Opportunities & Challenges

7.1 Schools and Education

This section identifies the existing educational infrastructure for Emeryville residents of all ages. These services come largely from public organizations, with the facilities including childcare centers, two K-6 primary schools, a 7-12 secondary school, and several options for higher and continuing education. Information for this section was gathered from the internet homepage of the School District, information from the County and State, and direct communication with the service providers.

Childcare/Preschool As of 2002, Emeryville had the capacity to provide state-licensed childcare to 293 children, through four childcare centers and four home-based care providers—267 children in childcare centers and 26 children in home-based care. As Table 7-1 Public shows, this supply was deemed adequate to handle the estimated Facilities demand for infant and preschool childcare, although it may not have been sufficient to meet demand for school-age children. 7- This demand projection was based on the city population at the time, and did not take into account in-commuters who may desire childcare near their jobs.

The Alameda County Child Care Planning Council reports that Public Facilities in 2001, childcare services in Emeryville employed 56 people and generated around $2 million in revenue, 96 percent of 7 which went to childcare centers with the remainder going to home-based care. Table 7-2 shows that childcare throughout The extent, capacity, and quality of public facilities that serve Alameda County is more expensive for younger children than a community significantly affect the quality of life enjoyed by older children, and from childcare centers rather than home- those who live, work, and own property there. These services based care. The Alameda County Local Investment in Child are also a major factor in determining the amount, location, and type of growth that a community can anticipate. . Alameda County Local Investment in Child Care Project. 2002 Emeryville As a small incorporated city, Emeryville is able to provide Profile. Available from Alameda County’s Childcare Planning Council website relatively high ratios of public services for its residents with at http://www.acgov.org/childcare/. a local orientation, personal attention, and quick responses. . Email correspondence with Angie Garling, Child Care Planning Council However, its small population and constrained geography limits Coordinator for Alameda County, on September 9, 2005. its ability to site and financially support the broad range of . Economic Impact of Child Care on Emeryville, available from Alameda County’s Childcare Planning Council website at http://www.acgov.org/ amenities found in larger cities. The public facilities described childcare/ pub_emeryville1.pdf. in this chapter are shown in Figure 7-1. Emeryville General Plan Update

Table 7.1: Supply and Demand of Childcare in Emeryville, 2002 Available Space Best Case % of Capacity Worst Case % of Capacity Demand Demand Infant (up to 2 years) 51 26 51% 35 69% Preschool (2-5 years) 152 56 37% 74 49% School-Age (6-13 years) 90 77 86% 216 240% Source: Alameda County Local Investment in Child Care Project. 2002 Emeryville Profile. Available from Alameda County’s Childcare Planning Council website at http:// www.acgov.org/childcare/

Table 7.2: Average Annual Childcare Costs in Alameda County, 2001 Home-Based Care % of Median Income Childcare Center % of Median Income Infant (up to 2 years) $7,349 13% $10,891 19% Preschool (2-5 years) $7,079 12% $7,843 14% School-Age (6-13 years) $5,218 9% $5,115 9% Public Source: Alameda County Local Investment in Child Care Project. 2002 Emeryville Profile. http://www.acgov.org/childcare/ Facilities Care Project states that most families can afford to spend no 7- more than 10 percent of their household income on childcare.

Emery Unified School District The city is covered by a single School District, the Emery Unified School District (EUSD), which runs the two public schools in the city: Anna Yates Elementary School and Emery Secondary High School. Anna Yates enrolls kindergarten through 5th grade, with 6th through 12th graders at the secondary school. EUSD also owns a building at 1275 61st Street, the location of the former Emery Middle School Academy, which was closed in 2003. The locations of the schools are shown on Figure 7-1.

