May 2023
Welcome to the May 2023 edition of the "Backyard Brief"! This edition features information about a new program for Dublin small businesses; the future Dublin Boulevard extension into Livermore; the newly launched Dublin Police transparency portal; "Bike Month" activities; the upcoming opening of The Wave waterpark; a celebration of Asian cultures; information about how you can watch Mayor Hernandez's recent "State of the City" Address; and more!
Mayor Hernandez Delivers the 2023 State of the City Address
On April 19, 2023, at a luncheon hosted by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Dublin Mayor Melissa Hernandez presented the 2023 State of the City Address. The Mayor provided details about the City's finances; current and future development projects; updates on future City parks; roadway maintenance projects; public safety efforts; upcoming events, and more. The full Dublin State of the City Address can be viewed throughout the month of May at trivalleytv.org.
Project Update: Extension of Dublin Boulevard to Livermore
The City of Dublin, in cooperation with Alameda County, the City of Livermore, and the Alameda County Transportation Commission, has plans to extend Dublin Boulevard approximately 1.5 miles eastward through unincorporated Alameda County, from Fallon Road in Dublin to North Canyons Parkway in Livermore. The extension is planned to have four to six travel lanes, a Class I trail on the north side, buffered bike lanes, sidewalks, traffic signals, streetlights, utilities, and landscaping.
The preliminary cost estimate for the project is currently $151.5 million, which includes right-of-way, environmental mitigation, and construction costs. It is expected that Dublin’s share will be approximately $124 million, and Livermore’s share will be approximately $27.5 million, based on the roadway length in each jurisdiction and a split of the portion of the roadway in unincorporated Alameda County. For Dublin’s share, $63 million will be funded with Eastern Development Transportation Impact Fee Funds (EDTIF) collected over time, and $13.5 million from the Tri-Valley Transportation District. The estimated shortfall is $47.5 million, for which Staff will seek grant funding.
In March 2023, the City Council approved setting aside General Fund and Capital Improvement Program Fund reserves over three years to advance the EDTIF portion of the budget.
City of Dublin Launches Small Business Navigator Program
The City of Dublin has announced the launch of the Small Business Navigator Program, a new initiative aimed at providing small businesses in the city with free technical support to assist with their sustainability and growth. The program is part of the City's Business Recovery Playbook and aims to provide timely, relevant, and specific support and expertise to local businesses.
The program provides small businesses with access to qualified service providers in key functional areas, such as business planning and development; marketing and advertising; architecture and space design; technology consulting; and more. The program also provides legal services; human resources and management; financial guidance; and other general services.
To be eligible for the program, businesses must have a brick-and-mortar location in the City of Dublin, possess an active City business license, have fewer than 50 full-time employees, and be independently owned. Requests will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, and accepted on a rolling basis until program funding has been exhausted.
The Small Business Navigator Program is now accepting applications, which can be accessed on the City's website. To learn more about the program, please visit https://dublin.ca.gov/SmallBusinessNavigatorProgram.
Dublin Police Services Creates a Data Transparency Portal
Following the work of the 2021 Community Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, which recommended that Dublin Police Services (DPS) take steps to increase transparency around their work, Dublin Police Services has created a Data Transparency Portal. Dublin Police believe that reliable and comprehensive data is critical to developing solutions to reduce biases, improve policies, and enhance community-police relations. With this in mind, DPS is pleased to present this community resource, which will be updated on an annual basis. Further discussion and information about Dublin Police Services can be found in the DPS Annual Report.
If you have any questions regarding this data, please contact us at police.chief@dublin.ca.gov
Dublin Police Services Invites Youth, Ages 14-18, to Participate in the 2023 Youth Academy
Dublin youth, ages 14 - 18, who have an interest in the field of criminal justice, are invited to participate in Dublin Police Services' annual Youth Academy. This free, week-long course will take place June 5 - 9, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to noon each day. Taught by law enforcement personnel, the Youth Academy offers participants the opportunity to learn about specific elements of the law enforcement profession, such as:
* Backgrounds and Recruiting
* Bomb Squad Unit
* Crime Prevention/ Community Policing
* Crime Scene Investigations
* Gang Identification and Prevention
* K9 Unit
Participants will also tour local law enforcement agency stations and participate in interactive and physical training exercises. Students will be required to pass a background check and must have parental consent. Those interested in participating should complete an online form by Monday, May 8, at 5:00 p.m.
Where Do You Want to See EV Charging Stations in Dublin?
The City of Dublin is creating an electric vehicle (EV) charging station infrastructure plan to support EV adoption. Whether you are the owner of an EV or interested in purchasing or leasing one in the future, we want to hear your opinions to help facilitate the transition to EVs. This will ensure adequate and appropriate EV charging stations are installed in Dublin and prioritize most desired sites.
What will the EV Infrastructure Plan do?
• Identify areas throughout Dublin best suited for EV chargers.
• Recommend the preferred ownership model.
• Identify where grid upgrades may be needed.
• Estimate upfront and ongoing costs of EV infrastructure.
• Compile a list of funding and financing opportunities to reduce costs.
• Increase awareness of EVs.
• Ensure that EV infrastructure is deployed equitably.
As a thank you for completing a survey, you will be entered into a raffle to win 25 Dublin CityDollars for use in the Dublin Marketplace! Five winners will be selected.
May is National Bike Month!
Celebrate National Bike Month in May by participating in events throughout the month, or challenge yourself to bike to work, or wherever, all month long!
