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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/11/2011TO: FROM: SUBJECT: �� ��;� �_� OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER Februar Honorable Mayor and City Council Alan Tandy, City Manager A��aC General Information We are saddened by the loss of our former Chief of PolicE Bob Price. He was a true public servant, devoting his entire City of Bakersfield and our community, first with the BPD for � those years as Chief of Police), and later serving as Mayor f recent years, he had organized a volunteer effort to ass Department with various administrative duties. He was a go� colleague, and will be greatly missed! Miscellaneous News • We have been quite fortunate recently that several of our Cit meetings have been fairly brief. A combination of things, incluc that had to be delayed, pending legislation at the State level, ai cycle, among other things, means that will not be the case on Febr It will be a challenging agenda to get through. • We thought that we might have the latest census numbers, but it like we will not see them until March, as California is one of the las be notified. Some of you have been asking about the possibilit� reapportionment. Once we have the figures, we can begin discus� • The Wastewater Treatment Plan 3 Expansion has earned a Recognition Award by the American Council of Engineering Cc Honorable Mayor and City Council General Information February 1 1, 201 1 Page 2 Pension Reform ✓ With California potentially facing an estimated $500 billion pensic several pieces of legislation limiting retirement benefits will be con the current session, and a more comprehensive reform initiativE planned for the June, 2012 ballot. An article from the CaIWa enclosed with more information. ✓ According to an article in the Sacramento Bee, the Legislative Office supports action to reduce pensions for future employees t� the public sector. They recommend that lawmakers act not onl� employee pensions, but on retirement benefits for the University of system, teachers and county government workers. ✓ Sacramento: Due in large part to the 2008 CaIPERS investment lo� will have to add $5 million to in its annual payment into the retiremE this year. They expect that number to rise by $16 million four years The extra funds will have to be paid from the General Fund. Thi� portion of the city's budget woes; they are also facing a$35 mill million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. Cuts in additio already made will have to take place, but they have not determined. ✓ San Bernardino: The County's Executive Officer reports a growing liability of about $1.l billion in the pension fund. From June 30, 20( 30, 2010, the difference between obligations and assets grew by r $447 million. Options to reduce the liability include reducing bene� hires and increasing the age at which employees are eligible to ret Budqet News � Fresno: The City Manager is asking union employees to take a p 5� salary cut and raise their health care contribution by 50�0. 1 save approximately $1.67 million of their $6 million budget gap vPrir rinrl �7 millinn nf thP nrniP�tPrl �1 5 millinn rlPfi�it nPxt fic�ryl vF Honorable Mayor and City Council General Information February 1 1, 201 1 Page 3 Reports For your information, we enclose the following information: > A traffic advisory regarding increased construction activity in tl of the Truxtun Avenue/Mohawk Street intersection. This activ Thursday, and will continue over the next several weeks as thE Street Extension Project nears completion. Additional deta provided as they become available. > The latest Homessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Update. > A letter from Bright House Networks regarding some proc changes customers can expect in March. > A notice from Southern California Gas Company regardin assistance funding for qualified households. > The Streets Division work schedule for the week beginning Febru� AT:rs:al cc: Department Heads Roberta Gafford, City Clerk .: � ���t A� �,1 cb���� _ . � - ..��t��'y3�..�,�i4�6� �;��Q� ��� .. . � .. {�: v j4 . .� F'= � rs —_ .� _� M�- �_'� __ �*"°'�� ._.. .. _���w-._,...:. �_ � �� -., _.�-�45.'. "�r�i's� ) �� , �°"..e ' �. �: ��� � . �' : ^] P�. '� .. �. - � ... - . _ °l4'9�� �'�4 t� � � �. � , . . .-✓.� �..._. � � �' >_,.i "C9e:�. �F � � � .� � � � : �� ,��� ,.". ; __ _ ---- � . _. K . �'°..�� � _. _ �;:;e,n ' �.,�,�ti _�,,,�.'• ""f � � �� �. ���: °` �� �� �..:�. _._ _ _ ._:,,;. T� � � _ ___ -�� , _ � , , �. __ ._ _ _,6: �,�;,� , :.� - .,.,�,, M:-u.�. � _ � t ��: : �__ � � _ _ --�, _ �,.,,.� � _ _ ._. ,:, �:.. - ,:.,. _�.� _ __.,,,__ ..:�- ,�. . __ _ __. , . _ ��:.„ � " - 1,- .. �.�::. . _,'�^ � � l5 .