Student Population As of the 2004-2005 school year, the Emery USD serves around 800 children, an increase of almost 80 percent since 1984 but still making it one of the smallest public School Districts in California. Its enrollment peaked at 991 students in the 2001- 2002 school year. In comparison, the Berkeley Unified School The Emeryville Child Development Center offers market District enrolls around 9,000 students while Oakland Unified rate and subsidized childcare. Schools have around 49,000 students. Emery USD’s current Figure 7-1 Public Facilities in Emeryville (2005)

Schools City Limits

Public Safety 67TH STREET Bridge/Overpass Civic Uses Amtrak/Union Pacific 66TH STREET Proposed/Inactive BAY STREET

65TH STREET 10 Acres Sources: 65TH STREET HOLLIS STREET City of Emeryville, 2005; 1 Acre Metroscan Data, 2005. BERKELEY OCEAN AVENUE

VALLEJO STREET 0 600 1,200 2,400 EMERYVILLE 64TH STREET Feet

OVERLAND AVENUE

Fire Station #2 SHELLMOUND STREET

CHRISTIE AVENUE

63RD STREET San

62ND STREET 61ST STREET Francisco Post Public Marina Office EUSD Property (former middle Bay school) INTERSTATE 80

BEAUDRY ST

59TH STREETDOYLE STREET

Amtrak Station HOLLIS STREET

HORTON STREET Emery Cove Yacht Harbor Golden (Private) Gate Library

Pacific Rim POWELL STREET School Public Works STANFORD(private) AVE. Corp Yard 55TH STREET POWELL STREET SHELLMOUNDST 54TH STREET Police Station & Child Fire Station #1 Development Center Emery 48TH STREET Secondary EMERYVILLE School 53RD STREET

OAKLAND 47TH STREET

45TH STREETESSEX ST

SALEM ST HORTON STREET PROPOSED SAN PABLO AVENUE Center for Senior Community Life Center

HOLLIS STREET Recreation Dept. 45TH STREET ADELINE STREET 43RD STREET Anna Yates Elementary School

HOLDEN ST

EMERY STREET WATTS STREET 41ST STREET SHERWIN AVE HARLAN ST

HUBBARD ST HAVEN ST

HALLECK ST PARK AVENUE Civic Center

40TH STREET

YERBA BUENA AVE. W. MACARTHUR BLVD. 37TH ST.

INTERSTATE 80 INTERSTATE 580 PERALTA ST. Emeryville General Plan Update

Table 7-3: Demographics of Emeryville Schools, 2004-05 Anna Yates Elementary Emery Secondary TOTAL Students Percentage Students Percentage Students Percentage Asian 45 10.9% 45 12.0% 90 11.4% Hispanic/Latino 65 15.7% 42 11.2% 107 13.6% African-American 273 66.1% 255 68.0% 528 67.0% Non-Hispanic White 14 3.4% 1 0.3% 15 1.9% Other1 16 3.8% 32 8.5% 48 6.1% TOTAL 413 100% 375 100% 788 100.0% 1. Filipino, Pacific Islander, multiple ethnicities, or no response Source: California Department of Education, Educational Demographics Unit, 2005

Public Facilities level of enrollment has 413 students in Anna Yates and 375   year period from 1992 to 2002; as of 2005 the rate is nearly 7- students in Emery Secondary. 75 percent. The countywide average in 2003-2004 was 35.7 percent. As of 2003-04, 15.6 percent of EUSD students were not Table 7-3 shows the ethnicities of EUSD students, approximately  two-thirds of whom are African-American. In comparison— proficient in English, compared to 20.8 percent countywide. as noted in Chapter 5: Population, Demographics, and One of the District’s primary difficulties has been declining Economics—the city population is 45 percent non-Hispanic enrollment. As of 2005, however, Emery schools are attracting white, 26 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, and 20 percent African- students. This is a positive change but creates pressure on American. Around 315 of EUSD’s students are not Emeryville the District’s facility and service capacity, mainly because the residents, coming to the District via the Inter-District Transfer incoming students are not evenly distributed across grade Process. These students are primarily African-American and  levels. Other issues already faced, and anticipated to continue, Latino students from Oakland and Berkeley are connected to the retention of students and families who can While direct information on family income of EUSD students no longer afford to live in the city. is not available, the proportion of its students receiving free or reduced meals varied between 40 and 65 percent during the ten

