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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/22/2020CC OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER May 22, 2020 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Christian Clegg, City Manager SUBJECT: General Information City offices will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Curbside trash and recycling services will not be affected. COVID-19 Updates  As Kern County has been approved to move further into Stage 2 of the state’s COVID- 19 reopening pathway, Bakersfield is taking steps to help businesses conduct business in this unprecedented time. On Wednesday, May 20, the City Council unanimously approved a new COVID-19 Special Event Permit, allowing restaurants and retail businesses to temporarily close part of their private parking lots or a portion of the nearby street (Downtown only) to be used for dining or retail space. The process will be similar to applying for a standard SEP, though the City is working to streamline it so it is much faster as businesses work to reopen. The amendment possible thanks to the City’s Emergency Declaration, which was issued on March 19, 2020. The COVID-19 Special Event Permit will be available throughout the duration of the Emergency Declaration. Business owners who want to take advantage of this assistance can apply for the permit here. Notable Items  Bakersfield residents continue to save water, more than two years after conservation targets set by the state during the drought were lifted. The City's Water Resources Department reports that water use in April was down 13% compared to April 2013 – the year before the General Information May 22, 2020 Page 2 drought started. That savings was calculated before taking population growth into account. When including population growth over that time, the savings was even greater: 22.1%. In April 2013, the Residential Gallons Per Capita Day (R-GPCD) was 159.7, with an estimated population of 135,541. Last month, the R-GPCD was down to 124.4, with an estimated population of 155,723. The City’s drought conservation page is still active and offers a number of ways for residents to help cut their water use and even take advantage of conservation rebates.  Recruits at the Bakersfield Fire Academy are preparing for graduation, having completed 12 of their 14 weeks of training (left). The class of 20 recruits is expected to graduate from the Academy on June 5, then join their respective fire stations soon after. Congrats to the future graduates!  The Bakersfield Recreation & Parks Department this week launched its new #RecTheHouse program. Every week on social media they’ll post various activities the whole family can enjoy at home, including sidewalk art and games! This week Recreation & Parks created a chalk “obstacle course” at the Park at River Walk (right). And we want to see kids #RecTheHouse! Residents should take pictures of their activities and use the hashtag on social media.  A new pickleball court at the Mesa Marin Sports Complex is now open for public use! The park, located at State Route 178 and Bedford Green Drive in northeast Bakersfield and features a number of amenities, including four softball fields, playground areas, a spray park and walking paths. While some of those amenities are off-limits temporarily to limit the chance of COVID-19 exposure, tennis and pickleball courts around the City were recently reopened to the public (as long as social distancing and other guidelines are followed). General Information May 22, 2020 Page 3 Traffic Advisories  Lane closures continue on 24th Street Paving operations continue next week on 24th Street between the Kern River Bridge and C Street. These operations will require the closure of the inside eastbound and westbound traffic lanes within this area Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, May 29. The closures are expected to be in place between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., each day. One lane will remain open in each direction while work is underway. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes or allow extra time to reach their destinations if they must travel through this section of 24th Street during this time period. 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.  Slope paving continues along Wible Road Slope paving will continue along Wible Road next week, requiring traffic control between Brundage Lane and Belle Terrace on Wednesday, May 27 and Friday, May 29. Flagging personnel will need to stop vehicles for up to five minutes at a time from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. This will affect both directions of traffic. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes or allow extra time to reach their destinations if they must travel along this section of Wible Road during this time period. 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. Reports  Bakersfield Homeless Navigation Center Community Update Newsletter for May.  AT&T U-verse programming changes for May through July 2020. Bakersfield Homeless Navigation Center Community Update Construction underway as Bakersfield Homeless Navigation Center project enters new phase Spring 2020 Construction is in full swing to convert the former Calcot, Inc. headquarters into a 150-bed emergency homeless shelter. Escrow commenced on February 20, 2020. During the due diligence period, the City worked to complete appropriate inspections and repairs. This work included a committee of representatives from the City Manager’s Office, Public Works Department, Finance Department and the Building Department met with an expert homeless shelter architect and local non-profits to design the facility in a way that incorporates best practices in getting homeless residents on the path to recovery and self-sufficiency. By purchasing and renovating an existing building, the City saved Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative works to protect unsheltered City residents from COVID-19 Renovation of existing facility remains on track to be completed in Fall 2020 on construction costs while securing ample space for services and future redevelopment. The large warehouses on the northern side of the building, which once housed cotton, will be transformed into dorms for men, women and couples. They are also large enough to include possessions storage and day rooms that open out into patio space. The City of Bakersfield recently partnered with Kern County to revitalize the Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative – a one-stop-shop for local efforts and funding aimed at ending homelessness. Within weeks of being hired as the new Executive Director of the Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative, Anna Laven was convening twice weekly video conference calls with government officials to make sure proper protocols were being followed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. City staff actively assisted the Homeless Collaborative in receiving state and federal dollars to successfully isolate vulnerable or symptomatic homeless individuals. Renovation Continued Page 2 Public Works Director Nick Fidler reviews plans with architect and staff from the Calcot facility Photos showing existing facility. Renovation of existing facility continued… January 22, 2020 Council approves project February 13, 2020 Distribution of RFP for shelter operator February 19, 2020 Purchase and Sale Agreement Signed March/April 2020 Site Inspections, Design Work, Site Repairs May 6, 2020 City Council approved Mercy House as operator May 2020 Construction begins May 31, 2020 Calcot changes hands Fall 2020 Anticipated Opening At their meeting on May 6, 2020, the Bakersfield City Council voted to approve a contract with Mercy House to operate the Bakersfield Homeless Navigation Center for three years. The Council also voted to require regular reporting of the financing of the shelter and the progress of shelter operations. Representatives from Mercy House will come before the Council with City Council approves Shelter Operator Mercy House; Requests regular reporting of financing and progress quarterly updates and to answer questions. In the coming months, Mercy House will develop an Operations Manual and Good Neighbor Policy which will lay out reporting to the City including monthly updates on the number of shelter residents that have been moved to permanent housing and the plan for maintaining communication with the surrounding community. For more information, visit us online at www.bakersfieldcity.us/shelter The facility includes a spacious conference room where over 50 Calcot board-members once met regularly to discuss cotton. This important space will be converted to a multifunctional area for training, group therapy, and community gatherings. The existing lush and well-manicured courtyard will become the new entrance where partners in the “Referral Network” will drop off new clients or pick up existing clients on their way to work or appointments. Two hallways of well-preserved offices will soon bustle with case workers, housing navigators, medical exam rooms, classrooms for adult education, meeting rooms for mental health and recovery services as well as space for non-profits like the Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative. The shelter incorporates design elements that are both inviting and intended to promote self-sufficiency. The new commercial kitchen will be large enough to eventually house culinary job training classes that could include vegetables grown in the large garden on the side of the building. Located at the center of the BHNC will be a prominently displayed Housing Hub where residents will meet regularly with shelter operator staff to establish a plan to get them on their feet and on the road to recovery.