Mayor and Councilmembers:

This is the weekly report for the week ending September 14th, 2012.

• Meeting Notes

 

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 18th, beginning with a Closed Session at 5:00 PM and with the regular agenda beginning at 6:30 PM.

• Richmond Arts in Motion and Spirit & Soul

 

As you may recall, the City of Richmond successfully partnered with the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts (EBC) to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for the Iron Triangle Interactive Art/Downtown Rejuvenation Project.  This project is an exciting on-the-street interactive digital art experience designed to strengthen the Richmond community through community engagement, civic pride, and economic development in the Iron Triangle.  The art itself is a collaboration between the local community, EBC and internationally acclaimed digital artist Scott Snibbe, whose installations have been experienced by 20 million people at sites that include: Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry; San Francisco’s Exploratorium; the London Science Museum; Cite de Science in Paris; and the Los Angeles International Airport.

The  dedication ceremony of the Iron Triangle Interactive Art/Downtown Rejuvenation Project will take place as part of an all day festival on Saturday, September 29th from 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM.  The festival includes food and beverages, artisan shopping and phenomenal music performances featuring local favorite, Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic.

We will provide more information regarding the schedule for unveiling the artwork as we learn when it will take place.  In the meantime, please reserve Saturday,  September 29th from 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM on your calendars.

 

 

• Community Meeting on Chevron Refinery Fire

Contra Costa Health Services and the City of Richmond are hosting a community meeting on September 24th at 6:00 PM in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium to provide residents with updates and review future actions regarding the fire that occurred at the Chevron Refinery this past August 6th.  Light refreshments and child care will be provided.

Those attending the meeting will be able to hear from:

• Contra Costa Health Services
• Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)
• US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
• California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (CAL/OSHA)
• Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services

 

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP at www.chevronfiremeeting.eventbrite.com so that we can plan accordingly.  More information regarding the Chevron Refinery fire can be found at www.ci.richmond.ca.us/chevronrefineryfire2012

 

• LBNL Richmond Bay Campus Workshop

On Thursday, October 4TH, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and UC Berkeley (UCB) are hosting a community workshop to discuss the Long Range Development Plan for the new Richmond Bay Campus of LBNL.  All residents are encouraged to attend and learn more about site planning and development objectives for the new campus.  Those attending will have an opportunity to join in a discussion with LBNL and UCB researchers and offer their thoughts and ideas about the future of the campus. The meeting will be from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium.  Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP at www.lbnlrichmond.eventbrite.com so that the hosts can plan accordingly.

5. County Climate Action Plan (CAP) Open House

 

In partnership with the City of Richmond Environmental Initiatives Team, Contra Costa County is hosting a Climate Action Plan Open House on Wednesday, September 19th, at 7:00 PM in the Richmond Auditorium, Bermuda Room.  This Open House will present the findings based on community feedback provided at the July 12, 2012, County CAP Open House in Richmond. The County will provide information about their greenhouse gas emissions inventory, explain proposed greenhouse gas reduction measures and health indicators under the CAP, and review results from an evaluation of how effective proposed measures are in reducing greenhouse gases.  (Access the flier by clicking here.)  Public participation is crucial during this planning stage of the climate action plan for Contra Costa County.  The City of Richmond is actively seeking grant funding to develop a Richmond Climate Action Plan.  Please RSVP for the Open House to help staff plan appropriately: http://contracostacap.eventbrite.com/.

• Temporary Detours at Richmond Intermodal Transit Station

 

As part of the BART parking structure project, the bus circulation area will be repaved and a new concrete crosswalk at 16th and Macdonald will be installed.  This work will necessitate the closure of the intermodal area to vehicular traffic from September 22nd through October 8th.  During this time, the following functions will be relocated as follows, and as shown on the graphic below:

• AC Transit and Golden Gate Transit bus stops will be relocated to Macdonald Avenue and Marina Way. 
• Shuttle bus stops will be relocated to the Nevin Avenue “kiss and ride” area east of Marina Way.
• Accessible parking, accessible passenger drop-off and paratransit stops will be relocated to the parking lot at the northeast corner of Marina Way and Macdonald Avenue, enter from Marina Way.
• Passenger drop-off will be relocated to the east station entrance, enter from 18th or 19th.
• Taxi drop off/pick up will be relocated to 16th Street south of Macdonald.
• Pedestrian access from Macdonald Avenue at 16th Street to the station entrance will be maintained during construction.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact project manager Chadrick Smalley at 412-2067.

• Free Tree Giveaway

 

On Friday, September 21st, the City of Richmond Environmental Initiatives Team is hosting a free tree giveaway for all residents thanks to a generous donation from the non-profit Self-Sustaining Communities. Starting at 12:00 PM, all Richmond residents can come to the Civic Center Farmer’s Market to choose between a variety of olive trees for their homes and gardens. Trees will be distributed in pots, completely free of charge, on a first come, first served basis. City staff is encouraging all community members to come early and take advantage of this great opportunity.

• LBNL Open House

 

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will host an Open House on Saturday, October 13, 2012 from 10:00 AM -3:00 PM.  Families, community members, and science enthusiasts are invited to tour facilities, hear from scientists about their research, and have fun with hands-on activities in the Family Adventure Zone.  Registration required: www.lbl.gov/openhouse

 

• Recreation Highlights

Commission on Aging

On Wednesday, September 12th, from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, the Commission on Aging hosted a Healthy Eating Workshop at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium.  Seniors were able to learn about healthy eating from a Nutritionist, as well as strokes and heart attacks from several Doctor’s Medical Center physicians.

Shields-Reid food giveaway

Muslims for Peace, a non-profit organization from the bay area, hosts a free food giveaway for North Richmond residents on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Shields-Reid Community Center.  The food is donated from Trader Joe’s.

Back to School Celebration

The Bay Area Rescue Mission and Chevron Corporation sponsored a Back to School Celebration for students from Kindergarten to 12th grade at Nevin Park this past Thursday, September 13th.  The event included a backpack and school supplies giveaway, free food, music, games, and prizes.

• Public Works Updates

 

Facilities Maintenance Division: Painters painted bollard and curbs around Civic Center Plaza.

Carpenters installed a new ceiling in the Equipment Services area of the Corporation yard.

The Stationary Engineers repaired the sinks at Fire Station #67.

The Electricians replaced the temporary pole installed from the knock down at Cutting and Carlson Boulevards, inspected conduits at Cutting and Canal Boulevards, and continued street light relamping around the City.

Traffic Signal Replacement at Carlson and Cutting Boulevards

Parks and Landscaping Division: Crews are continuing with the Burg Park construction and the replacement of the Booker T. Anderson Pedestrian Bridge, landscape maintenance was completed along Hilltop Drive, installed windscreen at the Plunge tennis courts, completed vegetation management at Booker T. Anderson Park and on the Greenway, landscape planting on the McBride median, maintenance at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and fields at Nicholl and Kennedy Parks were aerated and fertilized.

Burg Park Construction

The Tree Crew trimmed and pruned trees along Valley View Road, Potrero Avenue and 41st Street.

Streets Division:  Pavement Maintenance crews grinded and paved on Dornan Drive.

Dornan Drive Paving

Street Sweeping had two sweepers down causing some areas to have limited or no sweeping. The routes swept during the second Tuesday through Friday of the month were, Clinton Hill II through IV and East Richmond 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!

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