. All enrollment figures from California Department of Education, Educational . Ibid. Demographics Unit. Accessed from http://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/ . Written correspondence from EUSD Superintendent Anthony Smith, 29 dataquest.asp on 8 September 2005. September 2005. . Written correspondence from EUSD Superintendent Anthony Smith, 29 . Education Data Partnership (hereafter, EDC), accessed from http://www.ed- September 2005. data.k12.ca.us/welcome.asp on 8 September 2005. Opportunities & Challenges

Facilities and Services In 1984, when the current Emeryville General Plan was being written, the Emery USD served 450 students, with 201 in grades K-6 at Anna Yates Elementary and 249 students in grades 7-12. The schools had a capacity for 275 and 400 children, respectively, and given the declining enrollment and financing at the time there were no plans to expand the existing school facilities. As of 2005, the capacity of Anna Yates Elementary with portable classrooms is 435 students, while the Secondary School can handle 450 students. This means that as of 2005, the Elementary School is at 95 percent of capacity (with portable classrooms) and the Secondary School is at 83 percent of capacity.

As of the 2003-2004 school year, Anna Yates Elementary had a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 20.0 and Emery Secondary had a ratio of 17.5, with a District average of 18.8 students per teacher. Public The District employed 43 teachers—down from a high of 59 Facilities in 2001-2002—and had an average class size of 27.0 students, almost the same as the countywide average. 7-

According to EUSD Superintendent Anthony Smith, there are numerous concerns with the District’s facilities. While the condition of the buildings is average, Anna Yates Elementary has no grass on the playground, its multi-purpose room is too small for community meetings, there are too many portables on site, and it is located very close to a card room and a liquor store. There are concerns about the Secondary School’s location on San Pablo Avenue, which puts students at risk of physical injury, and the school’s prison-like appearance. The now-vacant former middle school building is in fair condition.10

Funding In the year 2000, the School District found itself around $2 million in debt. This financial constraint led the EUSD to

. EDC. The Emery public schools are Anna Yates Elementary (top) and the Emeryville Secondary School, which has playing fields 10. Written correspondence from EUSD Superintendent Anthony Smith, 29 September 2005. behind it (middle and bottom). Emeryville General Plan Update

request a $1.3 million bailout loan from the State, which placed If the AC Transit site does not become available, then either the EUSD into administration in 2001. Meanwhile, Emeryville Anna Yates or the middle school site may host the ECCL. In that voters recalled and replaced the school board. case, the remaining school site would likely be used for primary education. The EUSD’s financial recovery was helped by several public measures. The City signed a $1.5 million, 40 year agreement with Private Schools the EUSD to lease Emery Secondary School’s sports facilities Emeryville includes one private school, the Pacific Rim during non-school hours. Meanwhile, in June 2003 local voters International School, which serves students from preschool approved a parcel tax to help finance Emery Schools. This through 6th grade. The school, located at Stanford Avenue and measure raises 10 cents per square foot on improved property Doyle Street, has an enrollment of around 90 students. As of or $50 per parcel, whichever is greater, with funds going toward fall 2005, the distribution of these students is tilted toward EUSD academic programs and personnel training. The schools preschool-aged children: are also helped by grants from the Emery Ed Fund, a local non- profit that raises private donations for school programs, teacher • 18-36 months old: 18 students assistance, and scholarships. • 3-6 years old: 52 students Public Control of the EUSD was returned to the local school board Facilities • 6-12 years old: 21 students in April 2004. A State trustee will monitor the EUSD until the 7- bailout loan is repaid. Higher Education Planned Improvements Emeryville is the location of the Ex’pression College for Digital Arts, an accredited school founded in 1999. Ex’pression offers The future of the EUSD’s facilities is tied to the development three bachelor degrees in an accelerated schedule, with each of the Emeryville Center for Community Life (ECCL). As of degree taking around 2.5 years. The campus is located in July 2005, the City’s preferred location for the ECCL is the AC th th th northwest Emeryville, on Bay Street between 65 and 66 streets. Transit site across 47 Street from Emery Secondary School. In 2004 the school added 20,000 square feet of classroom space, Within this large site, and given adequate funding, up to two expanding its main building to 65,000 square feet in size. The schools serving K-8 students would be included in the ECCL, school also leases 20,000 square feet of office space. In the 2004- allowing Emeryville’s public schools to be consolidated in one 05 academic year, Ex’pression enrolled around 650 students but area and better integrated with community activities. In this that number may increase due to the national accreditation it single campus, the EUSD is anticipating serving approximately received in April 2005. 1,800 students from infants to age 18.11 The new school would be used outside of school hours for community events. Funding Silicon Valley College is an accredited private school that for this plan would likely require the sale of both the Anna Yates provides post-secondary educational programs in the medical- and former middle school properties. biotechnology and design-visual arts fields. It has four campuses in the Bay Area, including one at 1400 Hollis Street near 65th Street, in the Emery Tech building. Around 250 to 500 students are enrolled at the Emeryville campus of SVC. 11. Written correspondence from EUSD Superintendent Anthony Smith, 29 September 2005. Opportunities & Challenges

