September 2022
Welcome to this edition of Backyard Brief. Here, you'll find information on the upcoming grand opening of Don Biddle Community Park; the Splatter festival; how to view the documentary on the City of Dublin's incorporation in 1982; the annual Creek Cleanup event; KTVU's "Zip Trips" to Dublin; and more! Please pay particular attention to the article on National Preparedness Month. As many of you know, we had a wildfire scare in mid-August, and it served as a reminder to residents to prepare for local disasters.
Join the City of Dublin at the Grand Opening Celebration of Don Biddle Community Park!
Join the City of Dublin on Saturday, September 24, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., for the Grand Opening of Don Biddle Community Park (6100 Horizon Parkway). The new 30-acre park is named for Donald C. Biddle, who passed away in February 2018, while serving as Vice Mayor of the City of Dublin. Don and his wife Donnamarie moved to Dublin in 1974, where Don began a long and distinguished career, giving more than 40 years of public service to the Dublin community. Along with his nine years on the Dublin City Council, Don was on the Dublin Planning Commission, served as a Dublin Unified School Board Trustee, and served on the board or was a member of the Tri-Valley YMCA, Dublin Sister City Association, Dublin Rotary, Dublin Historic Preservation Association, Dublin Integrity in Action, Dublin Partners in Education, and others. He was named the 2005 Dublin "Citizen of the Year" for his contributions to the community.
Don spent 31 years in the engineering and construction industry, and was also a veteran, having served as a member of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The land upon which Don Biddle Community Park was built was once home to a portion of Parks Reserve Forces Training Area, also known as Camp Parks. Through the years, Camp Parks has served as the temporary home to members of nearly all branches of the military, beginning in 1942 with Navy Seabees during World War II and the Air Force in 1951. It became a standby Army base from 1959 to 1973; a training facility for the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy in the mid-1960s; and, from 1980 to today, an Army base for training reserve forces. Because of this rich military history, the public art selected for Don Biddle Community Park will feature four larger-than-life statues of members of the military, representing four different branches and four different theaters of war (World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Gulf War), created by artist Steven Whyte. Mr. Whyte also created a bust of Don Biddle, which will be unveiled at the grand opening celebration.
Grand Opening Events
10:00 to 11:00 a.m. - Dedication; National Anthem featuring the 191st Army Band; speeches; unveiling of art; and ribbon cutting
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Live music; sports demonstrations; inflatables, games and activities; Community Garden demonstrations with master gardeners; caricatures and face painting; train tours of the park
We hope to see you there!
Splatter, the City of Dublin's Annual Multi-Cultural Art and Music Festival, Returns September 10!
Splatter, the City of Dublin’s annual end-of-summer festival, returns to Emerald Glen Park (4201 Central Parkway) on Saturday, September 10, noon to 8:30 p.m. The multi-cultural event, celebrating food, art, music, and dance from around the world, will conclude with an evening dance party concert beginning at 6:30 p.m. Following the concert, a spectacular drone light show will light up the sky above the park.
Splatter is known for its fun, family-friendly art activities; unusual art installations; live, multi-cultural music and dance performances; and a craft and culinary marketplace. A fun dance party, featuring the ‘80s cover band Tainted Love, will bring everyone together at the main stage at 6:30 p.m. Admission to the festival is free; however, there is a charge for children’s games and carnival rides.
This year’s festival will continue to showcase music, dance, and art, while also providing many culturally diverse elements. The festival will feature community performances including Bollywood and classical Indian dance; Chinese dance; Kung Fu demonstrations, and more. Guests will have the opportunity to “shop around the globe” in the World Craft Bazaar, featuring a unique and diverse array of goods from different cultures.
In the area of the arts, the City of Dublin has partnered with the Dublin Arts Collective to bring the “High Life” to Splatter. The “High Life” is an art exhibition for exceptional art students in Dublin. Their work will be shown inside The Wave from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The annual Chalk Art Competition is also a highlight of the festival each year, and an “I am Dublin” community mural will celebrate the many cultures that are represented in Dublin.