�� . . . . . . . �i.3.t_ . . ;.i.� � � ��� F. � �— a � �F Su:' 3. �� _.. .._ -�.,,,t�...... .. ...,�..,.s_�-s:;,�;�,�,�•,'._ .;. " `°`�..''�, _""°'*'. _k,.,,,� s ,,� -..�, -_. ..: -�,- ...�.--�..e_. .. ___m„e.�_ _._ . ... Pension Initiative, Legislation Planned FEB. 7, 2011 By DAVE R0�3ERTS With California potentially facing a$500 billion-plus unfunded pension liability, several pieces of legisiation limiting retirement benetits will be considered in the current session and a more comprehensive reform initiative is being planned for the June 20 ] 2 ballot. 'The initiative's reforms have yet to be decided. But California Pension Reform, an offshoot of the �;aliftlr►zia ................................. �c�undati�n tor �i�cal 1Z���t���sibilitr.-, is looking at a modified version of ""�'hL Fair and SustainaE�le F'�blic !'Lns.ic�n._Svstem" �rc��at��al on the CFFR website. It would: • Freeze current defined benefit plans at all state and (ocal government agencies. • Amend the California Constitution to declare the level of unfunded liabilities a fiscal emerbency. • Suspend further accruals to pians that are less than 90 percent funded until they maintain funding above 100 percent for three consecutive years. • Require that most employees currently covered by detined benefit plans earn at rate of 1.25 percent at 65 until their current plan is unfrozen; public safety workers would earn 1.6 percent at 55. • Allow employees to have a defned contribution plan that provides a one-to-one match up to 5 percent of salary. Additional conditions for new hires inciude: a) no benefit exceeding $40,000 a year – adjusted 2 percent annually, b) benefits are based on the highest three-year average of annual base pay — excluding additional compensation such as overtime, accrued sick leave, vacation pay, bonuses, severance payments and any other non-recurring compensation, c) early retirement is allowed starting at Social Security early retirement age or medical disability at an actuarially reduced rate – except for public safety workers, who may retire at abe 50 at an actuarially reduced rate. The other CFFR initiative proposal, dubbed °"I'l�e I'<�ir and Sensibie I'���iic �:i�1 Eo�-�e_Retireme.nt Pla» RLf�r�n_.�1ct��' would require public employees to pay at least half of their retirement plan benefits, including retiree medical benefits, and would eliminate retiree medical benefits for new hires (after .iuly 2013). "We are going to be looking at a number of proposals. Right now 1 am an open book," said CFFK President Marcia Fritz. "Ri�ht now we are analysis and research. I,et's get the best we can done. After that we may �et into advocacy. Based on these (research) products, we will ofter the best solution in terms of voter approval, fairness to workers, cost savings, both short term and long term, and likelihood it will prevail in court. No http://v�►�ww.calwatchdog.com/2011 /02/07/pension-initiative-legislation-pl� matter what, we expect a lawsuit would occur if there's an initiative. We will need to know how sensitive it is and the likelihood of setting a precedent." While that initiative is still 16 months off, assuming it qualifies for the ballot, several legislative reform efforts are underway. The most ambitious may be the package that will be introduced by S�r�. �•1in�i �ialters, R-Laguna Hills, in the next couple of weeks. � "The cornerstone base of our legislation will be to take new employees from the defined benefit to a defined contribution plan," said Walters. "We also need to require the pension system to set aside monies in order to pay for future health care for our retirees. We also need to repeal the law that was passed in 2003 that said that employees could get service credits of up to f°�ve years when they didn't actually work." For now she's focusing reform only on the lower hanging fruit of new hires, including public safety workers. "Ultimately we may have to look at current employees," she said. "We are going to introduce legislation for new employees so we can immediately stop the bleeding." Walters hasn't heard Democratic opposition yet. "My hope is that they will be on board," she said. "I think that these proposals are very reasonable. We haven't heard anything because we haven't introduced the actual package yet." Asked about the likely push back from the state's powerful government unions, she said, "We are proposing reform, and we need to have reform and have it be reasonable. My hope is that we won't see any push back. We need the tirst step, and the first step is new employees. That will stop the bleeding. We are facing a fiscal crisis, and we can't continue to kick the can down the road. We have to have pension reform or our state i� not going to survive