Other higher education options in the East Bay include the 7.3 Safety Services Peralta Community Colleges, with campuses in Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda; California State University – East Bay, Police Services located in Hayward; and the University of California’s flagship Information for this section was gathered from the city’s campus in Berkeley. Additional colleges and universities are internet homepage and through written communication with located throughout the San Francisco Bay area. Police Chief Ken James.12

7.2 Libraries Profile There are no public libraries in Emeryville. The Oakland Public Emeryville has one police station, which shares a site with Fire Library’s Golden Gate Branch, located just outside the city Station #1 along Powell Street on the Peninsula. According to limits on San Pablo Avenue near Stanford Avenue, serves as the the 2004-06 City budget, the Emeryville Police Department main circulation library for Emeryville residents. employs 39 sworn officers and 20 other staff positions. The field operations division employs 31 of the officers with another eight The Emeryville Secondary School and Anna Yates Elementary in administrative services, one of which is the position of Police School both include a library for use by students. The Emeryville Chief. The result is a ratio of 4.7 total police officers for every Public Center for Community Life may include a library, although it 1,000 residents. This is much higher than the countywide ratio Facilities would likely focus on serving public school students and would of 2.02 officers per 1,000 residents across Alameda County.13 not replace the Golden Gate Branch as the city’s main library During the workday, however, the city population swells to 7- facility. 25,000 to 35,000,14 resulting in a ratio of less than one police officer per 1,000 people. While the department does not have service ratios of formal response standards, it aims to respond to emergency calls in two minutes and to non-emergency calls in six minutes.

In 2004, the Police Department’s dispatch center processed 11,728 emergency calls. Emeryville’s major crime issues are auto thefts, thefts from autos, and petty thefts. From June to July 2005, the department saw a 18 percent decrease in auto thefts, a 20 percent increase in thefts from vehicles, and a 13 percent increase in petty theft. According to the department, the city’s

12. Written response to questions provided by Police Chief Ken James on September 21, 2005. 13. Based on criminal justice full-time personnel figures from the California Department of Justice’s Criminal Justice Statistics Center at http://ag.ca.gov/ cjsc/statisticsdatatabs/PersoCo.htm, accessed on August 24, 2005, and the The Oakland Public Library’s Golden Gate Branch, the nearest County population from the California Department of Finance. library to Emeryville. 14. Emails from City Recreation Director Suzanne Brown and City Planning Director Charles Bryant on 25 August 2005 and 29 August 2005, respectively. Emeryville General Plan Update

