Mayor and Members of the City Council:
This is the weekly report for the week ending June 17, 2016.
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21st beginning with a Closed Session at 5:00 PM followed by the regular agenda at 6:30 PM. The agenda may be found by clicking this link: Richmond City Council Agenda Packet.
- 2. Juneteenth Celebration – Tomorrow (Saturday), June 18th
Come out and experience Richmond’s Juneteenth Celebration tomorrow, Saturday, June 18th. The parade, featuring Grand Marshal Mary Peace Head, will begin on Cutting Boulevard at Marina Way at 10:00 AM, making its way to Nicholl Park, where the festival begins at 11:00 AM, lasting until 6:00 PM. Enjoy the day!
- 3. Richmond Fire Department Encourages all Residents to Make Their Properties Fire Safe this Summer
The summer fire season is here and Richmond firefighters are gearing up for another threatening wildfire season. Firefighter preparation includes inspecting specialized equipment and apparatus, and replacing structural firefighting hoses with those designed for wild-land firefighting. Additional preparations include inspecting fire trails and increased training.
The Richmond Fire Department is concerned with the potential fire danger in “High Fire Danger Areas.” The department responded to 55 vegetation fires (including grass and brush) in 2015. This was a 61% increase from the 34 vegetation fires in 2014. To reduce this danger, there are a number of advanced protective measures that property owners can do to reduce the threat around their property. Now is the time to act to reduce any potential hazards on your property!
The Richmond Fire Department Prevention Services Division encourages residents to use this printable brochure as a guideline to assist in making their property Fire Safe.
 
- 4. Upcoming Full Overnight Closure of Interstate 80 June 18-19, 2016
A stretch of Interstate 80 in West County will be closed to all traffic for eight hours overnight on June 18-19.
All lanes between San Pablo Avenue and San Pablo Dam Road exits will be closed starting at 11:00 PM Saturday, June 18 until 7:00 AM, Sunday, June 19th.
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), Caltrans, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the City of San Pablo recently broke ground on an interchange improvement project on Interstate 80 at San Pablo Dam Road.
To facilitate the next phase of work, they must temporarily close this section of the freeway. Temporary detours will be in effect during the eight hour overnight period of closure (see the maps for details).
These closures will enable crews to grade (properly adjust and align) falsework recently constructed for a new pedestrian overcrossing at Riverside Avenue. When complete, the new overcrossing will extend across Amador Street, enhancing safety for Riverside Elementary School students and the community.
For more information, visit the project webpage at http://www.ccta.net/sanpablodamroad or call the project hotline at (510) 277-0444. Construction updates will also be posted to Twitter at @i80spdr.
- 5. FY2016-17 Operating and Capital Improvement Budget
This past week, the City Council reviewed and approved budget reductions that were recommended by staff, continuing this very difficult decision-making process. Between this past May 3rd and June 14th, cost-saving measures have been identified that reduced an initial projected budget shortfall from $13.6 million to $2.9 million. We are pleased to report that the budget being presented to the City Council at its meeting of June 21st is balanced.
- 6. City Manager Chronicles
I have listed below some of the topics for meetings that I attended during the past week in the hope that it provides an idea of the varied issues with which our organization deals routinely. Much of my time recently has been devoted to working on the FY 2016-17 budget. Meetings of note during the past week included:
- Attended an internal staff meeting, as part of the current project to revise the City’s Five-Year Strategic Business plan;
- Attended my quarterly meeting, along with Economic Development Manager Janet Johnson, with James Lee, President/Chief Executive Officer, and Amit Patel, Chair of the Board, of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce;
- Attended the quarterly policy committee meeting for the NURVE (Nystrom United Revitalization Effort) project, which includes partnerships among the City of Richmond, the Richmond Community Foundation, the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) the National Park Service, and the Santa Fe and Coronado Neighborhood Councils;
- Attended the monthly Council of Industries luncheon at which Dr. Bruce Harter, WCCUSD Superintendent was the speaker;
- Attended a network gathering of businesses in the growing Richmond food industry cluster, held at the Riggers Loft Winery;
- Attended a planning meeting that included David Gray from the Mayor’s office, Community Services Director Rochelle Monk, Kimberley Aceves of RYSE, and Don Lau of the Y, to discuss possible development of a youth services strategy for Richmond;
- Attended a networking meeting for developing a Richmond Health Equity & Design Hub, to include the City of Richmond, and both the Regional Planning and Public Health Departments at UC Berkeley;
- Attended a steering committee planning meeting of the Economic Revitalization Initiative for Richmond and North Richmond;
- Attended my monthly check-in meeting with WCCUSD Superintendent Dr. Bruce Harter.
