Our City

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • Albany FilmFest

    • A film festival! In Albany? Tell me more!

    • But I’m a kid!

    • Can I attend?

    • Can I volunteer to help in some way?

    • Can you return my DVD?

    • Do I have to be an experienced filmmaker to enter?

    • Does my film have to be new?

    • How do I enter?

    • How do you select the films to be screened?

    • How much does it cost to enter a film?

    • I already bought tickets to Albany FilmFest 2020, can I get a refund?

    • I submitted a film that was named as a finalist, will the awards still be given out for 2020?

    • I’d like to be a sponsor. How can I do that?

    • My film was selected for Albany FilmFest 2020. Can I still display my Official Selection laurels, even though the event was canceled?

    • What are the categories?

    • What can I win?

    • What formats do you accept?

    • What formats do you accept?

    • What’s the entry deadline and fee?

    • When is it?

    • Where will it be held?

    • Who’s in charge?

    • Who's in charge?

    • Will the 2020 Albany FilmFest be rescheduled for this year?

  • Around Your Block

    • How are these e-notifications different from the current categories the city already has set up on the website?

    • Am I required to attend any meetings?

    • Can I unsubscribe from the Around Your Block program?

    • How do I sign up?

    • How many Around Your Block sections may I sign up for?

    • How much time will this take? How much does it cost?

    • How often will I receive e-notifications and what will they be about?

    • What are the benefits of joining the Around Your Block program?

    • Which Around Your Block section should I join if I’m on the edge of one or more sections?

    • Why do I need to sign up for the Around Your Block program?

  • Business Licenses

    • Are there interest and penalties associated with late payment?

    • Can I have two businesses under one license?

    • Do I need a Business License if I am participating in a one-day event?

    • Do I need a Business License if I only have a part-time business in Albany?

    • How can I pay for my Business License?

    • How do I get a business license?

    • How long do I have to get a business license?

    • How much does a Business License cost?

    • What forms are required to get a Business License?

    • What if I am no longer operating a business in Albany?

    • When does my business license expire?

  • Childcare/Friendship Club

    • Can a child that is not currently enrolled in Friendship Club go to a week of specialty camp (Mid-Winter or Spring)?

    • Does Friendship Club have a morning program during the Fall school year?

    • Does Friendship Club provide time for my child to do his or her homework?

    • Does Friendship Club provide transportation from my child’s school?

    • Does Friendship Club serve the children snack?

    • Does Friendship Club/Camp Friendship allow students to attend half days at half price?

    • Is Friendship Club a licensed childcare facility?

    • What is the teacher to child ratio at Friendship Club?

  • City Budget

    • Can fire services be shared with other cities?

    • Does the City have other options than Alameda County for vector control services?

    • How can the City Charter sections 14-1.5 and 14-1.6 transfer the cost of replacing the public sidewalk in front of our house caused by the City of Albany’s Camphor tree on the City of Albany owned str

    • How much does it cost to place a measure on the ballot?

    • What is the staffing level, and what services are provided by the Fire Department?

    • Who negotiates with the union groups?

    • Will there be a sidewalk reimbursement fund this year as there has been in past years to at least reimburse 50% of the homeowners’ sidewalk replacement cost?

  • East Bay Community Energy

    • How do I enroll in EBCE?

    • What if I own solar panels?

    • What is carbon-free electricity?

    • What is EBCE?

    • What is renewable electricity?

    • Why did the Albany City Council choose EBCE as an electricity provider?

    • Will my CARE, FERA, or Medical Baseline discounts still apply to the EBCE program?

  • FilmFest 2020 Cancellation

    • I already bought tickets to Albany FilmFest 2020, can I get a refund?

    • I submitted a film that was named as a finalist, will the awards still be given out for 2020?

    • My film was selected for Albany FilmFest 2020. Can I still display my Official Selection laurels, even though the event was canceled?

    • Will the 2020 Albany FilmFest be rescheduled for this year?

  • General Police

    • Are police officers required to write a certain number of traffic tickets?

    • Are the time limited parking laws enforced on holidays?

