Wildfire & Infrastructure

Investing in Preventative Measures & Infrastructure

The devastating wildfires in California during the last three years have led to our increased consciousness about the need for vegetation management and evacuation planning. 

• As mayor in 2019, I was a strong proponent of our City involvement in evacuation drills spearheaded by the Moraga Orinda Fire District (“MOFD”), which is a separate agency from the City.  While MOFD is in charge of fire suppression and reduction of fuel loads, our police will participate in facilitating an evacuation if we ever are confronted with the terrible reality of a wildfire so close to our homes that it becomes necessary or prudent to leave. 

While we hope such a terrible event never happens, preparation is imperative.  Through drills to date and the valuable insight provided by residents who have donated their time to participate, we are continuing to hone methods and to gain further understand of the what messaging systems reach residents when it is time to evacuate. 

• As a council member, I have supported measures that include increased spending on vegetation management on City property as well as attempting to generate further revenue so that we are in a position to implement more preparation and provide further education about wildfire risk, prevention and preparation.

• As a council member I voted to put a one-cent general sales tax on the ballot for the November 3 election, and I support the measure.  General sales taxes cannot be earmarked for particular uses but I support using money generated by the tax for such education about wildfire risk, prevention and preparation.  Our roads and drain system are other needs for which I support the use of the sales tax.  While our Orinda roads have gotten much better in recent years thanks to voter approved measures, we now need to maintain those better roads.  Additionally, there is still much work to be done on our drainage system to avoid future sinkholes and to keep poor drainage from undermining our new roads.  The sales tax would not generate sufficient revenue to address all of the needs in our infrastructure system but could provide a an important source to help meet the many needs.  

Retain Downtown Charm While Offering More

Downtown deserves our attention

• As one of the two members of the Downtown Subcommittee, I have worked for the past four years to build trust among residents to work together on a plan to update our downtown in a way that balances the environment with making space for more Orindans and opportunities to shop, dine and gather here in Orinda. The Thursday night Food Truck gatherings spearheaded by our What’s Up Downtown Orinda leaders in concert with our Planning Director Drummond Buckley shows what we can do when we work together and how much we Orindans value the opportunity to be together.

• I believe we can provide greater opportunity for freedom from the vehicle while we are downtown and simultaneously, enhance our Orinda charm by building community access along San Pablo Creek. Unbeknownst to many of us, the creek runs parallel to Orinda way behind businesses between the Chevron Station and Safeway.  Such access needs to respect the natural resource, and I have met with city leaders in San Luis Obispo to learn how they have not only protected their creek but enhanced its environmental importance while simultaneously provided the opportunity for restaurants to offer creekside dining. 

• Balancing the different factors and sensitivities in and about downtown is something that I am passionate about as a lifelong resident and look forward to continuing to work on during the next four years.

Public Safety & Inclusivity

LET US MAKE ORINDA SAFE & WELCOMING FOR ALL

Orinda has always been a place where I have felt safe.  I am saddened by the stories I have recently heard from my neighbors who have experienced racism and feel unwelcome in Orinda.  Courageous neighbors who have come forward to share their experiences provide an opportunity to make Orinda the welcoming place so many of us already believed it to be by identifying and eliminating racism where in our power to do so to change the causes of these experiences.  Over the last several months, a number of Orindans describe being questioned by neighbors about whether they belong here and have described the experience as making them want to move away.  Other experiences involve fear of police.

In an effort to embrace Orindans who unbeknownst to so many of us have felt marginalized in our midst, we have on the Orinda City Council, opened a public dialogue about policing during which our Police Chief David Cook has outlined practices and policies our Police Department has taken and continues to take to keep us safe, avoid implicit bias in policing in Orinda and to improve transparency in police business.  As a former newspaper reporter, I believe transparency is the key to building confidence.  I am committed to work to continue to improve that transparency and to keep your confidence that the Orinda City Council is working to continue to make Orinda safe.