Public Works Works for You

The City of Albany Public Works Department works hard to keep the City clean and safe We’ve been busy making improvements throughout the City, including:

Upgrading curb ramps to meet accessibility standards

Improving pavement and rehabilitating sewers

Managing vegetation on Albany Hill and in the City creeks

Planting 184 street trees during the 2021-2022 winter/spring planting cycle, funded in part by proceeds from Measure DD

For time-sensitive information on construction projects, visit www.albanyca.org/enotify and select “Construction Alerts” in the News section

Pothole? Illegal dumping? Street light out? Other Public Works related issues?

Funding Highlight: Measure M – Parks & Open Space Tax

Albany loves our parks, creeks, trees, and open spaces! In 2018, Albany voters approved Ballot Measure M (Ordinance 2018-05), which enacted an ongoing special parcel tax in the City of Albany to fund the maintenance and improvement of City park and open space facilities Revenues from the tax are collected and placed into a separate special revenue fund

Currently, funds from this tax support several City programs, including Parks Maintenance, Creeks & Open Space Maintenance, and the City’s Urban Forestry Program The City Council has also allocated Measure M funding to fulfill a local match requirement for a State Prop 68 grant for implementation of a suite of Parks Improvement Projects in the next year Further Measure M funds are expected to be programmed to new projects in the City’s next update to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

The Measure M tax is ongoing and is adjusted annually according to the Consumer Price Index, with a max increase of 2% Exemptions and rebates are available through the City’s Finance department for residents whose combined family income qualifies as “very low income ” (See AMC Ch 4-15 ) Find out more information about the tax, supported programs, exemptions and more at www.albanyca.org/ measure-m We have an online reporting system! Visit us at www.albanyca.org/ service-request or call 1(510) 524-9543 to report any issues We appreciate your eyes and ears around the City

Construction Alerts: How We Communicate

Public Works has upgraded its Construction Alerts webpage Visit www.albanyca.org/construction-alerts to see information about current, upcoming, and recent past projects

Listed information includes but is not limited to project schedules, maps, photos, and related project documents Information is updated frequently with new details as they become available

The City intends this page to be a first-stop resource for residents to find information on projects currently in construction, including details about road closures or other guidance for residents near project areas This page is also intended to share the next steps planned for projects in the pipeline

With Fall and Winter come wet weather and falling leaves on City sidewalks, driveways, and streets It’s important to keep our storm drains clean and free of obstruction so that stormwater can drain and the City’s street sweeper can do a good job preventing seasonal flooding

Here’s some information about how City staff prepare for and respond to large storms in our area

PREPAREDNESS:

• Seasonal storm drain cleaning • Stocking sand for sandbags at Ocean View Park • Having additional staff on standby during predicted large storms • Coordinating with the Police Department to pre-stage a truck with barricades and signs for quick deployment in case of power outages or other road hazards

ACTION:

• Responding to calls about downed trees, tree limbs, and flooding, and quickly mitigating the worst problems • Working with the City Arborist and contractors, who manage larger tree issues with consideration of all factors including the health of the tree and protecting people and property • During the days following a storm, picking up branches and clearing leaves and debris from storm drains

HOW CAN RESIDENTS HELP PREVENT FLOODING?

• Clearing existing trash and leaves from storm drains in your neighborhood Be sure and put these in trash or green waste bins as appropriate • Do NOT leave leaf piles in the street! It’s against the City code and can clog the street sweeper • Pick up larger trash and dispose in your waste bins – protect the

SF Bay!

PROTECTING YOUR HOME

• If your home is prone to flooding, use sandbags to prevent water from getting underneath vulnerable doors and around foundations • Sand for sandbags is generally available at

Ocean View Park • Please contact the Public Works department for information about available sand and sandbags at 1(510) 524-9543