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roughly by Centennial Drive, Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Summit Road. Clearance work in the priority area is approximately 10% complete, and arrangements are being made to engage a private contractor to complete the remainder of the work.

F. City Properties Purchased for Street Improvement Purposes and Existing Rights-of-Way

Bids were opened April 16, 1973 to secure contracts for removal and disposal of trees and other flammable materials from City properties purchased for street improvement purposes and existing street rights-of-way in three areas of high priority. The areas total 21 acres, and the contracts specify that the work in these areas must be completed by May 18.

Unit 1 (14 acres)-Skyline Boulevard between Park Boulevard and
Snake Road: Low bid____

Unit 2 (4.4 acres) -Broadway Terrace; Gwin Road; Skyline Boulevard
between Robert Sibley Park and Broadway Terrace; Balsam Way;
Pineneedle Drive; Woodland Place; Farallon Way; Pinehaven Road;
Valley View Road; Heather Ridge Way; Beauforest Drive; Thornhill
Drive; The Turn: Low bid----

Unit 5 (2.7 acres)-Arrowhead Drive and Manzanita Drive between
Snake Road and Park Boulevard: Low bid---

Subtotal

Cost of survey, engineering and inspection__

Total

$83, 870

112, 000

75,000

270, 870

40, 130

311, 000

The Action Plan originally estimated that a total allocation of $245,000 in Gas Tax Funds would be sufficient to clear trees and debris from all threatened street improvement properties and existing street rights-of-ways. With $311,000 now allocated to Units 1, 2, and 5, and with five more priority units yet to go to bid, it is evident that clearance of priority areas will require substantial additional funding.

The cost per contract unit is not solely a function of the acreage involved. Cost is also dependent on size and number of trees, residential density, location of power lines and other tree-cutting obstructions, and type of access. Low bids received to date are approximately three times higher than original estimates (or $15,000 per acre versus $5,000 per acre), and there is evidence to indicate that future bids may even surpass the $15,000 average per acre. 1. Additional units in priority areas to be let to contracts

Unit 3 (5.8 acres) --Thorndale Drive between Skyline Boulevard and Loriston Court; Skyline Boulevard between Broadway Terrace and Caldecott Tunnel; Skyline Boulevard between Diablo Drive and Elverton Drive; Skyline Boulevard between Snake Road and the junction of Elverton Drive and Oakland City limit; Grizzly Peak Boulevard between Robert Sibley Park and Caldecott Tunnel.

Unit 4 (3.6 Acres)-Skyline Boulevard between Park Boulevard and Castel Drive; Castle Drive between Skyline Boulevard and Castle Park Way.

Unit 6 (3.3 Acres)- Grizzly Peak Boulevard between Caldecott Tunnel and Oakland City Limits near Tilden Park; Claremont Avenue between Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Gelston Street.

Unit 7 (1.5 Acres)-Grizzly Peak Boulevard between South Park Drive and Centennial Drive.

Unit 8 (1.5 Acres)-Unit 8, present being designed, covers the vicinity of Charing Cross Road, Norfolk Road, Kent Road and Buckingham Boulevard. Contract specifications for these remaining priority units are now being prepared. Based upon bids reecived to date, the estimated cost (including engineering and survey expenses) to clear the 13 acres in the remaining five (5) units is approximately $402,000. The projected total cost of clearing all eight priority units is thus $713,000.

2. Clearance of hazards from non-priority areas

Clearance of hazards from non-priority areas will begin as soon as possible after priority areas are cleared and when additional funds are made available. The cost of clering non-priority areas may equal or exceed the cost projected for priority area clearance.

II. Removal of hazardous trees and ground fuel from private land

A. Enforcement of hazard abatement ordinance

As authorized by Ordinance 8783 C.M.S., adopted April 10, 1973, city forces are inspecting private properties in affected areas for dry and flammable foilage and flammable ground debris. The Weed Abatement Section of Office of Public Works has completed its inspection of unimproved parcels in the eleven priority areas established by the Fire Farshal. The owners of approximately 500 unimproved parcels have been notified by mail to remove hazardous trees and ground fuel immediately. Failure to comply with the notice will result in the lots being cleared under City contract with an additional charge imposed for overhead costs. Preliminary work is being completed in preparation for clearing those parcels found to be in non-compliance.

