Mayor and City Council:
This is the weekly report for the week ending September 6th, 2013.
1. Meeting Notes
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 10th, beginning with a Closed Session at 5:00 PM, followed by the regular agenda at 6:30 PM. Please note that the regular meeting will convene in the Richmond Auditorium, rather than in the City Council Chamber, to accommodate what we anticipate will be a large number of people in the audience.
2. City Hall Closed for Admission Day
As a reminder, the city offices will be officially closed on Monday, September 9th, in observance of Admission Day.
3. Update on the Installation of the Richmond Community Air Monitoring Program
This past April, we reported that the first phase of the Richmond Community Air Monitoring Program was launched to provide real-time air quality data related to the Richmond Chevron Refinery. This program is being managed by an independent contractor, Argos Scientific Inc, which has experience monitoring air quality and manages similar programs at two other Bay Area refineries. The first phase of the program included the implementation of three air monitoring stations along the refinery’s fenceline and the creation of a public website featuring real-time air monitoring data from the three fenceline stations. The fenceline air monitors have been operational since April 2013 and real-time air quality data and monthly reports can be accessed at the following link or by visiting http://www.fenceline.org/richmond.
The second phase of the air monitoring program includes the installation of three community air monitoring sites: one each in the North Richmond, Atchison Village and Point Richmond neighborhoods. Electrical facility upgrades at Fire Station 62 in North Richmond passed final inspection on Thursday, September 5th, allowing the first of these three community air monitor stations to become operational. Argos is now installing and testing the air monitoring equipment at Fire Station 62, and staff anticipates that the equipment will be operational and air monitoring data will be accessible on the website within the next three weeks.
At the end of these two phases, a total of six air monitoring station will be installed, and the community will have the opportunity to monitor real-time results online. Chevron, City staff and Argos have also made progress preparing the remaining two community air monitoring sites in the Atchison Village and Point Richmond neighborhoods. We will keep you updated on these future installations and opportunities to tour the air monitoring equipment in future weekly reports.
Air Monitoring Equipment at Fire Station 62
4. Officer Bradley A. Moody Memorial Underpass Project - Closure of Marina Bay Parkway to Traffic on September 3rd
The Bradley A. Moody Memorial Underpass Project involves the construction of a roadway underpass on Marina Bay Parkway between Meeker Avenue and Regatta Boulevard, and is intended to resolve long-standing access limitations to the Marina Bay Area caused by frequent train crossings.
On September 3rd, Marina Bay Parkway was closed to traffic. This closure will remain in place for approximately 18 months. This week, in addition to the placement of signage and other traffic control elements for the road closure, utility relocation work continued and demolition commenced. Project staff will continue to monitor traffic controls in the area and make adjustments as necessary. It may take several weeks for conditions to “normalize” as drivers adjust to the new routes.
For the week of September 9th, crews will continue utility relocation work at the Department of Public Health campus and in Pierson Avenue, demolition activities, pre-excavation for deep soil mix (“DSM”) walls and positioning of the DSM rig.
Please see the graphic below showing alternate detour routes around the project site. Please contact the project’s public outreach consultant, Jacqueline Majors, through the project website at www.moodyup.com if you would like a hard copy of the “know your route” card.
For additional information and to be added to the project update contact list, please see the project website at www.moodyup.com. You can also follow the project on twitter: @moodyunderpass.
5. GRID Alternatives’ Solarthon Comes to Richmond
The City of Richmond and local residents of the Iron Triangle neighborhood are partnering with non-profit GRID Alternatives, an organization that brings the benefits of solar into underserved communities, to expand Richmond’s growing solar-powered energy. On Saturday, September 7th, more than 150 volunteers – individual sponsors, corporate teams, job trainees and the homeowners themselves – will come out to install solar electric systems for 8 low-income families as part of the GRID Alternatives Solarthon, the organization’s annual solar block party and fundraiser.
Families will save approximately 75 percent on their electricity bills from day one, money they can use for food, clothing, medical expenses and other necessities. The installations are expected to save the families $148,000 over the 30-year lifetime of the systems and contribute to cleaner air.
GRID Alternatives has installed 116 systems in Richmond to-date, working in partnership with the City of Richmond to make solar energy accessible to its diverse population while bringing job skill-building opportunities to volunteers and students on the installation sites.
6. Help Rebuild Belding Garcia Playground!
Saturday, October 26th is Make a Difference Day, the largest day of national community service. On this day, volunteers around the nation will work in their communities to improve the lives of others. From 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on October 26th, the Richmond community is invited to join residents of the Belding Woods Neighborhood and community partners as they rebuild the Belding Garcia Playground located at 17th Street and Coalinga Avenue.
The new playground will provide children, ages 2 to 12, and families with a positive, safe, and fun environment. Additionally, the improved playground will enhance youths’ imagination around play, help develop friendships, and be the meeting place for cherished memories.
All skill levels and talents are welcome! No experience is necessary. There are a variety of opportunities for you to make a positive impact. Volunteers are needed to assist with building playground equipment pieces, serving food, registering fellow volunteers, and leading activities for children.
Your time will help improve the lives of many in the Belding Woods Neighborhood. Register today to volunteer at http://beldinggarciaplayground.eventbrite.com/. For inquiries, please contact Alicia Nightengale at (510) 620-5460 or Bertha Romo at (510) 620-5535.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, October 26th!
7. Public Works Updates
Facilities Maintenance: Carpenters repaired the main entrance ramp at the Booker T. Anderson Community Center and constructed cabinets for Fire Station #67.
Booker T. Anderson Entrance Ramp
Painters started the preparation for painting the Richmond Recreation Complex gymnasium.
Electricians repaired street lighting for the eastbound portion of the Richmond Parkway, investigated the power outage on Fred Jackson Way, assisted in the installation of the Chevron Air Monitoring Station for Fire Station #62 and addressed the street light knock down on 23rd Street.
Knockdown on 23rd Street
Parks and Landscaping Division: This week, crews continued with the landscape rehabilitation project along the Marina Bay Trail, completed the Lucas Park landscaping project, completed the installation of ADA path and picnic pads at Pt. Molate Beach Park, started the Richmond Parkway landscape project, aerated and fertilized various sports fields, installed a new irrigation backflow device at Tiller Park, completed median maintenance on Macdonald Avenue and Carlson Boulevard and installed mulch on Giant Road.
The tree crew trimmed or cut down trees on 7th Street, Santa Fe Avenue, Barnard Street, Sutter Avenue, 35th Street and McBryde Avenue.
Streets Division: Crews hauled away grindings from previous paving jobs and worked from the outstanding pothole and sidewalk list.
Street sweeping performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the first Tuesday through Friday in Parchester Village, Hilltop Bayview, Hilltop Village, Hilltop Green, Fairmede/Hilltop, Carriage Hills North Side, El Sobrante Hills, Greenbriar, Hansford Heights, Via Verde, San Pablo Dam Road, Bristle Cone, May Valley, Vista View and Clinton Hill neighborhoods.
Signs and Lines crews fabricated four new signs, repaired eight damaged signs, responded to two knockdowns and painted 325 feet of curbs citywide.
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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
(510) 620-6512
Bill_lindsay@ci.richmond.ca.us
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