    • Does Albany have a law regarding oversized vehicles parking on city streets?

    • Does Albany have an open alcohol container law?

    • Does my disabled placard allow unlimited parking in a timed space?

    • Does the Albany Police Department do child car seat inspections?

    • How can I appeal a parking citation?

    • How can I be fingerprinted for a job or a background check?

    • How can I contest a citation I received while operating a vehicle?

    • How can I get a vehicle released that has been impounded or stolen?

    • How can I obtain a copy of a police record?

    • How can I obtain personal property that the Police Department has in their custody?

    • How do I file a complaint against a police employee?

    • How do I report a vehicle that has been parked on the street for an extended period of time?

    • How do I retrieve my property from the Police Department?

    • If I'm involved in a traffic collision should I file a police report?

    • What do I do when an emergency vehicle is approaching me with the emergency lights and siren?

    • When should I dial 911 vs the non-emergency number?

    • Why did I get a parking citation for street sweeping, when the street sweeper had already passed?

    • Why do police block part of the roadway when they make car stops?

    • Why shouldn't I call the police when the power is out?

  • Hotel Occupancy Tax

    • Are there any exemptions from Hotel Occupancy Tax?

    • Are there any interest or penalties associated with Hotel Occupancy Taxes?

    • Do I have to file a return if I didn't rent this quarter?

    • How do I pay Hotel Occupancy Taxes?

    • I'm not a Hotel, do I still have to collect the tax?

    • What are Hotel Occupancy Taxes?

    • What if I am no longer renting on a short-term basis?

    • When are Hotel Occupany Taxes due?

  • KALB

    • Can I have naked people in my show? Can I swear?

    • Can I make money on KALB?

    • Can I submit a show that I did not produce?

    • Can I use music or video from other sources in my show?

    • Does KALB have studio facilities that are available to Albany residents?

    • Does KALB run commercials?

    • How can I get training in television production techniques?

    • How can I submit my program to KALB?

    • How is PEG funded?

    • How long after I submit a program can I expect it to start being aired and how long does a program run?

    • How long has KALB been in operation?

    • How many people watch KALB?

    • What is Public Access Television?

    • What kinds of programs does KALB air?

    • What recording formats can KALB accept?

    • What technical requirements do I need to be aware of?

    • What types of programs will KALB accept?

    • Where do I find KALB?

    • Who runs the station?

    • Why should I get involved with KALB’s public access television?

  • Parking Enforcement

    • Are police officers required to write a certain number of traffic tickets?

    • Can I pay my parking ticket online?

    • Does my disabled placard allow unlimited parking in a timed space?

    • How can I get a vehicle released that has been impounded or stolen?

    • Will I received multiple citations if parked in the same parking space all day?

  • Rent Review

    • 01. When does the Ordinance become effective?

    • 02. What will landlords need to tell tenants about the Ordinance?

    • 03. How will landlords provide tenants with the notice of availability of Rent Review?

    • 04. Does the Ordinance prevent a landlord from raising a tenant's rental amount?''

    • 05. Are landlords required to file copies of the rent increase notices with the City?

    • 06. How does a landlord register a rental unit with the City?

    • 07. Will there be a fee charged to administer this Ordinance?'

    • 08. Does the Ordinance apply to single-family homes or condominium?

    • 09. How does Rent Review work?

    • 10. How will a tenant request Rent Review?

    • 11. When can a tenant request rent review?

    • 12. What is considered the 'base rent'?

    • 13. If a tenant has requested rent review, what is the landlord required to do?

    • 14. Is participation in conciliation mandatory?

    • 15. When can a tenant request mediation?

    • 16. Is participation in mediation mandatory?

  • Request for Records

    • How can I obtain a copy of a police record?

  • Sidewalks

    • Does the City have Standard Specifications for the replacement of sidewalks, curbs, gutters, etc.?

    • Does the City of Albany require that all sidewalk replacement and repair work be carried out by a C-8 “Concrete Contractor"?

    • Is a permit required to fix or replace a sidewalk, driveway approach, curb and gutter, etc.?

