Berkeley Weekly Update - 12/5/23

Five Year Paving Plan Approved

Last week, the City Council approved the Five Year Paving Plan. This plan is different from previous plans in that it will triple the amount of work done compared to previous years. This is achieved due to new funding sources. Last year, Council committed to add an additional $8 million annually from the General Fund, with annual inflation adjustments, in order to prevent further deterioration of City streets. An additional $1-$2 million will be allocated from the Zero Waste Fund to offset the impact of large Zero Waste collection vehicles on streets. Funds from the Storm Water Fund are also included, to incorporate green infrastructure into repaving.

Over the next five years, nearly $90 million will be spent on street paving and related improvements for all forms of transportation. Highlights of major routes to be repaved include all of MLK Jr Way and The Alameda up to Solano Avenue, University Avenue from MLK Jr Way to 6th St, Sacramento from Hopkins St to the Oakland Border, and a significant number of streets in the Southside Neighborhood, including Telegraph Avenue, Bancroft Way, Dwight Way, and Piedmont Avenue. Council also requested that Hopkins Street be repaved by the end of Fiscal Year 2027. For a full list of streets to be repaved over the next five years, click here.

Celebrating Improvements at the Berkeley Marina

City and State officials, along with City staff, commissioners, and community members, celebrated major milestones on improving and maintaining the Marina and Waterfront. Recently completed projects include the repaving and traffic safety improvements of various streets at the Marina, replacement of 66 finger docks, electrical improvements at O and K docks, and the replacement of over 60 wooden pilings that were failing.

These completed projects represent a small portion of the over $37 million in improvements to the Marina and Waterfront that are currently planned or underway. Funding has been allocated to various other projects including D and E dock replacement, renovation of the Cesar Chavez Perimeter Trail, renovation of restrooms, and planning, design and environmental analysis of a new pier and ferry service. Funding for these projects come from a wide range of sources, including Measure T1, the Marina Fund, Capital Improvement Project Fund, and state grants.

AC Transit Realign

AC Transit Realign is a comprehensive review of the bus network to respond to shifts in riders' travel patterns. Each draft service scenario has been shaped by community input concerning crucial travel needs, and each scenario demonstrates how it will advance community mobility. Your comments will help inform the development of a single, preferred service plan for implementation in August 2024.

The comment period for this phase ends on December 13.

You can submit comments online, in-person at a meeting, or at a local library. Our online workshop is on December 7 at 6 pm. You can find more information at actransit.org/realign.

Chancellor's Community Partnership Fund

The 18th cycle of the Chancellor's Community Partnership Fund has launched!

In the 2024-25 grant cycle, the Chancellor's Community Partnership Fund will make approximately $315,000 in grants to catalytic community-campus partnerships.

The UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Community Partnership Fund (the Fund) invests in projects and programs that establish new or existing partnerships between UC Berkeley and Berkeley community entities that improve the quality of life for people who live or work in Berkeley.

Applications are due February 2, 2024, with awardees announced in May. For more details, click here.

Holiday Tree Waste

When selecting your tree this holiday season, consider a plan that reduces waste and fits the City's disposal rules for when the season is over. Living trees can be rented for the season or planted in your yard after the holidays to avoid waste altogether. If you decide to buy a cut tree or have other ideas for your holiday tree experience, know which trees can be composted and which go to the trash and landfills.

When it's time to dispose of a compostable tree, you’ll have to remove all lights, decorations, tinsel, plastic bags, and plastic tree stands. You'll have to cut the tree to fit inside your green compost cart with the lid closed. You can also drop off a compostable tree at the Berkeley Transfer station, which will provide free drop-off services in January. For more details, click here.

Holiday Toy Drive

The City of Berkeley is hosting a toy drive and is requesting unused, unwrapped toys that will be donated to Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) for children ages 4-16. The drive-up and drop-off events at the Berkeley Police Department will be held on December 2nd from 10 am to 6 pm, December 12th from 4 pm to 8 pm and December 17th from 10 am to 6 pm. We will also host two additional drop-offs on Fourth Street on December 7th and 15th from 4 pm to 8 pm to engage with the community and bring a little holiday spirit to the retail neighborhood.

Holiday Party Canceled

Regrettably, due to an unanticipated scheduling conflict, the Mayor’s office is unable to host a holiday party this year. While we are saddened that we will not be able to hold this event, we encourage you to patronize local businesses, donate to our selected community nonprofits - the Berkeley Holiday Fund and Alameda County Community Food Bank, and/or a charity of your choice.