eee oh 44 -~**e ee ay. Ni a a ae artware ceramics handblown glass kaleidoscopes wind chimes jewelry boxes December 16, 1989 The Rockridge News Page 5 Council Approves Permit Parking For Taft, Boyd, Ocean View, Birch Court by Annette Floystrup Responding to petitions filed by Neighbors, the Oakland City Council voted December 5th to approve permit parking on Taft Avenue between Broadway and College, on Boyd Ave- nue between Forest and Hudson, on Ocean View between College and McMillan, and on Birch Court. According to Kevin Cummings of the City’s Traffic, Engineering and Parking Division, residents now have 90 days to purchase a minimum num- ber of parking permits to finalize the process. Residents may pay the $25 per car fee now for a one year permit Upper Telegraph Challenges Zoning Residents in the vicinity of 59th and Telegraph feel that a recent Planning Commission decision to permit the fab- rication of steel security gates and window guards in the commercial zone near their homes as an “accessory to a retail business” works against their goal to improve Telegraph Avenue. They contend this is actually a “Gen- eral Manufacturing” activity normally permitted only in M-30 or M-40 indus- trial zones. The Upper Telegraph Coalition (UTC) learned that activities not nor- mally permitted or conditionally per- mitted in a given zone may be allowed as an “Accessory Activity” without any variance, use permit or public notice. This means that although a small auto repair shop would be excluded on Telegraph under the moratorium, a large auto supply store would be al- lowed an auto repair facility with up to 3,000 square feet of floor area. UTC is asking neighborhood groups throughout Oakland to work together to resolve the problem of “Accessory Activities”, to revise other commercial zone regulations and to address plan- ning issuessuch as design reivew and sign limitations. For further information, call John Wagers at 653-1871 or Henry Johnson at 655-4464. — John Wagers that will be processed in January. The newly created parking permit Streets will be posted with parking lim- its of 4 hours on Taft and Boyd, and 2 hours on Ocean View and Birch Court. In addition, the part of Birch Court fronting on Claremont Middle School and the temporary library will be posted “No Parking” 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. to maintain that strip for teacher park- ing. The green zone in front of the library will remain. Aside from two non-resident speak- ers, Council allowed one speaker pro and one con from each affected strect. Arguments pro permit parking centered on access to parking during the day by residents without off—street parking, and visitors and service people to Boyd, Taft, Ocean View and Birch Court. Residents complained of being forced to be an unofficial parking lot for BART and pointed out that the UC Berkeley parking survey of 2 years ago proved that for each all-day BART parker, 7 to 15 cars with potential pa- trons of College Avenue businesses were unable to park. Arguments against permit parking centered on free access to the streets by all citizens of the area whether or not they were resi- dents. College Avenue Presbyterian Invites Any And All To Attend Advent Events at 5951 College Avenue, Oakland (Church Office: 658-3665; Pastor Bill Beatty’s Home Phone: 652-7516.) Third Sunday in Advent: December 17th 9:15 a.m. Sunday School — all ages 10:15 a.m. Pre—Worship Inspirational Singing 10:30 a.m. Worship begins. Lighting of the Third Advent Candle 1:00 p.m. Pastor’s Annual Christmas Open House, hosted by the Deacons and Elders of the Church, at 5653 Ocean View Drive, Oakland. All Members and Friends of College Avenue Presbyterian Church, and of our Pastor are invited to attend throughout the afternoon and early evening. Saturday, December 23rd at 6:00 p.m. Meet at the Church for Christmas caroling in the Neighborhood, with a party follow- ing. Bring flashlights. Fourth Sunday in Advent: December 24th 10:00 a.m. Meet at the Rockridge BART station for our annual Bagpipe—led Christ- mas processional, proceeding in to the Sanctuary for the 10:30 a.m. Worship Serv- ice, 7:00 p.m. Annual candlelight Christmas Eve Service, involving kids, as well as the receiving of the Communion. This service is designed particularly for the convenience of young families. New Year's Eve Party on Sunday, Decem- ber 31st, beginning at 8:00 p.m. at the Church. Varied activities for all ages and interests, from watching movies, playing table games, to use of the gymnasium. Serving Good Cooks of the East Bay since 1978 JOHN A. BROW KITCHENWARES EmeryBay Public Market « Emeryville * 654-6462 13 Broadway Lane « Walnut Creek * 943-1001 Page 6 December 16, 1989 The Rockridge News In My View... Comments by Marge Gibson-Haskell City Council, District 1 The following is the text of a letter Councilmember Haskell sent to the BART Board of Directors concerning their plans for an en- vironmental assessment