Mayor and Members of the City Council:

This is the weekly report for the week ending January 8, 2016.

1.    Meeting Notes

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12th, 2016 with the regular City Council agenda commencing at 6:30 PM.  (There is no closed session scheduled.)  The agenda may be found by clicking this link. 

For planning purposes, please note that there will be regular City Council meetings on January 19th and 26th, and on February 2nd.  Also note that a joint meeting of the Richmond City Council and West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Trustees has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 3rd at Lovonya DeJean Middle School.

2.    Wastewater Plant Wet Weather Storage Facility Gets its First Test

Richmond's newly constructed Wet Weather Storage Facility (WWSF) received its first major test this past week during the recent series of storms.  During the 48 hour period ending at 4:00 PM on January 6th, just under 2.6 inches of rain fell according to the rain gauge at the Richmond wastewater treatment plant.  Under these conditions, wastewater flow into the treatment plant can increase from about six million to more than 40 million gallons per day due to rainwater runoff seeping into the sewer system.  The five million gallons of storage provided by the WWSF allows a part of that flow to be stored and sent back through the treatment plant for full treatment after the high flows subside. 

In the case of recent storms, an estimated seven million gallons of diluted wastewater was provided full treatment where it otherwise would have been only partially treated (or blended) prior to the existence of the WWSF.  This operational capability will continue to significantly reduce the impacts of discharging partially treated (or blended) effluent to the Bay.  Another benefit of this additional storage capacity is the reduction of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) from the wastewater collection system.  Significantly, there were no SSOs identified during this recent period of wet weather.     

Wet Weather Storage Facility

Influent Pump Station

3.    Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service on the Richmond Greenway

Join the Friends of the Richmond Greenway to make it a “day on” the Richmond Greenway for the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Monday, January 18th from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.   Activities and projects will take place on the Richmond Greenway on Ohio Avenue between 4th and 16th Streets.

As we begin this new year, the commemoration of the MLK Day of Service is an opportunity to re-commit ourselves as community members by volunteering in service to one another and to the greater good.  Service is a powerful tool for strengthening our communities, but it is only a start.  For more information, visit www.richmondgreenway.org or call (510) 232-4493.

4.    Leadership Capacity Development Workshops for Richmond Youth

ServiceWorks is a groundbreaking, national youth development program that uses volunteer service as a strategy to help youth and young adults develop the skills they need to prepare for college and career success. In collaboration with the City of Richmond and Public Allies, we are offering a series of training sessions to coach young adults in developing group service projects to make transformative changes in their communities.

Session 1, the MLK One-Day Program, will be held on Saturday, January 16th from 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM at the Richmond Council Chambers (440 Civic Center Plaza).

For more information about ServiceWorks, to sign up for this Session 1, and to find out about future sessions visit this link:  RichmondServiceWorks

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jantsan Damdinsuren at (510) 620-6563 or jantsand@ci.richmond.ca.us.

5.    Richmond Digital Health Literacy Project Graduation Celebrations

The Richmond Digital Health Literacy Project had three graduation celebrations in December. A total of 47 learners completed the Richmond Library’s new online Digital Health Literacy training program. Classes and graduations were held at the Nevin Community Center, Catholic Charities, and the Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP). Each graduate received a refurbished laptop, new laptop bag, and certificate in recognition of their dedication to improving their digital skills and health knowledge. More details and photos are available on our project blog.

The Richmond Digital Health training curriculum is publicly available at www.richmondhealth.learnerweb.org.  Just click “create an account” in the upper right corner. Content is available in English and Spanish and covers topics such as finding reliable health information online, using google maps to locate health services, understanding health insurance, physical wellness, family wellness, and community wellness.

To volunteer to help out with the classes or for more information about the Richmond Digital Health Literacy Project, contact the Project Coordinator, Ellen Kersten, at (510) 307-8002 or Ellen_Kersten@ci.richmond.ca.us

6.    Holiday Tree Disposal and Recycling Options

Residents have several options to properly dispose of holiday trees. Please read the summary below or access the flyer for more information.