fiscally." . Uespite the dire need to head off �scal disaster, Walters said she will not link pension reforrn with support for piacinb a tax extension on the June ballot. "They have nothing to do with each other," she said, adding that she will vote against placing the tax extension on the ballot. "We should not be taxing the people in the state of California. Governor F3rown wants to tax them $60 billion. That's the last thing we should be doing. We should be stimulating the economy by cutting regulations, making it easier for businesses to come to California, creating jobs. If we do that, the economy will turn around." When Walters was interviewed on Fox Business Network Wednesday, the graphic stated, "GOP legislators want pension reform for tax extension support." But, in addition to Walters' disavowal, a representative for Se��. Bc�b nuttc�n, who chairs the Senate Kepublican Caucus, said, "There is no discussion about linking any votes on tax extension on the ballot io pension reform. That is not a conversation the Senate Republican Caucus is currently having." Other pension reform legislation has been introduced: • S�2?. is intended to stop pension spiking. It would provide that any change in compensation in order to enhance benefits would not be included in determining the beneft. Sponsored by Sen. Joe Simitian, D- Palo Alto, it's an update of �E31�2�, which passed the Legislature last year but was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. •,�13 K�, sponsored by Assemblyman Jerry �iill, U-San Mateo, prohibits state and local public employees from receiving pensions in excess of $245,000 per year, which is the current federal pension limit. In December, 36 University of California e�cecutives threatened to sue the UC Board of Kegents if their pensions are not allowed to increase above the federal limit. ' •:�I3_l_7, sponsored by Assembly Black Caucus Vice Chairman Mike Davis, D-Sacramento, would require the state, teacher and UC pension boards to report on the ethnicity and gender of the brokerage and investment management firms they do business with and develop strategies to increase the number Legislative analyst urges pension reductions throughout public sector - Sacramento News - Local �.���,��'��`"���L"��.��.���..'`'yI�C:��aF�a��`J ,..<� :�;€:,€;, Le islative a na lyst u rges pension 9 red uctions th roug hout pu bl ic sect kyamamura@sacbee.com Published Friday, Feb. 11, 2011 The nonpartisan state Legislative Analyst's Office urged action Thursday to reduce pensions for future employees public sector, an issue that some Republicans have demanded be part of budget talks. The office recommended that lawmakers act not only on state employee pensions, but on retirement benefits for tr California system, teachers and county government workers. "From our perspective, this seems unsustainable," Jason Sisney, director of state finance for the Legislative Analysi a phone interview. "We are headed to a place where government employees will be the only people in society who have these sorts of benefits," Sisney added. "That is troubling." Republicans may ask Democrats for pension changes in exchange for placing tax hike extensions on the ballot as p Brown's budget plan. If so, the legislative analyst's ideas could serve as a road map. Sisney, in a 14-minute video Thursday, outlined possible ways in which lawmakers could reduce benefits. These rai employee contributions in years of poor investment returns to a hybrid system that relies partly on 401(k)-type aa He said California offers more generous pension benefits than other states, even after changes approved last year retirement age requirements and reduce payout formulas. Sisney said the Legislature has authority to restrict pensions to teachers and county workers. He suggested that th its purse strings to require that UC make similar changes. In particular, Sisney said, the disparity between public and private pension benefits "probably cannot" continue. Bruce Blanning, executive director of Professional Engineers in California Government, which represents 12,000 st� it would be "destructive" to rely on 401(k)-type accounts. "The studies I've seen show that in comparable jobs, the private sector pays a lot more for salary than the public s said. "The idea of a defined- benefit pension plan is that employees know what they get when they retire and may be wi lower salary in public service." Public employee pensions add to Sacramento's deficit woes - Sacramento News - Local a... g���� �::� ����:���.�� �,��- ;� � �.���;�� . , ._ .� u �� , _ �, _�..