of the Rockrdige BART station. — Editor BART Board of Directors: | understand that your Public Affairs, Access and Leg- islation Committee voted on November 28 to put the Rock- ridge station plan and environmental assessment study on _ your Board consent calendar for December 7. I support the concept of community involvement and the serious consid- eration of a wide range of alternatives. When the Board approves the proposal, there are cer- tain issues I would like to see specifically addressed in the environmental assessment. NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING DEMAND First of all, I think it is necessary that any proposed alternative take into account how parking demand in the neighborhood is affected. EXPLORE Options To PARKING EXPANSION Second, more options to expanding parking space at the Rockridge station should be explored, such as the compa- rable cost of subsidizing augmented AC Transit services, or running or subsidizing a small bus service to the station. [ would also urge the Board to charge the staff with getting the input and cooperation of the surrounding community and the groups that represent its opinions at every stage of the assessment process. Stupy STATION USE In addition, I request that before the actual environ- mental assessment begins, a study of who is actually using the BART station be done. A number of residents think that casual carpoolers, UC students and/or employees, and area merchants and their employees are currently using many of the spaces which should be available to BART patrons. I appreciate your consideration of these concerns. Quake Aftermath: Oakland Potluck Helps Feed Families Oakland Potluck collects food that might otherwise go to waste, passing it on to thirty organizations that operate free dining rooms and brown-bag handouts. After the quake, when national organizations opened up emergency shelters and provided food vouchers, we saw a reduced strain on donated supplies, but soon dining room lines were back, filled by residents of the closed downtown residence hotels and families from the West Oakland Cy- press ordeal. We are on the lookout for: Packaged and canned food; fresh produce; surplus pre- pared food from caterers, restaurants and private parties. Cash donations are used to purchase staples for the organiza- tions we serve. Oakland Potluck « 678 13th Street-Oakland 94612 + 272-0414. Want To See The City Council, Live? e City Council meetings broad- cast live Tuesday evenings on Channel 13? Many of us have, and we want to urge the City to resolve the problem. Since the Council has been meeting at the Garden Center building at Lake Merritt, meetings have only been available as delayed broadcasts, too late to monitor the agenda as it unfolds. Take a moment to write to the Mayor and to City Council- member Marge Haskell at: One City Hall Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612 or send in the coupon below. momo eS —=_€_ Have you missed secing th — —_———— [One City Hall Plaza | Oakland, CA 94612 | Dear Mayor Wilson and Members of the City Council: | Council meetings broadcast ‘nformed and up-to-date on the mediately arrange for the necess the Garden Center to continue Ww | good public access to your meetings. } | | live on TV help keep us latest news. Please im- ary cable extensions to hat you have started — Sincerely, (Name and address) Ideas 4 Unique, Unisex Sweats . = igk J . ve Q i —F_ ‘ . ; 5 3 ‘ , ’ | \ « } ~ \ * 4 5 / ¥ . ~ le » y os : +> . , wes ¥ by : — ' z ~)” Factory Direct - All Cotton Fabrics - Pre-shrunk - Fashion Colors - Updated and classic styles -Great Values for comfortable tops, pants, jackets, shorts and much more! "You'll want to live in these sweats!’ Open Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5 5407 College Ave,Oakland (415) 601-1131 (Next to Hudson Bay Coaffe!) December 16, 1989 The Rockridge News Page 7 Letters To The News Keep BART Green This letter was received last month and inadvertently omitted from the November Rockridge News. — Editor Editor: In response to Sue Hone, October 14, 1989 Rockridge News, page 5, re- garding the Rockridge BART station: Yes, more parking is needed. If an upper level is added, yes, a buffer will be an important aspect to consider to “soften the line between BART facili- tics and surrounding homes.” How- ever, we cannot see how “low-rise apartments might serve this purpose.” FINE JEWELRY DESICN Distinctive Jewelry, Impeccably Handcrafted In Our Shop Custom Designing ¢ Wedding Sets Fine Diamonds ¢ Colored Gemstones Estate Jewelry ¢ Appraisals ¢ Repairs 5482 College Ave., Oakland (Near Rockridge Bart) Adding apartments will only add to the need for more parking. Even if the tenants of these new places had no cars, they would certainly have visitors who would drive to see them, multiplying overall congestion. What will be needed are more trees, bushes and vines all around the perime- ter. The redwood grove at Forest and Shafter must not be removed. Rock- ridge has sacrificed enough for the good of the masses by having the free- way and BART cut it in half. Stores on College Avenue under the Structure would be appropriate, but : ovwrrwrere- . — ss , nd ——— = - - oi ey «¢ eee ee ee eee ARMEN GALLERY Oriental Rugs & Kilims Discover the Traditional Art of the Persian Weavers rea Sizes to Room Sizes Open: Tues.