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Lake Merritt Advocates
The Lake Merritt Advocates is a coalition of existing organizations, both formal and informal, which enhance the health of Lake Merritt and the beauty of its surrounding parkland. Operating primarily through volunteer engagement, these organizations provide focus, recreation, projects and education to foster stewardship of Lake Merritt and its environs. The coalition will support and amplify the effectiveness of participating organizations primarily through an on-line communication platform, or “hub”, and simple advertising for each organization to use. At its core, the communication strategy will rely on lakemerritt.org including a common Google calendar that reflects each group’s meetings and events, and links to each of the organizations’ websites. Designed primarily to boost volunteering and participation through more communication and a one-stop location for interested citizens, lakemerritt.org will aid the organizations and City staff. It is anticipated that there will be efficiencies for City staff who will be able to access an overview in a central location of activities requiring their support and attention. The coalition will help guide organizations in planning and publicizing their respective events to increase volunteer participation and even out the demands on City staff. 
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LMA Meeting January 11, 2024
Thanks to Oakland Lawn Bowling Club’s hosting, the Lake Merritt Advocates met on January 11, 2024 at its Clubhouse in Lakeside Park, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Present were 37 attendees representing 30 organizations that are active around the lake. After a warm welcome by co-convener Jennie Gerard and brief introductions cleverly coordinated by Ana-Marie Jones, there were short presentations by the following:
Then Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife, whose Council District 3 includes the west side of the lake, and Oakland Police Officer Rodney Kirkland fielded questions about street-level crime in the vicinity of Lakeside Park. Concerned neighbors from Harrison Street joined the meeting at this point. Recognizing that homeless people living on the street are particularly susceptible to violence, Councilmember Fife described a model home made out of a shipping container that holds promise of being reproducible at lower cost than other alternatives for housing homeless people. She noted that a model was on display near City Hall. Officer Kirkland stressed the importance of community vigilance.
summary by Jennie Gerard, John Kirkmire
photos from meeting below ...
- Dr. Richard Bailey has mounted a Facebook page, Lake Merritt Commons, to make accessible historic and current information on the on-going problem of low oxygen levels that makes it unhealthy for the lake’s aquatic life and makes future algal blooms more likely.
- Leeann Alameda, chair of the Lake Merritt Community Alliance spoke of LMCA’s initiatives in working with the City, particularly the effort to bring technical information on the impacts on residents and wildlife from noise from events at the lake.
- Mandolin Kadera-Redmond, Executive Director of the Oakland Parks & Recreation Foundation, reported on their offer to City Administrator Jestin Johnson to ensure a robust engagement of parks organizations when the City hires a consultant to develop Mayor Sheng Thao’s proposal to merge the Office of Parks, Recreation and Youth Development and the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Jonathan Hoffberg, interim chair of the forthcoming Lake Merritt Conservancy, reported on the six months of its community meetings, which have generated interest in and ideas for what a Conservancy can to do for the lake and its environs, and gave an update on efforts underway to stand up the Conservancy.
- Ana-Marie Jones announced that her Oakland Speaks Conflict Resolution and De-escalation Initiative is developing training, which is expected to be ready this spring for eventual wide-spread availability.
Then Oakland City Councilmember Carroll Fife, whose Council District 3 includes the west side of the lake, and Oakland Police Officer Rodney Kirkland fielded questions about street-level crime in the vicinity of Lakeside Park. Concerned neighbors from Harrison Street joined the meeting at this point. Recognizing that homeless people living on the street are particularly susceptible to violence, Councilmember Fife described a model home made out of a shipping container that holds promise of being reproducible at lower cost than other alternatives for housing homeless people. She noted that a model was on display near City Hall. Officer Kirkland stressed the importance of community vigilance.
summary by Jennie Gerard, John Kirkmire
photos from meeting below ...
LMA Meeting May 25, 2023
The first in-person Lake Merritt Advocates meeting since the pandemic lock-down drew 30 representatives speaking for 20 organizations focused on the lake. They were joined by City staff from the Department of Transportation, Oakland Public Works, and Parks, Recreation and Youth Development. Staff from Council President Bas and Councilmember Fife were present, too.
The meeting at the Oakland Lawn Bowling Club began with a listing of major milestones during the pandemic. At the last LMA in-person meeting on January 30, 2020, the focus was on Measure Q, a parcel tax measure to augment park maintenance, among other provisions. On March 3, 2020 voters approved Measure Q. Just 10 days later, the City entered the COVID shutdown, resulting in cancellation of several events, including the 150th Anniversary of the Lake Merritt Wildlife Refuge on March 18, the Oakland Running Festival on March 20, and the Celebration of the new Garden Gates by Shawn Lovell at the Gardens at Lake Merritt.
Despite the shutdown, Lake Merritt experienced an influx of crowds seeking safe outdoor spaces. The park became overwhelmed by visitors. In late spring, spontaneous Black Lives Matter marches took place around the lake, culminating in the Black Lives Family March on June 7. Subsequently, on June 26-27, LGBTQ Healing Arts volunteers painted a diversity street mural expanding on the Black Lives Matter theme inside Lakeside Park.
Other notable events occurred during this time. A weekend vending program trial project was initiated at El Embarcadero. The Alpine Rock Garden was installed in the Gardens at Lake Merritt. Volunteers supported the SOS (Summer of Sundays) Litter campaign by picking up trash on Sunday evenings, as the park experienced heavy usage on weekends and City staffing was unable to keep up with demand. The Oakland Museum of California opened a new entryway directly across from the lake. Rotary Nature Center Friends began presenting monthly "Lakeside Chats" over Zoom. The Lake Merritt Breakfast Club sponsored the Lamppost Project that removed graffiti and repainted the bases of the 176 lampposts. A "Compassion Peace & Unity" mural was installed near the Torii Gate. Children's Fairyland had a fresh coat of paint highlight its return to full activities. The new Trash Falcons volunteer group started picking up litter on Sunday mornings. And lakemerritt.org enhanced its overall content by creating a series of videos (and a YouTube channel) focusing on various aspects of Lake Merritt, including its history and its stewards.
On the downside, the Junior Center of Arts and Sciences building experienced two fires set by encampments while it remained closed (will reopen late 2023). And in August 2022, a heartbreaking 'red tide' algal bloom occurred, leading to the death of Lake Merritt fish. Furthermore, a series of winter storms in early 2023 knocked down over a dozen trees in parkland surrounding the lake.
Following the account of activities and accomplishments at the lake since we last met in-person in January 2020, representatives from each organization, agency and council office gave a brief update of their own activities/events. It was recommended that all sites linked on lakemerritt.org, link back to it on their own sites to improve the cross-publicity of LM events and activities.
Then Michael Ford, Parking and Mobility Manager for the Department of Transportation, described the recently launched Lake Merritt Parking Management pilot program that added more than 350 metered parking spaces at the lake. He noted that a report on the first months of its operation will be presented to the Council before summer recess. It is projected that the metered parking will be a steady funding source for the Lake Merritt upkeep.
The meeting concluded with the following suggestions for Lake Merritt Advocates’ future meetings:
1/ A request that Council President Bas and Councilmember Fife be invited to present their respective visions for the lake and environs
2/ An observation that the great information on www.lakemerritt.org could be pushed out via social media to reach a broader audience
3/ Provide a status report on exploration of forming a Lake Merritt Conservancy (Essex Community Action Committee)
4/ The need for improved water quality such as additional aeration fountains to prevent another algae bloom (LMI fundraiser)
5/ Consider offering training in violence de-escalation
summary by Jennie Gerard, John Kirkmire
photos from meeting below ...
Summer of Sundays / SOS Litter Abatement Project 2021
Hi Lake Merritt Advocates,
"Summer of Sundays," aka Litter Pick-up at Lake Merritt, got off to a great start Sunday June 27th: fifteen volunteers collected twenty bags of litter, and received countless thank-yous from Lake visitors. Upcoming schedule --
When: Sundays, 6:00p – 7:30 pm
Where: sites to be announced each week.
Provided to volunteers: training, instructions, gloves, pickers and plastic bags
"Summer of Sundays," Litter SOS, is a joint project of Lake Merritt Advocates and Untrash the Planet. What is Summer of Sundays? Each Sunday evening until September 5 we volunteers will turn out to pick up trash that might otherwise wind up in the lake. Trash cans fill quickly on warm summer evenings, spilling out onto the surrounding ground. Visitors often leave trash around full cans where it then easily spreads, and attracts birds and vermin. We’ll pick up and bag this trash, then tie the bags tightly for the City to pick-up the next day. Our actions will help keep Lake Merritt clean and, at the same time, communicate to park visitors the importance of properly disposing of trash.
