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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/13/2013 OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER December 13, 2013 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager AT Subject: General Information Notable Items:  Starting this week, Mill Creek will be dry as Water Resources staff begins annual maintenance of the gates and weirs. During the week of December 16th, crews will begin to remove built-up sediment in the canal. These activities are expected to be completed by January 5th and water flows are projected to resume on January 6th.  City staff and the design/build contractor for the Planz Park Skate Park project will be hosting a community meeting on Monday, December 16th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at South High School. During the meeting, community members will have the opportunity to provide input into the design phase of the project. A flyer with more information is enclosed.  I am on call for jury duty next week. If I am called in, my staff will have my contact information. TRIP:  Nighttime Lane Closures on State Route 58 Motorists are advised to anticipate nighttime lane closures on State Route 58, between State Route 99 and Cottonwood Road, from December 15-19, 2013. The lane closures will be in effect between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., nightly. The contractor for the SR 58 Gap Closure Project plans to re-stripe the roadway, in preparation of constructing new travel lanes. This operation will require alternating lane closures, but one travel lane is expected to remain open while work is underway. General Information December 13, 2013 Page 2 Council Referrals  Councilmember Maxwell: o Downtown Lighting Reports: For your information, the following reports are attached: 1. The Streets Division work schedule for the week of December 16th; and 2. Event schedule for Rabobank Arena and Theater; and 3. BPD November Special Enforcement Unit/Gang Violence Report; and 4. Department of Recreation and Parks November Report; and 5. News Release from SoCalGas regarding Natural Gas Usage. Event Notifications:  As a reminder, the annual Guns & Hoses game is this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Rabobank Arena prior to that evenings Condors game. The game features law enforcement and firefighters along with former Condors players. Tickets are $15, and include entry to both games that day. Please see the enclosed flyer. Rabobank Arena Rabobank Theater Condors Hockey Friday, December 13th vs. Utah Saturday, December 14th vs. Utah 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $8 - $30 The Nutcracker Friday, December 13th at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 14th at 1:00 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 15th at 1:00 p.m. Tickets: $34 - $38 AT:rs:al:cb cc: Department Heads Roberta Gafford, City Clerk City of Bakersfield · Department of Recreation & Parks · 1600 Truxtun Avenue, 3rd Floor Bakersfield · California · 93301 (661) 326-3866 · Fax (661) 852-2140 DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION & PARKS DIANNE HOOVER, DIRECTOR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Darin Budak December 6, 2013 661.326.3866 Public Meeting – Planz Park Skate Park Design Please join City staff and the design and build contractor, Spohn Ranch, to discuss the various options for the new skate park to be located in Planz Park. During this public meeting, citizens will have the opportunity to input into the design phase of the project. What: Public Meeting for the Planz Skate Park Design When: Monday December 16, 2013 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Where: South High School Cafeteria 1101 Planz Road (Cafeteria is located just south of the west parking lot.) # # # C:\Users\cblaschke\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\EZN01QZ6\#438 Downtown Lighting.docx CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Raul Rojas, Public Works Director DATE: December 13, 2013 SUBJECT: Downtown Lighting Referral No. 438 In response to the council referral, staff will conduct an assessment of the lighting in the downtown area to identify locations where conversion from high pressure sodium (HPS) overhead