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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/27/2021CC OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER August 27, 2021 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Christian Clegg, City Manager SUBJECT: General Information Notable Items  Since launching in January 2021 as part of our Clean City Initiative (funded by the Public Safety & Vital Services Measure), Bakersfield's Clean City Teams – along with the Downtown Street Ambassadors – have removed almost 70,000 garbage bags worth of trash from public areas around the City! These seven crews, which are contracted through the Bakersfield Homeless Center and the California Highway Adoption Company, are funded by $1.5 million from PSVS (Measure N) annually and are just one prong of the City’s efforts to reduce illegal dumping in Bakersfield. In addition to proactive patrols, these teams respond to reports made through the FREE Bakersfield Mobile app, which can be downloaded here. Between April and July, the teams have responded to 1,621 total service requests, including 677 reports made through the app. Thank you to everyone who has helped keep our City looking its best!  As for the Bakersfield Mobile app, if you’ve already got it, you may have noticed some changes to it over the last few months. We have added new features – including a larger “Requests” button to start, as well as new buttons on the home screen linking to some of our most popular content on the City’s website. We’ve also added new options for service requests, including the option to report deceased animals in the City right-of-way and public spaces for removal, and updated submenu options for reporting illegal dumping so it can be addressed more efficiently. You can download the free app here.  Who knew the Bakersfield Brewery Trail would be so popular? Since its launch by Visit Bakersfield on May 12, there have been more than 2,500 check-ins at the breweries on the trail. In addition, more than 480 Bakersfield Brewery Trail T-shirts have been awarded to participants who have checked in to at least three breweries. Those one- General Information August 27, 2021 Page 2 of-a-kind T-shirts (right) have been won not just by local residents, but by people in 12 different states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. You can win your own T-shirt by checking in on the Bakersfield Brewery Trail. It’s fun and it’s free. Just download the information onto your mobile device here: Experience.Visitbakersfield.com.  The City of Bakersfield continues to ask customers to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15% compared to 2020 usage to help mitigate the impacts of the ongoing drought. The City first made this request back in July, following Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order. We’re committed to partnering with our customers to help save water every day to ensure a reliable water supply. Our customers have done an excellent job conserving water when needed, and we appreciate those efforts. A few easy ways to reduce use are: • Reducing irrigation schedules by one day, or to no more than three days per week; • Reducing run times for irrigation by one or two minutes; • Maintaining sprinkler system and checking it once/month for broken sprinkler heads and hidden leaks. Customers can visit www.calwater.com/conservation to review their usage and for more tips and resources to help conserve water every day. We also encourage customers to use our conservation programs to save water: • Free residential conservation kit (includes garden hose nozzles with shutoff valves, high-efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators, and leak detection tablets); • Rebates on devices such as high-efficiency toilets, clothes washers, and smart irrigation controllers. And, if anyone sees City irrigation systems that aren’t functioning correctly and/or are wasting water, that can be reported through the free Bakersfield Mobile app (available on iOS and Android devices) or through our online service request portal. We continue to monitor local conditions and will make future decisions based on our ongoing supply and demand forecast.  The low-cost dog vaccination clinic hosted by the Bakersfield Animal Control Division will return next month! This popular option for dog owners will be held on Saturday, September 4 from 9 a.m. to noon at Beale Park (500 Oleander Avenue). Anyone who attends is asked to wear a mask and is required to keep their pet on a leash. The General Information August 27, 2021 Page 3 clinics were not held in July or August due to the summer heat.  