Tom Butt
 
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  City Manager's Weekly Report for the Week Ending November 7th, 2014
November 10, 2014
 
 

City of RichmondVeterens Day

Mayor and Members of the City Council:

This is the weekly report for the week ending November 7th, 2014.

1.       Meeting Notes

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18th, 2014.

2.       City Offices Closed in Observance of Veterans Day – Celebration at the Red Oak

City of Richmond City Hall and other City Offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day, and will reopen on Wednesday, November 12th.

You can celebrate the service of veterans in Richmond at the USS Red Oak Victory Ship Veterans Day Celebration on Tuesday, November 11th from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM.  The celebration will include ship tours, music, speeches and, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, a USO dance.  Box lunches will be for sale. This is a special celebration of the 70th anniversary of the launch of the USS Red Oak, with a visit from a former Red Oak crew member.  The event is sponsored by the Richmond Museum Association.

The event will be held at the Riggers Loft, 1325 Canal Blvd., Port of Richmond, alongside the Red Oak. For more information please call the Richmond Museum at (510) 235-7387 or the Red Oak at (510) 237-2933.

 

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3.       Doctors Medical Center Funding Plan

As you may know, this past Tuesday, Doctor’s Medical Center (DMC) released a funding plan that would keep the facility open as a full service hospital for the next five years.  The funding plan is similar to the one that the City Council reviewed at its meeting of October 21st in terms of participation and amounts, but extends the cash flows over five years, using Richmond funds from the Chevron Community Investment Agreement, $5 million annually, in years 2016, 2017, and 2018.

The plan proposes that DMC close a $20 million annual fiscal gap through the following:

  • A new District parcel tax raising $5 million to $8 million a year starting in December 2015.
  • Contra Costa County forgiveness of money owed the county from advances on parcel tax revenue worth $3 million a year.
  • Long-term debt support from other area hospitals of between $1 million to $4.3 million annually.
  • Corporate and community contributions to a reinvigorated DMC charitable foundation generating $500,000 to $1.5 million annually.
  • Continued operating efficiencies saving $3 million to $5 million a year.
  • Payroll and benefit savings of $4.7 million to $7 million a year.
  • City of Richmond reallocation of Chevron community benefits funding worth $5 million a year, for three years.
  • Increased health insurance reimbursement rates worth $500,000 a year based on establishment of a medical training/residency partnership starting in 2017.

 

I will keep you informed about any additional discussions surrounding this issue.

4.       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 included:

  • Met with Richmond Art Center Executive Director Rick Ambrose, together with Library and Cultural Services Director Katy Curl, to discuss the status of arts programs and plans for potential facility renovation;
  • Met with Hercules City Manager David Biggs, together with Capital Improvements Program Manager Chad Smalley, to discuss terms of a funding agreement leading the way for ferry service to Richmond;
  • Attended the special meeting of the Doctors Medical Center Board of Directors, along with Administrative Chief Shasa Curl, at which a funding proposal was presented to keep a full service hospital open for the next five years (see item 3, above);
  • Met with Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District stakeholders to review various maintenance and funding issues in Hilltop area;
  • Attended a reception for new West Contra Costa Unified School District Associate Superintendent Lisa LeBlanc;
  • Reviewed the status of HUD compliance issues with Finance Department and Housing staff;
  • Reviewed and discussed the status of the FY 2014-15 budget with members of the budget team;
  • Attended the “ribbon cutting” for the Harbour-8 Park.

 

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.

5.       Richmond Youth Council

Teen Services Librarian, Añgela Cox, has been designated as the City staff Liaison for the newly formed Richmond Youth Council.  The Richmond Youth Council replaces the Richmond Youth Commission that has not been active since 2001.  The Council was established to engage and empower teens to advocate for their challenges and interests as it relates to services, programs, and events in Richmond.  Participants will develop leadership skills and learn the political and government process to achieve their goals.  Currently, there are nine teens that make up the Council.  Applications for membership are still being accepted.  Teens who live in Richmond between the ages of 14 – 21 are eligible.   Interested teens can email Añgela Cox at angela_cox@ci.richmond.ca.us or call (510) 620-5516 for an application.  For additional information about the Richmond Youth Council, go to www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-Youth-Council/258717020951777.  To view more programs and events for teens, www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR72aUL3sgA&feature=youtu.be

