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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/03/2014 OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER January 3, 2014 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager AT Subject: General Information Notable Items:  As you are aware, over the past two years, the Bakersfield Police Department has experienced an increased strain on its resources due to the State’s prison realignment, subsequent increases in property crimes and new efforts, such as a focus on internet cafes. Corresponding, the Council has added additional sworn and non-sworn personnel as part of the budget process. Despite the current authorized sworn complement at its largest in department history, the department continues to face a challenging environment in which to operate. During the most recent budget preparation process, Vice Mayor Weir requested staff formulate a multi-year strategic planning document for the Police Department with a focus on improving response times. The referral, in part, relates to the annual budget requests made for police staffing and related priorities. After evaluating various options, both my office and the Police Chief are recommending The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) be used to assist in formulating a plan. The IACP is a highly respected law enforcement organization, with extensive experience in formulating strategic plans for police departments across the country. The IACP has a dedicated management studies team, which conducts a comprehensive review of Police Department operations and provides ongoing feedback and recommendations for improving procedures and services, such as response times. The plan is to recommend a professional services agreement be executed as part of the mid-year budget update, scheduled for the January 22nd City Council Meeting. Staff anticipates the cost of the study would not exceed $100,000 and would take approximately four to six months to complete. Feel free to call me if you have any questions. General Information January 3, 2014 Page 2  The Final Environmental Impact Report for the 24th Street Improvement Project has been completed and is available for public review. A public hearing has also been scheduled before the City of Bakersfield Planning Commission for Thursday, January 16, 2014. The Planning Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, at City Hall South, 1501 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield. The proposed 24th Street Improvement Project would widen, realign and restripe 24th Street from west of State Route 99 to east of M Street, as well as realign and restripe 23rd Street from west of C Street to east of M Street, in order to add two travel lanes (one in each direction) to the roadway. The project would also encompass improvements to the 24th Street/State Route 99 interchange and to the northbound State Route 99 auxiliary lane, as well as widen the Oak Street/24th Street intersection. Alternative 1—Widen to the North, has been chosen as the recommended preferred alternative in the Final EIR. This alternative would require 23 full parcel acquisitions and 29 partial parcel acquisitions. The Planning Commission will accept public testimony at the January 16th hearing as it considers certification of the document. Public comments regarding the proposed project and/or adequacy of the environmental impact report will also be accepted in writing on or before the hearing date. The 24th Street Improvement Project Final Environmental Impact report will be available for public review during regular business hours at the following Bakersfield locations: • Thomas Roads Improvement Program, 900 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 200 • Community Development Services Department – Planning Division, 1715 Chester Avenue • Beale Memorial Library, 701 Truxtun Avenue • Kern Council of Governments, 1401 19th Street, Suite 300 • City of Bakersfield website: www.bakersfieldcity.us • TRIP website: www.bakersfieldfreeways.us After the Planning Commission considers certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report, another public hearing will be held before the Bakersfield City Council who will determine whether to certify the document and move forward with the project. For additional information on this project, please visit the TRIP website at www.bakersfieldfreeways.us.  On December 30th, The West Park Home Owners Association and Friends filed an Answer (opposition) to the Validation Action filed by the City. The Validation Action was a prerequisite to obtain debt financing and was meant General Information January 3, 2014 Page 3 to have the Court validate funding sources for the TRIP match. This means that we will now need to go through the Court process associated with a civil trial including discovery and trial.  The Recreation and Parks Polar Bear Plunge had over 200 participants this year! See below for pictures of the event. TRIP:  State Route 58 and P Street Nighttime Closures- Motorists are advised to anticipate nighttime lane closures for the inside travel lanes on State Route 58 in the vicinity of P Street, Sunday through Thursday, January 5 – 9, 2014. The lane closures are necessary to allow the contractor for the State Route 58 Gap Closure project to work on the bridges crossing over P Street. These lane closures will affect both eastbound and westbound traffic and will be in effect between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., each night. At least one travel lane will remain open in each direction while work is underway. The bridge work will also require the closure of P Street at State Route 58, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., for the dates listed above. Motorists needing to cross the freeway can detour around the area by using either the South Chester Avenue or Union Avenue overcrossings. During daytime hours, the contractor will be working within the freeway median. This work is being performed behind concrete barriers and is not expected to impact traffic; however, motorists should remain alert while traveling through the area and watch for construction personnel and vehicles that may be entering or leaving the freeway from the median. Reports: For your information, the following reports are attached: 1. Streets Division work schedule for the week of January 3rd 2. Letter from Bright House Networks regarding possible programming changes. General Information January 3, 2014 Page 4 Event Notifications: Rabobank Arena Condors Hockey Saturday, January 11th vs. Las Vegas Tuesday, January 14th vs. Stockton Friday, January 17th vs. San Francisco Sunday, January 19th vs. Ontario Friday, January 31st vs. Utah Tickets: $8 - $30 AT:rs:al:cb cc: Department Heads Roberta Gafford, City Clerk Polar Bear Plunge Week of Jan 6_2014_Work Schedule Page 1 of 2 STREETS DIVISION – WORK SCHEDULE Week of Jan. 6, 2014 – Jan. 10, 2014 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 Crack Sealing on Truxtun Ave from Union Ave to Beale overpass THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Week of Jan 6_2014_Work Schedule Page 2 of 2 STREETS SWEEPING SCHEDULE Monday, Jan. 6, 2013 Between Golden State & 16th St. -- “F” St. & Oak St. /kern River Boundary Between 34th St. & 30th St. – Chester Ave. & San Dimas St. Between San Dimas St. & Beale Ave. – 34th/Bernard St. & Niles St. Between Olive Dr. & Riverlakes Dr. (ext.) – Riverlakes Dr. & Coffee Rd. Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2013 Between California Ave. & Brundage Ln. – Oak St. & Union Ave. Between Renfro Rd. & Jenkins Rd. – Stockdale Hwy. & Kern River Boundary. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014 Between Panorama Dr. & Bernard St. -- Union Ave. & Loma Linda Dr. Between River Blvd. & E. Columbus St. – Panorama Dr. & Columbus St. Between College Ave. & Azalea Ave. – Mountain Dr. & Raval St. Between Ming Ave. & White Ln. – Allen Rd. & Buena Vista Rd. Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014 Between Carr St. & California Ave. – Mohawk St. & Stockdale Hwy. Between Stockdale Hwy. & Marella Wy. – California Ave. & Montclair St. Between La Mirada Dr. & Chester Ln. – Montclair St. & No. Stine Rd. Between California Ave. (ext.) & Stockdale Hwy. – No. Stine Rd. & 99 Hwy. Between Stockdale Hwy. & Ming Ave. – New Stine Rd. & Ashe Rd. Between Mountain Ridge Dr. & Ashe Rd. – Taft Hwy. & Berkshire Rd. Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 Between Ming Ave. & White Ln. – Buena Vista Rd & Old River Rd. Between Stine Rd. & 99 Hwy. – Ming Avenue & Adidas. Between Panama Ln. & Birkshire Rd. – Gosford Rd. & Stine Rd. 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.