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02/14/03
B A K E R S F I E L D CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM February 14, 2003 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Tandy, City Manager /~7'-~/,/--'~... FROM: Alan SUBJECT: General Information 1. The attached news release regarding the budget reduction plan was made available to the media on Thursday. 2. There has not been significant activity or hopeful progress on the State budget situation this week. · The League of California Cities latest bulletin is enclosed. The State Finance Director spoke to the League's Board of Directors and at the City Managers meeting this week. He indicated that the Governor may pull the VLF "trigger" and could reinstate the higher VLF fees before June, even without the Assembly's bill, but that cities could still be targeted as a funding source later in the budget process. · Not surprisingly, the State's credit rating was downgraded this week, per the enclosed Sacramento Bee article. · As reported to you earlier, redevelopment funding will face severe cuts if the Governor's proposals are enacted. An article on that subject, also from the Sacramento Bee, is attached. 3. On a more optimistic note, the State has re-funded the Jobs-Housing Balance Grant out of Proposition 46 monies, and it appears the City may qualify for up to $395,000. Per the enclosed memo from EDCD, staff is working to identify an appropriate project for the money; the application is due in late March. 4. Continuing with positive news, Bakersfield continues to have some of the most affordable home prices in California. The enclosed article indicates that new home prices here only rose 6.19% over last year, which is a much smaller increase than most other cities. 5. The landfill cap for the Panorama landfill is now fully funded. A memo and chart that explain the various funding sources from the Refuse Enterprise Fund are enclosed for your information. Honorable Mayor and City Council February 14, 2003 Page 2 6. The attached memo from EDCD reports that Pleasant Holidays is in compliance with the terms of their loan agreement with the City. It is the fourth year of Pleasant Holidays' five year loan. 7. The Recreation and Parks Department monthly activity report is attached. 8. Responses to Council requests are enclosed, as follows: Councilmember Benham · Status report on traffic study for intersections near the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter; Councilmember Carson · Update on the traffic study regarding the feasibility of a crosswalk at Third and Chester; · Citizen concern regarding limited visibility at Real Road and Chester Lane; Councilmember Maggard · Code enforcement actions at 2111 Columbus Street regarding abatement of graffiti; · Status of providing further details related to signal/stop installations in Wards 2, 3, and 7; Councilmember Couch · Code enforcement actions for dust abatement at the apartment complex being constructed at Hageman and Jewetta; Councilmember Hanson · Feasibility of installing lights at the skateboard park, per a citizen inquiry; · Update on the installation of a barricade on Eastourne; Councilmember Salvaggio · Report on Conditional Use Permit compliance for recycling company at 730 California Avenue. AT:rs cc: Department Heads Pam McCarthy, City Clerk Trudy Slater, Administrative Analyst K E R S F I E L D Alan Tandy · City Manager PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rhonda Smiley Thursday, February 13, 2003 City Manager's Office Public Relations (661) 326-3753 City Initiates ¢6sts Reductions in Response to Governor's Proposed Budget The City of Bakersfield has established an initial plan to address the potential financial impacts'of the Governor's proposed budget. City Manager Alan Tandy and the City department heads have identified a series of cost reductions and placed them into a "tiered" plan, with two phases. Phase I has already been put into effect and will remain so until the State has adopted their budget. Phase II includes additional reductions which may become necessary, should the negative trend continue at the State level. Not knowing if the Governor's budget will be adopted, and in anticipation of some level of action by the State that will likely reduce local revenue, the City will need to make cuts of $4,755,440 in the current fiscal year budget. Phase I addresses 53% of that amount, which is $2,453,234 in reductions. Phase II would cut an additional 6%, or $263,234. The actions in Phases I and II reflect a measured response to the State actions, based on the information currently available. Phases III and IV have not been identified yet, and the pace at which they will be developed will depend on the actions taken by the Governor and the State Legislature. MORE City Initiates Costs Reductions in Response to Governor's Proposed Budget Page 2 The Phase I actions that have been enacted will impact all City departments and all levels of operatiOn. Some of the significant actions to reduce expenses include the freezing of 35 vacant positions and the elimination of over 163 temporary positions. Various Recreation and Parks programs will be reduced or eliminated, including some special sports and musical events, and school and community programs. Savings will also