^ Public employee pensions add t� Sacra mento's deficit woes rlillis@sacbee.com Published Wednesday, Feb. 02, 2011 The cost of public employee pensions is about to hit City Hall even harder. Due in large part to a 2008 CaIPERS investment loss, the city will have to add $5 mill its annual payment into the retirement system this year, budget officials said this weE That number will eventually increase to an additional $16 million four years from now The timing couldn't be worse. City Hall is facing a deficit of between $35 million and $40 million for tl�e upcoming fi� year in its general fund budget, which pays for police officers, firefighters, parks and other city services, officials told the City Council on Tuesday. That gap represents roughly 20 percent of the city's discretionary spending. While not all of the estimated $53 million the city will pump into the pension system t year will come from the general fund, the extra $5 million contribution will, budget of said. The new pension contributions come as the city enters its fifth straight budget cycle c with a deficit. Over the past four years, City Hall has addressed more than $180 million in cumulati� deficits through service cuts, layoffs, labor union concessions and one-time fixes. Budget officials warned that the options for solving this year's gap are few. The city's "rainy day" fund has gone from $30 million to $10.5 million. Other one-tim revenue sources such as parking cash that in the past have avoided cuts to Fire Dep� staffing and pool hours make up "a short list," Assistant City Manager Patti Bisharat � Past deficits have also resulted in some department budgets being cut in half and 90( n��itinns aettina cut from the navroll. With less left_to cut, "this vear is going to be tr Public employee pensions add to Sacramento's deficit woes - Sacramento News - I,ocal a... Budget officials said that 79.6 percent of the city's bankroll pays for labor, up from ar percent just a few years ago. The exact nature of the cuts needed to offset the deficit has not I�een determined, bu budget director Leyne Milstein told the council the cutbacks would be severe. "We cannot continue with busir�ess as usuai," she said, adding that the next few year projected to have even larger deficits. - Mayor Kevin Johnson said earlier Tuesday that the city was able to shield public safet agencies from the worst of the cuts last year and that "we're going to do everything � to preserve" those departments again this year. "I think it's a commitment from all of us on council," the mayor said. "We want to make sure that we are a full-service city, but part of being a full-service making sure that our streets are safe and secure for our public, and that's a commitn that all of us are willing to make." CITY OF SACRAMENTO O Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved. Call The Bee's Ryan Lillis, (916) 321-1085. SAN BERNARDINO COUN"I'Y: Pension fund's health raises concern � San Bernardino C... SAN BERN�4RDfN0 COUNTY: Pension fund's health raises concern io:oo PM PST on T'hursday, February 3, 2ou B}• DAVID DANF.ISKI The Press-I?ntcrprise A new report on the San Bernardino County employees' retirement fund is prompting calls for pension reforms to avoid future cuts to county services. The report from County Executive Officer Greg Devereaux's office shows a growing hole -- called an "unfunded liability" -- of about $1.1 billion in the pension fund. The liability is the difference between the $7.4 billion the fund is obligated to pay employees and pensioners and the $6.3 billion it has in various investments. Supervisor Gary Ovitt, appointed to the San Bernardino County Employees' Retirement Association board of trustees in June, said other members painted a"rosy picture" of the fund. They focused on how well the pension fund weathered the financial crisis of 2008 but didn't report the more recent imbalance. "I want to be fed the facts," Ovitt said Thursday. "We were being told something much different, and that makes it much more difficult for us to right the system." Marcia Fritz is president of the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility, a group that advocates pension reform. She reviewed the report at the request of The Press- Enterprise. A red flag is how fast the fund's unfunded liability is growing, Fritz said. In a year's time, between June 30, 2009, and June 30, 2010, the difference between obligations and assets grew by more than $447 million. "The trend is danger, danger, danger," Fritz said. "In one year, it went from a healthy fund ratio to an unhealthy ratio." Supervisor Janice Rutherford described the trend as unsustainable and said she and other supervisors need to hold a pension reform workshop. "We need to deal with reality no matter how scary it is," said Rutherford. Ovitt and Rutherford said some of tiie options include reducing pension benefits