In addition to enjoying roaming entertainers, festival attendees will be able to enjoy community group performances of multi-cultural music, dance, and other entertainment in the Emerald Glen Park Amphitheater, as well as performances in the areas of music, dance, poetry, and more from Dublin residents on the Side Yard Stage. The Main Stage will feature musical groups Carnival, a tribute to Santana, performing at noon; The 925 Band, the East Bay’s hottest dance and party band, on stage at 2:00 p.m.; Neon Velvet, an elite dance band performing from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.; and Tainted Love, singing the best of the ‘80s from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Following the musical finale, guests will look to the skies for a 10-minute drone light show customized to celebrate Dublin's 40th Anniversary of Incorporation and Splatter.
There will be plenty of food and drink at the festival, including a “Dine Around the World” area that will feature a diverse selection of international cuisines from vendors and select food trucks. The Rotary Club of Dublin will also be on hand to serve local craft beer and wine.
Dublin City Council Selects Public Map 112 for the Future District-Based Elections
On February 15, 2022, the City Council adopted a Resolution declaring its intent to transition to district-based elections in 2024. Under this new system, the City will be divided into four separate districts of equal population, which will be represented by one Councilmember who resides in that district and is chosen by voters in that district. The Mayor will continue to be elected at large, every two years. The City conducted a robust community engagement process to notify residents of this change in voting procedure and to encourage residents to participate in the map-drawing process.
At its meeting held on August 16, 2022, the Dublin City Council selected Public Map 112 to represent the voting districts in the elections beginning in 2024. The City Council will adopt the map by Resolution on September 6, 2022, as well as an Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.32 of the Dublin Municipal Code Establishing a District-Based Election System.
On July 19, 2022, the City Council approved the following election sequence for the City Councilmembers:
2024: Districts 1 and 3
2026: Districts 2 and 4
City Council Facilitates Outdoor Dining with Approval of Amendments to Zoning Ordinance
At its meeting held on Tuesday, August 16, the Dublin City Council, once again, approved City-initiated amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to continue to facilitate outdoor seating for eating and drinking establishments on a long-term, temporary basis to continue to aid local businesses in the continued economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City Council first approved a similar amendment in August 2021, which was set to expire on September 30, 2022.
Please continue to support local restaurants in Dublin!
September is National Preparedness Month!
Last month, residents in the Schaefer Ranch community in West Dublin experienced a scare when a wildfire broke out on the hillside west of the development. Thanks to the efforts of Alameda County Fire Department and Cal Fire, the fire was extinguished before it could reach the homes in the development, but not before Dublin Police evacuated portions of the community. This event served as a wake-up call for many Dublin residents, who realized they were not prepared for emergency situations.
The month of September is National Preparedness Month, and the City of Dublin urges all residents to take time this month to prepare yourself and your family for what you may face in the event of a disaster. Emergencies that we might encounter - earthquakes, flooding, and wildfires - often come without warnings, so it is important to be prepared for any potential disaster. The goal of National Preparedness Month for residents and the City is survival of the event and a return to stability in a timely manner in the aftermath.
STEP ONE: Sign up for emergency notifications through AC Alert. When disaster strikes, every second counts, so it is critical that you stay informed on the latest public safety information. AC Alert is an ultra high-speed telephonic communication service that allows local authorities to telephone targeted areas during an emergency situation that requires immediate action, such as evacuation orders, utility outages, and more. Contact information for landlines is already built into the system; however, if you no longer have a landline phone at your home, you must register your mobile device and e-mail address with AC Alert in order to receive notifications.
Another emergency notification system used by Dublin Police Services is Nixle. Simply text "Dublin" or the City's zip code - 94568 - to 888777 to receive free emergency alerts on your mobile phone. You may also visit www.nixle.com and sign up to receive alerts and advisories (such as road closures) via e-mail.
STEP TWO: “Know Your Zone” in the event of an evacuation. Alameda County has partnered with ZoneHaven, an emergency evacuation platform, to help residents identify their evacuation zone on a map, stay up-to-date on their evacuation status, and follow incident progress. In addition to syncing with AC Alert, the platform models traffic and fire-spread scenarios, providing real-time weather, traffic, and shelter information. To identify your evacuation zone, visit Zonehaven and type in your home address.
STEP THREE: Every member of the family should have an Emergency Preparedness "go-kit." These kits should be made or purchased for your home, car, and office to provide food, water, tools, and medical supplies for a minimum of three to five days following an earthquake or other major disaster. Learn what to put in your "go kit." Each family should also create a Family Emergency Communications Plan. While the City of Dublin will likely set up evacuation sites in the event of a disaster, families should also determine how they’ll contact one another and reconnect, if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.
