Mayor and Members of the City Council:
This is the report for the week ending August 4, 2017.
The City Council is on meeting hiatus until Tuesday, September 12th. Enjoy the summer break!
- Richmond Library “Gaining Steam” for Summer (and Other Events)
There are a lot of things happening for kids and families this coming week at the Main Library:
- This is the last week of Reading Heroes, where kids read with adult volunteers from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Tuesday and Thursday. Advanced sign ups available but not required.
- The Library is continuing to provide its free summer lunch this week and next week, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays through August 17th, from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM.
- Wednesday, August 9th, the Library will host its first and only STEAM day of the fall (or late-summer) at the Main Library. Children’s library staff members have provided STEAM throughout the summer at West Branch and Bayview. Program participants can:
- Create wave bottles – discover viscosity;
- Experiment: what combination of glycerin, soap and water makes the BEST bubbles?
- Strawberry DNA? Or make butterflies with chromatography and coffee filters!
For more details, call the Children’s Room at 510-620-6557.
The Richmond Public Library hosted the Vision Van this past week, at which kids were prescreened by Library staff to qualify them for a free eye exam, and free glasses. The Library had over 30 kids who qualified for glasses, as well as dozens more who completed the prescreening during the last week of July. The screenings helped determine if kids should receive free glasses with fun frames, or, perhaps, didn't need glasses.
Kids will be able to pick up their glasses in a few weeks, or have them mailed to them, hopefully just in time to start school with better vision.
- LEAP: Building Capacity in the Richmond Community
LEAP, the Richmond Library’s outstanding literacy program, recently partnered with the Sparkpoint financial education center to provide a project-based literacy class on advocacy. LEAP prepared a curriculum to build critical research skills, comprehension, digital literacy skills and collaboration. The six-week course, “Faces of Poverty,” will culminate in the production of six different PowerPoint presentations that explore poverty in Richmond. Learners at LEAP provided much of the foundational data for the development of the curriculum through their stories, and critical research questions about poverty.
Two other recent examples of LEAP success stories are:
- Erin Newsome, the first to complete LEAP’s Career On-line High School Diploma program. Erin worked toward a traditional GED on and off for many years while working and caring for her children. The opportunity to try the online program proved to be the right fit. With Diploma in hand, Erin is looking toward the future.
Erin Newsome, LEAP Graduate
- Stephen Edwards (shown below with LEAP instructor, Abigail Sims-Evelyn) shows off his GED transcript. Despite housing challenges, Stephen persisted in his studies at LEAP daily, mastering and passing each test, month after month.
Stephen Edwards with LEAP instructor Abigail Sims-Evelyn
- West Contra Costa County Household Hazardous Waste Facility Now Open on Wednesdays
The West County Household Hazardous Waste Facility, located at 101 Pittsburg Road in Richmond, is expanding its hours, and is now open on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (see all available hours below). Richmond residents can also dispose of paint, pharmaceuticals, batteries, automotive fluids, and other Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) for FREE at El Cerrito Recycling Center and the West County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. A summary list of accepted items is provided below. Please bring proof of residency when dropping off HHW materials.
Please note that it is illegal to put any HHW or electronic waste in the garbage, sink, toilet, or storm drain because they contain toxic materials that can contaminate the soil and water. Visit www.richmondenvironment.org for more information about HHW services available to Richmond residents and businesses. For questions about HHW disposal, please visit the West Contra Costa County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility webpage, or call (888) 412-9277.
West Contra Costa County Household
Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility
101 Pittsburg Road
Richmond, CA 94801
Open Every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
9:00am – 4pm (Closed Noon-12:30pm)
(888) 412-9277
El Cerrito Recycling Center
7501 Schmidt Lane,
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Open Every Tuesday for HHW disposal
8:00am - 5:45pm
(510) 215-4350
Accepted Materials
          
