19 Jul
2025
19 Jul
'25
4:43 p.m.
July 19th, 2025
Good afternoon building community,
For those of you who noticed my absence this past week I have been due to a
positive covid test result. I anticipate being fully recuperated with a
presence back in the building by Wednesday. I am also long overdue in
sending out a building newsletter. Please review the following information
for updates, next steps, what's to come, and key recaps and reminders.
Updates
1.
Access Control Change: After six months of review and deliberation CALLI
has decided to move forward with changing the access control for the front
entrance of the building. We will be working with Safe & Sound Security to
install the Brivo access control system on the front door. The installation
is currently scheduled for the morning of Thursday, August 21st which
gives us ample time to prepare for the change. We will be focusing on
rolling out mobile pass credentials. (Check out the first minute and 25
seconds of this Brivo Mobile Pass
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9enfG5Przc> video for a sneak peak)
2.
Reasoning: For those with the longest tenure in the building, we
recognize that this will be a significant transition. We have chosen to
keep the side door entrance on the existing system that legacy groups
currently control and administrator. Our decision was motivated by
identifying a cloud-based solution that CALLI could consistently administer
that would meet our current and future needs in the building. We chose
Brivo for it's ease of administration, remote capabilities, and
scalability. For the foreseeable future I will be the primary CALLI
administrator for the access control system. Any and all inquiries can be
directed to me on behalf of CALLI & EBPREC.
3.
Logistics: We are starting out with a set number of 100 mobile pass
credentials and want to encourage each lessee to limit their request for
front door credentials to 10 people.
4.
There will also be a limited number of proximity cards available to
check out if there are credential holders that are not able to utilize
Brivo mobile pass on their phone. These proximity cards will require a $5
security deposit with CALLI and should only be requested as a last resort.
We want to move away from card access control because it adds additional
challenges to access management but recognize the need to have an
alternative option available.
5.
People Management: While the list of people with front door access
control will be slimmer, the Brivo system also enables us to capture a
broader range of building stakeholders, including individuals who get
banned from the building through Brivo user profiles. Profiles will also
make it easy to verify individuals that are members of organizations that
require entry into the building. I will be paying more attention to front
door notifications on the app then I do when the doorbell rings, and have
the capacity to provide remote door access. The remaining set of access
control credentials that are not claimed by lessees can be added to people
on an ad hoc basis if and when they are hosting an event or are doing an
activity that requires direct access to the building for a limited period
of time.
6.
Directory + Membership List: To help prepare for the transition I would
like each of the six groups in the building connected to a lease (CCL,
EBFNB, Free Store, Sudomesh, Sudoroom, Wood Street Commons) to create a
duplicate of the following Google sheets: Directory + membership list
template
<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OcAzBWeWUbM71u3MBmaYfHmTRmDUpEZfFtCtP5noUc8/edit?usp=sharing>
and ensure that you populate the three tabs. Please plan to resend me
the information by August 8th so that I can start processing and
uploading the information. This will ensure that we have the most updated
contact information and have a seamless access control transition. The
following are some details about the three sheets.
7.
Org contact list: This is an opportunity to update the points of contact
for key leadership roles. If these positions haven't changed in the last
year you can also notify me that the information remains the same as our
current records.
8.
Membership List: The second sheet should capture all the active/current
affiliates or members of your group. Moving forward this will help
streamline front door management with individuals that don't have access
control credentials who will be able to be verified through the membership
list which will be uploaded to Brivo.
9.
Special Ask: I highly encourage us to get as many member photographs as
possible. As the primary administrator of Brivo, this will really help
minimize biased descriptions of individuals when recounting building
events, and ensure that CALLI is familiar with all of the members of the
building community. Photos can also be added later on once the profiles are
created, so I can also revisit this with individuals directly after August
8th.
10.
Hours of Operations: The final sheet aims to capture existing programs
and space use of each lessee. Understanding the building's average
programming will help me structure my schedule, and make more informed
decisions that better support peoples needs.
11.
Points of contact for events and specific activity can also be given
scheduled access control capability in addition to the individuals selected
by each group.
12.
Capturing this information will also get us one step closer to having a
public Google Calendar for the building to keep everyone in the loop.
