Mayor and Members of the City Council:
This is the report for the week ending November 3, 2017.
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 7th at 6:30 PM. The agenda may be found by clicking this link: Richmond City Council Agenda Packet.
Editor’s note: I have often referred to Richmond as a “multi-modal paradise” from a transportation perspective. The next two items report on significant coming expansions to the city’s transportation network.
- Richmond Recommended for $825,000 Bike Share Grant from MTC
Bike share is designed as personalized public transportation that operates 24 hours/day and 7 days/week, with the main purpose of providing short one-way trips.
On May 27, 2015, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) authorized the Executive Director to negotiate and enter into a contract with Motivate International, Inc. (Motivate) to deliver, implement, and operate a bike share system of at least 7,000 bikes and associated stations in five cities: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Berkeley, and Emeryville. At the same time, the Commission also approved the reprogramming of $4.5 million in federal funds from the planned bike share expansion to “emerging communities beyond the five cities included in the Motivate proposal.”
In the Bay Area, Motivate launched Ford GoBike in San Francisco in late June, and shortly thereafter in the four other cities. Currently, over 2,500 of the 7,000 total bikes and 239 of the 540 stations have been deployed. In September, the system was averaging 3,300 trips/day.
On April 29, 2016, MTC released the call for projects for the next phase of its Bike Share Capital Program. The City of Richmond submitted a letter of interest and was invited to submit a full application for funding a bike share program.
Yesterday, City staff was informed that Richmond’s proposal for a station-based bike share system is being recommended for funding in the amount of $825,000. The recommendation will be heard by MTC’s Programming and Allocations Committee at its meeting this Wednesday, November 8th. The Committee will then forward its recommendation to the full Commission for final approval.
Thanks go to Lori Reese-Brown, transportation project manager in the City Manager’s office, who was responsible for preparing and submitting the successful grant proposal, receiving technical assistance from the transportation consulting firm Nelson\Nygaard, which is also working on the city’s first mile/last mile transportation plan.
- WETA Richmond Ferry Terminal Project Groundbreaking
This past Wednesday, November 1st, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) officially “broke ground” on the Richmond Ferry Terminal Project at the Craneway Pavilion. This celebratory event began with music from the Richmond High School Band, and brought together 150 Richmond residents, elected officials, business officials, and regional transportation agencies representatives marking a final step toward the launch of a new ferry service between Richmond and San Francisco, expected to begin in September 2018.
The construction of the Richmond Ferry Terminal will support the new weekday ferry service, expanding WETA’s network of regional ferry services and increasing the region’s waterborne emergency response capabilities.
The Richmond Ferry Terminal Project includes:
- The launch of new commuter service between the City of Richmond and the downtown San Francisco Ferry Terminal;
- Construction of new ADA-compliant gangway and ramping system, float and piles;
- Construction of a passenger shelter;
- Development and reconfiguration of a 362-space paved parking lot; and
- Installation of a new ADA-compliant kayak launch ramp.
This capital project is funded with Regional Measure 2 (RM2), State Proposition 1B and U.S. Department of Transportation funds. Service operation will be funded with support from Contra Costa County Measure J funds. The total project cost for the terminal and landside facilities is $20 million.
Thanks go out to all of the City staff involved in this project, and especially to Shasa Curl, Administrative Chief in the City Manager’s office who managed this stage of the project to its successful conclusion.
Artist’s rendering of the new Richmond Ferry Terminal, designed by Marcy Wong, Marcy Wong Donn Logan Architects
This week, the City of Richmond received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its fiscal year 2016-17 operating and capital improvement budget. This is awarded to municipal agencies whose budget documents meet the highest of professional budgeting standards. The award program uses a peer-review process to evaluate documents based on criteria set forth by the GFOA. These guidelines assess how well the budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device.
