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| City Manager's Weekly Report for the Week Ending October 14th, 2011 October 14, 2011 |
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Mayor and Councilmembers: This is the weekly report for the week ending October 14th, 2011.
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for this Tuesday, October 18th, beginning with a Closed Session at 5:00 PM, and with the regular meeting agenda due to commence at 6:30 PM.
The Blackhawk Women’s Tennis Association selected the Recreation Department’s Richmond Youth Tennis Center to be the recipient of the proceeds of their annual philanthropic luncheon where over 350 kids’ tennis equipment items, racquets, shoes, clothes and over $9,000 in cash donations were collected. Each year the Blackhawk Women’s Tennis Association selects a deserving Bay Area organization. The Blackhawk Tennis Director asked for a recommendation, and the event director commented that it was an easy choice when deciding to connect with Barbara Lewis and the Richmond program. To read the entire article, see the link below:
As a follow-up to its successful community meeting last July 21st, the City is now gathering electronic “signatures” for a petition to be sent to Lawrence Berkeley Lab personnel reminding them that we look forward to welcoming LBNL to the Richmond community. Those wishing to express this point of view are encouraged to Provide your e-signature (by following this link) to know that the Richmond community warmly welcomes LBNL, and that Richmond is a great place to live and work. We will make sure that this electronic petition is sent to LBNL as they finalize thief location decision.
The Environmental Initiatives Division hosted a community workshop this past Wednesday, October 12th, to inform residents about rebates available for energy upgrades and solar installation through the Energy Upgrade California and Richmond Recovery Solar Rebate (R3). Richmond residents were given information on how to access rebates, grants and low interest loans to make home improvements and energy upgrades more affordable. After the presentations, residents were given the opportunity to meet with qualified contractors and sign up for rebate programs. The City expanded the R3 program to now include energy efficiency upgrades. A list of rebates currently available to residents is listed below. Residents are encouraged to apply for PG&E, County and Richmond rebate programs and leverage all stimulus funds available. Energy Upgrade California Up to $4,000 from PG&E (www.energyupgradeca.org) Up to $5,000 from Contra Costa County (www.energyupgradecc.org) Up to $5,000 from the City of Richmond R3 Program to complete the home upgrade and up to $250 for a home assessment (www.richmondenvironment.org) Three percent (3%) financing is also available through the California Homebuyer’s Fund. (http://www.chfloan.org/Programs/Energy/energy_program.html) Solar Rebates R3 rebates for solar range from $3,000 to $7,000 from the City of Richmond (www.richmondenvironment.org) The first step in participating in the Energy Upgrade California or Solar programs is to call a contractor. Qualified contractors can be found on www.energyupgradeca.org. Visit www.energyupgradeca.org/overview for more information on Energy Upgrade California. More information about these programs can be obtained by contacting the Richmond Environmental Initiatives Division of the City Manager’s office at 620-5502.
The Environmental Initiatives Division of the City Manager’s office is hosting a Climate Action Plan Community Meeting on Monday, October 24th from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM in the Richmond Auditorium. Meeting attendees can learn about climate change basics and the City of Richmond’s climate efforts to date, and can provide input on development of the City’s climate action plan. That input will help create the framework for the climate action plan and create the criteria that will be used to select a consultant to assist the City in development of the plan. Featured speakers at the Climate Action Plan meeting include the Mayor, City Manager and Environmental Initiatives staff, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). Refreshments will be provided at 5:30 PM. Those interested in attending the meeting are asked to RSVP at (510) 621-1554 or www.richmondenvironment.org so that we may plan accordingly for the number of attendees.
The City of Richmond has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a number of organizations and agencies to host the Federal Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Environmental Justice (EJ): “Plan for a Sustainable and Livable Richmond for All” on Thursday, November 3rd from 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM in the Richmond Auditorium. This convening will focus on jobs to secure strong, healthy, and sustainable, equitable communities. Session topics include a healthy and revitalized Richmond, approaches to job creation, transportation justice, achieving equitable communities, access to fresh food, and green jobs. Event hosts include Building Blocks for Kids Collaborative, Community Housing Development Corporation, Contra Costa County Health Services, Federal Reserve, Richmond Community Foundation, Rubicon Programs, Urban Habitat, and West County Toxics Coalition, in collaboration with Congressman Miller. Those interested in attending the meeting are asked to RSVP at http://richmondfederaliwg.eventbrite.com or by calling Richmond Environmental Initiatives at (510) 621-1554 so that we may plan accordingly for the number of attendees. The EJ IWG is comprised of 15 federal agencies with the goal of guiding, supporting, and enhancing federal environmental justice and community-based activities. This will be the first EJ IWG convening in EPA Region 9. Interested persons may get more information about the EPA’s EJ IWG at: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/interagency/index.html.
