Around Oakley: Decision time nears for potential council hopefuls

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

November elections seem a long way off, but for those planning to put their name in the hat for a seat on the Oakley City Council, a decision must be made in the next few weeks. Candidates can file to run from July 12-Aug. 6.

The seats of council members Bruce Connelly and Carol Rios are up for election this year.

Those interested in applying should contact the city clerk's office at 925-625-7000. The clerk will give you papers to sign and the requirements for filing, which usually include a petition that must be signed by a certain number registered voters.

That being the case, find out all the information in advance to see what the current requirements are.
Those interested in running must live within Oakley's city limits and be a registered voter. Remember that City Hall will be closed July 16 for the city's regular furlough day. Those interested may want to make an appointment with the city clerk beforehand to make sure there is someone available to explain all the details.
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On to other Oakley news, anyone interested in having a garage sale may want to check the city's website before they clean out the garage and post a sign for items for sale to make sure they are following city regulations. There is also an opportunity for some free advertising of your event on the city's site.

The important detail to remember under the new rules is that eachresident can host only three sales per calendar year. The garage sales cannot exceed three days per event, and cannot extend past dark.

There are also regulations applying to signs. Signs announcing sales may not be posted in the public right-of-way or on any public property. This includes streets, landscaped medians, landscaped strips along roadways, on telephone poles, power poles, street lights, street signs, city trees or on sidewalks or curbs.

All signs must be removed at the conclusion of the sale. Any signs placed on utility poles, traffic lights, traffic signs, street signs, fire hydrants or trees will be removed, and the cost for removal and any damage caused by the sign will be charged to the person sponsoring the sale.

Code enforcement officers can cite you for illegally posted signs and can charge you the cost of recovery and any damage caused to city property.

"The irony of the illegal signs is that the violator is guiding code enforcement to his or her address," a city information brochure says.

Signs may be placed on private property with permission of the property owner.

As someone whose back fence is on a main thoroughfare, please don't assume that just because everyone can see it means you have the right to place your sign on it. Some gaping holes have been left in my fence from all the signs that have been pounded into it over the years.
There are many other guidelines, so don't forget to check out the city's website at www.ci.oakley.ca.us for more details.

Contact Oakley resident Roni Gehlke at festfan@comcast.net.