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| Weekly Report for the Week Ending March
7th, 2008 March 9, 2008 |
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Mayor and Councilmembers:
This is the weekly report for the week ending March 7th, 2008.
1. Meeting Notes
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18th, 2008. For planning purposes, please note that we are planning to have a meeting on the fourth Tuesday of this month, March 25th, for Study Session items.
We are still working to schedule the joint meeting between the City Council and the West County Unified School District Board of Trustees in the near future, but no date has been yet confirmed.
2. Richmond Receives State Grants for Gang Prevention and Intervention
As you probably know, the Governor’s Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy has announced the award of $9.2 million in competitive grants to cities, counties and community-based organizations for gang prevention and intervention, and $7.3 million for job training and education programs targeting youth affected by gangs. The City of Richmond’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and the Employment and Training Department were each recipients of grants for $400,000, while Neighborhood House of North Richmond received an award of $160,000.
These three proposals, which incorporate street outreach, life skills training, case management, employment training, and supportive services for at-risk youth, were developed through a collaborative process that will enable their respective services to be fully integrated with one another. Senator Don Perata, who was an active supporter of the Richmond applications, indicated that the strong city/community partnership reflected in the development and implementation of the programs was central to his support.
The application process for this grant funding, also known as CalGRIP (California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention), was highly competitive. Eighteen out of the 46 cities that applied were approved for funding, all at 80% of the requested amount, in order to allow the Governor's office to support a larger number of projects. At $960,000, the City of Richmond was second only to Los Angeles in the total amount of funding received.
The Glen Price Group, with which the City has a contract to provide grant writing services, provided excellent assistance in this effort to develop these successful applications.
3. Richmond Public Library Branches will Reopen on Monday, March 17, 2008
The Richmond Library is inviting the Council and members of the public to stop by and see the newly renovated, updated branch library buildings during open hours and to enjoy light refreshments on opening day, March 17th. “Grand Opening” celebrations will occur in April during National Library Week (April 13 – 19th), and will include special programs for all ages. More information can be obtained from Kathy L. Haug, Administrative Librarian for Children’s and Extension Services, 510-620-6558, or Monique A. le Conge, Library Director, 510-620-6555.
The established hours of operation will be:
Bayview Branch, 5100 Hartnett Avenue. 510-620-6566: Mondays: 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesdays: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesdays 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Thursdays 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
West Side Branch, 135 Washington Avenue. 510-620-6567: Mondays: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesdays: 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesdays 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Thursdays 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Closed Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Library staff developed the schedule for open hours to maximize the times that the branches will be available to students; however, during morning hours, classes can schedule visits and the City will hold special events.
3. Richmond Natatorium Project Update
Bids for the renovation of the Richmond Natatorium (The Plunge) were received and open this past Thursday. The engineer’s estimate for the project is $4,200,000, and the City received two bids with the low bid at $3,991,000. Engineering staff will be analyzing the bid packages, calling references and preparing the City Council agenda item during the next few weeks.
4. Office of Neighborhood Safety – Update on 13 City Gang Prevention Network
The Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS) serves as the lead for the City of Richmond’s participation in the National League of Cities 13 City Gang Prevention Network. ONS attended the Network’s annual conference in Los Angeles this past week. The conference was hosted by the California Endowment Foundation, and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD).
The City’s Office of Neighborhood Safety, along with the City of Sacramento (Office of Youth Development), and the City of Salinas (Office of Community Safety) were recognized for their creation of new city departments over the past year to help create greater community wellbeing in their respective communities. The Richmond delegation included representation from the ONS, the Richmond Police Department, Contra Costa County Probation, Bay Area Peace Keepers, and the Youth Service Bureau. As part of this grant-funded project, the ONS, together with delegation stakeholders, is writing a citywide strategic plan for gang/street violence reduction and prevention that is due May 2008.
5. Richmond Pedestrian Project (PEDS)
As you may know, the City of Richmond has been engaged for some time now in a collaborative effort with the County Health Department to improve pedestrian safety in the community. Nancy Baer, Manager of Injury Prevention & Physical Activity Promotion Projects for Contra Costa Health Services, reported today that they have completed the final report for this Richmond Pedestrian Project (PEDS). Ms. Baer reports that pedestrian injuries in Richmond went down 79% as a result of collaborative enforcement, education, and engineering (3E's) effort that involved the City’s Police, Engineering, and Planning Departments, and the County Health Department. Since 2004, pedestrian injuries for those 15 and under went down 83%, and for the overall population, 75%. She indicated that this is an astounding result, and speaks to the strength of the 3E's approach, and identifying and focusing on key “hot spots.”
6. Status Report on New Permitting, Inspections and Business License Automated System
As you will recall, the Planning and Building Services Department is fully engaged in a project to revise their basic business systems, which includes implementation of a new automated permitting system. This week saw the beginning of end user training for the City’s new TRAKiT software, which was selected after a lengthy and detailed evaluation process to be the City’s new permitting, inspections and business license software. TRAKiT end user training will take four weeks to complete, and the City expects the new system to “go live” in April.
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 1401 Marina Way South Richmond, CA 94804
Phone: 510-620-6512 Fax: 510-620-6542 e-mail: bill_lindsay@ci.richmond.ca.us |