Mayor and Councilmembers:

This is the weekly report for the week ending June 29th, 2012.

• Meeting Notes

 

The next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, July 10th, rather than on July 3rd, which is the normal first Tuesday of the month.  This schedule change allows the Council and the community to enjoy the annual 3rd of July fireworks and symphony celebration that evening.

For planning purposes, the July City Council meeting schedule will include meetings on July 10th, July 17th, July 24th (study sessions), and July 31st (to wrap up time-sensitive business items prior to the August recess).

• Another LEAP Forward

 

As you may recall, LEAP (Literacy for Every Adult Person) is a component of the City’s library services, and success stories pour out of this program on a regular basis.  Most recently, a dozen adults will proudly hold their GED (General Educational Development) certificates in their hands and be gratified of their accomplishment because of their participation in LEAP.  They have successfully passed the GED test that is the equivalent to a high school diploma.  The story of one of these successful graduates is told below. 

When Tumani, a thirty-five year old woman walked into the Nevin Center to get her GED, she was ready to make changes in her life.  She wanted to become a registered nurse and be able to assist her three children with their homework.  She found she had an aptitude for math, and liked it.  During her tenure at LEAP, she found a part-time job, but continued to maintain consistent attendance.  Eager to learn, she not only attended the Nevin Center program in the morning, she also studied at the main LEAP site in the afternoon.  Her determination has allowed her to take our GED pre-test and pass in all five subjects.  With a LEAP scholarship, she enrolled for her official test at the Adult School.  She passed with great scores!  We look forward to congratulating her as she wears a cap and gown at the LEAP graduation on Friday, June 29th, 2012. 

• City Council Adopts FY 2012-13 Budget, But More Work is Ahead During the Next Two Months

 

This past Tuesday evening, the City Council voted to adopt the FY 2012-13 Operating and FY2012-17 Capital Improvement budgets.  The operating budget was approved with a $2.8 million General Fund deficit that would reduce the City’s cash reserves to $7.4 million by June 30, 2013.  This is approximately $1.5 million below the Council-required level of reserves, which is targeted at a minimum of 7% of annual expenditures.  This level of reserves not only represents good financial management practice, but also helps maintain the City’s current A+ credit rating.  As a result, in adopting the budget, the Council also directed staff to return at the first Council meeting in September with recommendations for further reducing the operating budget deficit so that it provides an end-of-the-year $9 million cash reserve, which would be consistent with the current reserve policy.  There is more financial and budget work ahead of us during the next two months.

• June 2012 Property Tax Payment

 

This past week, the City of Richmond received $6,829,665 in property taxes from Contra Costa County, representing the final installment payment for fiscal year 2011-12.  The total amount of $27,572,832 collected for fiscal year (FY) 2011-12 is 0.46%, or $127,168, less than projected, but represents an increase of 4.96% from last year.  We are still more than 20 percent below the level of property taxes that the City received in FY 2008-09, when we received a total of $33,296,445.  (Note that current property tax levels are nearly $6 million below what they were only three years ago.)

The Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office should be sending out the FY 2012-13 Assessed Valuation Certificate within the next few weeks, which will determine the amount of property taxes we will receive in FY 2012-13.

• New Richmond Firefighters

 

On Saturday, June 30th, firefighter trainees Jacob Brownlow, Benjamin Faulkner, Manwell Gali, Kirk Gross, Brandon Perry, Michael Rodriguez, and Dante Wiley will be graduating from the Richmond Fire Recruit Academy.  They have successfully completed a rigorous and challenging thirteen week fire academy under the direction of Battalion Chief Marcus Rayon, with instruction from the academy staff of Captain Aaron Osorio, Firefighter John Stevens, Firefighter Zach Jenssen, and Firefighter Steven Harris. These seven trainees will become full-fledged Richmond firefighters with a strong commitment of providing outstanding service to our City beginning next week. The graduation ceremony is scheduled to start at 11:00 AM and will be held in the Chevron Amphitheatre, located at 100 Chevron Way.

• Richmond Health Equity Partnership (RHEP)

 

On Wednesday, June 27th, the City of Richmond hosted the fourth convening of the Richmond Health Equity Partnership (RHEP) at City Hall. The RHEP consists of representatives of the City of Richmond, Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS), West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD), and University of California, Berkeley Associate Professor Jason Corburn. The RHEP aims to advance health equity for children and families in Richmond and support the long-term goals of Healthy Richmond.

At the meeting, the City presented an overview of initiatives related to the implementation of the Community Health and Wellness Element of General Plan 2030, discussed health equity training for staff, and received an update on Healthy Richmond by The California Endowment.  In addition, each of the RHEP subcommittees (Health in All Policies, Health Equity Data, Training, and Report Card and Full Service Community Schools) reported on their progress over the last three months. This two-year effort is supported by TCE.

