Mayor and Members of the City Council:

This is the weekly report for the week ending September 5th, 2014.

1.    Meeting Notes

The next City Council meeting is currently scheduled for Tuesday, September 16th.

2.    City Offices Closed in Observance of Admission Day

City of Richmond City Hall and other City Offices will be closed on Tuesday, September 9th in observance of Admission Day, and will reopen on Wednesday, September 10th.

As a reminder for this holiday observance, Admission Day is when California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850. More information can be found at:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23856.

3.    Measure U Community Meetings

Upcoming on the November 4th ballot, registered Richmond voters will be asked to vote on Measure U, a one-half cent sales tax.  If approved, the additional revenue generated by Measure U will maintain and enhance essential city services, such as public safety, public health and wellness programs, city youth programs, and street paving.  Information about Measure U can be found on the City’s website at www.ci.richmond.ca.us/Finance/MeasureU.

Several informational meetings are planned for both the public as well as community organizations, where City Staff will present information and answer questions regarding Measure U.  Upcoming meetings open to the public are as follows:

·         September 11th at 7:00 PM
Richmond City Council Chambers
440 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA 94804

·         September 18th at 7:00 PM
Booker T. Anderson Community Center
960 South 47th Street
Richmond, CA 94804

·         October 1st at 7:00 PM
Recreation Complex
3230 Macdonald Avenue
Richmond, CA 94804

·         October 9th at 7:00 PM
Hilltop Mall Community Room
2200 Hilltop Mall Road 2nd Floor
Richmond, CA 94806
(Door entrance between JCPenney and Police Department Substation)

4.    Help Rebuild Parchester Park

We are less than two months away from rebuilding Parchester Village Park and we need your help! There are four ways you can contribute to the Parchester Park Project which are listed below.

• Volunteer on Build Day: Saturday, October 25th (all ages and skills welcome);
• Contribute a donation to the project from the wish list;
• Donate a monetary gift;
• Purchase the shoe “Petal” from Livie & Luca shoe company.  (Livie and Luca are proud sponsors of the park project and 100% of the proceeds support the project.)

To sign up or for more details visit our webpage at:
www.ci.richmond.ca.us/parchesterparkproject
https://www.facebook.com/RichmondEH
                                                        https://twitter.com/Richmond_EH

We hope to see you there!

5.    “Getting Ready for College Conference” on September 27th

On Saturday, September 27th, at De Anza High School, the West County Ed Fund is sponsoring the “Getting Ready for College Conference” to provide both students and parents with the tools and resources they will need to apply to college, and to answer any questions on a variety of subjects. Topics will include funding and how to pay for college, admission requirements, the application process, and the different types of college options available to students. The workshop is free and all current 10th, 11th and 12th graders and their parents are encouraged to attend. You can register for the event and find out more information at www.edfundwest.org/grfcc.

6.    Good Garbage News:  New Trash Service - On-Call Bulky Item Service for Residents

Starting September 1st, residential customers with single-family and duplex accounts will have an option to request annual bulky item service at no-cost. Residents should call Richmond Sanitary Service (RSS) customer service at (510) 262-7100 in advance to schedule a free pick-up of up to three (3) bulky items.  RSS customer service representatives will provide participation guidelines and instructions to participate in the bulky item program. Regularly accepted items include:

• Appliances such as a washing machine, clothes dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer;
• Mattress & box springs (a matched set of mattress and box springs counts as one item);
• Furniture such as a sofa, loveseat, large chair, televisions, dining set or lawn furniture (a dining or lawn furniture set of table and chairs counts as one time);
• Equally sized items such as a water heater, barbeque, exercise equipment or four tires (four tires count as one item).

Please note that items weighing in excess of 200 lbs. are not accepted under the free program. Residents may have a pick-up scheduled for heavier items at an additional cost. Residents may also substitute one (1) bulky item for up to five (5) E-waste (electronic waste) items such as computer monitors, microwaves, computers, or similar sized E-waste items.

The Richmond City Council approved the bulky item service enhancement at the July 29th City Council meeting. City staff is currently developing outreach materials with RSS that will be mailed to all residents this fall. Each year, residents will receive annual participation guidelines, and two annual reminders.

7.    City Manager Chronicles

I have listed below some of the topics for meetings that I have recently attended in the hope that it provides an idea of the varied issues with which our organization deals routinely.

Activities and meeting topics during the past week included:

• Provided a general update on activities in Richmond to several fire department shifts of employees (a repeat of the City employee “all hands” meetings);
• Heard a presentation from Contra Costa Transportation Authority staff members regarding the 2014 Countywide Comprehensive Transportation Plan;
• Attended the quarterly city staff Emergency Operations Center task force meeting, at which there was discussion regarding what can be learned from the recent Napa earthquake in terms of emergency response;
• Attended the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting and made presentations regarding Measure U, the one-half cent sales tax proposal, and regarding “the future of recreation in Richmond;”
• Met with Housing and Finance staff to review HUD compliance issues and related program activities;
• Met, together with various City staff, with staff from the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to receive a status report, and to discuss specific actions, relating to a specific enforcement action that they are undertaking;
• Attended the quarterly meeting of the City of Richmond/East Bay Regional Park District liaison committee.

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.

