Mayor and Members of the City Council:

This is the report for the week ending November 16th, 2018.

1.    Meeting Notes

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 20th.There will be noClosed Session, and the Special Meeting of the Richmond Housing Authority will begin at 5:30 PM. The Regular Meeting of the Richmond City Council will begin at 6:30 PM; the agenda may be found by clicking this link: November 20th City Council Agenda

2.    Upcoming Events

Community Services Department’s 3rd Annual Holiday Food Drive

The Community Services Department (CSD) is launching our 3rd Annual Holiday Food Drive! We will be collecting canned goods and dry goods for the holiday season. The Holiday Food Drive will launch on November 13th, and will continue through December 14th, with all donations benefiting the Bay Area Rescue Mission. Food drive barrels will be located at various city facilities in Richmond, as listed below:

●     Booker T. Anderson Community Center
●     Building 440, Civic Center Plaza
●     Community Services Department (Recreation Complex)
●     Developing Personal Resources Center (DPRC)
●     May Valley Community Center
●     Parchester Village Community Center
●     Richmond Annex Senior Center
●     Richmond City Hall
●     Richmond Public Library (Bayview Branch)
●     Richmond Public Library (West Side Branch)
●     Richmond Senior Center
●     Shields-Reid Community Center

For more information, e-mail stephanie_ny@ci.richmond.ca.us or call:
(510) 620-6563.

Great Opportunity for Young Richmond Residents: Youth Entrepreneur Day!

Richmond Main Street and the RMSI Youth Committee are proud to present Youth Entrepreneur Day 2018! A fun and free event—on Saturday, November 17th from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM at the Nevin Community Center—giving young Richmond folks (ages 15-25) the opportunity to flex their creative thinking muscles, develop team building skills, and meet new people. Participants will work in groups to develop an innovating solution to a challenge question, and then present their proposal in front of a panel of judges. Winning teams will receive prizes and major props!

Breakfast & Lunch provided. Great prizes available. 

Space is limited. RSVP required. Youth Entrepreneur Day 2018 RSVP.

Questions or More Info: Contact Alicia at (510) 236-4049 or outreach@richmondmainstreet.org.

Family Volunteer Day on November 17

UPDATE:

Family Volunteer Day is canceled and will be postponed until further notice due to the poor air quality. Please stay tuned on our Facebook page for the announcement of the new date. Please try to remain indoors and follow the guidelines given by county health officials at cchealth.org. Thank you all for your patience and understanding.

For more information, e-mail nicholas_delgado@ci.richmond.ca.us or call (510) 621-1834.

Attend College Application Day - Monday, November 19th

Early Academic Outreach Program and Richmond Promise will be hosting College Application Day on Monday, November 19th from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM for any 12th graders working to submit their college apps this month. They will have trained college advisors supporting students with any questions or concerns they might still have about the application process. This event is being hosted in the San Pablo Library, 13751 San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo, CA. 

Link to register: tinyurl.com/wcccollegeappday 

21st Annual Senior Winter Ball on December 15th

On Saturday, December 15th, in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, join seniors and (not so seniors) in an evening of dancing, dining, and outstanding entertainment featuring Top Shelf Review. The Top Shelf musical singers and dancers have been dazzling the music scene for years. The cost of admission is $30. Dinner will be served from 6:45 PM to 7:45 PM.

The Ball affords seniors an opportunity to “dress up” in their finest, be served dinner at their tables, meet old friends, make new friends, and just enjoy themselves.

For additional information, please contact Chair Myrtle Braxton at (510) 233-0777 or Correspondence Secretary Naomi Williams at (510) 918-6955.

3.    Acknowledgements

Richmond Fire Department Responds to the Camp Fire in Butte County

Richmond Fire Department deployed a four-person crew to the Camp Fire incident in Butte County as part of a regional task force.  During their deployment, they have been assigned to various tasks, some of which are listed below.

