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  City Manager's Weekly Report for the Week Ending August 12th and 19th, 2011
August 20, 2011
 

Mayor and Councilmembers:

This is the weekly report for the weeks ending August 12th and 19th, 2011.

  1. Meeting Notes

 

The next scheduled Council meeting will be on Tuesday, September 13th.

  1. Carlson Boulevard Improvements

 

Final grading of Carlson Boulevard is nearing completion this week.  Cement treating the existing subgrade is set to begin the middle of next week.  The cement treating operation involves the use of specialized equipment to apply and mix cement powder into the existing soil to stabilize and harden the subgrade.  Following a watering/curing period, the median curbs will be placed, and 6” of new asphalt will be placed over the new subgrade.  Because this project is almost a mile long, this operation will allow the City to reduce the amount of asphalt by over 4,000 tons.  As previously reported, the result is a net savings to the City of over $100,000 which has been earmarked for a new irrigation pipeline for the median and the beginning of previously un-funded landscaping.  The Carlson Boulevard project is currently scheduled to be substantially complete by the end of September.

  1. California Supreme Court Grants Stay on Redevelopment Association Lawsuit and Will Hear Case

 

On August 11th, the California Supreme Court announced it would hear the lawsuit filed by the California Redevelopment Association (CRA) and the League of California Cities, which requests that the Court declare as unconstitutional recent state legislation that would eliminate Redevelopment Agencies unless they paid a “voluntary contribution” to the state (AB 1X 26 and AB 1X 27).  The Court stated in its order that “the briefing schedule is designed to facilitate oral argument as early as possible in 2011, and a decision before January 15, 2012.”  The Court also issued a partial stay regarding suspension of AB 1X 26-27 until it can rule on the constitutionality of these two bills.  CRA's attorneys are currently studying the provisions of the Court's order to determine exactly what agencies can and cannot do during this period.

The CRA and the League of California Cities had previously filed a petition asking the California Supreme Court to overturn AB 1X 26 and AB 1X 27 because they violate the Constitution.  The Cities of San Jose and Union City joined as plaintiffs.  The CRA and the League also had requested that the Court issue a stay to prevent the legislation from going into effect until the Court can decide the lawsuit.  The central claim for the challenge to AB 1X 26 and AB 1X 27 is that these bills violate Proposition 22, the constitutional amendment passed last November by 61% of the state’s voters.  This amendment explicitly prohibits the state from “seizing, diverting, shifting, borrowing, transferring, suspending, or otherwise taking or interfering with” revenue dedicated to local government, including local redevelopment funds.

  1. Two Specialty Enterprises Come to Richmond

 

Hoefer/Harvard Bioscience recently concluded lease negotiations for space at 750 National Court in Point Richmond.  Hoefer is world-renowned as the premier supplier of electrophoresis equipment and related products that have helped life researchers discover solutions to their most challenging scientific problems.  Electrophoresis is a widely used life science research technique to separate and purify both nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and proteins.

Prior and subsequent to the lease signing, the Office of Economic Development (OED) staff worked closely with Hoefer, answering questions about business licenses, permitting, hazardous waste disposal and fiber optic upgrades, while also providing information on employee options for public transportation, recreation, fitness and dining.

Monvera Glass Décor, a full-service bottle and glassware/paperless labeling company, will soon bring a dozen employees to Richmond with a goal to more than double that number over the next 2 to 3 years.  Previously based in Emeryville, Monvera signed a lease in late July for a 40,000 sq. ft. space in the historic Ford Point Building.

Monvera provides industry leading glass decorating services to the wine, spirits, beverage and food marketing segments.  Clients include Charles Krug, Honig Vineyard and Winery, and Boisset Family Estates.  OED staff assisted in Monvera’s decision-making process by providing information regarding EZ tax credit incentives, available financial resources, and, workforce recruitment and training opportunities.