LMA Meeting (zoom) May 26, 2021
On May 27, 2021, 31 representatives of 17 organizations, two Public Works offices and Council President Fortunato Bas’s office convened virtually for the first LMA meeting of 2021 and our first meeting since January 2020. After a heartfelt expression of the challenges Advocates have faced during the pandemic shutdown, attendees introduced themselves and their organizations, noting their experience over the last year and highlighting their plans for re-opening.
During the introductions, some of the Advocates mentioned that their organizations desire more volunteers. That provided a good segue into a presentation about Untrash the Planet by Stephan Orme, the founder and its Untrash East Bay Coordinator. Steve’s young organization has targeted Lake Merritt including the Lake Merritt Channel as one of its sites for deep trash clean-ups, and has already conducted seven work parties here. Thanks to a robust on-line platform developed by Steve, volunteers can sign up for notifications of work parties at sites they want to untrash, such as around Lake Merritt. In addition to those volunteers who have signed up for lake-related notifications, Untrash volunteers living within 3 miles of the work site receive notices.
Mary Ellen Navas then described the forthcoming Lake Merritt Advocates program, Summer of Sundays, which aims to reduce the volume of trash left at the lake, and encourage visitors to practice pack it in/pack it out. Starting the last Sunday evening in June, the 27th, the program will run for 10 weekends, through Labor Day. Each weekend a work party will deep clean a different section of the parkland around the lake. Untrash’s experience and research suggest that a clean site is less likely to become trashed. The location of each Sunday’s work party will appear here. Advocates are urged to sign up for notifications here, and to encourage their volunteers to join in the clean-ups.
Brooke Levin, co-chair of the Measure Q parcel tax, then highlighted aspects of the Mayor’s proposed FY ’21 – ’23 policy budget as the proposal relates to Lake Merritt. The City Council will hold a budget retreat on June 7 beginning at 9:30am to consider the Mayor’s proposal and the Councilmembers modifications to it (go here for the agenda). Brooke urged Advocates to become acquainted with the budget materials that the Council will consider on June 7 and at its subsequent meetings about the budget. The time for commenting is short. The Council must adopt a FY ’21 – ’23 policy budget before the end of June.
The meeting concluded with the suggestion that Lake Merritt Advocates convene the next meeting in two months.
During the introductions, some of the Advocates mentioned that their organizations desire more volunteers. That provided a good segue into a presentation about Untrash the Planet by Stephan Orme, the founder and its Untrash East Bay Coordinator. Steve’s young organization has targeted Lake Merritt including the Lake Merritt Channel as one of its sites for deep trash clean-ups, and has already conducted seven work parties here. Thanks to a robust on-line platform developed by Steve, volunteers can sign up for notifications of work parties at sites they want to untrash, such as around Lake Merritt. In addition to those volunteers who have signed up for lake-related notifications, Untrash volunteers living within 3 miles of the work site receive notices.
Mary Ellen Navas then described the forthcoming Lake Merritt Advocates program, Summer of Sundays, which aims to reduce the volume of trash left at the lake, and encourage visitors to practice pack it in/pack it out. Starting the last Sunday evening in June, the 27th, the program will run for 10 weekends, through Labor Day. Each weekend a work party will deep clean a different section of the parkland around the lake. Untrash’s experience and research suggest that a clean site is less likely to become trashed. The location of each Sunday’s work party will appear here. Advocates are urged to sign up for notifications here, and to encourage their volunteers to join in the clean-ups.
Brooke Levin, co-chair of the Measure Q parcel tax, then highlighted aspects of the Mayor’s proposed FY ’21 – ’23 policy budget as the proposal relates to Lake Merritt. The City Council will hold a budget retreat on June 7 beginning at 9:30am to consider the Mayor’s proposal and the Councilmembers modifications to it (go here for the agenda). Brooke urged Advocates to become acquainted with the budget materials that the Council will consider on June 7 and at its subsequent meetings about the budget. The time for commenting is short. The Council must adopt a FY ’21 – ’23 policy budget before the end of June.
The meeting concluded with the suggestion that Lake Merritt Advocates convene the next meeting in two months.
LMA Email, December 24, 2020
Greetings Lake Merritt Advocates,
I don't know about you, but I celebrate the Winter Solstice passing, so we will begin to see and feel the warming sun. It's a good time to reflect on things and there is much to consider as we put this dark season to rest.
Thinking about you...we know that some of you have found ways to continue your pursuits via Zoom or other applications to support engagement by your members and clients. Additionally, some of you have found socially distanced methods to allow some participation. We salute your perseverance and creativity.
But we also recognize that for all of us there is a loss of much, including our community as we continue to sequester to stay safe and healthy. So we look ahead to 2021 after a majority of us are vaccinated and can therefore begin to engage in person again.
What that will look like is up to us as we continue to adjust. For now, we are anticipating a re-opening and LMA celebration of some sort. We are watching carefully to see the opportunity as it appears, but for now, want to focus on two wonderful 2020 accomplishments:
First, a four-part documentary on the Gardens at Lake Merritt. John Kirkmire has posted on this website Take your time, it's a wonderful tour of the Gardens and an artful acknowledgment of the hundreds of volunteers and volunteer leaders who invest to make The Gardens at Lake Merritt the asset they are for the citizens of Oakland.
The second highlighted accomplishment is the Oakland Museum of CA as it opens the entrance to Lake Merritt. It is wonderful to see this invitation to the public to connect to OMCA from Lake Merritt.
Wishing you all a meaningful holiday season and a wonderful start to 2021. See you then!
In partnership,
Jennie Gerard, John Kirkmire, Mary Ellen Navas
Founders of Lake Merritt Advocates
I don't know about you, but I celebrate the Winter Solstice passing, so we will begin to see and feel the warming sun. It's a good time to reflect on things and there is much to consider as we put this dark season to rest.
Thinking about you...we know that some of you have found ways to continue your pursuits via Zoom or other applications to support engagement by your members and clients. Additionally, some of you have found socially distanced methods to allow some participation. We salute your perseverance and creativity.
But we also recognize that for all of us there is a loss of much, including our community as we continue to sequester to stay safe and healthy. So we look ahead to 2021 after a majority of us are vaccinated and can therefore begin to engage in person again.
What that will look like is up to us as we continue to adjust. For now, we are anticipating a re-opening and LMA celebration of some sort. We are watching carefully to see the opportunity as it appears, but for now, want to focus on two wonderful 2020 accomplishments:
First, a four-part documentary on the Gardens at Lake Merritt. John Kirkmire has posted on this website Take your time, it's a wonderful tour of the Gardens and an artful acknowledgment of the hundreds of volunteers and volunteer leaders who invest to make The Gardens at Lake Merritt the asset they are for the citizens of Oakland.
The second highlighted accomplishment is the Oakland Museum of CA as it opens the entrance to Lake Merritt. It is wonderful to see this invitation to the public to connect to OMCA from Lake Merritt.
Wishing you all a meaningful holiday season and a wonderful start to 2021. See you then!
In partnership,
Jennie Gerard, John Kirkmire, Mary Ellen Navas
Founders of Lake Merritt Advocates
LMA Email, June 15, 2020
Dear Lake Merritt Advocates,
It's been challenging to figure out what the role of Lake Merritt Advocates can be as the pandemic persists. Our beloved lake has become a meeting place for hundreds of Oaklanders seeking relief from the shelter-in-place restrictions. Some are heeding the cautions of social distancing, but clearly many are not. Our goal is to support and build a healthy community around the lake however we can. Each of us is a big part of that.
For the present, there is something each of you and your organization can do. Will you take a few minutes to describe your summer plans, so they can be reflected on www.lakemerritt.org? The website will continue to be helpful only if you use it to let the community know how they might participate in your activities between now and the end of September. Please communicate directly with John Kirkmire at [email protected] as soon as possible but not later than June 26, 2020.
Still, there are happenings around the lake for you to see and know about. In our world of more virtual experiences, here are links to two journeys: Virtual Tour of Lakeside Path Lake Merritt Zip, a morning skedaddle around the lake; and Necklace of Lights, an evening Dusk to Dark along the Necklace of Lights. You'll see that the increased use of the lakeside, as well as the reduction in volunteers, have taken a toll along the shoreline, but the beauty of nature is still shining through including the arrival of a family of barn owls near the Lake Chalet. Photo
Katie Noonan assisted by David Wofford of the Rotary Nature Center Friends are organizing a virtual Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Lake Merritt Wildlife Sanctuary which will include videotaped interviews with most of the speakers who were originally scheduled to present at the canceled March 18th event. More info to follow...