·         Performed structure protection operations to protect properties in locations where the fire was heading.
·         First arriving engine at a water source to anchor a long progressive hose lay in the Cherokee area to stop the fire from spreading south towards Oroville.
·         Along the way they made a lot of stranded animals very happy by providing food and water along with some much needed TLC.

The department also deployed a firefighter to serve as a Fire Line EMT.  He is working under the Berry Creek area, one of the most active divisions of the fire.  A Fire Line EMT provides emergency medical aid, as needed, to fire personnel within their division, supporting the personnel of 13 dozers and 35 engine companies.

These five members have been working tirelessly in difficult conditions to help control this catastrophic incident and protect the people and properties that have been spared thus far.  They have represented the Richmond Fire Department exceptionally well by being professional and showing great empathy and compassion to the community.

The RichmondBUILD Academy Graduates its 37th Cohort!

The most recent RichmondBUILD Academy graduation, featuring the program’s 37th cohort with 24 graduates, was held on Friday, November 16th.   It was a great morning for friends, family, and distinguished guests.  Academy graduates received intensive job training in construction and valuable certifications in CPR/First Aid, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) 40, Confined Spaces, and Traffic Control.  As a result of their training, RichmondBUILD graduates are eligible for direct entry into the following unions: Carpenters, Laborers, Dry Wall/Lathers, and Iron Workers. 

For more information, please visit http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/1243/RichmondBUILD or call (510) 621-1780.

Shields Reid Community Center

Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia joined North Richmond residents and West County-based labor and business leaders on Saturday, November 10th to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of a restored Shields Reid Community Center sports complex. More than 150 children and families attended a free pancake breakfast, before taking part in activities and hearing from speakers from the Community Services Department, local government, Labor Unions and community members.

Richmond Tennis Association Wins East Bay Championship!

In October, the Richmond Tennis Association (RTA) Mixed Team won the East Bay Championship by winning two thrilling playoff matches against arch rival teams from Laney College/Alameda and Refugio Park/Hercules.  Since 2012, the Richmond Tennis Association has partnered with the Community Services Department to provide tennis lessons to youth and adults on tennis courts in underserved neighborhoods. The organization also donates or provides tennis equipment to program participants.

After finishing the regular season in first place in the league with an 8-2 record, RTA entered the playoff quarter-finals and matched up against perennial powerhouse Laney College/Alameda. The team was led by Captain Jorge Salinas and his wife, Flor, as RTA dominated the opponents by a 6-1, 6-1 score. Our second husband/wife pair, Aranesh and Rita Chandra also cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 win. Our third pair, Johnny Yung and Angie Koontz, also had their game clicking as they won by 6-2, 6-4 scores in front of our cheering cadre of RTA folks. Thus, we had a rare sweep win over Laney as we headed into the playoff finals.

For more information regarding tennis programs offered by the Community Services Department and the Richmond Tennis Association, please contact the Community Services Department at (510) 620-6793 or visit the department’s Recreation Classes and Programs page.

Retirement Announcement

After 27 years of service, Captain Threets retires from the Richmond Police Department. Twenty-five of those years were spent with our department. Captain Threets is a former Marine who began his tour of service with the Richmond Police Department in September of 1993. He was active and productive as a patrol officer, set records that still stand as a narcotic detective, and led various patrol teams and specialty units. His departure is a loss to the Richmond Police Department, as we are losing a highly respected manager with years of experience and knowledge.

