Mayor and City Councilmembers:

This is the weekly report for the week ending January 24th, 2014.

• Meeting Notes

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28th beginning with a Closed Session at 5:00 PM, followed by the regular agenda at 6:30 PM.

• Volunteers Have a “Day-on” to Honor the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Monday, January 20th, Americans observed the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday in various ways.  Our Richmond community continued its tradition of having a “day on” instead of a “day off” to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Nearly 600 enthusiastic volunteers converged on the beautiful open space of the Richmond Greenway to serve on various projects between 6th and 16th Streets at Chanslor and Ohio Avenues.  Additionally, various community partners performed outreach at the event, providing valuable information to attendees.  Special thanks to the Friends of the Richmond Greenway for coordinating the successful event, and to the City of Richmond’s Parks Division and impact volunteering program, Richmond ESC, Excellence Serving our Community, for their support.

• New Library Service: Discover & Go

The Richmond Public Library is pleased to announce a new service called Discover & Go.  Using their Richmond Public Library cards, patrons may print out free or discounted passes to local museums and other cultural institutions.  This great program was developed by the Contra Costa County Library System.

To access the service, patrons may go directly to www.DiscoverAndGo.org or click on a link from www.RichmondLibrary.org.

We encourage you to check out a cool new place for yourself, and to spread the word on this adventurous new program and the participating organizations.    

For more information please call the Richmond Public Library Main Branch Reference Desk at 510-620-6561.

• City Receives Procurement Award

At the recent annual conference of the California Association of Public Procurement Officials (CAPPO), Finance staff members Ofelia Alvarez and Rose Gibson, and Tammi Edwards from the Office of Neighborhood Safety, were presented with a trophy representing the National Procurement Institute’s Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award.  This award recognizes organizational excellence in procurement by public organizations.   The City of Richmond is one of 36 government agencies in California and one of 58 cities in the United States to receive the award.  The City has received this award for the fourth consecutive year.

• Engineering Services Department Receives $286,600 Grant

In July 2013, Engineering Services Department staff submitted an application for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 6 grant funds for a road diet, addition of bicycle lanes, ADA (disability access) curb ramps, and signal hardware improvements on 37th Street between Cerrito Avenue and Center Avenue.  In December 2013, the City’s project was selected from a statewide candidate pool of 389 applications. The City will receive $286,600 in HSIP funds. Project costs are projected to be $368,600 for design and construction.  For more information on the HSIP grant, and a statewide project listing, visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/HSIP/prev_cycle_results.htm.

• Richmond Art Center Winter Exhibitions

Three new exhibitions currently at the Richmond Art Center feature the work of a diverse group of emerging and established Bay Area artists.

• The Language of Realism features the work of four West Coast realist painters -- Michael Beck, Christine Hanlon, Anthony Holdsworth and John Rampley and is curated by Richmond artist John Wehrle (through February 28th).  John Wehrle is leading a tour and artist talk tomorrow (Saturday, January 25th) at 1:00 PM at the Richmond Art Center.

• "Unlock the Talk: The American Teenager Project in Richmond" features 100 black and white photographs and in-depth audio interviews of Richmond youth taken by 20 teen photojournalists (through March 7th).

• The 18th Annual "The Art of Living Black" is the only non-juried exhibition in the Bay Area to feature 50 regional artists of African descent (through February 28th).

Visit the Richmond Art Center at 2540 Barrett Avenue, 510-620-6772. More information can be found at:  http://www.therac.org.

• Record Number of LEAP Graduates Mark the End of 2013

The Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) will honor 35 GED graduates (possibly more) on January 30th in the City Council Chambers.  The residents that are being honored demonstrated resilience and determination in preparing for and passing the seven hour GED exam while carrying through with their other life responsibilities – adult learning in a very special context.  When we see a mother of 13 children succeed, or a grandfather be motivated to learn as an example for his grandchildren, we cannot take lightly the significance of this success.  When a young woman can fulfill her dream of going to college and becoming an attorney, or a young man can pursue his dream of becoming a contractor and having his own business, we know that this City is providing a tremendous service to its residents. 