The contractor for the playground rehabilitation project at Deer Peak Park is making progress, having removed the outdated equipment (below). Upgraded new equipment will be installed next as part of a $316,365 project. The playground area is currently closed to public use and is expected to remain so until early November. We appreciate the public’s understanding and patience while this work is completed.  The Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG) is developing comprehensive Local Road Safety Plans (LRSPs) to improve safety for all modes of transportation in the City of Bakersfield, and the organization is now accepting online feedback from the public on its LRSP. The public can provide feedback about local safety concerns online at https://www.kerncogroadsafetyplans.com/ (click "Provide Feedback" at the top of the page). The plans focus on traffic calming measures such as bike lanes, speed bumps, traffic circles, crosswalks and more. Once completed, these plans will help agencies compete for future safety improvement funds managed by the state.  Progress continues to be made on a Public Safety & Vital Services (PSVS) Measure- funded park access improvements project at five City-maintained parks. Work has been completed at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park parking lot and access road (below), including the re-striping of the parking lot. The contractor has also started work on the Siemon Park service road as well (page 4), requiring the closure of the service road to the public. We appreciate the public’s understanding and patience as we complete these improvements. General Information August 27, 2021 Page 4 This project includes renovating parking lots and service roads with Americans with Disabilities Act improvements. Starting in May, improvements were also completed at Patriots Park, Grissom Park and Wilson Park. The Code Enforcement Rapid Response Teams – made possible by the Public Safety& Vital Services (PSVS) Measure – continue to make an impact all around the City, clearing illegal encampments and illegal dumping. As always, our RRTs offer servicesto any homeless individuals encountered during these efforts, offering to refer them to the Brundage Lane Navigation Center, or to put them in touch with our partners at Flood Ministries, the Bakersfield Homeless Center, the Mission at Kern County or Kern Centennial Park before (Aug. 19) Centennial Park after Centennial Park before (Aug. 19) Los Carneros Place after Los Carneros Place before (Aug. 16) General Information August 27, 2021 Page 5 County’s M Street Navigation Center.  The City Clerk’s Office is still accepting applications to fill 11 vacancies on the Youth Commission: • Mayor appointment • Ward 1: regular and alternate appointments • Ward 2: regular and alternate appointments • Ward 3: alternate appointment • Ward 4: regular appointment • Ward 6: regular and alternate appointments • Ward 7: regular and alternate appointments Applicants must be City residents, current high school students at the time of appointment, and maintain as close to a 3.0 grade point average as possible. Anyone interested in applying for these openings can do so at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall North (1600 Truxtun Avenue) or by downloading an application from the City’s website here. All applications must be returned to the Clerk’s Office. Reports  City Council Agenda Highlights, Sept. 1, 2021.  Recreation & Parks Department Rapid Response Team weekly report, Aug. 15-21, 2021.  WARN notice from Basic Energy Services, Inc.  WARN notice from State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. Events  August Cruise Thru, Friday, August 27, from 7-9 p.m. at the Kern County Museum’s Neon Courtyard (3801 Chester Avenue).  Low-cost pet vaccination and licensing clinic, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 4 at Beale Park (500 Oleander Avenue).  Bakersfield Fire 9/11 20th Anniversary Memorial Ceremonies, Saturday, September 11, 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.  Event Calendar for the Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater & Convention Center. Thanks to your help and funding from the Public Safety & Vital Services Measure, we're making a difference keeping our City clean! The Clean City Initiative is funded by the Public Safety & Vital Services Measure (also known as Measure N) Download the FREE Bakersfield Mobile App here: https://bit.ly/3pWBn7t Learn more about the Public Safety & Vital Services Measure, its funding and projects here: https://bit.ly/3qCHYGa Seven Clean City crews contracted from the Bakersfield Homeless Center & California Highway Adoption Company launched in January 2021shopping carts cleared from public areas863 Types of service requests from April - July 2021 mattresses & box springs cleaned up from streets2,461bags worth of trash removed from City public spaces by Clean City crews & Downtown Street Ambassadors in seven months!tires collected and disposed of803couches removed from public areas1,136 total service requests assigned to Clean City Teams 1,621 reports received through the Bakersfield Mobile app 677 requests completed through field checks 740 67,781 City Manager’s Office 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-326-3751 FAX: 661-324-1850 MEDIA ADVISORYFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021 CONTACT: Joe Conroy Public Information Officer 661-326-3074 JConroy@bakersfieldcity.us BAKERSFIELD MOBILE APP GETS A “REFRESH” New features and options now available through City’s free app Since its launch in July 2014, the Bakersfield Mobile app has served as an invaluable tool for residents to report issues throughout the community directly to City staff. The City of Bakersfield is continuing to update the app to make it even more useful for making Bakersfield the Sound of Something Better! App users may have noticed a new look and some new features on the app, which is free to download on Apple (iOS), Android and Blackberry devices! The first change users will notice is an updated app home screen. The screen now features buttons linking to the most popular content on the City’s website, including information on current job opportunities, trash services, and even the latest City news! In addition, new service requests have been added and service request menus have been updated to allow staff to resolve issues quicker. Highlights of the update include: • Adding a service request option for deceased animals in the City right of way and public spaces; • Updated submenu options for reporting illegal dumping to deploy the appropriate resources more efficiently; • Directing abandoned shopping cart removal requests to the recently established Clean City Teams. The app will be updated automatically through your device’s app store and are, of course, free of charge. New downloads will include these changes from the start. So far in 2021, the City has received and responded to an average of 1,500 service requests made through the app each month. The app has been downloaded nearly 17,000 times since its launch. Download the app here! ### AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 COUNCIL MEETING REGULAR MEETING – 3:30 p.m. CLOSED SESSION Items 4.a.-4.c. Various Items (All Wards) REGULAR MEETING – 5:15 p.m. CONSENT CALENDAR – RESOLUTIONS Item 8g. Kern County World War II Veteran Memorial (Ward 2) The Kern County World War II Veterans Memorial, a 501(c)(3) organization (Organization) has approached the City of Bakersfield (City) expressing their desire to build a memorial at Jastro Park honoring Kern County's World War II Veterans and those whose services were instrumental in supporting the World War II efforts. Staff recommends approval of the resolution so the Organization can move forward with their design and build of the memorial. The Organization will dedicate the memorial to the City at a future date. CONSENT CALENDAR – AGREEMENTS Item 8p. Pet care at Brundage Lane Navigation Center (All Wards) A critical component of the City of Bakersfield’s Brundage Lane Navigation Center (BLNC) is the wrap around health, mental health, social and other services aimed at helping homeless guests recover so they may be matched with permanent housing. A successful first 10 months at BLNC has led to 75 formerly homeless individuals placed in permanent housing. The City of Bakersfield is pleased to partner with Critters Without Litters (CWO) for spay/neuter, vaccination and initial exams onsite at the BLNC for guest pets. CWO is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that provides high-volume, high-quality, subsidized companion animal sterilization and vaccination services. Staff recommends approval of the lease agreement. REPORTS Item 11a. Council Goals quarterly review (All Wards) The City Council Goals document outlines the Council's priorities, which provides guidance to City staff in developing action items and activities to achieve these goals. The presentation will include highlights from Fiscal Year 2021 and PSVS funded projects. Item 11.b.-11.d. Quarterly Homeless Update (All Wards) The City Council will receive its quarterly update from the Bakersfield Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative as well as Brundage Lane Navigation Center operator Mercy House. The City Attorney’s Office and the City Manager’s Office will also provide a comparative analysis of the City of Los Angeles’ ordinance regarding homeless encampments and the City of Bakersfield’s current municipal code language. Approved: Chris Huot, Assistant City Manager CH Prepared: Anthony Valdez, Assistant to the City Manager cc: Department Heads City Manager’s File City Clerk’s File News Media File Recreation & Parks - RRT Weekly Report For the week of 8/15/2021 - 8/21/2021 City Council and/or Public Requests • None City Source Requests • None Projects Completed by RRT 1. Sister Cities (Encampment Clean-Up) • The RRT along with Code Enforcement removed trash from a homeless encampment set up on the north and south sides of Sister Cities. • Two sites were addressed. • Trash load was taken to the City Corporation Yard and disposed of inside a roll-off trash bin, provided by Solid Waste Dept. 2. Mill Creek @ Central Park (Encampment Clean-Up) • The RRT along with Code Enforcement removed trash from a homeless encampment set up at the bridge crossing. • One site was addressed. • Trash load was taken to the City Corporation Yard and disposed of inside a roll-off trash bin, provided by Solid Waste Dept. 3. Saunders Park (Encampment Clean-Up) • The RRT along with Code Enforcement removed trash from a homeless encampment set up on the northwest side of the park. • One site was addressed. • Trash load was taken to the City Corporation Yard and disposed of inside a roll- off trash bin, provided by Solid Waste Dept. 4. Lowell Park (Encampment Clean-Up) • The RRT assisted Code Enforcement with removal of trash from a homeless encampment set up on the northwest side of the park, adjacent to the restroom building. • One site was addressed. • Trash load was taken to the City Corporation Yard and disposed of inside a roll-off trash bin, provided by Solid Waste Dept. 5. The Park at Riverwalk (Concrete Bench Pad) • The RRT installed a new concrete pad as part of a new memorial bench to be installed along the bike path north of the maintenance yard. 6. Kern River @ Mohawk Street (Encampment Clean-Up) • The RRT along with Code Enforcement removed trash from various homeless encampments located along the riverbank located at Mohawk St. north of Truxtun Ave. • Three sites were addressed. • Trash loads were taken to Kern County Bena Landfill for disposal (total weight 12,360 lbs.). Miscellaneous 1. Lowell Park (Restroom Door) • The RRT temporarily secured the S/W restroom door due to vandalism, until a new door can be ordered and installed. 2. Simeon Park (Trash Enclosure Repair) • The RRT made repairs to the door cane bolt bracket at the trash enclosure, due to vandalism. 3. Pin Oak Park (Tree Removal) • The RRT responded to remove a fallen tree that was down inside the park. 4. Uplands of Kern River @ Chester Avenue (Encampment Clean-Up) • The RRT assisted Code Enforcement with removal of trash from homeless encampments set up in the area. • One site was addressed • Trash load was taken to Kern County Bena Landfill for disposal (total weight 4,260 lbs.). 5. Stine Road & Pacheco Road (Encampment Clean-Up) • The RRT assisted Code Enforcement with removal of trash from various homeless encampments along the railroad tracks. • Trash load was taken to Kern County Bena Landfill for disposal (total weight 7,000 lbs.). 6. Patriots Park (Restroom Security Gate Repair) • The RRT re-installed the women’s restroom gate due to vandalism. 7. Bridle Creek Park (Electrical Pull Box Security Bolt Installation) • The RRT installed new security bolts (‘Bakersfield bolt’) at each park security light electrical pull box. 8. Ashe Road & Casper Way (Damaged Block Wall Board-Up) • The RRT responded to secure a damaged block wall due to a vehicular accident. Ongoing Projects 1. Greystone Park (Trash Enclosure Modification) • The RRT will schedule fabrication and installation of a new cover on the existing trash enclosure. 