4.    City Manager’s Office

San Francisco Business Times - Richmond Supplement

The City Manager’s Office partnered with the San Francisco Business Times to publish a special marketing supplement promoting the City of Richmond as a great place for business. This supplement appeared in the October 12, 2018, edition of the San Francisco Business Times. The theme of the 2018 publication, “Richmond, the Past Informs the Future” is presented in a 28-page supplement with feature articles on:
·         Richmond’s planned transformation
·         Richmond’s innovative environment and cultural landscape
·         Profiles of Richmond’s innovative and entrepreneur companies
·         Richmond’s “can do” business friendly atmosphere
·         The city’s ideal location and transportation and distribution channels, including the new WETA Ferry Service to San Francisco
·         A look at the pipeline of development projects under construction or going through the entitlement process
·         How Richmond actively promotes opportunities for business development and provides incentives for doing business here

Here’s the link to the supplement: https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/47673/SF-Business-Times---Richmond-10122018

For more information on the Richmond supplement contact Janet L. Johnson, Economic Development Administrator at (510) 307-8131 or janet_johnson@ci.richmond.ca.us. 

 Recycling and Bulky Item Disposal Options during the Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, the City Manager’s Office Community Development, Environmental and Health Initiatives Division encourage residents to consider the options below for disposing of bulky items, bagged items, and household hazardous waste (HHW). Information regarding all of the programs can be found by visiting, www.richmondenvironment.org. Thank you for taking the time to properly dispose of bulky items, HHW, and other materials in an environmentally responsible manner.

Richmond Bulky Item Pick-up:

Richmond Single-family, Duplex and Multi-Family (3-19 units) residents can receive a free Bulky Item pick-up. A limited number of items can be collected.
Please contact Republic Services, (510) 262-7100, at least one week in advance to reserve your Clean-up day. Multi-family property owners or managers must call to schedule a collection. Due to space limitations of our waste collection vehicles, Clean-up day scheduling will be on a first-come, first-serve basis

Household Hazardous Waste:

Richmond residents have two locations for disposing of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) conveniently and for free. Please bring proof of residency. For more information on acceptable items, visit http://www.recyclemore.com/content/local-hazardous-waste-collection-facility or call (888) 412-9277.

1)    West Contra Costa County Household Hazardous Waste Facility
101 Pittsburg Avenue, Richmond, CA 94801
Open Every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Closed: Noon - 12:30 PM)
(888) 412-9277

2)    El Cerrito Recycling Center
7501 Schmidt Lane, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Open every Tuesday for HHW Disposal
8:00 AM - 5:45 PM 
(510) 215-4350

Holiday Tree Disposal and Recycling Options:

Visit http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/1722/Bulky-Items to view the options for properly disposing of holiday trees. For more information please contact Republic Services at (510) 262-7100.
Richmond’s Food Ware Ordinance

The Richmond City Council recently amended the City's Food Ware Ordinance in May 2018. Additions to the Food Ware Ordinance will be effective December 15, 2018. The amendments are as follows:

·         Bans the use, sale, and distribution of plastic straws and stirrers by food providers, retail establishments, and transient lodging establishments. Non-plastic alternative straws and stirrers may only be provided upon request by customer.
·         Adds utensils and lids to the list of disposable food ware that must be recyclable or compostable.

The amendment is in addition to the rules below:

·         Prohibits the sale or rental of products comprised entirely or primarily of polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) by retail establishments.
·         Requires all food providers using any disposable food ware for prepared food to use recyclable or compostable food ware (reusable food ware encouraged). A food provider may charge a "take out fee" to customers to cover the cost difference.

More information about the ordinance can be found at http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/1824/Food-Ware-Ordinance or call (510) 620-5407.

In addition, qualifying businesses can utilize KIVA Richmond or the Richmond Revolving Loan Program to assist with initial costs.

KIVA Richmond Entrepreneur Startup Fund 
The KIVA Richmond Entrepreneur Start Up Fund provides up to $1,500 matching small business loans to Richmond start-up businesses. Through the KIVA platform, loans are provided to existing businesses or people seeking to start a business. No credit check is required and loans are provided with 0% interest. Kiva also provides financial literacy and KIVA workshops in both English and Spanish.

Please visit the KIVA platform for more information.

Richmond Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)

The City of Richmond’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) is a community-based program with the goal of fostering local economic growth through the creation and retention of employment opportunities for Richmond residents and complementing community and individual development initiatives.