for new employees and increasing the age at which employees are eligible to retire. The board also could prohibit the practice of increasing employee pensions by spiking final-year salaries with unused vacation payments, among other r�ethods, Rutherford said. The report from Devereaux's office said the county now is �aying $63.8 million a year from the general fund into the pension fund. In three years, that contribution could grow to as much as $108 million, the report said. The curr�nt figure includes $16.4 million the supervisors approved last month to shore up the pension fund. Rutherford said the county will have to cut services if the trend continues. The report said the pension fund earned a 7.91 percent return on its investments in fiscal 2009-10, which put it in the bottom 10 percent of similar pension funds. Ellen Weisser, chairwoman of the retirement association board, referred questions to SAN �F,RNARDINO COt1NTY: Pension fund's health raises concern ��an Bernardino C... Management District and the cities of Big Bear Lake and Chino Hills. In October, Tim Barrett resigned as executive director to take a job on the East Coast, and the association board named county Treasurer Larry Walker the managing trustee of the organization while Barrett's replacement is recruited. Barrett and Walker could not be reached Thursday. - "I'op Stories � ' , : . ` I. a . �' � ` � � 1 � � . �: : t � , . -� - ,, ,-. ��, �; '� _s t- s: � {' � �-` Fresno City Manager Mark Scott is asking unior� empEoyees to take a 5% salary cut and r� their health-care contribution by 50°/o in an effort to fix the city's latest budget woes. "This is �oing to be a very difficuit time for the city," Seott said Wednesday in an e-mai�. '°A who thinks this isn't serious isn't reaily paying attentior�." But top officials in two powerful unions say City Hall should cut €ts own fa# before asking w to make more sacr€fices. "I think there's a lot of areas �nre need to explore before the ci�y goes back to the empioyeE again," said Jacky Parks, presideni of the Fresno Police Officers Association. In a Feb. 3 letter to city unions, Scott said the city €aces a nearly $6 miliion budgei gap in i fiscal year ending Jurte 30 and a$15 million budget gap next year. Scott said the city's general fund reserve is zero, employee heal�h-care and workers' compensation costs are rising, and the state government is facing its own economic crisis most iikely will end up hurting municipai finances. if Fresno doesn't fix its budget mess, Scott said, the city also could face a downgrade in ii; ratir�gs. "I know there are some €o�ks in bargaining units and perhaps even same council members who think the money is there if we just look harder for i�. Not t�e case," Scott sa e-mail. "When cuts get implemented, ! think folks will understand how serious this is." Scott asked each union to agree to a permaneni 5% cut in base salary effective March 1. salary increases wouid be made from this lower base. Scott also wants to reduce the city': af eac� employee's medical insurance payment, effective July 1. This would mean a 50% what each employee pays. Scott said these changes would save about $1.67 mill;on for the general �und tl�is fiscal yE �7 millior� next vear - "I�op Stories December, the City Council approved police contract amendments that included de�erred � and an extension of the deals to June 30, 2015. The FPOA is the city's most poti�er#ul union. More than half of the genera( fund, estimafied �200 million to $210 million th�s year, goes to police. Employee compensation is by far the biggest expense. Union con�racts are binding unfess both sides agree to reopen them. FPOA President Parks wondered why ci#y officials are asking employees to again shoulde when past reductions have failed to stem the flow of red ink. Parks said he is "not opposec talking with #he city and looking at being part of the solution." But, he added, he must anal� what reduetions Mayor Ashley Swearengin has made among top management in city departments before he asks his members to consider Scoit's request. Parks said the administration should take a serious look at the palice auditor, the Downtov Community Revitalization Department, and whether the city could make due wi#h fewer p� information officers. He also questioned whether ihe city needs both a budget division anc finance departmeni. It appears that cuts are already being made. In a statement e-mailed to The Bee on V1r'edn evening, Scoit said, "As a result [of the budget crisis], we've started an ongoing process o� significant and severe reductions in City administrative personnel." He gave no details. Marina Magdaleno, business repres�ntati�e for Stationary Engineers Local 39, #he blue-cc