As you know Oakland voters passed Measure Q in March by 68%, adding a new source of funding for critical resources for park maintenance through a 20-year parcel tax. Measure Q funds are built into the Mayor’s proposed FY 2020-21 Mid-cycle budget. It’s now up to the Oakland City Council to consider and adopt a balanced budget by the end of June. This is a huge challenge owing to an enormous budget gap that must be closed. Naomi Schiff and Jennie Gerard, among other serious and long-standing park and homeless advocates, are working to ensure that this new source of funding is put to uses we voters approved.
One of the critical benefits of Measure Q funding is increased resources to maintain parks and lakeside gardens. We are clarifying the specific expectations of OPW and Waste Management who share responsibility for emptying trash bins. Lake Merritt Advocates will be lobbying to augment regular daily servicing of all the bins. We are lobbying to establish a regular daily servicing of all the trash bins. Bins are frequently overflowing, especially on weekends, as a result of the huge increase in disposal of take-out meals and vendor-sold drinks and food. This seems like a perfect time to promote a pack-in/pack-out ethic. Do you have ideas for how your organization can promote this ethic?
Regarding community involvement in picking up trash, Vanessa Pope of Fit4Good is launching a summer litter clean-up contest that is planned to kick off June 15, 2020.
Lastly, going forward we will be searching for ways to reactivate our efforts to improve the quality of experience around Lake Merritt. If you have suggestions or projects to promote, please reach out to any of us.
In Partnership,
Mary Ellen Navas, Jennie Gerard, John Kirkmire
Lake Merritt Advocates Conveners
It's been challenging to figure out what the role of Lake Merritt Advocates can be as the pandemic persists. Our beloved lake has become a meeting place for hundreds of Oaklanders seeking relief from the shelter-in-place restrictions. Some are heeding the cautions of social distancing, but clearly many are not. Our goal is to support and build a healthy community around the lake however we can. Each of us is a big part of that.
For the present, there is something each of you and your organization can do. Will you take a few minutes to describe your summer plans, so they can be reflected on www.lakemerritt.org? The website will continue to be helpful only if you use it to let the community know how they might participate in your activities between now and the end of September. Please communicate directly with John Kirkmire at [email protected] as soon as possible but not later than June 26, 2020.
Still, there are happenings around the lake for you to see and know about. In our world of more virtual experiences, here are links to two journeys: Virtual Tour of Lakeside Path Lake Merritt Zip, a morning skedaddle around the lake; and Necklace of Lights, an evening Dusk to Dark along the Necklace of Lights. You'll see that the increased use of the lakeside, as well as the reduction in volunteers, have taken a toll along the shoreline, but the beauty of nature is still shining through including the arrival of a family of barn owls near the Lake Chalet. Photo
Katie Noonan assisted by David Wofford of the Rotary Nature Center Friends are organizing a virtual Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Lake Merritt Wildlife Sanctuary which will include videotaped interviews with most of the speakers who were originally scheduled to present at the canceled March 18th event. More info to follow...
As you know Oakland voters passed Measure Q in March by 68%, adding a new source of funding for critical resources for park maintenance through a 20-year parcel tax. Measure Q funds are built into the Mayor’s proposed FY 2020-21 Mid-cycle budget. It’s now up to the Oakland City Council to consider and adopt a balanced budget by the end of June. This is a huge challenge owing to an enormous budget gap that must be closed. Naomi Schiff and Jennie Gerard, among other serious and long-standing park and homeless advocates, are working to ensure that this new source of funding is put to uses we voters approved.
One of the critical benefits of Measure Q funding is increased resources to maintain parks and lakeside gardens. We are clarifying the specific expectations of OPW and Waste Management who share responsibility for emptying trash bins. Lake Merritt Advocates will be lobbying to augment regular daily servicing of all the bins. We are lobbying to establish a regular daily servicing of all the trash bins. Bins are frequently overflowing, especially on weekends, as a result of the huge increase in disposal of take-out meals and vendor-sold drinks and food. This seems like a perfect time to promote a pack-in/pack-out ethic. Do you have ideas for how your organization can promote this ethic?
Regarding community involvement in picking up trash, Vanessa Pope of Fit4Good is launching a summer litter clean-up contest that is planned to kick off June 15, 2020.
Lastly, going forward we will be searching for ways to reactivate our efforts to improve the quality of experience around Lake Merritt. If you have suggestions or projects to promote, please reach out to any of us.
In Partnership,
Mary Ellen Navas, Jennie Gerard, John Kirkmire
Lake Merritt Advocates Conveners
LMA Meeting January 30, 2020
On January 30th, representatives of 23 organizations convened for the first meeting of LMA in 2020 at the Oakland Lawn Bowling Club Center. After the agenda/program was introduced, attendees introduced themselves and their organizations. Brief notes and actions suggested for advocates follow:
Brooke Levin, Measure Q Campaign Co-Chair and former Director, Oakland Public Works Agency, presented a condensed summary of the history, goals and challenges of Measure Q, the Improve our Parks/Care for Our People Parcel Tax on the March 3rd Oakland ballot. Measure Q is designed to generate significant revenues, $21 million in the first year, to support improved park maintenance, enhanced services and resources for homeless individuals, and critical storm water quality improvements. The measure requires at least a 67.7% affirmative vote to pass. It is important, even urgent, to inform Oakland voters most of whom care about the issues Q addresses, that their votes are essential to passing this measure. PLEASE HELP TO GET OUT THE VOTE effort by volunteering at https://www.yesforOakland.com to phone bank, text bank and canvass likely voters. Send a request to your organizations to ask for volunteers. A few hours Monday - Thursday evenings or Saturday during the thirty-three days before the election will pay back!
John Kirkmire and Lena Zentgraf, Oakland Running Festival race director, shared the status of the March 22nd Oakland Running Festival, which has been designed to minimize the negative impacts on the communities and neighborhoods on the race course. This issue has been at the top of the LMA list so we are appreciative of the adjustments made. Critical to park advocates is that the race sponsor, Corrigan Sports, and LMA will document the conditions before and after the races to ensure that Snow Park, the staging area and finish line, is restored to its new pristine condition.
Katie Noonan and David Wofford, Rotary Nature Center Friends, are heading a project to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of Lake Merritt as a Wildlife Refuge. A ceremony will take place on Wednesday, March 18th at 10 am at the Rotary Nature Center. Banners recognizing the event designed by Adrian Cotter, Community for Lake Merritt, will grace the lake boundary. 150th has information about the Wildlife Banner project, including the cost and a way to make a contribution. The site will also include patrons who donate to the project. Lake Merritt Breakfast Club Foundation is sponsoring the fundraising activity.
Carole Levenson announced that the long overdue installation of the beautiful gates at the two main entrances to the Gardens of Lake Merritt is nearly completed. A Grand Opening ceremony will take place… but exactly when is still not decided. Updates on the Grand Opening will be posted on this site.
The exciting community of Salsa Dance at the Lake has joined Lake Merritt Advocates. Isaac Kos-Read, founder, shared the inspiring history of the organization, which is recognized nationally and followed on social media by thousands of people. Regular weekend afternoon salsa dancing at the Pergola at the north end of the lake has attracted so many people that the organization wants to improve the experience by building a removable dance floor that will be used on weekends. The logistics of acquiring the floor components and also storing the disassembled dance floor are yet to be worked out.
Two suggestions for future meeting were offered. One is a focus on the repair of the decomposed granite paths on the east side of the lake (Lakeshore side). The second is a continued effort to get the City to involve stakeholders in the review of applications for major events at the lake.
photos below
Brooke Levin, Measure Q Campaign Co-Chair and former Director, Oakland Public Works Agency, presented a condensed summary of the history, goals and challenges of Measure Q, the Improve our Parks/Care for Our People Parcel Tax on the March 3rd Oakland ballot. Measure Q is designed to generate significant revenues, $21 million in the first year, to support improved park maintenance, enhanced services and resources for homeless individuals, and critical storm water quality improvements. The measure requires at least a 67.7% affirmative vote to pass. It is important, even urgent, to inform Oakland voters most of whom care about the issues Q addresses, that their votes are essential to passing this measure. PLEASE HELP TO GET OUT THE VOTE effort by volunteering at https://www.yesforOakland.com to phone bank, text bank and canvass likely voters. Send a request to your organizations to ask for volunteers. A few hours Monday - Thursday evenings or Saturday during the thirty-three days before the election will pay back!
