MONTHLY NEWSLETTER: ISSUE 9 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2021
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: MAKING THE RIGHT CURBSIDE MOVE COUNTY-SPECIFIC NEWS ADU UPDATES RENTAL EXPERT SUPPLIER OFFERS UPCOMING EVENTS ENERGY RETROFIT PROGRAM
Making the Right Curbside Move By Pedrito Gella of Trash Scouts
With many haulers charging a fee or requiring you to get your dumpster or carts to the curb on pickup day, take safety measures to ensure a successful waste program. Moving a full dumpster to the curb is no easy task. If you or your residents are responsible for moving your dumpster to the curb on pickup day, the following tips may help you. Get Ready. Warm up your body and stretch those muscles. Being properly stretched and warmed up prior to lifting, pulling or pushing your dumpster or cart can improve balance and muscle coordination, reduce fatigue, and greatly decrease the risk of injury. Get Fitted. Wear the right attire. Good shoes, ideally steel toes, will provide good footing. The right gloves will give you a grip when you are handling the containers. Eyewear can help you avoid any loose debris or dust that may fly around. If you’re moving the container at night or in a dark area, such as an alleyway or garage, consider a headlamp and high-visibility safety vest.
Inspect the Bin. Before lifting, pushing, or pulling your containers, move them slightly to gauge how heavy they might be. Ensure the wheels are functioning and lids are shut. Survey the Area. Examine the trash room before pulling the dumpster or carts out. Make sure the walking surface is free of trip or slip hazards, sharp protruding objects, and pests. Movement. Move slowly with a firm grip on the handles, with knees bent and back straight. Allow your legs to do most of the work, and avoid twisting your body. When moving your dumpster on a slope, have a minimum of two people with a third directing their movement. Zone Off. Drop a safety cone to create a barrier where the dumpster will be placed for collection. This will help pedestrians, cars, or bikes from encroaching while moving your dumpster.
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"MAKING THE RIGHT CURBSIDE MOVE," continued...
Grounds. Avoid traveling through or placing your dumpster in or near potholes, sewers, loose gravel, or grass. This can cause the wheels to get stuck or sink. Be extra cautious with rain, as the ground may be extra moist and slippery. Placement Area. Carefully lean the back wheels against the curb. Utilize wheel chocks to properly secure the dumpster casters, preventing the bin from rolling or moving. Shut the lid and add a bin lock to prevent unauthorized dumping or scavenging. Avoid blocking any handicap parking, driveways, bike lanes or other special zones that can prevent traffic flow and create a hazard. Still Too Heavy? If the weight exceeds your safety threshold, consider reducing the bin size or check if your hauler can convert your steel dumpster to plastic. Plastic dumpsters are lighter and easier to maneuver. Consider using a waste tugger, electric pallet jack, or hire a company that specializes in push-pull and scout services. Inadequate Space. If you do not have enough room to safely secure your dumpsters at the curb, consider converting your dumpsters to carts. If you have multiple dumpsters for various waste streams, go with carts for what you generate the least of. You may be able to configure carts more easily at the curb. If you’re stacking multiple dumpsters on pickup day, change service days for fewer curbside containers. Transporting your dumpster or waste carts can be unpredictable. Safety should always be your top priority. If anything appears unsafe, consult with your waste hauler or service providers who specialize in push-pull and scout services, as they can make specific recommendations and will have the right equipment to safely get your bins curbside. Adapted from an article by Pedrito Gella, Co-Founder of Trash Scouts. Trash Scouts is an Oakland-based company specializing in Push-Pull and Scout Services for commercial and multifamily properties, transporting dumpsters to the curb seven days a week throughout the Bay Area. For more information on getting your dumpster to the curb safely, visit www.trashscouts.com/services or contact Pedrito at pedrito@bawaste.com.
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CONTRA COSTA CALLING County-specific news
Lower Your Electric Bills With Solar In partnership with GRID's Bay Area office, the City of Pittsburg is helping stabilize long-term costs for low-income residents, preventing greenhouse gas emissions to meet targets under AB 32 and providing hands-on green job training opportunities for local workers. Homeowners that meet certain criteria may qualify for state-subsidized solar programs. To be eligible, homeowners must live and own a home in designated zones, monthly electric bills must exceed $30, and total household income must not exceed maximum income limits. Learn more at www.GRIDsolar.org. City of San Ramon Kick-starts Redistricting Process The City of San Ramon is beginning the process of redrawing the district lines for future city council elections, based on new data from the 2020 Census. Public input is key to the redistricting process, and the process will include four public hearings. These hearings will take place at city council meetings, and the redistricting process is expected to be complete in the spring of 2022. To learn more about the redistricting process and view the public hearing schedule, click the link here: San Ramon Redistricting Process.
