HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.15.202312/15/23, 4:32 PM Bakersfield Notes 12.15.2023
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Bakers eld Notes
The Sound of What's Happening!
Friday, Dec. 15, 2023
Notable Items
Southeast Strong project awarded more than $22
million in state grant funding
The City of Bakers eld is proud to
announce that the California Strategic
Growth Council has awarded more than
$22 million in grant funding to the
Southeast Strong Transformative Climate
Communities (TCC) project.
This funding will be crucial to the Southeast Strong project’s efforts
to bring improvements such as affordable housing, active
transportation options and more to that part of this historically
disadvantaged community.
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This funding will be crucial to the Southeast Strong project’s efforts
supporting 12 neighborhood-serving projects including new housing,
urban greening, enhanced connectivity, and clean energy.
Community engagement will play a critical role to see these projects
to fruition, and we invite all community members and those with a
historical interest in Southeast Bakers eld to attend and participate.
New 72-unit affordable farmworker housing celebrated
New affordable housing options are a crucial part of addressing the
housing crisis in Bakers eld. Using funding from the City’s
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Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Bakers eld
is working with developers to make more
units available to residents.
An investment of $2.5 million from the City
of Bakers eld helped bring additional
funding from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture for a new $25.9 million
affordable farmworker housing
development, the 72-unit Sagewood Affordable Housing Apartment
Community at the corner of Stine and Berkshire roads.
On Tuesday, Dec. 12, the City, Chelsea Investment Corporation and
Paci c Southwest Community Development Corporation celebrated
the project's completion as it nears occupancy.
The development includes one-, two- and three-bedroom units -
including ADA-accessible apartments - as well as a playground,
picnic area, community garden, and half basketball court. At least
one member of the household must work in the agriculture industry
and the household income must be between 30% and 60% of the
Area Median Income (AMI).
Mayor Karen Goh, Vice Mayor Andrae Gonzales (Ward 2) and
Councilmember Manpreet Kaur (Ward 7), as well as former
Councilmember Chris Parlier were among those who took a tour of
the facility.
The development is expected to receive its certi cate of occupancy
in the coming weeks and then will open for applications.
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City awards $90,000 in entrepreneur grants to three
local businesses
Three local businesses received a total of $90,000 from the City's
Entrepreneurship Grant Program on Wednesday, Dec. 13. The
businesses - Sweet Bites N Ice, Awakened Consulting and A&B
Naturals - were presented checks at this week's City Council
meeting.
Artisa Mae Moten of Awakened Consulting Inc. received a grant
award of $25,000. Awakened Consulting is a holistic Mental
health collective business located at 2201 F. Street, specializing in
neuro-counseling for families, groups, and individuals. Services
include counseling and mandated classes, clinical career
development, and corporate master training. Their expansion
plans include hiring a new mental health professional,
neurofeedback Eye Movement Desensitization, and Reprocessing
equipment to expand the scope of service.
Alexandria Kemp of A&B Naturals received a grant award of
$25,000. A&B Naturals is located in downtown Bakers eld at Eye
and 18th Street. They carry their own handmade items and
handcrafted stone bracelets, but also serves as a business
storefront that offers “shelf-space” for more than ten local
vendors. Products include specialty items such as palm oil, soaps,
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candles, hair products, jewelry, and more. Their expansion plans
include hiring a store associate and increasing
products/inventory.
Chavez of “Sweet Bites N Ice LLC” received a grant award of
$40,000. They are currently a dessert food truck business which
serves a variety of handcrafted crepes, churros, waf es,
decorated milkshakes, and over 60 avors of freshly prepared
fruit aguas frescas. Stephanie is the recipient of a $40,000 grant
that will expand their business to a new brick and mortar location
at the Maya Cinema Retail Center early next year.
The City's Economic & Community Development Department
launched the Entrepreneurship Grant Program in July, partnering
with Bakers eld College Launchpad, the California State University,
Bakers eld Small Business Development Center and Extended
Education and the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce.
Since launching, the program has awarded $335,000 to 33 local
small businesses to strengthen their impact on the local economy.