John Kirkmire and Lena Zentgraf, Oakland Running Festival race director, shared the status of the March 22nd Oakland Running Festival, which has been designed to minimize the negative impacts on the communities and neighborhoods on the race course. This issue has been at the top of the LMA list so we are appreciative of the adjustments made. Critical to park advocates is that the race sponsor, Corrigan Sports, and LMA will document the conditions before and after the races to ensure that Snow Park, the staging area and finish line, is restored to its new pristine condition.
Katie Noonan and David Wofford, Rotary Nature Center Friends, are heading a project to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of Lake Merritt as a Wildlife Refuge. A ceremony will take place on Wednesday, March 18th at 10 am at the Rotary Nature Center. Banners recognizing the event designed by Adrian Cotter, Community for Lake Merritt, will grace the lake boundary. 150th has information about the Wildlife Banner project, including the cost and a way to make a contribution. The site will also include patrons who donate to the project. Lake Merritt Breakfast Club Foundation is sponsoring the fundraising activity.
Carole Levenson announced that the long overdue installation of the beautiful gates at the two main entrances to the Gardens of Lake Merritt is nearly completed. A Grand Opening ceremony will take place… but exactly when is still not decided. Updates on the Grand Opening will be posted on this site.
The exciting community of Salsa Dance at the Lake has joined Lake Merritt Advocates. Isaac Kos-Read, founder, shared the inspiring history of the organization, which is recognized nationally and followed on social media by thousands of people. Regular weekend afternoon salsa dancing at the Pergola at the north end of the lake has attracted so many people that the organization wants to improve the experience by building a removable dance floor that will be used on weekends. The logistics of acquiring the floor components and also storing the disassembled dance floor are yet to be worked out.
Two suggestions for future meeting were offered. One is a focus on the repair of the decomposed granite paths on the east side of the lake (Lakeshore side). The second is a continued effort to get the City to involve stakeholders in the review of applications for major events at the lake.
photos below
LMA Meeting October 23, 2019
On Wednesday, October 23rd representatives of fifteen LMA organizations convened to begin developing a shared vision to guide an initiative for Lake Merritt. Highlights of the meeting follow.
Since July’s presentation by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s Love Dolores operations staff on their five-year history of transforming Dolores Park, several conversations about applicability have been percolating through our organizations, with professionals, external experts, community members and City staff. Driving these conversations were the concerns about excessive trash, abuse/over-use of park land, and community dissatisfaction.
To deepen preliminary analyses we examined the population of lake users, to rediscover that Lake Merritt is indeed a microcosm of Oakland. It is used by, enjoyed, and visited by all ages, demographics, cultural groups and visitors. Like Lake Merritt itself, the rich diversity around the lake is an asset. We have come to believe that the basic themes of trash, over-use and dissatisfaction with park
conditions represent symptoms of a more fundamental problem, the absence of a collective understanding of how to responsibly and mutually share Lake Merritt and its surrounds in a manner that is equitable for all Oaklanders and respectful to nearby residents and the living environment of the lake.
Discussion followed about what steps would lead to an inclusive community process to identify and discern how to make the Lake Merritt community an example of Oakland’s strength through diversity. A draft process and timeline were presented:
Establish a working group December 1, 2019
Data collection and survey design Dec 15, 2019 - Feb 15, 2020
Routine/monthly Community Outreach March 1, 2020
Program Design (multiple elements) March 15-May15, 2020
Broad community engagement June 1, 2020
Evaluation August 1, 2020
The robust LMA conversation around this process revealed a plethora of ideas about the opportunity to build community around Lake Merritt’s history, social culture, ecology, and watershed management, employing a variety of outreach and involvement methods.
Attending advocates prioritized issues. The top five concerns expressed: excessive trash, damage to park land and environment, health & security, lack of communication/event notification, and no collective agreement on how to share the park. It was proposed that this initiative become the major endeavor of LMA for the next year.
New Developments and Updates:
Vanessa Pope reported on results from “For Here, Please”, a non-profit that aims to accelerate the transition away from single-use paper and plastics here in Oakland. Perch Cafe was the first LM cafe to go plastic-free under the influence of "For here, Please" More info at forhereplease.com
Jennie Gerard gave an overview and focused critique of the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Report, providing a draft comment letter to be sent from Lake Merritt Advocates by November 3, 2019 for the Planning Commission’s meeting on November 8. The draft addresses the plan’s failure in four major areas: to ensure financial resources to maintain the parkland at Lake Merritt that will be much more heavily used by downtown Oakland’s anticipated growth in population over the next twenty years; no effective affordable housing solutions to reduce encampments around the lake and channel; proposed development along Lake Merritt Channel without assurance of public access on both sides of the channel; increased height limits at proposed buildings facing the east side of the lake without protection from shadows on the parkland, notably Snow Park. Please read the draft file below and provide your comments before November 3 directly to Jennie at [email protected]
Aileen Frankel from Community of Advocates for Lake Merritt requested support to protect the historically valued Fire Alarm Building, located at 14th St & Oak, which was part of the original lake “green belt”. (see notes )
Notice please: The long-anticipated entrance gates to The Gardens at Lake Merritt are being installed within the next weeks. Thanks to many of you have supported eight years of the Autumn Lights Festival, that has provided major funding for the gates.
Finally, OPRF’s Experiences and Perspectives Survey is available for LMA organizations to blast to their members to complete and return. Survey link as at top of this webpage
The next quarterly LMA Meeting will be 1st Quarter 2020. Between now and then look for communication on the development of the Oakland initiative to love Lake Merritt.
Since July’s presentation by the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department’s Love Dolores operations staff on their five-year history of transforming Dolores Park, several conversations about applicability have been percolating through our organizations, with professionals, external experts, community members and City staff. Driving these conversations were the concerns about excessive trash, abuse/over-use of park land, and community dissatisfaction.
To deepen preliminary analyses we examined the population of lake users, to rediscover that Lake Merritt is indeed a microcosm of Oakland. It is used by, enjoyed, and visited by all ages, demographics, cultural groups and visitors. Like Lake Merritt itself, the rich diversity around the lake is an asset. We have come to believe that the basic themes of trash, over-use and dissatisfaction with park
conditions represent symptoms of a more fundamental problem, the absence of a collective understanding of how to responsibly and mutually share Lake Merritt and its surrounds in a manner that is equitable for all Oaklanders and respectful to nearby residents and the living environment of the lake.
Discussion followed about what steps would lead to an inclusive community process to identify and discern how to make the Lake Merritt community an example of Oakland’s strength through diversity. A draft process and timeline were presented:
Establish a working group December 1, 2019
Data collection and survey design Dec 15, 2019 - Feb 15, 2020
Routine/monthly Community Outreach March 1, 2020
Program Design (multiple elements) March 15-May15, 2020
Broad community engagement June 1, 2020
Evaluation August 1, 2020
The robust LMA conversation around this process revealed a plethora of ideas about the opportunity to build community around Lake Merritt’s history, social culture, ecology, and watershed management, employing a variety of outreach and involvement methods.
Attending advocates prioritized issues. The top five concerns expressed: excessive trash, damage to park land and environment, health & security, lack of communication/event notification, and no collective agreement on how to share the park. It was proposed that this initiative become the major endeavor of LMA for the next year.
New Developments and Updates:
Vanessa Pope reported on results from “For Here, Please”, a non-profit that aims to accelerate the transition away from single-use paper and plastics here in Oakland. Perch Cafe was the first LM cafe to go plastic-free under the influence of "For here, Please" More info at forhereplease.com
Jennie Gerard gave an overview and focused critique of the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Report, providing a draft comment letter to be sent from Lake Merritt Advocates by November 3, 2019 for the Planning Commission’s meeting on November 8. The draft addresses the plan’s failure in four major areas: to ensure financial resources to maintain the parkland at Lake Merritt that will be much more heavily used by downtown Oakland’s anticipated growth in population over the next twenty years; no effective affordable housing solutions to reduce encampments around the lake and channel; proposed development along Lake Merritt Channel without assurance of public access on both sides of the channel; increased height limits at proposed buildings facing the east side of the lake without protection from shadows on the parkland, notably Snow Park. Please read the draft file below and provide your comments before November 3 directly to Jennie at [email protected]
Aileen Frankel from Community of Advocates for Lake Merritt requested support to protect the historically valued Fire Alarm Building, located at 14th St & Oak, which was part of the original lake “green belt”. (see notes )
Notice please: The long-anticipated entrance gates to The Gardens at Lake Merritt are being installed within the next weeks. Thanks to many of you have supported eight years of the Autumn Lights Festival, that has provided major funding for the gates.