Your business may be eligible for RLF loans if it is:
·         Located in the City of Richmond or plans to relocate to the City of Richmond
·         Has been in operation for a minimum of one year
·         Have been declined for a loan from another financial institution
·         Will provide services or hire residents within the City of Richmond

Loan amounts range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $100,000 and loan applications are reviewed by the RLF Board. The RLF provides four loan options to business owners:

·         Working capital—for the costs of business operations
·         Machinery/equipment—for the acquisition of machinery and equipment
·         Fixed assets—for leasehold improvements, renovation, expansion of a structure, or purchase of fixed assets
·         Facade improvements—for improving the exterior appearance of a business

More information about the program can be found at http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/2768/Revolving-Loan-Fund or contact Janet Johnson at (510) 307- 8131.

Just Launched! Climate Action Plan Dashboard

The City of Richmond Environmental and Health Initiatives Division has launched a Climate Action Plan (CAP) Open Data Dashboard. The dashboard serves to monitor progress towards reaching the CAP goals, inform policy decisions, and provide data to the community.

Adopted in 2016, Richmond’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) outlines goals and strategies for reducing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change on public health, infrastructure, ecosystems, and public spaces in our community.

For more information on the CAP Open Data Dashboard, please email richmondopendata@ci.richmond.ca.us.

The West Contra Costa County Express Bus Implementation Plan

The West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC) has initiated a study to examine opportunities to expand express bus service that connects commuters from Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo, Richmond, and unincorporated west Contra Costa County to destinations in west Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, and San Francisco. The expanded express bus service would travel primarily along Interstate 80, helping to reduce private vehicle traffic along this congested corridor and improve direct connections to high employment areas.
To better understand the desired stop locations, destinations, and factors that would influence more people to take the bus, WCCTAC wants to hear from all potential riders. To share your ideas and learn more about this project please visit:
https://www.wcctac.org/app_pages/view/672

 5.    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 organizations deals routinely.

Meetings and events of note during the past week included:

·         Met with representatives from UC Berkeley’s Chancellor’s Office to be introduced to one another and discuss items of mutual interest for our respective entities, among them the future plans for the UC Berkeley Richmond Field Station.
·         Attended a meeting with staff from the Finance, Police, IT, and City Manager’s Offices regarding the City’s open data initiatives and was briefed on the implementation of Tyler Transparency tool. Provided direction to test launch additional Financial and Human Resources Information in the near future.
·         Attended an Emergency Operations Training (EOC) with City staff with the objective of learning more about Preparing to activate the Mass Care & Shelter Plan.  The training was prepared by our EOC/IT staff in collaboration with the Contra Costa County Emergency Medical Services. We hope for the best, but need to plan for the worst. Those that fail to plan are planning to fail.
·         Met with City of Richmond, Richmond Housing Authority (RHA), and Housing & Urban Development (HUD) staff to discuss the status of the RHA’s housing portfolio, the RHA’s Public Housing Authority Recovery and Sustainability (PHARS) agreement with HUD, and HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program.
·         Provided welcoming remarks at the 4th Community Safety Academy graduation on Thursday, November 15th at the Richmond Police Department (RPD) headquarters. We now have 13 new Community Safety Ambassadors that will use the skills they learned in the Academy to support the work of the RPD and forge a better bond with the community, embracing the core values of community policing. Thanks to all the graduates for volunteering their time to make Richmond a safer place.
·         Met with Water Resource Recovery (WRR) Director Ryan Smith and was provided an overview of the department to include current activities, notices of completion for capital projects, permit renewal status, and upcoming presentations to outside agencies regarding WRR functions
·         Met with Finance Director Belinda Warner to receive a monthly financial update.
·         Provided closing remarks at the RichmondBUILD Academy graduation on November 16th at the Richmond BUILD building on S. 27th Street.  Congratulations to the 24 graduates, the 37th cohort of the program for the successful completion of their training.  Many of them already have joined the Building Trades and have secured stable jobs making over $18 an hour.