  1. Certificates of Assessed Valuation

 

The City of Richmond received the Certificates of Assessed Valuation from the Contra Costa County Auditor-Controller’s Office this week.  They show an increase of Assessed Valuation of 5.72% in the current year as compared to last year.  

  1. Recreation Highlights

 

Defensive Driving:  On August 11th and 18th, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, 17 seniors attended an AARP defensive driving class at the Annex Senior Center.

Wellness Workshop:  On August 17th, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, Jay Sordean, from the Foundation for Wellness Professionals, presented a free workshop on “Natural Solutions for Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome” at the Annex Senior Center.

Movies:  Families enjoyed the final movie in the summer series Family Free Movies, at the Richmond Auditorium, on Friday, August 5th, with “Nanny McPhee Returns.”  The showing of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Part 2,” on July 22nd, was a big hit with over 85 participants. 

Field Trip:  The Commission on Aging is hosting an educational excursion to the California Academy of Sciences, in San Francisco, on August 25th, from 9:30 am to 4 pm.  Tickets are on sale at the Recreation Complex for $35 per person.  Tickets include transportation and the entrance fee.   

  1. Public Works Updates

 

Facilities Maintenance Division:  Last week, carpenters completed several miscellaneous maintenance work projects at Richmond Fire Department Stations 62, 64 and 67; stationary engineers performed major maintenance work at one of the three Civic Center Plaza boilers; and electricians replaced a lighting pole at Harbour Way and Pennsylvania Avenue.

The carpenters completed repairs to the auditorium main doors; painters painted the equipment room at the Plunge; and electricians will replace the damaged traffic signal controller at Barrett and San Pablo Avenues this coming weekend when traffic is light.

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Parks and Landscaping Division:  Last week, staff finished pruning and pressure washing along the Richmond Parkway sound wall from I-80 to Lakeside Drive in preparation for the wall painting; continued weed abatement on Atlas Road; removed graffiti at the Hilltop Assessment District; performed irrigation repairs at the Atchison, Lucas, Memorial, Hilltop Green, Nevin and Shields Reid Parks and the North Richmond ball field; performed vegetation control at bus stop areas on Valley View Road and Wendell, Burg, Humboldt and Humphrey Parks, and prepared the Point Richmond/Judge Carroll Park for the musical event.

This week, staff finished weed abatement on the 23rd Street grade separation; spread mulch on Cutting Boulevard; pruned shrubs at Nicholl and Tiller Parks; weeded and pruned the Santa Rita Road right-of-way; pruned the center median of Richmond Parkway from Lakeside Drive to I-80 in preparation for the street sweepers; pressure washed, primed and painted the Richmond Parkway’s sound wall from I-80 to Lakeside Drive, and completed the Carlson Boulevard vegetation clean up. 

Next week, crews will continue with the Marina Bay Trail landscape renovation project; prune trees and shrubs on Castro Ranch Road; remove damaged bleachers and fencing from the Belding Garcia Park; repair the main irrigation lines at San Pablo Avenue and Hilltop Drive, and Blume Drive and Auto Plaza; and will prune and perform a general clean up around the Marina Bay tennis courts along the Marina Bay Parkway.  The three crews will also work on Hellings, Santa Clara, Alamo, Gertrude and Mariposa Avenues.

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Streets Division:  Last week, paving crews completed the resurfacing of 10th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Lincoln Avenue in front of the Lucas Park as part of the Health and Wellness Program.   

This week, paving crews completed the resurfacing of the intersection of 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue and the Lucas Park pedestrian pathways.  Next week, crews will resurface the Triangle Circle around the Housing Authority complex in the Iron Triangle.

 

Feel free to contact the City Manager if you have any questions or comments about these or any other items of interest to you.

Have a great week!

 

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

Lisa Carter, Executive Secretary II, for
Leslie T. Knight, Assistant City Manager/HRM Director, for

Bill Lindsay
City Manager
City of Richmond
450 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA  94804-1630
Phone:   510-620-6512
Fax:        510-620-6542
e-mail:   bill_lindsay@ci.richmond.ca.us

 

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