workers' union, echoed Parks. "Before I take this to my members�ip, i want to see what concessions the city is going to r as well," she said. "I #hink it is un#air for them to want to make cuts on the backs of the employees." She said Swearengin talks of focusing on core services, but maintains there are a lo� of th the mayor's budget that are nonessenfiai. At the same �ime, line workers have absorbed n the fayoffs. The Swearengin administration estimates i# has made.about $80 million of budget cuts sir mayor took office in January 2009. But layoffs, furloughs and service reductions f�ave yet budget that continues to be hit by decli�ir�g tax revenues due to the deep recession. Swearengin also faces increased resistance from a counci! majority that doesn't like her s bui has yet to come up with its own ideas. �n Jan. 27, the council by a 4-3 vote rejected �in►Parannin'c nlan tn nriUati�P thP (:itv'S COt"T'ltl'12fCla� tiaSil S�fViC2. Th2 iJfOpOSa� WOU�C� �la' - Top Stories Brand said he doesn't blame the FPOA for being skeptical of the motives of an administrati that sought union help just a few months ago. Thomas Roads Improvement Program 900 rI'ruxtun Avenue, Suite 200, Bakersfield, California 93301 Telephone: (661) 326-3700 • Fax: (661) 852-2195 �oadslmpro� ��� 3... : :�� .ONYI QGiCh9 . 3a��'S� FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Janet Wheeler February 9, 2011 TRIP Public Inf� (661) 326-3491 Traffic Advisory Truxtun Avenue and Mohawk Street Lane Closures Motorists should anticipate increased construction activity in the vicinity of the Avenue/Mohawk Street intersection over the next several weeks as work on the Mohav Extension Project nears completion. This activity will require intermittent lane clos� short-term delays as the contractor completes electrical and widening work at the inters� The first lane closure will occur tomorrow, February 10, 2011, the contractor plans to c outside right turn lane, from Mohawk Street onto Truxtun Avenue. This closure is expec� in place between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Motorists are advised to take alternate routes, if possible, or allow extra time to re< destinations if traveling through this area is unavoidable. The Thomas Roads Improvement Program apologizes for any inconvenience this worE the traveling public. For additional information on the Mohawk Street Extension, please visit our wE www. bakersfieldfreeways. us. �6.�'� � B� K E I� 5 F I E L D Economic and Community Development Department February 9, 2011 i!� 1� TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Donna L. Kunz, Economic Development Director SUBJECT: Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Update Good news! HPRP regulations require that 60% of program funds be spent by Au� 2011. As of January 31, 59.64% has been spent, so we will meet that requiremen much earlier than the regulations require. Attached is the HPRP Progress Report. Among the highlights: • Homelessness Prevention services have assisted about 1,210 individuals in 424 households. •Rapid Rehousing services have assisted about 799 individuals in 387 households DL S:\HPRP\Reporting\Monthly Reports\Monthly Report Jan 2011.docx a� > � � N L � N � N. 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O � 'd � � � i U � i � N � i � ui +E in • L • Q V � � : 4- � � '� � ��o �� . Q � N Q .::,� 3701 North Sillect Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93308 (661) 634-2200 Fax (661) 634-2245 bright house NETWORKS February 4, 2011 _�� i�1r . �ian Tanuy City Manager City of Bakersfield 1600 Truxtun Avenue, 5th Floor Bakersfield, CA 93301 Dear Mr. Tandy: Bright House Networks has launched a digital video delivery technology known as Switched Digit; (SDV). SDV is a robust bandwidth-management system that makes it possible to offer more digit programming services than ever before including new HD channels. On or after March 4, 2011, the following channels wiil be delivered on the SDV system: Family Net (Digital Variety) RFD (Digital Variety) RFD HD (Digital Variety) Oxygen HD (Digital Variety) EWTN HD (Digital Variety) Showtime Beyond West HD (Premium) Showtime Next West HD (Premium) Showtime Women West HD (Premium) KCET HD (Limited Basic) on channel 447 on channel 218 on channel 1218 on channel 1220 on channel 1441 on channel 1748 on channel 1752 on channel 1854 on channel 1046 When delivered on the SDV system, the above channels will become bi-directional (or two-way) and will continue to be available to all Bright House Networks customers who subscribe to ou services and lease a digital set-top box or similar bi-directional device capable of supporting t services. However, the above channels wilf not be available to customers with unidirectional (one-wa� television or other device who currently lease a CableCARD from Bright House Networks. With these ci�anges, KCET will be removed from channel 10 and will only be availabie on th� iineup. KCET, Cool TV, KCET Kids & Family, MHz Wcrldview, KVPT (in Tehachapi) and KCET� HC available on the Limited Basic level of service. KCET, Cool TV, KCET Kids & Family, MHz Worldv KVPT (in Tehachapi) will require a digital ready "Tl/ or digital converter box for analog only custc receive. For more information on Bright House Networks programming, please call 661-3Z3-4892 or � website at www.brighthouse.com. Please let me know if you have any questions. Regards, N �`; �, � , .