    • What inspections are required for sidewalk area repairs?

    • What is meant by “sidewalk?”

    • What types of maintenance problems are associated with sidewalk areas?

    • Where do I find a contractor to repair or replace the concrete sidewalk, driveway approach, etc.?

    • Who can receive an Encroachment Permit for sidewalk area repairs?

    • Who may perform the work of repairing or replacing a sidewalk, curb, gutter, driveway apron, etc.?

    • Whose financial responsibility is the maintenance of the sidewalk area?

  • Social Equity & Inclusion FAQ to City

    • 01. Is our city council talking about plans to defund the police department and put those funds into other services? If so, how can our community stay up to date to these budget changes?

    • 02. If the city defunds the police, where would the money be redistributed to?

    • 03. How does the City ensure it is contracting with minority-owned, and specifically Black-owned, businesses when it has projects that need contracts? For instance, requiring subcontractors be Black-owned if the primary contractor isn't.

    • 04. How can we leverage Antiracism - in active philosophy and daily practice within the city - governing, agencies, businesses, and schools? – i.e., constantly looking for the results of systems of racism in our daily actions?

    • 05. Will the City research vendors and make an effort to sever ties with companies that aren’t aligned with Albany’s efforts to address and eradicate institutionalized racism?

    • 06. How much did this consultant and this process cost the City?

    • 07. How does BFHP interface with Berkley Mental Health? How does APD interface with Berkeley Mental Health? Are there ways to make this interaction more effective?

    • 08. What can we do as residents if we see a home insecure person in need?

    • 09. How can Albany provide services to families and the unhoused in need of help during this time of Covid-19 which disproportionately affects the Black population?

    • 10. The advertising for CARES I've seen is senior-focused. Does it also serve disabled people, and if so, based on what criteria/definition of disability? (e.g, receiving SDI, receiving IHSS, receiving DOR services or having received them, identifying as disabled and interviewed about it, etc)

    • 11. What type of training have the Albany police officers received in responding to citizens with special needs, disabilities, and mental health needs?

    • 12. Has Albany pd ever used a gun?

    • 13. How often have Albany police officers discharged firearms in the line of duty? Under what circumstances?

    • 14. Would it be possible for Albany police to not carry guns?

    • 15. Do the Albany police use Tasers and how often?

    • 16. How will Albany police coordinate coverage with Berkeley Police since Berkeley will now use non-uniformed officers for traffic control?

    • 17. Are body cams a requirement for Albany police?

    • 18. What is the racial and gender diversity makeup of the police? What attempt are we making to bring in more police of color?

    • 19. What training specifically has the upper police staff (Chief and supervising officers) undertaken to understand and address systematic racism and racial profiling both in hiring and also in policing in the community?

    • 20. Will working with the Center for Policing Equity increase police costs?

    • 21. Have you considered having your officers walk or bike around to get to know the people you are protecting?

    • 22. The police chief acknowledged a troubling history on racist behaviors I would like to know when was that realized and what changes were implemented at that time, including the dismissal of officers.

    • 23. When the Chief talks about new officers accepting our “culture”, how does he define Albany culture?

    • 24. What percentage of Police Department hires are let go during the probationary period?

    • 26. The last community report on the City's covered 2014. It reported a dramatic increase in 911 calls over the a few years. This was attributed to a system for the CHP to forward cell calls to local departments coming on line. Has the call volume continued to increase at that rate?

    • 27. What is the rate of traffic stops for POC vs White people?

    • 28. Does APD participate in Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies reporting?

    • 29. How many employees of the police department live in Albany? Of those employees, how many will receive pensions?

    • 30. Do you acknowledge that there is a vast disproportionality in how much black and brown people are pulled over by police in this town and if you do, what are you doing to address that?

    • 31. What are the next steps in addressing police harassment of people of color given the feedback from the listening session?

    • 32. What about implicit bias training?

    • 33. What training/professional development is in place to make sure police officers know how to deal with and respond to persons during a mental health crisis?