shopping complexes and large residential developments are Fire Protection and Emergency Services the land uses that are involved in significant amounts of crime. Information for this section was gathered from the internet These are areas where vehicles are parked in large quantities for homepage of the Fire Department and direct communication long periods of time, and the retail centers are also targets for with Assistant Fire Chief Dan Dyer.15 theft. Profile Future Planning The Emeryville Fire and Emergency Services Department The Police Department has an interest in acquiring a larger (EFESD) aims to educate the public, prevent fires, and respond police station in a new location. There are concerns that the to all emergencies in the city. These emergencies include current station would be vulnerable in the case of a large extinguishing fires, rescuing trapped people and animals, earthquake; the 1987 General Plan also noted that the police treating medical emergencies, mitigating hazardous waste station has poor access to the east side of Emeryville, from which incidences, and aiding in the case of a natural disaster. Fire and most service calls were originating. In addition, the existing emergency medical dispatch is handled through the Oakland station is considered too small by the department, which would Fire Department’s communications system. All Emeryville like a new facility that is 25,000-30,000 square feet in size and Public firefighters are certified Emergency Medical Technicians, with able to handle 10 to 15 additional personnel. One proposal for nine firefighters also certified paramedics. Facilities the Emeryville Center for Community Life would be to include the new police station within it. However, there are concerns 7- The EFESD employs 31 personnel in two stations: Station #1 in the community—shared by the department—that the new at 2333 Powell Street on the Peninsula and Station #2 at 6303 station should not be sited in the ECCL for safety reasons. A Hollis Street, at the corner of 63rd Street. Station #1 was opened new station located across San Pablo Avenue may be suitable, in 1991, replacing one formerly located along San Pablo Avenue however, although some residents of the Watergate complex between Park Avenue and 45th Street. Station #2, built in 1951, have complained about being left unprotected if the station hosts the City’s Emergency Operations Center, which is a room moves from the Peninsula. that can serve as a disaster coordination center and includes communications equipment like radios; it can be set up in 30 The department anticipates that as the city and its population minutes. grows, its staffing levels will also have to grow. While additional development will immediately impact response There are always a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine times, the department does not have any set standards for firefighters on duty at one time. The Fire Department possesses matching population growth and development with its needs. two fire engines split between the stations—each with a 55 foot Emeryville’s location and daily population influx does not allow ladder—and a truck with a 105 foot ladder at Station #1. All for normal standards, such as population ratios, and its urban three pieces of equipment can deliver the standard 2,000 gallons environment—coupled with a small, involved population— of water per minute. There is also a reserve engine at Station places greater service needs and accountability on the Police #2, which can immediately be brought into service in case one Department when compared with a suburban or rural city of of the front line vehicles is unavailable. The department has similar size. Instead, the department uses an overall analysis to determine its staffing needs, considering the number and types of calls for service, response times, and officers’ free patrol 15. Phone conversation with Dan Dyer, Assistant Fire Chief, on September 14, time. 2005. Opportunities & Challenges mutual aid agreements with the fire departments of Oakland The 1987 General Plan found that while the Fire Department’s and Berkeley. These departments automatically respond to response time to emergency calls was generally less than three freeway accidents in the area and can be called for help with minutes, traffic congestion on Powell Street could increase any other incident. response times for the west side of I-80 to seven minutes during afternoon rush hour. Afternoon traffic also delayed fire The EFESD has an emergency management operations plan trucks leaving the San Pablo Avenue fire station and the street’s for the city. Evacuation routes from the city in the case of an median also prevented immediate access in either direction. emergency depend on the circumstances, although San Pablo The relocation of Fire Station #1 largely mitigated these issues, Avenue, Hollis Street, and I-80 are major routes. The City has allowing the Fire Department to cover the city on both sides of an informal understanding with AC Transit that they would the railroad tracks, although traffic continues to be an issue for help evacuate people in an emergency. The department has Station #2, due to high traffic volume on Hollis Street. Besides the ability to monitor the state of emergency routes through relocating Station #1, the City has also installed a traffic signal webcams. system (known as pre-emption lighting devices or opticons) that coordinates with the Fire Department to aid their station Standards and Ratings exit and entry and to clear traffic with by setting all green signals The insurance advisory organization ISO rates fire departments in their direction of travel. However, a major incident on I-80 Public based on features such as their communications system, water can back traffic up onto city streets and increase response times, Facilities supply, and equipment. The ISO scale ranges from a best rating although this occurs infrequently. of one to a lowest rating of ten. The EFESD has an ISO rating 7- of three. The department does not anticipate that population The department is not aware of any major community concerns growth and future development in city would lower its ISO about fire and emergency services in Emeryville. rating. Future Planning The department receives an average of 1,500 calls each year, The 1993 General Plan mentioned the potential replacement of which includes mutual aid responses to nearby cities. The Station #2 with a new facility on Hollis Street near 53rd Street. State requires a minimum response time of eight minutes to However, the EFESD is not currently planning for new facilities. emergency calls. The EFESD averages just under five minutes The expansion of the city is going to be vertical rather than time from the inception of an emergency call to their arrival on horizontal, which requires more equipment and staffing rather the scene. In addition, the department relies on its mutual aid than an additional location. The department has discussed agreements to ensure a quick and adequate response to fires. whether to expand its equipment to include an adaptive response Both stations respond to fire calls, although only a single station vehicle, which would be smaller and more maneuverable and will respond to other emergencies, such as auto accidents and able to handle different types of calls, although it would require needs for first aid or CPR. EFESD personnel can typically reach additional staffing. The EFESD also sees a need for a backup a scene before an ambulance, and will administer first aid until water pressure and delivery system in the event of an earthquake it arrives. Overall, about 60 to 65 percent of the department’s that would disrupt the regular system. calls are medical, with Station #2 handling around 60 percent of all non-fire calls. On its own, the continued physical development of Emeryville is not anticipated to pose any constraints on the EFESD’s Emeryville General Plan Update

