Oakland Public Works

Ready For Winter Storms?

Well, the rains really kicked us hard yesterday.  When you drove around town, you could see the flooding beyond the culverts.  The rivers were particularly strong as you headed down the steeper streets.

Last night, some 4,100 households experienced a power outage too.  This happened around 11:00pm, which disrupted key TV viewing – no worries, since you can view the Saturday Night Live clips on Hulu.

With this wake-up call, it’s time to get ready for the winter storms and protect your castles.  Oakland Public Works is providing materiel for local residents, before the floods arrive.

Come with proof of residency and your household is entitled to pick up 20 sandbags and plastic sheeting free from Public Works, on Shepherd Canyon Rd (map).  You may also stop by local fire stations for five sandbags, when there’s bad weather ahead.  All these locations are open weekdays from 8:00am – 9:00pm, and weekends from 8:00am – 4:30pm.

According to Public Works, residents can help prevent floods by keeping drainages clear.  They recommend that you:  check and clean private drainage systems; do not place leaves, debris or lawn clippings near storm drains; and place leaves and green trimming in your green cart for weekly recycling pickup.

Oaklanders have been making strides to keep the creeks and drainages cleared out.  On the Creek to Bay Day, in September, some 1364 volunteers showed up city-wide to collect garbage and green waste.  There’s another program to Maintain-A-Drain, where volunteers lay claim to their very own drains and help prevent flooding as well.

Still, we’re at the mercy of Mother Nature.  If you do see any flooding or storm drain problems, please reach Public Works at (510)-615-5566.  Public Works staff picks up the phone weekdays from 8:00am – 4:30pm, while the line is forwarded to Fire Dispatch after hours.

Big Miss Tree Contest

Enter your favorite big tree in this beauty contest!  Oakland has begun a Big Tree Registry to honor the largest and oldest specimens in the City.  This is a celebration of more than our venerated Oak – any native or imported species can qualify for this registry.

Only one tree per species will be glorified and awarded protected status.  Currently there are seven trees which have made the grade.  They reside at Joaquin Miller Park, Dunsmuir, Oakland Zoo and outside a few private residences.

To add to the list or beat the ones there, take a look around for some contestants.  Now the fun begins because you will need to measure them, and here’s a little help.  You ultimately calculate “total points” by adding:  trunk circumference in inches + height in feet + 1/4 of the crown spread in feet.

All done?  Then take a picture of your favorite contestant and complete this application.  If you have any questions, contact Dan Gallagher (dgallagher-at-oaklandnet.com) in the Public Works department.

Montclair Sidewalks Get Fixed

This week, Oakland Public Works has been diligently fixing the Montclair sidewalks. Many dilapidated areas are getting new concrete poured, and it’s going to make a big difference.

Why now? Chalk one up for CBS 5, which aired a news story about our buckled sidewalks (click here). Montclair’s problems were clearly illustrated by people falling flat on their faces!

In the story, an Oakland official bemoaned his paltry $1 million budget and $20 million backlog. Yet he and other city officials were spurred by CBS 5, and dispatched workers out of sheer embarrassment.

The outcome is pretty sweet – bless the power of the press.