be attained by eliminating non-essential training and travel and reducing non-emergency overtime for employees and delaying the replacement of vehicles, computers, and other equipment. Community education efforts and direct mail publications will also be affected. It is hoped that these early actions will not create a dramatic change in City operations, but it is realistic to exPect some negative effect on services and requests. There will be slower responses to requests for street and pothole repairs, median and park maintenance, code enforcement issues, and other City projects and activities due to the staff reductions that have been implemented. Not' knowing how the Governor and the Legislature will deal with the budget crisis, but in expectation that the City will receive less revenue from the State, the actions taken now are both prudent and necessary to prepare for that possibility. For more information, please contact Rhonda Smiley at 326-3753. City of Bakersfield · City Manager's Office · 1501 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, California ° 93301 (661) 326-3751 · Fax (661) 324.1850 League of Califomia Cities Page 1 of 2 .Ne.ws and Inforrnal;)o.n. > .M.~l.~.....!Jpd~.te~ > Finance Director Meets With League Board, Urges Ballot Measure Finance Director Meets With League Board, Urges Ballot Measure posting date: February 14, 2003 Photo: State Department of Finance Director Steve Peace discusses state budget with League Board of Directors. State Director of Finance Steve Peace attended the League's Board of Directors meeting last Saturday in Oakland, to talk about the state's budget crisis and explain why the Administration feels it is necessary to veto AB 4X (Wesson). He arrived at the meeting the morning after returning to California from New York, where he and State Treasurer Phil Angelides had met with members of the financial community about the Administration's plans to address the state's deficit. Speaking informally for about a half an hour, Mr. Peace analyzed the causes behind the state's huge deficit, and emphasized the importance of a bipartisan approach in the legislature to achieving both a solution to this year's budget and enacting long term structural reforms. He said that the lack of bipartism support for AB 4X undermined that goal. Referring to the state's huge deficit he said, "The quicker you fix the problem the quicker you whittle it but it also makes you Public Enemy #1. The feelings of anger and betrayal experienced by local government are the same as the feelings in the education and health care communities." He said that the core of the Administration's proposal is the $8.2 billion "realignment" piece - the proposal to shift health and welfare programs from the state to counties and accompany those programs with dedicated revenues. This approach makes sense, he said, because the services are at a level of government that is closer to the populations being served. Passing the realignment keeps the services, but also keeps state government funded at a level that doesn't trigger the constitutional requirements to increase funding for education. But achieving the realignment requires passage of the $8.3 billion in tax increases proposed by the Governor -- a 1 cent increase in sales tax; a $1.10 per pack increase in cigarette sales; and raising the personal income tax level for the top income levels. "We haven't been able to get people to focus on the consequences of not getting the tax increases the Governor has asked for," said Peace. Board members had many questions for the new Finance Director about why the Governor proposed to break a promise made to local government about continuing VLF funding for cities and counties. Many spoke strongly about the sense of betrayal felt by local officials, and the difficulty of working with the state on structural reform issues when the state was again proving itself untrustworthy. "Tell your boss that $4 billion in VLF is important to this room, along with keeping promises", said Thousand Oaks Mayor Andy Fox. "Take VLF off the table," added Oakland City Attorney and League President John Russo. "The VLF is our (cities' and counties') money." Recognizing the impact that cities and counties were having on the state budget debate, Peace acknowledged that the Governor's plan to leave the VLF backfill unfunded would not pass the legislature. He acknowledged further that the Governor would probably have to pull the VLF "trigger" and reinstate the higher VLF fees before June - even without AB 4X. "My advice to the League is that you don't win early," he said, arguing that dOing so would make local http://www.cacities.org/doc.asp?printable=yes&ID=6886 2/14/2003 League of California Cities Page 2 of 2 government a target for other groups concerned about funding later in the budget process. Photo: (From left to right): League Executive Director Chris McKenzie, State Finance Director Steve Peace, and Oakland City Attorney and League President John Russo. Speaking of the Governor's announcement that he plans to veto AB 4X, Peace said, "There are fundamentally different legal : opinions about the trigger. The decision last year that there was a need for clarification (of the law calling for the trigger) was based upon one lawyer's opinion. The issue for us today is