capacity to fight fires. The city’s high rise buildings are fully sprinklered and have early warning devices (smoke and heat detectors) and the department’s mutual aid agreements can be invoked to provide an adequate response to a high rise emergency. However, these fire protection systems need regular inspections to ensure that they are working, which require EFESD staff time. Furthermore, the expansion of commercial and residential building space in the city implies a higher daytime and permanent population. This higher population and greater density will create several impacts: more emergency calls, the potential of incidents that affect more people, greater difficulty in evacuating the city, and longer response times to emergencies due to increased traffic congestion.

7.4 Center for Community Life Public Facilities The concept of a Center for Community Life (ECCL) is central to the City’s focus on building and supporting a community 7-10 in Emeryville. In short, the ECCL is intended to provide an environment for community learning and activities for all ages. Within a single campus it will be used for arts, performance, meetings, community programs and services, recreation (indoor and outdoor), and administration. In addition, it will behave as a resource center and a welcoming point for the community.

The goals for the ECCL include improving quality of life within Emeryville’s dense urban setting, providing a social and community resource for the San Pablo corridor, turning the city’s public schools into the center of the community through physical and social integration, and providing a place for the mixing of all the lifestyles, ages, and races that make up the Emeryville community. Through several years of public meetings, the Emeryville community has also identified several themes to incorporate into the ECCL: connections to the community, access to facilities and programs and active engagement of the community in them, and the expression of The streetscape around the proposed ECCL site has trees and an identity for Emeryville. is good for walking. Pictured: San Pablo Avenue, 47th Street, and 45th Street. Opportunities & Challenges