The LEAP graduation class of Winter 2013 marks an end of an era for the national GED test.  The new test will be computer-based, and demand a greater “depth of knowledge” in the areas of Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and Math. 

We congratulate the success of our residents and invite all of you to attend the ceremony.

• City Manager Chronicles

I have listed below some of the topics for meetings that I have recently attended in the hope that it provides an idea of the varied issues with which our organization deals routinely.

Activities and meeting topics during the past week have included:

• Provided an update to the Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee regarding various legislative initiatives by the City Council, including development of an urban agricultural program, and the potential ballot measures to increase the minimum wage;
• Attended a meeting with the representatives from the State Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), along with Planning Director Richard Mitchell, Engineering Services Director Alan Wolken, and Administrative Chief Shasa Curl, to discuss the process to remediate environmental hazards at the former Zeneca site along the south shoreline.  The meeting was also attended by South Shoreline Citizens’ Advisory Group representatives Sherry Padgett and Peter Weiner;
• Met with representatives of HUD to review progress on improving the City’s regulatory compliance in housing programs;
• Attended the monthly meeting of the Richmond Health Equity Partnership, which includes partners from the City, School District, and County Health services, as well as various community organizations;
• Met with representatives from the Early Childhood Mental Health Program to discuss their activities in West County and possible facilities expansion;
• Met with community member Steve Chamberlin, along with Councilmember Jael Myrick, to discuss, in broad terms, the K-12 educational opportunities that currently exist in Richmond;
• Met with representatives from Richmond Sanitary Service, along with Councilmember Nat Bates, to discuss proposed changes to the local solid waste collection services franchise agreement;
• Celebrated a combined 1,605 years of service to the City of Richmond by approximately 100 employees who were receiving acknowledgments for service increments of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35(!) years;
• Met with staff and consultants to discuss project delivery method alternatives for constructing wet weather storage facilities at the wastewater treatment plant.

These meetings were in addition to attending the regular management staff meeting, agenda planning, reviewing staff reports to the City Council, doing department head “check-ins,” having discussions on various personnel matters, and having short discussions with staff, community members, members of the press, etc.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the substance of these or any other topics.

• Officer Bradley A. Moody Memorial Underpass Project Update – Night Work Tentatively Scheduled for January 24th - 26th

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 2013, Marina Bay Parkway was closed to traffic.  This closure will remain in place for approximately 18 months. 

During the week of January 20th, placement of drilled tie-backs and construction of the pump station discharge structure continued, along with restoration work at the Department of Public Health campus areas disturbed by utility relocation work.  All of these activities are expected to continue through the next three to four weeks.

The weekend of January 24th was tentatively scheduled for the fourth of up to six weekend, 24-hour a day closure windows for installation of waterproofing on the bridge installed in December.  This work has now been rescheduled for a weekend to be determined in February or March, due to railroad coordination issues.  No night work is planned to take place until then.  Additional information will be provided once the precise date for this work is confirmed.

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, or contact the project’s public outreach coordinator Jacqueline Majors at (925) 949-6196.

• Let’s Get Covered! Affordable Care Act (ACA) Enrollment Event in Richmond

Do you know someone that needs health care coverage? Many families in Richmond now qualify to receive free or low-cost health care. This is an opportunity to take the first steps to get covered. Come to the “Let’s Get Covered!” event for an opportunity to learn more about ACA (Obamacare) and for an opportunity to enroll in health care coverage. The event will take place on Tuesday, January 28th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Bay Area Rescue Mission at 123 Macdonald Avenue in  Richmond (in the Chapel). Open enrollment ends March 31, 2014. Start gathering the documents you’ll need to enroll.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING FOR ENROLLMENT – Proof of:

• IDENTITY: Photo ID, driver’s license, or U.S. passport for each adult applying
• CALIFORNIA ADDRESS: Any piece of postmarked mail sent to you
• INCOME: Last 30 days of paystubs, 2012 income tax fillings, and Social Security cards of everyone applying
• CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS: Birth certificate, permanent resident card, certificate of naturalization, or certificate of citizenship for each person applying

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – for Each Family Member:

• Number of people enrolling (whole or partial family)
• Birth dates
• Social Security numbers
• Home zip code

Feel free to call Giovany Hernandez, SEIU-UHW at (510) 869-2244 to make sure you’re ready to enroll! Fliers can be downloaded at www.richmondhealth.org.