Finally, OPRF’s Experiences and Perspectives Survey is available for LMA organizations to blast to their members to complete and return. Survey link as at top of this webpage
The next quarterly LMA Meeting will be 1st Quarter 2020. Between now and then look for communication on the development of the Oakland initiative to love Lake Merritt.
LMA Meeting July 18, 2019
The Lake Merritt Advocates held a quarterly meeting on Thursday afternoon, July 18. In attendance were 23 representatives of 21 community organization, 12 staff from 9 city departments including aides for Council Members Bas and McElhaney. Featured on the agenda was a presentation by San Francisco Recreation and Park Department staff regarding the Love Dolores [Park] program.
Before the Love Dolores presentation, there were five Lake Merritt updates --
E-scooter use on paths around Lake Merritt: Kerby Olsen, OakDOT’s Shared Mobility Coordinator, distributed the 2019 of the Bikeways Map, which shows the location of multi-use trails around Lake Merritt. He and other OakDOT staff will return to a future meeting to discuss the location of trails unsuitable for use by e-scooters.
8.5 FTE parks maintenance positions: Clinton Pugh, Parks Supervisor II, Public Works Agency, reported that the City Council’s adopted ’19-’21 Policy Budget includes funding for the 8.5 FTE parks maintenance positions in the first fiscal year, which the draft budget had proposed to freeze. Funding of the positions in the second fiscal year is dependent on the outcome of a parcel tax measure likely on the March ’20 ballot. If unsuccessful, the Council may revisit funding during the mid-cycle budget review.
Coordinated calendar of Lake Merritt events: CJ Hirschfield, Fairyland Executive Director, reported on her meeting with the City Administrator regarding the lack of a coordinated calendar of events at Lake Merritt. Without such a calendar reflecting a coordinated approach by various departments (Office of Parks, Recreation and Youth Development, Oakland Police Department, Visit Oakland, among others as well as resident stakeholders like Fairyland), the result creates confusion for visitors and significant costs to resident programs. The City Administrator has committed to addressing this matter.
Mid-century monster play structure: Susan Casentini and Kyle Milligan, leaders in the redo of the Mid-century Monster, announced a dedication of the play structure on Sunday, July 28 11-3 pm, the time of a Municipal Band Concert at the Edoff Bandstand.
Lake Merritt Community Cabins: Naomi Schiff, Oakland Heritage Alliance, Measure DD Coalition and ShelterOak member, reported that the developers who will renovate the Kaiser Convention Center are in conversation with the City about when the Lake Merritt Community Cabins will have to move to make way for construction. The date is unlikely to be as early as this fall.
Andrés Patino, S.F. Recreation and Park Department Public Outreach Coordinator, made the Love Dolores presentation assisted by Bethany Peterson, Public Outreach Ambassador:
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department launched the Love Dolores program on the completion in 2015 of a $20 million renovation of Dolores Park. The park had been plagued by three problems: there were only four restrooms; summer weekend days drew very large crowds of 7,000 - 10,000 visitors; and the department was spending $750,000 a year picking up the trash left behind. Although it seemed counterintuitive, the program moved all trash cans inside the park to its perimeter in order to focus a three-stream sorting of recyclables and compostables from trash, and make collection bins easier for Recology to access. Simultaneously, the program launched an education program to change the culture around park use, calling on the Leave No Trace Foundation’s experience in national parks for advice.
Park Department staff have conducted surveys of visitors at the beginning and end of the season. The surveys ask visitors’ ages, where they live, their frequency of Dolores Park visits, their awareness of the Love Dolores program, their ability to locate trash bins, among other questions. The results have informed the Love Dolores branding, special events and messaging, all of which has been developed by the staff. On weekends staff also approached visitors one-on-one to offer friendly encouragement directed at changing behavior such as not bringing glass bottles into the park. Surrounding business owners have been recruited to support the program, too.
Throughout, experimentation has been key to determining the messages that work with the major demographic, the location of Eco-Pop Up Stations where the three-stream sorting takes place, the park locations needing special attention, etc. To assess progress the staff has collected data regularly on the number of staff workers at the park, number of bags of trash collected, and number of hours gardeners work, among other measures. A strong indicator that the program is being successful: in 2018 there was a 45% reduction in litter left behind, and 61% fewer staff hours spent picking up trash compared to 2017. There were six volunteer events with 188 volunteers working 485 hours. Results included 8000+ cigarette butts collected and 1200+ bottle caps. Additionally there was a 300% increase in social media followers and more than 5000 park visitors engaged about the program.
Further info: view the Love Dolores 60 second video; Love Dolores powerpoint presentation
Questions about the program may be directed to Andrés Patino, Public Outreach Coordinator at (415) 802-5582 or [email protected]
For more info on the Love Dolores presentation, see detailed notes prepared by Adrian Cotter, Community for Lake Merritt.
Photos from meeting below:
Before the Love Dolores presentation, there were five Lake Merritt updates --
E-scooter use on paths around Lake Merritt: Kerby Olsen, OakDOT’s Shared Mobility Coordinator, distributed the 2019 of the Bikeways Map, which shows the location of multi-use trails around Lake Merritt. He and other OakDOT staff will return to a future meeting to discuss the location of trails unsuitable for use by e-scooters.
8.5 FTE parks maintenance positions: Clinton Pugh, Parks Supervisor II, Public Works Agency, reported that the City Council’s adopted ’19-’21 Policy Budget includes funding for the 8.5 FTE parks maintenance positions in the first fiscal year, which the draft budget had proposed to freeze. Funding of the positions in the second fiscal year is dependent on the outcome of a parcel tax measure likely on the March ’20 ballot. If unsuccessful, the Council may revisit funding during the mid-cycle budget review.
Coordinated calendar of Lake Merritt events: CJ Hirschfield, Fairyland Executive Director, reported on her meeting with the City Administrator regarding the lack of a coordinated calendar of events at Lake Merritt. Without such a calendar reflecting a coordinated approach by various departments (Office of Parks, Recreation and Youth Development, Oakland Police Department, Visit Oakland, among others as well as resident stakeholders like Fairyland), the result creates confusion for visitors and significant costs to resident programs. The City Administrator has committed to addressing this matter.
Mid-century monster play structure: Susan Casentini and Kyle Milligan, leaders in the redo of the Mid-century Monster, announced a dedication of the play structure on Sunday, July 28 11-3 pm, the time of a Municipal Band Concert at the Edoff Bandstand.
Lake Merritt Community Cabins: Naomi Schiff, Oakland Heritage Alliance, Measure DD Coalition and ShelterOak member, reported that the developers who will renovate the Kaiser Convention Center are in conversation with the City about when the Lake Merritt Community Cabins will have to move to make way for construction. The date is unlikely to be as early as this fall.
Andrés Patino, S.F. Recreation and Park Department Public Outreach Coordinator, made the Love Dolores presentation assisted by Bethany Peterson, Public Outreach Ambassador:
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department launched the Love Dolores program on the completion in 2015 of a $20 million renovation of Dolores Park. The park had been plagued by three problems: there were only four restrooms; summer weekend days drew very large crowds of 7,000 - 10,000 visitors; and the department was spending $750,000 a year picking up the trash left behind. Although it seemed counterintuitive, the program moved all trash cans inside the park to its perimeter in order to focus a three-stream sorting of recyclables and compostables from trash, and make collection bins easier for Recology to access. Simultaneously, the program launched an education program to change the culture around park use, calling on the Leave No Trace Foundation’s experience in national parks for advice.
Park Department staff have conducted surveys of visitors at the beginning and end of the season. The surveys ask visitors’ ages, where they live, their frequency of Dolores Park visits, their awareness of the Love Dolores program, their ability to locate trash bins, among other questions. The results have informed the Love Dolores branding, special events and messaging, all of which has been developed by the staff. On weekends staff also approached visitors one-on-one to offer friendly encouragement directed at changing behavior such as not bringing glass bottles into the park. Surrounding business owners have been recruited to support the program, too.
Throughout, experimentation has been key to determining the messages that work with the major demographic, the location of Eco-Pop Up Stations where the three-stream sorting takes place, the park locations needing special attention, etc. To assess progress the staff has collected data regularly on the number of staff workers at the park, number of bags of trash collected, and number of hours gardeners work, among other measures. A strong indicator that the program is being successful: in 2018 there was a 45% reduction in litter left behind, and 61% fewer staff hours spent picking up trash compared to 2017. There were six volunteer events with 188 volunteers working 485 hours. Results included 8000+ cigarette butts collected and 1200+ bottle caps. Additionally there was a 300% increase in social media followers and more than 5000 park visitors engaged about the program.