2. McMurtrey Aquatics Center (Wrought Iron Fence Modification) • The RRT will schedule wrought iron fence modification on west side concession area to prevent illegal entry. 3. Mesa Marin Sports Complex (Perimeter Fence Windscreen Replacement) • The RRT will be replacing the ball diamond fence windscreens at all four fields. • Work will continue only on weekends until the project is completed. Weekly Data: Assignment Locations Job Description Date Man Hours Equip/Hours Misc. Cost Weight Approx. lbs. Sister Cities Encampment Clean-Up 8/15/2021 4 2 0 0 Mill Creek @ Central Park Encampment Clean-Up 8/15/2021 6 4 0 0 Saunders Park Encampment Clean-Up 8/15/2021 3 2 0 0 Lowell Park Restroom Door Repair 8/15/2021 7 6 0 0 Siemon Park Trash Enclosure Door Repair 8/16/2021 6 3 0 0 Pin Oak Park Tree Removal 8/16/2021 7 7 0 0 Stine Rd. & Pacheco Rd. Encampment Clean-Up 8/17/2021 10 10 $148.95 7000 lbs. Patriots Park Women’s Restroom Gate Repair 8/17/2021 7.5 5 $12.10 0 Bridle Creek Electrical Pull Box Bolt Installation 8/17/2021 7.5 5 0 0 Lowell Park Encampment Clean-Up 8/18/2021 1 3 0 0 The Park at Riverwalk Concrete Pad Installation 8/18/2021 21 21 216.32 0 Uplands of Kern River Encampment Clean-Up 8/18/2021 10 10 $95.85 0 Ashe Rd. & Casper Way Damaged Block Wall Board-Up 8/19/2021 2 2 0 0 Kern Riverbank @ Mohawk St. Encampment Clean-Up 8/19/2021 40 40 $20.70 12,360 Totals: Projects Completed: 15 132 hrs. 120 hrs. $493.92 19,360Lbs Next Week City Source Request • None City Council and/or Public Request • None Priority Projects • RRT will continue to work with Code Enforcement regarding any illegal homeless encampment sites within City Parks, Streetscapes, and/or City buildings. Training • None See Attached Photos Sister Cities Encampment Clean-Up Saunders Park Encampment Clean-Up Lowell Park Restroom Door Repair Mill Creek @ Central Park Encampment Clean-Up Siemon Park Trash Enclosure repair Pin Oak Park Tree Removal Stine Rd. & Pacheco Rd. Encampment Clean-Up Patriot’s Park Security Gate Repairs Bridle Creek Electrical Pull Box Bolt Installation Lowell Park Encampment Clean-Up The Park at Riverwalk Concrete Bench Pad Installation Kern Riverbank Encampment Clean-Up After Encampment Clean-Up Ashe Rd. & Casper Way Block Wall Board-Up would like to invite you in honoring and remembering those heroes that paid the ultimate sacrifice. Saturday, September 11, 2021 Bakersfield Fire Department - Station 15 1315 Buena Vista Road Bakersfield, CA 93311 9:30 a.m. - Morning Ceremony 7:00 p.m. - Evening Ceremony Portrait of a Warrior Gallery will be memorializing the 27 local Kern County residents that were called to duty with a Roll Call Ceremony during the Evening Ceremony. Shuttles from the Riverwalk Park area will run throughout the day. SEASON TICKET INFORMATION Bakersfield Condors 661-324-PUCK (7825) www.bakersfieldcondors.com Bakersfield Symphony 661-323-7928 www.BSOnow.org UPCOMING EVENTS November 28, 2021 – Gabriel Iglesias 7:00 PM $199. $149, $90, $70 On Sale Now $66.50, $46.50, $36.50 On Sale Now $66.50, $46.50, $36.50 On Sale Now January 21, 2022 – JoJo Siwa 7:00 PM April 9, 2021 – Jo Koy 8:00 PM May 25, 2022 – Matchbox Twenty 7:00 PM $179.50 to $39.50 On Sale Now $66.50, $52.50, $42.50 On Sale Now $113.75 to $43.75 On Sale Now June 16, 2022 – Chris Stapleton 7:00 PM October 9 – Myke Towers 8:00 PM $39 to $199 On Sale Now $147, $97, $75, $65, $45, $32 On Sale Now October 2, 2021 – Luke Combs 7:00 PM September 25 – Hank Williams Jr 8:00 PM $88 to $22 On Sale Now Sept 9, 2021 – Los Angeles Azules 8:00 PM Buy tickets at www.mechanicsbankarena.com or AXS.com $52, $32 On Sale Now $110, $90, $80, $75, $65, $40 On Sale Now October 10 – Brett Young 8:00 PM September 25 – Bronco 8:00 PM October 9 – BSO: Bruch & Dvorak 6:00 PM$45, $35, $30, $20 On Sale Now $150, $59, $39 On Sale Now December 3 – BSO: Home For The Holidays 6:00 PM May 8. 2022 – Celtic Woman 3:00 PM $20-$78 On Sale Now $45, $35, $30, $20 On Sale Now February 15, 2022 – Disney Princess The Concert 7:00 PM November 6 – BSO: Mozart & More 6:00 PM $125-$40 On Sale NowOctober 16 – Grupo Canaveral 8:00 PM $85, $65, $50, $35 On Sale Now $45, $35, $30, $20 On Sale Now November 14, 2021 – Cirque Musica Holiday 5:00 PM September 8 – Chicago 8:00 PM $99, $79, $59, $49, $39 On Sale Now September 11 – Praise In The Park 2:00 PM $50 ($25 Child) to $200 On Sale Now $62, $52, $42, $32 On Sale Now October 16 – Jason Bonham’s Led Zep Eve 8:00 PM September 10 – Daughtry 8:00 PM $85, $75, $65, $55, $45 On Sale Now