• Black History Teen Program

The Teen Services Division of the Richmond Public Library presents the Black History Month documentary premiere of, “What Mama Didn’t Say:  A Dialogue About African American Sexuality.”  With a primary focus on the issue of teen pregnancy, the documentary examines the disproportionate number of African American teens having children and raising families out-of-wedlock.  The film highlights Richmond and Bay Area natives that were teen parents chronicling their lives, and interpersonal experiences involving sexuality.  Other cast members include psychologists, public health professionals, pastors, and youth advocates, including the Executive Producer Dr. Betty Burrus Wright.  After the screening, there will be a question and answer discussion of the topics discussed by the cast and the film’s Producer/Director Doug Harris.  Teen Librarian Angela Cox indicates that although the focus of the documentary outlines teen sexuality in the African American community, many of the elements and issues cross all cultures.

The free event will be held in the Richmond City Council Chambers at 440 Civic Center Plaza on Thursday, February 13th.  There will be a reception at 6:00 PM, followed by the screening at 7:00 PM, and the question and answer discussion at 8:00 PM.

The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Richmond Public Library.  For additional information, visit the Library’s website:  www.richmondlibrary.org, contact Angela Cox at (510) 620-5516, or visit:  www.Facebook.com/RichmondPublicLibraryTeens. 

• Recycle Your Holiday Tree

Please recycle your natural holiday tree through one of Richmond Sanitary Services’ opportunities:

• Cut your tree to fit in your green waste cart and set the cart out on any of your regular green waste collection days (preferred method).

• Take your tree to the Golden Bear Transfer Station, located at 1 Parr Boulevard, Richmond. Contact: (510) 970-7260.

Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

• Proof of residency in service area is required
• There will be a disposal charge of $8.00 for non-recyclable trees or no proof of residency

• If you are unable to place your tree in the green cart or take it to the transfer station, please call Richmond Sanitary Service customer service office at (510) 262-7100 to arrange for pickup at no additional charge.

• Single Use Bag Ordinance Reminder

This is a friendly reminder that, beginning January 1, 2014, single-use plastic bags are no longer available at retail stores in Richmond, San Pablo and El Cerrito. Stores must charge a minimum of 5¢ for each paper or reusable bag sold. Customers can avoid paying for bags by bringing their own bags.

While adjusting to what some may view as inconvenient new regulations, please keep in mind the following statistics:
 

• California retailers distribute more than 19 billion plastic retail bags annually.
• The average Californian uses an estimated 400 plastic bags per year.
• The average time use of a plastic bag is 12 minutes. 
• The State’s Integrated Waste Management Board estimates that, in the Bay Area, residents use 3.8 billion plastic bags per year, and about one million of these bags end up in the Bay.
• Even with the emphasis on recycling of plastics in recent decades, the plastic bag recycling rate in California remains at less than five percent.

Local taxpayers must bear the brunt of the plastic litter clean-up costs. It costs the state $25 million annually to landfill discarded plastic bags, and public agencies in California spend more than $303 million annually in litter abatement. This ordinance will further improve quality of life by conserving resources and reducing waste, litter and greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, including a copy of the ordinance and business resources, please contact:

City of Richmond
(510) 620-6512 | mike_uberti@ci.richmond.ca.us
www.richmondenvironment.org

• WriterCoach Connection is Hiring!

With support from the City of Richmond’s impact volunteering program Richmond
ESC – Excellence Serving our Community and Cities of Service, WriterCoach
Connection is seeking candidates for the position of recruiter of community volunteers.

WriterCoach Connection (WCC), a program of Community Alliance for Learning, recruits and trains community volunteer coaches to work one-on-one with middle and high school students in their English classes. Coaches help students develop essential writing and critical thinking skills, and build self-confidence.

