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| Weekly Report for the Two Weeks Ending June 1st, 2012 June 3, 2012 |
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Mayor and Councilmembers: This is the weekly report for the two weeks ending June 1st, 2012.
The next meeting of the Richmond City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, June 5th beginning with the regular agenda at 6:30 PM. Note that there is no Closed Session on next week’s City Council agenda.
Community meetings regarding the City’s budget concluded this week with the most recent presentations occurring on Thursday, May 24th at the Richmond Annex, and on Wednesday, May 30th at the Point Richmond Community Center. This year, budget information presentations were also made at Local 1021 and Local 21 “brown bag” lunch meetings, and at the monthly Chamber of Commerce breakfast by Finance Director Jim Goins. Jim Goins, along with staff from the City Manager’s Office, the Finance Department, and Engineering, attended the Richmond Annex community budget meeting. There were over 35 people in attendance to hear the Finance Director present a financial overview of the City’s current and projected financial position. Neighborhood residents presented to Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Goins three specific concerns regarding paving, flooding, and unsigned intersections (i.e., no traffic controls such as stop signs) in that area. Mr. Goins along with the City Engineer, Director of Library and Cultural Services, and other City staff concluded the annual community budget meeting roadshow on Wednesday evening at the Point Richmond Neighborhood Council meeting. The meeting was held at the Point Richmond Community Center and, shortly upon arrival, the room quickly filled up with about 40 residents. After the presentation, many questions and comments arose regarding the economic stability of the City and the number of businesses that have relocated to surrounding cities. Residents also expressed concerns that Lawrence Berkeley National Lab employees will not purchase homes in Richmond because surrounding cities’ realtors have already began campaigning for their business. It is always useful to hear directly from residents through these annual community budget meetings. I appreciate the residents who took the time to attend, and appreciate the efforts by the Finance Department and other staff members who prepared for and attended these meetings.
Richmond is considering new waste services for recycling, composting, transfer, transport, and disposal under its franchise agreement with Richmond Sanitary Service. Those interested can learn about solid waste services in Richmond, and provide input on services that they would like to see for their residence or business. Refreshments will be served at 5:00 PM. The meeting will be held at 440 Civic Center Plaza in the Multipurpose Room (Basement). Those interested in attending should RSVP at http://richmondwastemtg.eventbrite.com/ so that staff can plan accordingly.
Over 40 Richmond residents attended a sign-up workshop to participate in the Richmond Recovery Rebate (R3) Program on May 24th in the City Council Chambers. Richmond residents are eligible to receive thousands of dollars in stimulus rebates for home energy upgrades through the City’s R3 program and the State’s Energy Upgrade California program. The workshop was organized by the Environmental Initiatives Division of the City Manager’s Office and featured four local contractors and a financing specialist to provide information about the benefits of home energy upgrades including improved health, comfort, durability, and economic benefits such as job creation and reduced energy bills. Interested residents that were unable to attend the workshop are still eligible to participate in the R3 and Energy Upgrade California program. Please visit https://energyupgradeca.org/overview or www.richmondenvironment.org for more information. More information can also be obtained by contacting the Richmond Environmental Initiatives Division of the City Manager’s Office at (510) 620-5502.
This past Thursday, the City of Richmond hosted a “How to Do Business with the City of Richmond” workshop which was targeted to local businesses and contractors. Topics included:
Approximately 30 business representatives attended the workshop, 10 of which were Richmond Businesses, and overall feedback was positive.
