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Longtime City Engineer Retires

Randy Leptien will retire after more than 23 years of working for the city of Albany.

City engineer Randy Leptien, who was recognized by the Albany City Council Monday, will retire after working for the city for more than 23 years.

Leptien was hired by the city as an engineering consultant in 1989.

“Randy Leptien immediately gained respect for: his creativity in solving difficult engineering problems; giving his personal attention to virtually every capital project or engineering-related issue confronting the City; tackling issues with a no-nonsense hands-on attitude; and, responding promptly whenever engineering questions and issues arose (large or small),” read the city’s proclamation (see the attached document for the full proclamation).

“It has been a great privilege and an honor to have served the city of Albany,” Leptien said to the council. “A generation has passed, and it’s time to pass the torch.” Leptien thanked his fellow city staffers, the city council and his wife, Roxy.

Peggy McQuaid November 20, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Thank you, Randy, for your many years of service to the people of Albany. Although we didn't always see your work, it directly impacted all of us. Best of luck to you in the future.
Amy Smolens November 20, 2012 at 07:48 pm
I have spent many, many hours participating in City meetings in which Randy also took part. I have always appreciated his willingness to listen to everyone's input in order to come up with a solution.
Randy, it was a pleasure to work with you over the years. Thanks for all you have done for Albany!
Allan Maris November 20, 2012 at 11:30 pm
Randy,
Thanks for serving the residents of Albany for so many years and through so many important development issues.
Emilie Raguso November 21, 2012 at 04:21 am
Congrats, Randy -- I watched the meeting via computer and was very moved by the goodbye. The end of an era!

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Amy Smolens June 7, 2013 at 02:57 pm
Hi there - This doesn't seem like an appropriate announcement for Albany or Berkeley Patch. 1) theRead More category is Announcements/Around Town and these events are all in Marin 2) Patch's "Terms of Use" say "You may use this Service solely for personal and non-commercial purposes. That is to say: You can’t use the Service to make a living unless you enter into a separate agreement with us that says you can." This is clearly solely a commercial venture, not a neighbor of ours or local organization providing a community service and charging for the service. 3) I went to the Novato website and saw this listing: "Ettiquette (sic) Series for Kids - 17737 Ages: 7 Years to 11 Years - Residents $150.00 - Non-residents $163.00" 4) These items push our items of local interest down and out of sight. Especially now that there is no box indicating the stories with the most recent comments, as there used to be on the Patch front page, out of sight does mean out of mind. Charles, what are your thoughts here? Thanks.
angie allison June 7, 2013 at 03:45 pm
Hi Amy, Thank you for letting me know and I understand! Angie
Mechanics from Street Level Cycles tune up bikes at the Albany Arts & Green Festival. Photo courtesy Matt McHugh
Lin B. June 6, 2013 at 11:29 am
I've been waiting for the right time to donate my son's old bike he used in middle/high school. It'sRead More been hanging on hooks in the garage and this seems like a great time to give it up!
christopher papazoglow June 7, 2013 at 10:30 am
Can you please post their hours / days of operation ? As i recall, they're only open afternoons aRead More few days a week, and it won't do to just leave donations outside ( they'll be scavenged ). And i was not able to find the info online.
AS&R - Albany Strollers & Rollers June 7, 2013 at 11:20 am
Thanks, Christopher. Open Community Hours are Friday, Saturday, Sunday 12-6pm so anytime those daysRead More are definitely fine. They're there (84 Bolivar Drive - Aquatic Park) most of the day Wednesdays and Thursdays for Youth Classes and the doors are locked. I just spoke to Amber Rich and she asked you to call them at 510 644 2577 and let them know what time is good for you and they will be sure to be there. Thanks for your generosity!
Dover June 5, 2013 at 02:47 pm
Thanks for the update but I am worried. This is very distressing. How will Eric and Tarina be ableRead More to afford their annual lengthy hipster vacation if they have to cough up lawyer fees? I am sure they were expecting that UCB (aka the rest of us) would pay Mr. Siegel's bill. Now they may have to resort to staying home and eating Top Ramen out of their charming and cheerful "made in Asia by small children but they're not slaving for 14 hours a day in front of our faces so we don't care" ceramic bowls. Oh noes! Bad, bad, very, very bad news.
Charles Burress (Editor) June 5, 2013 at 03:06 pm
David, thanks for the alert to the judge's decision.
Preston Jordan June 9, 2013 at 12:42 pm
Thanks for the comments Erika, Robert and Al. I am kind of amazed to read "Max's owners do notRead More think that the increased business would be worth the hassle." Yes, the customer base may change, but aren't total sales the goal? Regarding the 18 stop, there is discussion of moving it around the corner as part of this change. Even if it does not move around the corner, reducing the number of buses stopping on the south side of Solano would improve traffic flow according to the traffic consultant. Commissioner Javandel, who is also a traffic engineer and head of Berkeley's Transportation Division, agreed and voted for included shifting the stop north in the San Pablo plan. A stop to the north would allow motorists turning right onto Solano to do so more easily, which would reduce congestion and be good for business. It would also result in some of the time the bus is stopping occurring during a red on San Pablo anyway. Al, I think your concern about motorists stopping in a northern bus stop potentially causing problems not only for San Pablo but also for Solano is a good one. If I attend another meeting concerning the San Pablo plan, I will raise this point.
Erika Lockhart June 9, 2013 at 01:51 pm
I guess it is a done deal and Max's doesn't have the petition out any longer. It is interesting toRead More me that the people who profess to be in favor of Albany's being a walking city use traffic concerns to support their points. There is a restaurant on the south side of Solano, somewhere people may be for hours and may be willing to drive around for a parking spot, and a "liquor store", which also provides all kinds of other things one might need in a quick stop, where people will be for minutes. With the green zone there, there is quick turnaround. And, there seems to be some blind spot about business that might be lost if those parking spaces are lost. I drive there and spend $10-$50. Are the bus stop people going to be spending so much? As one commenter said, they survived before, they will survived before. The unsaid thing is "even if beaten down". That's just my opinion! I realize I'm spitting in the wind here but it seems to me that this change did not engage enough people for a fair decision. Then again, I'm new here, not "plugged in", and if no one else thinks the way I do, perhaps I should move somewhere else.
Robert Marshall June 9, 2013 at 09:55 pm
I went into Max's on Friday and asked about the petition. They have it behind the counter. As ofRead More when I saw it, there were something like 130 signatures. As for moving the AC Transit 18 stop around the corner?? How many of the very much in demand parking spaces will be lost by doing that?