Fire Department personnel are inspecting improved properties and are serving abatement notices ordering immediate clearance as required. It is expected that both improved and unimproved properties will be cleared by June 1, 1973. In some cases the cost of clearing the property will exceed the value of the property. In most cases where lots are cleared by City contract the cost of abatement charged each parcel will constitute a special assessment against that parcel. Costs which are nt paid will become property liens subject to collection in the same manner as municipal taxes, and subject to the same penalties and same procedures for foreclosure and sale in case of delinquencies as provided for ordinary municipal taxes. (As directed by Council, the City Attorney is investigating the possibility of allowing non-compliant property owners a fiveyear pay-off period.)

B. Voluntary participation

1. Citizens fire hazard committee

The most active and effective of the voluntary groups is the Citizens Fire Hazard Committee. The committee was organized by a group of concerned and dedicated citizens who live in the affected area. They have established an office at 6133 La Salle Avenue, (phone: 339-1487) in order to better serve the residents of the area.

The committee has been very active in organizing and disseminating information to concerned citizens, in organizing self-help programs, assisting in the planning, execution and coordination of programs, and in acting as an interface with governmental agencies.

2. Boy Scout "Operation Fire-Safe": April 28, 1973

The San Francisco Bay Area Scout Council will conduct "Operation Fire-Safe" on Saturday, April 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Approximately 2,000 scouts and supervisory volunteers will be working in the fire hazard area to assist private citizens in the clean-up of their property. Oakland Fire Prevention Bureau personnel have volunteered their services on their own time to help coordinate the activities.

C. City assistance to property owners

1. Pick-up of cleared hazardous materials

City pick-up of cleared hazardous materials from improved private properties began March 28. The Office of Public Works has assigned eight three-man crews and eight trucks to pick up the debris at roadside locations and at a combination dump/collection site above the Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park. Five mobile woodchippers are used to reduce debris bulk.

Property owners who request City trucks to use private roads or driveways for debris collection purposes are required to sign a property damage release agreement which holds the City harmless from damage liabilities.

Four State Division of Highways trucks with drivers will be made available beginning April 28 to assist City forces in roadside debris pick-up. The trucks will be loaded by City personel and volunteers, and will be used on week days. In emergency situations they will be available on weekends.

National Guard trucks operated by volunteer National Guard personnel are being used on weekends to assist in roadside pick-ups and to haul debris from the Joaquin Miller dump/collection site to the Shepherd Canyon and Skyline Boulevard disposal areas. As with Division of Highways vehicles, loading is done by City forces or volunteers.

2. Disposal sites

Three disposal sites are currently being used, and additional disposal and burn sites can be developed if required. The disposal site near Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park is used primarily as a collection point for debris picked up at roadside locations. Debris is transported from Joaquin Miller to larger disposal areas in Shepherd Canyon and on Skyline Boulevard east of Castle Drive. Controlled burning of debris has been in progress at the Shepherd Canyon site since April 3.

(a) Use of Portable Incinerator Equipment.-City officials are currently investigating the use of portable incinerators to dispose of debris at specified burn sites.

(b) Expansion of Shepherd Canyon Disposal Site.-Shepherd Canyon Disposal Site will be enlarged to accommodate additional debris after construction of a culvert to carry creek water through the fill area. Plans and specifications for the project have been approved and bids will be opened May 7.

(c) East Bay Regional Park Burn Site.-A new disposal and burning site is being used at Vista Point, next to Tilden Park, on Grizzly Peak Boulevard. At the present time the site is being used by East Bay Regional Parks. It will be used by the City of Berkeley in the near future, and is open to the public. D. Sales of tree products to commercial sources

Additional marketing outlets of tree products were discussed at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Committee's Subcommittee on Hazard Removal Marketing and Cost, held April 13, 1973. As a result of the meeting the possibility of exporting wood chips to Japan is now being explored. Another potential market is International Resource Associates, Inc., which is preparing a wood purchase proposal involving a minimum of 700 acres.

