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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/08/2020CC OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER May 8, 2020 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Christian Clegg, City Manager SUBJECT: General Information COVID-19 Updates  Governor Gavin Newsom this week announced the state would be moving to Stage 2 of the state’s plan to re-open the economy safely. The City is working with the Kern County Department of Public Health, as well as Kern County officials to allow businesses specified by the state to re-open and begin operating with some modifications. Stage 2 went into effect on Friday, May 8, with a number of retail business-types now allowed to re-open for curbside pick-up services. Those businesses include clothing stores, sporting goods stores, music stores, flower stores, and more. While the City is excited to see the economy starting to re-open, the City continues to encourage the public to practice proper social distancing (staying at least six feet apart from others in public), washing hands or using hand sanitizer frequently, especially when in public, and to remain home as much as possible, only leaving for essential services. We are seeing the results of the public’s efforts and we appreciate them. We hope that progress will continue so we can keep pace with the Governor’s plan to re-open everything more fully. Notable Items  This week the City celebrated Public Service Recognition Week, honoring all of our City employees and many others. In most years the week culminates with a breakfast for employees, served by the City’s management team, but due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to social distance, the breakfast was postponed for this year. The City is working on other ways to recognize the great work of all our employees.  Just in time for Public Service Recognition Week, the Recreation & Parks Department received some great news from the National Recreation and Parks Association: One of our own, Carlos Garcia – Park Services Coordinator for the Rapid Response Team – will be among 50 people nationwide to be featured in the July issue of Parks & General Information May 8, 2020 Page 2 Recreation Magazine! Carlos (left) was nominated by the City’s department and was selected to be included because of his dedication to his job, and his commitment to his family at home. Recreation & Parks Director Dianne Hoover said Carlos has done a fabulous job in his current position, which he was promoted to last year. At home, Carlos has five children, including three his family has adopted. Congrats Carlos!  The new shade structures have been installed at the new exercise area at Kaiser Permanente Sports Village (below) in southwest Bakersfield. Contractors finished installing the structures this week. The structures will provide some respite from the summer heat for park visitors using the equipment. The fencing surrounding the equipment will remain in place as there is still some surfacing work and final inspection to be performed. The exercise area was made possible through the naming rights agreement with Kaiser Permanente and a joint opening ceremony will be scheduled once the temporary measures in place due to the pandemic allow for public use of playgrounds, exercise equipment and other public areas.  The Bakersfield Fire Department recently helped send a 3-year-old burn victim home after a month-long recovery at Memorial Hospital’s Grossman Burn Center (right). Her family is excited for her to return home and we are as well! General Information May 8, 2020 Page 3  The Recreation & Parks Department continues to provide free meals to students each day at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, and this week staff provided supplies for children to make their own Mother’s Day cards! Students usually make their mothers a present at school, but with the current social distancing requirements, that’s not possible. So, staff came up with an idea to help them out! The children and parents were very happy to receive the supplies (right). Traffic Advisories  Paving operations resume on 24th Street Paving operations will resume along the north side of 24th Street between Drake Street and State Route 178 on Sunday, May 10. The planned schedule follows: Sunday, May 10 The contractor plans to repave the north side of the Chester Avenue, L Street, and M Street intersections. The intersection paving will take place between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 a.m. Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12 Paving operations will be underway for the two currently closed lanes on the north side of 24th Street between Drake Street and M Street between the hours of 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., each night. The adjacent westbound travel lane will also need to be closed, leaving one westbound lane open to traffic. This work is not expected to impact eastbound traffic on 23rd Street. Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14 Paving operations will be underway east of M Street on State Route 178. The eastbound and westbound inside lanes on State Route 178 will be closed between the hours of 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. each night. Two lanes are expected to remain open in each direction while work is underway. Construction work may be postponed and rescheduled without notice due to unforeseen circumstances. Please slow down and watch for construction workers and equipment while driving through the work zone. The Thomas Roads Improvement Program apologizes for any inconvenience this work may cause the traveling public. General Information May 8, 2020 Page 4  Nighttime lane closures on State Route 99 at Ming Avenue Nighttime lane closures have been scheduled for the two inside lanes on northbound and southbound State Route 99 in the vicinity of Ming Avenue from Monday, May 11 through Wednesday, May 13. The closures are expected to be in place between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., each night, and are needed for paving within the median. One lane will remain open to traffic in each direction while work is underway. This schedule may be changed without notice due to unforeseen circumstances. Please slow down and pay attention to construction and detour signage while driving through the area. The Thomas Roads Improvement Program apologizes for any inconvenience this work may cause the traveling public.  Nighttime closures for striping on Westside Parkway, Truxtun Avenue and Mohawk Street Nighttime lane closures will be needed on the Westside Parkway, Truxtun Avenue, and Mohawk Street from Monday, May 11 through Wednesday, May 13. These closures are needed for restriping activities. The bike path from the railroad bridge to Commercial Way will also be restriped during this time period. On Monday night, crews will be working on westbound Westside Parkway between Truxtun Avenue and Coffee Road and motorists should anticipate alternating lane closures of the two inside lanes. The closures are expected to be in place between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, crews will need alternating and intermittent closures as they restripe the two eastbound lanes on the Westside Parkway between Coffee Road and Truxtun Avenue, the on- and off-ramps at Truxtun Avenue and Mohawk Street, and the two inside lanes on eastbound and westbound Truxtun Avenue. Closures are expected to be in place between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. on both days. The outside lanes on northbound and southbound Mohawk Street will also need to be closed for restriping. Mohawk Street closures may be in place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Work may be rescheduled without notice due to unforeseen circumstances. Please slow down and watch for construction workers and equipment while driving in the vicinity of this work. The Thomas Roads Improvement Program apologizes for any inconvenience this work may cause the traveling public.