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 National Night Out festivities, hosted by the City of Richmond crime prevention team;
- Attended the Richmond Promise Board of Directors meeting;
- Attended the monthly Mayors’ Conference, together with Mayor Tom Butt;
- Met with the Mayor’s staff, along with state advocates Vern Whitmore and Jacqueline Majors, to discuss the expenditure plan being discussed by the legislature for RM3, the regional transportation/bridge toll proposal;
- Attended the Technical Advisory Group meeting for the First Mile/Last Mile study.
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.
- Richmond Promise Update: Students Getting Ready for College & DVC Welcome Day
Students are preparing to begin their first year or return to college this fall. In order to ensure that scholars are ready, Richmond Promise staff members are asking that they complete required paperwork and submit a class schedule to the Promise as soon as possible. If you have a Richmond Promise Scholar in your life, please remind them to check their email and complete these required steps.
DVC Welcome Day
If you know a Richmond Promise Scholar attending Diablo Valley College, please remind them that Saturday, August 12th is Welcome Day! At this event, students can meet other Richmond Promise Scholars, their new College Success Coaches, and make sure they are ready to go for the fall!
Richmond Promise Cohort Welcome
When: Saturday, August 12, 11:00-12:00
Where: HSF-291, Pleasant Hill Campus
RSVP: www.dvcrpwelcome.eventbrite.com
General DVC Welcome Day
When: Saturday, August 12, 12:30-4:00
Where: Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill Campus
RSVP: http://www.dvc.edu/enrollment/welcome/welcomeday.html
Questions or need assistance? Info@richmondpromise.org or 510-761-7231.
60+ Scholars finished their one-week math intensive today! (Note: These Promise Scholars, using a portion of their summer to develop math skills for college, were not told that “no math would be involved” in this program.)
- Concert Helpers Wanted for Music on the Main Events on August 23rd
Are you a fan of live music and outdoor concerts? Do you like working behind-the-scenes at events? If you answered “yes”, then helping out at the 16th annual Music on the Main summer concerts is for you!
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, August 23th
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Volunteers needed: 3:00 PM – 8:30 PM (two shifts available: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM & 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM)
Activities may include tasks related to: venue set-up; assembling produce bags; managing vendor and volunteer check-in; monitoring traffic and parking; conducting surveys; hosting youth zone activities and giveaway stations; backstage manager; and venue clean-up.
Additional Details, Requirements, and Preferences:
- No prior experience needed—orientation and training provided onsite by staff
- Small groups or pairs encouraged!
- Community service hours honored
- Minimum participation: two hours; three hours preferred
- Minimum age: 16, unless accompanied by guardian or approved by event coordinator
- Interests: community, arts & culture, special events, youth
- Skills: customer service, bilingual language (Spanish, Chinese) a plus; ability to stand for extended periods of time and/or lift 30 pounds preferred.
Sign-up online here.
For more information: Contact Alicia, outreach@richmondmainstreet.org or (510) 236-4049.
- The Youth Leadership Committee is Back!
Are you a high school or college student looking to become a leader in your community, or do you know someone who is? Are you interested in learning how to create a community service project to create positive change? Join the YLC for the upcoming school year! Applications are now open with workshops to begin in the fall. We’ll have field trips to local excursions and workshop topics on public speaking, presentations, financial literacy, networking, resume-building, and more!
Application open here: tinyurl.com/RichmondYLC17
Contact Guadalupe Morales at guadalupe_morales@ci.richmond.ca.us or call 510-620-6553 for more info.
On Wednesday, September 13th, from 2:00 PM to 7:30 PM, the City of Richmond will be co-hosting, along with the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, an Electric Car Test Drive event. The event will be held at the parking lot across from the Richmond Library adjacent to the Civic Center Plaza. Attendees will be able to experience various types of clean, electric vehicles and get information about available incentives.
- Community Services Highlights
Upcoming Events
Shields-Reid Park Clean-up and Baseball Clinic Series
Come out to Shields-Reid Park (1410 Kelsey Street) to help beautify and restore Shields-Reid Park and pick up baseball skills along the way.
On August 11th, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM, there will be a park clean-up followed by a free youth baseball clinic run by More Than A Game. Trash bags, gloves, and baseball equipment will be provided for participants. Stick around for free food and refreshments after the clinic!
For more information, please contact Don Gieske at 925-708-6427.
Literacy Luau
On August 19th, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Girls Inc. of West Contra Costa is inviting children (of all ages), families, and community members to participate in their end of summer Literacy Luau. Free books, food and entertainment will be provided!
Register on Eventbrite here!
For more information, please contact Cristal Banagan at mailto:cristal.b@girlsinc-wcc.org.
Highlights
2017 ServiceWorks Graduation Celebration
Last Wednesday, July 26th, ServiceWorks Richmond hosted their first ServiceWorks Graduation Celebration at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium. This event recognized the volunteers and scholars who completed the program curriculum and completed their own service project. The event began with welcome messages from Community Services Director Rochelle Monk, and ServiceWorks Youth Program Manager Vanessa Chau. After the introductions and welcome, they were followed by remarks from three amazing speakers.
ServiceWorks recognized four cohorts:
- John Henry High School,
- Richmond Youth Council,
- ServiceWorks Bootcamp participants, and
- Richmond High School’s College Is Real.
In addition, ServiceWorks acknowledged the collaborative partners:
- John Henry High School,
- Richmond Youth Council,
- Park Ranger Sidonia Aguilera,
- Richmond Trees,
- Richmond Promise,
- Richmond Tool Library, and
- Love Your Block.
Without the help of volunteers and partnerships in Richmond, ServiceWorks would not have been possible.
As the night wound down, everyone enjoyed a great meal, and the graduates and participants went home with a certificate of completion and a little graduation gift (portfolios and a graduation mason jar)! All the attendees were acknowledged for their participation in this excellent program, with one of the participants, Maria Escalera, addressing the group about her experience with ServiceWorks. After her participation in the ServiceWorks Bootcamp, Maria received a summer internship with ServiceWorks and the City of Richmond Community Services Department.
Overall, it was a successful evening, with speakers that left the attendees inspired, and with a new spark to continue growing ServiceWorks bigger and better!
If you are interested in creating a service project or have volunteer opportunities for Richmond’s youth, please contact Vanessa Chau at Vanessa_Chau@ci.richmond.ca.us.
Website Statistics for the Week Ending 08-04-2017
- Page likes are up 120%
- People reached are up 76%
- Post Engagement is up 32%
- Total page views are up 18%
- Video Views are up 100%
- Page followers are up 120%
- Tweet impressions are up 21%
- Mentions are up 4.8%
- Top Tweet for the week earing 660 impressions: Unity Park Design and Public Art.
Tweets and Facebook followers are up!
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
- Engineering/CIP Departments
Engineering Projects:
The Greenway Ohlone Gap Closure project is continuing on schedule. Crews completed the forms and poured the concrete for the abutments for the prefabricated bridge. They also back filled the abutments after the forms were removed. The bridge is set to be erected soon, within the next week.
Concrete Abutment Installation
Streets Division:
Paving crews ground and paved Alvarado, Arizona, Idaho Streets and Nevada Avenue from East Richmond Avenue to the end and worked from the outstanding pothole list in various locations around the City.
 
