Tom Butt
 
  E-Mail Forum – 2015  
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  City Manager's Weekly Report for the Week Ending October 9, 2015
October 12, 2015
 
 

Mayor and Members of the City Council:

This is the weekly report for the week ending October 16, 2015.

1. Meeting Notes

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20th beginning with a closed Session at 5:00 PM, followed by the regular agenda at 6:30 PM.  The agenda packet may be found by clicking this link.   

2. New Wastewater Manager Begins Work in Richmond

Ryan Smith, the City’s new Wastewater/Stormwater Manager began work this past week, replacing Chad Davisson who left the City this past July to become the General Manager at the Ironhouse Sanitary District in East Contra Costa County.  Mr. Smith most recently worked as Plant Operations Superintendent and Plant Manager at the City of San Mateo.  I know that you will join me in welcoming Ryan to the staff.

3. Make a Difference Day at John F. Kennedy Park! – Saturday, October 24th

Since this past April, dedicated resident volunteers, church members, and school personnel of the Park Plaza neighborhood and other south side communities have met weekly to share their visions for a newly designed John F. Kennedy Park.  Partners on hand to support the design and planning process include The Trust for Public Land, which is generously funding the project, Chevron, a project sponsor, Richmond Trees, Groundwork Richmond, the Richmond Art Center, the National Park Service, Public Allies/Service Works, and City of Richmond staff representing the City Manager’s Office, Parks and Landscaping, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Richmond Police and Fire Departments, Office of Mayor Butt, and City Council Offices. 

This collaborative effort will culminate on national Make a Difference Day, Saturday, October 24th, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at John F. Kennedy Park (Cutting Boulevard and South 41st Street) where over 300 volunteers will converge on the park to rebuild it.  Some of the improved park elements include an added play area for children, Richmond’s first outdoor fitness zone, a walking and fitness trail, the planting of 50 trees, a mural, and a community flower garden. Volunteers with all skill levels are welcome! 

In addition to the community-build park event, the public is invited to visit the Super Bowl 50 Community Tour presented by Chevron.  The tour will feature the Lombardi trophies for the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers, and an interactive STEM zone.

To learn more about the community-build parks model and to sign up to volunteer, please visit www.communitybuildparks.org, or call (510) 620-6511.

 

4. Richmond Swim Center Grand Reopening on October 24th

Following what promises to be an outstanding park rebuild at John F. Kennedy Park, the community is invited to join in the Grand Opening Showcase for the rebuilt Richmond Swim Center.  This project was a collaborative effort between the West Contra Costa Unified School District and the City of Richmond.  The Grand (Re)Opening will be Saturday, October 24th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the rebuilt swim center adjacent to Kennedy High School.

5. Employee of the Year Honors

As you may know, each year, several City staff members are recognized for outstanding work with the Demetria Foster Employee of the Year and Leveron Bryant Manager of the Year.

This year, the Demetria Foster Employee of the Year Award is shared by the team of Permit Technicians who work at the Building Department counter at City Hall.  They are Angelita Almarinez, Brenda McNeil, Irma Montano, and Rosemary Harris.  While obtaining a building permit can sometimes be an intimidating process, I am constantly receiving praise for the outstanding professionalism of this work team at the permit counter.

The Leveron Bryant Manager of the Year Award goes to Jill Perry, who has been with the City of Richmond for nearly twenty years and is currently the Finance Manager for the Employment and Training (E&T) Department.  The E&T Department is funded almost exclusively by federal, state, and foundation grants, for which accounting needs to be meticulous, and Ms. Perry is fully up to the task.  Her efforts help ensure that funders are confident in the programs offered by E&T.

Congratulations to these outstanding employees!

6. Opening of West County Reentry Success Center

This past Wednesday, the West County Reentry Success Center opened its doors at 912 Macdonald Avenue (the old Milens Jewelers) site, to serve the Richmond community.  The Reentry Success Center is a public/private collective impact effort that promises to foster successful reentry and reduce recidivism in Richmond and, more broadly, in Contra Costa County.  The Center gathers a number of reentry-related resources within one accessible service hub, making them more accessible, efficient, and effective for the clients they serve.  The Center will be managed by Rubicon Programs, through formal partnerships with a multi-sector steering committee of service providers.  The facility was funded, in large part, by AB109 funds provided by Contra Costa County.

