Greetings from the City Manager

Dear Pinole,

As we head into the fall and winter months, forecasts indicate a potentially strong El Niño season ahead. This weather pattern often brings above-average rainfall, which can increase the risk of flooding and coastal impacts in our community. While we can’t control the weather, we can take steps now to be ready.

What the City is Doing

• Clearing storm drains to improve water flow.
• Inspecting and reinforcing flood-prone areas to reduce risk.
• Coordinating with emergency services to ensure rapid response if needed.
• Stockpiling sand and sandbags at designated distribution points for residents (NOTE: sand will be provided in the public lot on Plum Street only when weather conditions indicate a risk of flooding).

How You Can Prepare

• Check your property’s drainage and clear gutters of leaves and debris.
• Secure outdoor items that could be blown or washed away.
• Have an emergency kit with essentials like water, food, flashlights, and batteries.
• Sign up for CWSalerts.com to receive real-time weather and safety updates.

Stay Connected

We’ll continue to share updates through our website, social media, and these newsletters. Your safety is our top priority, and by working together, we can minimize the impacts of heavy storms.

Let’s be proactive, stay informed, and look out for one another.

Upcoming Events

CITY PUBLIC MEETINGS

City Council Meeting - Tues, Oct. 20, 5:30pm - Zoom/City Hall

Planning Commission Meeting - Mon, Oct. 26, 7pm - Zoom/City Hall

Community Services Commission Meeting - Wed, Oct. 28, 5pm - Zoom/City Hall

City Council Meeting - Tues, Nov. 3, 5:30pm - Zoom/City Hall

Planning Commission Meeting - Mon, Nov. 9, 7pm - Zoom/City Hall

The public may attend and participate in-person in the City Hall Council Chamber or via Zoom. Agendas, minutes, and other detailed information regarding how to attend and participate in Pinole’s public meetings can be found on the website.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Dumpster Day - Sat, Oct. 24, 7am-11am - Pinole Valley Park Parking Lot

Veterans Day Celebration - Wed, Nov. 11, 11am-2pm - Fernandez Park

Holiday Craft Fair - Sat, Nov. 14, 10am-3pm - Senior Center

UPCOMING CLOSURE

City Hall facilities will be closed in observance of Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11.

News & Updates

Photos of Shea Drive showing the street condition before and after paving. Shea Drive road work is approximately 80% complete. 

NOTICE OF ROAD WORK – PINOLE PAVEMENT REHABILITATION PROJECT

The City of Pinole continues to conduct pavement rehabilitation work on Shea Drive, Pinole Valley Road, and Marlesta Road from September 21 through October 31, 2026, with McGuire & Hester serving as the project contractor. This multi‑week effort includes milling, paving, iron adjustments, digouts, striping, and surface treatments taking place Mondays through Fridays. Residents in these project areas may notice ongoing construction activity during this period, and we encourage you to review the work schedule for your specific street to stay informed.

Work Schedules:

Shea Drive (Pinole Valley Road to Sarah Drive)

• Week of 10/05: Speed bump Install
• Week of 10/12: Raising iron
• Week of 10/19: Final Striping

Pinole Valley Road (Pinole Valley Bridge to Simas Avenue)

• Week of 10/05: Dig Outs and Crack filling
• Week of 10/12: Crack filling and Slurry
• Week of 10/19: Striping

Marlesta Road (Appian Way to Marionola)

• Week of 10/05: Milling and Filling
• Week of 10/12: Raise Iron
• Week of 10/19: Final Striping

What Residents Should Expect

• Temporary lane closures and slowed traffic
• Occasional driveway access delays during active paving
• Construction noise during standard work hours
• No‑parking zones will be posted in advance—please observe signage
• Crews typically aim to complete major activities by Friday each week.