III. Declaration of state of emergency

Pursuant to the Governor's declaration of a state of emergency throughout the affected area on April 4, 1973:

1. The Governor has asked the President to declare the threatened portions of the East Bay hills a disaster area. The request is now under consideration by the White House staff.

2. Those State and local governmental agencies affected have established a joint operations center in Tilden Regional Park to coordinate fire prevention activities and to insure an immediate, maximum response in order to control and suppress any fires which might occur.

3. The California Division of Forestry will increase its fire fighting capability throughout the hazard area to assist local governmental agencies.

4. State Ecology Corps crews have begun clearing a 10 mile fuel break on ridges along the Alameda-Contra Costa County line from Tilden Regional Park to a point east of Skyline Boulevard near Redwood Park in Joaquin Miller Park. The 300 foot wide fuel break will help insure that any fires which occur in hazardous areas can be quickly and safely contained and suppressed. The break is being cut exclusively on public property.

5. The State has assigned National Guard units and equipment and vehicles and drivers from the Division of Highways to augment the work of local agencies and volunteers by having ground fuel debris gathered on both public and private property.

6. The State will implement stringent fire prevention regulations on all Stateowned property within the fire hazard area, and arrangements are now being made to clear trees and debris from the two largest State-owned properties in the areas, at Caldecott Tunnel and in Shepherd Canyon.

IV. Fire prevention patrol operations

A. Supplemental patrol operations in hazard areas

As authorized in the original Action Plan, three City Fire Dent. mobile units with full communications gear are now assigned daily patrols in the hazard area. In periods of critical fire danger, five additional Fire prevention units, supplemented by police helicopter and police ground units, will be assigned to patrol hazard areas. Additional patrol forces will be added if required.

B. Access roads and fire trails

Additional progress has been made in clearing access roads and fire trails in undeveloped hazard areas.

PART II: FIRE SUPPRESSION

As stated in the original Action Plan, the Oakland Fire Department will maintain full staffing at all hill area companies during critical fire hazard months.

1. Establishment of additional hill area company

In accordance with the Action Plan, a supplementary hill area company was established April 1 at Amito Street and Drury Road.

II. Expansion of firefighting capabilities

A. Look-out tower at Round Top

The look-out tower at Round Top will be reactivated and manned during critical fire hazard days.

B. Development of command van

Field capabilities of the Fire Department Command Van are being improved by the installation of additional hill area maps and communications gear.

C. Additional water supply and hydrant facilities

East Bay Municipal Utility District is making preparations to construct three water storage tanks in the hill area at a cost of $900,000. The tanks will increase storage capacity by approximately 1,000,000 gallons. To take full advantage of this new capacity and the additional pumps and mains to be installed, the Oakland Fire Department will install additional hydrants along Skyline Boulevard. Construction of the tanks and installation of the hydrants will be completed by August 15, 1973.

D. Operational readiness of radio-equipped street flushers

As stated in the Action Plan, four 2,400-gallon street flushers are being equipped with two-way radios for standby assignments in hazard areas. The flushers will be deployed as soon as the radios are installed.

III. Mutual aid

Meetings of the Fire Prevention-Fire Suppression Committee have produced additional refinements in existing mutual aid programs involving manpower and materiel commitments from Alameda County, Contra Costa County and Office of Emergency Services (Civil Defense). It is now assured that a single emergency call to the Alameda County Coordinator will initiate immediate response to all mutual aid parties.

PART III-DISASTER PLANNING

The Chief of Police, as Assistant Director of Civil Defense, has been appointed by the City Manager (Director of Civil Defense) to the position of Coordinator of Disaster Planning in the event of a major fire in the Oakland hills. The following is a status report of disaster planning efforts to date.