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.
- 7. City Presentation at Contra Costa Realtors Association
This past Thursday, Mayor Tom Butt and the city manager presented at a meeting of the Contra Costa Realtors Association and answered questions from local realtors in attendance. The Mayor provided an overview of the branding and marketing initiative being led by his office, and the city manager provided information on the City’s Opportunity Sites and other development opportunities. For more information on the City’s Opportunity Sites, please visit www.ci.richmond.ca.us/OpportunitySites.
 
- 8. West Contra Costa Unified School District Seamless Summer Food Program
Free summer meals are being offered at a location near you from June 9th - August 17th to all children 18 years or younger. This service will be provided by the WCCUSD Seamless Summer Food Program (SSFP). SSFP is making sure no child in West Contra Costa County goes hungry when schools are closed this summer. The Nevin Community Center, Parchester Community Center, Recreation Complex, and Main Library are among several City facilities hosting SSFP services.
Check out when and where you or someone you know can get free meals by following the link below. More information including menus can also be found on the site. If you have further questions regarding the program, please call (510) 307-4580.
WCCUSD Food Service Department: http://www.wccusd.net/page/256
Please use the following link to find all WCCUSD Summer Meal sites with dates, times, locations, and meals: http://goo.gl/KysTkr
- 9. Richmond Urban Garden Contest and Showcase
Mayor Tom Butt has announced the launch of his first Urban Garden Contest and Showcase. The Urban Garden Contest and Showcase is a city-wide home garden event in which Richmond and North Richmond residents have an opportunity to show off their edible gardens for a chance to win gardening prizes and the title of “Best Edible Garden in Richmond 2016.”
The contest includes a garden showcase day on July 2nd to allow community members to tour participating gardens and receive gardening tips from the city’s top amateur gardeners. The submission deadline for the Urban Garden Contest participants is Saturday, June 25th. Community members interested in touring or participating in the showcase day must register for attendance by June 25th. Full details are available at: www.RichmondCaMayor.org.
The winner of the Urban Garden Contest will receive a prize package of gifts from Annie’s Annuals and Perennials, Acapulco Rock and Soil, The Urban Farmer Store, and The Watershed Nursery. All contest participants will also receive compost provided by Republic Services and mulch provided by the City of Richmond.
Interested residents should visit www.RichmondCaMayor.org for complete contest details and a timeline, and follow the Urban Garden Contest on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #RichmondCAUrbanGarden.”
- 10. RichmondBUILD Academy’s 30th Cohort Graduation and New Cohort Applications Now Available
The RichmondBUILD Academy began its 30th cohort on April 18th. Over twelve weeks, students receive intensive job training in construction and valuable certifications in CPR/First Aide, OSHA 10, HAZ Whopper 40, Confined Spaces, and Traffic. Their graduation is scheduled for June 30th from 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon. As a result of their training, RichmondBUILD graduates are eligible for direct entry in the respective unions for Carpenters, Laborers, Dry Wall/Lathers, and Iron Workers.
Cohort 30 at the Laborers Training Facility in San Ramon, CA.
The RichmondBUILD Academy is now accepting applicants for its August 2016 cohort!
For more information, please visit: http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/1243/RichmondBUILD or call (510) 621-1780.
- 11. Assembly Thurmond 2016 Satellite Office Hours: By Appointment
Assembly 15th District Representatives are available to meet with constituents by appointment on the following dates in West Contra Costa County. Please call (510) 286-1400 24 hours in advance to schedule an appointment or visit our website www.asmdc.org/members/a15.
Richmond:
- 1st Wednesday from 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM: July 6th, August 3rd, September 7th, October 5th, November 2nd and December 7th.