ALAMEDA AHEAD County-specific news
Alameda County to Ease Masking Requirements Starting Nov. 1, Alameda County is easing masking requirements in certain indoor settings where everyone is fully vaccinated. Eligible settings are in controlled spaces not open to the general public, including offices, gyms and fitness centers, employee commuter vehicles, and organized gatherings in other indoor settings where a group gathers on a regular basis, like religious gatherings. Click here for more information. Oakland Increases Bulky Waste Services All Oakland residents can now schedule free large item drop-off appointments with Waste Management of Alameda County, and apartment tenants can schedule curbside bulky pickup service! All Oaklanders deserve a cleaner city and an easy, affordable way to dispose of those items that won't fit in your usual trash bin. Please take advantage of these new free services by calling 1-888-WM-BULKY or by visiting this link. Hayward Introduces New Electronic Gift Card Program to Support Local Merchants The City of Hayward is starting a new electronic gift card program to support local businesses, and help residents get more for their shopping, dining, and gift-giving dollar. The e-gift cards can be purchased online here in any denomination and used at local participating businesses. Read More
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SUPPLIER OFFERS
ADU UPDATE: PROPERTY OWNERS WIN!
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By Joshua Polston, EBRHA Board Member The recent string of state laws regarding ADU development are intended to cut through the red tape and barriers that many local jurisdictions across the state have enacted to prevent the development of new housing. While the physical setbacks and heights of new buildings are quite straightforward, cities have still found ways to stymie new housing and increase the costs of construction. A recent example that I have encountered relates to the imposition of conditions by the Oakland Fire Department. On a recent project I am developing, to construct two new 450 sq ft. 1- bedroom units, the OFD imposed requirements for fire sprinklers and a new public hydrant in the street more than nine months after the building permit was issued and the shell of the building was already complete. These conditions would add over $50K in costs and months of delay to await OFD review and approval of sprinkler plans and hydrant construction. State law specifically excludes ADU’s from fire sprinkler requirements and from making any public improvements.
As a well-informed citizen, I reached out to the city and tried to educate them about California State law and how the OFD requirements violate these laws. Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful, and the city was unwilling to budge. Next, I reached out to Californians for Home Ownership, which was founded by the California Association of Realtors as a 501(c)(3) to fight for the rights of property owners to build more housing and remove unlawful barriers erected by local governments. They have an impressive history of litigating housing policies that prevent or discourage the development of new housing. After receiving a pointed letter from CHO, the Oakland City Attorney conceded that the actions of the OFD did not conform to state law and that “the city will not impose this condition on other ADU developments in the city.” This is a major win for all property owners who are considering development of an ADU and can serve as a precedent for other cities to take note of and remove any similar fire department conditions.
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RENTAL EXPERT (FAQS) Eviction Moratorium & Unlawful Detainer Can renters be evicted for nonpayment of rent, now that the state moratorium has been lifted? Alameda County has not lifted its health emergency ordinance yet. When it does, there is a waiting period of 60 days, which extends the moratorium's protections. You cannot proceed with any type of unlawful detainer for unpaid rent until after 60 days. In Contra Costa County, you may proceed with an unlawful detainer for unpaid rent 60 days after the state’s moratorium has been lifted, after Nov. 30, 2021. We advise that you speak to an attorney before proceeding. If the renter has the means to pay rent, they should be paying rent. Unpaid rent during the protected period will need to be covered by rental assistance programs for “qualified” renters or through the courts if the renter does not qualify for rental assistance programs. How long do I have to wait to pursue an eviction in Contra Costa County for collection of unpaid rent? You can start evictions Nov. 1st for unpaid rent during the protected period. You will need to have applied to ERAP first. Seek an EBRHA-recommended attorney to assist you if you think this situation applies to you. What if the renter owes back rent prior to March 2020? Can the owner pursue an unlawful detainer? Starting November 1st, in Contra Costa County, the courts will resume hearing these cases. Do not try to pursue an eviction case on your own. Refer to EBRHA's supplier directory to find an attorney. Is it true that every rental housing provider will be required to apply for ERAP before March of 2022 before receiving a summons in an unlawful detainer case? Yes. You need to attempt to recover your losses through ERAP before taking the case to the courts. Can a 15-Day Notice and a 3-Day Notice be issued retroactively in Alameda County? If you have not served a previous 15-Day Notice or a 3Day Notice, you may serve it now. Caution: If you did not serve the informational notice EBRHA supplied in July of 2021 (Notice to Tenant: Extension of COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act), you should serve this notice FIRST, followed by the new 15-Day Notice and/or 3-Day Notice (if applicable). You do not need to reissue notices already served.