13.
ADA Automatic Door Opener: Dave's Lock Services
<https://daveslockservice.com> will be working under Safe & Sound
Security to install the front door automatic door opener for better
accessibility in the same timeline as the access control project. Under the
membership list above, I would also encourage a note be written next to
individuals that indicate needing ADA accessibility so we can plan
accordingly.
14.
Security Cameras: After a lot of deliberation I put forward my
recommendation of installing six wireless Tapo cameras at the following
location
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JCiMhQfrCGA8C6_Um5JK9ZCzk8mUXcMi/view?usp=sharing>.
The goals behind the locations are included in the link. Please note that
the three inside locations are in areas that are not currently being leased
and are under CALLI's direct oversight. We have chosen not to install
commercial cameras that integrate with Brivo and instead opted for a more
cost effective alternative with local storage that only the CALLI team has
access to. The cameras will greatly support my role and capacity as
Stewardship Manager and can easily be amended or removed if they don't work
out. My goal is to install the cameras on or after July 23rd. If anyone
has further comments, concerns, or would like to be involved in the
installation. Please reach out to me directly.
15.
Siding Project: Since the last newsletter we decided to switch general
contractors for the building's South wall siding project. The process
required a City of Oakland permit transfer to GVD Renovations and pushed
the project out by at least a month. While our completion date is uncertain
(anticipated in September) we will be getting a thicker siding material
with a Class A Fire/Flame Spread Rating.
16.
Interior Doors: In the past we shared that we would be working on adding
two interior doors to the building. Last month we submitted the plans to
the City of Oakland and they are processing additional materials requested.
We anticipate purchasing the door hardware and materials and self
performing the work with Don Luis. Our goal is to get this done before our
next fire inspection.
17.
Cease & Desist: After more than a year of the ballroom having an
enforceable C&D in place we were finally able to get the City of Oakland to
lift the Cease and Desist on the ballroom. HOWEVER, the special events
department has not cleared us for events of 50+ people without needing to
get a special events permit which is an additional $50-$200 per event.
While events are allowed in the ballroom it is still impractical under
these circumstances to expect community groups to pay those additional
costs for gatherings. We are continuing to escalate this issue to the next
level of City administration in hopes of getting a favorable zoning
determination that will finally put this reoccurring issue with the City to
rest.
Recaps & Reminders
1.
Infractions: I will continue to populate the infractions reference
document
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dXb452FzR1u0mAi7dS-FuQB4OfpwW4WR2UE2b7GewbU/edit?usp=sharing>
with a new tab for every newsletter to show instances where building rule
violations or infractions occur that have an adverse effect on building
operations. For July, I also want to pull out the following:
2.
Dumping Bulk Items & Mess: Furniture and other unwanted items should not
be left in the entrance hall. The building does not currently have a
dedicated cleaning staff or budget for dumping. Time spent on cleaning,
breaking down bulk items, and organizing things in the building takes away
from Don Luis and I's primary roles and responsibilities. If folks are
interested in donating to the Free Store that needs to be given directly to
Free Store volunteers or left on the Free Store donation table with their
permission. If the Free Store is interested in items, those also need to be
able to be stored in the designated Free Store storage area at the end of
each day they are open.
3.
Unauthorized breaker being turned on: For the second time in the last
few months I have experienced an issue with the electrical breaker
connected to the outside outlet being switched back on without any
communication or approval. This is a very serious issue that cannot
continue.
4.
High electrical bill: This past month alone there was a $500 increase in
electrical use for the building despite very few approved event activity.
We cannot afford these volatile spikes in utility costs. Please be mindful
to turn off lights and electrical equipment that is not in use. I also want
to request that the lights in the entrance hall be turned off throughout
the day and remain turned off after the free store is closed or standard
building hours.
5.
Space use: Any type of request for space use big or small, short term or
long term, pro-bono or paid will be reviewed on a case by case basis via
this form: https://forms.gle/x4CRcpoCYNRFcQrs5 until we say otherwise.
6.