6.    City Clerk’s Office

Apply for Your U.S. Passport at Richmond City Hall!

The City of Richmond City Clerk’s Office 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.

7.    Engineering & Capital Improvement Department (ECIP)

Engineering Projects:

Construction of pedestrian improvements continues on the 37th Street Bicycle & Pedestrian Improvements Project. This project is funded by a federal grant and local funds and includes installation of: bicycle facilities and curb ramps along 37th Street from Center Avenue to Cerrito Avenue; pedestrian count-down timers at the signalized intersections with Macdonald Avenue and Barrett Avenue; a new left turn arrow for both directions of travel for Barrett Avenue traffic at 37th Street, and pedestrian bulb-outs at the intersection with Macdonald Avenue.

The Richmond City Council awarded the construction contract to W. R. Forde, and construction management and inspection services are being provided by Ghirardelli Associates.

This week, the contractor poured the concrete pedestrian bulb-out at the northwest corner of the intersection of Macdonald Avenue and demolished the concrete at the northeast corner of the intersection in preparation for installation of a similar bulb-out.

37th Street Bicycle & Pedestrian Improvements Project

Streets Division:

Crews continued paving Harbour Way South from Wright Avenue to south of the railroad tracks, installed holiday ornaments on Macdonald Avenue and 12th Street, and worked from the outstanding pothole list in various locations around the City.

Work on Harbour Way South


Holiday Ornaments on Macdonald Avenue

Street sweeping staff performed residential sweeping services for the second Monday through Wednesday and third Thursday and Friday in May Valley, Vista View, Clinton Hill I, Clinton Hill II, Clinton Hill III, Atchison Village, South Belding Woods, Santa Fe, Coronado, Marina Bay, and Point Richmond neighborhood council areas.

Signs and Lines repaired 5 signs, installed 18 new signs and poles, and painted 209’ of curbs and zoning.

Electrical Division:

Crews removed a street light pole on South 55th Street and Bayview Avenue for drainage repairs, repaired a countdown timer on Barrett Avenue and Marina Way, and removed a damaged street light pole on Carlson Boulevard and Cutting Boulevard.

Removal of Street Light Pole on South 55th Street

Countdown Timer Repairs on Barrett Avenue

Removal of Street Light Pole on Carlson Boulevard

8.    Finance Department

Highlight

The auditors from Maze and Associates are on site and have started the audit process. The staff is assisting the auditors with gathering documents and providing assistance. The auditors will be on site until December 17, 2018.

October 2018 Business License Filings

The Finance Department is reporting that there were a total of 63 new Business License filings in the month of October 2018, with 301 jobs created as a result.

9.    Information Technology

Cisco Meraki MX100 security appliance:

Network Manager installed the Cisco Meraki MX100 security appliance on the City’s network. This appliance will be used to replace the legacy Cisco 2900 series router. The legacy setup for the City’s VPN sites is running outdated VPN encryption protocol, which is a low-risk security vulnerability on the network. Changing the VPN setup to the Cisco Meraki MX100 appliance benefits the City in two ways: First, the network will always run the latest firmware that will prevent any security vulnerabilities on the network, and second, the cloud management of the device adds visibility into the VPN networks. This setup is not complete but still in its initial phase. Network Manager will be testing Cisco 1900 series routers and Cisco Meraki MX67C appliances on this VPN network before deploying it to end users.

Dell computers:

Network Manager repurposed and reimaged some Dell OptiPlex 790 computers. The goal is to have spare computers that are ready for end-user deployment at any given time. Network Specialist II worked on the Dell OptiPlex 7050 Microcomputers for the Recreation Department. The cloning of the computers is complete. The Network Specialist II is working on configuring the remaining computers for the Recreation Department. Network Manager is also building a new image for the Dell Latitude 7490 laptop computers. This image will be a Windows 10 Pro with the latest build running Microsoft Office 2016 Pro.

