January 2023
Happy New Year from the City of Dublin! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season, and are looking forward to a happy and healthy 2023! In this edition of Backyard Brief, you'll find information about the next big storm heading our way; the future Jordan Ranch Neighborhood Square; nominating local volunteers for recognition; an upcoming Red Cross blood drive; how to best use your new compost pail from Amador Valley Industries; I-680 roadwork closures; and more.
More Rainstorms Headed Our Way!
The Bay Area's recent deluge may be just the tip of the iceberg, as more rain is expected to arrive on Wednesday and continue into next week. Please follow these safety tips to protect your family, home, and property:
* Keep your car fueled or, if electric, powered. If electric power is cut off, gas stations may not be operable.
* Keep your cell phone charged. Have a car charger on hand.
* Check your emergency supplies (first aid kit, essential medicines, cash, food, water, non-electric can opener, portable radio, flashlights, and spare batteries) and ensure they are in air-tight bags and in handy locations.
* Clear debris from storm drains. Keep a rake on hand to clear debris that may clog storm drains during rain storms.
* Secure or remove items that can blow around.
* Keep garbage cans and cars at least one foot from the curb to avoid blocking storm water flows. More...
Sandbags
If you've already experienced flooding during a prior storm, you will likely experience flooding again. Water flow is expected to exceed channel capacity. City of Dublin Public Works offers free sandbags to Dublin businesses and residents who feel their property is threatened by flooding. Sandbags can be picked up from the City of Dublin Corporation Yard, located at 5709 Scarlett Court. A self-serve, sandbag-filling station with sand, shovels, and bags is also available if the pre-filled sandbags are gone. The City requests that businesses and residents limit the number of sandbags taken to 10 or fewer. Alameda County Public Works Agency also makes sandbags available at their Maintenance and Operations Corporation Yard at 4825 Gleason Drive.
Power Outages
During times of heavy winds, rain, or possible flooding, there is a potential for power outages in the area. To report a power outage, please call PG&E at 800-743-5002. If you see damaged power lines or electrical equipment, call 911 immediately.
PG&E Recommendations
* Always treat low-hanging and downed power lines as if they are energized and extremely dangerous. Keep yourself and others away from them. Be aware that trees, pools of water, and other objects that may be in contact with power lines. Call 9-1-1 immediately to report a downed power line.
* During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, holiday trees, and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
* Customers with generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to crews working on power lines.
* If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.
Mayor and Councilmembers Take Oath, Begin Service
At its meeting held on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, the Dublin City Council certified the November 8, 2022, election results for the offices of Mayor and two City Councilmembers from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. Former Dublin Mayor Tim Sbranti administered the Oath of Office to Councilmembers-Elect Jean Josey and Kashef Qaadri, and former Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty administered the Oath of Office to Mayor-Elect Melissa Hernandez.
Following the ceremonies, the new Dublin City Council voted to appoint Councilmember Michael McCorriston to serve as Vice Mayor for a term of one year, ending in December 2023.
Picture, left to right: Councilmember Sherry Hu, Vice Mayor Michael McCorriston, Mayor Melissa Hernandez, Councilmember Jean Josey, and Councilmember Kashef Qaadri
Dublin City Council Approves Conceptual Plan for the Future Jordan Ranch Neighborhood Square
At its meeting held on Tuesday, December 6, the Dublin City Council approved the conceptual plan for the future Jordan Ranch Neighborhood Square, located on Central Parkway and surrounded by Pino Grande Road, Twain Harte Road, and Pandora Way in the Jordan Ranch development. To come up with a design plan and ideas for park amenities, the City sought community input through a direct mail survey, an online community meeting, and a public meeting held at the future park site. City Staff also engaged SWA Group, a landscape architectural firm, to assist with design of the project.
During the public meeting held at the park site on August 13, 2022, participants provided feedback on their preferences for the park, including a concept plan called, “The Forest.” In addition to a slide hill and fitness stations, "The Forest" plan includes the following amenities:
- One multi-use court that allows for basketball and futsal
- Picnic tables and shade elements adjacent to multi-use court
- Reservable picnic area with shade elements and BBQ
- Fitness Stations
- Playgrounds for ages 2 to 5 years and 5 to 12 years
- Grass area for free play
- Interior pathways for circulation and exercise
It is projected that the future park will open in Summer 2024.
Deadline Approaching to Nominate Individuals or Groups for the 2022 Volunteer Recognition Awards
The City of Dublin is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, and Organization of the Year. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, January 13, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
The purpose of these awards is to recognize outstanding individuals and groups who have contributed to the quality of life in Dublin in 2022. The Young Citizen of the Year recognizes the volunteer service of a Dublin youth currently in the 1st – 12th grade.
The award rules have recently been updated in order to allow for a wider number of recipients. If an individual or an organization has won the award in the past, they cannot be nominated for three years following their previous win. If they've been nominated, but have not won the award, they can be nominated again. Those judging the entries will be looking at the individual's or the organization's accomplishments in the past year, and how they have served the Dublin community; extraordinary challenges they've faced in performing their service to the community; and support they may have received from the community in order to provide their service.
