Mayor and Members of the City Council:

This is the weekly report for the week ending October 21, 2016.

• 1. Meeting Notes

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 25th beginning with a Closed Session at 5:00 PM, followed by the regular City Council agenda at 6:30 PM. The agenda may be found by clicking this link: Richmond City Council Agenda Packet.

• 2. Safe Disposal of Unwanted Prescription Drugs – “Take Back Day” is Tomorrow, October 22nd

Tomorrow, Saturday, October 22nd, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the Richmond Police Department, in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Please bring your medications for disposal to the following location:

Richmond Police Department
Hilltop Substation
3051 Hilltop Mall Rd
Richmond CA

The service is free and anonymous – no questions asked. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) 

Last April, Americans turned in 447 tons (over 893,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners.  Overall, in its 11 previous “Take Back” events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 6.4 million pounds—about 3,200 tons—of pills. 

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 22nd “Take Back Day” event, go to the DEA website at: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/

• 3. Vote By Mail Drop-off Boxes Return to Contra Costa City Halls this Month

Contra Costa residents will find it easier to vote in the upcoming November 8th Election, as the Contra Costa Elections Office once again partners with local agencies to provide convenient “CoCo Vote-N-Go” drop off locations, prior to and on Election Day.  Residents can save postage and time with this expanding vote-by-mail program.

Voters will find the drop-off boxes at all Contra Costa city halls and the County Administration Building, located at 651 Pine Street in Martinez, starting the week of October 10th, when permanent vote-by-mail ballots are mailed.  The City of Richmond drop-off box is located in the City Manager’s Office lobby on the third floor of 450 Civic Center Plaza. Contra Costa voters can drop their ballot at any location, regardless of where they live. The distinguishable boxes will be available during normal business hours.

No postage is necessary; the drop-off box service eliminates the need for stamps. City staff members will have the popular “I Voted” stickers available for those who drop off their ballots. Ballots must be deposited on or before November 8th.

Ballots may also be dropped off between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM at the Contra Costa Elections Office in Martinez, located at 555 Escobar Street, or at any polling place on Election Day.  For more information about voting by mail, call 925-335-7800 or visit the Elections Office website at www.cocovote.us.

• 4. Richmond Climate Action Plan Update

The Richmond Climate Action Plan (CAP) is a roadmap for how the City will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change on public health, infrastructure, ecosystems, and public spaces in our community. The CAP will support the community’s goals and policies identified in the City’s General Plan 2030. The CAP also features health equity and climate justice as important aspects of the document framework, consistent with the City’s Health in All Policies Strategy.

The Draft CAP was released on Friday, July 22nd, 2016, for a 30-day public review and comment period. This coming Tuesday, October 25th, the Richmond City Council will receive a presentation and consider adopting a resolution approving the final Climate Action Plan (CAP) (Item I-1). The CAP and all appendices can be accessed on the City’s Environmental Initiatives webpage: www.richmondenvironment.org.

• 5. Join Us for the Upcoming Community Parking Meeting on October 27th

At its meeting of September 27th, 2016, the City Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance and Neighborhood Residential Permit Parking program (NPP) within five initial permit zones: Downtown, Point Richmond, Civic Center, Contra Costa College, and the 23rd Street Corridor.  The last of three informational community meetings to discuss the program, and to gauge interest among residents, is set for Thursday, October 27th from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in the Rosie the Riveter Room at Richmond City Hall (450 Civic Center Plaza).

Your input is highly desired, and will help staff identify parking considerations and ensure that the NPP program will serve the needs of the Richmond residents, businesses, and visitors. 

• 6. Richmond Promise Fall Workshops 

All throughout the fall, the Richmond Promise team will be hosting workshops to assist high school seniors and their families begin their financial aid and Richmond Promise applications.

Upcoming fall student & family workshop dates are:

• November 1st & 29th
• December 13th & 15th

All workshops will be from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM in the computer labs at 450 Civic Center Plaza. Please have students RSVP at www.therichmondpromise.eventbrite.com

High school seniors and their families are also encouraged to attend their high school’s Cash for College workshop to receive further assistance to complete their financial aid applications. All Cash for College dates can be found at www.richmondpromise.com/events.

Remember that www.richmondpromise.org can also be used as a resource to find other scholarships and college exploration tools by going to the “Resources” section: http://www.richmondpromise.org/paying-for-college/

Questions? Contact us at info@richmondpromise.org or 510-620-6531.

Apply for the Richmond Promise scholarship today at www.richmondpromise.org!