How You Can Help

• Remove vehicles from posted no‑parking areas
• Plan extra travel time during work periods
• Keep children and pets away from work zones
• Follow flagger and traffic control instructions

Contact Information

For questions or special access needs, please contact:

• City of Pinole Public Works – (510) 724‑9910
• Construction Contractor Field Office – (510) 632‑7676

A map showing Caltrans' planned closure of the southbound Appian Way Overcrossing span. The blue lines show the temporary traffic configuration (detour) that will carry both directions of travel on the northbound bridge span starting November 16th. 

UPCOMING APPIAN WAY OVERCROSSING CLOSURE

Caltrans will conduct a 55-hour full closure of Appian Way beginning 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13 through 4 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16 to install a new traffic configuration on northbound Appian Way. This work prepares for the long‑term closure of the southbound Appian Overcrossing, which is scheduled to remain closed through Spring 2027 (weather permitting).  After the new traffic configuration, one lane on the northbound bridge will carry both directions of travel, leading to slower speeds and ramp-access changes.

This project is being delivered under a Caltrans Emergency Director’s Order following critical findings discovered during a routine inspection. Crews will be replacing only the northern abutment span of the southbound bridge (approximately 100 feet in length). The span that crosses over I‑80 will remain intact and will not be replaced.

During the closures:
• No vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians will be allowed to cross Appian Way.
• All traffic will be detoured onto I‑80 (eastbound or westbound); Appian Way off‑ramps will be closed.
• Please plan ahead, follow posted detour signs, and give yourself extra travel time.
• All work is weather-dependent and subject to change.

Important note: This is a Caltrans-led project, not a City of Pinole project. We’ll continue to share updates to help keep the community informed. Keep a lookout for more information from Caltrans, and stay updated on the Appian Way Overcrossing project by signing up for Caltrans District 4 email alerts: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/Nq7MbcF/Appian

A birds eye view of cars empyting contents into dumpsters provided by Republic Services. 

DUMPSTER DAY IS OCTOBER 24

Pinole Dumpster Day will take place on Saturday, October 24, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This is a free event for Pinole residents only. Proof of residency is required. The City would like to remind residents that this is not a curbside collection event; participants must unload their own items. One car per household; no trailers or pickup trucks with side rails. The event will end at 11:00 a.m. or when all 12 dumpsters are filled—whichever comes first.

Accepted Items:

Household items, glass, clothing, metal, chairs, tables, couches, small appliances, broken toys, rugs/padding, wood, dishwashers, washers and dryers, refrigerators, ovens/stoves, microwaves.

Not Accepted:

Box springs or mattresses; Green/yard waste; Tires; Concrete or construction debris; Household hazardous waste (e.g., paint, oil, bug spray, oven cleaner, propane tanks, prescription medicines, needles, syringes); Car batteries; Electronic waste (TVs, computers, screens, cell phones, etc.)

A Greener Pinole

Cub Scouts happily pose for a quick photo as they clean up Pinole Shores. Photo courtesy of Friends of Pinole Creek Watershed. 

OVER 100 VOLUNTEERS CLEANED UP PINOLE SHORES ON COASTAL CLEANUP DAY

This year’s Coastal Cleanup event brought together dozens of volunteers, who collectively removed 261 gallons (287.75 pounds) of trash from the shoreline area. Participants included families from West County Mandarin School, Cub Scout Pack 42, students from Berean Christian High School’s Global Aid Society Club, the PVHS KIWINS, and many additional community members. City staff participation included Maureen Toms and Naomi Kelly from the City of Pinole. A total of 114 volunteers signed in on the official roster; however, many additional participants—including children—contributed without formally checking in. The event saw a strong turnout of new volunteers and families, reflecting continued community engagement in supporting Pinole’s natural environment.

REPAIR CAFE EVENT ON OCTOBER 17

Residents of the Pinole/Hercules/El Sobrante/San Pablo region are invited to a Repair Cafe event on Saturday, October 17th, from 11:30 AM to 2 PM at 'The Shed' in El Sobrante. This community event offers free repair services for broken small appliances, electronics, and fabrics or clothing. Skilled volunteers will be on hand to fix these items, helping to promote sustainability and reuse within the community. The event operates on a first-come, first-serve basis, and attendees are encouraged to register their item in advance by scanning the QR code. For any questions, contact the organizers at northeastbayactionpod@proton.me.