- Sun. 11-6 pm © 6015 College Ave. * Oakland ¢ 655-0167 ° massive planting of vegetation should surround the rest of the parking lot areas. Do not underestimate the impor- tance of a large percentage of vegeta- tion as a pre-requisite to a healthy environment. — Nancy Macleod Parapets And Height Editor: Many Rockridge neighbors who have been following the reconstruction occurring at 5819 Lawton Avenue have been disappointed at the result of our battle to require this owner/contractor to conform to the zoning regulations. The resulting construction is a squarish, 34-foot high, 3-story struc- ture. Consequently, it’s difficult to remember that this owner lost his re- quest for a Minor Variance to build above the 30-foot height limit and was required to observe this limit while being allowed to add a 4-foot parapet wall. We are left wondering just how Oakland’s building codes and zoning ordinances define “parapet wall.” Since, as we have seen at 5819 Lawton, it can so easily be used to evade the 30-foot height limit, just what function was it originally supposed to serve? We have many questions abut the interpretation of this section of the building code and would like to see it clarified so that similar manipulation does not occur again. What has to change so that the 30-foot height limit is actually a meaningful and enforce- able ordinance? —Kathleen Walsh Editor’s Note: RCPC has expressed the same concern in tts challenge to the Dreyer's headquarters project. — RCPC Committee List Listed below are standing committees of the Rockndge Community Planning Council with their respective Chairs and Co-Chairs. Please call | any of the individuals listed if you have questions or problems with what’s going on: CoMMITTEE Cuatr/Co-Cuairs CLEAN RockripGE Gity Baxter 652-8419 DesIGN Review Glen Jarvis 654-5953 LIBRARY Marc Beyeler 654-6787 Nancy Dutcher 653-6018 RASP Andréa Walhof 420-1593 ROcCKRIDGE News Don Kinkead 655-7474 TRAFFIC Bul Manley 658-2419 David Reinke 653-5312 ZONING John Gussman 655-8817 Brooke Levin 653-7522 December 16, 1989 R’ridge Methodist Offers Christmas Eve Service Rockridge residents are invited to Page 8 The Rockridge News Claremont Day Nurseries © Offers a high-quality exciting program for children 2 yrs. through 6 yrs. at an affordable price. celebrate Christmas Eve at the Rock- $396 full time tuition (snacks and hot lunch incl.) ridge United Methodist Church, corner 7 a.m.-6 p.m. of College, Hudson, and Manila Ave- jay, December 24, at 5:00 e emphasis on science and art ° serving the community for over 30 years nues on Sunday e classes available in dance and language 3 convenient locations p.m. | e professional and caring staff ° part-time schedules available The festive annual candlelight | 5830 College 2845 Woolsey St. 1550 Oakview Ave. Christmas Eve service will include tra- Oakland, CA 94618 Berkeley, CA 94707 Kensington, CA 94706 ditional carols and anthems sung by the seals 654-2511 526-1010 RUMC choir and Sunday School. All are welcome, including the young of any age. Contact: RUMC at 652-4155 or Susannah Wood, choir di- rector, 658-0967. FAX & TELEX SERVICES - HIGH QUALITY COPIES + COMPUTER CLASSES : Season § Gr eetings to . - LASER COPYING & CONSULTING - BINDERY SERVICES + COMPUTER/GRAPHIC s Our neighbors from the i - BUSINESS CARDS & DESIGN a 6 : STATIONERY - WORD PROCESSING ie : - UPS SHIPMENTS - BUSINESS, OFFICE & | Management and S taff of Chimes. : - PRIVATE MAIL BOXES COMPUTER SUPPLIES 2 ; “4 | Laurice, Eddie, Renee, Mark, | 654-6504 Christine and Matthew 4 Please Note: M-Th 8am-9 | ea pag Fri rit Chimes will be closed Christmas Day Oakland, CA 94618 Sat 9am-7pm 1 Block to Rockridge BART) as Sun 10am-6pm FAX: 415-654-1133 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK iG New Sunday Hours! e 7 AM to Midnight Monday-Friday i 9AMto Midnight Saturday 9AMto9PM — Sunday “| | 5642 College Avenue At Rockridge BART | | ° \ 428-9256 Va ane Specials good with this ad only. One coupon per customer! |) ~~. | household. Expires in 30 days unless otherwise stated. This ad oe ! | supersedes all others. Prices subject to change without notice. The Rockridge News is published monthly in Oakland except in August and is sponsored by F E A T U R | N G The Rockridge Community Planning Council. G R A F F E O C @) F F E E S Got something planned you'd like to have The Rockridge News 5405 College Ave « Oakland * 558-9622 tellabout? Call Don Kinkead at 655-7474 or write to 5626 OakGrove Open M-F 8-6 « Sat & Sun 8-4 Avenue, Oakland 94618 (of course!) and let us know. @ January issue deadline is January 8th.