 
Mayor and City Councilmembers:
This is the weekly report for the week ending March 7, 2014.
The next meeting of the City Council meeting is a special meeting of the Housing Authority, scheduled for Wednesday, March 12th at 6:30 PM.
- Personnel Notes: Chris Chamberlain, Extraordinary Parks and Landscape Superintendent, is Leaving Richmond
It is with extreme sadness that I must report that the City of Richmond’s outstanding Parks and Landscape Superintendent, Chris Chamberlain, is leaving his position at the City of Richmond. Chris has done an outstanding job during his tenure and will be sorely missed by his co-workers, and, certainly, by members of the Richmond community with whom he has worked or who have benefitted by his expertise.
In his resignation letter, Chris stated:
I am proud of the successes of the Parks and Landscape Division and the improvements for which we have made. I am confident the crew within the Parks and Landscape Division will carry on the positive improvements within the city and continue to maintain the successful partnerships that we have built. This has been a very difficult decision because of the energy expended, relationships built and emotional investment that I have made to my position and I thank you for understanding. I feel the community, as well as city staff, has been extremely supportive and that support has transferred into tangible, visible improvements. Again, thank you for the opportunity to serve this great community.
We have truly benefitted in many ways by his talent and dedication.
- The Trust for Public Land Selects Richmond for a Strategic Partnership
As you may know, The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national, nonprofit organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, natural areas and open space. After being contacted late last year by the TPL about Richmond’s parks and open space projects, the City submitted a proposal in January of this year for a long-term, strategic partnership in which TPL would provide technical and fundraising assistance for continued development of the City’s park areas. Numerous staff members contributed to submitting the proposal, which focused on the City’s General Plan commitment to a healthy community, its parks development plans, and its recent successes in community collaborations.
We were recently notified, and can now officially report, that the City of Richmond has been selected by TPL as one of only a handful of communities with which they will forge this strategic partnership. TPL staff noted that Richmond was the only community that garnered unanimous support by its selection committee for this effort.
Chris Chamberlain and I met this past week with staff from TPL to discuss next steps in this process, and I will keep you informed as efforts move forward (and, yes, we did disclose that Chris Chamberlain is leaving the City, but they remain enthusiastic).
- The Science of Skateboard Physics Event
The Teen Services Division of the Richmond Public Library and the Richmond Recreation Department will hold a FREE, fun-filled skateboard event! Teens will be able to explore how physics allow them to perform “ollies” and other skateboard tricks on an interactive van from the San Francisco Exploratorium. In addition, teens can discover which wheels and apparatus give them the greater ability to perform stunts successfully on the Exploratorium Van. Ali Karayel, who gives skateboarding instruction at the Nevin Community Center, will hold a demonstration and provide instruction on how to “fall” without injury. There will be FREE Gatorade, energy bars, and music at the event. Participants will be eligible for raffle prizes from 510 Skateboarding.
The event will be held, Wednesday, March 19, 2014, 1:30 PM at the Skateboard Park, Nicholl Park, 33rd Street and Macdonald Avenue. For more information, visit the Library’s website, www.richmondlibrary.org, www.facebook.com/RichmondPublicLibraryTeens, or call (510) 620-5516.
As part of an effort to reduce impacts from railroad operations in Richmond, the section of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway track crossing at John Avenue will undergo repairs starting on March 10, 2014. The work will put both sets of railroad tracks at John Avenue on the same level, as well as reshape the road surface to smooth out the crossing for traffic safety improvement. The John Avenue crossing improvements are scheduled to run from March 10 through March 21, 2014. A second phase of construction is tentatively planned for four days of work in May.
This work will require that the John Avenue crossing be closed during construction. The vehicular traffic detour has been worked out by BNSF’s contractor and Richmond’s Engineering Services Department, and the Parchester Village community has been notified. Signs directing motorists to the detour route will be placed on Giant Road near John Avenue and on Giant Highway approaching Collins Avenue.
While we understand that there is an inconvenience to the temporary closure of the John Avenue crossing, we are happy that BNSF is making these important safety improvements.
Community partners and residents from across the City of Richmond are coming together to host the second annual “Walk to Nature” event on Saturday, March 29th. The origin of the walk comes from several day outings that Youth Enrichment Strategies (YES), the fiscal sponsor, and the East Bay Regional Park District have conducted over the years to introduce Richmond families to nearby regional parks in Richmond. The first Walk to Nature event was held in October 2012 and was attended by 280 participants. The purpose of this year's walk is to promote physical activity and good health while connecting with one's community in nature.