Congratulations to all of the Finance Department team for their work on this, led by Finance Director Belinda Warner and Budget Administrator Markisha Guillory.
- Sales Tax Receipts Analysis for 2nd Quarter 2017
This past week, Finance Department staff met with the city’s sales tax consultant, MuniServices, to review sales tax figures for the 2nd quarter of 2017. Richmond experienced an increase of 10.8% in its sales tax net cash receipts for the 2nd quarter of 2017 compared to the same quarter in 2016.
Of significance, the transportation category, which makes up 37.7% of the regular sales tax, experienced an increase of 20.5% in this quarter compared to the same quarter last year. This category includes the segments of car sales, service stations, and auto parts & repair.
The other categories include, and their shares of the 2nd quarter of 2017 regular sales tax are as follows:
- General retail (26.7%),
- Food products (9.7%),
- Construction (9.5%), and
- Business to business (15.4%).
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.
Sales Tax Performance Analysis by Quarter:
Transportation --------------
General Retail --------------
Business to Business --------------
Food Products --------------
Construction --------------
- Online Payment of the Residential Rental Housing Fee
In November 2016, a majority of City of Richmond voters approved Measure L, the Richmond Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction, and Homeowner Protection Ordinance.
The Ordinance established the residential rental housing fee, which must be paid by all Richmond landlords to fund implementation of the Ordinance through the City’s Rent Program Department.
The current residential rental housing fee is $145.00 per rental unit. It is anticipated that invoices for payment of the fee will be mailed beginning in November 2017, with payment due 30 days after receipt. Alternatively, the fee may be paid online at www.https://etrakit.ci.richmond.ca.us. Please refer to the images below for additional online payment instructions.
You can save time and avoid late payment penalties by paying online today.
For more information about the Rent Program, please visit www.richmondrent.org or call (510) 620-6576. The Rent Program office is located on the second floor of 440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804, and is open Monday-Friday, from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
- New Mini-Grants Program! $500 to $2,500!
 The Richmond Community Services Department (CSD) Mini-Grant, a component of the Richmond Environmental Community Investment Agreement (ECIA) Grant Program, is now available! In alignment with the ECIA Grant, the Community Service Grant provides support for those organizations that serve the needs of community, youth, and youth sports. The CSD Mini-Grant is designed to support organizations that are Richmond-serving and that partner with/or consistently utilize facilities managed by the Community Services Departments.
Grants are available in amounts up to $2,500. The application and more information are available on the City website. The deadline to submit applications is December 8, 2017. Info: 510-620-6553
- Neighborhood Transformation Project Launch
Earlier this year, the City Council approved City participation in a project sponsored by the California Emerging Technology Fund, with partners that included Contra Costa County and the West Contra Costa Unified School District, to focus on transformational change to improve life conditions of Lovonya DeJean Middle School families.
This past Monday was the launch meeting for the project, and was attended by the following City representatives:
- Councilmember Eduardo Martinez
- City Manager Bill Lindsay
- Police Chief Allwyn Brown
- Employment and Training Director Sal Vaca
- Information Technology Director Sue Hartman
- Community Services Director Rochelle Monk
- Community Services Manager Ranjana Maharaj
- Community Services Manager
- Acting Planning Director Lina Velasco
- Management Analyst Gabino Arredondo, also representing the City Manager’s office.
The purpose of the launch meeting was to:
- Reach common vision among Contra Costa County, City of Richmond, and West Contra Costa County Unified School District on what can be accomplished; together to improve life conditions of Lovonya DeJean Middle School families.
- Review available data from each of the jurisdictions to understand the needs of the community surrounding DeJean Middle School;