• 7. City Manager Chronicles

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

Meetings of note during the past two weeks included:

• Met, together with Planning Director Richard Mitchell, Administrative Chief Shasa Curl, and Senior Planner Lina Velasco, with staff from the Department of Toxic Substances Control, and representatives from Zeneca, to discuss environmental remediation of the Zeneca property;
• Participated in a conference call, along with Administrative Chief Shasa Curl, with staff from Assemblymember Thurmond’s office to discuss state legislative priorities for the City of Richmond;
• Participated in a conference call with a prospective consultant for conducting a nexus study related to establishing a litter fee, along with Finance Director Belinda Warner and Budget Manager Markisha Guillory;
• Met with Richmond Promise Executive Director Jessie Stewart to discuss program activities;
• Attended the monthly Council of Industries lunch meeting;
• Participated in a “due diligence” meeting with representatives from RBC, along with Finance Director Belinda Warner, Wastewater Manager Ryan Smith, and members of the City’s finance team, in connection with financing for the City’s wastewater system capital program;
• Met briefly with Ethan Van Ness, Congressman DeSaulnier’s DC office legislative assistant, and Shanelle Scales-Preston, the Congressman’s district director;
• Served as a guest speaker at Kiwanis Club meeting;
• Attended the Richmond Promise board of directors meeting;
• Attended my monthly check-in meeting with West Contra Costa Unified School District Superintendent Matt Duffy;
• Met, together with Economic Development Manager Janet Johnson, with Chevron public affairs representative Andrea Bailey and consultants for the E-Quip initiative to discuss status of their project.

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. Now Open: Love Your Block Application Cycle

Year two of Richmond Love Your Block is now live! To celebrate the launch last Thursday, Love Your Block joined Richmond Main Street Initiative​ for the Art In Windows opening reception and brought back the interactive Chalkboard Art Installation in front of the Richmond BART station. Community members of all ages stopped by to tell us about their aspirations and the impact our $2,000 mini-grants could have on their Richmond neighborhoods.

Miss all of the fun? We’ve got you covered! Our chalkboard installation will be up for two weeks, and Art In Windows pieces, featuring artwork created through Love Your Block funded workshops, will remain on display until November. Swing by the Richmond BART station and tell us how you would use $2,000 to Love Your Block – for extra fun, complete your answer with a chalk illustration! We value your responses and want to know how you would like to get involved.

Please take a look at the Love Your Block grant application and start planning your neighborhood beautification project. To assist you in the process, Love Your Block is hosting six grant writing workshops throughout the application period. You must attend one workshop before turning in your application. Applications will be accepted until November 3rd at 11:59 PM. The deadline to submit an application in person is November 3rd at 3:00 PM.

To view the grant application and workshop dates, locations, and times, visit our website at: https://www.tinyurl.com/RichmondLoveYourBlock

Richmond Love Your Block Facebook Page

• 9. RichmondWORKS: On-Site Recruitment for Amazon Courier Drivers

 On-site recruitment for Amazon Courier Drivers will be held at RichmondWORKS Friday, October 28th and Friday, November 4th.  We encourage Richmond residents to take advantage of this opportunity to work for the largest internet-based retailer in the world, Amazon!

For additional information on this and other job opportunities, please visit http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/660/Job-Seeker-Services or call 510-307-8014.

• 10. RichmondWORKS: Employment Opportunities with Bay Area Beverage Company

The Bay Area Beverage Company, based in Richmond, is a premier regional beverage distributor of leading national and international beverages. Bay Area Beverage Company offers excellent benefits, including Medical, Dental and Vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, and paid vacation and holidays. 

The company is currently hiring for the following positions:

• HR Specialist
• Relief Sales Representative
• Sales Analyst
• Pricing & Purchasing Coordinator
• Urban Strike Team Merchandiser
• Operations Manager
• Delivery Supervisor
• Delivery Driver
• Day Warehouse Team Member

We encourage Richmond residents to view full job descriptions and apply online at
http://www.bayareabev.com/about/employment-opportunities.

For other job opportunities, please visit http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/660/Job-Seeker-Services or call 510-307-8014.

• 11. Richmond Farmers’ Market – 24th Street and Barrett Avenue

Come out to the Richmond Farmers' Market where the fruits are the sweetest of the season and the vegetables are filled with nutrients!  The market is open year round, every Friday from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM and is located on the corner of 24th Street and Barrett Avenue. The Richmond Farmers' Market also hosts prepared food vendors like our newest food truck "Curbside", a Filipino-American gourmet food truck that offers burgers (with a Filipino twist), sandwiches, fries, lumpia, and more.

Did you know that the Richmond Farmer's Market is also mobile?  That's right, the Richmond Farmer's Market is available to attend select events like the July 2016 Health Fair sponsored by Brighter Beginnings Family Health.  For more information, please contact Aaron Coleman, Market Manager, at 510-761-8486.

• 12. Main Street Zumba is here to Stay!

