Fwd: Marin Ave safety improvements + Tonight's infrastructure meeting
Alan Gould
Begin forwarded message:From: Councilmember Brent Blackaby <br...@brentblackaby.com>Subject: Marin Ave safety improvements + Tonight's infrastructure meetingDate: March 18, 2026 at 10:52:39 AM PDTReply-To: br...@brentblackaby.com
March 18, 2026Dear Alan,
From street safety to wildfire prevention, this month’s newsletter highlights ways Berkeley is working to keep the community safe—and how you can get involved.
Featured updates include:
- INFRASTRUCTURE: Implementation of the Marin Avenue Safety Improvement Plan begins this month, share your input on other projects at the March 18 Infrastructure Projects Community Meeting, and learn how Berkeley is improving visibility through “daylighting”
- WILDFIRE SAFETY: Hear from a neighbor about financial support they received from the RAP program, volunteer for a community vegetation clean-up day on April 11th, view a Zone Zero landscape design webinar, and join artists for a Zone Zero exhibit bringing creativity to home gardens
- GET INVOLVED: The Alameda County Civil Grand Jury and the Berkeley Board of Library Trustees are seeking volunteers
Read on below for more details on all these items, and more.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to serve you on the Berkeley City Council!P.S. I’ve started a new Substack blog & newsletter to document my family’s home hardening and defensible space journey. I hope you’ll follow along as we track our progress!
MARIN AVE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS BEGIN (SHATTUCK TO KEELER)
Berkeley's Public Works department begins implementing safety improvements on Marin Avenue this month! Many of you gave input into the plans last year.
Improvements include enhanced pedestrian crossings, hardened centerlines, new stop signs, striping improvements, and painted curb extensions. Construction will take place Mon–Fri, 7:30am–5:00pm. Completion is expected to take 3-5 weeks.
TONIGHT (MARCH 18): INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS COMMUNITY MEETINGJoin a North Berkeley community meeting to provide feedback on infrastructure projects that could be funded by a potential citywide bond measure. More info here.
Venue: Live Oak Community Center
Address: 1301 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | 7:00-8:30pm
MAKING INTERSECTIONS SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS, AND DRIVERS
Public Works recently completed our Citywide Daylighting Project, painting red curbs at 1,680 intersections across Berkeley. Red curb painting at least 20 feet on the right side of a two-way street or both sides of a one-way street, known as “daylighting,” increases visibility at intersections and safety for all.
Berkeley was one of the first cities of its size in California to fulfill the state mandate, AB 413.
Councilmember Blackaby, the Mayor and Councilmembers, City Manager, Interim Director of Public Works & staff celebrating the completion of daylighting. Photo courtesy of Councilmember Tregub’s office.
RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT: MAKING PROGRESS ON EMBER
Our neighbor Danna Berger shares her experience with the Berkeley Fire Department's Resident Assistance Program (RAP) -- and how funding from the RAP helped her get decades of ivy growth under control, making her property and her neighborhood more fire safe.
Watch our conversation with Danna here!
APPLY FOR THE RESIDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (RAP)
Learn more about the Resident Assistance Program -- and apply -- here!
VOLUNTEER TO CONDUCT WILDFIRE MITIGATION ACTIVITIES
On Saturday, April 11 from 9am–3pm, HelpBerkeley.org, a non-profit FireSafe Council, in collaboration with local Firewise neighborhood groups, will be hosting a clean-up day to assist homeowners who need help clearing defensible space in the Grizzly Peak Mitigation Area. Many homeowners in the area are seniors on fixed income who can't conduct wildfire mitigation activities on their own.
Help us make Berkeley safer from wildfire: Sign-up to volunteer! No experience is necessary -- goodwill is all you need.
ZONE ZERO DESIGN WORKSHOP WITH UCB PROFESSOR KRISTINA HILL
I recently hosted a webinar to inspire residents to explore the potential of Zone Zero landscaping. Kristina Hill, UC Berkeley Associate Professor of Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Planning, along with her students, presented a range of creative and practical design concepts, followed by brief Q&A sessions after each segment.
Assistant Fire Chief Colin Arnold also addressed EMBER-specific questions as they arose throughout the discussion.
Watch our recent Zone Zero Landscape Design Webinar with Professor Kristina Hill
CREATIVE RESPONSES FOR WILDFIRE-READY LANDSCAPES
The Zone 0 exhibition, which will run from August 22 through September 27, aims to unite artists and gardeners to bring creativity and imagination to home gardens — without compromising fire resilience.
Stone, tile, concrete, metal, glass, ceramics and other non-combustible materials, including water features, are within the scope of this show. Help people reinvigorate their beloved garden spaces with your thoughtful, resilient, and inspiring creations.
Learn more and apply to participate here!
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITESAlameda Superior Court is seeking civic-minded residents to serve on its Civil Grand Jury. The Civil Grand Jury examines and reports on the operations of local government agencies and investigates citizen complaints; it effectively serves as a public watchdog.
- Alameda County Civil Grand Jury Nominations for the 2026 – 2027 Term
Participation on the Civil Grand Jury is a significant commitment: Meet in person once per month in Oakland and at least two Wednesday and Thursday mornings each week, via Zoom. Significant writing of reports will be required of each applicant.
Website for further information: https://grandjury.acgov.org/
Nominations and applications are due no later than April 1, 2026: Join Us | Grand JuryCandidates must be residents of Berkeley and should be public library champions, passionate about lifelong learning and community engagement. A demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is essential. Candidates with leadership, business, management, strategic planning, marketing and/or administrative skills are encouraged to apply. With assistance from the Library Director, Trustees formulate policy and serve as managing agents of the Library Fund.
- Love the Library? Join the Berkeley Public Library Board of Library Trustees
Applicants must submit both the General Application and the Board of Library Trustees Supplemental Questionnaire to the City of Berkeley City Clerk by Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 5:00pm.
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Office of Councilmember Brent Blackaby
2180 Milvia St, 5th Floor
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 981-7160
bbla...@berkeleyca.gov
www.BrentBlackaby.com
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