- 3rd Saturday from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: July 16th, August 20th, September 17th, October 15th and November 19th.
Hercules: June 22nd and October 26th from 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Pinole: July 27th from 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
El Cerrito: August 24th from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
San Pablo: September 28th from 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- 12. Information Technology
Website
Top 10 Webpage views for the week ending 06/17/2016
Facebook Statistics
People reached increased by 1,656%
Post engagement increased by 446%
Twitter Statistics
Followers are up
 
KCRT DATANET OF THE WEEK:
City of Richmond Mobile APP UPDATE
An upgraded version of the City of Richmond’s mobile phone app is now available on the Apple App store and Google Play store.
The City of Richmond is looking forward to feedback from the community on this upgraded Mobile App. We welcome your comments at webservices@ci.richmond.ca.us
- 13. Engineering/Capital Improvement Program Departments
Capital Improvement Projects:
Safe Routes to School Project
The Safe Routes to School Project involves installation of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb ramps, high-visibility crosswalks with in-pavement flashing lights, traffic striping and markings, pedestrian safety signs, and sidewalk, curb, gutter, and median improvements near Ford, Grant, King, and Lincoln Elementary Schools. Layout work has begun near Grant School and construction is anticipated to begin the week of June 20, 2016. The City is coordinating the timing of the work with the individual schools in order to minimize disruption to school activities.
For more information, please contact the project’s Public Outreach Coordinator, Jacqueline Majors at (925) 949-6196.
Pavement Rehabilitation Project
Staff is still overseeing the Pavement Rehabilitation project. Paving has been completed on 22nd Street and the 23rd Street connector. The “cat-tracking” or “chalk traffic striping” on Ohio Avenue, Macdonald Avenue, Barrett Avenue, and all other streets will be permanently marked.
Permanent Markings Placed on Barrett Avenue
Streets Division:
Paving crews ground and paved Griffin Drive from McGlothen Way to Jenkins Way and prepared for the Juneteenth Family Day Parade and Festival on Saturday, June 18th.
Grinding and paving on Griffin Drive
Street sweeping performed commercial and residential sweeping services for the second Monday and Tuesday and the third Wednesday through Friday in the May Valley, Vista View, Clinton Hill I – III, Atchison Village, South Belding Woods, Santa Fe, Coronado, Marina Bay, and Point Richmond neighborhood council areas.
Signs and Lines staff installed 15 new poles and signs, installed three pavement messages, repaired 35 signs and poles, painted 384 feet of curbs, and fabricated two signs in-house.
Curb Painting on Carlson Boulevard
- 14. Infrastructure and Maintenance Operations
Facilities Maintenance:
Carpenters constructed and placed a television cabinet at the Senior Center and relocated the Automated External Defibulator (AED) device at the Swim Center.
Painters restored the concrete floor at the Booker T. Anderson Community Center, painted the Police Chief’s office, the Deputy Chief’s office and the reception area for both as well as the front canopy of the Main Library.
Electricians repaired the damaged signal conduit at Cutting and Carlson Boulevards, fixed the knocked down traffic light at Broadway and Carlson Boulevard, repaired two sets of pedestrian wires, fixed the traffic controller at 33rd Street and Macdonald Avenue, repaired street lights on Richmond Parkway between Bella Vista and Lakeside Drive, and installed a new Shot Spotter.
Parks and Landscaping Division:
General maintenance crews weeded and trimmed on Castro Ranch Road, installed new basketball nets at Humboldt Play Lot, weeded Wendell Park, weeded along the Richmond Parkway, assisted with the “Love Your Block” planting project, and the Plunge Garden grand opening.
Plunge Garden Grand Opening
The tree crew cut or trimmed trees on 21st Street, South 15th Street, South 45th Street, West Cutting Boulevard, Cutting Boulevard, and Sacramento Avenue.
Tree Trimming on Cutting Boulevard
Hilltop District crews completed the Auto Plaza landscaping project, planted trees at Vista Del Mar Park, and worked in high fire zones along Atlas Road.
Weed Abatement on Richmond Parkway
Marina District crews continued with median strip improvements along Marina Bay and Regatta Boulevard, mowing and edging throughout, and conducted weed abatement along Regatta Boulevard shoulders.
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
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