7. 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:

  • Assisted in planning for a bicycle tour of the south Richmond shoreline for about 50 people in connection with a “Meeting of the Minds” conference at the Craneway next week;
  • Attended the launch of the Reentry Success Center (see item 6, above);
  • Attended the meeting of the Education Subcommittee for the Berkeley Glboal Campus Working Group;
  • Met with Joseph Jackson, Chair of the Richmond Youth Council, to discuss staff support for the Council;
  • Attended the annual Richmond Shoreline Tour, hosted by the Council of Industries;
  • Hosted the awards ceremony for the City of Richmond Demetria Foster Employee of the Year and Leveron Bryant Manager of the Year (see item 5, above);
  • Met by conference call with the City’s finance team to discuss the issuance of refunding bonds for the 2005 pension obligation bonds;
  • Met, together with Environmental Manager Adam Lenz, with El Cerrito City Manager Scott Hanin, to discuss issues related to the West County Integrated Waste Management Agency (RecycleMore);
  • Attended the regular monthly check-in meeting with WCCUSD Superintendent Dr. Bruce Harter.

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.

8. Draft Richmond Bay Specific Plan (RBSP)

The draft Richmond Bay Specific Plan (RBSP) (formerly known as the South Shoreline Specific Plan) is now available for public review and comment.  Written comments on the draft RBSP are due by November 16, 2015. 

The draft RBSP was presented at the Planning Commission meeting this past Thursday, October 15th, and is scheduled for presentation to the City Council meeting on Tuesday, October 27th. 

The RBSP will facilitate the implementation of Richmond's new General Plan by establishing specific planning policies, regulations, and urban design guidelines for an approximately 220-acre area located in the City of Richmond, south of Interstate Highway 580. The RBSP will focus on ways Richmond can take advantage of the planned Berkeley Global Campus at Richmond Bay, future ferry service, and other area assets to create a sustainable shoreline district providing jobs, housing, transportation options, and opportunities for entertainment and recreation. This planning effort is being funded in part by a Priority Development Area (PDA) Planning Grant from the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).

Comments on the draft RBSP must be in writing and received no later than November 16, 2015.  Please send comments to:

Lina Velasco, Project Manager
Planning and Building Services
450 Civic Center Plaza
P.O. Box 4046
Richmond, CA 94804-1630

Comments may also be sent electronically to rbsp@ci.richmond.ca.us:
Start of Public Review: October 1, 2015              
End of Public Review: November 16, 2015

Plan Availability: A copy of the draft RBSP is available for review online at www.ci.richmond.ca.us/rbsp. Copies are also available for review at the following Richmond locations:

  • Richmond Main Branch Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza;
  • Bayview Branch Library, 5100 Hartnett Avenue;
  • West Side Branch, 135 Washington Avenue; and
  • City of Richmond, Planning and Building Services Department, City Hall, 450 Civic Center Plaza, 2nd Floor.

9. Car Seat Inspection Program

According to SafeCar.org, injuries from motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of avoidable injuries and deaths to kids in the United States. Seventy-three percent (73%) of car seats are not connected or utilized correctly.

The Richmond Fire Department has certified child passenger safety technicians who are happy to inspect child safety seats for proper installation. Community members who wish to have their infant or child safety seat inspected may call Fire Administration at (510) 307-8031 on weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Callers are then directed to one of our neighborhood fire stations and a firefighter, technically certified to inspect and install child passenger safety seats, will schedule an appointment to have your child’s car seat inspected, and, if needed, correctly installed.

10. Fire Prevention Week Public Presentations

During Fire Prevention Week (October 5th – 9th), members of the Richmond Fire Department (RFD) conducted presentations in the City’s fire stations and at local schools to remind and educate students that "every bedroom needs a working smoke alarm."

Early education, along with early detection (smoke alarms), have the potential to yield life-long benefits.  As a result of the Fire Department’s public education efforts, hundreds of Richmond families are able to assist in making their homes “Fire Safe." 

Below are some statistics to help your fire safety awareness:

  • Cooking fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries, followed by heating equipment (i.e. room heaters, irons and curling irons).  Falling asleep is a factor in almost one in five of cooking fire deaths.
  • Establish a significant anniversary date (birthdays or holidays) to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms;
  • Only 33% of Americans have both developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.  This is especially important in large homes or residential buildings with multiple floors.
  • One-third of survey respondents thought that they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life threatening. The time available is often less.
  • In 50% of the fires in which smoke alarms did not operate, the batteries had been removed or disconnected.
  • Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires by 50%.

(Statistics shown courtesy of NFPA.org)         

11. Eleventh Annual Richmond Summer Youth Employment Program

YouthWORKS has completed the Eleventh Annual Richmond Summer Youth Employment Program and is pleased to report the following results. The full report is available online at http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/1139/Summer-Youth-Employment-Program.

