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  City Manager's Weekly Report for the Two Weeks Ending October 11th, 2013
October 13, 2013
 
 


Mayor and City Councilmembers:

This is the weekly report for the two weeks ending October 11th, 2013.

  • Meeting Notes

 

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15th beginning with a Closed Session at 5:00 PM, followed by the regular agenda at 6:30 PM.

  • 7th Annual Home Front Festival by the Bay – Saturday, October 12th

 

“Kids Can Do It!” is the theme for the 7th Annual Home Front Festival tomorrow (Saturday, October 12th) from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Craneway Pavilion, located in the historic Ford Point Building.

The 2013 celebration will feature interactive activities for family members of all ages – from kids to grandparents. Piggy backing on Rosie the Riveter‘s quote “We Can Do It,” the Home Front Festival will present “Kids Can Do It,” and focus on engaging youth in their Richmond history.  You can visit the Richmond Chamber of Commerce website for more information: http://rcoc.com/events/home-front-festival-2013.

Home Front

  • 5th Annual Richmond Main Street Spirit & Soul Festival

 

Despite the morning rain, Richmond Main Street’s 5th Annual Spirit & Soul Festival and Fundraiser event on Saturday, September 21st was a great success. The sun came out just in time for the festivities to get underway with bellydancing duo Raks Africa and the students from the Richmond Main Street (RMSI) bellydance and Zumba classes.  As the weather warmed throughout the day, so too did the performances: Dahrio Wonder got the crowd up and moving with his infectious music, Richmond’s own Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic took everyone down home to the Bayou and had the crowd dancing to their Zydeco groove, and national recording artist Club Nouveau did not disappoint. They brought it all together with R&B hits from the 80’s and 90’s.

In between songs, festival guests enjoyed shopping in the outdoor bazaar, and dining on delicious soul food, BBQ, Thai dishes, and Cajun/Creole favorites. Cynthia Haden, Ruth Mays, and Charles Evans were also recognized as Downtown Champions for their dedicated support of historic downtown Main Street.

Thank you to everyone who supported Richmond Main Street in bringing this signature event to Downtown. The event hosted more than 350 attendees and 15artisan retail and food vendors. The City of Richmond is one of the many sponsors of the event.

Richmond Main St

  • Free Community Drive-Through Flu Shot Clinic

 

Doctors Medical Center’s annual drive-through flu shot clinic will be held on Friday, October 18th between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM.  Community members, age 18 and over, are invited to receive a vaccination without leaving their vehicles and without needing an appointment. Participants should enter from the hospital’s West entrance on Vale Road and follow the signs.

Doctors Medical Center is located at 2000 Vale Road, in San Pablo, off of San Pablo Dam Road.

Flu Shot Clinic

Flu Shot Spanish

 

  • AC Transit Fare Proposal Community Meeting – October 16th in Richmond

AC Transit is inviting bus riders and other members of the public to comment on a fare proposal now under consideration. Earlier this year, the AC Transit Board of Directors voted not to raise fares this July, as originally scheduled, and will instead explore a new fare structure and pricing with potential benefits for riders and service reliability. The proposal includes these elements:

  • Introducing a local day pass & eliminating transfers
  • Adjusting local pass prices
  • Offering discounts on local Clipper fares

 

The full proposal description is posted to AC Transit’s website, where you will also see details on how to provide feedback.  Any fare changes that are adopted would likely go into effect in July 2014.

A series of six community meetings is scheduled between October 8th and 16th in Fremont, Hayward, Oakland, Berkeley, and Richmond, to be followed by an AC Transit Board public hearing on October 23rd.  The Richmond community meeting is:

Wednesday, October 16th
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Richmond City Council Chambers
440 Civic Center Plaza

See this link below for details locations and times for other community meetings.