Oakland Police Department and Civil Defense officials have prepared a City of Oakland general plan entitled "Eucalyptus Tree Crisis 1973." The plan details Civil Defense measures and evacuation procedures to be implemented in the event of a major fire in the Oakland hills and delegates responsibilities to individual City departments for support of emergency operations. The plan requires certain City departments to establish fire hazard contingency plans which include detailed inventories of materials and equipment of potential value in a supportive fire suppression effort. Key City departments will submit contingency plans to the City Manager's Office by May 7, 1973.

Numerous agencies will be involved in fire disaster operational activities. The Police Department will ensure that emergency operations, exclusive of fire prevention and suppression efforts, are appropriately directed and coordinated in order to further fire fighting activities.

Planning for a hill area fire disaster has been divided into four phases:
Phase I-Standby Alert

Phase II-Implementing Field Operations

Phase III-Evacuation

Phase IV-Post Fire Operations

Contained herein are provisions for the following:

1. Notification and fire assessment procedures.

2. Implementation of Emergency Operations Center operations, including specific location designation and use of Emergency Operations Center facilities.

3. Mutual aid operations, staging areas and records keeping.

4. Evacuation procedures, including evacuation zone designations and evacuation centers.

5. Warning procedures.

6. School evacuation responsibilities and student evacuation centers.

7. Post-fire area security.

8. Termination of emergency operations and reporting.

PHASE I-Standby Alert:

1. The Oakland Fire Department will immediately notify the Oakland Police Department's Communications Section when a report of a fire in predesignated priority areas of the Oakland hills is received. Communications Section personnel will immediately notify the Patrol Division supervisor (sergeant) to the scene of the fire call.

2. The sergeant will establish communications with the ranking member of the Fire Department on the scene, who will advise the sergeant of the magnitude and potential of the fire.

3. The supervisor will deploy police officers for traffic control and security as necessary and will request necessary equipment and supplies to ensure unimpeded fire fighting operations.

4. The Watch Commander will ensure that a police helicopter is made available to the Chief Officer in charge of the fire for purposes of fire assesment and fire fighting tactical control.

5. The sergeant at the fire scene will immediately notify the Watch Commander when the Fire Department requests mutual aid. The Chief Officer in charge of the fire will send an Oakland Fire Department unit to the Emergency Operations Center to act as radio liaison and staging area dispatcher. PHASE II-Implementing Field Operations:

1. The Watch Commander will notify the Communications Section supervisor that the Emergency Operations Center will be operational and will direct the supervisor to make notifications from a previously prepared checklist.

2. The supervisor of the Communications Section will ensure that the Chief of Police and the Deputy Chief of Police, Bureau of Field Operations are promptly notified of the current status of the emergency.

3. Communications Section supervisor, if the emergency occurs on a school day, will notify security officers at Merritt College that an emergency exists and the Emergency Operations Center at Merritt College will become operational. The supervisor will notify the A/C Transit Company and request that ten (10) buses be dispatched to the campus if the emergency occurs during the day, and four (4) buses if evening classes are in session. If the emergency occurs when classes are not in session, Merritt College security officers will ensure access to designated facilities.

4. The Communications Section supervisor will designate Channel A as the emergency operations channel. (This portion of the plan is subject to change if the CLEMARS communications system is operational.)

5. The Watch Commander, with necessary staff and equipment, will proceed to Building R. Room R-7 (faculty lounge) of Merritt College and establish the Emergency Operations Center. Four telephone lines are presently being installed in Room R-7:

A. Direct line to Fire Alarm.

B. Direct line to Police Communications Section

C. Two lines for emergency communications

6. The Fire Department will dispatch a ranking member of the department to the Emergency Operations Center. Emergency Operations Center facilities will accommodate representatives from other agencies and twenty other conventional telephones are available in Building R. Arrangements have been made with the Pacific Telephone Company to provide a PBX operator.

7. Merritt College security officers will ensure the orderly closing of classes and departure of students.

8. The ranking member of the Police Department present at the Emergency Operations Center will be known as the Police Field Commander and will be responsible for planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling all emergency operations except fire suppression activities.

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