Participants will register and depart from two locations in Richmond to arrive at Miller Knox Regional Shoreline in Point Richmond by 11:00 AM. Starting points and times, and their distance to the Miller Knox Sea Gull picnic area (one way) currently includes the following:
- Civic Center Plaza: 450 Civic Center Plaza (3.6 miles) – Register at 9:00 AM;
- Richmond Greenway at 6th and Ohio, Central Richmond (2.2 miles) – Register at 9:30 AM.
When participants arrive at their starting points, they will register and receive a water bottle, wristband, and route map. Along the routes, water and first aid stations will be overseen by volunteers. Upon arriving at Miller Knox, participants will be greeted with a delicious lunch and fun activities for the whole family that promote healthy living. Starting at 1:30 PM, buses and shuttles will transport participants from Miller Knox back to their starting points in Richmond.
Public and nonprofit agencies and community residents are meeting weekly to define the various aspects of the hikes, including logistics, food/activities, outreach, sponsorships, and volunteer recruitment. Participating agencies and sponsors include: Building Blocks for Kids, City of Richmond, Contra Costa Health Services, East Bay Regional Park District, E.M. Downer Family YMCA, Kaiser Permanente, Lifelong-Brookside, Lift-Levántate, Rich City Rides, Richmond Police Department, Urban Tilth, Weigh of Life, and YES Nature to Neighborhoods.
If you would like more information or would like to be involved in the event, please visit www.facebook.com/walk2nature, email eric@yesfamilies.org, or call 510-232-3032.
- Officer Bradley A. Moody Memorial Underpass Project Update
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.
Placement of drilled tie-backs and associated excavation work has been suspended due to delays of AT&T-performed utility relocation work. Additionally, these activities cannot occur during days with significant precipitation. The schedule impacts of the AT&T delay will not be known until late March, when AT&T projects it will finish the relocation work and the critical path work can be restarted. Staff is maintaining close contact with AT&T staff to encourage acceleration of remaining work.
During the week of March 10th, non-critical path activities may be scheduled, weather permitting, including restoration of the Department of Public Health campus landscaping and completion of the pump station discharge structure. Additionally, off-site fabrication of temporary strut elements will commence.
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.
- Call for Nominations – Distinguished Volunteer Service Award
The City of Richmond’s impact volunteering program, Richmond ESC – Excellence Serving our Community, the Offices of Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and City Manager Bill Lindsay, and the Richmond Community Foundation invite you to nominate your volunteer(s) for a Distinguished Volunteer Service Award that will recognize outstanding service in our community in the following areas of Public Safety, Beautification, Education, Health and Wellness, the Arts, and overall Excellence in Community Service. The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 21st, at 5:00 PM.
The Distinguished Volunteer Service Awards will be presented at the annual city-wide Volunteer Recognition and Awards Ceremony at the Richmond Auditorium, on Thursday, April 10th, at 4:00 PM. For more information please call (510) 620-6511, or visit www.richmondvolunteers.org.
 
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.
Much of the activities of the recent week involved working on issues relating to the Richmond Housing Authority. Other activities and meeting topics during the past week have included:
- Met with staff from the Police and Finance Departments to discuss the alignment between regulatory fees being collected and costs of service;
- Met with representatives from Richmond Sanitary Service to continue discussions regarding implementation of waste collection services resulting from the new post-collection services agreement arranged by RecycleMore;
- Met, together with Parks and Landscape Superintendent Chris Chamberlain, with representatives from the Trust for Public Land to discuss ways to begin to implement a strategic partnership (see item [3] above);
- Attended a public meeting hosted by the Richmond Bay Campus staff to discuss ways to capture community benefits of their project.
- Met, along with Shasa Curl, Richard Mitchell, Alan Wolken, Hector Rojas, and South Shoreline Citizens’ Advisory Committee member Sherry Padgett, with representatives from the State Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to discuss facilitating the clean-up of the Zeneca site.
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.
- 2014 Historic Preservation Awards
The City of Richmond and the Richmond Historic Preservation Commission invites nominations for the 2014 Richmond Historic Preservation Awards. The purpose of the Historic Preservation Awards program is to increase public awareness of Richmond’s heritage by recognizing individuals, organizations, businesses, and agencies whose contributions demonstrate outstanding commitment to excellence in historic preservation, local history or promotion of the heritage of the City.