- Identify barriers to accessing services and optimizing impact through coordination and collaboration to minimize fragmentation;
- Delineate strategies and resources needed to address short-term and long-term needs of Lovonya DeJean Middle School families; and
- Agree on immediate, short-term, and medium-term assignments and actions for each partner.
I will keep you informed as this project moves forward.
I have listed below some of the topics for meetings that I attended during the past week in the hope that it provides an idea of the varied issues with which our organization deals routinely.
Meetings and events of note this past week included:
- Attended the Neighborhood Transformation Project Launch meeting (see item [8]), above;
- Attended a meeting of the Richmond Promise Investment Committee;
- Attended the groundbreaking for the Richmond Ferry Terminal (see item [3], above);
- Participated in a regular bi-weekly call with HUD Region IX (San Francisco) officials to discuss the Richmond Housing Authority, along with consultant Tia Ingram, Deputy City Attorney Carlos Privat, Finance Director Belinda Warner, and outside legal counsel;
- Attended my regular monthly meeting with the Chevron refinery manager;
- Met, together with Administrative Chief Shasa Curl, with University of California, Berkeley Vice-Chancellor for Finance Rosemary Rae to discuss the Richmond Field Station;
- Met with union leadership and paratransit employees to discuss the paratransit program, together with Transportation Project Manager Lori Reese-Brown, Human Resources Director Lisa Stephenson, and members of her staff.
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.
- Richmond Arts & Culture Commission Awards 2017-18 Neighborhood Public Art Grants
The Richmond Arts & Culture Commission (RACC) selected ten community artists for the FY 2017-18 Neighborhood Public Art (NPA) Mini-Grants. Twenty applicants made grant presentations to the Art Commission on September 28th and October 5th; ten finalists were selected on October 26th. This year’s grantees represent a wide range of innovative, creative new voices in Richmond. The projects include visual arts, media, literary arts, bookmaking, and murals.
Funding in the amount of $65,000 is being provided by the City of Richmond’s General Fund. The City of Richmond established its public art program in 1987, and its Neighborhood Public Art community grant program in 1997.
This year’s grants were awarded to the following projects:
- Visual Arts: “Rancho Market Mural Project”
Project Manager: Richard Muro Salazar
- Multi-Media: “Leading with Love: A RYSE Multimedia Showcase”
Project Manager: Ciera-Jevae Gordon
- Bookmaking: “Re-Imagining the Book Together”
Project Manager: Rachel Schaffran
- Media Arts: “In the Shadows - Announcement”
Project Manager: Hector Ortiz
- Visual Arts: “Rain Garden Mural”
Project Manager: Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez
- Visual Arts: “Painting Richmond’s Wounds”
Project Manager: Evelyn Santos
- Performing Arts: “Connecting through Sound”
Project Manager: Bob Reid
- Performing Arts: “Assemblies in the Schools”
Project Manager: Eugene Rodriguez
- Visual Arts: “Debunking Stereotypes through Muralism”
Project Manager: Cristian Munoz
- Visual Arts/Mosaic Mural: “A Ripple of Love”
Project Manager: Ross Holzman
- Contra Costa CARES | A Health Access Program for You is Currently Accepting Applications
Contra Costa CARES, a healthcare program for uninsured adults living in Contra Costa County, is currently accepting applications. Those enrolled can access primary care services at no cost.
Applying is easy; simply make an appointment with the health center from which you would like to receive care, either Brighter Beginnings: (510) 213-6681 or Lifelong Medical Care: (510) 215-9092, and show up to your appointment. During your appointment, a health center enroller will assist you with your application and check if you are eligible for the program. Make sure to bring proof of identity, residence, and income to your appointment.
To be eligible, one must be 19 years of age or older, be a resident of Contra Costa County, not be eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal, Covered CA, or other insurance, and have an annual household income of 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or lower (I.e. 1-person households= $16,643; family of four = $33,948). If you are unsure about your eligibility, please call to set up an appointment and a trained health center worker will help determine your eligibility.
    