Further info: view the Love Dolores 60 second video; Love Dolores powerpoint presentation
Questions about the program may be directed to Andrés Patino, Public Outreach Coordinator at (415) 802-5582 or [email protected]
For more info on the Love Dolores presentation, see detailed notes prepared by Adrian Cotter, Community for Lake Merritt.
Photos from meeting below:
LMA Meeting January 10, 2019
The Lake Merritt Advocates met on Thursday, January 10. In attendance were 21 representatives of 18 organizations and City agencies. They came for a panel discussion on Lake Merritt and e-scooters, a form of shared mobility that has arrived in Oakland in the last two years. Panelists were Ryan Russo, Director of the City of Oakland’s Department of Transportation, and e-scooter operators’ representatives, EV Ellington, Bay Area General Manager for Limebike, and Marty Fatooh, Community Relations Manager for Central/Northern California for Bird Rides. The panel addressed the topic of Heels and Wheels Sharing Lake Merritt Safely.
Ryan led off by describing what he calls the current pilot phase of e-scooting in Oakland. During this time OakDOT has gathered many comments and complaints that have helped shape an application program, which will guide the deployment and operation of e-scooters. Permits are expected to be issued to e-scooter operators this fall.
In the meantime on OakDot’s to-do list this year is clarifying where e-scooting is and is not legal. State law prohibits biking on sidewalks and that applies to e-scooting as well. E-scooting is allowed now on the multi-use paths, which are closer to the street. However, it is apparent that the multi-use paths are too crowded now for both wheels and heels. Around Lake Merritt, Ryan envisions adjustments to improve safety. For example, no e-scooting would be allowed on some multi-use paths or sidewalks closer to the lake. At the soon-to-be completed Harrison Street Cycle Track, e-scooters (and bicycles) will have a dedicated path separate from pedestrians and be protected from cars. This is the ideal configuration where there is room in the public right-of-way. OakDOT is looking into how to implement a separation of wheels and heels so that e-scooting won’t conflict with pedestrians elsewhere around the lake.
Being reminded of the Lake Merritt Institute’s October experience of fishing 60 e-scooters out of the lake, EV and Marty described their companies’ efforts to retrieve them and discourage dumping in the first place. At present the operators send a crew two (Lime) or three (Bird) times a week to remove e-scooters that have been reported. In addition, each operator has adapted its App to indicate that e-scooters may not be parked closer than the far sidewalk along the streets surrounding the lake. The operators are now issuing warnings and fines to those who don’t abide by this requirement. They think fewer e-scooters are winding up in the lake now, and the heavier e-scooters that they are in the process of deploying will drop the number further.
Issues of safe e-scooting focused mainly on what the operators are doing to restrict underage riders (younger than 18). They have set up geo-fencing around Oakland high schools so that students won’t be tempted to e-scoot. They are considering how to require riders to confirm that they are of age before they can e-scoot. When asked about lowering the speed limit of e-scooters, Ryan replied that he doesn’t consider going below the present 15 miles per hour to be safe because e-scooters, which are expected to ride in the bike lanes, would be travelling slower than bikes. Both company representatives pointed to their educational efforts and free helmet distribution as examples of promoting safe e-scooting.
On the matter of e-scooters left where they block pedestrian traffic, the operators described how they incent their Bird “Watchers” and Lime “Juicers” with a bounty to retrieve/remove any e-scooter reported in a problem location. The more problematic the location, the bigger the bounty. The operators were emphatic that they aren’t planning on docking stations for parking their e-scooters such as are used for shared bikes, because this would run counter to the concept of e-scooter convenience. They said their Apps specifically indicate that parking is to be no closer than the far side of the streets surrounding the lake.
When asked about who will enforce e-scooter regulations, OakDOT and the operators said they are focused on education. An example would be signage around the lake indicating where e-scooting is and is not allowed. The operators pointed to the enforcement possible by revoking the right to rent an e-scooter if the user is fined or otherwise found misusing the e-scooter.
FAQs re e-scooters: https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/e-scooters
General feedback, email: [email protected]
To report improperly parked scooters, contact the responsible company: For Bird Rides, [email protected]. For Limebike, [email protected] or text 888.345.5463. Or report to Oak.311.
After the panel presentation, the following updates were given:
Mid-Century Monster - Work is underway that will be completed early in February, thanks to the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club’s leadership and gifts. A re-dedication ceremony will take place in the spring.
The Gates at the Gardens at Lake Merritt – The budgeted funding for the installation of the gates is no longer adequate due to a state law enacted last year. The City is seeking a contractor as is required by the new law. A plan and schedule are anticipated later this month.
The Rotary Nature Center will re-open with an Open House on Saturday, February 16, 1 – 3:30 pm.
A coordinated calendar of events occurring around the lake – Discussions are underway with the City staff who participated in the panel at October’s LMA meeting.
Homelessness at Lake Merritt – Observing that there are as many campers around the lake as they have ever been even with the Cabin Community next to Peralta Park, participants were invited to fill out a one-question survey: should parks or some parks be “closed from camping”? Results will form a baseline for LMA advocacy.
The next meeting of Lake Merritt Advocates will take place on Sunday afternoon April 28, 2019 from 2-5 pm. Details about this pattern-breaking LMA meeting will be forthcoming but plan on learning to lawn bowl and having some fun together.
meeting photos :
Ryan led off by describing what he calls the current pilot phase of e-scooting in Oakland. During this time OakDOT has gathered many comments and complaints that have helped shape an application program, which will guide the deployment and operation of e-scooters. Permits are expected to be issued to e-scooter operators this fall.
In the meantime on OakDot’s to-do list this year is clarifying where e-scooting is and is not legal. State law prohibits biking on sidewalks and that applies to e-scooting as well. E-scooting is allowed now on the multi-use paths, which are closer to the street. However, it is apparent that the multi-use paths are too crowded now for both wheels and heels. Around Lake Merritt, Ryan envisions adjustments to improve safety. For example, no e-scooting would be allowed on some multi-use paths or sidewalks closer to the lake. At the soon-to-be completed Harrison Street Cycle Track, e-scooters (and bicycles) will have a dedicated path separate from pedestrians and be protected from cars. This is the ideal configuration where there is room in the public right-of-way. OakDOT is looking into how to implement a separation of wheels and heels so that e-scooting won’t conflict with pedestrians elsewhere around the lake.
Being reminded of the Lake Merritt Institute’s October experience of fishing 60 e-scooters out of the lake, EV and Marty described their companies’ efforts to retrieve them and discourage dumping in the first place. At present the operators send a crew two (Lime) or three (Bird) times a week to remove e-scooters that have been reported. In addition, each operator has adapted its App to indicate that e-scooters may not be parked closer than the far sidewalk along the streets surrounding the lake. The operators are now issuing warnings and fines to those who don’t abide by this requirement. They think fewer e-scooters are winding up in the lake now, and the heavier e-scooters that they are in the process of deploying will drop the number further.
Issues of safe e-scooting focused mainly on what the operators are doing to restrict underage riders (younger than 18). They have set up geo-fencing around Oakland high schools so that students won’t be tempted to e-scoot. They are considering how to require riders to confirm that they are of age before they can e-scoot. When asked about lowering the speed limit of e-scooters, Ryan replied that he doesn’t consider going below the present 15 miles per hour to be safe because e-scooters, which are expected to ride in the bike lanes, would be travelling slower than bikes. Both company representatives pointed to their educational efforts and free helmet distribution as examples of promoting safe e-scooting.
On the matter of e-scooters left where they block pedestrian traffic, the operators described how they incent their Bird “Watchers” and Lime “Juicers” with a bounty to retrieve/remove any e-scooter reported in a problem location. The more problematic the location, the bigger the bounty. The operators were emphatic that they aren’t planning on docking stations for parking their e-scooters such as are used for shared bikes, because this would run counter to the concept of e-scooter convenience. They said their Apps specifically indicate that parking is to be no closer than the far side of the streets surrounding the lake.
When asked about who will enforce e-scooter regulations, OakDOT and the operators said they are focused on education. An example would be signage around the lake indicating where e-scooting is and is not allowed. The operators pointed to the enforcement possible by revoking the right to rent an e-scooter if the user is fined or otherwise found misusing the e-scooter.
