Mayor and Members of the City Council:

This is the report for the week ending May 26, 2017.

• Meeting Notes

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6th. Enjoy the next week off!

• City Offices Closed on Memorial Day

As a reminder, the City offices will be closed on Monday, May 29th in observance of Memorial Day.

• Taste of Richmond Celebrates Local Business

Last Saturday, May 20th, hundreds of people came to the Riggers Loft at Point Portrero Marine Terminal to celebrate the first annual Taste of Richmond. The Taste of Richmond was organized by the Economic Development Commission to celebrate and promote Richmond’s diverse and delicious food and beverage scene. A packed house enjoyed samples from over 20 local restaurants, caterers, breweries, and wineries, while also enjoying live music, beautiful views and weather, and a lively atmosphere. We’d like to thank all the businesses who attended, and encourage to you support local business and explore Richmond’s culinary scene!

Support local businesses at:

• Second Annual Richmond Promise Celebration Awards 440 Students Scholarships

This past Thursday, May 25th, the Richmond Promise hosted its second annual Scholars Celebration. At the event, 440 local students were awarded Richmond Promise scholarships worth $6,000 each, for a total of $2,640,000! Executive Director Jessie Stewart continues to work closely with our local schools, community groups, and students to ensure the Richmond Promise continues to grow and serve as a source of support for our local young people. The Promise recently received an Innovation Grant in partnership with Contra Costa College, to support Richmond students in and out of the classroom. It is our hope that when every student completes college, they will come back to Richmond to help us grow our local community and economy.

You can support our local students by donating to the Richmond Promise at http://www.richmondpromise.org/

• Rosie and Richmond Settle a Domestic Quarrel (Spoiler Alert! - Rosie Wins), Plus Help Name the Osprey Offspring

Photo credit: Darlene McNulty

Sharing a nest and raising a family are never easy tasks for a couple, and disagreements will arise from time to time.  Cindy Margulis, from the San Francisco Audubon Society, has posted a 2-minute video of what happened when our intrepid whirleycrane ospreys, Richmond and Rosie, disagreed over whether a baseball cap belonged in their nest.  Richmond apparently thought it would look good in his man-cave, but Rosie had different thoughts. Ms. Margulis reports that the short video clip has had nearly 300,000 views as of this past Thursday.  Please check it out at:
https://www.facebook.com/bayospreys/videos/668313660030083/.

Ms. Margulis also reports that they have received more than 300 name suggestions for the osprey offsprings of Richmond and Rosie.  They have pared down the nominations to a reasonably short list, and are now asking for your vote from among the finalists.  Please vote your choice of two names at:
https://apps.facebook.com/my-contests/vote-to-name-the-osprey-chicks.

You can peer in on the osprey family anytime at http://SFBayOspreys.org.

• Notice of Development Opportunity – Macdonald Avenue Corridor Properties

You are invited to review the City of Richmond’s “Notice of Development Opportunity” – highlighting four Opportunity Sites – intended to serve as major activity centers that facilitate the economic and cultural heart of the City, and connection to the greater Bay Area.

Each site is within walking distance of the Richmond Multi-Modal Transit Station – with access to BART, Amtrak, and AC Transit – as well as assets including the Kaiser Richmond Medical Center and the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts.

The Richmond City Manager’s Office is accepting first-round development proposals until July 7, 2017 at 12:00 PM (PST). A copy of the Request for Qualifications and Proposals is accessible at www.ci.richmond.ca.us/opportunitysites. All attachments and questions are available on the website.

The City of Richmond will host two pre-proposal meetings to address questions and provide an overview of the Opportunity Sites. Please RSVP to mike_uberti@ci.richmond.ca.us.

Pre-Proposal Meeting #1
Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at 2:00 pm (PST)
City Hall, Pt Molate Room
450 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, California 94804

Pre-Proposal Meeting #2
Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 2:00 pm (PST)
City Hall, Richmond Room
450 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, California 94804

Please contact Mike Uberti at mike_uberti@ci.richmond.ca.us or (510) 620-6512 for more information.