The grant funding can be used for working capital including payroll
and bene ts costs; utilities, mortgage or rent payments; paying
license or permit fees; covering business expansion costs, operating
expenses, and more.
General Plan Update workshop planned
We want to hear what you think Bakers eld should look like in the
next 25 years - and on Tuesday, Dec. 19, the public can give staff their
feedback on land use over the future two and a half decades.
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A General Plan Update workshop will be
held at the Bakers eld Museum of Art
(1930 R Street) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Spanish
translation services will be available.
And don't forget to take the online
community survey!
Rec. & Parks recognizes community groups as of cial
park adopters
This week two local community groups received signs from the City's
Recreation & Parks Department as of cial adopters of local parks.
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Blue Zones Project Bakers eld and Transitional Youth Mobilizing for
Change (TYM4Change) have participated in the Rec. & Parks
Department's Adopt-A-Park program for six months.
Blue Zones adopted Centennial Park and TYM4Change adopted Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Each have held regular cleanups at each
of the sites, helping with the Adopt-A-Park mission of serving as key
community representatives for their park by organizing a
community-based volunteer group and making an ongoing
commitment to improving their park.
Adopt-A-Park Program
Pop-up large item drop-off events collect more than
200 tons of trash in 2023, set to return in '24
The City's monthly pop-up large item drop-
off events collected more than 200 tons of
trash in 2023, with the Solid Waste
Division receiving more than 40,000
pounds at the November and December
events.
In November, the event at Kaiser Permanente Sports Village
collected 37,860 pounds of trash, 12,300 pounds of metal and 85
mattresses to go with 33 tires. At the December event at 4200
Panorama Drive, 7,680 pounds of trash and 3,200 pounds of metal
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were collected. Residents also dropped off 40 mattresses and 29
tires.
The City held 19 drop-off events this year compared to last year's 24.
Here are 2023's totals, with 2022's totals in parenthesis:
423,470 pounds of trash (224,350 in 2022);
22,690 pounds of recycling (5,430);
412 tires (164);
1,285 mattresses (759)
4,593 vehicles came through the events, compared to nearly
2,300 in 2022.
These events are part of Bakers eld's Clean City Initiative, providing
opportunities for residents to get rid of large items that won't t in
their residential trash bins. The City plans to continue offering these
events for a fourth year starting in January.
Don't pour used cooking oil or grease down the drain -
bring it to the City's holiday grease collection event!
The City of Bakers eld’s annual Holiday
Grease Collection event is back for the
2023-24 holiday season, offering a safe
disposal option for cooking oil and grease
for Bakers eld residents.
Disposing of used cooking oil and grease
down residential drains can result in
clogged pipes and other damage, causing backups. Instead, residents
can stop by either of the City’s Holiday Grease Collection locations
and dispose of used oil and grease in a safe and environmentally
friendly way.
Hear from City staff how to dispose of your used cooking oil and
grease the proper way in the video linked above!
City's Holiday Grease Collection Event is back!
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Residents are asked to collect their used cooking oil and grease in
sealed containers before dropping it off at the locations. There is no
charge to dispose of used cooking oil and grease during the event.
The 2023 Holiday Grease Collection Event runs through Friday, Jan.
5, 2024.
Cooking oil and grease drop-off locations:
City of Bakers eld Wastewater Treatment Plant 3 (6901
McCutchen Road)
North of the River Sanitary District main of ce (204 Universe
Avenue)
Residents may drop off their used cooking oil and grease at those
locations from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day, Monday through Friday.
The event’s City location is closed on Dec. 25, 2023 and Jan. 1, 2024
Grease Collection Event yer
Provide feedback for safety improvements along
Monitor Street School Corridor
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Employee Service Awards
Week of Dec. 10
Doretha Wyatt, Bakers eld Police
Dept., 25 years
Adelina Carter, Economic &
Community Development Dept., 10
years
Gordon Hilton, Public Works Dept., 5
years
Traf c Advisories
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Temporary intersection closures planned in Downtown
Bakers eld
The City’s Public Works Department is
expected to start a project to improve the
storm drain system near 20th and P streets
on Dec. 11, work that will require the
closure of some intersections in
Downtown Bakers eld.