Richmond Main Street is proud to announce that its popular weekly Zumba classes have returned and are here to stay. For the month of October, all classes will be taught by certified instructor Antoinette Holland. Classes will be held on Thursdays (October 6th, 13th, 20nd, & 27th) from 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM at the BBK Health & Wellness Center, 310 9th Street, Richmond. All classes are open to adults of all ages and capabilities; the cost will be $8 per class. Don’t miss out on this fun, high-energy exercise. For more information: Call 510-236-4049 or visit www.RichmondMainStreet.org.

• 13. Richmond Main Street 15th Anniversary Crystal Celebration

In recognition of their 15-year “crystal” anniversary, Richmond Main Street Initiative, Inc. (RMSI) will celebrate on Thursday, November 3rd, from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM, at the Riggers Loft Wine Company with a wine and tapas fundraiser featuring live music, a silent/live auction, and a special salute to Rosie the Riveter Downtown Champion Betty Reid Soskin. 

All are invited to join in the festivities, celebrate and recognize these achievements, and support the continued revitalization of historic Downtown Richmond.

For more information, call (510) 236-4049 or visit RichmondMainStreet.org.
For tickets: CrystalCelebration.eventbrite.com

• 14. Information Technology

Website

Top 10 Webpage views for the week ending 10-21-2016

WEBSITE ACCESS BY DEVICE TYPE

KCRT DATANET OF THE WEEK:

City of Richmond Mobile APP UPDATE

The City of Richmond’s mobile phone app is available on the Apple App store and Google Play store. 
 

This City of Richmond mobile app provides Richmond’s community members with one-stop access to City services and information via mobile devices. The app allows quick and real-time reporting of neighborhood-related issues; viewing the City’s Events Calendar; finding addresses and phone numbers of local businesses, city departments and council members. Locating one of Richmond’s numerous parks, and welcoming libraries and community centers, including reserving rental space for that special occasion are all done with ease!

You may view the City’s mobile app on YouTube: https://youtu.be/i4W1wVvB9fw

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

• 15. Engineering/CIP Departments

Auditorium Improvements:

The work at the Civic Auditorium to upgrade the restrooms and the facility to comply with the American with Disabilities Act is nearing completion. The elevator walls now have the panes for installing the glass. The restroom upgrades are complete and carpet installation should begin soon. All construction and upgrades should be completed shortly.

Elevator Installation Preparation

Streets Division: 
Paving crews ground and paved Duke Avenue from Loyola Drive to Moyers Road and installed a speed table.

Paving on Duke Avenue

Street sweeping performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the third Monday through Friday in the North Richmond, Iron Triangle, North Belding Woods, South Belding Woods, Atchison Village, Santa Fe, Coronado, Marina Bay, and Point Richmond neighborhood council areas.

Street Sweeping on Rifle Range Road

Signs and Lines staff repaired 16 signs and poles, installed 12 pavement markers and messages, installed 12 new signs and poles, and painted 135 feet of curbs.

Message Installation

• 16. Infrastructure Maintenance and Operations

Facilities Maintenance:

Carpenters began improvements to the stairs at the Main Library, prepared for the floor installation in the men’s restroom at the Annex Senior Center, and prepared for  cabinet repairs for Shields Reid and Booker T. Anderson Community Centers.

Painters are preparing the Annex Senior Center for interior and exterior painting.

Utility Workers cleaned the bike port at the Police Department, auto-scrubbed Civic Center Plaza, removed e-waste from office spaces, cleaned the windows at  the Employment and Training building, set up various rooms for events, and maintained 29 City owned facilities.

Window Cleaning at Employment and Training

Parks and Landscaping Division:  

General maintenance crews supported an “Arbor Day” tree planting event, cleared debris from the service road at Mira Vista Park, weeded LaMoine Park, replanted at the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) garden, cleared weeds in City parking lots, picked up trash on the Greenway from Carlson Boulevard to San Pablo Avenue, and weeded the Heavenly Ridge right of way.

Arbor Day Event

The tree crew cut or trimmed trees on South 5th Street, South 20th Street, Key Boulevard, Vacca Street, and San Pablo Avenue. The crew also planted trees for Arbor Day and mowed and edged the Civic Center.

Hilltop District crews continued with general maintenance on Giant Highway off-ramp, completed landscaping on the corner of Richmond Parkway and Atlas Road, started maintenance at Hilltop Lake, performed leaf and debris clean-up around the Hilltop Mall area, and continued maintenance around business district.

Marina Districtcrews began changing watering methods, poured cement pads for garbage cans, performed weed abatement around boat launch area, cleaned field and walking areas, and continued with the Melville Square parking lot rehabilitation and tree planting.

Concrete Pad Installation

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