8.    Officer Bradley A., Moody Memorial Underpass Project

The Bradley A. Moody Memorial Underpass Project involves the construction of a roadway underpass on Marina Bay Parkway between Meeker Avenue and Regatta Boulevard, and is intended to resolve long-standing access limitations to the Marina Bay area caused by frequent train crossings.  In early September 2013, Marina Bay Parkway was closed to traffic.  This closure is planned to remain in place until early May 2015. 

During the week of September 1st, waterproofing installation and retaining wall rebar and formwork continued, and forms were stripped from the pump station walls already poured.  Additionally, the bottom two layers of roadway section (permeable material and base rock) were installed at the Jetty/Pierson intersection with Marina Bay Parkway.

For the week of September 8th, waterproofing and retaining wall rebar and formwork will continue, and the first retaining wall pour is scheduled for early in the week, for a 45 foot section of wall along the east side of Marina Bay Parkway, north of the railroad bridge.  Work on the Jetty/Pierson intersection roadway section will also continue.

For additional information and to be added to the project update contact list, please see the project website at www.moodyup.com.  You can also follow the project on twitter: @moodyunderpass, or contact the project’s public outreach coordinator Jacqueline Majors at (925) 949-6196.

9.    Information Technology (IT) Department Updates

Facebook Statistics
     
New Likes                              Increased by 25.3%
Weekly Total Reach               Increased by 54.6%
People Engaged                     Increased by 63.2%

Top 10 webpages for the last week

Throwback Thursday Trivia Winner:

Congratulations to Donald Bastin, our first Throwback Thursday Facebook winner, who made the following comment on the picture below: This is Richmond's third city hall, opened in 1917 and donated to the City by John Nicholl. It was located on the corner of 25th and Nevin, where the auditorium is today. It was torn down in 1949.

                 Donald Bastin - Featuring Richmond California History – City of Richmond City Hall

KCRT

Datanet images of the week

10. LEAP’s 30 Year Anniversary Celebration

What do America Ferrera, Video Music Awards, TED, and Alex Trebek of Jeopardy have in common? Find out by joining LEAP on September 21st in a community celebration from 12:30 PM – 400 PM at 440 Civic Center Plaza.

11. Food Justice Film Series

Join the Richmond Food Policy Council for an engaging evening of film and food, conversation and community! 
When:  Thursday, September 11th, 6:00 PM
Where: Building Blocks for Kids (BBK) Collaborative at 310 9th Street (9th and Macdonald)

Unnatural Causes is a compelling PBS documentary exploring how inequality is making us sick, why our zip code predicts health outcomes, and what happens to the health of Latino immigrants.

Delicious food generously provided by FUSION LATINA, a Richmond based Latina cooperative.
All are welcome! A $5 dinner donation is appreciated.
For more information, contact Lisa@RichmondFoodPolicyCouncil.org or visit   https://www.facebook.com/groups/richmondfoodpolicycouncil/.

12. Public Works Updates

The Facilities Maintenance and Parks Divisions of Public Works department worked together on the installation of the new restroom at Marina Park. There are some last minute touches but it will be available for use soon.

Marina Park Restroom Delivery

Facilities Mainenance Division:  Carpenters replaced the broken window at 450 Civic Center Plaza, modified work stations in the Planning Department, and installed new signs at the Parchester Community Center.

Painters applied a clear coat to the capinest for the Main Library break room and another coat of paint to the kitchen walls of the Main Library.

Stationary Engineers completed preventative maintenance on the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) unit of the R-Transit building, replaced the dishwasher at Fire Station #61, and repaired a heater at the Corporation Yard.

Electricians continued with the Richmond Parkway Street Light repair project, replaced stolen wire on San Pablo Avenue from McBryde to Esmond Avenue, replaced the red light at Richmond Parkway and Goodrick Avenue, repaired a knocked-down light at Marina Bay Parkway and Regatta Boulevard, built replacement heads for two knock-downed lights, and provided electrical support for the Marina Green Restroom installation.

Marina Bay Parkway and Regatta Boulevard Knockdown Repair

Parks and Landscaping Division:  Crews continued weed abatement along the Richmond Parkway, continued with the rehabilitation of Shield Reid Park, removed shrubs from Parchester Park, placed mosaic refuse can near the Richmond Plunge, completed fence repair at Boorman Park, placed the restroom at Marina Park, and removed graffiti at Lucas Park.

Richmond Parkway Maintenance

Tree Crews cut or trimmed trees on Florida Avenue, South 3rd Street, Roosevelt Avenue, West Macdonald Avenue, and Belding Garcia Park.

Streets Division:  Staff ground and paved the Parchester Park paths, installed 2 speed bumps on Sonoma Avenue, as well as worked from the outstanding pothole and sidewalk list.

Paving of the Parchester Park Paths

Street sweeping performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the first Monday through Friday in the Parchester Village, Hilltop Bayview, Hilltop Green, Fairmede/Hilltop, Carriage Hills North Side, El Sobrante Hills, Greenbriar, Hansford Heights, Via Verde San Pablo Dam Road, Bristole Cone, May Valley, Vista View, and Clinton Hill I neighborhood council areas.

Signs and Lines staff fabricated 4 new signs, created 30 decals for City equipment, installed 8 new signs and poles, repaired 11 signs and poles, installed 9 pavement markings, and painted 452 feet of curbs.

********************************************************************************

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

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

Bill Lindsay
City Manager
City of Richmond
450 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, California 94804
(510) 620-6512
Bill_lindsay@ci.richmond.ca.us