- Apply for Your U.S. Passport at Richmond City Hall!
The City of Richmond City Clerk’s Office is pleased to announce that it is accepting passport applications on behalf of the United States Department of State. United States citizens planning international travel may apply for their passport at 450 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 300, during the following hours by appointment only:
Monday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
(Closed 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM – days of operation only)
Please recognize that the area is an operational executive office, and a quiet zone. No drop in service for same day appointments or scheduling future appointments is available at this time; you must call (510) 620-6786 to schedule all appointments.
For application forms, information on documentation required, fees, and a wealth of other passport and international travel information, visit the only official website for passport information – travel.state.gov.
For more information about the City of Richmond Passport Acceptance Facility, please visit http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/passports.
- Paid Opportunities for Richmond/WCC College Students!
Richmond Promise has two paid, semester-long opportunities for Richmond/WCC college students starting in January 2018! See details below:
Near-Peer Ambassador Program
Become a Near-Peer Ambassador and support the development of college knowledge of future generations by engaging in college and career conversations with Kennedy 9th graders.
Read the full job description, including responsibilities and compensation, here.
Apply by November 27th at www.tinyurl.com/npambassador!
Richmond College Scholars*
Are you passionate about supporting the college success of students from Richmond? Become a College Leader at UC Berkeley or UC Davis and support Richmond College Scholars. College Leaders will plan fun activities and monthly meetings for Richmond College Scholars.
Read the full job description, including responsibilities and compensation, here.
Apply by November 27 at www.tinyurl.com/collegeleaders!
*This position is only for college students at UC Berkeley and Davis this year. We hope to expand this program to more colleges next year.
The 2017-18 Richmond Promise Scholarship Application is open and can be found at www.richmondpromise.org. Please share this opportunity with eligible students in your life!
Questions or want to request a workshop? Info@richmondpromise.org // (510) 761-7231
- I-80 Central Avenue Operations Improvement Project (I-80 and Central Avenue)
This week, the contractor for the Central Avenue project, Ghilotti Bros. (GBI), will place concrete for the curb ramps at San Joaquin/Central Avenue on the north side of the intersection.
The following week, Mike Brown Electrical (MBE) will begin electrical work at the north side of the intersection at Central Avenue/Rydin Road pending weather.
For more project information, please visit the project webpage: www.ccta.net/projects/project/36
If you have questions, please call Community Outreach Representative Jacqueline Majors at (510) 882-1603; or email: I80CentralAve@gmail.com.
- Richmond 8th Annual Native American Pow-Wow
The Richmond Native American Pow-Wow will be held in November for the first time, in honor of November being National Native American Heritage month. This 8th annual community event is a cultural gathering and is open to all people of different backgrounds.
Please join in the celebration on November 25th from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM at the Richmond Police Activities gymnasium located at 2200 Macdonald Avenue. There will be arts & crafts, food, and vendor booths for all to enjoy.
For more information, email richmondpowwow@yahoo.com
- Connecting with the City of Richmond
Connect with the City of Richmond
To contact us by phone:
The City’s website (http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/) provides a department and staff directory at http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/Directory.aspx.
If you’re not sure which department you need to contact, or, if you don’t receive a call back (which should not happen) from your original call or message, we encourage you to phone the City Manager’s office at (510) 620-6512.
Using the CORConnect Application on the City’s Website:
You can use the CORConnect button on the City’s website (http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/) to report a concern, pose a question, or acknowledge the City’s work in some way. These CORConnect issues go directly to the responsible department, and the city manager reviews reported issues on a regular basis to determine if City staff members are responding appropriately. If you do not feel that you have received a satisfactory response, please contact the City Manager’s office at (510) 620-6512.
To access CORConnect select the CORConnect button on the homepage of the City website.
Alternatively you can select the COR Connect button on any other webpage on the left hand side of the page.
On the next screen under Report an Issue select Report Issue/Concern to create a report or Search Issue/Concerns to look up a previously reported issue. You can also look up previously submitted issues to check on the current status if you provided you name, phone number or email when you submitted it.
On the page, you can also look up information on a parcel, see permits issued and look up business license information. If you have a current business license you can pay to renew it online with a credit card.
The recommended browsers are: Microsoft Edge, or Microsoft Internet Explorer version 11 using the compatibility mode. It can be found in the upper right corner of Internet Explorer: click on the "gear" icon and select Compatibility View Settings, then add the site to the list and click "Close".
The City of Richmond is looking forward to feedback from the community on CORConnect. We welcome your comments at webservices@ci.richmond.ca.us
Using the City of Richmond Mobile Application:
The 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. The City of Richmond’s mobile phone app is available on the Apple App store and Google Play store.
We welcome your comments at webservices@ci.richmond.ca.us
- Community Services Highlights
Candy Cane Classic Basketball Tournament
The Richmond Community Services Department (CSD) annual Candy Cane Basketball Tournament will be held on December 9th and 10th at the Richmond Recreation Complex, Booker T. Anderson Center and Richmond PAL. For more information, contact the Registration Office at (510) 620-6793 or visit our website or Facebook event.
2nd Annual Holiday Food Drive Launched
The Community Services Department is collecting canned goods and dry goods for the holiday season until December 18th, with all donations to benefit Bay Area Rescue Mission (BARM).
Since 1965, BARM has been caring for the homeless and needy people in our community – they hope to provide those in need with help for the “whole person,” including services for job skills trainings, parenting classes, counseling, GED preparation, computer-aided learning, and much more.
Food drive barrels will be located at various city facilities in Richmond, as listed below.
- Booker T. Anderson Community Center
- Building 440 at Civic Center Plaza
- Community Services Department (Recreation Complex)
- Disabled People’s Recreation Center (DPRC)
- May Valley Community Center
- Parchester Village Community Center
- Richmond Annex Senior Center
- Richmond City Hall
- Richmond Plunge
- Richmond Police Department
- Richmond Public Library (Bayview Branch)
- Richmond Public Library (West Side Branch)
- Richmond Senior Center
- Richmond Swim Center
- Shields-Reid Community Center
For more information, e-mail stephanie_ny@ci.richmond.ca.us or call 510-620-6563.
Highlights
Rancho Market Paint Party
Last Saturday, October 28th, Richmond Love Your Block and the Office of Supervisor John Gioia hosted the North Richmond Rancho Market Paint Party. Over 30 volunteers came out throughout the day, painting about 3,200 square footage of the walls and cleaning up about 40 pounds of trash.
 