Fiber Optics USA Marking:

Telephone Specialist and Network Specialist II are marking the City’s fiber optic cables along 5th and Macdonald to Harbor Way and Macdonald. The Telecommunication Company Zayo will be boring the streets along that area. The USA marking of the fiber optic cables underground will prevent the City’s fiber from accidentally being cut by the contractors.

PD Network:

Network Manager troubleshot and resolved the RPD’s MDC problem where the mobile users could not access the new Contra Costa County’s Aries website. Network Manager worked with PD Network Specialist II on the network changes to ensure there were cross-training.

GIS:
·         Staff attended an urban forestry meeting with the participation of city and Groundwork Richmond staff. A focus of the meeting was how Groundwork Richmond can more effectively capture new tree plantings and transmit that information to the City (City Manager’s Office, Parks and Landscaping).
·         Staff attended an EOC meeting focused on mass care and shelter planning.
·         Staff performed a spatial analysis and data manipulation task in support of Fire’s updating of its occupancy data.
·         In collaboration with Planning, staff completed the updating of the City’s Zoning Districts layer. The revised layer will be published once Council adopts the changes.
·         Staff mapped and provided property details regarding a vacant lot that poses a potential fire hazard.

MUNIS
·         Applied all available MIU updates to Test, Train and Live systems.
·         Assisting Finance staff with fiscal year 2018 close in Munis.

Top Priorities
·         Work with Rent Control department to incorporate requirements for the recently passed Rent Board regulations for Rent Adjustments which incorporate new Rent Registration requirements.
·         Munis:  Upgrade Munis to version 11.3.
·         Support desktop hardware and software refresh process for all of city computers.

TRAKiT

Organized and participated in training session conducted by vendor for the new IVR module of the TRAKiT system, with IT, and Building staff.

TRAKiT Issues reported by status in last 60 days

TRAKiT Issues reported by Department/Division in last 60 days

Website Statistics for the week of November 16, 2018

KCRT PHOTO OF THE WEEK

East Brother Lighthouse – photo by Brian Bland

KCRT DATANET FOR THE WEEK

10. Infrastructure Maintenance and Operations (DIMO)

Code Enforcement:

Earlier this year, Code Enforcement responded to a complaint of blight at a residential property. Staff sent a Notice of Violation to the property owner regarding vegetation overgrowth, a concealed window, an unpermitted fence, and an inoperable vehicle. The owner was issued multiple citations and finally brought the property into compliance.

Before

After

Facilities Maintenance:

Stationary Engineers performed daily pool maintenance, repaired the showers at the Swim Center, relocated the thermostat for the server room in the Dispatch Center, repaired the gate at Fire Station #62, replaced the capacitator at Fire Station #64, installed ergonomic furniture for staff, installed a hot water heater at the Parchester Community Center, repaired the toilet at the Westside branch library, shut off circulating fans at the Library and Art Center, and shut the outside air dampers in all buildings due to air quality.

Utility Workers continued with weed abatement around Civic Center Plaza, cleaned and waxed floors at the Hilltop Police Sub-station, cleaned blinds at the Dispatch Center, scrubbed the hallway at the Swim Center, set-up tables for various meetings, and maintained 29 City-owned facilities.

Water Heater Installation

Blind Cleaning

11. Police Department

Officer’s Swearing In Ceremony

The Richmond Police Department welcomed three new members to our family. The new officers were sworn in by Captain Walle and Assistant Chief Bisa French at the RPD auditorium. The new police officers are:

1.    Officer Sergio Cortez – graduated from the Contra Costa Police Academy
2.    Officer Kevin Lemus - graduated from the Contra Costa Police Academy
3.    Officer Kelsey Shanks - graduated from the Contra Costa Police Academy

Community Safety Academy

The Community Safety Academy finished their eight week academy with a day packed full of fun with SWAT, K-9, Motor, and Marine Unit demonstrations.

12. Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS)

ONS Model being Replicated in Nairobi, Kenya

On November 6, 2018, Program Management Staff from the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) and Advance Peace (AP) Stockton and Sacramento, DeVone Boggan, Chief Executive Officer of Advance Peace, and Dr. Jason Corburn, Professor at University California Berkeley School of Public Health and Director of the Institute of Urban and Regional Development, met with two representatives from the Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI) Organization in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss the possible replication of the ONS Program Model in their country.  The meeting provided an opportunity for ONS and AP Staff to participate in a learning community that fosters on-going discussions about the ONS program model and a possible site visit to Nairobi, Kenya.

Emotional Intelligence Module II Training
The Office of Neighborhood Safety and Advance Peace Staff attended Emotional Intelligence (EI) Module II Training with DB Bedford, Consultant of www.ineverworry.com. Emotional Intelligence is an awareness of personal and professional interactions and how to positively influence them through identifying and learning your temperament style that highlights the strengths you bring to a team and social environments.  

The Emotional Intelligence Module II Training focused on relating temperament styles and provided the following outcomes:

·         Recognize your strengths as well as the strengths of others.
·         Better management of your emotions and skillfully respond to the emotions of others.
·         Build rapport quickly with co-workers, clients, customers, family members and friends.
·         Listen to and speak the language of other temperament groups.
·         Understand how others process information for more effective communication.
·         Modify communication styles to connect well with others.

13. Richmond Promise

2019 Richmond Promise Scholarship Application is now Open!

Our 2019 Richmond Promise Scholarship application is now available to complete at our website, richmondpromise.org

To be eligible for the Richmond Promise Scholarship, a student must:

·         Be a resident of Richmond or North Richmond (i.e. have a Richmond home
address)
·         Have graduated from an eligible High School within the West Contra Costa Unified School District boundary area or received your General Educational Development/High School equivalency between June 2018-19
·         Have attended an eligible High School at least 9th-12th grade consecutively
·         Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid/Dream Act by the March 2nd California Grant deadline

Once again, the application can be found on the Richmond Promise website:
https://richmondpromise.org/the-scholarship-application/

Please share this opportunity with eligible students in your life!

The FAFSA application for financial aid can be found at https://fafsa.ed.gov/ and the
Dream Act application can be found at https://dream.csac.ca.gov/.

Richmond Promise is Hiring Near-Peer Ambassadors!

The Richmond Promise is excited to announce that we are hiring 10-12 current College Scholars to support a college going and graduating culture throughout the city of Richmond this Spring! This is a semester-long paid opportunity for college students to give back to their community. College students from Richmond/West Contra Costa Unified School District will be trained to assist throughout our financial aid success initiative program at De Anza High School and Kennedy High School, as well as have a series of college and career conversations with students at Lovonya DeJean Middle School throughout the Spring semester (January-May 2019).

To learn more about this opportunity, please find the job description here.

Applications are due November 25th. If you know any Scholars who may be interested, please send them this information!

14. Water Resource Recovery

Water Resource Recovery Department Receives Draft Discharge Permit from Regional Water Quality Control Board for Review and Comment

The City’s wastewater system is allowed to operate under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which expired earlier this year on June 30th.  City and Veolia staff have been working with the Water Board on the permit reissuance since late 2017, and a draft permit (“Tentative Order”) is scheduled to be adopted at the January 16, 2019 board meeting. Members of the public and city staff are welcome to submit comments to the Regional Water Quality Control Board regarding the permit reissuance. The comment period will be open until December 7th.

For more details, please visit the Department’s web page here.

Thank you for keeping up with the activities in the City of Richmond.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments about these or any other items of interest to you.

Have a happy holiday!

Carlos Martinez
City Manager
City of Richmond
450 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, California 94804
(510) 620-6512

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

See below to see options for connecting with the City of Richmond.

Connecting 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, 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 any comments, questions or concerns regarding the work being done by City staff.  The 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