which statute do we want to defend. Lawyers for the Department of Finance, the Governor and the Controller all agree that they would rather defend pulling the trigger under the current law than under AB 4X." "We believe the trigger will pull," he continued, but that it's going to pay off in the end if everyone gets involved in the budget discussions. Oakland Mayor and former Governor Jerry Brown attended the meeting and spoke following Mr. Peace's remarks about his experiences with Proposition 13. "If I replay the Prop. 13 movie, I should never have trusted the legislature to pass a bill (on property tax reform)", he said. "They dallied and wasted a year. I should have gone straight to the ballot. The League needs an initiative, something real and popular." Peace agreed with this approach, and urged the League to get involved with other interests in developing a ballot measure to dramatically restructure the state and local fiscal structure. "The Governor's proposal is about structural reform," he said. "There's a window of opportunity to fix this stuff. I encourage you to participate and to involve the business community." Mr. Peace also spoke at the City Managers meeting this week in Monterey, covering much of the same information. · For complete details on the state budget impacts for cities, ~!i.~!~..!3.(~.rO. · ~dv_o_c..._a__cyC...._e..._n._te_r: League alerts, find your legislator, draft letters, talking points, take action. http ://www.cacities.org/doc. asp?printable=yes&ID=6886 2/14/2003 The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Moody's drops state credit rating Page 1 of 3 This story is taken from pP!!.~!_C~s at sacbee.com. Moody's drops state credit rating Budget woes led to the dip, but the long-term outlook is rated 'stable.' By Alexa H. Bluth -- Bee Capitol Bureau - (Published February 11, 2003) Four days after state leaders' pilgrimage to try to calm nerves on Wall Street, Moody's Investors Services on Monday became the third national ratings agency to'downgrade California's credit because of its unprecedented budget woes. The rating service reduced the stateIs credit rating for $22 billion in bonds and lumped California with New York and Louisiana as its lowest-rated states. "Given the magnitude of the budget problem, the obstacles to crafting a solution that solves the problem by the end of the 2004 fiscal year are daunting," Moody's wrote in Its ratings update. The move -- which could cost taxpayers more when the state sells bonds or could deter potential investors from doing business with the state -- will affect the state's sale of $900 million in general obligation bonds this week. The ratings agency also, however, elevated the state's long-term outlook to "stable" from "negative," citing hope that the economy will perk up slightly by the end of the year, and the state can use short-term loans to pay its bills in the meantime. "Today's rating action was not unexpected, but I have every faith that we will weather this fiscal storm, which is battering states across the country," state Treasurer Phil Angelides said in a prepared statement. Angelides and Gov. Gray Davis' new finance director, Steve Peace, traveled to New York last week to try to reassure bond analysts that the state can fill the gaping hole in its pocketbook. But Moody's analysts were unmoved. "The situation is what it is, and I don't think the state was necessarily going to be able to provide any information that would move us off of our opinion," said Raymond Murphy, Moody's lead analyst for California. Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings also downgraded California's bond rating in December after Davis said the state's deficit could soar to $35 billion. Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill has estimated the two-year shortfall at $26 billion. Moody's move Monday is a downgrade of one notch from A1 to A2 for the state's general http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/v-print/story/6098321 p-7054232c.html 2/13/2003 The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Moody's drops state credit rating Page 2 of 3 obligation bonds, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the state. The agency, which also knocked California in 2001 during the statewide power crisis, additionally lowered the rating on $5.5 billion in lease revenue bonds from A2 to A3. Peace said finance officials expected Moody's to follow the other agencies but said the trip's aim was to prevent "any further erosion." Davis spokesman Steve Maviglio also called the downgrade expected, but said, "it does point to the need for Republicans and the Democrats and the governor to find common ground as quickly as possible." Indeed, Moody's analysts pointed to tangles among Democrats and Republicans over tax increases and a recent rift between the Democratic governor and lawmakers from his own party. "It certainly was a factor because it provided evidence of the difficulty the state will have in reaching political consensus to eliminate this shortfall," Murphy said. Davis last week met with Assembly Democrats angry over his pledge to veto a bill to triple the vehicle license fee. A veto would also scrub $3 billion in budget cuts approved by the Legislature that were contingent upon the license fee hike. The issue