    • 34. Will there be consequences for those residents who make frivolous calls to the Albany PD just because they see a black person in their neighborhood, in the park, at the store, etc? What about people who make a false accusation?

    • 35. How does the City handle calls from residents reporting someone suspicious in the neighborhood, when that "suspicious" person is a resident themselves?

    • 36. Does the Albany Police Department outfit all on-duty police officers with body cameras? Are officers required to immediately turn on their body cameras when responding to a police call? If not to either question, why not and are there plans to introduce these policies in the near future?

    • 37. Has the Albany police department helped other local police departments during these protests? What is APD's stance on these protests?

    • 38. What oversight, if any, is in place in the Albany police department? If/when a police officer acts out violently to a civilian, what protocols are in place to hold that officer accountable?

    • 39. Is the Village policed more than other parts of Albany?

    • 40. When police are called to schools is there a scale at which they would defer this to school level staff? How is this reported to the district level?

    • 41. How much interaction does the Albany police have with students? What is their role when there is an interaction? Have there been arrests or charges brought against students?

    • 42. Do you believe that the city of Albany will actually address these issues by changing laws, policies, and budgets? To the SEJC, do you think the City Council will work with you in good faith?

    • 43. Can the Superintendent of AUSD please be on the panel next time?

  • Street Sweeping

    • Are no-parking signs going to be installed?

    • Are parking citations issued for cars parked in areas that have permanent street sweeping signs?

    • Do other cities conduct street sweeping?

    • How often will streets be swept?

    • If permanent signs are not being installed now, how can I help remind people to not park on my street side during sweeping days?

    • What is the cost associated with this new program?

    • When will my street be swept?

    • Who will be doing sweeping?

    • Why do cars need to be moved off the street during sweeping?

    • Why is Street Sweeping necessary?

    • Why won’t our own City staff be doing sweeping?

  • Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax

    • Are there any exemptions to the tax?

    • Does the tax apply to coconut and tree waters?

    • How do I determine whether the tax applies to the distribution of a particular beverage?

    • I am a retailer. Do I have any obligations under the tax?

    • Is sugar (e.g., sucrose, glucose, fructose, etc.) an added caloric sweetener?

    • Is the distribution of granulated sugar a taxable distribution?

    • Is the SSB tax a sales tax?

    • May distributors increase their prices to retailers to pay for the tax?

    • What if I pay the SSB tax late?

    • What is an “Added Caloric Sweetener”?

    • What is the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Product Tax?

    • What is the tax rate?

    • When is the tax due?

    • When will the tax take effect?

    • Where can I find the SSB tax itself?

    • Where can I get additional information about the SSB tax?

    • Who is MuniServices, LLC?

    • Who is responsible for remitting the tax?

  • Traffic Enforcement

    • Are police officers required to write a certain number of traffic tickets?

    • Does the Albany Police Department do child car seat inspections?

    • If I'm involved in a traffic collision should I file a police report?

  • Trash, Recycling & Organics

    • Can I get a 96-gallon cart for my recycling and/or organics?

    • Can I recycle pastic bags in my WM cart?

    • Debris in street after carts are serviced?

    • How do I get rid of large bulky items?

    • How do I recycle batteries?

    • How do I recycle cell phones?

    • I have some unusual items to recycle. Where can I get more information about what to do with them?

    • Is there a website that tells me where to recycle everything?

    • Missed Waste Management pickups

    • Placement and replacement of carts after servicing

    • Placement of materials in carts

    • Reporting Waste Management service issues

    • What are all the recyclables that are accepted?

    • What happens if my trash day is on a holiday?

    • What if I have physical difficulty taking my carts out to the curb?

    • What is Household Hazardous Waste?

    • What items can I take to the Household Hazardous Waste facility?

    • Where can I dispose of Pharmaceuticals?

    • Where can I get rid of e-waste?

    • Where can I take expired medications?

    • Where should I place my WM carts for collection?

    • Which Waste Management cart do pizza boxes go in?

    • Why did my trash rate go up?

    • Why is food scrap composting so important?

    • Will Waste Management pick up my holiday tree?