Non-motorized access to Point Molate and the San Pablo Peninsula was eliminated by the development of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and State Highway 17 in the 1950s. The current bicycle-only route to and from the Point San Pablo Peninsula is along the shoulders of I-580, which replaced State Highway 17 in the 1980s. These bicycle-only shoulder lanes are not considered part of the Bay Trail because there is no pedestrian access, and the shoulder bicycle lanes do not meet current Caltrans and Bay Trail design standards for minimum width and user safety. Existing high retaining walls and narrow overcrossing structures along I-580 and adjacent refinery infrastructure preclude development of a Bay Trail connection within the existing freeway shoulder areas. The San Francisco Bay Trail - Castro Street to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Project will provide non-motorized public access to the Point San Pablo Peninsula, and a planned Bay Trail route on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. A total of seven alternatives were considered in a 2001 study for potential public access alignments with input from the City of Richmond, Caltrans, Chevron, Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Bay Trail staff, State Lands Commission staff, and other interested groups. The majority of these alternatives were eliminated from further consideration at the time of the 2001 study due to safety, security, or right-of-way ownership concerns. The 2001 study concluded that the most feasible alignment would traverse the north edge of the Chevron-owned Office Hill property above the existing Caltrans retaining walls and cross over Scofield Road south of I-580 with a new elevated structure touching down in the vicinity of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Toll Plaza. Interest in a separate Bay Trail Class I path was renewed following a fatal bicycle/vehicle accident on the westbound shoulder of I-580 just east of the Western Drive off-ramp in September of 2006. In 2009, the City of Richmond awarded a contract to prepare project plans and a Caltrans Project Study Report for the most feasible alignment identified in the 2001 study. The preliminary plans and model (that is now displayed in the lobbies of 440 and 450 Civic Center Plaza), are the result of additional considerations related to enhanced post-9/11 security at the Chevron refinery, Caltrans Highway Design Standards and encroachment policies, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) design standards over the existing steep topography. The trail alignment depicted in the preliminary plans and model has received public consensus at two community meetings held in Richmond during 2011. The project and its local consensus alignment were presented at and received support from the Richmond Design Review Board on May 23rd, 2012. Engineering Services and the project team plan to provide a presentation to City Council at a later date (tentatively scheduled as a study session at the June 26th City Council meeting).
There are 2 models of the proposed trail alignment exhibited in the lobbies of 440 and 450 Civic Center Plaza. For additional information, please visit the City of Richmond’s website at: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=158
The West County Wastewater District 36-inch sanitary sewer line and the AT&T line above the existing corrugated metal pipe culvert are being excavated and protected. The guardrail and bus stop within the construction area and road closure area along El Portal Drive has been removed. Approximately 1,000 sand bags have been filled by hand, for use as dam when the creek bypass begins. PG&E, AT&T, and Comcast continue the temporary utility re-routing work in order to provide uninterrupted service to the Sobrante Glen residential community. A large changeable message board on westbound San Pablo Dam Road has been installed, notifying drivers of the El Portal Drive road closure and directing drivers to use San Pablo Dam Road. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District made a visit to the site and determined the dust mitigation measures are acceptable and satisfactory.
We will continue to keep you informed as this complex project continues to move forward.
The 2012 WCCUSD Summer Activity Guide is now available online for parents and families—and anyone else who is looking for fun and learning this summer. This guide is full of information about summer activities and events in the Bay Area that are both educational and entertaining. English and Spanish editions of the Summer Activity Guide may be found at www.wccusd.net under the Headlines Section. Copies of this guide have been distributed to over 18,000 WCCUSD Preschool to 8th grade students.
A diverse group of around 40 cyclists and City officials, including Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, gathered on May 16th to honor those who have been seriously hurt or killed while bicycling in Richmond. Held during the week following Bike to Work Day and during National Bike Month, the Ride of Silence is a national event that aims to raise awareness among motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. City of Richmond employee Craig Murray started the Richmond event in 2011. This year’s ride attracted many more participants and media attention. Many thanks go to members of the Richmond Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Richmond Spokes, and Engineering Services Department for planning the ride, as well as the Richmond Police Department for joining the ride and providing an excellent safety escort. A pre-ride started at Catahoula Coffee on San Pablo Avenue. The first stop was at Barrett Avenue and 33rd Street, where Juan Godinez-Garcia was recently killed in a hit and run accident. The group held a brief ceremony and moment of silence, and added flowers and flyers to the “ghost bike” that members of Richmond Spokes had installed. The official event started in front of City Hall, where the Mayor addressed the group and honored recent victims of bicycle accidents including:
The City has made significant strides toward becoming more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly, and the adopted Bicycle Master Plan calls for bike lanes, paths, and traffic calming road enhancements. The ride continued through downtown Richmond, by the Spokeshop Bike Lounge, and out to Point Richmond. After a respite at the Farmer’s Market, riders returned to City Hall for a total ride of approximately 8 miles.