Upcoming Events:
Urban Cycling 101 Day 1: Classroom Workshop
Saturday, May 13, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Dublin Library Community Room, 200 Civic Plaza
This FREE class, run by Bike East Bay, is a two-part class for adults and teens, ages 15 and up. The Day One Classroom Workshop covers rules of the road and other basics, such as how to equip your bicycle, fit your helmet, avoid bike theft, ride after dark, and prevent common crashes. A bike is not required for the classroom workshop. For more information or to register, visit BikeEastBay.org.
Urban Cycling 101 Day 2: Road Class
Sunday, May 14, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dublin Library Parking Lot, 200 Civic Plaza
This FREE class, run by Bike East Bay, is for adults and teens, ages 15 and up. Attending the Day One Classroom Workshop is a prerequisite. The road class will be split into two parts with on-the-bike practice sessions to improve handling skills, emergency maneuvers, and the ability to bike confidently and safely on all types of streets and pathways. Part One will include on-the-bike drills in the parking lot, and Part Two will include on-road group practice. Participants are welcome to join for just one or both sessions. A functional bike and helmet are required to participate, and participants are expected to be comfortable with the basics of balancing, pedaling, and steering. For more information or to register, visit BikeEastBay.org.
Bike to Work Day
Thursday, May 18, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Dublin/Pleasanton or West Dublin/Pleasanton BART Energizer Stations
Bike to Work Day is a regional Bay Area event that raises the visibility of bicycling and encourages more people to make healthy, active transportation choices on their way to work, or wherever. Pledge to Ride to receive a map of Energizer Stations where you can pick up your limited-edition Bike to Work Day tote with goodies and coupons, and enjoy refreshments and snacks. When you pedal by the Dublin/Pleasanton or West Dublin/Pleasanton BART Energizer Stations, you can also enter the Dublin Marketplace raffle for a chance to win $25 worth of Dublin CityDollars. The Dublin CityDollars can be used at the Dublin Marketplace for a variety of local goods and services. REI will also be conducting bike surveys at the West Dublin/Pleasanton Energizer Station. For more information visit BikeEastBay.org.
Bike to Market Day
Thursday, May 25, 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Ride your bike to the Dublin Farmers’ Market at Emerald Glen Park between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to receive $5.00 in “Market Money” to spend at the Market.
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The City of Dublin and APAPA Present: 2023 Asian Heritage Celebration
The month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To celebrate, the City of Dublin and the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) invite you to enjoy a celebration of Asian cultures on Saturday, May 6, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., at Dublin High School Center for Performing Arts and Education (8151 Village Parkway).
The evening will include spectacular performances including Kung Fu, classic Chinese and Chinese dances, Bollywood dance, choir, accordion, vocal, and band performances.
Tickets are $10.00 per person and can be purchased at www.dublinrecguide.com, using activity code 69434.
All proceeds benefit the City of Dublin's Heritage and Cultural Arts programs.
The Wave Waterpark to Open Memorial Day Weekend for Summer Fun in the Sun!
Save the Date! The Wave waterpark opens for the summer season on Memorial Day weekend, May 27 – 29, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Daily operations begin Saturday, June 3. Pre-sale tickets and reservations for cabanas and loungers for the Summer 2023 season are now available at DublinRecGuide.com.
The Wave Waterpark features a Slide Tower, featuring six thrilling rides; the Splash Zone for young children; the outdoor Paul McCreary Sports Pool; and the Natatorium for indoor swimming. Outdoor games are also available for visitors.
Looking for a fun place to host your child's summer birthday party? There's no better place for a party than The Wave! Birthday party rentals are available from June 3 through August 27. Visit The Wave website for more information!
City of Dublin Introduces the "Go, Park, Read!" Program Featuring 10 Little Libraries
The City of Dublin has installed 10 Little Library boxes at parks throughout the city. This temporary public art program encourages the community to "Take a Book, Share a Book!" Little Library boxes provide 24/7 access to books and encourage literary proficiency by sharing favorite books with the community through the honor system. The City of Dublin partnered with the Friends of the Dublin Library, Inc., to provide books at the onset of the program.
Through an open call-for-artists and selection process, 10 local artists were selected to paint pre-fabricated library boxes, enhancing the program through visual arts. Artists were encouraged to be as creative as possible when approaching this project. The final designs are inviting and encourage patron engagement. Selected artists were paid a stipend of $500 for their work.
Little Library Locations and Artists:
Alamo Creek Park (by Exaterina Bazlakova)
Butterfly Knoll Park (by Iris Chen)
Don Biddle Community Park (by Ranjini Venkatachari
Dublin Heritage Park and Museums (by May Yin Giang)
Emerald Glen Park (by Deirdre Weinberg)
Fallon Sports Park (by Sophia Lee)
Jordan Ranch Park (by Rhonda Chase)
Kolb Park (by Robert Bennett)
Schaefer Ranch Park (by Dasha Kryuchkova)
Shannon Community Park (by Vanessa Thomas)
To view the painted library boxes and their locations, visit "Go, Park, Read!" Temporary Public Art Project
City of Dublin Seeks Contract Instructors for Future Cultural Arts Center
The City of Dublin’s Cultural Arts Center is expected to open in Spring 2024. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our team of contract instructors in the fields of Arts and Arts Enrichment. As a contract instructor, you will have the opportunity to teach in your area of expertise and work with adults, teens, and youth in a new state-of-the-art facility.
Whether you're a seasoned veteran or just starting out in your field, we have opportunities for you. If you are interested in becoming a contract instructor, we invite you to fill out our interest form. By doing so, you will be notified of upcoming opportunities and can begin the process of joining our team.