Paving on Nevada Street
Street sweeping staff performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the fifth Monday and first Tuesday through Friday in the; Parchester Village, Hilltop Bayview, Hilltop Green, 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 repaired 15 signs and poles, installed 12 new signs and poles, installed 26 pavement markings and painted 635’ of curbs and zoning.
- Infrastructure Maintenance and Operations
Abatement:
Abatement crews performed weed abatement, removed graffiti and tons of illegal dumping throughout the City.
 
 
Weed abatement
 
Illegal Dumping
  
Trash Removal
Facilities Maintenance:
Carpenters completed the installation of a new door, including the frame at the Corporation Yard, continued with the framing of a shed a Nicholl Park and completed the ADA fire extinguisher installation in the Auditorium.
Framing New Shed at Nicholl Park
Painters completed the Booker T. Anderson electrical room floor and painted a corridor within the Auditorium.
Stationary Engineers installed a new backflow device at Shields Reid Community Center, repaired the sewer lateral at the Richmond Build facility, fixed the clothes washer at Booker T. Anderson Community Center, installed sump pumps at the Plunge, repaired a toilet at the Shields Reid Community Center, created keys for various locations and repaired the toilet in the women’s restroom in the Main Library.
Utility Workers hung a sign at the Main Library, cleaned the windows and areas of R-Transit, pressured washed the plaza area of Civic Center Plaza, set-up various rooms for events and maintained 29 City owned buildings.
 
R-Transit Maintenance
Civic Center Campus Maintenance
Parks and Landscaping Division:
Tree crews trimmed or cut trees on: 1st Street, South 20th Street, Lincoln Avenue, Potrero Avenue, East Richmond Avenue, Humphrey Avenue and Idaho Street. Crews also addressed safety issues around tree wells near Kaiser Hospital.
Hilltop District crews continued maintenance around Hilltop Mall business area, continued with the Richmond Country Club Vista landscaping project, completed weed abatement on the center medians on Atlas Road, performing tree maintenance on young trees in the area and continued weed abatment on Atlas Road.
Tree Trimming on Blume Drive
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 |