• FY2017-18 Operating and Capital Improvement Budget

This past week, staff from City departments completed their presentations to the City Council, providing an overview of their draft fiscal year 2017-18 operating and capital improvement budget.  Presentations included mission, goals, staffing levels, and proposed budget.  At the same meeting, staff will submit balanced operating and capital budgets to the City Council for initial review and discussion.

• City of Richmond 2017 Community Survey -- We Need your Feedback

One of the best ways to improve Richmond’s services is to ask the people that live here what they think. With this in mind, the City of Richmond is pleased to announce the 2017 Community Survey!

During the past few weeks, you may have been notified that you have been selected to give input that will help the City improve the level of government services and the future of your community. Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 3,000 Richmond residents, asking them to comment on the community’s pressing needs and city services.

The purpose of the survey is to help City officials evaluate services, measure resident satisfaction with current services, and to help plan for Richmond’s future. The results from the survey will be included in a final report available to all City officials, staff, and residents. If you were selected, please return the survey before the stated deadline.

If you know someone that received one, please encourage them to fill it out and return it. Your input can help make the City of Richmond a better place to live, work, and play. Feel free to contact the City Manager’s Office with your questions at (510) 620-6512.

• City Manager Chronicles

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 of note this past week included:

• Met (on two separate occasions) with the City’s debt financing team to continue work on the proposed wastewater project financing;
• Met with a representative from the East Bay Community Foundation to discuss their “inclusive economy” initiatives;
• Attended the monthly meeting with Finance Director Belinda Warner, and members of her staff, to review City financial reports;
• Attended the meeting of the Rent Board;
• Attended the monthly meeting of the West County Mayors, at which there was a presentation by both Contra Costa Transportation Authority staff and Caltrans staff concerning transportation improvement projects in the I-80 corridor;
• Attended a meeting of the West County city managers and police chiefs, which included Chief Allwyn Brown and Assistant Chief Bisa French, to discuss dispatch services in the region;
• Served as a guest speaker at the Pt. Richmond Business Association meeting;
• Attended the Richmond Promise Scholars celebration (see item [4], above).

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.

• Science of Skateboard Physics

Richmond Public Library Teens hosted “The Science of Skateboard Physics” event at the Skateboard Park in Nicholl Park, this past Wednesday, May 24th.  Over 30 teens tested the physics apparatus on the San Francisco Exploratorium van that demonstrates how skateboarders can perform stunts.  In addition, pro skater Rob Ferguson demonstrated how to prevent injury when falling and performing stunts.  Participants were able to enter a raffle for skateboard accessories from 510 Skateboarding Store, and enjoy free hotdogs and water. The event was done in collaboration with Richmond Parks and Recreation Department, and sponsored by the Friends of the Richmond Public Library.

• ServiceWorks is Celebrating Global Community Day on June 10th!

ServiceWorks Richmond is partnering with the City of Richmond Community Services Department, Richmond Tool Library, and Richmond Love Your Block to host a cleanup to celebrate Global Community Day!

Come and join us on Saturday, June 10th to help revamp Richmond Tool Library and clean up Nicholl Park and the Community Services Department. We will be meeting promptly at 11:00 AM in front of the picnic tables for registration. Anyone under the age of 18 will need a parent to sign a liability waiver.

In support of the Community Services Department’s Spring Clothing Drive benefiting Bay Area Rescue Mission (BARM), we’ve got prizes to give away! Bring in new, unworn clothing essentials such as underwear, bras, socks, and belts and you’ll get a chance to win! New undergarments are much more difficult to come by at BARM, so please consider donating these clothing essentials.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided!

Invite your friends and family members to join us for this day of service. RSVP on EventBrite is required to make sure that we have enough food for all!