lighting to LED fixtures will provide increased quality lighting and improve safety. Within the past year, staff converted HPS fixtures to LED fixtures on standard cobra street lights on H Street from 21st to Truxtun Avenue. This cost effective project successfully increased quality lighting in the downtown area. Once the assessment is complete, staff will look to expand this LED conversion to other downtown street light fixtures and provide a cost estimate to complete the project. Councilmember Maxwell requested that staff look into a project that would significantly increase the lighting in the downtown area to improve safety, and provide costs associated with such a project. Week of Dec 16_2013_Work Schedule Page 1 of 2 STREETS DIVISION – WORK SCHEDULE Week of Dec. 16, 2013 – Dec. 20, 2013 Resurfacing/Reconstructing streets in the following areas: Reconstructing various streets west of Columbus and south of University Miscellaneous Streets Division projects: Video inspection of City owned Sewer & Storm lines to evaluate condition of pipes Repairing damaged sewer line found during video inspection Miscellaneous concrete repairs throughout the city Concrete work on various streets in the area south of E. California Ave and west of MLK Blvd in preparation for street reconstruction / resurfacing (HUD funded area) Parking lot improvements at Animal Shelter Leaf collection started on 10/15/13 and runs thru 1/31/14 Concrete work Lennox Ave and Hewlett St area THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Week of Dec 16_2013_Work Schedule Page 2 of 2 STREETS SWEEPING SCHEDULE Monday, Dec. 16, 2013 City areas between 99 Hwy. & Stine Rd. – Panama Ln. & Taft Hwy. Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013 Between Panama Lane & Woodmere Dr. – Ashe Rd. & Stine Rd. Between District Blvd. & Panama Ln. -- Gosford Rd. & Ashe Rd. Between Akers Rd. & Phyllis St. – Harris Rd. & Panama Ln. City areas between Akers Rd. & Stine Rd. – Harris Rd. & Panama Ln. Cul-De-Sacs on the north side of Angela Wy., between Manely Ct. & Cris Ct. Between Oswell Park Dr. & Brundage Ln. – Oswell St. & Leeta St. Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 City areas between Workman St. & Sterling Rd. – 58 Hwy. & Baja Dr. Between Morning Dr. & Park Dr. – College Ave. & Willis Ave. Between Buena Vista Rd. & Old River Rd. – White Ln. & Panama Ln. Between Old River Rd. & Gosford Rd. – White Ln. & Pacheco Rd. Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013 City areas between Stockdale Hwy. & Ming Ave. – Ashe Rd. & Gosford Rd. Between El Portal/Laurelglen Blvd. & Ashe Rd. – Ming Ave. & So. Halfmoon/Olympia Dr. Between Ashe Rd. & Stine Rd. – Ming Ave. & So. Halfmoon/Edgemount Dr. Between Coffee Rd. & Wilson Rd. (ext.) – White Ln. & So. Halfmoon/Olympia Dr. Friday, Dec. 20, 2013 Between Stockdale Hwy. & Ming Ave. – Allen Rd. & Old River Rd. Between Old River Rd. & Coffee Rd. – Ming Ave. & Ridge Oak/Westwold Dr. Between Ridge Oak/Westwold Dr. & White Ln. – Old River Rd., east to the PG&E easement. Between White Ln. & Asperata Dr. – Gosford Rd,, west to the PG&E easement. Between White Ln. & Cederwood Dr. – Stine Rd. & Wilson Rd. (ext.) NOTE: If raining, there will be no street sweeping service and all street cleaning personnel will be assigned to cleaning plugged drains and part circle culverts. This also applies when a large number of street sweeper are in Fleet for repairs. Areas that have been missed during this time will be swept at the end of the month. BOX OFFICE HOURS Mon-Fri 10 AM - 5 PM Closed Saturday & Sunday (Excluding Event Days) TICKETMASTER LOCATIONS Walmart - 2601 Fashion Place Walmart - 6225 Colony Street Walmart - 8400 Rosedale Hwy CHARGE-BY-PHONE 1-800-745-3000 GROUP SALES INFORMATION 661-852-7309 SEASON TICKET INFORMATION Bakersfield Condors 661-324-PUCK (7825) www.bakersfieldcondors.com Bakersfield Symphony 661-323-7928 www.bakersfieldsymphony.org Bakersfield Community Concert Association 661-589-2478 661-663-9006 www.bakersfieldcca.org UPCOMING EVENTS December 13-14 – Condors vs Utah7:00 PM $30, $23, $18, $15, $11, $8 On Sale Now December 26 – Condors vs Las Vegas7:00 PM $25, $20, $16, $15, $11, $8 On Sale Now December 29 – Condors vs Idaho4:00 PM $25, $20, $16. $15, $11, $8 On Sale Now January 4 – CSUB