  • Bella Feldman: Artist Talk and Film Screening

 

The Richmond Art Center is hosting a free artist talk and screening of the 30-minute documentary "Bella Bella" on Saturday, October 19th from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM with 83-year-old Oakland artist and sculptor Bella Feldman and filmmaker Elizabeth Sher; conversation will be moderated by San Francisco artist and writer Dewitt Cheng.  "Bella Bella" explores Feldman's studio and artistic process, and provides a unique and candid view of a vibrant artist who has made major contributions to Bay Area art. This event is in conjunction with the retrospective Bella: A 50-year survey of the work of Bella Feldman, which is on view at the Art Center through November 15th. 

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  • Draft RLC Form-Based Code Available for Public Comment

 

The Planning Department has announced the availability of the Draft Richmond Livable Corridors Form-Based Code (FBC).  The FBC will replace the existing zoning and set the rules for development along San Pablo Avenue, Macdonald Avenue, and 23rd Street and their surrounding areas. See map below.

The draft FBC is available online at draft livable corridors.  Hard copies are also available for viewing at the Planning Division Counter at 450 Civic Center Plaza, 2nd Floor, and at the Richmond Main Library at 325 Civic Center Plaza. The public review and comment period will be from October 9th through December 9th, 2013.

Written or emailed comments should be sent to:

Lina Velasco, Senior Planner
Richmond Planning Division
450 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA 94804
Lina_Velasco@ci.richmond.ca.us

This project is funded in part by a Sustainable Communities Planning Grant awarded by the California Strategic Growth Council. 

  • Richmond Health in All Policies Workshop

 

Health in All Policies, or “healthy public policy” is based on the idea that health starts in the places where people live, work, learn, and play, and that individual and community health is influenced by more than just individual choices. One’s physical and psychosocial environment, culture, government, etc. all play a role in influencing and determining both individual and population health. Health in All Policies (HiAP) is the integrated and comprehensive approach to bring health, well-being, and equity considerations into the development and implementation of policies, programs, and services of traditionally non-health related government systems or agencies.

The Richmond City Council adopted Health in All Policies as Richmond policy, and we will be working to implement its principles throughout the community. To come learn more about HiAP, and to see how you can get involved, please consider attending the upcoming HiAP Workshop hosted by the City of Richmond’s Health Initiatives on Thursday, October 24th at 6:00 PM in the Richmond City Council Chambers.

Richmond Health Inititive

 

  • Belding Garcia Playground Build Day on Saturday, October 26th !

 

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.

In addition to the playground, residents from the surrounding neighborhood joined the project planning team to decide what side projects will be built to accompany the new playground. The selected side projects include a new sandbox, a shaded picnic area, a seating wall, trees and plants around the park, a painted pathway on which children will be able to ride their bikes, and, lastly, a new entrance in which a piece of the old playground will be used to maintain the parks history.

At the design day that took place this past July 11th, the project team listened to the requests of the children. One of the main requests from the children was a skate park, and the children stated “we don’t need anything fancy just something to skate on.” The team reviewed the request and learned that funding was $5,000 short of meeting this need.  The outcome was presented to the funder, Livie and Luca, and they couldn’t resist writing a check for the additional $5000.  Because of the generosity of Livie and Luca, a skate park will be added to the new park after the build day.

Livie and Luca’s generosity has supported the dream of many children who live in the Belding-Garcia neighborhood, not only with funding, but also with input on design, and involving their staff throughout the entire process.  They will be flying in 13 of their staff to help on build day. Their staff will be traveling from Iceland, Mexico, Los Angeles, Alabama, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, and Massachusetts.

We hope you will join us on October 26th as all skill levels and talents are welcome and no experience is necessary.  There are a variety of opportunities for volunteers 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.
 
Register today to volunteer at Playground!.  Please contact Alicia Nightengale at (510) 620-5460 or Bertha Romo at (510) 620-5535 for more information.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, October 26th!

