Life in the Fast Lane
Claremont Elmwood Neighborhood Association
CENA held its monthly meeting at St. John’s Church on College Avenue in Berkeley. Ann discussed the improvements negotiated as part of the Fourth Bore Tunnel Road / Ashby Avenue settlement. It is estimated that thousands of cars travel up and down Tunnel Road each day. This month, some work on the Fourth Bore project has begun but drilling is scheduled after a sound wall is built. Construction is scheduled to take five years.
In 2005 Ann helped pull together the Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore Coalition with her neighbor, John Eastman, and a half dozen neighborhood groups. Theirs was a joint effort by civic and community groups to promote respect for the environment www.fourthbore.org These groups included CENA as well as the following:
NHPA North Hills Phoenix Assn http://www.nhphoenix.org/
RCPC http://www.rockridge.org/
Parkwoods Condos http://www.parkwoodscondos.com/
East Bay Bike Coalition http://www.ebbc.org/
and Frog Park http://www.frogpark.org/.
Most people are not aware that there are 44 different commissions and boards in the City of Berkeley. These are staffed by approximately 350 citizen volunteers, who advise the Berkeley City Council on matters of policy.
Years ago Ann and her husband bought one of my listings, near my own home on Alvarado. We have been good friends ever since. I’ve been grateful how much Ann contributes to the community. She brought to my attention several other immediate neighbors on Alvarado and Vicente who also serve on Berkeley commissions:
Matt Mitchell – Emergency and Fire Preparedness Commission
Ann Wagley – Landmark Preservation and Citizen’s Humane Commissions
Jonathan Wornick – Peace & Justice Commission
David Joseph-Goteiner – Youth Commission
Here’s the link to the Berkeley commissions web page: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/general.htm Ann said there are frequent membership changes. So interested citizens are encouraged to check with the Office of the City Clerk for current information regarding vacancies through the Office of the City Clerk. Citizens may submit at any time an application for any commission. It’s a great way to get involved and make a difference. General information on the role of each commission, when and where meetings are held, and contact information for the staff secretary may be found by selecting a name from from the Boards & Commissions page.