RSVP: https://serviceworksglobalcommunityday.eventbrite.com/
         https://www.facebook.com/events/123009034934651/

For more information, contact Vanessa Chau at Vanessa_Chau@ci.richmond.ca.us or at (510) 620-6552!

• 2017 Wildland Fire Season

The fire season is fast approaching, and Richmond firefighters are inspecting and surveying areas of concern for the 2017 wildland fire season.  The Richmond Fire Department is concerned with all areas of dead and dying vegetation, but especially areas with thick vegetation with considerable height that is adjacent to residential and commercial property. 

Last year the department responded to 63 reported vegetation fires; a 15 percent increase from 2015. To reduce this threat, there are a number of well-established protective measures that property owners can implement to reduce the risk around their property. Now is the time to act! 

The Richmond Fire Department Prevention Services Division encourages residents to use this printable brochure as a guideline to assist in making their property fire safe for this summer season.

• Information Technology

Website Statistics
For the Week Ending May 26, 2017

Tweets and Facebook followers are up!

• LIKES are up 50%
• Page views are up by 7%
• People reached are up by 22% 

                                                                                                       
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. 

• Monthly app use has increased each of the last 4 months.
• 78% of users with the app installed used it at lease once in the month of April.

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

• Engineering/CIP Departments

Engineering Projects

Unity Park, located near 16th Street and Ohio Avenue on the Richmond Greenway is a community designed and built park in conjunction with the City, volunteer organizations, and local builders. It is a $5 million dollar park project that will include a community garden and soccer field within the space. Construction began during the week of April 24th.

Unity Park Clearing and Grubbing

Work continued on the Richmond Greenway/Ohlone Gap project that restores and realigns Baxter Creek, and creates a multi-use trail that connects the Richmond Greenway to the Ohlone Greenway.

Creek Restoration

Bike Path Construction

Infrastructure improvements at the BART station relating to the Transit Village Phase 2 project continued.

Backfilling Retaining Walls

Streets Division 

The streets division replaced faded striping on Canal Boulevard.

 
 Canal Boulevard Striping

• Infrastructure Maintenance and Operations

Abatement

Crews performed weed abatement in City lots, abated alleyways, completed abatement of the exterior of the Hacienda apartments, and continued removing illegal dumping and graffiti throughout the City.

Illegal Dumping Clean Up

Hacienda Clean Up

Graffiti Removal

Facilities Maintenance

Electricians installed new timing for 21 intersections along Richmond Parkway, installed traffic signal for Richmond Parkway and Lakeside Drive, repaired light fixtures at the Richmond Auditorium, fixed the lighting in the patio area of the Dispatch Center, and restored lighting to the patio walkway at the Main Library Children’s area.

Lighting Replacement

Utility workers set up multiple facilities for various events and serviced 29 City owned buildings.

Parks and Landscaping Division:  
General maintenance crews weed whipped the rights of way on Cutting Boulevard, weed whipped the parking lot around the Employment and Training building, weeded, trimmed pathways, and began pruning in Civic Center Plaza, picked up trash on the Greenway, performed irrigation repair at Nicholl and John F. Kennedy Parks, and performed maintenance at Kern Park.

Pruning at Civic Center Plaza

The tree crew cut or timmed trees on 1st Street, 2nd Street, Harbour Way South, Maine  Avenue, Tunnel Road, W. Richmond Avenue, Cypress Avenue, and Placer Street, as well as at Dimm Triangle, Nicholl Park, and the Richmond Library Courtyard.

Hilltop District crews continued maintenance around the Hilltop Mall business area, continued with the Richmond Country Club Vista landscaping project, performed weed abatement on Hilltop Drive, and weed abated off and on ramps on Richmond Parkway to Giant Road.

Mulch Installation

Marina District crews continued the landscaping project on Regatta Boulevard, cleaned medians, aerated and fertilized turf, performed maintenance at Sheridan Point, and monitored the irrigation throughout the area.

Weed Abatement on Medians of the Marina

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