Playground

  • Richmond! Your Home Front for Business

 

The City of Richmond partnered with the Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau and the San Francisco Business Times to create a special advertising supplement to their September 13, 2013, publication: Richmond! Your Home Front for Business. This advertising supplement is designed to highlight the diverse, burgeoning industries that are recognizing Richmond as the best business option in the Bay Area.
Richmond’s strategic, central location, sensible real estate values, tax incentives and welcoming climate are all contributing factors to the city’s broad based business and industrial growth. And the city’s diverse neighborhoods, pristine marinas, recreational and cultural amenities, and more miles of shoreline than any other city in the Bay Area, make Richmond among the most unique communities in California.
You are invited to review a copy of Richmond! Your Home Front for Business on the City’s website at www.ci.richmond.ca.us to read about the Bay Area’s best kept secret and to see what’s causing a new energy in Richmond.  Hard copies of this publication are also available at City Hall.
Rich Times Rosie

  • Mobile Farmers’ Market in Richmond

 

The Freshest Cargo Mobile Farmers’ Market is a “farmers’ market on wheels” that provides neighborhood-based access to fresh, locally-grown produce in the Bay Area.  Freshest Cargo now operates in several communities in Contra Costa County, and will initiate stop at several locations in Richmond on Wednesdays.  The market accepts cash, EBT, Visa and Mastercard.

The following locations will be served on Wednesdays - click here for a map!

  • 10:00 AM -11:30 AM | West Contra Costa YMCA • Maine Avenue at South 19th Street
  • 12:00 PM -1:30 PM | North Richmond • Chesley Avenue at Fred Jackson Way
  • 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Parchester Community • Williams Drive at Collins Avenue.

 

Fresh Approach will also provide 48 interactive nutrition education sessions at community-based organizations to promote purchasing local fruits and vegetables and the CalFresh nutrition assistance programs that will be accepted at the market.
 
This project is supported by a grant from the USDA through the Farmers’ Market Promotion Program.  More information is available at: www.freshapproach.org

  • 2013 Community Survey Available to All Richmond Residents to Complete

    If your household was not one of the 3,000 households selected to receive the survey, but you would like to provide feedback to the city, then now is your chance. The 2013 Richmond Community Survey can now be completed by ALL Richmond residents by accessing the links below.

    • English: http://www.n-r-c.com/survey/richmond2013survey.htm
    • Spanish: http://www.n-r-c.com/survey/richmond2013encuesta.htm

    Feel free to contact LaShonda Wilson-White in the City Manager’s office at (510) 620-6828 with questions, comments, or to obtain a paper copy of the survey. Your input can help make the City of Richmond a better place to live, work and play. The survey will only be available through the month of October. We currently have over 300 surveys submitted and we look forward to receiving your feedback!

 

  • Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Open Enrollment Now Available

Open Enrollment for Covered California began October 1, 2013. To begin your enrollment, please call the Covered California's telephone help line at 1-800-300-1506 or visit the Covered California website at https://www.coveredca.com/. Interpreters in multiple languages are available on the telephone help line.

A few important things to know:

  • Open enrollment is October 1 – March 31, coverage can begin January 1, 2014.
  • Coveredca.com will allow consumers to make apples-to-apples comparisons of plans before enrolling, including premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Many Californians will qualify for financial assistance to help make premiums more affordable.
  • Covered CA recommends having the following household information available when enrolling: contact information for all household members applying for coverage, ID numbers such as social security or immigration information, income and tax filing status. 

 

Affordable Care Act Frequently Asked Questions addressed by Contra Costa Health Services can be found at http://cchealth.org/aca/faq.php.

