El Cerrito City Advisory Bodies Host Joint Meeting on Urban Greening Plan

On Wednesday, October 22, 2014 there will be a Joint Study Session of the City of El Cerrito Parks & Recreation Commission and the Environmental Quality Committee on the City’s Urban Greening Plan, which is currently under development.

The meeting will be held at 7 pm in the El Cerrito City Hall Council Chambers and is open to the public. At the joint meeting, staff will provide an update on the City’s Urban Greening Plan. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments at the end of the presentation.

The Urban Greening Plan, funded by the State Proposition 84 Urban Greening for Sustainable Communities planning grant program, looks to improve quality of life for current and future residents while improving environmental sustainability and stewardship. The Urban Greening Plan will evaluate existing parks and open spaces in El Cerrito and propose policies, programs and projects to create and enhance vibrant, ecological green spaces in El Cerrito.

Over the past year, the City has held a series of community workshops to allow residents and businesses to discuss opportunities to green the City of El Cerrito. At the last workshop in August, community members participated in a design charrette focused on four Pilot Projects: Blue Belt to Green Belt Connections, the Hillside Natural Area, Fairmount Park, and Lower Fairmount Avenue.

Once developed, the Plan will include preliminary design concepts for the 4 charrette projects as well as a broader list of identified focus areas and opportunity sites, in addition to recommended policies and programs.

The City is planning to hold Community Workshop #4 in early 2015 for public review & comment on a draft Plan before it is presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission and Environmental Quality Committee for recommendation, and then City Council for consideration and adoption.

Community members who would like to be added to the City’s “Stay Informed” list for the Urban Greening Plan can contact Emily Alter, Community Development Analyst at EAlter@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us or (510) 215-4385.

For more information on the Urban Greening Plan, please visit www.ElCerritoUrbanGreening.org

Agenda for joint special meeting on Wednesday, October 22, 2014: http://www.el-cerrito.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1996

Information submitted by City of El Cerrito

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