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Teen Services Librarian, Angela Cox
6.       Sales Tax Receipts Trend Higher

This past week, Finance Department staff met with the City’s sales tax consultant, MuniServices, to review sales tax figures for the second quarter of 2014.  The City of Richmond experienced an increase of 18.1% in its sales tax cash allocation compared to the same quarter of the previous year. This includes adjustments by the State Board of Equalization and County pool receipts. The City has experienced steady growth in this revenue stream since 2009.

Richmond’s tax base is led by the General Retail category, which currently makes up 31% of the sales tax revenue.  This category is driven, to a great extent, by large retailers such as Target, Costco and Wal-Mart. Of significance, the Business to Business sales tax category increased by over 13% compared to the previous year, and construction increased by over 100% with the correction of misallocated funds in prior years.

The Finance Department will continue to closely monitor the actual revenue submitted by the State Board of Equalization, the local trends developing in Richmond, and the projections provided by MuniServices.

7.       Officer Bradley A. Moody Memorial Underpass Project

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 is planned to remain in place until early May 2015. 

During the week of November 3rd, concrete was poured for an additional section of retaining wall, as well as for the pump station roof. Also, subgrade was prepared at the Meeker/Marina Bay Parkway intersection.

For the week of November 10th, an additional retaining wall concrete pour is scheduled and crews will begin layout for the second, shorter set of retaining walls which will support the sidewalks.  Additionally, work will start on the pump station generator pad footing, while sidewalk and curb and gutter installation continues at the Meeker/Marina Bay Parkway intersection.

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.

8.       Get Covered! Health Enrollment Event Saturday November 15th

Open enrollment for 2015 health insurance plans through Covered California begins November 15th, 2014 and ends February 15th, 2015, and, consistent with its focus on health, the City of Richmond is encouraging residents to enroll in quality, affordable health care.

Residents may be eligible for affordable health insurance:

·         Medi-Cal, California’ health coverage program for lower-income residents OR
·         Private insurance plans offered through Covered California

To enroll and receive support from certified enrollment counselors come to the Health Enrollment Event in Richmond to be held:

Date:            Saturday, November 15th
Time:            10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Location:       Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza

Bring the following documents:

·         Proof of current income;
·         California ID or driver’s license of the person applying for the family;
·         U.S. passport, legal resident card or certificate of Citizenship or naturalization documentation;
·         Birth dates, Social Security numbers, home Zip Codes.

This enrollment event will be offering multilingual support in: English, Spanish, Burmese, Cantonese, Hindi, Hmong, Khmer, Khmu, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Mien, Nepalese, Punjabe, Samoan, Tagalog, Thai, Tibetan, Tongan, Urdu, and Vietnamese. 

To register for the event, go to www.getcoveredcontracosta.eventbrite.ca
To download the flier in multiple languages, go to www.richmondhelath.org

Top 10 Webpages

 

9.       Information Technology (IT) Department Updates

For the week ending November 5, 2014:

Beth Wood

Datanet Images of the Week
RAC

      Throwback Thursday: Featuring Richmond California History

Congratulations to both Michele Seville and Andrea Miller for winning the recent Throwback Thursday trivia. Great answers!

Michele Seville shared “Guillermo the Trout is located on the outer wall of the Richmond Auditorium above the Richmond Art Center facing Barrett Avenue. Hidden behind each of the 800 aluminum scales is a message of hope for the planet written by the volunteers who helped fabricate Guillermo with artist, Andree Singer Thompson in 1997”.

 

Description: Description: Guillermo the Trout - WinnerDescription: Description: Fish storyDescription: Description: winner Andrea MIller
Michele Seville             Guillermo the Trout                            Andrea Miller

 

Andrea Miller shared “Guillermo the trout located on the Art Center facing the Barrett side. Behind the scales are notes from students & others that were added during reconstruction of the refurbished Civic Center”.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/City-of-Richmond-CA-Local-Government/139438544014?v=wall

10.   Recreation Highlights

Seniors

The Richmond Senior Center is preparing for the 12th Annual Christmas Party that will be held on Saturday, December 13th, from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM.  Tickets will be on sale soon. 