Become a Repair Cafe Fixer

The North East Bay Action Pod in partnership with Triangle Works is seeking volunteers for quarterly Repair Cafe events. They are looking for individuals in the North East Bay Region with skills to fix small appliances, electronics, and fabrics or clothing. A Repair Cafe is a community event where residents bring broken items to be repaired for free by skilled volunteers, promoting sustainability and reuse. Those interested in volunteering can indicate their interest by scanning the QR code provided on the flier. For more information, questions can be directed to northeastbayactionpod@proton.me.

ATTENTION LANDSCAPERS: GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR ELECTRIC GARDEN EQUIPMENT

The Bay Area Air District is now offering vouchers for commercial operators to replace old gasoline- or diesel-powered lawn and garden equipment with new electric models. Through the Commercial Electric Lawn and Garden Equipment Exchange Pilot Program (eL&G), eligible applicants can receive $700 to $15,000 per piece of equipment when scrapping and upgrading to electric alternatives. Qualifying equipment includes chainsaws, trimmers, edgers, brush cutters, leaf blowers, vacuums, walk‑behind mowers, and ride‑on or stand/sit mowers. Applications are being accepted on a first‑come, first‑served basis until all funds are awarded. Learn more on their website [link]: https://www.baaqmd.gov/en/funding-and-incentives/public-agencies/lawn-and-garden

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR ENERGY BILL

Looking for ways to save on your energy bill? The BayREN EASE Home Program provides energy efficiency upgrades to income-qualified residents of single-family homes. Improvements are customized to the needs of your home and can include insulation, duct sealing, duct system repair or replacement, induction stoves, and more. These upgrades are installed by qualified program contractors and designed to make homes energy efficient and comfortable year-round.

Average project costs range from $5,000 to $7,000. BayREN covers 80% of project costs. Participating households are responsible for the remaining 20%. Visit BayREN.org/ease-home to learn more and apply.

If you have any questions, please contact the Contra Costa County Energy Team at energy@dcd.cccounty.us.

Reminders

SIGN UP FOR COMMUNITY WARNING SYSTEM ALERTS

The Community Warning System (CWS) is the all-hazard public warning notification system for Contra Costa County. CWS alerts you through phone calls, text messages, email, the sounding of sirens, this website, and social media, when a potentially life or health-threatening hazard requires you to take action.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE YOUR VOICE ON PINOLE'S FUTURE

Looking for ways to share your thoughts on Pinole’s financial future? The City will be offering more opportunities for public participation in the months ahead. The newly established quarterly Finance Subcommittee Meetings will give residents a regular forum to learn about the City’s budget challenges and offer feedback. There will be multiple opportunities to go through and discuss the budget over the next year. 

Public comment is always welcomed during City Council meetings. Residents can participate in person at the City Hall Council Chambers, join via Zoom, or call in by phone. If you can’t attend during the meeting, you can still make your voice heard—simply email your public comment to comment@pinole.gov before 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting. All emailed comments are shared with the City Council and added to the public record.

Your input helps guide Pinole’s path forward. We encourage all residents to stay engaged and take part in these upcoming conversations. Follow us or check our website calendar for upcoming meetings. Meeting agendas can be found online and posted at City Hall.

HOW TO SUBMIT A SERVICE REQUEST

Report potholes, streetlights, wastewater, tree trimming, public parks and facilities, or other issues on City-owned property to Public Works. You can submit a Service Request on our website or through the mobile app:

How to submit a request through the website:

1. From the homepage, click on “Report a Problem"
2. Click on the “Service Request Form” tab
3. Fill out the form, and click “Submit”

Submitting work requests in this way is the best way for work requests to get addressed in a timely manner. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership to keep our city in tip top shape!

