THE BASICS

What is UCAN? A non-profit mutual benefit association to promote community communication, facilitate emergency preparedness and response, help beautify and improve our public spaces, implement neighborhood security programs, explore the possibility of undergrounding unsafe and unattractive utilities and amplify our neighborhood's voice at City Hall. UCAN is not a "homeowners association." It will not have any jurisdiction over private property or private use.
Who can join UCAN? The UCAN boundaries are Claremont Avenue to the west, Hillcrest and Eucalyptus Roads to the south, Tunnel Road to the north and Roble Road to the east. Anyone who lives within those boundaries on Hazel Road, Domingo Avenue, Oakvale Avenue, The Plaza Drive, Parkside Drive, Nogales Street, Encina Place, The Uplands, Hillcrest Road, Hillcrest Court, Eucalyptus Road, Oak Ridge Road, El Camino Real, Roble Road or Roble Court is invited and encouraged to join, whether your home is in Berkeley or Oakland, and whether you are a homeowner or a tenant.
Do I have to join if I live within the boundaries? No, membership is entirely voluntary.
How will this new association be governed? Who will run it? The Steering Committee formed several subcommittees, including one on Organization and Governance. Its recommendations to the larger committee led to the adoption of a plan that calls for the election of a seven-member Board, who will serve staggered two-year terms. Any member of UCAN is encouraged to run for the Board and help lead the association. The members will elect the Board and its officers, with one vote per household.
How much will it cost to join? For the first year (2025), the annual dues have been set at $250 per household. They could be lower in future years, once UCAN's initial costs are covered.
Where will that money go? The UCAN Steering Committee has approved a preliminary budget which will cover the installation and annual maintenance of Automatic License Plate Reader cameras, organization and hosting of annual neighborhood events, maintaining a website, exploring the enhancement of neighborhood open spaces, associated legal and logistical expenses and so on. You can see the details by clicking on this BUDGET tab.
I already contributed to pay for the cameras on Hillcrest and Eucalyptus. Do I have to pay again? Those three existing cameras are being folded into the larger UCAN network, and your UCAN dues will replace your annual contribution to maintain them. Instead of continuing to chip in for just those three cameras, you will be helping to cover a larger area and also benefit from the new association’s other initiatives, for not much more money per year.
What will happen to our wonderful neighborhood July 4th celebration? This cherished event, a neighborhood tradition since 1961, will continue under the aegis of UCAN, instead of being organized by the small group of volunteers who have to pass the hat every year to pay for it. The existing July 4th Committee is thrilled to hand the reins to the new association and know that it has a dedicated funding source, and some of those same neighbors are now part of UCAN's founding leadership.
What other events does UCAN envision? The association foresees a minimum of three neighborhood events a year. In addition to July 4th, UCAN will host an annual membership meeting and a neighborhood emergency preparedness event. Some Steering Committee members also suggested a Halloween event, a neighborhood potluck, holiday caroling and other special gatherings, which could be added if there were sufficient association support and a consensus to hold them.
Who will be in charge of these security cameras? For more information on the Flock camera system, please click on the SAFETY tab. Remember, these are not video surveillance cameras, like the ones people have installed outside their homes. These are special still cameras that focus on and record license plate and other information on passing vehicles.
I’ve heard talk about improving Round Park, the median oval at Parkside and Plaza where we hold the July 4th celebration every year. What is the plan for that? For years, there has been neighborhood interest in restoring the landscaping at Round Park and making it a more attractive amenity for the entire neighborhood, including families with young children. UCAN’s initial budget includes some money for professional landscape planning and community outreach for this project (Round Park’s adjacent homeowners will be asked to take a leading role), as well as evaluating improvements to Long Park (the landscaped hillside and informal path between Uplands and Parkside), Oak Park and the Hillcrest hairpin at Hillcrest and Eucalyptus. The overriding goal is to add to the beauty of our open spaces, and in so doing, enhance public safety and our property values. UCAN has already convinced the city of Berkeley to appropriate $150,000 for this purpose!

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