A key component of meeting these goals within the identified • an administration building to be shared by the Emery themes is the cross-use of facilities by the public schools and Unified School District and City Community Services; the community. The community would use new and existing • a new gymnasium and a new recreation field and/or school facilities after school hours, including weekends and public open space; the summer. This approach may create enough demand for certain services to enable the staffing of public positions, like a • a new Police station; public health nurse, that can serve both school children and the • a new commercial structure on San Pablo Avenue next public. Current school and community facilities are too small to the existing Emery Secondary School recreation to support these types of services. fields; and Location and Design • parking for 300 cars and 10 vans/trucks. The main site under consideration for the ECCL is a ten One proposal also envisions the construction of a community acre parcel across 47th Street from Emery Secondary School, theater building. Both scenarios attempt to retain the Armstrong bounded by San Pablo Avenue and 45th Streets. This site is Paint business, either in its current location or in the new mostly owned by AC Transit, which uses it as a bus facility. The commercial structure. Depending on the available funding, the block is also occupied by two small businesses—Armstrong ECCL may rely on less new construction and more re-use of Public Paint and a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. The appeal of existing buildings. Facilities this site is its location, which would allow consolidation of 7-11 Emeryville’s public schools and their physical integration into Until the AC Transit site is secured, at least two alternative the community center, and its large size. Acquisition of this site locations remain under consideration. One is the Anna Yates would also allow the City to transform it into a land use more Elementary School and the other is the former middle school compatible with Emery Secondary School. This, however, would building. No designs have been proposed for these sites. require the City to provide an adequate relocation site for AC Transit; a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by these Funding and Next Steps parties in spring 2004 to establish a cooperative relation toward The ECCL will be administered by the City’s Education and this goal. Youth Services Advisory Committee, with planning and design responsibilities shared by the City and the EUSD. The budget The initial designs for the ECCL focus on the AC Transit site. for the initial ECCL design is around $150 million. As of July Both of the two main development ECCL scenarios available at 2005, the City had set aside $25 million for the relocation of the June 28, 2005 meeting of the GPUSC included: AC Transit facilities, $15 million for the construction of a new • up to two new K-8 primary schools, including an police facility, and $5.5 million for the building of a community/ expanded school library; recreation center. If the AC Transit site is used, then the sale of the School District’s elementary and middle school properties • a Professional Development Center and a Community may help to finance the ECCL. Lobbying has also begun for the Resource Center; acquisition of state and federal funds, as well as money from • a large multi-purpose room to be used for meetings, private foundations. performances, and cafeteria services; Emeryville General Plan Update

Development of the ECCL will take place in phases. Phase I 7.5 Other Civic Facilities involves site acquisition and environmental remediation and should be completed by the end of 2007. Phase II involves Childcare Center construction of the community facilities and the new school, The City owns and operates a childcare center, the Emeryville anticipated for completion in 2010 or 2011. Child Development Center (CDC), located on 53rd Street between Hollis Street and the eastern city limits. The CDC provides a year-round educational environment for children, from infants through kindergartners, charging both market and subsidized rates depending on family situation. Its 12,000 square foot building provides a permanent home for the CDC after its former temporary residence in the School District’s middle school building. The new CDC structure has six classrooms and a multi-purpose room with kitchen facilities, plus an outdoor courtyard. It has the capacity for 90 children. The CDC can be rented by members of the public for special events. Public Facilities Civic Center

7-12 Located in the block bounded by Park Avenue and Hollis, Haven, and 40th streets, the Civic Center consists of the historic City Hall building and an addition. The Civic Center has only existed in its present form since 2001. Before then, City staff were split between old City Hall and an office facility on the Peninsula. The 1993 General Plan called for the creation of a civic center to ameliorate this problem.