The market, located at 500 Market Avenue, is the only grocery store in the surrounding area that does not sell alcohol. It has been a lively gathering hub for residents and community members for years. Children participating in the Safe Routes to School program at Verde Elementary School frequent the market on their way to and from the Shields-Reid Community Center.
 
Before After
This event would not have been possible without our following supporters:
Tennis at Caliber Beta Academy
The Community Services Department, in partnership with the Richmond Tennis Association (RTA) and United States Tennis Association (USTA) staff and volunteers, started a 12-week tennis instructional program at Caliber Beta Academy on Friday, October 7th. There are 69 students (K-6th grade) registered to participate in this program from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Fridays only. The CSD and RTA staff use the Honesty, Integrity, Teamwork and Sportsmanship (H.I.T.S) curriculum produced by the USTA to teach this program.
 
Floating Pumpkin Patch!
On Saturday, October 21st, people arrived at the Richmond Swim Center for the Floating Pumpkin Patch. Children and adults played in the pool while selecting the perfect pumpkin to use as their Halloween décor. This unique pumpkin “patch” is an annual tradition that families and City staff both enjoy.
A Monster Mash
The Disabled Peoples’ Recreation Center (DPRC) hosted their Annual Halloween Dance last week, which they catered to over 100 participants, and over 50 grandparents, parents, and care-providers throughout the entire evening. The night was filled with music, dancing, and lasting memories for all.
 
Happy Halloween!
The Richmond Senior Center celebrated its 13th annual Halloween Party on Saturday, October 28th. Total attendance was well over 60 participants who danced the night away. There was Zumba for everyone (provided by Yannet Torres) and some of our senior participants performed their special talents during the evening.
 
Thanks, Volunteers!
On October 26th, the Board at the Richmond Senior Annex had a volunteer dinner at La Strada. The Richmond Annex Senior Center has many devoted volunteers that contribute their time on a weekly basis with activities such as giving guitar lessons, maintaining the local garden, and even making grocery runs! Thank you all!
Website Statistics for the Week Ending 11-03-2017
KCRT PHOTO OF THE WEEK
WETA Richmond Ferry Service Groundbreaking Ceremony Event November 1, 2017
KCRT DATANET OF THE WEEK
- Engineering/CIP Departments
Engineering Projects:
The Rifle Range Road Project is continuing on schedule. Contractor has drilled and installed tie-backs #7 through #14 and projects to be completed by next Friday with the remaining tie-backs. Work is continuing with structural back fill and installation of the wall sub-drain, as well as excavation and installation of the remaining lagging pile #16 to #24. Upon completion of the tie-backs, the contractor will begin to make grade for the concrete waler.
Work on Rifle Range Road
The construction of the Miraflores Senior Apartments is progressing well. The contractor has started the building sidings and stucco work.
Miraflores Senior Development
Streets Division:
Paving crews ground and paved National Court from Canal Boulevard to End East, and worked from the outstanding pothole list in various locations around the City.
Paving on National Court
Street sweeping staff performed residential sweeping services for the fifth Monday and Tuesday, and the first Wednesday through Friday in the Richmond Parkway and Medians, Carriage Hills Northside, El Sobrante Hills, Greenbriar, Hansford Heights, Via Verda, San Pablo Dam Road, Bristle Cone, May Valley, Vista View and Clinton Hill I neighborhood council areas.
Signs and Lines repaired 84 signs and poles, and installed 145’ of thermoplastics for pavement messaging.
- Infrastructure Maintenance and Operations
Abatement:
Abatement crews abated the Central Underpass, a private vacant lot in the Iron Triangle Neighborhood, abated Civic Center Tow yard as requested by the Police Department, continued removing tons of illegal dumping and removed graffiti throughout the City.
   
Central/I-80 Underpass
 
 
Private Lot Abatement
 
Civic Center Tow Yard
 
 
Illegal Dumping
   
Graffiti Abatement
Parks and Landscaping Division:
General crews prepped Nicholl Park for the Trinity 5k run event, weeded the right of way on Sea Cliff Drive, cut the high fire zone on Simoni Court, drug Wendell Park baseball field, cut out concrete for tree planting and weeded the right of way on Heavenly Ridge Drive.
Fire Zone Cutting
Hilltop District crews continued maintenance around Hilltop Mall business area, continued with irrigation repairs on the Richmond Parkway, performed maintenance and irrigation repairs at Country Club Vista Park, completed median weed abatement on Atlas Road and continued weed abatement on Richmond Parkway.
Visibility Pruning Richmond Parkway
Marina District crews cleaned Harbour Way from Cutting Boulevard to Sheridan Point, continued with clean-up of Rosie the Riveter Monument, mowed turf, and performed general park clean-up and training.
Harbour Way Maintenance
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
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