Engagement: Since May many have done a great job with keeping walkways
unobstructed and paths of egress clear. There have been a lot of proactive
steps taken by groups in leased spaces. I appreciate seeing the sustained
engagement and positive improvements in different spaces. Cheers to
everyone who has played a proactive and supportive role in the building,
please continue to keep the momentum going.
What's New
1.
Volunteer & Collaboration Opportunities:
2.
I have been really grateful to the members of the Omni Commons who have
helped me on my journey to becoming a building whisperer. There are a ton
of skills and experiences across the six groups in the building, and I am
fortunate that folks have extended a helping hand. If you are interested in
supporting building improvements, safety upgrades, and operating procedures
please email me directly to indicate your interest. Topics that I am
actively soliciting input and support for are:
3.
Design ideas for outdoor beautification and what to plant in place of
the Italian Cypress that were removed alongside the building.
4.
Assistance with increasing internet speed in the CALLI office and
creating an additional password protected internet network to house
access control and security cameras.
5.
Design and/or installation of a wireless fire alarm system.
6.
Interest in helping plan a Fall season follow up to our April 1st
gathering. Something to culminate a year with CALLI?
7.
Strategies and ideas for greening the building and incorporating more indoor
plants.
8.
Property Condition Assessment: While we have been planning, scheduling,
and executing on $500,000 worth of improvements to the building for this
first year, we also want to make sure that we determine a process for
implementing future building improvements. Last month we started working
with Basis - architecture and consulting firm to assess the building and
help us plan for future improvements.
On the Horizon:
1.
Reoccurring Payment Option: We have gotten some requests for monthly
reoccurring bills so that rent and utilities can be scheduled on auto pay.
Due to the fluctuation of the utility bills, we were not able to set this
up. After several months of capturing utility information we are confident
that we can roll out an auto-pay program where we populate an average
utility bill amount based on the organization's average and set up a
tracking system to either reimburse or bill for any amount owed at the end
of the year. We have piloted this with one organization, and want to move
in the direction of doing this with the other groups. If there are concerns
with transitioning to reoccurring payments please let me know by the end
of the month. We hope to initiate this for August billing.
2.
Welfare Tax Exemption Application: We are still in the process of
getting the welfare tax exemption and have received comments and additional
requests on our submitted application that are due in September. One of the
concerns is that CALLI does not have signed leases with all of the groups.
Most were assumed in the purchase with Omni Commons. We are talking to
lawyers to determine the best way to go about this. We are hopeful that an
addendum amending the leases will suffice, but there is a chance we may
need to reach out to get leases resigned to appease the County. The terms
of the lease would be identical, it would just be about having CALLI named
and signing as the Lessor. The target date for any changes would be in
August so that either the amendment or resigned leases can go into effect
for the August billing period.
3.
We are doing our best to minimize the impact on everyone, but please
designate and prepare a signatory for this type of request. I encourage
groups to review Section 14 of your leases that references this kind of
situation.
4.
Upcoming Building Rules Implementation: Since receiving feedback on the
V1 building rules and the release of the last newsletter, I have shifted
away from creating responses to comments toward developing additional
training material on aspects of the building rules. Be on the lookout for
future updates. Specific topics to look out for in notices or communication
are guidance on building signage, tripping hazards mitigation,
encapsulation, appliances, and other safety processes.
5.
Connecting with the 44th St building: Since I came back from the Social
Purpose Summit in LA in May I have been in communication with Alex the
Stewardship Manager of the future Critical Resistance owned building on
44th street (Building People Power (BPP) building. We have been talking
about ways to support each other and how to maintain continuity of services
when they break ground on their project. We will be rescheduling a visit to
each other's space in the upcoming week.
I hope this newsletter provided helpful details. Due to changes in my son's
summer schedule, my time in the building has shifted. For the next few
weeks I will be in the space daily until ~2:30 pm. If we need to schedule a
time to meet outside of 9:30-2:30 pm that can be arranged upon request.
Thank you and take care,
*Attached is a pdf of the text written above for ease of distribution.
--
*Valerie Jameson* (she/ella)
Stewardship (Property) Manager - 4799 Shattuck Avenue
*Collective Action & Land Liberation Institute (CALLI) *
CALLI Website <https://www.thecalli.org/>
East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative
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