The City of Dublin, in partnership with Alameda County Fire, often hosts Disaster Preparedness Workshops. Subscribe to the City of Dublin's alerts and news flashes, where you'll learn of information about disaster preparedness trainings.
View "Dublin: The Making of a City," a Journey of Dublin's History from Incorporation to Today
To celebrate 40 years of cityhood, the City of Dublin produced a documentary that explores the community effort that led to Dublin becoming a city in 1982. "Dublin: The Making of a City" centers around the City’s founding principle: the community of unincorporated Dublin wanted more for its residents 40 years ago.
You’ll learn about the first City Council, a formerly divided school district, and the battles with neighboring cities as Dublin laid its foundation. It’s a story of a small town that grew to a global community, a process that involved civic pride, substantial economic growth, and the welcoming of diverse backgrounds.
Hear first-hand experiences from election night, take a journey through Dublin’s early years, and learn more about the city that you call, "home."
Help Clean Up Dublin's Creeks!
Dublin’s Creek Cleanup Day coincides with International Coastal Cleanup Day and is part of California Coastal Cleanup Day, which is the largest volunteer event in the United States. We hope you will join us on September 17, 9:00 a.m. to noon, to help cleanup the creeks in our backyard! Register here to secure your spot to help clean up creeks in the City of Dublin!
On the registration form, volunteers will be able to choose one of three creek locations to clean, and participants will meet other volunteers at that location at 9:00 a.m.
Creek Cleanup Sites:
* Creek Channel at Dublin Blvd. and I-680 Overpass
* Tassajara Creek from Emerald Glen Park to I-580
* Dublin Creek between Outback Steakhouse and Tesla Motors
All volunteers will receive more detailed information prior to the creek cleanup event. In the meantime, here are some tips to help make your Creek Cleanup Day a success:
* Bring a reusable water bottle. Bulk water, only, will be provided at each site.
* Wear close-toed shoes, long pants, a hat, and sunscreen.
* Latex gloves will be available for all volunteers, but feel free to bring your own work gloves.
Important: The City of Dublin requires a waiver from all participants. Please bring a signed waiver with you to the event. All underage children must have their waiver signed by a parent or guardian. If your older teen (15+) will be dropped off at the event, be sure that the waiver has been signed by a parent or guardian beforehand.
For safety reasons, children under 15 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Additional detailed instructions will be provided to all registrants in the days leading up to the event. For additional information, contact [email protected] or call 925-833-6630.
Changes to Fitness Swimming Operations at The Wave
Recreational Swimming Returns October 1
Due to the City of Dublin's Splatter event taking place at Emerald Glen Park on Saturday, September 10, followed by two weekends of park buy-outs, weekend fitness swimming will be cancelled September 10 - 25. Regular hours will return in October.
Beginning in October, fitness swimming will also be extended indefinitely from 45-minute sessions to 55-minute sessions. Residents will also be able to reserve lanes a full month at a time. Schedules for the following month will be published on the 15th day of the previous month at dublinrecguide.com. This will also allow swimmers to take advantage of the normal refund policy, if they need to cancel. Those needing to cancel can transfer their funds to a different date or receive a refund.
Recreational swimming, available for all ages, returns to the Natatorium on Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., beginning October 1. This program is for all ages, and is a great opportunity for those taking swimming lessons to practice their skills. From October through April, birthday parties are also hosted on Saturdays and Sundays in The Wave Natatorium, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., during Recreational Swimming. Visit www.thedublinwave.com for more information!
KTVU Films its Latest Installment of "Zip Trips" in Dublin
On Friday, August 12, the KTVU "Mornings on 2" team came out to Dublin to film an installment of their summer "Zip Trips" series. News anchors Frank Mallicoat and Gasia Mikaelian held this live, one-hour broadcast at The Wave, while Sal Castaneda visited several of Dublin’s restaurants, and reporter Claudine Wong was at Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl.
Gasia interviewed Mayor Hernandez, Dublin Historian Steve Minniear, and Janette Pace from Open Heart Kitchen. High school senior and environmental activist Romal Mitr was also featured, and the Dublin High Irish Guard marching band performed throughout the one-hour event. Most visitors to The Wave that day were provided free or half-price admission.
Visit https://www.ktvu.com/video/1104710 to view "Zip Trips: Dublin."