vs Utah Valley7:00 PM $50, $20, $10 On Sale Now January 9 – CSUB vs Grand Canyon7:00 PM $50, $20, $10 On Sale Now January 11 – Condors vs Las Vegas7:00 PM $30, $23, $18, $15, $11, $8 On Sale Now January 14 – Condors vs Stockton7:00 PM $25, $20, $16, $15, $11, $8 On Sale Now January 17 – Condors vs Stockton7:00 PM $25, $20, $16, $15, $11, $8 On Sale Now January 24-25 – Monster X Tour 7:30 PM $47.00, $27.00, $22.00, $19.00, $14.00 On Sale Now February 13 – Harlem Globetrotters7:00 PM $105.00, $80.00, $50.00, $38.00, $30.00, $23.00On Sale Now February 21 – Gabriel Iglesias 7:00 PM $65.00, $45.00, $30.00 On Sale Now December 13-15 – Nutcracker 2013 $38, $34 On Sale Now January 9 – Jason Petty “Honky Tonk Heroes”7:00 PM Call BCCA at 661-589-2478 for tickets January 10 – Disney Jr. Live 3:30 PM & 6:30 PM $55.00, $32.00, $23.00, $18.00 On Sale Now January 31 - The Fresh Beat Band6:30 PM $40.00, $27.00, $20.00 On Sale Now February 27 – Hello Dolly 7:30 PM $55.00, $45.00, $35.00 On Sale Now www.rabobankarena.com - www.bhnamphitheatre.com BAKERSFIELD POLICEBAKERSFIELD POLICEBAKERSFIELD POLICEBAKERSFIELD POLICE MEMORANDUMMEMORANDUMMEMORANDUMMEMORANDUM Date: December 9, 2013 To: Alan Tandy, City Manager From: Greg Williamson, Chief of Police Subject: Special Enforcement Unit/Gang Violence Report I have enclosed the Special Enforcement Unit’s monthly gang statistics report for November, 2013. Please call if you have any questions. GSW/vrf BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT MONTHLY REPORT – NOVEMBER 2013 Special Enforcement Unit Monthly Stats for November 2013 Year to Date Special Enforcement Unit Statistics January – November 2013 719 Felony Arrests 1386 FI’s 81 Search Warrants 261 Misdemeanor Arrests 174 Citations 509 Court Prep - Hours 225 Felony Warrant Arrests 4578 Probation and Parole Searches 179 Community Contacts 331 Misdemeanor Warrant Arrests 339 Hrs. Assisting Other Department Sections 203 Project Logs Hours Worked 53 AB109 Arrests – 186.22 619 Supplemental Reports 1016 Hours Assisting Patrol 26 AB109 Arrests - Other 774 General Offense Reports 1793 Hours Assisting Investigations 303 Hours In Training 86 Vehicle Reports 53 58 34 52 2013 Shootings 2012 Shootings 2011 Shootings 2010 Shootings 205 Guns Seized 1009 Patrol Call Response 60 Felony Arrests 78 FI’s 3 Search Warrants 26 Misdemeanor Arrests 15 Citations 32 Court Prep - Hours 22 Felony Warrant Arrests 269 Probation and Parole Searches 0 Community Contacts 23 Misdemeanor Warrant Arrests 6 Hrs. Assisting Other Department Sections 0 Project Logs Hours Worked 2 AB109 Arrests – 186.22 32 Supplemental Reports 97 Hours Assisting Patrol 1 AB109 Arrests - Other 76 General Offense Reports 31 Hours Assisting Investigations 0 Hours In Training 4 Vehicle Reports 2 6 3 3 2013 Shootings 2012 Shootings 2011 Shootings 2010 Shootings 15 Guns Seized 101 Patrol Call Response BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT MONTHLY REPORT – NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2012-2013 COMPARISON 63 40 17 2 82 49 15 3 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Felony Arrests MisdemeanorArrests Guns Seized Search Warrants 2012 2013 441 439 86 134 269 78 0 75 150 225 300 375 450 Assisting Other Departments(Including Investigations)Probation / Parole Searches Field Interviews / StreetChecks 2012 2013 BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT MONTHLY REPORT – NOVEMBER 2013 2011-2013 YEAR TO DATE COMPARISON 5553 4715 3085 5286 5230 2083 4578 3148 1386 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 6000 Probation / Parole Searches Assisting Other Departments(Including Investigations)Field Interviews / StreetChecks 2011 2012 2013 1313 106 78 1517 114 26 1536 205 81 010020030040050060070080090010001100120013001400150016001700 Arrests Guns Seized Search Warrants 2011 2012 2013 BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT MONTHLY REPORT – NOVEMBER 2013 34 58 53 6 15 11 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 2011 2012 2013 SHOOTINGS HOMICIDES* YEAR TO DATE GANG VIOLENCE INDEX 2011-2013 *Please note that the homicide stats include all gang related homicides, including but not limited to shootings and stabbings. BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT MONTHLY REPORT – NOVEMBER 