The City and Veolia continue work on the 2011-12 annual sewer pipeline repair and rehabilitation projects. Last week, Ghilotti Bros. Inc. finished installing a new 8” mainline on Ohio Avenue from South 33rd to 42nd Streets. Ghilotti Bros. continued work on Rheem Avenue, installing an 8” mainline from 23rd Street, moving east toward 26th Street. For the lining project, they continued repair work at Mathieu Court and Ripley Avenue; Hawthorne Avenue and 7th Street; 11th Street and Roosevelt Avenue; Martina Street and Western Drive; and Bissell Avenue and 12th Street. This week, Ghilotti Bros. will continue to install an 8” mainline on Florida Avenue, then will move to Center Avenue and install a mainline between west of 35th Street to just east of 39th Street. They will continue to install an 8” mainline on Rheem Avenue to 29th Street. Repairs should be completed at Mathieu Court and Ripley Avenue; Hawthorne Avenue and 7th Street; 11th Street and Roosevelt Avenue; Martina Street and Western Drive; and Bissell Avenue and 12th Street this week. They will also be wrapping up at Harbour Way and Nevin Avenue. Looking ahead to next week, Ghilotti Bros. will wrap up installing an 8” mainline on Center Avenue and will then move to 35th Street. They will continue to install an 8” mainline on Rheem Avenue to 29th Street. This work is being administered by Veolia, and the City has been actively involved in the project to facilitate public outreach efforts and to ensure that the Engineering Services Department’s standards are being met. The City is also using Twitter to notify interested residents of upcoming work locations, as well as placing information on the City’s website.
Parks and Landscaping Division: This week, crews completed weed abatement on the southerly portion of the Richmond Parkway and medians on Rydin Road. Crews pruned shrubs at Lamoine and Rain Cloud parks and at the May Valley Community Center. Next week, crews will be mulching vegetation from the medians on Rydin Road and tree wells at Nicholl Park, continue renovation of the North Richmond Ball Field, and start the landscaping replacement project on Robert H. Miller and Blume Drives. Crews will also be trimming trees along the 12000 San Pablo Avenue and 4900 Clinton Avenue blocks. Facilities Maintenance Division: Electricians completed repairs on the Marina District Trail of all trail light bollards, stair wall scones and acorn light poles; seven light poles at Edwards Park; and the power outage in the Parkview Neighborhood, in partnership with PG&E. Additionally, they provided support for the repairs of the Point Molate high voltage transformers that provide power to the Point Molate wastewater treatment plant. Carpenters and stationary engineers replaced kitchen counters, a sink, faucet, and garbage disposal at the Disabled People’s Recreation Center. The utility section scrubbed and waxed the Pt. Richmond Community Center. Streets Division: This week, paving crews completed grinding on Nevin Avenue from 46th Street to Carlson Boulevard. Next week, crews will be resurfacing the same location. The following week, crews will grind and resurface Coach Drive from the beginning to the end of the street. The street sweeper schedule for next week will be for the North Richmond, Iron Triangle and North Belding Woods neighborhoods. Equipment Services Division: All street sweepers are in service. A safety attenuator (a device for decreasing the amplitude of an electric signal) was purchased and is being installed on the back of a city truck to improve city-worker safety while performing their duties. Eleven Richmond Police Department cars were replaced due to normal wear and tear.
On October 19th, the City of Richmond will be hosting a free workshop where income-qualifying homeowners can sign-up for a free solar installation and save on energy costs through a grant provided by the Department of Energy and the State of California. Qualifying criteria for this program are described in the copy of the flyer below.
* * * * * 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!
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 Bill Lindsay
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