Please consider these other Affordable Care Act resources for Richmond and Contra Costa County residents:

Resource

Website

Phone

Contra Costa Health Services:
Health Care Reform and Contra Costa Residents

http://cchealth.org/aca/

n/a

Community Clinic Consortium: Morgan Westfall or Jennifer Arevalo

http://clinicconsortium.org/

(510) 233-6230

Lifelong Medical Care: Enrollment Department   

http://www.lifelongmedical.org

(510) 231-9816

 

Get covered
             

  • Affordable Care Act Workshop

On Wednesday, October 30th, at 6:00 PM, the City of Richmond is co-hosting a workshop to engage residents on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about how the ACA will be implemented in California, an overview of the Low-Income Health Program (LIHP), and health services that are provided for all ages from LifeLong Medical Care. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 PM.
Obama Care
Obama Care Spanish

 

  • Richmond ESC (Excellence Serving our Community) – Volunteer Spotlight: Harnoor S. Chatha

Harnoor is a City Hall volunteer working with the Housing and Community Development Department. He is currently attending Contra Costa College, majoring in business administration.  Harnoor learned about the Richmond ESC program through city staff and started volunteering in September. His work includes researching best practices to update policies and procedures for the Community Development Block Grant program, supporting staff to perform environmental reviews of housing properties, and recruiting Contra Costa College students to volunteer with the Department. Harnoor says, “It has been a good experience and it benefits me in the future because I’m gaining valuable office skills.” The department is very pleased with his work and values the contributions Harnoor has already made in a short period of time.  Thank you, Harnoor. Richmond ESC appreciates your service!

Are you inspired to volunteer with city departments?  APPLY NOW!

You may also visit our website at www.richmondvolunteers.org to explore other service opportunities in the Richmond community.
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  • Officer Bradley A. Moody Memorial Underpass Project Update – Night Work Scheduled for October 18 - 20

 

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.  In early September, Marina Bay Parkway was closed to traffic.  This closure will remain in place for approximately 18 months. 

This week, while utility relocation work continued, the second of three shipments of steel piles for the Deep Soil Mix (“DSM”) walls arrived at the site and DSM construction continued. This work is one of the most time-critical operations for the project, and the community can expect DSM work to take place on most weekends during this phase of the project. 

Of note, during excavation work conducted this week, the contractor successfully avoided two undocumented live utility facilities.  As noted in prior reports, unknown utilities are a problematic but unavoidable risk, and the contractor’s expertise and standard of care avoided potential utility outages in these cases.

For the week of October 14th, crews will continue utility relocation work and DSM production.  As noted in prior reports, certain segments of the DSM and bridge construction work will necessarily require closure of the railroad to train traffic.  The first of these closure windows are proposed for next week: On October 16th, 17th and 18th, train traffic will not be permitted to use the crossing during the workday hours.  These work windows may result in increased train activity in the nighttime hours. 

On October 19th, 20th and 21st, the first of up to six weekend, 24-hour a day closure windows are scheduled.  Community members can expect work on the project to continue for 24 hours a day on these days.  While disruptive, these weekend work shifts are necessary to complete the project, and the project team appreciates the community’s patience.

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.

  • Recreation Highlights

 

Disabled Peoples Recreation Center (DPRC)

Participants of the Adult Morning Program (AMP) and the Therapeutic Interactive Recreation Program (TIRP) are putting time aside to assist staff in preparing for upcoming events at DPRC, including the Halloween Dance on October 26th and the Craft Fair on November 2nd. Their decorating ideas are incorporated with the theme and they are excited that they are a big part of making the events happen.

Pt. Richmond Community Center

During the final Point Richmond Music Series on September 27th, over 15 children came to visit the Pt. Richmond Community Center to watch the movie Despicable Me.  They also created fun crafts and enjoyed snacks.

  • Public Works Updates

 

For the Week Ending October 4th, 2013:

Facilities Maintenance:  Carpenters began the remodel of the theater room at the Richmond Recreation Complex, began the repair of the gym floor at the Richmond Recreation Complex, and repaired the west side door at the Nevin Center.

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Repairs at Richmond Recreation Complex

Painters continued with the painting of the Children’s Room at the Main Library.