1)    If you’ve not already used your allocated On-Call Curbside Clean-up(s), call RSS Customer Service to arrange for no cost curbside pick-up at (510) 262-7100. Unscheduled pickups are subject to a $16.00 service fee by RSS.

2)    On any of your regular green waste collection days, cut your unflocked, natural tree to fit in your yard waste cart. Trees must be 6 feet or less in diameter and cut to 3 feet in length. Cut off top and remove stand and all decorations. Artificial trees should be put into the trash bin.

3)    With proof of residency (driver’s license or CA ID), RSS customers can take Christmas Trees to Golden Bear Transfer (1 Parr Blvd, Richmond M-F, 7:00 AM -5:00 PM; Sat-Sun, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM) through the first weekend in February at no cost for compostable trees; $8.50 disposal fee for non-compostable tree, or no proof of residency.

View a copy of the flyer and more information at www.richmondenvironment.org.

7.    June 30, 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

On December 31, 2015, the City of Richmond issued its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the Year Ended June 30, 2015, 2015 with an unqualified opinion from the City’s external auditors, Maze & Associates.  The CAFR presents the financial position and results of the City’s operations, as well as cash flows of its proprietary funds for the fiscal year then ended.   In conjunction with the issuance of the CAFR, the City’s application for the Excellence in Financial Reporting Award was submitted to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).  This certificate of achievement, which the City has received in each of the past eight years, is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. 

The CAFR was completed by members of the Finance Department and staff from other City departments, without whom the CAFR could not have been completed.

The City’s CAFRs, dating back to Fiscal Year 2001-2002, are all available online at the following link: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=1000.

8.    City Manager Chronicles

I have listed below some of the topics for meetings that I attended this past week 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:

·         Attended my regular “check-in” meeting with West Contra Costa Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Bruce Harter;
·         Participated in a conference call review of the preliminary official statement for the issuance of the Richmond Joint Public Financing Authority Civic Center Lease Revenue Bonds;
·         Participated in a conference call with staff members from The Trust for Public Land to discuss Richmond’s possible participation in their Climate Smart Cities program;
·         Attended the “bon voyage” party for departing Police Chief Chris Magnus and Mayor’s Chief of Staff Terrance Cheung;
·         Participated in interviews for candidates for the Richmond Promise Executive Director position;
·         Attended the monthly Contra Costa Mayors Conference meeting;
·         Met, together with Planning Director Richard Mitchell, CIP/Successor Agency Manager Chad Smalley; Administrative Chief Shasa Curl, Senior Planner Lina Velasco, and consultant Alan Wolken, to discuss process for marketing and disposition of properties owned by the former Redevelopment Agency;
·         Met with Police Commission members Felix Hunziker and Scott Gillespie to discuss issues related to administrative support for the Commission.

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.

9.    Hacienda Tenant Relocation Update

In January 2015, the Richmond Housing Authority received approval from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the disposition of the Hacienda public housing development and approval of Tenant Protection Section 8 Vouchers to assist in the relocation of the residents.  As of the Week ending January 8, 2016, the following relocation activity has occurred:

Autotemp consultants are actively providing ongoing advisory assistance for the remaining residents. Of note, 37 Hacienda households that have been accepted with approved applications and unit assignments at the newly constructed Harbor View Senior Apartments.  Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspections have been conducted for these units, all units have passed, and move in activity for these senior households has commenced.  There are now two remaining Hacienda residents that have not finalized their replacement housing choice. Of the 67 completed relocations, 11 households have successfully leased-up outside our jurisdiction from Sacramento to Los Angeles and throughout the Bay Area; two of them have successfully leased-up outside the State of California (New Jersey and Arizona).

10. Charge your Electric Vehicle in Richmond

Invest in an electric vehicle and reduce your carbon footprint. You can conveniently charge your vehicle around the City of Richmond.

The electric vehicle charging station at the Richmond Art Center (located at 2540 Barrett Avenue) has saved 2,670 gallons of gasoline - equivalent to 8,938 kg of greenhouses gases (GHG).

