HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.09.20242/9/24, 3:25 PM Bakersfield Notes 02.09.2024
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Bakers eld Notes
The Sound of What's Happening!
Friday, Feb. 9, 2024
Notable Items
City launches new customer service platform
The City of Bakers eld this week launched
its new customer service platform, Archie!
This new system - through a partnership
with Citibot, the leading provider of
interactive chat solutions for local
government - includes an accessible web
chat assistant on the City’s website and a
text message feature.
With Archie – named in reference to the well-recognized Bakers eld
Arch – residents can quickly and easily get answers to their
questions, nd information on various city services, submit service
requests, send a message to staff, or sign up for text message
noti cations. The platform was developed with the latest AI-driven
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chatbot technology, allowing the City to automate and scale its
customer service efforts to help with the day-to-day needs of both
staff and residents.
Archie’s web chat service can be found on the city’s website where
both desktop and mobile users will notice the feature on the bottom
right section of their browser window. Clicking on the icon launches
a chat window, greeting residents and prompting them to enter their
questions or service requests.
To start a conversation via text message, residents can text “Hello” to
855-513-2533. Archie immediately responds with a short greeting
explaining the ways residents can use the service and a link to sign up
for text message noti cations.
Centennial Corridor ribbon cutting
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A road project decades and more than half a billion dollars in the
making, the City held a ribbon cutting event with its Thomas Roads
Improvement Program (TRIP) partners on Friday, Feb. 9 to celebrate
the Centennial Corridor!
Retired Bakers eld Congressman Bill Thomas led the contingent of
TRIP - a conglomerate of of cials from the City and Kern County, as
well as Caltrans, the Kern Council of Governments and California
Transportation Commission. Former Bakers eld City Manager Alan
Tandy was also on-hand to emcee the event.
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The Mainline, connecting Highways 99 and 58 to Interstate 5, is the
largest of three major projects of the Centennial Corridor. The other
two - the Kern River Bridge Improvements and Bakers eld Freeway
Connector - were completed previously. The more than $600 million
project was made possible thanks to the efforts of Bill Thomas, who
chaired the House Ways and Means Committee while representing
Bakers eld.
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Some facts about the project:
159,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured to complete the
Mainline, Kern River Bridge Improvements and Bakers eld
Freeway Connector.
100,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured for Mainline alone,
roughly 2% of the amount used in the Hoover Dam (4.36 million).
23,000 tons of steel was used for Mainline, equal to 28% of the
Golden Gate Bridge (83,000).
26.48 lane miles of concrete was poured for all three phases.
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Pop-up large trash item drop-off event planned for Feb.
10
The City of Bakers eld's Solid Waste
Division will host a pop-up large item drop-
off event on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 8 a.m.
to noon.
The event will be held in the parking lot of
the Bakers eld Municipal Airport (2000 S.
Union Avenue).
These events are part of Bakers eld's Clean City Initiative.
Accepted Items List (Eng.)
Accepted Items List (Esp.)
Shade on the way at Kroll, Jastro parks
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Our Recreation & Parks Department is getting ready for the spring
and summer seasons by adding new shade structures to playgrounds
at two parks.
Construction is currently underway at Kroll Park where new swing
bays are being installed with integrated shades. The swing area is
currently closed off for construction, which is expected to last about
two weeks.
Jastro Park is also in line to get new shades to cover the playground
area.
Construction on that project is expected to take 4-6 weeks beginning
Feb. 14.
Installation has started on new shades covering the swings at Kroll Park.
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Construction on new shade structures at Jastro Park's playground begins Feb. 14.
Nearly 300 vaccinations given at rst low-cost clinic of
2024
Almost 300 vaccinations were provided to 148 dogs at the rst
monthly low-cost vaccination clinic of 2024, hosted by the
Bakers eld Animal Control Unit.
The clinic was hosted at University Park on Saturday, Feb. 3. In total,
299 vaccinations were given, 89 licenses were issued and 23
microchips were provided as well. Microchips are included with the
purchase of a license.
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The next clinic is set for March 2 at Beale Park.
For more information, call 661-326-3436 or visit
www.bakers eldcity.us/520.
2024 Clinic Calendar
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Upcoming Recreation & Parks programming
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Employee Service Awards
Josh Robles, Financial Services, 10 years
Mariela Sanchez, Bakers eld Police
Dept., 10 years
Rhonda Silvestri, Public Works Dept.,
10 years
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Traf c Advisories
Panorama Drive to Manor Street
partial closure
The City’s Public Works Department is
expected to start a project to improve the
storm drain system near 21st and P Streets
starting Monday, Feb. 12, work that will
require the closure of some intersections in
Downtown Bakers eld.
As a result of this work, temporary road
closures will be required on 21st Street
between O and Q Streets and on P between 20th and 22nd Streets.
No traf c will be allowed at these intersections.
This portion of the project is expected to be completed by Friday,
Feb. 16. 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, or if that is unavoidable, to use extra caution, plan for
additional travel time, or plan to use alternate routes.
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.
Parking lot rehabilitation project at San Miguel Grove
An upcoming parking lot rehabilitation project will require the
temporary closure of the parking lot at San Miguel Grove starting
Thursday, Feb. 8.
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The closure is expected to last for 30 days, weather permitting.
The project will include the complete removal of the current
pavement and a repaving of the parking lot. Funding for the
$147,597 by the Public Safety & Vital Services (PSVS) Measure, also
known as Measure N as it enhances the City's amenities for the
public to improve quality of life for our residents.
Reports
City Council Agenda Highlights, Feb. 14, 2024.
Recreation & Parks Dept. Support Team for Operations, Rangers
and Maintenance (STORM) weekly report, Jan. 28 - Feb, 3, 2024.
Spectrum Paci c West is noticing its customers that on or around
March 6, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries located on Spectrum
Channels 74, 643, 1390 and 1643, will be rebranded to Hallmark
Mystery. For any questions, please call 805-783-4945.
Events
Saturday, Feb. 10
Pedal for a Purpose, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Yokuts Park (4200 Empire
Drive).
Pop-up large trash item drop-off event, 9 a.m. to noon at University
Park (4301 University Avenue).
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