Disabled People’s Recreation Center

The Disabled People’s Recreation Center participants assisted staff with gathering all the halloween decorations and putting them away for next year.  They really are a tremendous help and it encourages the value of resonsibility and the care of their facility.  Later in the week, their excursion to El Cerrito Plaza was cut short due to rain, so they returned to their cozy center and watched a fun movie.

The Therapeutic Interactive Recreation Program participants continue to meet their goals and current objectives, including social interaction, gardening, music therapy, using the iPad and computers, and helping staff with the upkeep of the facility. They especially enjoy free time when they use the iPads for games and video learning.

Aquatics

The Richmond Plunge will be hosting Recreation Swim for families to enjoy as the cool fall weather moves into the colder winter season.  Family Swim will be held from 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM, Saturdays and Sundays.  Recreation swim is a great way to spend restless energy indoors.  We look forward to having you!

Halloween

Shields Reid Community Center hosted its’ annual Halloween Harvest Festival.  Children ages 5 years to 12 years old were treated to pizza, nachos, sandwiches and assorted goodies donated by parents, staff and community members.  The children played games and had a parade through the neighborhood before venturing their separate ways to trick or treat.

Nevin staff, with the help of a local resident, built a small “4 Scare” Haunted House.  After 3 days and over 15 hours, the arts and crafts room was transformed.  The event was free and held from 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM, with a parent of an afterschool participant aiding staff as a costumed guide.  Over 70 youth, and adults alike, paraded through the “4 Scare” Haunted House. Some attendees enjoyed the event so well, they asked for a bigger Haunted House next year.

 

Parks and Landscape

11.   Public Works Updates

Facilities Mainenance Division:  Carpenters installed new fire extinguishers at the Main Library, and inspected the first aid stations at the Corporation Yard.

Painters completed the eves of Building A at the Corporation Yard.

Stationary Engineers cleared the waste line blockage at the Booker T. Anderson Community Center, repaired two water closets at Fire Station #66, installed a drinking fountain at the Nevin Center, and finished the furnace replacements at the Booker T. Anderson Community Center fully restoring the heat.

Utility Workers started window cleaning at the R-Transit building, completed waxing the social hall at the Recreation Complex, hung paper towel dispensers, as well as maintained 29 City-owned buildings.

Dimmn Triangle
Waxing of the Recreation Complex Social Hall

Electricians repaired the Greenway path lighting between 8th Street and Marina Way, restored the lighting to the parking lot at the Craneway Pavillion, fixed the pedistrian crossing at Robert H. Miller Drive and Hilltop Drive, and set up the Auditorium for the American Public Works Association (APWA) Conference held on November 5th – 6th.
Description: Greenway Lights Upright
Restored Lighting on the Greenway
Parks and Landscaping Division:  Crews continued irrigation and soil replacement along the Richmond Parkway, continued with the rehabilitation of Shields Reid and Parchester Park, weed whipped and trimmed the East Bay Municipal Utility Department (EBMUD) Garden, picked up 14 boulders for placement onto the Greenway, began trimming at Civic Center Plaza, and performed general maintenance on Hilltop Mall Road.

Description: Irrigation & Soil prep

Irrigation Repair along Richmond Parkway

Tree crews trimmed or cut trees on Dimm Triangle, South 21st Street, Rosalind Avenue, Zara Avenue, 35th Street, and at the Parks Yard.

Description: Parks yard trees09
Parks Yard Tree Removal

Streets Division:  Staff continued grinding and paved Fieldcrest Drive and Jefferson Drive, as well as worked from the outstanding pothole and sidewalk list.

Description: DSC01962
Paving on Feildcrest Drive

Street sweeping performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the first Monday through Friday in the Parchester Village, Hilltop Bayview, Hilltop Green, Hilltop Village, 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 staff installed 2 new signs and poles, repaired 28 signs and poles, reinstalled buttons and marking in various locations, and painted 274 feet of curbs throughout the City.

 

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Have a great week!

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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