  • Total participants: 257
  • Total worksite partners: 45
  • Total funding partners: 13
  • Total funding: $462,737

Special Placement Highlights:

  • 75% of the placements at TJ Maxx in the Direct Entry to Employment Project hired. Thanks and congratulations to our training partner, Richmond Main Street, and their Career Reinvention Coach, Ms. Vaneese Johnson.  Of the 12 initially placed, one did not work out at all and three found other, market rate employment that they preferred.
  • Four placements at BART for their 320 hour internship program (160 hours paid by SYEP). Two were repeats from last year, at the request of management.
  • Student Conservation Association provided  over 1,500 hours above the SYEP subsidy for 18 participants

12. Literacy for Every Adult

LEAP is excited to bring Muriel Johnson, early childhood educator and storyteller, to the community for stories and songs! The program is free and will be held at the Whittlesey Room at the Main Library on Saturday, October 24th at 1:00 PM.

 

13. Closure of Bay Trail Between Marina Bay and Central Avenue and Point Isabel Regional Shoreline

The East Bay Regional Park District will close Pt. Isabel Regional Shoreline from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM Tuesday, October 27th, for slurry-seal repair work on the paved trails. No entry into the park will be allowed from either the Isabel Street side or the Rydin Road side. The Marina Bay-to-Point Isabel Bay Trail from the bridge at Meeker Slough to the end of Rydin Road also will be closed; there will be no access to North Point Isabel. The Bay Trail from the end of Central Avenue to Isabel Street will also be closed.

14. Richmond’s Minimum Wage Ordinance

The City of Richmond’s Minimum Wage increase goes into effect January 1, 2016.  The new minimum wage set forth in the Ordinance will be $11.52 an hour (compared to $9.00/hour for the State of California and the initial $9.60/hour wage initially established in the City on January 1, 2015) and it applies to any employee who works two or more hours per week.

The Employment & Training Staff has posted notices announcing the increase on KCRT, and the City’s website. Packets will be mailed to over 3,000 businesses and the Richmond Chamber of Commerce members to inform them of the change.  The information packet includes English and Spanish versions of the official notice that must be posted in all workplaces along with a list of employer and employee rights under the ordinance.  Employers  who pay for less than 800 hours of employee labor in a given 2-week period need not pay the City’s minimum wage until they pay over 800 hours or more of employee labor in a 2-week period. This is the first of three annual increases that will max out at $13.00/hour on January 1, 2018.

For questions and concerns please contact Gina Baker at (510) 307-8011.

15. Hacienda Tenant Relocation Update

In January 2015 the Richmond Housing Authority received approval from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the disposition of the Hacienda public housing development and approval of Tenant Protection Section 8 Vouchers to assist in the relocation of the residents. The Housing Authority has retained the professional firm of Autotemp to provide relocation assistance for the residents. As of the Week ending October 16, 2015 the following relocation activity has occurred:

Total # of units 101

9-11-2015

9-18-2015

9-25-2015

10-2-2015

10-9-2015

10-16-2015

Tenants interviewed

98

98

98

98

98

98

Vouchers Issued

97

97

97

97

97

97

Inspections Conducted

37

37

39

42

46

46

Request to port out of Richmond

21

21

21

22

22

22

Applications Submitted

86

89

89

93

93

93

Relocations completed

31

33

35

35

38

40

Autotemp consultants are actively providing ongoing advisory assistance, rental referrals and transportation to view rentals. In addition to the completed relocations, thirty-four (34) Hacienda households have been accepted with approved applications and unit assignments at the newly constructed Harbor View Apartments. An additional twenty-two (22) other households have ported out to other jurisdictions, with all but six (6) in the Bay area. The Hacienda Relocation Plan was adopted on June 16, 2015 by the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.

16. The 2015 Community Survey Available to All Richmond Residents to Complete

The 2015 Richmond Community Survey can now be completed by ALL Richmond residents in English or Spanish by accessing the following link: www.n-r-c.com/survey/richmondncs.htm.

Feel free to contact LaShonda 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. We look forward to receiving your feedback.

17. R-Transit

R-Transit provides door-to-door transportation service to persons with disabilities and seniors (age 55 and older) living in the communities of Richmond, Kensington, El Sobrante, East Richmond Heights, Hasford Heights, Rollingwood, and North Richmond. Register for services and reserve a free round trip ride to Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historic Park. See the flyer below for additional details.