In addition to maintaining 29 City owned buildings, utility workers cleaned carpets at the Civic Center Plaza and began to auto-scrub Civic Center Plaza.

Electricians completed the installation of the new traffic signals at South 47th and Carlson Boulevard, repaired lights at the Civic Center Plaza, and reset traffic signals at two locations.

Parks and Landscaping Division:  This week, crews continued with the Richmond Parkway landscape project in the Hilltop District, began demolition and site preparation at Belding Garcia Park for the Kaboom! playground rebuilding project on October 26th, completed landscape clean-up along the Esplanade Trail, continued preparations at Lucas Park for the upcoming Arbor Day event, completed a segment of the Meeker Trail landscape rehabilitation, and provided support for Harbour-8 Park.

The Tree Crew trimmed or cut down trees on Macdonald Avenue, South 57th, and at Lucas Park.

Streets Division:  Crews grinded and paved Thomas Drive from McGlothen Way to Bell Way, hauled grindings from previous paving jobs, and worked from the outstanding pothole and sidewalk list.

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Paving on McGlothen Way

Street sweeping performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the fifth Monday and 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 Verda, San Pablo Dam Road, Bristole Cone, May Valley, Vista View, and Clinton Hill I neighborhood council areas.

Signs and Lines crews installed 8 new signs, installed 108 pavement markings, repaired 20 damaged signs, and painted 852 feet of curbs.

For the Week Ending October 11th, 2013:

The Public Works Department has completed all necessary tasks to prepare Point Molate Beach Park for its reopening to the public. Staff paved and restriped the parking lot and entrance, constructed an ADA pathway and picnic pad, and installed an additional 5 picnic tables and barbeque areas. They have also done some significant landscape maintenance and installed new signage and fencing. DP Security will begin daily opening and closing of the gates beginning Monday, October 14th.

Facilities Maintenance:  Carpenters continued with the repair of the gym floor at the Recreation Complex and repaired the tile floor in the Captains room of Fire Station #68.

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Repairs at Richmond Recreation Complex

Painters completed the interior of the Transit Village located in the Richmond BART Station and painted the registration office in the Recreation Complex.

The Stationary Engineers repaired the heat exchanger at the Richmond Plunge, cleared the main waste line at the Employment and Training building, repaired the boiler at the Nevin Community Center, and repaired the dishwasher at Fire Station #67.

Electricians removed electric vehicle charger circuits at the Corporation Yard, installed new light fixtures in the paint booth, repaired safety lights at the intersection of Richmond Parkway and Gertrude Avenue, and repaired lights in the Civic Center Plaza.
Corporation Yard
Repairs to Safety Lights

Parks and Landscaping Division:  This week crews continued with demolition and site preparation at Belding Garcia Park for the Kaboom! Project, performed flail mowing on the Greenway around 23rd Street, started preparations for the Marina for the Homefront Festival, started a new segment of the Meeker Trail landscape rehabilitation, and provided support for the Harbour-8 Park.

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Meeker Trail Landscape Rehabilitation

The Tree crew trimmed or cut down trees on Alameda Avenue, Setting Sun Drive, Esmond Avenue, McBryde Avenue, and Lincoln Avenue. Crews also inspected the roots to a tree on Bissell Avenue.

Streets Division:  Crews grinded and paved Madison Avenue and the lot in the Port of Richmond, hauled grindings from previous paving jobs, and worked from the outstanding pothole and sidewalk list.

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Paving on the Port Lot

Street sweeping performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the first Monday and the second Tuesday through Friday Parchester Village, Hilltop Bayview, Hilltop Green, Fairmede/Hilltop, Clinton Hill II – IV and East Richmond neighborhood council areas.

Signs and Lines crews installed 10 new signs, fabricated 5 signs, installed 1240 pavement markings, repaired 6 damaged signs, and painted 140 feet of curbs.

A busy two weeks of Public Works!

 

***********************************************

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments about these or any other items of interest to you.

 

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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