makes up just a piece of an 18-month plan Davis proposed to try to balance the $77 billion general fund budget. The plan includes sweeping cuts, shifting services to cities and counties, and raising taxes on shoppers, smokers and the wealthy. Davis has been struggling to sell his plan to Democrats who think it carves too deeply into critical programs and local government and to Republicans who say they will refuse to support tax hikes. Still, GOP lawmakers echoed Maviglio's sentiment. "While not unexpected, today's action by Moody's reinforces the notion that California will face grave consequences without timely action to bring state spending into line," said Assembly Republican leader Dave Cox of Fair Oaks. About the Writer The Bee's Alexa H. Bluth can be reached at (916) 326-5542 or Go to: Sacbee / Back to story News I Sports I Business I Politi_cs I Opinion I Entertainment I Lifestyle I Travel I Women Cars I Classifie~ls I Homes I Jobs I Virtual Mall Help I Newsletters I Site Hap I Subscribe to the Print Edition I Traffic 1 Weather I Wireless Delivery ~bou_t....U.~ I __A.._~!.v_e~Ls_e_!.~_T..he._B_~ I ~_.v_e.~!.s_e..._.O_nJi~e I Cont~_~_C!r_¢u!a_t!_o..n_._..C_u~_t.~mer...S.er~i~c_e I Ey~ents [ Sacramento Bee Web sites ] http ://www.sacbee. corn/content/politics/v-print/story/6098321 p-7054232c.html 2/13/2003 The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Renewal funds may be slashed Page 1 of 4 This story is taken from _c_a. at sacbee.com. Renewal funds may be slashed billion in redevelopment money statewide is at risk. By Andrew LePage -- Bee Staff Writer - (Published February 14, 2003) California's nearly 400 redevelopment agencies have felt the pain of state budget cuts before -- forced to surrender $345 million over the past decade -- but this year they feel like a threatened species squarely in a sniper's sights. Gov. Gray Davis' budget proposal calls for them to gradually give up about half of the property tax revenue they now receive. That half is equal today to $1 billion annually. "We view this as nothing less than an outright attempt to kill redevelopment in California," says John Shirey, head of the California Redevelopment Association. His group represents most of the 380 active redevelopment agencies statewide and is fighting the governor's proposal. The governor wants the state to get out of the redevelopment funding business over the next 15 years. That would be the biggest change in a half century in the state's share of local redevel'opment financing. Redevelopment, which grew out of the federal urban renewal programs of the 1940s, has helped build tens of thousands of affordable housing units and hundreds of public, commercial and industrial buildings. "Redevelopment has literally changed the way that California looks, mostly for the better," Peter Detwiler, a consultant for the state Senate's Local Government Committee, wrote recently. Billions of dollars are at stake in the funding struggle, which some expect to trigger further reforms of redevelopment law. The Legislature will ponder the governor's proposal and alternatives this spring and summer. Redevelopment has its share of Iongtime critics. "Over the last 15 to 20 years .,. the justification for state subsidies for local development projects has been clearly lacking," said Philip isenberg, a former Sacramento mayor and assemblyman. He authored redevelopment reform legislation in 1993 and has advised Davis on the budget., "We support the governor's plan and hope it's part of a larger overall solution to local government finance," said Chris Norby, an Orange County supervisor who heads the statewide Municipal Officials for Redevelopment Reform. "Right now the (redevelopment) money is going to subsidize commercial developments ... to help cities steal each other's Wal-Marts and Costcos and auto dealers." http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/v-print/story/6114270p-7070009c.html 2/14/2003 The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Renewal funds may be slashed Page 2 of 4 Davis hasn't offered a policy statement in connection with his proposal. A spokeswoman said the governor's intent is to help solve the current state budget deficit and to prevent future ones. "I don't think this is a philosophical statement about redevelopment agencies," said spokeswoman Hilary McLean. "The governor is very interested in smart growth and improving California's infrastructure, and he's very committed to rejuvenating California's urban centers." In downtown Sacramento, results of redevelopment money are on display everywhere, from the reconstruction of Old Sacramento to a new Pyramid brewery restaurant under construction on the K Street Mall. Some of the better-known examples of redevelopment across California include San Diego's now-vibrant Gaslamp Quarter and San Francisco's Yerba Buena Gardens, part of a 12-block cultural-retail-housing development. But the debate continues over whether spending billions of dollars in property tax revenue to fund redevelopment is the best use of tax dollars. "Some redevelopment efforts are exemplary efforts at revitalizing urban neighborhoods and infill (housing) and all of the things we'll need in California over the next 30 years," says William Fulton, an urban planning expert. "But just as many redevelopment deals are the same old game of subsidizing retailers and building hotels and doing things that are improving the city treasuries" but aren't turning around blighted areas, he said. It's the goal of fighting blight that allows redevelopment agencies to keep property tax revenue from redevelopment areas that otherwise would go to schools, counties and special districts. Under Davis' plan, redevelopment agencies would have to give up the schools' share, starting with $250 million in the next fiscal year. At the end of 15 years, the agencies would keep none of the schools' share of the revenue. That would save the state money because its obligation to fund schools would decline commensurately each year. The number of redevelopment agencies and their projects has more than doubled since California voters in 1978 passed Proposition 13, which strictly limited property taxes. "Does that mean blight suddenly broke out in the suburbs after 19787" says Detwiler, who's followed redevelopment for years. "What it means is city officials ... realized redevelopment was a way of keeping local property tax dollars local in the post-Prop. 13 regime." But redevelopment officials insist the Davis proposal goes too far. They argue that the hardest- hit agencies will face closure or, at minimum, stop taking on new projects. Some say they would need money from their sponsoring cities to make debt payments. The best-case scenario that redevelopment agencies might be able to negotiate appears to be a one-time loss of $250 million to $500 million, Capitol sources say. Impacts would vary, but redevelopment officials say that even a one-time loss of that size could kill or delay a host of redevelopment projects and leave some agencies unable to pay debts. The threat of the state diverting hundreds of millions of dollars from redevelopment already has http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/v-print/story/6114270p-7070009c.html 2/14/2003 The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Renewal funds may be slashed Page 3 of 4 caused some agencies to delay borrowing for new projects. For instance, the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency has delayed plans to sell bonds to pay for affordable and market-rate housing -- rental and for-sale -- in Del Paso Heights and Alkali Flat, as well as for a grocery store in North Sacramento. "This (Davis' proposal) pretty much does away with the tool of redevelopment in our older neighborhoods and downtown," said SHRA Director Anne Moore. "We have so few tools that can turn around older clues, older neighborhoods." Redevelopment agencies across the capital region anxiously await the outcome of this year's budget deliberations. "We're anticipating there will be some loss of our revenue In some fashion," said Mark Wolinski, administrative analyst with Roseville's redevelopment agency. "But until we really know what that amount is, we really won't be able to say how that's going to affect staffing levels, our ability to service debt or what programs and services would have to be cut." While redevelopment officials argue the governor's proposal is bad policy and bad for the state's stagnant economy, others view the budget crisis as a golden opportunity for reform. "In a process like this, we'll be asking the 'what if' question of the cities, like, 'What if you had to reorganize redevelopment? How could you create efficiencies?' Out of that creative process might come something we hadn't thought of previously," said state Sen. Tom Torlakson, D- Antioch, who chairs the Senate Local Government Committee. Redevelopment agencies have so far won the support of key legislators on housing and local government committees. In large part that's because redevelopment represents one of the largest sources of affordable housing dollars, and legislators frequently refer to the state's "housing crisis." To date, the Legislature has shot down a separate proposal by the governor -- relating to the current fiscal year -- that calls for the state to grab redevelopment agency funds earmarked for affordable housing and not committed as of Dec. 1, 2002. While redevelopment agencies' role in providing housing might help ensure their survival, they continue to be haunted by past criticisms that they failed to spend all of the money required on affordable housing and that they did too much development of vacant land and not enough redevelopment of truly blighted areas. Before redevelopment reforms in the 1990s, some upscale inland and coastal Southern California cities -- Coronado and Rancho Palos Verdes among them -- declared large portions of their towns "blighted" in order to use their redevelopment powers to gain more property tax dollars. The desert golf mecca of Indian Wells declared hundreds of acres of sand dunes blighted and used $12 million in redevelopment money to build two 18-hole public golf courses. Courts have shot down attempts by agencies to use blight definitions to establish large redevelopment areas in the Sierra ski town of Mammoth Lakes and in the Southern California city of Diamond Bar, where the median household income is about $108,000. Shirey, head of the statewide association of redevelopment agencies, is one who insists redevelopment abuse is rare today. "If you feel there are abuses, you need to propose something dealing with abuses," he said, "not wipe out a program that's functioning well in hundreds of jurisdictions in this state because http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/caJv-print/story/6114270p-7070009c.html 2/14/2003 The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Renewal funds may be slashed Page 4 of 4 of a few highly publicized abuses." About the Writer The Bee's Andrew LePage can be reached at (916) 321-1065 or aJe_pQ.gl~@.