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| City Manager's Weekly Report for the Week
Ending May 22nd, 2009 May 23, 2009 |
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Mayor and Councilmembers:
This is the weekly report for the week ending May 22nd, 2009.
1. Meeting Notes
The next City Council meeting is this Tuesday, May 26th, beginning with a Closed Session at 5:00 PM, followed by a brief joint City/Redevelopment meeting, leading to the regular City Council agenda (presentations and study sessions) at 7:00 PM.
2. City Offices Closed on Monday
As a reminder, the City offices will be closed on Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day.
3. Standard & Poor’s Affirms City’s Credit Ratings
The City’s bond financing team met with Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (“S&P”) on April 29th regarding the upcoming Honda Port of Entry financing. Last week, S&P issued their report affirming the City’s “A+” rating, and assigning a rating of “A” to the bond financing. This rating reflects S&P’s opinion of the City’s general creditworthiness, as well as their view of the City’s recent healthy general fund performance and maintenance of strong unreserved general fund balances.
S&P also assigned a Financial Management Assessment (“FMA”) of “strong,” indicating S&P’s view that the City’s financial practices and policies are strong, well embedded, and likely sustainable.
Richmond’s interest rate swap portfolio was also reviewed; receiving a score of “1.5;” signifying S&P’s opinion that the City’s swaps represent a very low credit risk.
4. Police Department’s Centennial Celebration
This past Saturday, May 16th, the Police Department held its Centennial Celebration at Marina Bay Park. Several hundred guests attended, including former chiefs, retirees, elected officials, community members, and others. The event included a program which featured recognition of past chiefs, a remembrance of RPD’s fallen officers, presentations of proclamations and certificates, and an acknowledgement of some departmental history. Saturday’s activities also included demonstrations from the K-9 Unit and Traffic Unit, tours of the helicopter, police boat and fire trucks, fun for kids, music, and lots of cake for everyone. Thanks to all those who have worked over the past 100 years to make this event possible.
5. Officer Darrell Graham Receives Victim Witness Assistance Program Award
The Victim Witness Assistance Program announced that Darrell Graham, Homicide Detective with the Richmond Police Department, received special recognition for his service to victims during Victim Rights Week. This process is highly competitive and nominations are submitted by Victim Witness Assistance Program staff members. The nominations are then forwarded to a Victims’ Rights Committee that is composed of victims of crime who review the nominations and make one selection in each of the four categories. Detective Graham was chosen as the Law Enforcement representative who exemplifies superior service and dedication to victims of crime in our community.
Officer Graham’s nomination noted:
Throughout the year Darrell Graham of the Richmond Police Department has shown his commitment to victims of violent crime….
The victims and families have all told me that he was very helpful and understanding when speaking with them. They felt that he was working hard on their cases and that they could reach him when they had questions. Detective Graham also refers victims to our program so that they can receive support and resources during a very emotional and distressing time….
When I have a case with Detective Graham, I know that he will listen to family members and send them in the right direction to receive the support and services they need.
Congratulations to Detective Graham for his heartfelt service!
6. Meeting with University of California Representatives
This morning (Friday) Councilmembers Butt, Bates, and Rogers (via telephone), Planning Director Richard Mitchell, Redevelopment Manager Alan Wolken, and I met with several representatives of the University of California to discuss the Richmond Field Station. It was interesting to hear that the University considers the site to be very important to their educational and research missions in that it can serve the more land-demanding uses of the institution. For example, the Field Station houses the 7.7 million volume Northern Regional Library Facility, which is an archive for lesser used books for four northern UC campuses, one of the world’s largest earthquake shaking tables, test facilities for advanced transportation research, and a regional laboratory for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
While the discussion was very general, and concluded simply with the commitment to meet on a frequent basis to keep lines of communication open, City representatives indicated their interest in having the University consider expanded economic development opportunities for the site, consistent with the resolution adopted by the Council last Tuesday. We will keep you informed as conversations continue.
7. YouthWORKS
YouthWORKS sought out a partnership with West County First 5 Center and the Richmond Youth Student Empowerment (RYSE) Center to pilot a series of Teen Parenting workshops to pregnant and parenting teens, youth active with the RYSE Center, and contacts from the community known to First 5. The participants included both single parents and couples.
Staff of West County First 5 Center report that two of the couples that participated have enrolled in, and are attending, the organization’s “Parent’s Raising Safe Kids” program and two more of the mothers that attended the workshops plan to start the program next week.
The workshop series was an excellent opportunity to collaborate with RYSE and First 5 and will be fully implemented into the YouthWORKS training cycle. At the graduation, the participants were grateful and appreciative for the information, time, and commitment of the staff of RYSE, West County First 5 Center and YouthWORKS.
8. Public Works
Public Works will resurface 42nd Street from Macdonald Avenue to Barrett Avenue next week.
The emergency work to reinforce the Swim Center roof was completed this week and the Center will re-open next week on Tuesday, May 26th.
9. Employee Appreciation Barbecue
This afternoon (Friday), City staff enjoyed a lunch time employee appreciation barbecue at Nichol Park. The event was scheduled in tandem with the celebration of Public Works Week, which is May 17-23. The event was a great success due in great part to efforts of staff coordinators Theresa Austin (Finance Department) and Tammi Edwards (Redevelopment Agency), assisted by numerous staff committee members. Thanks to all who assisted on this effort.
10. Code Enforcement Update
Please see a very informative report for the Richmond Police Department’s Code Enforcement Unit for April 2009 that is posted on RPD’s Website (www.richmondpd.net).
11. Community Budget Meeting
The next community budget meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27th at 7:30 p.m. at the Point Richmond Community Center.
Have a great week and a Happy & Safe Memorial Day Holiday!
Bill Lindsay City Manager City of Richmond 1401 Marina Way South Richmond, CA 94804
Phone: 510-620-6512 Fax: 510-620-6542 e-mail: bill_lindsay@ci.richmond.ca.us |