FREE COMPOST AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND

The Public Works Department is pleased to announce the establishment of a new compost hub for residential use. The hub is located in the parking lot adjacent to the Pinole Valley Park baseball field. This compost hub was created in cooperation with neighboring local agencies to support compliance with State composting law, SB 1383, which requires the reuse of organic materials. Items such as yard clippings, brush, tree trimmings, and food waste collected in residential green carts reduces the amount of material sent to landfills. Once collected, these materials are locally processed into nutrient‑rich compost suitable for planting, soil enhancement, and a variety of gardening needs. The compost is free for all residents and available on a self-serve, first‑come, first‑served basis. The hub will be restocked as needed to maintain a consistent supply. Contact Public Works if you have any questions.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Fall Fun Starts Here! Community Services offers engaging sports and enrichment programs for youth ages 3–12, including Kids’ and Family Yoga and Soccer Programs. Build strength, flexibility, confidence, coordination, teamwork, and mindfulness—all while having fun and making new friends! Registration is now open at PinoleRec.com. Spots may be limited, sign up today!

TINY TOTS PROGRAMS

Registration is now open for the Tiny Tots Fall Afternoon Adventures (Monday–Friday, 12:00pm–4:00pm)! This program provides children ages 3–5 opportunities to create, explore, and play through engaging activities and active play. Children must be toilet-trained to register. Limited afternoon spaces are still available—register today. Visit www.pinolerec.com to register. For questions, contact Tiny Tots at (510) 724-8965 or tinytots@pinole.gov.

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR REGISTRATION

Mark your calendars! The Holiday Craft Fair will be held on Saturday, November 14 at the Senior Center. Registration opens for Senior Center Members on Monday, August 17, and for the general public on Tuesday, August 18. Vendor fees are $40 for Senior Center members and $50 for the general public. To register, visit www.pinolerec.com. If you have any questions, please email mjamison@pinole.gov or call (510) 724-9800.

ZUMBA AND EXERCISE CLASSES

Get energized with fitness and movement classes at the Senior Center (2500 Charles Ave.) Enjoy Turbo Kick, Zumba, Zumba Toning, along with Circuit & Fitness Training designed to keep you active and energized. Register for exercise classes at www.pinolerec.com or stop by the senior center front desk.

SWIM CENTER

The Swim Center (2450 Simas Ave.) is open Saturday through Sunday for the Fall season, now through October 11. Visitors can take part in rec swim, lap swim, aqua aerobics,  Zumba classes, and also reserve the pool for parties with friends and family. Swim lessons are currently open for registration at www.pinolerec.com. Additional information about all offerings can be found at www.pinole.gov/swimcenter. For questions, please contact pinoleseals.pool@gmail.com or (510) 724-9026.

SENIOR FOOD PROGRAM

The Senior Center partners with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County to offer the Senior Food Program. Low-income senior citizens ages 55+ to receive free groceries, including healthy staples, eggs, cheese, and assorted meats twice a month. The program is available for Pinole senior residents only. This program takes place every second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 10am-11am at the Senior Center (2500 Charles Ave). Individuals interested in the program must complete the Senior Food Program Application. Applications are available at the Senior Center and can also be found on the Pinole Senior Center website: www.pinole.gov/seniors.

FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County will be providing free bags of fresh produce, on bag per household. The next drive-thru distribution will be on Monday, October 12th at the Pinole Senior Center parking lot from 9am-10am. If you have any questions, email recreation@pinole.gov or call us at (510) 724-9800.

PARK AND FACILITY RENTALS

Looking for a place to host your special event? Reserve a park, field, or facility for your special occasion! To book your rental, visit www.pinolerec.com.

JOIN OUR TEAM

The City of Pinole Community Services Department is now hiring part-time positions. Become a member of our team – Visit our website to apply today.

DONATIONS

Save good food from going to waste!
The app “Too Good To Go: End Food Waste” connects people with cafes, restaurants, bakeries and/or stores in their local area which have perfectly good food left over to save and enjoy at half of the price or less. This app is the world's largest marketplace for surplus food. It helps users rescue good food from going to waste, offering great value at local stores and eateries. Available to download via your app store on your phone, and check out their website as well: https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-us