Should the property owner serve the new 3-Day Notice for Alameda County for rent due from Oct. 1, 2021, onward? Yes. This is an informational notice. Property owners should also apply for ERAP and encourage renters to compete an application. When will the new 15-Day Notice and 3-Day Notice be available? The forms are available on EBRHA's COVID-19 Information page.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Is there a deadline to apply to ERAP? Property owners and renters may apply for ERAP through Dec. 31, 2021 (most likely extended to March 31, 2022), or until program funds have been exhausted. Property owners should work with their renters to complete their portion of the application within 20 days if one was initiated by the property owner. I have applied to the state ERAP, but have not heard anything back. What should I do? Retain your case number to show that the application was submitted, and keep records of ALL inquiries. You’ll need this to begin the 20-day period. Typically, no response means that the renter has not completed an application OR the information provided by both parties does not match. Encourage renters to reach out to ERAP support to check on the status of your application. -State for Contra Costa County at (833) 430-2122 -Alameda County (excluding Fremont & Oakland) at (888) 886-9660 or ERAP@acgov.org. -Fremont at (510) 574-2028 What is the maximum amount of unpaid rent that you can receive from the state ERAP? Twelve months of back rent plus up to three months of prospective rent.
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ENERGY RETROFIT PROGRAM SEEKING FEEDBACK FROM LOCAL RENTAL OWNERS
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MEMBER MEETING & BOARD ELECTIONS HTTPS://WWW.EBRHA.COM/BOARDNOMINATIONS.HTML
Tuesday, November 23, 3 PM MEMBERS ONLY
CHARITABLE & GIFTGIVING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE TAXES Thursday, December 2, 2 PM MEMBERS: $0; NONMEMBERS: $40
Since 2013, the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) has helped multifamily property owners across the region install comprehensive energy- and water-saving upgrades to their buildings through the Bay Area Multifamily Building Enhancements (BAMBE) program. BAMBE offers residential properties with five-plus units no-cost technical assistance and at least $750 per unit in rebates to replace old and inefficient equipment such as HVAC, water heaters, lighting, windows, insulation, in-unit appliances, and more. Program participants have benefited from reduced maintenance and utility costs, higher property values, increased tenant satisfaction and retention, and healthier living spaces. BayREN is currently evaluating its programs with the goal of redesigning them to better meet the needs of historically underserved communities. As part of this process, the BAMBE program is seeking to better understand the needs and barriers facing owners and residents of so-called “naturally occurring affordable housing” (NOAH), or properties that offer rents below the Bay Area median but do not receive any formal state or federal subsidies. These properties, which tend to be older, smaller, and independently owned by individuals or families, are vital to meeting the region’s housing needs but may require additional resources to ensure long-term maintenance and health of the building. Over the next two-three months, BayREN and the Alameda County Planning Department will be hosting a series of listening sessions and 1-on-1 interviews to learn about the experiences of owners and residents of NOAH properties, especially in the communities of Ashland, Cherryland, and other urban unincorporated parts of the county. If you own or manage a property that may be NOAH and are interested in sharing your perspective, please take a few minutes to fill out this form as soon as possible. Listening session and interview participants will be compensated for their time with $50 gift cards.
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THE ROUNDTABLE WITH WAYNE ROWLAND Tuesday, December 14, 2 PM
(MEMBERS ONLY)
THE FORUM WITH DAN LIEBERMAN Wednesday, December 15, 2 PM MEMBERS ONLY
EBRHA HOLIDAY MIXER Thursday, December 16, 5:30 PM Eve's Waterfront, Oakland TICKET PRICE: $40