18. Richmond Main Street Farmers’ Market Every Wednesday!

The Richmond Main Street Farmers’ Market is in full swing! Come Downtown on Wednesdays, now through November 18th, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Nevin Plaza (Nevin Ave at 13th Street) for a fantastic selection of fresh seasonal fruits and veggies, artisan vendors, baked goods and treats, food booths, and more!

The market proudly offers the Market Match program which allows any CalFresh recipient who shops using their EBT card to get extra money to buy fruits and veggies! For example, spend $10 and get another $10 to spend. Visit the information booth for details.

For more information on the market, visit the Farmers' Market webpage, like our Facebook page, or call (510) 236-4049.

FM 2015--Postcard English

 

19. Information Technology

GIS APP of the Week

The Throwback Thursdays App is now available on the City’s website under (Mapping Services (GIS) page). This new App will display the Throwback Thursday History sites published to date.

The direct link to the App is:
http://cityofrichmond.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/?appid=589bd87811ad4925ad590387b2b10922

   Website
Top 10 Webpage visits for the week ending 10/15/2015

Website Statistics:  Total Page Visits increased by 29.4%

 

KCRT
DATANET SCREENS OF THE WEEK
1024-Richmond Swim Center - Grand Opening Showcase 2
1024-Richmond Fall Fest - Pumpkins Richmond Plunge

City of Richmond Website and Mobile APP UPDATE

The City recently upgraded its website which now incorporates responsive design that allows the content on the City’s website to automatically adjust to the screen size of any device. Forget about using the pinch-zoom to see something. This responsive design makes content easy to view and easy to navigate on tablets and smartphones providing a great user experience no matter how the content is accessed.

city of richmond smartphone app 4-Gabino

Great News!! The City of Richmond mobile app is now available. It provides Richmond’s community members with one-stop access to City services and information.  You may watch the informational video  for an overview of the app available for free at Apple App Store for IOS devices and at Google Play for Android phones. 

The City of Richmond is looking forward to feedback from the community on this new Mobile APP. We welcome your comments at webservices@ci.richmond.ca.us.

20. Public Works Updates

Facilities Maintenance Division:
Carpenters installed a service counter at the Swim Center, constructed a service room at the Swim Center and removed debri from various areas of the Swim Center.

FRANK AT THE SWIM CENTER_COUNTER INSTALLATION
Counter Installation at the Swim Center

Painters completed the trim  in the ball room of the Senior Center, restriped the apparatus room at Fire Station #67 and repaired drywall at the Recreation Complex.

Stationary Engineers recharged the air conditioning system at the Family Justice Center, cleaned the pool at the Swim Center, replaced two sump pumps and cleaned the equipment room at the Swim Center, repaired the supply air fan at 450 Civic Center Plaza and repaired at lead at the Police Dispatch Center.

Parks and Landscaping Division:  
General maintenance crews removed old picnic tables and barbeque pits from John F. Kennedy Park, repaired irrigation; on Macdonald Avenue medians, Veteran’s Memorial Park, Nevin Park, Hilltop Green Park and at John F. Kennedy Park, installed drinking fountain water line at John F. Kennedy Park and cleaned trash from Richmond Parkway.

Drinking Fountain JFK
Drinking Fountain Preparation

Hilltop Districtcrews continued work on the landscaping project near AM/PM on the Richmond Parkway, started color mulching at Vista Del Mar Park, completed weed abatement and clean up on slope near Hilltop Mall, started improvements on Garrity Way center median and general maintenance on the Richmond Parkway.

Weed Abatement and Garbage Cleanup Hilltop Mall Road
Slope Near Hilltop Road Maintenance

Marina District crews completed turf maintenance and repair, removed debris throughout the area, sanitized picnic areas and playgrounds and completed extra maintenance at Lucretia Edwards Park.

Tree crews cut or trimmed trees on or around: Garvin Avenue, Esmond Avenue, Humphrey Avenue, McBryde Avenue, South 3rd Street and South 16th Street. Staff also assisted with Arbor Day preparations throughout the city.

Streets Division
Paving staff ground and paved the Swim Center Parking area, installed bicycle racks, delivered barricades and worked on potholes and sidewalks from the outstanding lists.

IMG_0135
Swim Center Parking Lot Preparation

Street sweeping performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the second Tuesday and Wednesday and third Thursday and Friday in the; Clinton Hill II and III, Atchison Village, South Belding Woods, Santa Fe, Coronado, Marina Bay and Point Richmond neighborhood council areas.

Signs and lines staff fabricated 17 signs in house, installed 20 new signs and poles, repaired 28 signs and poles, installed four pavement messages and painted 270 feet of curbs.

CAM00197
Message Installation

 

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!

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

 

 
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