Published March 14th, 2012
City Sets Stage for Further Downtown Discussions
Budget issues and recent resident polls also slated for review
Laurie Snyder
At its most recent meeting March 6, the Orinda City Council prioritized items for inclusion on the agenda of two upcoming meetings likely to have significant impact for Orinda residents moving forward.
Orinda will host a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Workshop on Wednesday, March 14 at 9:00 a.m. The CIP workshop, said City Manager Janet Keeter, "will provide Council and the public the opportunity to hear progress reports on various capital projects, discuss changes to current projects (i.e. primarily scheduling and timing), and discuss proposed new projects for the five-year plan."
And at 7:00 p.m. on March 27, 2012, Council will engage with members of the Orinda Planning Commission at a joint meeting, to provide updates of varying lengths on major development projects and recent and potential code amendments, and to explore "the results of the FM3 poll as they pertain to the Planning Commission and Planning Department."
In addition to polling area residents about their potential support for various infrastructure improvement funding mechanisms, that 2012 Orinda Voter Survey conducted by the public opinion research and strategy firm of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (more frequently referred to as FM3), also assessed residents' current level of satisfaction with services provided by the City.
Or - in certain cases - dissatisfaction. While the Orinda Library, Police Department, and Parks and Recreation received high marks, the Council and Planning and Public Works Departments each took hits. Council, Planning Commission members, and staff will review and discuss those findings. Additionally, results of a survey regarding the City's downtown and its downtown planning process have also been listed as priorities for the agenda.
When clarifying the items for inclusion on the March 27 agenda, Vice-Mayor Amy Worth confirmed with her fellow Council members and staff that each item will be presented for awareness rather than as action items. Though no decisions will be made or votes taken, residents interested in the future of Orinda's downtown will still likely find this update helpful from an information gathering standpoint.
Look for agenda items and staff reports to be added to the City's web site closer to each scheduled meeting date.

Reach the reporter at:

back
Copyright Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA