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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/05/2020CC OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER June 5, 2020 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Christian Clegg, City Manager SUBJECT: General Information The City of Bakersfield has been deeply saddened by the death of George Floyd and we share the feelings of Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry on Mr. Floyd’s death and the actions of the officers involved. The City respects the community’s right to demonstrate peaceably in public, under the First Amendment, as they have throughout the week. We also appreciate the largely peaceful nature of those demonstrations. The City and department will continue to work together, along with community input, to further implement changes that have been made over recent years, including many efforts that remain in progress, in an effort to make sure our officers are using the best practices when engaging with the public, whether that is in outreach, during an arrest, a demonstration, or in general interactions. Over the last week, City leaders have had numerous forums, meetings and interactions with community leaders and members to listen to their concerns on community policing in Bakersfield. We will take the following initial actions related police policies and protocols: • review the 8Cant Wait policies as part of our broader commitment to ensure that officers use best practices to reduce violence; • increase our communication with the public to clarify initiatives implemented, as well as those areas still in progress; • outline our policing policies and trainings that are currently in place; • issue a statement about race having no impact on decision making in our policies and policing practices; • continue to listen to and collect community input on this issue; and • invite community leaders to participate in a convening to review the requests from the community and create an action plan for addressing those requests. General Information June 5, 2020 Page 2 COVID-19 Update  A pair of locally owned restaurants made a couple of big donations to the community this week, thanks to a partnership with the City. The owner Shoyu Sushi – at the corner of Calloway Drive and Brimhall Road – donated 3,500 masks to the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, Kern Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Kern Community Foundation to be distributed to various businesses and organizations (right). The owner of the Mt. Vernon Avenue location also donated $2,000 to the Bakersfield Homeless Center. The donations were made possible after the owners approached Ward 3 Councilmember Ken Weir about donating the masks to the City for first responders. Because the City has access to enough masks, it was suggested by the City that the Chambers and Community Foundation receive the masks so local businesses can get their hands on them and begin to re-open under the state’s guidelines. Thank you to Shoyu Sushi and our partners at the Chambers of Commerce and Community Foundation! Notable Items  The Public Safety & Vital Services Citizens Oversight Committee recommended more than $47 million in budget allocations for Fiscal Year 2020-21. The recommendations were sent to the City Council by the Committee on Tuesday, June 2 in nine separate votes. Included in the recommendations are $10.3 million for projects to address homelessness in Bakersfield, with $1.2 million going toward operational costs at the new Bakersfield Homeless Navigation Center; nearly $6 million to hire additional Rapid Response Team members in the Recreation & Parks Department. The full Staff budget presentations to the Committee can be viewed here, under “Presentations.” The recommended allocations will next be taken to the City Council, with a public General Information June 5, 2020 Page 3 hearing on the City’s budget proposal planned for June 10. The City Council is expected to vote on the adoption of the budget on June 24. As always, anyone can view the City’s budget using the City’s Open Budget tool.  The seating replacement project at Spectrum Amphitheatre at the Park at River Walk (right) is nearly complete, weeks ahead of schedule! The contractor began installing the new chair-style seats last week and were expected to be finished in three weeks. A new timeline has them expected to be finished by the end of next week! In the past, those who have seen shows and concerts at the Amphitheatre have complained about the previous uncomfortable bench-style seating. Last week, Recreation & Parks crews removed the old seats so the contractor could start the installation of the new seats. This project was funded by funds raised through the Public Safety & Vital Services Measure (Measure N).  Some good news if you’re looking to buy a home: The Bakersfield housing market is the fifth-most affordable in the country among the 100 largest cities, according to a new report released this week. RealtyHop.com, a website that tracks the best real estate values, found that while prices rose slightly during that time, the average family in Bakersfield spends $1,094 per month toward the costs of homeownership, less than 22% of the household income. Bakersfield ranked well ahead of other California cities such as Fresno (64), Stockton (66), Anaheim (88), San Diego (90), and Los Angeles (100), among others. Traffic Advisories  Nighttime closures on State Route 99 this week The northbound lanes on State Route 99 between Ming Avenue and Stockdale Highway will be closed during nighttime hours on Sunday, June 7 and Monday June 8. All northbound lanes are expected to be closed between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., both nights. The closures are needed for work on a new bridge column within the median. 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 these areas. The Thomas Roads Improvement Program apologizes for any inconvenience this work may cause the traveling public. General Information June 5, 2020 Page 4    24th Street lane closures Alternating intersection closures are planned for the north side of 24th Street between E Street and M Street on Saturday, June 6 between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. Grinding operations will be underway at these locations in preparation of moving traffic onto the new lanes along the north side of the roadway. The contractor plans to perform striping operations and switch traffic Sunday night. On Monday, June 8, grinding operations will be underway along the south side of 24th Street between Beech Street and B Street. This will require the closure of the outside eastbound lane between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. One lane will remain open to traffic, but motorists are advised to use alternate routes or allow extra time to reach their destinations if they must travel through this area. Night work is scheduled along westbound 24th Street from Monday, June 8 through Thursday, June 11. Grinding operations will be underway between E Street and M Street and will require the closure of the inside westbound lane between the hours of 6 p.m. and 5 a.m., each night. 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. Reports  TRIP Status Report for June 2020. Events  The City of Bakersfield Animal Control Unit’s monthly vaccination clinic scheduled for June 13 at Jastro Park has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The clinics will return when permitted by the state and county public health departments. Page 1 TRIP projects are moving rapidly through the various stages of project development. This report is to provide a periodic up-to-date snapshot of each project’s recent major activities and progress. If you have questions, or need additional information, please contact Janet Wheeler at the TRIP office, (661) 326-3491. Regular construction updates are also available on the TRIP website at BakersfieldFreeways.us MILESTONES Ø Work on the 24th Street Improvement Project enters the final phase of construction this month. Motorist should watch for lane shifts as traffic is moved onto the northern half of 24th Street between D and M Streets. Eastbound traffic will also be moved northward on 24th Street between Elm Street and B Street to allow for construction work on the south side of the roadway. Ø Bridge work continues throughout the Centennial Corridor project area. Milestones were met last month on the Belle Terrace Bridge with the completion of the bridge stems and soffit. A concrete pour is planned for the Belle Terrace Bridge deck in June. The new bridge at Real Road that will carry traffic to the southbound SR 99/Ming Avenue off-ramp is complete and falsework has been removed from the structure. The widening of the westbound SR 58/State Route 99 separation bridge is also complete and falsework is scheduled for removal in June. PROJECT STATUS 24th Street Improvement Project Contractor: Griffith Company 78% complete; anticipated completion: summer 2020 Paving was completed along the north side of 24th Street between D Street and M Street. Traffic will be switched onto the new pavement in early June and work will commence along the south side of 24th Street in this area. Work on the new median between Oak Street and B Street/Bay Street was underway in May. Crews are currently installing irrigation within the median. Installation of plant material is expected to begin in June—within the median, as well as along the parkway on the north side of the street. Roadwork is expected to begin along the south side of eastbound 24th Street between Elm Street and B Street in June. In the ultimate condition, the roadway is pushed northward in this area to make room for a sidewalk and landscaped parkway along the south side of the roadway. Electrical and irrigation work continues at various locations. June 2020 TRIP Status Report TRIP Status Report June 2020 Page 2 Centennial Corridor All phases of the Centennial Corridor project are under construction. Final completion is anticipated in summer 2022. Phase 1 - Kern River Bridge Improvements Contractor: Security Paving Company 99% complete; anticipated completion: June 2020 This phase constructed new bridges across Truxtun Avenue and the Kern River for the future westbound Centennial Corridor (State Route 58) exit to Mohawk Street and widened the existing eastbound bridges at the Kern River and Truxtun Avenue to accommodate the future mainline lanes. Final striping was completed in May and the eastbound Westside Parkway on-ramp from Mohawk Street has re-opened. The horse trail along the north side of the river has also re-opened. Crews are working on a few punch list items, but the project is substantially complete. Phase 2 – Belle Terrace Operational Improvements Contractor: Granite Construction 74% complete; anticipated completion: fall 2020 This phase includes the replacement of the Belle Terrace Bridge and a new connector structure for northbound State Route 99 to eastbound State Route 58 traffic. Crews are working on the cast-in-place concrete facing for the new retaining wall along northbound State Route 99. The contractor anticipates completing the wall in June. Above the retaining wall, crews are forming, reinforcing and casting the concrete coping slab, barrier and sidewalk along the west side of Wible. This work is 40% complete. Construction of the Belle Terrace Bridge continues. The bridge stems and soffit have been cast and crews are forming and installing reinforcing steel for the bridge deck. Utilities are being relocated through the bridge in parallel with deck construction. A deck pour is scheduled for mid-June. Once the deck is cast, crews will post-tension the bridge and begin falsework removal. The bridge is scheduled to open to traffic in early fall 2020. Slope paving beneath the eastbound State Route 58 connector ramp continued through May and should be completed in early June. Sidewalk improvements are underway. Phase 3 – Bakersfield Freeway Connector Contractor: Security Paving Company 36% complete; anticipated completion: summer 2021 This phase of Centennial