For more information on the RHEP, visit the Health Initiatives webpage at www.richmondhealth.org.
     

• Richmond Health Equity Partnership (RHEP) Shared Learning:

Opportunity Mapping
                       
The City of Richmond hosted a workshop to learn more about Oakland Unified School District’s (OUSD) innovative way to illustrate data, called Opportunity Mapping.  Staff from OUSD’s Research, Assessment and Data Department gave an overview of the project and lessons learned in its development.  Opportunity Mapping uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to map the distribution of school-based and district-wide traditional and non-traditional indicators of student performance and community health.  An advantage of this visual presentation of data is that the maps can illuminate assets and inequalities in an easily accessible manner that parents, teachers, and administrators can use to inform decisions.  For more information on OUSD’s Opportunity Mapping, visit the website at http://www.thrivingstudents.org/42

 

    

 

• Richmond Livable Corridors Project Health Focus Group

On June 27, 2012, Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) hosted a focus group to discuss health recommendations for the Richmond Livable Corridors Project (Project). The Project will develop a Form-Based Code for the Macdonald Avenue, San Pablo Avenue and 23rd Street corridors to ensure new development promotes safe and inviting environments for people, jobs, housing and business opportunities.  As part of the Project, CCHS will be preparing a Health Impact Assessment to evaluate the potential health impacts of the Project on Richmond residents.  The Project is being led by the Planning Division, and is partially funded through a Sustainable Communities Planning Grant awarded by the California Strategic Growth Council.  For more information regarding the Project, please visit www.ci.richmond.ca.us/livablecorridors or contact Lina Velasco, Senior Planner at (510) 620-6841 or via email at Lina_Velasco@ci.richmond.ca.us.

 

• Housing Element Workshop

On June, 28, 2012, the Planning and Building Services Department hosted a workshop to inform residents about the City’s update to its General Plan Housing Element and to gather input on the preliminary housing sites analysis.
 
The Housing Element is an important planning document required under State law. The purpose of the Housing Element is to establish key policies, programs, and objectives for achieving a diverse range of housing needs in the community.  Housing Elements must include an assessment of existing and future housing needs, an inventory of sites available for housing development, an analysis of constraints to local housing production, and a set of programs and quantified objectives designed to help meet identified needs.

About 20 people attended the workshop and shared their thoughts about the City’s housing goals and programs.  Ideas included building higher-density housing in the City’s transit-rich areas such as the Downtown, providing more affordable units in market-rate housing developments, assisting residents going through foreclosure, and rehabilitating deteriorating housing conditions in the City’s older neighborhoods.
The Planning and Building Services Department will host a final workshop on July 31st from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Richmond City Hall Council Chambers.  For more information regarding the Housing Element Update, please visit www.ci.richmond.ca.us/housingelement or contact Hector Rojas, Associate Planner at (510) 620-6662 or via email at hector_rojas@ci.richmond.ca.us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• City of Richmond Assists in Hosting Teach For America

Teach for America is a renowned national program that recruits a diverse group of recent college graduate leaders with a record of achievement to work to expand educational opportunity, starting by teaching for two years in a low-income community.

The City of Richmond recently assisted in efforts to introduce 100 new Teach for America recruits to the Richmond community, as they spent two days last week in Richmond learning about the City’s history, assets, and challenges, while immersing themselves in several community activities.  Many of the teachers present will begin work in West Contra Costa in August. They came away with a profound respect for the students, parents, community leaders, and educators who are doing important work in Richmond schools.

  

• Health Initiatives: Bike Rodeo at Cesar Chavez Elementary School

During the last week of the school year, the City of Richmond Public Works Department partnered with Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) to support a bike rodeo at Cesar Chavez Elementary School. The main objective of the bike rodeo was to teach bike safety principles by participating in a hands-on activity.  Students learned how to wear a bike helmet and maneuver through an obstacle course that resembles a city street.
     
 

• Contra Costa County Climate Action Plan Open House

In preparation for development of their Climate Action Plan, Contra Costa County will host a community open house in Richmond on Thursday, July 12th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at 440 Civic Center Plaza.  The open house will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn about the planning process, learn how a Climate Action Plan can support local businesses and community health, and provide input on possible actions that may apply to individuals, homes, and businesses.

 

• EPA United Heckathorn Technical Assistance Workshop

 

The United Heckathorn Superfund site is located in the Richmond Harbor inlet of San Francisco Bay.  It includes five acres of land and about 15 acres of marine sediments in two channels (Lauritzen and Parr).  In 1980, the California Department of Health Services inspected and sampled soil from the site and detected chlorinated pesticides and metals.  The area was designated a State Superfund site in March 1982.

