# The Rockridge News - February 2000

- Issue ID: 2000_02
- Source PDF: issues/2000_02.pdf
- Rendered pages: 2 of 2

## Extracted Text

Visit RCPC and The Rockridge News on the Web! www.rockridge.org

RoéckridgeNews

VOL. 15 * NO 2 + ISSUENO. 154 + FEBRUARY 5, 2000

Sponsored by The Rockridge Comununity Planning Council + 5856 Colle

CIRCULATION; 5,300 RESIDENCES

21K) BUSINESSES

ye Awe #150 + Oakland, CA 94618 + 814-6060

RCPC General
Meeting Agenda

Thursday, February 17, 2000, 7:30 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library,
5366 College Avenue (at Manila)

@ Oakland School Board
District | Candidates’ Debate
and Panel Discussion.

n March 7 voters will be faced

with two choices that may pro-
foundly affect the status of Oakland
schools. Oakland's current school
board unanimously opposes the pro-
posed charter change that would
allow Mayor Jerry Brown to appoint
three new board members and

“ay” unanimously supports the Facilides

Bond Measure

Hear candidaces Kerry Hamill and
Tania Kappner battle it out for

che Discrict | schoo! board seat.
(See candidote interviews, poges 7
and 8.) Listen to Ms. Marmill, Ms.
Kappner, Schoo! Beard President
Oan Siege! and current District #

| School Board Member Ken Rice
debate the ballot measures, the
results of the FCMAT (Fiscal Crisis
and Management Assessment Team)
findings and the Academic Perfor-
mance Index Report as it relates to
Oakland schools. (Chart, page 1S.)

INSIDE

Librarian Gay Oucey ............. 0
Zoning: Chabot Park; CCAC veversrses

Transportation: Caldecott Tunnel 4
RCPC: Finances; Board Elections......... 5
Rockridge Park Proposals

Hardy Park Dog Park ........
chool Board Candidate Interviews. 8-9
“lockridge Muse
Calendar, Classifieds .
Neighborhood Merchant
Crime Report

Debate: City Attorney Candidates
Campaign at RCPC Meeting

Incumbent Jayne Williams and
contender John Russo present their
qualifications for Oakland City
Attomey to Rockridge residents

by Mary MacDonald

Pas first time in Oakland's history,
the City Aulorney will be elected by
the citizens of Oakland in the March 7
election. This “first” is one of the results
of the “Strong-Mayor™ charter amendment
adopted by Oakland voters in 1998,

In a debate sponsored by RCPC at
its January 20 meeting, incumbent City
Attorney Jayne Williams emphasized
her managerial skills and experience in
municipal law while challenger John
Russo, currently Councilmember for
District 2, touted his breadth of experience
and willingness to use the city attorney
position to help direct the City's course.

Each candidate was given the oppor-
tunity to make @ presentation, answer
written questions from the audience,
and make closing remarks. Williams
was appointed thirteen years ago by the

Photo: Cv Gulussa
Williams and Russo wind up
debate with classic handshake.

City Council, having previously been
the Personnel Director for Oakland. She
cited hee experience in dealing with the
legal aspects of the effects of major
natural crises experienced in Oakland---
the Lora-Prieta earthquake, the OQukland
Hills firestorm, and the effects of El Nitto
— and her “strong” management skills
in presiding over a staff of 36 attorneys,

See “City Attorney Debate,” poge 4

Dreyer’s Permit: Council Delays Vote
on Permit Extension

by Chad Thompson,
RCPC Chair

he Oakland = City

Council has delayed its
final decision on whether
to approve a third exten-
sion of zoning permits for
Dreyers' College Avenue
expansion project. The
extension had been granted
by the Planning Commis-
sion in October, but RCPC
appealed the decision to

the City Council

The final vote is now
scheduled for February 15,
but the delay appears to
be pro forma: key coun-
cil members made clear
at the Council mecting
on January 25 that they
had already made up their
minds to support the exten-
sion and to vote against
RCPC’s appeal.

The Planning Commis-

sion approved the Dreyer’s
extension in October with-
out reviewing the original
EIR, prepared in 1995-96,
to see whether change of
circumstances required
a new or further envi-
ronmental review (see
The Rockridge News, Janu-
ary &. “Heuring Set for
RCPC Challenge,” page
3). RCPC has been point-

See “Dreyers,” page 3
February 5, 2000

R&ckridge News

Dreyers

oo page I

ing out that a request for a third extension
is extraordinary, especially for a project
of this type, and that the findings in the
EIR may no longer be reliable

CPC's position is that the Planning

cCOMMiIssiOn t quirements
of the Calfornia Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA), It should have conducted a
new study to determine whether the old
EIR could s and included
the results 1

ned for reconsid-
“ommussion declined

all too comf his disturbing
state of affairs. Assistant City Attorney
Ralph Wheeler informed the Council thar it
could not require an EIR review unless the
Proponent altered the project, regardless
of any changed ¢ os. A majority of

rr 7 . -
om ‘he Council feels that CEQA requirements

“sre of little import
the need to be ©

Ithough the publ

closed on this m
speak at the public com
February 15 to let th
you feel abour the
disregard of legal requirements and neigh-
borhood concerns

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Cnasot Pars

Recreation al 238-3092

GON
APPUCATION FOR GOMDIMTIOMAL

@ North Oakland Litlle league (NOLL) has submitted a request to install two

batting cages on City property at the rear of Chabot Park. Specifically, the
roe site is behind the existing storage shipping containers along the right field
‘oul line, Each batling cage will measure 72 feet long, 12 feet wide ond 12 feet tall
made with steel framing and galvanized chain link fence material, The interior space
will have waven nylan sesh for additional porticipent protection, home plete and o
pitcher's mound. The batling coge will be locked when not in use

This matter will be brought before a public hearing of the Park and Recreation
Advisory Commission on Wednesday, February 9, 2000 ot 4:00 P.M. of 1520
lokeside Drive, The public is inviled to attend. IF you ore unable to ottend, you
moy submil your writlen comments to Area | Monoger James P. Ryvao, 1520
lakeside Drive, Gakland, CA, 94612.

ING

ems=-
eG PERM

You may coll the Office of Parks and

CCAC Student Housing Proposal Generates
Neighborhood Concerns, Spawns Meeting

Neighbors will host presentation

by Chad Thompson, RCPC Zoning and
Design Review Committee Chair

brief introduction to CCAC’s pro-

posed new housing project generated
a lively discussion at the January RCPC
general meeting. Neighbors expressed
concerns about the size and design of
the building, parking problems, building
maintenance, among others.

With insufficient time to discuss all of
the issues, neighbors Patty Brunn and Fred
Womack agreed to host a more in-depth
meeting Thursday, February 10, 7:30 p.m
at their home at 5233 Broadway Terrace.
CCAC has an ambitious project schedule:
now is the time Lo get invelved to ensure a
positive neighborhood contribution

For further information contact
RCPC at 814-6060) or E-mail
chadthom®concentric.net

5 College avenue nursery school COOP C5
5951 College Avenue ¢ Oakland, CA ¢ 653-3699 \

Tuition: $50-375/month

The College Avenve CO-Op. a parent run CO-op in the heart of Rockridge ,
is now admitting for vinler!spring 200)

Ages 2-5 years M-F 9:36-1:00
Contact: Ana 633-6001

GRAND

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