Various locations throughout the City have sustained damage to the sidewalks due to City tree roots. The repairs for this work within the right of way are included as part of the City’s Capital Improvement Program. Recently, eight repairs at various locations on 36th Street, Barrett Avenue, and Dimm Street were completed.
Commission on Aging: May is Older American’s Month. In celebration, the Recreation Department and the Commission on Aging sponsored two events. On May 9th, the 30th Annual Senior Health and Information Fair was held at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium with over 80 vendors and approximately 200 seniors in attendance. Health screenings, entertainment, lunch, and health and senior information were provided. Commissioners welcomed participants, sold tickets, and made announcements throughout the event. The Commission also held their 19th Annual Senior Night Out on May 18th. This year featured the honoring of two Centenarians of the Year, Ms. Feliza Suguitan who turned 100 on January 31st and Monica Gorospe who turned 100 on April 28th. Over 250 seniors listened to the music of Blues Sojourn and specials guests, and enjoyed dancing, dinner, and prizes. In addition, high school students from the Interact Club provided the seniors with table service.
The 4th Annual Employee Appreciation/National Public Works Week Celebration was hosted by Public Works and Engineering Departments and sponsored by several vendors from both departments this year. In a time period of three hours, City employees were exposed to constant raffles, good food, table games, and great music. Public Works estimated about 300 employees, and approximately 40 – 50 unexpected guests, were fed. The Public Works and Engineering Departments expressed enthusiasm for the participation of other departments in selling raffle tickets. It was because of their efforts that we had such great raffle prizes this year.
Facilities Maintenance Division: The carpenters and painters continued working on Fire Station 67 ADA Restroom Restoration Project.
The electricians re-lamped 24 street lamps and rebuilt 5 fixtures along Hilltop Mall Road and re-lamped 14 street fixtures in May Valley Neighborhood Council area ; corrected flashing signal lights along Richmond Parkway at the intersections of Pittsburg Avenue, Hensley Street, Barrett Avenue, 6th Street, and San Pablo Avenue at Barrett Avenue; replaced a knocked down pole on Carlson Boulevard between 41st and 43rd Streets; replaced a knocked street light pole on Richmond Parkway; replaced knocked traffic signal poles on Atlas Road and Monarch and Harbour Way and Ohio Avenue; and completed repairing the knocked pole on San Pablo and Barrett Avenues.
The utility section completed scrubbing and waxing the gym floor at the Booker T. Anderson Community Center.
Parks and Landscaping Division: Parks crews completed flail mowing along the east end of Richmond Greenway; completed tennis court renovation in Nichol Park; continued construction of Solano Play Lot; aerated and fertilized Civic Center Plaza turf; performed vegetation maintenance and fire reduction in Nichol Park along Berk Avenue and Nunn Street and along the sound wall of Heavenly Ridge Drive; performed vegetation clean up in Marina Parks – Vincent, Shimada, and Bay Trail; completed irrigation repairs in North Richmond Ball Field Richmond Parkway; and performed median maintenance and along the shoulder from I-80 to Lakeside Drive.
Parks crews also performed general maintenance in the Very High Fire Severity Zones (VHFSZ), Hilltop and Marina areas; weeded and pruned 49th and Cutting Boulevard; repaired irrigation in Humphrey Play Lot, Nichol Park, and Valley View Field; repaired main line breakage in Martin Luther King Park; and, began clean-up in Borman Park and along Carlson Boulevard. The Tree Crew completed maintenance at:
Streets Division: The Pavement Maintenance crew prepared and paved the Plunge tennis court; removed and replaced the guardrail by Kennedy Grove; and continued pothole patching in various locations in the City.
The Pavement Maintenance crew also prepared and paved patches on Humboldt Street at Garvin Avenue; patched San Benito Street and Ohio Avenue with hot mix; continued working on patching potholes throughout the City; reinstalled Lawrence Berkeley National Lab banner on Macdonald Avenue; installed bike symbols along Carlson Boulevard; and repaired the guardrail on San Pablo Dam Road.
****************************************************** 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! You can sign up to receive the City Manager’s weekly report and other information from the City of Richmond by visiting: www.ci.richmond.ca.us/list.aspx
Bill Lindsay
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