FAQs re e-scooters: https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/e-scooters
General feedback, email: [email protected]
To report improperly parked scooters, contact the responsible company: For Bird Rides, [email protected]. For Limebike, [email protected] or text 888.345.5463. Or report to Oak.311.
After the panel presentation, the following updates were given:
Mid-Century Monster - Work is underway that will be completed early in February, thanks to the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club’s leadership and gifts. A re-dedication ceremony will take place in the spring.
The Gates at the Gardens at Lake Merritt – The budgeted funding for the installation of the gates is no longer adequate due to a state law enacted last year. The City is seeking a contractor as is required by the new law. A plan and schedule are anticipated later this month.
The Rotary Nature Center will re-open with an Open House on Saturday, February 16, 1 – 3:30 pm.
A coordinated calendar of events occurring around the lake – Discussions are underway with the City staff who participated in the panel at October’s LMA meeting.
Homelessness at Lake Merritt – Observing that there are as many campers around the lake as they have ever been even with the Cabin Community next to Peralta Park, participants were invited to fill out a one-question survey: should parks or some parks be “closed from camping”? Results will form a baseline for LMA advocacy.
The next meeting of Lake Merritt Advocates will take place on Sunday afternoon April 28, 2019 from 2-5 pm. Details about this pattern-breaking LMA meeting will be forthcoming but plan on learning to lawn bowl and having some fun together.
meeting photos :
LMA meeting, October 22, 2018
Lake Merritt Advocates met on Monday, October 22 at the Oakland Lawn Bowling Club, Lakeside Park. In attendance were 32 advocates representing 24 different organizations, plus 3 guest panelists: Darrin Hodges- Facilities Manager, Office of Parks, Recreation & Youth Development; Mark Everton- Visit Oakland CEO; and Michael Hunt- Special Assistant to the Mayor. Each panelist described their work and how it relates to Lake Merritt. Panel discussion then focused on “Lake Merritt: A Component of Oakland’s Brand”
Good news: Oakland’s brand is building as evidenced by growth in the number of visitors to Oakland and growth in Oakland’s share of tourism (71% growth in last four years). 1 out of every 30 jobs in Oakland is related to tourism, or 7110 jobs in tourism. Last year there were 3.7 million visitors spending $827 million which produced $48 million for the General Fund. The jewel of Oakland, Lake Merritt is certainly an attractor in this growth.
Not such good news: Of the money infused into the General Fund, very little goes to park maintenance (1-2% estimated); No City-wide calendar of events exists; No institutional knowledge of all the groups and events exists. Coordination of events is recognized as a problem, a hole in the City’s process of scheduling. Importantly, steps are underway to improve the process of permitting events in the park. The Office of Parks, Recreation & Youth Development is adopting a single application form that will communicate with all city departments. OPRYD Central Reservations has moved to a Lake Merritt location.
Other ideas and suggestion: 1) Use Lake Merritt scheduling and coordination as a pilot of a new process that involves the community stakeholders, OPRYD, Public Works, Police, Fire, and Visit Oakland; Michael Hunt and LMA (Mary Ellen & John) will work on this; 2) The volume of people and events around Lake Merritt is wearing on the natural environment: lawns/grasses/gardens/irrigation and the infrastructure generally are stressed; There is a need to reinvest in the maintenance, refurbishment and replacement of materials and plants to prevent damage to the jewel of Oakland. Suggestions include: a facility use ‘tax’ with $ penalties if damage occurs or a fee for maintenance to be added to contracts with OPRYD or a percentage of the revenue from Visit Oakland earmarked for parks maintenance and distributed based on use; 3) Suggestion that other parks become “destinations” for events as well e.g., Dunsmuir or San Antonio Park; This would spread the opportunity more widely, potentially further building Oakland’s brand and providing much needed maintenance revenues for park refurbishment; 4)Special concern for disruption of habitat of the birds; the current resident bird population is not flourishing and migratory bird counts reveal emerging problems, too.
Advocate Announcements:
Kyle Mulligan and Susan Casentini announced there will be a special showing of "Pinocchio" on Sunday, October 28 at 10 a.m. at the Grand Lake Theater. $10 admission proceeds go to the Mid-Century Green Monster rehab project..
Katie Noonan reported that the Rotary Nature Center will be reopening soon and is seeking advocate support to re-establish the RNC as an educational and Lake Merritt showcase.
Bruce De Benedictis called attention to the Public Submission deadline for Oakland's Capital Improvement Program CIP funding is Sunday October 28. Link to CIP info /link to CIP Application
Naomi Schiff reported that there are still 50-60 unhoused homeless people camped around the lake and that the LM Tuff Shed village recently opened in the old Kaiser Auditorium parking lot is at or near its 40 occupant capacity. The website, ShelterOak.org has been set up as a reliable place for news & information, and resources for the homeless, homeless advocates and the community.
LMA will meet quarterly, January, April, July, October. Next meeting is Thursday January 10th, 4:30-6:00pm
An April Mixer, including a Learn-to-Lawn Bowl social (date and time tbd) will be held at the Oakland Lawn Bowling Club, Lakeside Park.
Meeting photos below --
Good news: Oakland’s brand is building as evidenced by growth in the number of visitors to Oakland and growth in Oakland’s share of tourism (71% growth in last four years). 1 out of every 30 jobs in Oakland is related to tourism, or 7110 jobs in tourism. Last year there were 3.7 million visitors spending $827 million which produced $48 million for the General Fund. The jewel of Oakland, Lake Merritt is certainly an attractor in this growth.
Not such good news: Of the money infused into the General Fund, very little goes to park maintenance (1-2% estimated); No City-wide calendar of events exists; No institutional knowledge of all the groups and events exists. Coordination of events is recognized as a problem, a hole in the City’s process of scheduling. Importantly, steps are underway to improve the process of permitting events in the park. The Office of Parks, Recreation & Youth Development is adopting a single application form that will communicate with all city departments. OPRYD Central Reservations has moved to a Lake Merritt location.
Other ideas and suggestion: 1) Use Lake Merritt scheduling and coordination as a pilot of a new process that involves the community stakeholders, OPRYD, Public Works, Police, Fire, and Visit Oakland; Michael Hunt and LMA (Mary Ellen & John) will work on this; 2) The volume of people and events around Lake Merritt is wearing on the natural environment: lawns/grasses/gardens/irrigation and the infrastructure generally are stressed; There is a need to reinvest in the maintenance, refurbishment and replacement of materials and plants to prevent damage to the jewel of Oakland. Suggestions include: a facility use ‘tax’ with $ penalties if damage occurs or a fee for maintenance to be added to contracts with OPRYD or a percentage of the revenue from Visit Oakland earmarked for parks maintenance and distributed based on use; 3) Suggestion that other parks become “destinations” for events as well e.g., Dunsmuir or San Antonio Park; This would spread the opportunity more widely, potentially further building Oakland’s brand and providing much needed maintenance revenues for park refurbishment; 4)Special concern for disruption of habitat of the birds; the current resident bird population is not flourishing and migratory bird counts reveal emerging problems, too.
Advocate Announcements:
Kyle Mulligan and Susan Casentini announced there will be a special showing of "Pinocchio" on Sunday, October 28 at 10 a.m. at the Grand Lake Theater. $10 admission proceeds go to the Mid-Century Green Monster rehab project..
Katie Noonan reported that the Rotary Nature Center will be reopening soon and is seeking advocate support to re-establish the RNC as an educational and Lake Merritt showcase.
Bruce De Benedictis called attention to the Public Submission deadline for Oakland's Capital Improvement Program CIP funding is Sunday October 28. Link to CIP info /link to CIP Application
Naomi Schiff reported that there are still 50-60 unhoused homeless people camped around the lake and that the LM Tuff Shed village recently opened in the old Kaiser Auditorium parking lot is at or near its 40 occupant capacity. The website, ShelterOak.org has been set up as a reliable place for news & information, and resources for the homeless, homeless advocates and the community.
LMA will meet quarterly, January, April, July, October. Next meeting is Thursday January 10th, 4:30-6:00pm
An April Mixer, including a Learn-to-Lawn Bowl social (date and time tbd) will be held at the Oakland Lawn Bowling Club, Lakeside Park.
Meeting photos below --
LMA meeting, March 20, 2018
Lake Merritt Advocates’ second meeting - March 20, 2018 - Oakland Lawn Bowling Club inside Lakeside Park. Attending were more than 40 people representing more than 30 organizations.