-_- ti � __� `.. �. Jcsepn h R. Schoenstein Divis�on President Helping to take the �hi1[ out of �vinter bii�s Are your eonstituents having a tough tirne paying their natura3 gas bills? If sc�, please let thern that Southern Caiifarnia �as Cornpany (SoCaEGas`?'} offers biii assistanee programs that can hf Here's �,vhat we offer: s Our CARE program pr�vides a 20 percent discount on the monthiy gas bi11 for e[igible households. I� addition, �hose wha qualify and are apprc�ve� within 90 days of starting gas service 4vill also reeeive a�15 discount on the Service Establishrr�ent Charge. • The Gas Assistance Fund provi�les a ane-tirne grant of up to $100 ta qualified customer experiencing difficulty with paying their gas biils. Grants are avaiEable betvveen Februar� 2011 and April 2011 (ar until funds are na longer avaiiable) on a first-come, first-ser�e basis. • Under aur Medical Baseline prograrrr, customers may qualify for an additianal ail����rance gas at iower rates if someone in their househoid has a iife-threatening iElness, is serious disabied, ar requires more h�at in winter due to a quaiifying heaEth c4ndition. Ther� are incorrae qualificatian guidelines for fihis prQgram. SaCalGas aiso has he(peci secure increased federal en�ryy assistance funding, on behalf af our customers. Federai Low-Income Home Ener�y Assistance Proqram funds are distributed throug loca! community-based organizations, assistance agencies and certain governrnent agencies. �� is give�� to families who spend a high percentage of their incame on energy an�Jor have eIderly ciisableti members, and to farnilies with chiidren under three years o� age. SaCalGas is cammi�ted to assisting our customers, rr�any of vdhor�t continue tQ feei the effects c ecorzomy. i,Ne hope you �.fil! shar-e our assistance program informatian to help thase in need. Yau are receiving this email as a promotianai communication. If yau d� not wish ta receive :h�s �ype a ccmr�unication, piease r�piy by emai4 with `Unsubscribe' on the subject line. Sender's business address is 555 VVest Fifth Street, GT21F2, Los Angeles, CA 9G�13. S�uth�rn California Gas Compary vakues y�ur privacy. For rt�are inforrnatian, vie:�r our Privacy Policy. ��� 20�1 Souihern CaiiPorn�a Gas Cam�aany. AI! trademarks belong to their respectFVe a�rdners. Aii righ�s resc Paqe 1 of 2 STREETS DIVISION — WORK SCHEDULE Week of February 14, 2011 — February 18, 2011 Resurfacinq/Reconstructinq streets in the followinq areas: Resurfacing streets in the area south of Harris Rd & west of Wible Rd (weather permitti Section repairs on Truxtun Ave. between Mohawk & Westwind (weather permitting) (CDBG funded area) Preparing streets in the area north of Belle Terrace and west of "F reconstruction Miscellaneous Streets Division proiects: Installing Handicapped ramps and repairing concrete in the Kern City area Installing 66" Storm Drain pipe at Mesa Marin Sports Complex (CDBG funded area) Installing & Repairing curb, gutter & sidewalks in the area east north of Flower St NOTE: If raining, there will be no street sweeping service and all street cleaning persoi assigned to cleaning plugged drains and part circle culverts. THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Paqe 2 of 2 STREETS SWEEPING SCHEDULE Monday, February 14, 2011 Between So. "H" St. & Union Avenue — Pacheco Rd. & Hosking Rd. Between Stockdale Hwy. & Truxtun Ave. (ext.) — Coffee Rd & Partridge Ave. Tuesday, February 15, 2011 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, February 16, 2011 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, February 17, 2011 City areas between Stockdale Hwy. & Ming Ave. — Ashe Rd. & Gosford Rd. Between EI Portal/Laurelglen Blvd. & Ashe Rd. — Ming Ave. & So. Halfmoon/Olympia [ Between Ashe Rd. & Stine Rd. — Ming Ave. & So. Halfmoon/Edgemount Dr. Between Coffee Rd. & Wilson Rd. (ext.) — White Ln. & So. Halfmoon/Olympia Dr. Fridav, February 18, 2011 Between Stockdale Hwy. & Ming Ave. — Allen Rd. & Old River Rd. Between Old River Rd. & Coffee Rd. — Ming Ave. & Ridge OakNVestwold Dr.