2013 GANG RELATED SHOOTINGS – 2011-2013 (YEAR TO DATE ONLY) 0 1 6 2 2 4 2 3 8 3 3 5 4 3 7 6 6 5 4 8 4 6 13 7 4 2 3 5 4 2 6 5 2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 JAN.FEB.MAR.APR.MAY JUN.JUL.AUG.SEPT.OCT.NOV. 2011 2012 2013 BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT MONTHLY REPORT – NOVEMBER 2013 GANG RELATED SHOOTINGS COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE OF THE PREVIOUS 5 YEARS – PER WEEK 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 2012 2012 Weekly Numbers Previous 5 Years (2007-2011) Average Wi n t e r B r e a k Sp r i n g B r e a k Su m m e r B r e a k Sc h o o l R e s u m e s La b o r D a y Wi n t e r B r e a k 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 2013 2013 Weekly Numbers Previous 5 Years (2008-2012) Average Wi n t e r B r e a k Sp r i n g B r e a k Su m m e r Br e a k Sc h o o l R e s u m e s La b o r D a y Wi n t e r B r e a k BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT MONTHLY REPORT – NOVEMBER 2013 0 1 2 3 4 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 Nu m b e r o f S h o o t i n g s 2010 - 2013 Shooting Comparison to date - 12 Week Time Frame 2010 Weekly Numbers 2011 Weekly Numbers 2012 Weekly Numbers 2013 Weekly Numbers Week of the Year Sc h o o l R e s u m e s La b o r D a y We enhance the quality of life through a variety of programs, parks, and partnerships. Department of Recreation and Parks Date: December 11, 2013 To: Alan Tandy, City Manager From: Dianne Hoover, Director of Recreation & Parks Subject: November 2013 Monthly Report Total monthly attendance for all programs, reservations and volunteers combined for the month of November totaled 38,021 as compared to last year’s total of 40,332. ADMINISTRATION: o Sister Cities – Project is complete. Grand opening was held December 4th. o Unimproved Median Island Study – Stockdale Hwy Landscape Project T2K212 has been awarded. o Challenger & Wilderness Park Playground Rehabilitation Project – Was awarded to Brown & Fowler. o Special Event Reservations: o November 2nd – Beach Horseshoe Court, Ricky’s Retreat Horseshoe tournament – 100 Guests o November 2nd – TPRW , The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Walk/Run – 500 Guests o November 9th – Yokuts Park, BHS Choir Walk/Run – 250 Guests o November 16th – TPRW, Children’s Miracle Network Walk/Run – 500 Guests o November 16th – Yokuts Park, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation o November 23rd – TPRW, Allstate Insurance Corporate Appreciation – 500 Guests o November 23rd – Yokuts Park, Bakersfield Homeless Shelter Turkey Trot – 400 Guests o November 28th – Central Park, Bakersfield Burrito Project Community Outreach – 500 Guests Total Attendance: 14,760– Reservations/Special Events We enhance the quality of life through a variety of programs, parks, and partnerships. DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS NOVEMBER MONTHLY REPORT PAGE TWO Aquatics/McMurtrey Aquatic Center: o Total attendance for Aquatics was 2,086 which was a 9.8% increase compared to November 2012 of 1,900. This was due to a slight rise in every programs attendance at McMurtrey except night lap swim. o This month, staff submitted a 2014 Operation Splash grant proposal to Kaiser Permanente. If awarded, this grant would provide hundreds of the underserved children throughout Bakersfield with the opportunity to learn to swim and to practice their swimming skills during open swim. It would also provide CPR/AED and First Aid Classes to parents as well as water safety and healthy beverage education. • 100 Mile Club: o The 100 mile lap swim club is currently made up of 435 active members that swam 14,421.20 miles this month. The club has swum a combined total of 124,381 miles. • Make A Splash Program: o The Make A Splash drowning prevention program provided Parent CPR and First Aid Training to 21 adults with preschool aged children this month. Staff also presented information on the Make A Splash program to 20 parents at the November 13th Head Start Program Meeting at Stella Hills Elementary School. Other Aquatic Highlights: o Classes and activities currently taking place in November at the McMurtrey Aquatic Center include: Lap Swimming Diving Aqua Conditioning 100 Mile Club SCUBA Parent CPR & First Aid