Guest speaker Joe DeVries, assistant to the Oakland City Administrator, discussed the 'unsheltered' campers at Lake Merritt and around the city. Attendees asked what steps the City of Oakland is taking to clear the parkland around Lake Merritt and the Channel of campers. The LM Advocates provided a map displaying the location of 60 or more campsites. Mr DeVries explained the City is constrained by lack of funding to house Oakland's unsheltered population. Following a pilot Tuft Shed community, another such sanctioned site has been discussed for the Kaiser Auditorium parking lot. However, the lack of funding has stalled the project. Mr. DeVries stressed that this is also an Alameda County issue.
Guest Speaker Oakland District 2 Councilmember Abel Guillen addressed the unsheltered at the lake topic, and reiterated the problem of funding and finding places for the homeless in Oakland. He mentioned the interest in finding City properties, even the City’s now closed jail, that can be used to house campers and those living in their cars. Commenting on the great number of emails that councilmembers and the mayor have received about encampments at Lake Merritt and elsewhere, Mr. Guillen urged LM Advocates to contact Alameda County for Oakland’s fair share of homelessness funding. Mr. Guillen laid out the timeline for the Council’s consideration of year two of the biennial City budget. The Finance Committee, which he chairs, will consider any proposed changes to the budget beginning at its May meetings, based on revenue and expense projections which the Committee is receiving now. (Go HERE for date, time and agenda of the Finance Committee and Council meetings regarding the FY ’18-’19 budget. Note: the meetings and their agendas won’t be posted till a couple of weeks before they take place. Any changes to the FY ’18-’19 budget will have to be adopted at a Council meeting no later than the end of June, 2018.)
C.J. Hirschfield of Children's Fairyland talked about the impact on Fairyland every time the City permits a major event at the lake, such as the Oakland Running Festival and the upcoming National Masters Rowing Regatta in August. Such events make parking even more scarce, and in the case of the running festival require closing off streets that provide access to Lakeside Park. The resulting loss of attendance and revenue during these events is significant, and damaging to organizations operating in Lakeside Park as well as to businesses whose customers can’t get to them. She wants the City to include stakeholders like lake organizations when considering permit applications for major events, and invited Advocates to join her in making the case for stakeholders with the City.
Katie Noonan discussed the status of the now-closed Rotary Nature Center, mentioning an ad hoc group that she is spearheading, which is offering assistance to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Child Development on reopening the nature center. OPRCD will host another community meeting on the Rotary Nature Center on the morning of Saturday, April 7.
The prevailing concern of the meeting was the expanding unsheltered population at the lake. A sub group of LM Advocates volunteered to work with Naomi Schiff on formulating an advocacy plan.
The meeting closed with questions about how often LM Advocates should meet. Some thought meeting quarterly was not enough and wanted monthly meetings. Others thought sub-groups could meet more frequently to develop reports to make at quarterly meetings. Others expressed interest in developing advocacy positions.
Next meeting to be announced. Meeting photos below ---
Guest speaker Joe DeVries, assistant to the Oakland City Administrator, discussed the 'unsheltered' campers at Lake Merritt and around the city. Attendees asked what steps the City of Oakland is taking to clear the parkland around Lake Merritt and the Channel of campers. The LM Advocates provided a map displaying the location of 60 or more campsites. Mr DeVries explained the City is constrained by lack of funding to house Oakland's unsheltered population. Following a pilot Tuft Shed community, another such sanctioned site has been discussed for the Kaiser Auditorium parking lot. However, the lack of funding has stalled the project. Mr. DeVries stressed that this is also an Alameda County issue.
Guest Speaker Oakland District 2 Councilmember Abel Guillen addressed the unsheltered at the lake topic, and reiterated the problem of funding and finding places for the homeless in Oakland. He mentioned the interest in finding City properties, even the City’s now closed jail, that can be used to house campers and those living in their cars. Commenting on the great number of emails that councilmembers and the mayor have received about encampments at Lake Merritt and elsewhere, Mr. Guillen urged LM Advocates to contact Alameda County for Oakland’s fair share of homelessness funding. Mr. Guillen laid out the timeline for the Council’s consideration of year two of the biennial City budget. The Finance Committee, which he chairs, will consider any proposed changes to the budget beginning at its May meetings, based on revenue and expense projections which the Committee is receiving now. (Go HERE for date, time and agenda of the Finance Committee and Council meetings regarding the FY ’18-’19 budget. Note: the meetings and their agendas won’t be posted till a couple of weeks before they take place. Any changes to the FY ’18-’19 budget will have to be adopted at a Council meeting no later than the end of June, 2018.)
C.J. Hirschfield of Children's Fairyland talked about the impact on Fairyland every time the City permits a major event at the lake, such as the Oakland Running Festival and the upcoming National Masters Rowing Regatta in August. Such events make parking even more scarce, and in the case of the running festival require closing off streets that provide access to Lakeside Park. The resulting loss of attendance and revenue during these events is significant, and damaging to organizations operating in Lakeside Park as well as to businesses whose customers can’t get to them. She wants the City to include stakeholders like lake organizations when considering permit applications for major events, and invited Advocates to join her in making the case for stakeholders with the City.
Katie Noonan discussed the status of the now-closed Rotary Nature Center, mentioning an ad hoc group that she is spearheading, which is offering assistance to the Office of Parks, Recreation and Child Development on reopening the nature center. OPRCD will host another community meeting on the Rotary Nature Center on the morning of Saturday, April 7.
The prevailing concern of the meeting was the expanding unsheltered population at the lake. A sub group of LM Advocates volunteered to work with Naomi Schiff on formulating an advocacy plan.
The meeting closed with questions about how often LM Advocates should meet. Some thought meeting quarterly was not enough and wanted monthly meetings. Others thought sub-groups could meet more frequently to develop reports to make at quarterly meetings. Others expressed interest in developing advocacy positions.
Next meeting to be announced. Meeting photos below ---
Lake Merritt Advocates meeting November 13, 2017
On November 13, 2017 the inaugural meeting of the Lake Merritt Advocates took place. Hosted by the Oakland Lawn Bowling Club at its Lakeside Park club house the meeting was attended by 35 individuals representing 25 organizations. To set the stage, Park Supervisor Tora Rocha provided her vision of a coalition of organizations that would advocate for the lake, its parkland, and its critters. The purpose of the meeting was two-fold: to get to know the organizations and their representatives working around the lake, and to consider a shared calendar for use by each organization. Each person present made a self-introduction and introduced the organization(s) represented. This was a particularly valuable exercise because it showed how many organizations there are working on behalf of Lake Merritt and its environs, many more than most suspected.
Next came an introduction to the robust www.lakemerritt.org website. That, too, was a revelation to many who were seeing for the first time the profiles of their organization, the calendar of events coming up at the lake in the next month, as well as gorgeous photographs. A Google calendar on the site lists activities for volunteers sponsored by the various organizations. The value of the Google calendar was apparent for organizations, City staff and volunteers alike. All could see the benefits of better coordination and increased marketing. To post announcements, contact [email protected].
Deidre Martin and Jennifer Stern from the City’s Environmental Services Division encouraged organizations to report their volunteer hours on TrackItForward. Reports on activities and accomplishments help tell the volunteer story and improve event coordination. TrackItForward also provides each organization with a record of its volunteering and a way to view other volunteer reports. Volunteer coordinators can track on behalf of their groups. To record hours, go here: https://www.trackitforward.com/site/oakland-adopt-spot. If you have questions or need help reporting hours, contact [email protected].
The Lake Merritt Advocates meeting concluded with suggestions for future meetings, possibly occurring as frequently as quarterly.
Next came an introduction to the robust www.lakemerritt.org website. That, too, was a revelation to many who were seeing for the first time the profiles of their organization, the calendar of events coming up at the lake in the next month, as well as gorgeous photographs. A Google calendar on the site lists activities for volunteers sponsored by the various organizations. The value of the Google calendar was apparent for organizations, City staff and volunteers alike. All could see the benefits of better coordination and increased marketing. To post announcements, contact [email protected].
Deidre Martin and Jennifer Stern from the City’s Environmental Services Division encouraged organizations to report their volunteer hours on TrackItForward. Reports on activities and accomplishments help tell the volunteer story and improve event coordination. TrackItForward also provides each organization with a record of its volunteering and a way to view other volunteer reports. Volunteer coordinators can track on behalf of their groups. To record hours, go here: https://www.trackitforward.com/site/oakland-adopt-spot. If you have questions or need help reporting hours, contact [email protected].
The Lake Merritt Advocates meeting concluded with suggestions for future meetings, possibly occurring as frequently as quarterly.