The City of Richmond recently submitted an EV Charger Demonstration grant application to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) requesting a DC fast charging station at the Richmond Swim Center (located at 4300 Cutting Blvd.), and a Level 2 charging station at the West Contra Costa Family Justice Center (located at 256 24th Street).

The 50kW DC fast charger with both a CHAdeMO and SAE combo connector can serve all electric vehicles with fast charging capabilities and can charge at a maximum of 200 miles of range per hour (RPH). The Level 2 charging station will offer a standard SAE J1772 charging port and can charge at a maximum rate of 25 miles of range per hour. These locations will increase access to publicly available EV charging stations within the City of Richmond.

11. Richmond’s Minimum Wage Ordinance Now in Effect

The City of Richmond’s Minimum Wage went into effect January 1, 2016.  The new minimum wage set forth in the Ordinance is $11.52 an hour (compared to $9.00/hour for the State of California and the initial $9.60/hour wage initially established in the City on January 1, 2015) and it applies to any employee who works two or more hours per week.

The Employment & Training staff posted notices announcing the increase on KCRT, and the City’s website. Packets were mailed to over 3,000 businesses and the Richmond Chamber of Commerce members to inform them of the change.  The information packet includes English and Spanish versions of the official notice that must be posted in all workplaces along with a list of employer and employee rights under the ordinance.  Employers who pay for less than 800 hours of employee labor in a given two-week period need not pay the City’s minimum wage until they pay over 800 hours or more of employee labor in a two week period. This is the first of three annual increases that will max out at $13.00/hour on January 1, 2018.

For questions and concerns please contact Gina Baker at (510) 307-8011.

12. Information Technology

   Website
Top 10 Webpage visits for the week ending 12/18/2015

KCRT DataNet of the week 

City of Richmond Website and Mobile APP UPDATE

The City recently upgraded its website which now incorporates responsive design that allows the content on the City’s website to automatically adjust to the screen size of any device. Forget about using the pinch-zoom to see something. This responsive design makes content easy to view and easy to navigate on tablets and smartphones providing a great user experience no matter how the content is accessed.

Great News!! The City of Richmond mobile app is now available. It provides Richmond’s community members with one-stop access to City services and information.  You may watch the informational video  for an overview of the app available for free at Apple App Store for IOS devices and at Google Play for Android phones. 

The City of Richmond is looking forward to feedback from the community on this new Mobile APP. We welcome your comments at webservices@ci.richmond.ca.us

13. Public Works Updates

Parks and Landscaping Division:  
General maintenance crews removed holiday lighting from the Civic Center, picked up trash on the Greenway, completed irrigation repairs at the Community Garden on Barrett Avenue, delivered mulch and completed fence repair at Nicholl Park.

Fence Repair at Nicholl Park

Hilltop Districtcrews conducted storm patrol, removed a tree from Hilltop Lake and completed weed abatement in various areas.

Marina Districtcrews completed graffiti removal and vandalism repairs at Sheridan Point, preparing for replanting in various areas, tree pruning and storm patrol.

Branch Removal from Storm Patrol

Tree crews trimmed or cut trees on/at: Lowell Avenue, 18th Street, 25th Street, 37th Street, Nevin Avenue, Parr Boulevard and Richmond Parkway.

Streets Division: 
Paving staff worked from the outstanding pothole list, conducted storm patrol, constructed sandbags and delivered sandbags.

Crews Constructing Sandbags

Street sweeping performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the first Monday through Thursday and the second Friday in the Parchester Village, Hilltop Bayview, Hilltop Green, Fairmede/Hilltop, Carriage Hills North Side, El Sobrante Hills, Greenbriar, Hansford Heights, Via Verda, San Pablo Dam Road, Bristole Cone, Clinton Hill IV and East Richmond neighborhood council areas.

Signs and Lines staff installed eight new poles and signs, repaired eight signs, and fabricated 15 signs while in the process of removing the Holiday decorations and conducting storm patrol.

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

Happy New Year!

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