Although actions were taken to reduce the risk from the pesticides found on the site, sediments and the water in the Lauritzen Channel are still contaminated with pesticides, primarily DDT and dieldrin.  Levels are high enough to pose a threat to wildlife who feed in or around the water. Since these pesticides bioaccumulate in fish, people who subsistence fish in the area run the risk of exposure to unacceptably high levels of DDT and dieldrin.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is renewing efforts to clean up the United Heckathorn Superfund Site, and is inviting the public to participate in a Technical Assistance Workshop on Monday, July 9th from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the Richmond BUILD III Facility at 500 23rd Street in Richmond.

At the workshop, EPA staff will:

• Update the community on the Cleanup Action Plan;  
• Give an overview of the Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) Program; and
• Conduct a Needs Assessment (to better understand the technical assistance needs of the community).

If you have any questions about the workshop, you may contact Jackie Lane, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, at (415) 972-3236 or email her at lane.jackie@epa.gov.  For more information on the EPA’s Technical Assistance resource, go to the web page at: www.epa.gov/superfund/community/resources.htm

For more information on the site cleanup, contact Penny Reddy, EPA Remedial Project Manager, at (415) 972-3108 or email her at reddy.penny@epa.gov.   For more site information, go to EPA web page at: www.epa.gov/region09/UnitedHeckathorn.

• Free Disposal of Household Hazardous Wastes (HHW) for Residents

This past Tuesday, the City Council received a presentation regarding available services for household hazardous waste (HHW) disposal in the City of Richmond.  Those who may be interested can view the West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority (WCCIWMA) /RecycleMore’s new video highlighting free disposal services for household hazardous wastes (HHW) for Richmond residents.  The HHW Facility is located at 101 Pittsburg Avenue off of the Richmond Parkway. View the mobile collection program for seniors and person with disabilities. The facility is open from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (closed from 12:00-12:30 PM) on Thursday, Friday, and the first Saturday of the month.  For more information, call 1-888-412-9277.  

• Municipal Fiber Project Update

 

The Port of Richmond, in collaboration with the Information Technology, Engineering, and Public Works Departments, is commencing construction of the Richmond Municipal Network.  The project will interconnect critical City facilities with a fiber optic network operating at a maximum bit rate of 10 gigabits per second.  The Port selected MP NextLevel of California to construct the network which requires the installation of conduits, cable, pull boxes, and network equipment.  The work began on Cutting Boulevard on June 11th and should be completed by the end of August.  Travelers may expect intermittent traffic delays while we complete this important enhancement to the City of Richmond’s infrastructure.

Trenching along the sidewalk minimizes the interruptions along the streets planned for this project.  Trenching and construction this week are along Hall Avenue.  Next week plans are to begin trenching Marina Way South and Regatta.  The following week plans are to continue along Marina Way and Harbour Way.

• Public Works Updates

 

Facilities Maintenance Division: Carpenters installed a new handrail in the boiler room of the Richmond Recreation Complex that addressed a safety issue, repaired broken windows at the May Valley Community Center, installed new gutters on Fire Station 66, and made repairs to the tire storage area for the Equipment Services division.

Installed Handrails at the Richmond Recreation Complex

The stationary engineers repaired the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at Hilltop Mall Police Substation, and replaced the damaged sink in the women’s restroom at the Shields Reid Community Center.

Utility staff cleaned the carpets within the City Council Chambers and scrubbed and waxed the floors at the Transit Station.

The electrical shop completed replaced a pole knock down at Harbour Way and Macdonald Avenue, replaced a broken pole and traffic heads at 8th Street and Macdonald Avenue, removed knocked down park lighting poles at Marina Green Park, and continued with the re-lamping of street lights around the City.

8th Street and Macdonald Avenue

Parks and Landscaping Division: Parks crews performed irrigation repairs at John F. Kennedy, Nicholl, Marina Green, and Fairmede Parks, weed abatement on the Richmond Parkway west side shoulder from Gertrude Avenue to Parr Boulevard, performed landscaping and irrigation installation on the planters at the Transit Village entrance, graffiti removal at the Skate Park, and fire fuel management in the Point Richmond area.

Tree Crew trimmed and pruned trees along the Marina Bay area, Clinton Play Lot, and Point Richmond.

Streets Division:  Pavement Maintenance dug out and paved and patched on the 2800 block of Maine Avenue, 300 block of South 24th Street, 300 block of South 25th Street, 400 block of South 26th Street, 1700 block of Virginia Avenue, and the 1600 block of Ohio Avenue.

The street sweepers regularly scheduled commercial and residential routes for the fourth Monday through Thursday and the fifth Friday are Santa Fe, Coronado, Marina Bay, Point Richmond, Metro Richmore Village, Pullman Cortez/Stege, Park Plaza, Laurel Park, City Center, Richmond Annex, Parkview, Panhandle Annex, and Eastshore Neighborhood Council areas.

 

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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
City Manager
City of Richmond
450 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, California 94804-1630
Phone:  510-620-6512
Fax:  510-620-6542
E-mail:  bill_lindsay@ci.richmond.ca.us