Deep Water Intervals Lifeguard In-service Water Walking • Total Attendance: 2,086 ATHLETICS: o Adult, Youth, Fitness and Adaptive Programs total attendance for the month of November was 19,350. Monthly attendance decreased by 14% as compared to same time last year of 22,507. The decrease in attendance is attributed to the Fall Softball League games that were rained out, makeup games to be held in the month of December. Adult Softball o The Fall Softball League continued through the month of November. o Connors Concessions reported earning $4,111.38 in sales for the month of November at Mesa Marin Sports Complex. Softball Tournaments o Mesa Marin also hosted an ASA Tournament on November 9th & 10th. Twenty- eight teams participated in the tournament. o 14 Men’s Teams on November 9th o 14 Coed Teams on November 10th We enhance the quality of life through a variety of programs, parks, and partnerships. DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS NOVEMBER REPORT PAGE THREE Adult Adaptive Co-Rec Softball League o This seven week Adaptive Softball League for adults with disabilities started on Thursday, October 3rd. The League completed games on Thursday, November 14th. o Eight teams participated in the Fall League with games held at both Beach and Wayside. Clients from each of the programs came out to cheer and celebrate with their team. o Kern Trophy donated 8 trophies (one for each team) at a value of $280. • Donation/Volunteer Total: o $280.00 Other Athletics & Adaptive Programming News: o Mesa Marin Sports Complex Softball Tournament Rentals for 2014 are being accepted. Total Attendance: 19,350 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COMMUNITY CENTER: o Overall attendance for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center was 0. Attendance is a 0 due to the center being closed beginning November 1st through an anticipated date of December 23rd. Build-A-Bike o With the MLK center closed, we transferred the bike program to the PAL center. o Our bike program is operating out of a mobile recreation unit that is housed in a locked storage area. o Instructor Joe is working with 8 children a week and is able to give out bikes to all the children. o The PAL center was happy to house the program during our closure. It has been a real benefit to the children who attend their center. Youth Academy o The Youth Academy is currently being held at the Stop the Violence building on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The class is averaging 15 children at each class. o The Youth Academy participates in the Kwanzaa program later this month. The students help with decoration setup and tear down and help serve food at the event. Kwanzaa o Kwanzaa will be held Friday, December 27th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center. • Donation/Volunteer Total: o $230.00 Total Attendance: 0 We enhance the quality of life through a variety of programs, parks, and partnerships. DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS NOVEMBER MONTHLY REPORT PAGE FOUR SILVER CREEK COMMUNITY CENTER/SAUNDERS MULTI-USE FACILITY: Silver Creek Community Center Total attendance for Silver Creek Community Center was 1,250 as compared to last year of 472. o There were two (2) rentals for the month of November. After School Fun • Attendance: Weekly Average: 93 Monthly: 465 Revenue: $2,159.00 Saunders Recreational Facility o Total overall attendance for the Saunders Recreational Facility was 575. There was one (1) rental for the Saunders Recreational Facility for the month of November. o Hockey Program o Registered: 50 Participants Total Attendance: 200 o Soccer Program o Registered: 10 Teams Total Attendance: 360 • Total Attendance for Silver Creek & Saunders Recreational Facility : 1,825 PARKS: Sister Cities o Mayor Hall previewed the newest addition, Phase B on 11/22/13. MLK o Spray rig operations assisted General Services Department with the removal of ceiling tile on 11/25/13 through 11/27/13. o Craftworker was sent to assist General Services with construction projects from 11/26/13 through 11/27/13. TPRW/Kern River Parkway o City Water Department cleaned Truxtun Lake on 10/8/13. Mesa Marin Sports Complex o Crews repaired broken domestic line, which was a major repair job. Haggin Oaks