The Awards will be presented in May, National Preservation Month. In addition to public and private buildings and structures, historic preservation projects may include media, publications, presentations and exhibits, parks, burial grounds, public art, oral history, theater productions, events and video presentations.
Below is a list of last year's award winners:
- Orton Development, Inc. & Marcy Wong, Architect for Rehabilitating the Oil House for the Rosie the Riveter Visitor Center
- The National Park Service & Signature Communications for the film "Home Front Heroes"
- Susan Imboden & the East Bay Regional Park District for the Alvarado Park Oral History Project
- Donna Powers for Establishing the Rosie the Riveter Memorial
- Andre Thierry for Preserving Creole Traditions and Music in Richmond
- Lois Boyle for Years of Service Preserving Richmond's History
- Nancy Strauch & Bruce Burbaker for Restoring Access to Boat Ramp Street
Eligibility: Any individual, group, organization or agency involved in historic preservation or promoting Richmond’s heritage is eligible to receive a Richmond Historic Preservation Award. The preservation project or activity (or a substantial portion of a large-scale multiple activity project) must have been completed no later than December 31, 2013.
Nomination Form: You may nominate an eligible preservation project or activity by submitting a completed 2014 Historic Preservation Awards Nomination Form to the Richmond Planning and Building Services Department. Additional details about eligibility, evaluation criteria used, and submittal requirements are found in the nomination form which can be downloaded at www.ci.richmond.ca.us/preservationaward.
Nominations are due by 5:00 PM on March 28, 2014. Feel free to call Hector Rojas, Senior Planner, at (510) 620-6662 with any questions you may have.
The Richmond Veterans Collaborative is hosting a Veterans Resource Fair to help connect local veterans with service organizations that offer resources to veterans on Friday, April 11, 2014, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Bermuda Room of the Richmond Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond.
Some of the confirmed organizations that will be sharing information are:
- RichmondWORKS
- Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
- Veterans Resource Program
- Contra Costa County Veterans Services
- Shelter, Inc.
- Horizon/ACE Home Health Care
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- The American Legion
- This free event is open to all veterans and their families, and to any organization that offers assistance to veterans. Tables will be provided free of charge to each service organization. To register, please email Janice Featherstone at janice_featherstone@ci.richmond.ca.us, or contact her at (510) 620-5503 by Wednesday, April 9th.Recreation Highlights
Senior Health & Information Day
Richmond Senior Center is now accepting applications from vendors and health providers for the upcoming Senior Health and Information Day. Contact Peter Defabio at (510) 307-8085 to receive an application in the mail. This free event will be held on Wednesday, May 14th at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium.
Facilities Maintenance: Carpenters replaced the door to the Smoke Room at the Fire Training Center, replaced a section of wall at the Nevin Community Center, installed base board at Fire Station #62, set up office furniture at the Richmond Recreation Complex and continued to assist in the move of Paratransit.
Painters completed the Day Room and hallways of Fire Station #62 as well as the curbs around the Richmond Plunge.
Stationary Engineers repaired the furnace at the Washington Field House Child Care Center, cleared waste lines at the Booker T. Anderson Community Center and the Washington Field House, replaced the water heater at the Nevin Community Center and serviced other heating components, repaired the roll out gate at the Museum and repaired the air handling louvers at the Auditorium.
Roll Up Gate Repair
Utility workers replaced light fixture covers and bulbs at various Community Centers and serviced 29 city owned facilities.
Streets Division: Crews worked from the outstanding pothole and sidewalk list, performed storm patrol, closed a street for police activity and set up a equipment operator testing site.
San Pablo Avenue Closure
Street sweeping performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the first Monday through Friday in the Parchester Village, Hilltop Bayview, Hilltop Green, Fairmede/Hilltop, Carriage Hills, El Sobrante Hills, Greenbriar, Hansford Heights, Via Verda, San Pablo Dam Road, Bristole Cone, May Valley, Vista View and Clinton Hill I neighborhood areas as weather permitted.
Signs and Lines crews repaired 46 signs/poles, installed “Red Zone” at Solano Avenue and Yuba Street, installed 11 new signs, repainted 413’ of curbs and installed 3 pavement messages.
Sign Installation
Equipment Services: Mechanics serviced and repaired 20 police vehicles, 5 fire vehicles and 25 public works vehicles.
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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
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