Beginning with the 2022 Volunteer Recognition Event, only three finalists from each category (Citizen of the Year; Young Citizen of the Year; and Organization of the Year) will be invited on stage at the Volunteer Recognition Event. All nominees will be invited to the event. The winner of Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year will each receive $300 for their organization of choice, and the two other finalists from each category will receive $200 for their favorite organization. The Organization of the Year will receive $500, while the other two nominated organizations (finalists) will each receive $200. The Mayor also selects a "Mayor's Award" winner for outstanding work done in the previous year; and the "Mayor's Legacy Award" for outstanding work done over a long period of time.
The winners will be announced at an event to be held at the Shannon Community Center on February 22, 2023. To nominate an individual or an organization, visit www.dublin.ca.gov/vre.
City of Dublin to Host American Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, February 3
On Friday, February 3, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the City of Dublin will host a community blood drive in the Regional Meeting Room at Dublin Civic Center (100 Civic Plaza). Every donation collected by the Red Cross can save up to three lives!
To make a donation, visit RedCrossBlood.org, and use the sponsor code, "DublinCommunity," or zip code "94568" to find Dublin's blood drive. You may also call 1-800-733-2767 to register.
Donors may streamline the donation process by visiting www.RedCrossBlood.org/rapidpass on the day of the blood drive to complete the pre-donation reading and health history questions. The Red Cross asks anyone who feels unwell on the day of their appointment to postpone their donation.
Future blood drives will be held on the following Fridays at the City of Dublin:
* April 7
* June 2
* October 6
* December 1
Schedule Passport Appointments Now for Spring and Summer Travel
If you or your family are looking to travel out of the country for Spring Break or summer vacation, be sure to book your passport renewal appointment soon with the City of Dublin.
In October 2021, the United States Department of Passport Services designated the City of Dublin as an authorized Passport Acceptance Office. Passports are issued only to United States Citizens or Nationals.
Passport applications are accepted by appointment only. There is NO walk-in service available. Appointments are for one passport applicant, up to a maximum of six passport applicants per appointment (i.e., six members of one family).
Appointments are available Monday through Thursday, 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., excluding holidays, at Dublin Civic Center (100 Civic Plaza). Book an appointment here or visit www.dublin.ca.gov/passports for more information about requirements, fees, and additional resources.
The City of Dublin does not accept applications for adult renewals that are going to expire or have expired within the past five years. For renewals, please complete this form, issued by the U.S. Department of State.
Expect Overnight Closures of Northbound I-680 Between State Route 84 and Sunol Boulevard; Future Work to Extend to Alcosta Boulevard
Last month, Caltrans began a new repaving project on northbound I-680 between State Route 84 and the Sunol Boulevard exit. The work involves overnight closures of that stretch of roadway between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, through April.
Detours:
* Regional detours have been activated to advise motorists coming from the South Bay to take I-880/SR-238/I-580 instead of I-680.
* For closures between the Koopman Road and Sunol Boulevard interchanges, drivers should exit I-680 at Paloma Road, take Pleasanton-Sunol Road, and re-enter northbound I-680 at Sunol Boulevard.
* Eastbound drivers should take eastbound SR-84 to I-580.
The work is part of a larger improvement project that will take place on I-680 between Koopman Road in Sunol and Alcosta Boulevard in San Ramon. Caltrans will be repaving I-680 and replacing entire sections of the freeway to enhance safety and provide a smoother ride for motorists. Caltrans will need to close freeway lanes and entire sections of the freeway to complete the work. The project should take about 18 months to complete.
Additionally, work will necessitate closing I-680 for 72 hours on the following holidays in 2023:
* Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 14 - 16)
* Presidents' Day (February 18 - 20)
* Memorial Day (May 27 - 29)
* Labor Day (September 2- 4)
Caltrans will provide additional holiday closure information as soon it becomes available. The public will be notified in advance via traffic advisories, a webpage, and social media.
How to Set Up and Use Your New Composting Pail
In response to the State law (Senate Bill 1383), Amador Valley Industries (AVI) recently began its delivery of free, two-gallon kitchen compost pails to all Dublin residences. AVI is working with property managers of multi-family complexes to coordinate kitchen pail delivery and compost service arrangements.
The kitchen pails can be lined with a newspaper or paper bag in order to collect food scraps and other compostable items. When the pail is filled, the contents should be emptied into your large green compost cart. Learn more.
At the start of 2022, California's Senate Bill 1383 went into effect, which requires compostable materials to be kept out of landfills — including food scraps; food-soiled paper and cardboard; and plant trimmings. The purpose is to prevent the production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and contributor to climate change.
For additional information on how to properly sort compostable items, and tips for preventing food waste, visit StopFoodWaste.org.
If you have not yet received your kitchen pail delivery, please contact AVI at 925-479-9545 or [email protected].
Bring the Kids to Dublin Heritage Park and Museums for "Weekend Wonders"
Join the City of Dublin at Heritage Park and Museums on select Saturdays for "Weekend Wonders," featuring fun, family-friendly activities and events. Local history is discovered through guided activities, adventures, and crafts that explore the past. Weekend Wonders is a year-round program that takes place monthly on select Saturdays, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The next Weekend Wonders event, "Soap Carving," will take place on Saturday, January 14. At this event, children will learn how to make mini-sculptures with soap. The cost is $5.00 for residents; $6.00 for non-residents. Register here.