As a result of this work, 20th Street
between O and Q streets, as well as P
Street between 20th and 21st, and Q Street between 20th and 21st
will be closed temporarily. No traf c will be allowed at these
intersections.
This portion of the project is expected to be completed by Friday,
Dec. 29. The closures will be 24-hours a day and detours will be in
place at the nearest intersections before reaching these impacted
areas.
Traf c delays are expected as a result, so drivers are advised to avoid
these areas, use extra caution, plan for additional travel time, or plan
to use alternate routes.
Daytime lane closures on NB, SB Mohawk
Daytime lane closures have been scheduled for northbound and
southbound Mohawk Street between Truxtun Avenue and Rosedale
Highway for electrical work at the new signalized intersection with
the westbound off-ramp.
The southbound lane closure will occur on Tuesday, Dec. 19, and
northbound on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
The lane closures will start at 7 a.m. and end 3:30 p.m. The outer lane
will be closed for the work and the two inner lanes remain open at all
times.
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Nighttime lane closures set for NB, SB Mohawk
Nighttime alternating lane closures have been scheduled for
northbound and southbound Mohawk Street between Truxtun
Avenue and Rosedale Highway for the installation of vehicle
detection loops.
The lane closures will occur on Wednesday, Dec. 20 from 10 p.m. to 5
a.m.
Lane closures scheduled for SB 99
Nighttime alternating lane closures has been scheduled for
southbound State Route 99 between State Route 58 and Ming
Avenue. The closures will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 20 for the
installation of vehicle detection loops. The closures will begin at 10
p.m. and end at 5 a.m.
WB 58 to NB 99 ramp connect, lane closures on NB 99
A Nighttime closure has been scheduled for the westbound State
Route 58 to northbound State Route 99 connector ramp.
The closure will take place on Monday, Dec. 18 for the installation of
vehicle detection loops. The closures will begin at 9 p.m. and end at 5
a.m.
Alternating lane closures will also occur along northbound State
Route 99 between Ming Avenue and Stockdale Highway for this
work. The lane closure will begin at 10 p.m. and end at 5 a.m.
During the ramp closure, westbound to northbound 99 motorists
will be detoured to exit at Chester Avenue. Turn right/north on
Chester Avenue. Turn left/west on Brundage Lane. Turn right/north
on Oak Street. Turn left/west on California Avenue. Turn right to
enter the northbound State Route 99 on-ramp.
WB 58 to SB 99 connector ramp closure
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A Nighttime closure has been scheduled for the westbound State
Route 58 to southbound State Route 99 connector ramp. The
closures will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 19 for the installation of
bridge joint seal. The closure will begin at 9 p.m. and end at 5 a.m.
California Highway Patrol will be monitoring the construction zone.
During the closure, westbound motorists will be detoured to
northbound State Route 99. From State Route 99 exit at California
Avenue and turn left/west. Merge right to enter the southbound
State Route 99 on-ramp.
The City thanks the public for its patience and understanding during
the completion of these improvements.
Please note: Construction work may be postponed and rescheduled
without notice due to inclement weather and other unforeseen
conditions.
Reports
Recreation & Parks Dept. Support Team for Operations, Rangers
and Maintenance (STORM) weekly report, Dec. 3-9, 2023
Spectrum Paci c West, LLC (“Spectrum”), is noticing its customers
that on or around Jan. 8, 2024 Showtime will rebrand the following
channels on the local channel lineup:
Showtime East to Paramount+ with Showtime East – channels
741, 1741
Showtime West to Paramount+ with Showtime West – channels
740, 1740
Showtime On Demand to Paramount+ with Showtime On
Demand – channels 759, 1759
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Events
Saturday, Dec. 16
The Jingle Bell Run, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Park at River Walk (11200
Stockdale Highway).
Tuesday, Dec. 19
General Plan Update Workshop, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Bakers eld
Museum of Art (1930 R Street).
Community Survey
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