Podcast: Transportation Commission 10/29/09

Audio from the October 29, 2009 Berkeley Transportation Commission meeting: Update on Process Timeline of Berkeley's Locally Preferred Alternative for Bus Rapid Transit; Quiet Zone Feasibility Stody & Follow-Up Discussion and Recommendation; Water Emergency Transit Association (WETA) presentation on Ferry Terminal; Discussion re Commission on Disability Recommendations on vertical Deflection Devices; Ashby/Highway 13 Corridor Projects (3:33:27, 195 MB) Listen.

Podcast: Willard Neighborhood Association BRT meeting 9/24/09

Discussion about Berkeley city staff's Locally Preferred Alternative for Bus Rapid Transit on Telegraph Avenue, at a meeting hosted by the Willard Neighborhood Association along with Le Conte, Claremont-Elmwood, Halcyon and Bateman neighborhoods, held on September 24, 2009 at Willard Middle School in Berkeley, California. Listen. (1:57:23, 107MB)

Signs of the times

Are you sure you want more signs in the neighborhood?

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Podcast: Transportation Commission 5/21/09

Audio from the May 21, 2009 Berkeley Transportation Commission meeting: Audio from last week's Transportation Commission meeting: Workshop on Ashby/Highway 13 Transportation Mitigation Projects (2:10:34, 120 MB) Listen. (Originally posted at Berkeley Public Transit blog)

Recording of Ashby/Hillegass meeting 6/30/2005

I actually published this meeting back in 2005 on Archive.org, but never blogged about it here. This is the meeting on 6/30/05 where then-Transportation Manager Peter Hillier described the issues at Ashby and Hillegass, and how the city intended to work through them. As we enter another period of negotiation between Caltrans, the city and the neighborhood, this is an important audio recording of what has come before. Listen.

Recording of Ashby/Hillegass meeting 6/4/2005

On June 4, 2005, I recorded a meeting between City Councilman Kriss Worthington and residents of the Willard and Bateman neighborhoods about options for a traffic signal at Ashby and Hillegass. Given the imminent funding of Ashby improvements such as this signal, I want to now publish this audio to help inform anyone concerned about this intersection. Listen.

I have closed down comments for this blog until I can figure out how to delete some spam comments on previous posts. If you have comments on this issue, please email me at the link provided here in my profile.

Photos of Hillegass & Ashby

Here is a set of photos I took of Hillegass & Ashby during a typical late June afternoon, around 5 p.m. Summer vacation means less motor vehicle traffic here, but as you can see, it's still plenty of traffic.

Ironic start of fire season in Berkeley

Someone at city hall has a sense of humor, to release the press release, "Fire season begins" on an extremely rare rainy June day in Berkeley. But vegetation needs to get cut back, and tomorrow the rain will be gone and the threat still there. I just think they should have held off for a day until it was sunny again.

Meeting flyers distributed

I distributed meeting flyers today to the neighborhood. I included a few buildings on the south side of Russell and the north side Ashby, near Hillegass. If you get one of these flyers and know someone in your building who didn't see them, please let them know about the October 19 meeting. Also, please visit our new neighborhood Web site and register yourself there if you wish.

Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness notes

Willard Neighborhood Association's notes on

Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Organization

1. Introduction-
   
   a. Introduce facilitator(s) and have group introduce themselves
   
   b. Use Berkeley CERT Disaster Preparedness Handbook as model and reference (show copy)
   

   i. The “Neighborhood Organization” section is organized into 3 parts, we will cover the 1st section about how to best organize your immediate neighborhood and keep your group going.
   
   ii. We strongly recommend going through the entire CERT Handbook to gain real expertise in complete disaster preparedness.

   c. Remember, before you can assist the neighborhood, you must first, take care of your home and your family – see the CERT Handbook (and Home Safety Emergency Prep Guide?)
   
   
2. Getting Started – Hopefully at this very meeting!
   
   a. Define “the immediate Neighborhood” and who will be included in the group. Don’t get too big! Use natural boundaries (line-of-sight, apartment buildings, central gathering spots, etc.) You should start small and can always expand.
   
   b. Once you have defined the group, the next step is collecting information:
   

   i. Make a “contact sheet” (CERT, pg. 44) or a “contact map” (Oregon / Regent Neighborhood)
   
   ii. Map the neighborhood and mark water, gas and electrical shut-offs as well as water spigots and hoses in case fire suppression is required. This is a great committee assignment and helps neighbors familiarize themselves with the neighborhood. You can get a copy of a map at the City of Berkeley Permit Center (CERT, pg. 45)
   
   iii. Collect Family Information from each neighbor – another great task for a “Leadership Committee” (CERT, pg. 46) and collect the “Skills and Equipment Checklist” (CERT, pg. 47).

3. The next step – provide an overview. How does all this come together during a disaster?
   
   a. Look at the CERT handbook pg. 56 “Day of Disaster Checklist” note:
   

   i. After self assessment, hang a green/white/whatever agreed-upon color our
   front and proceed to designated gathering spot
   
   ii. After check in with coordinator(s) look at general information or special instructions posted on bulletin board
   
   iii. Proceed with pre-determined assignments (see section
   III,b)

   b. If you still have time and the energy, begin to determine who in the group might be willing to serve
   on various committees or perform these pre-determined assignments:
   

   i. Disaster Coordination / Block Captain(s) (CERT pg. 58)
   
   ii. Communications (CERT, pg. 59)
   
   iii. Search & Rescue (CERT, pg. 61) including:
   
   -----1. damage assessment
   -----2. security
   
   iv. Medical / 1st Aid (CERT, pg. 62)
   
   v. Fire Suppression (CERT, pg. 63)
   
   vi. Logistics including: (CERT, pg. 65)
   
   -----1. food / meals
   -----2. sanitation
   -----3. shelter
   -----4. child, elder, pet care

4. If we get this far on the first meeting, we have done great! The next meeting needs to accomplish the following:
   
   a. Review roles of different Committees/Tasks and determine where “gaps” are with volunteers”
   
   b. Bring others into the meeting and educate them on the process so far
   
   c. Begin discussion, leading to consensus, on:
   

   i. Exact signal for letting neighbors know your home is okay
   
   ii. Location of designated gathering spot
   
   iii. Access to your homes –
   
   -----1. How aggressively will you allow neighbors to search and enter your property?
   
   -----2. Do you want to share keys to your homes?
   
   -----3. Are you comfortable having the “Committee” turn off your utilities
   
   iv. Group supplies –
   
   -----1. Are you willing to share personal supplies and tools?
   
   -----2. Do you want to collect funds to purchase group supplies?
   
   v. Security – how aggressive/tight do you want to make neighborhood security?
   
   vi. Does your neighborhood have special concerns that would impact you
   in a disaster?
   
   -----1. Alta Bates
   
   -----2. UC
   
   -----3. Traffic corridors
   
   -----4. Fire Stations
   
   -----5. Willard School/Park
   
   -----6. People’s Park

   d. Review the data you have collected since your first meeting
   
   e. Develop action items for your next meeting
   
5. Long Range
   
   a. Make sure committees are “staffed” and information is updated as neighbors move in/out
   
   b. Consider adding a social event to further consolidate the neighborhood (like a block party)
   
   c. Participate in area-wide drills and keep current with local government (utilize the WNA!)

Central Hillegass Neighborhood weblog

This is a weblog for the Central Hillegass Neighborhood, just north of Ashby Avenue in Berkeley, California.