Corridor reconstructs the westbound to southbound loop ramp at the State Route 58/State Route 99 interchange. The project also constructs a new barrier-separated connector ramp to Ming Avenue. Work continues on various drainage systems within the project area. Construction and backfill for the new Belle Terrace Pump Plant continued through May. Completion is anticipated in June. Concrete was placed for the bridge deck on the widened section of the State Route 58/State Route 99 separation bridge in May. Falsework removal is expected in late June. Crews are installing stem and soffit forms and reinforcing steel for the new Ming Avenue off-ramp structure along southbound State Route 99. A stem and soffit concrete pour is planned for June. TRIP Status Report June 2020 Page 3 Excavation is underway for a cut and cover tunnel, which will be part of the future westbound State Route 58 to southbound State Route 99 connector. The contractor also paved the median and constructed a median barrier along State Route 99 near Ming Avenue. Phase 4 – Mainline Contractor: Security Paving Company 24% complete; anticipated completion: summer 2022 This phase constructs the freeway and multiple bridge structures between State Route 99 and the Westside Parkway. Crews are installing cast-in-drilled-hole (CIDH) piles near the State Route 58/State Route 99 Junction. This work is for the future flyover structure that will carry traffic from northbound State Route 99 to westbound State Route 58 (Centennial Corridor). Crews placed concrete in May for the deck on the second bridge crossing Real Road. The bridge has been stressed and falsework has been removed. This bridge will carry traffic to the new southbound State Route 99/Ming Avenue off-ramp. Both of the new bridges crossing Real Road are now complete. The contractor continues to build the embankment and construct columns for the new bridge crossing at Stockdale Highway. A 60-inch concrete reinforced pipe was installed at the Stine Canal and placed into operation on June 1. The installation of the pipeline was needed to place embankment at the canal and build the south abutment of the Stockdale Highway bridge. Falsework construction has been completed at Ford Avenue and the road has re-opened. At La Mirada Drive, crews placed concrete for the bridge stems and soffit last month and will construct forms and begin installing steel for the bridge deck in June. The contractor began forming footings and an abutment wall for the California Avenue crossing in May. Work on the abutment will continue through June. California Avenue has been restriped, slightly narrowing lanes to make room for bridge construction. Embankment construction and pile driving is underway at Commerce Drive. Work on various drainage systems continues throughout the project area. La Mirada Drive is closed at the freeway alignment, but residents can use Marella Way to cross the corridor. Access to and from Stine Road on the south side of Stockdale Highway is also closed. Residents can enter the neighborhood from adjacent streets. State Route 43/Stockdale Highway Roundabout Contractor: Griffith Company 95% complete; anticipated completion: summer 2020 This project replaces an existing 4-way stop with a roundabout at the State Route 43 (Enos Lane) and Stockdale Highway intersection. The contractor completed the retaining wall in May. Drainage basin grading and fencing will be completed this month. The temporary concrete barrier rail has been removed and asphalt paving is complete. Thermoplastic striping is scheduled for June. The contractor also plans to begin installation of additional lighting at the roundabout in June. Motorists will continue to stop at this intersection until the additional lighting is operational. TRIP Status Report June 2020 Page 4 PROJECT PHOTOS Top left and right: Asphalt paving on 24th Street Middle right: Grading the new median at the 24th Street/Oak Street intersection Bottom left: Crews placed concrete for a drainage inlet and curb and gutter along the “S” curve Bottom right: Class 2 aggregate base was placed along 24th Street near C Street in May TRIP Status Report June 2020 Page 5 Top left: Stem and soffit concrete pour for the east side of the Belle Terrace Bridge Top right: New retaining wall and barrier along northbound SR 99, north of the Belle Terrace Bridge Middle and bottom left: Concrete deck pour for the widened westbound SR 58/SR 99 separation bridge Bottom Right: Excavation for a cut and cover tunnel that will be part of the future westbound SR 58 to southbound SR 99 connector TRIP Status Report June 2020 Page 6 Top left: Concrete headwall pour for the newly installed 60-inch pipe at the Stine Canal Top left: Setting falsework for the Ford Avenue bridge crossing Middle left: Concrete pour for a new bridge deck at Real Road Bottom left: Column forms for the future Centennial Corridor bridge at Stockdale Highway Bottom right: Crews install forms for a future bridge abutment at Commerce Drive BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE Greg Terry, Chief of Police Nathan McCauley, Sergeant Public Information Officer 661-326-3803 nmccauley@bakersfieldpd.us The Bakersfield Police Department partners with our community to protect the lives and property of the people we serve. Compassion • Accountability • Professionalism For Immediate Release June 3, 2020 Due to ongoing restrictions and precautions regarding large gatherings amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, the City of Bakersfield Animal Control unit would like to notify city residents the upcoming vaccine clinic has been canceled. The clinic was scheduled to be held on Saturday, June 13th from 9 am to noon, at Jastro Park, 2900 Truxtun Avenue. We recommend pet owners utilize private veterinary hospitals at this time to maintain your pet’s health and immunity against contagious disease. For more information and updates, please contact the Animal Control office at 661-326-3436 or visit us on the web: http://www.bakersfieldcity.us/gov/depts/bakersfield_animal_care_center/clinics.htm