Park o On November 20th, a section on the east side turf area of Haggin Oaks Park was renovated to eliminate a standing water concern. Trees o The annual tree contractor Stay Green is continuing tree trimming at the following locations: o Harris Avenue between Gosford and Stine Road North and South walls. o Brimhall from Calloway to Allen. o City tree staff removed all tumbleweeds at the future park site located at Brahma and Linnell Way. o City tree staff trimmed trees at the following locations: o Manor Street Bridge. Trees were growing out of the river and creating a traffic hazard. o Kern River Multi-use trail from Oak east bound to Manor. o Near parking lot at San Miguel Grove, requested by Police Department. We enhance the quality of life through a variety of programs, parks, and partnerships. DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS NOVEMBER MONTHLY REPORT PAGE FIVE Trees o Trees Trimmed: 78 Clearance: 123 Removals: 23 o Service Tickets received: 76 Completed: 110 UPCOMING/ONGOING EVENTS: • Kwanzaa at MLK, December 27th from 1-4pm – Free • Polar Bear Plunge, January 1st at 11 am at McMurtrey Aquatic Center- $5 for plunge $25 with Sweatshirt • Adult Softball Spring League Registration Begins January 6th – February 7th • Adult Indoor Soccer Begins in January • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center will officially open to the public in the first full week in January, 2014. NEWS RELEASE SoCalGas Calls for Energy Conservation as Winter Cold Puts Heavy Demand on Natural Gas Supply LOS ANGELES, Dec. 06, 2013 – Recent record cold weather across the United States has placed a strain on natural gas supplies. SoCalGas is asking customers to take simple precautionary steps to conserve natural gas to help ensure supplies are sufficient to meet demand created by this severe winter. “We know a typical home’s natural gas use for heating increases, sometimes up to three times more during colder months. SoCalGas is asking our customers to conserve energy to help ensure we have enough natural gas supply to get us through this cold weather,” said Rodger Schwecke, vice president of customer solutions for SoCalGas. SoCalGas advises the following energy conservation tips: • Use extra blankets and sweaters to stay warm and lower your furnace thermostat by three to five degrees (health permitting). This can save up to 30 percent on heating costs. • Limit use of non-essential gas appliances, fireplaces and spas. • Reduce your water heating usage: use less hot water, turn down the water heater thermostat or insulate your water heater. • For additional conservation tips, visit SoCalGas.com SoCalGas also encourages customers to follow these important safety tips when heating their homes to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning: • Never use your oven, range or outdoor grill to heat your home because these appliances are not designed for this purpose and can emit dangerous carbon monoxide • Install a CO detector or change the batteries in your CO detectors. Symptoms of CO poisoning can include unexplained nausea, headaches, drowsiness, mental confusion and flu-like symptoms. If you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from CO poisoning, call 911 immediately. # # # About Southern California Gas Co. Southern California Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 140 years. It is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 20.9 million consumers connected through nearly 5.8 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company’s service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. Southern California Gas Co. is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE). SATURDAYDecember 14 3:30 PM Don’t miss the face-off between Kern County’s finest Firefighters and Law Enforcement members. $15 includes both games . Guns & Hoses Game at 3:30 PM&Condors vs Utah Grizzlies @ 7 PM Public Safety Night on the Plaza Before the GameCondors will be giving away Mohawks to the first 2,000 fans, 17 & under when doors open at 6:00pm $4 per ticket sold will benefit Bakersfield Firefighters Burn Foundation and Kern County Firefighters Burn Survivor Trust. by 12/09/13 For any questions call Kyle Bennett or Roger Parsons in the Condors Office at 324-PUCK (7825) VS