Mayor and Councilmembers:

 

This is the weekly report for the week ending January 12^th, 2007.

 

1.         Meeting Notes

The next regular City Council meeting is on Tuesday, January 16^th, convening at 8:30 AM for a Closed Session, reconvening for the Redevelopment Agency meeting at 6:30 PM, and followed by the regular business meeting of the City Council at 7:00 PM.

 

2.         Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

As a reminder, City offices will be closed on Monday, January 15^th in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.

 

3.         Option Payment for Point Molate

Pursuant to the terms of the Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) dated November 9, 2004, Upstream Point Molate, LLC today wired the required $3,000,000 extension fee to the City.  This non-refundable fee is to be applied against the Purchase Price for the Point Molate property.

 

4.         Alameda and Contra Costa Counties Communication System Interoperability Project

I previously reported to you that a project is well underway in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to develop a communications system backbone that will bring interoperability to all local government agencies in this two-county region.  As you will recall, the conceptual goal of such a system is to allow agencies to communicate seamlessly during large-scale or regional emergencies that involve the response or assistance by more than one agency.

 

The City Managers of Contra Costa County received an update on this project at their monthly meeting of the Public Managers’ Association (PMA) this past Thursday.  In short, there is substantial progress being made on the project, with a target date for having “letters of intent” approved by participating agencies established as April 1, followed by formation of a joint powers authority in June of this year.  A complete presentation on this project will be made at the February Mayors’ Conference.

 

As I previously indicated, the City Council will be hearing more about this project during the coming months, with an action item to be placed on the Council agenda in March.  I plan to suggest that an information item also be included on the Council agenda prior to Council consideration of a “letter of intent.”  In the meantime, we will keep you informed.

 

5.         Construction of the Bay Trail in Front of Brickyard Landing along Brickyard Cove Road

Rich Davidson met on site this past week with representatives from Toll Brothers and the Brickyard Landing Homeowners’ Association (HOA) to review the plans prepared by Toll Brothers for construction of the 14’ pedestrian/bicycle trail within the newly approved 20’ trail easement.  After reviewing the grading, drainage, trail location, tree removals and tree trimming, a construction plan was agreed upon.  Toll Brothers will attempt to prepare a final plan in time for the HOA’s board meeting on January 20^th.  If this doesn’t happen, the HOA’s next board meeting will be on February 17^th.  In any event, construction of this trail is expected to start no later than March 1^st.

 

6.         Surveillance Camera Project Proposals Received

As you recall, the City of Richmond distributed a Request for Proposals (RFP) last November for a project to install surveillance cameras in the City.  The deadline to respond to the RFP was today at 5:00 PM, and the City received 6 proposals.  These proposals will be evaluated by staff during the next several weeks, with a recommendation to go the City Council shortly thereafter.

 

7.         Proposals Received for New Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software 

As you recall, the City of Richmond distributed a Request for Proposals (RFP) last December for a project to install new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software to upgrade or replace the City’s existing SAP system.  This past week, the City received proposals from nine software vendors in response to this RFP.  Software vendors that submitted proposals include Bi-Tech, CRW, Eden, GEMS, Hansen, Lawson, MUNIS, MyITGroup, and New World. The next step is for the 12 member City-staff ERP Evaluation Team to evaluate the proposals and recommend three vendors to elevate for further consideration.

 

8.         Quarterly Meeting with Union Representatives

As you may know, Leslie Knight and I meet informally on a quarterly basis with Union representatives to provide an overview of the City’s financial condition and to review and answer any questions on operational issues (not grievances or “meet and confer issues”).  This past Thursday, Ms. Knight and I, together with Jim Goins, held the most recent of these meetings, with Mr. Goins providing an overview of the City’s financial outlook for the coming calendar year.  Note that the City Council will receive a complete mid-year budget report at its first meeting in February.

 

9.         California Autism Foundation Financing

At its meeting of December !2, 2006, the City Council held a public hearing and approved a tax exempt financing (with no City financial participation) for the California Autism Foundation (CAF), a non-profit association.  The CAF has successfully completed issuance of these tax-exempt bonds, the proceeds of which will be used to relocate the Chocolate Company to CAF’s existing facilities on Lakeside Drive in Richmond.  This relocation has the benefit of bringing vocational training and work opportunities closer to the CAF program participants.  Although the City was not the issuer of the bonds, as the governmental entity having jurisdiction over the site, it was necessary for the City to conduct a public hearing on the proposed project, and approve of the issuance of the bonds.

 

10.       Visit to Washington

As a reminder, at the suggestion of Dick Kochan, the City’s federal lobbyist, I will be meeting in Washington with Congressman George Miller’s staff, and staff from HUD who are instrumental to Richmond’s local housing programs, during the time period from January 22^nd through January 24^th.  The idea is to share with them current and potential projects and programs in Richmond that may have federal interest for funding assistance.

 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments about these or any other items of interest to you.

 

Have a great week!