The total area of the Civic Center is approximately 1.44 acres. It is used for City business as well as public meetings. The City Hall building is a three-story 7,500 square foot structure built in 1903 and renovated in 2000. Completed in 2001, the three-story 17,500 square foot addition houses administrative staff. Adjacent land uses include the Pixar campus, an office building, light industrial, a catering business, and a diner. The light industrial parcel behind City Hall is under contract for purchase by the Redevelopment Agency to be developed as a cultural arts center. The Emeryville City Hall was built in 1903, and its addition in 2001. Emeryville Senior Center The Senior Center serves older adults from its location in the Triangle neighborhood. It provides services, such as meals and Opportunities & Challenges financial counseling, and activities for seniors. Related private 3. Where should a new police station be located? A new po- organizations like the American Legion maintain offices in lice station, if constructed, should be sited in a way that the Senior Center as well. The building was constructed in the assures city residents and meets the Police Department’s 1930s and renovated in 1996. The City’s commission on Ageing facility and logistical needs. With the city’s limited avail- is currently developing a strategic plan for senior facilities and ability of suitable locations, the Plan update process services. should consider creative ways to use underutilized land or a parcel that is unsuitable for many other uses; care- Recreation Center ful thought should be given to the suitability of includ- The City’s Recreation Center hosts classes and programs for ing the main police station in the ECCL. An effective children, and operates as a base of operations for the Recreation use for the old station should be planned, as well. Department. Located on San Pablo Avenue at 43rd Street, it is near the recreation facilities at Emery Secondary School and 4. How can appropriate levels of fire and disaster preven- the open space at Temescal Creek Park, and is across the street tion be maintained? As the amount of building space from the proposed site of the ECCL. in the city continues to increase, and as the number of large buildings with fire protection systems also in- 7.6 Planning Issues and Implications creases, staffing at the Fire Department may need to be Public enhanced to ensure that regular inspections of the busi- Facilities 1. How can the City encourage an adequate supply of nesses and structures can be maintained. Furthermore, 7-13 childcare for its residents? As Emeryville’s population Emeryville’s design guidelines should ensure that the increases, there will likely be a greater need for child- EFESD continues to be involved in the early stages of care in the city. The updated General Plan and Zoning development design, in order to ensure the most effec- Ordinance may need to consider policies that encourage tive and resource efficient fire protection possible. The the development of childcare centers, perhaps requir- Plan update process may also wish to consider how the ing large residential developments to pay of an in lieu removal of rights of way by large developments can in- fee toward childcare subsidies and more readily allow crease emergency response and evacuation times. the establishment of licensed home-based childcare in residential uses. Moves that encourage the provision of 5. What public facilities and services should be included an adequate childcare supply could help ensure a bal- in the ECCL? How will site planning for the ECCL be anced population and generate support for improved undertaken? How can the Emeryville community be schools and public parks. linked to the Center? The Center for Community Life is meant to provide a civic and social center for local 2. What is the City’s position related to private education- residents and others involved with Emeryville. As such, al institutions? How should their growth be accommo- the selection of the public facilities and services in- dated? The City should discuss whether to let the mar- cluded in the ECCL—as well as adequate funding and ket decide in how Ex’pression College and other private maintenance for the Center—are important issues for schools will be integrated into the built form of the City the City and the School District. Similarly, the arrange- over the next 20 years, or if public/private partnerships ment of structures and uses on the site is important and should be forged with these institutions. should be discussed during the process—for example, Emeryville General Plan Update

what facilities should abut San Pablo Avenue and which ones should be shielded from it? The updated General Plan also needs to consider ways to support the ECCL, including promoting appropriate land uses within im- mediate walking distance. Furthermore, adequate con- nectivity is important to promote easy access to the ECCL and the Emery public schools from all parts of the city. The updated General Plan needs to consider how to improve street and non-motorized trail connec- tions to the ECCL area from the Doyle neighborhood and residences west of the railroad tracks. 6. What should be the future use of surplus EUSD prop- erty? To help finance the ECCL, the School District may need to sell the former middle school building, Public the Anna Yates elementary school site, or both. The Facilities updated General Plan needs to consider the most ap- propriate land uses and designs for these sites, which 7-14 will likely provide the only opportunities for large scale development within the primarily residential districts of the Triangle and Doyle neighborhoods over the next 20 years.