Recruitment coordinators reach into the community to attract and retain reliable volunteers, manage their training process, and ensure their preparedness for their volunteer assignment. The recruitment coordinator is the face of the program to the community and is responsible for building networks of contacts to gain support for the mission of WriterCoach Connection.

This position recruits community volunteers as writer coaches for Richmond High School and John F. Kennedy High School.

The ideal candidate has:

• Experience working in the greater Richmond community.
• Solid working relationships with local businesses, political leaders, West

Contra County Unified School District staff, local neighborhood councils, and/or
other local agencies.

• The ability to engage the full diversity of community members, build

productive relationships, deliver professional oral presentations, plan and
implement complex work projects, and keep detailed and accurate records.

For a more detailed job description, please visit
http://www.writercoachconnection.org/jobs.html.

Compensation

• Independent contractor position: Part-time at $20.00 per hour billed monthly.
• Average estimated monthly billing during heaviest recruitment period, approximately $2,000/month from April - October.
• Total annual compensation approximately $20,000.

Requirements

• Able to complete a background check and fingerprinting.
• Bachelor’s Degree, business writing sample, and references.
• Prepare and deliver a 15 minute presentation (final candidates).
• This position works from own home office.
• Able to work some evenings and week-ends.
• Own transportation and ability to store small quantities of materials.
• Able to lift 40 pounds.

Please send resume and cover letter to: cafljob@gmail.com.

• Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Open Enrollment Now Available

Open Enrollment for Covered California began October 1, 2013. Residents can begin the enrollment process by calling the Covered California's telephone help line at 1-800-300-1506 or by visiting 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.
• 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:

• Public Works Updates

Facilities Maintenance:  Carpenters replaced exterior vents at the Richmond Recreation Complex gym and provided access to the Swim Center for furnace replacement.

Painters continued with the painting of the Richmond Museum and painted the restrooms at Fire Station #67.

Stationary Engineers repaired the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) at KCRT, replaced the air intake assemblies at the Nevin Center, cleared the waste line at Fire Station #61, repaired the water closet and radiant heater at Fire Station #63, and cleared the waste line of the jail at the Police Department.

Electricians repaired street lights on Macdonald Avenue from 6th to 8th Street, fixed a light circuit on Blume Drive, moved the light switches at Booker T. Anderson gym and replaced glass lens’ at Booker T. Anderson ball field.

Wiring at Booker T. Anderson Community Center

Parks and Landscaping:  Crews completed site preparation work for the new restroom at Booker T. Anderson Park, cleaned up from Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service activities, performed weed abatement along the Richmond Parkway, performed landscape clean up along Regatta Way and Marina Way South, and continued audits of the irrigation system along the Richmond Parkway.

Tree Crews trimmed, cut or ground trees around 29th Street, McBryde Avenue, Roosevelt Avenue, Fred Jackson Way, the Richmond Greenway, and at the North Richmond Ball Field.

Streets Division:  Crews completed grinding and paving on 44th Street from Macdonald to Barrett Avenues and worked from the outstanding pothole and sidewalk list.

Preparation for Paving on 44th Street

Street sweeping performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the third Tuesday and the fourth Wednesday through Friday in the North Richmond, Iron Triangle, North Belding Woods, Metro Richmore Village, Pullman, Cortez/Stege, Park Plaza, Laurel Park, City Center, Richmond Annex, Parkview, Panhandle Annex, and Eastshore neighborhood council areas.

Signs and Lines Crews repaired 29 signs/poles, fabricated 3 new signs, installed 7 signs, replaced or installed 53 delineations/messages, and replaced over 2,524 feet of thermoplastic in the Hilltop area.

Sign Installation

Equipment Services Division:  Staff received and put into service a new Toro Mower and serviced and/or repaired 28 vehicles this week.

New Toro Mower

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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.

Bill Lindsay
City Manager
City of Richmond
450 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, California 94804
(510) 620-6512
Bill_lindsay@ci.richmond.ca.us

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