$_a~_b_e_....e_,_c_.o.._m.... Bee staff writer Maw Lynne Vellinga contributed to this report. Go to: $.~.b~.~/.B_a._~;.k.~9.._s_t_qry __C._o_n_t.~_c_Lu_.s/Ee_e_db~_c. k I P_d_v.a.¢y_P_o_!i~y. I ~e r m..s_..o_f.....Us¢.. News I $po~ I 6u~i.n.ess. I Ro!itics I qp.!r~ion I .Eote. rt~l.om.ep.t I t,!!~es~cy!e I Tra.~e! I Wo.men .Cars I Classifieds I Homes I .lobs I Help I Newsletters I Site Map I Subscribe to the Print Edition I Traffic I Weather I Wireless Delivery About Us I Advertise in The Bee I Advertise Online I Contact Circulation Customer Service I Events [ Sacramento Bee Web sites ] $_~cb~mco_m. I $_~.cTi_cket,_c_om I Sa cr a mep_to_,.co..m_. This article is protected by copyright and should not be printed or distributed for anything except personal use. The Sacramento Bee, 2100 Q St., P.O. Box 15779, Sacramento, CA 95852 Phone; (916) 321-1000 Copyright © The Sacramento Bee / vet. 4 http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/v-print/story/6114270p-7070009c.html 2/14/2003 BAKERSFIELD Economic and Community Development Department ME M 0 RAN.D UM FebrUary 13, 2003 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Donna Kunz, Economic Development Director SUBJECT: Opportunity for One Time Grant Monies from the State of California Jobs- Housing Balance Incentive Grant Program The Department of Housing and Community Development (Department) has released an application for the Jobs-Housing Balance Incentive Grant program (JHB) for funds that will be awarded in May 2003. The JHB was created by AB2864, in FY 2000. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints at that time, the budget for the program was eliminated prior to the award of any grants. The program was then modified under SB 423 and a reduced amount of $25 million dollars has been made available for the program statewide pursuant to Proposition 46, the Housing and Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act, to those cities and counties that would have been eligible for an award in November 2001. The grant provides a financial allocation per housing permit issued between the time of January 1,2001 and December 31,2001. In order to qualify to receive funds a city must have an adopted and approved housing element as of December 31, 2001, and had a demonstrable increase (at least 112%) in building permits issued for new housing during 2001 over the annual average of permits issued during the three year period preceding 2001. The City of Bakersfield meets both of these requirements. Our initial review indicates that we may be eligible to receive as much as $395,000. The permit counts must be reconciled with the Construction Research Industry Board's (CIRB) permit data report for 2001 activity. The grant funds must be used for certain eligible capital projects that serve to benefit the community. Eligible projects include, traffic improvements, neighborhood parks, bike paths, libraries, school facilities, play areas, community centers and police and fire stations. The grant application must identify the specific project that the funds will be used for and is part of the rating process. Staff will work closely with the City Manager's office to identify the most appropriate community project to allow us to receive maximum funding under the program. The completed application is due to the Department on March 26, 2003. C:\Documents and Settings\rsmiley\Local Settings\Temp\JHBGRANT.doc From: David Lyman To: David Lyman Date: 2/14/03 11:33AM Subject: Bakersfield Median Housing Prices BAKERSFIELD-- While the median price of an existing, single-family detached home in California rose 21.4 percent to $333,240, the increase was much smaller in Bakersfield during the same period. Bakersfield's median price increased 6.19 percent to $120,000, according to figures released by the California Association of REALTORS (C.A.R.) and Real Estate Solutions, a real estate information service, on February 13. The attached table illustrates how Bakersfield's figures compare to selected California cities. According to CAR, the 10 cities and communities with the highest median home prices in California during the fourth quarter 2002 were: Hillsborough, $1,850,000; Belvedere/Tiburon, $1,200,000; Pacific Palisades, $1,038,500; Los Altos, $1,010,000; Beverly Hills, $1,010,000; Saratoga, $990,000; Malibu, $885,000; Palos Verdes Estates, $845,000; Manhattan Beach, $840,000; Newport Beach, $825,000. The 10 California cities and communities with the largest annual increase in their respective median home prices during the fourth quarter 2002 compared to the same period in 2001 were: Del Mar, 44.3 percent; Calabasas, 40.9 percent; West Sacramento, 40.4 percent; Monrovia, 37.0. percent; Beverly Hills, 36.8 percent; Lompoc, 36.5 percent; Sausalito, 35.4 percent; Oakhurst, 35.2 percent; San Dimas, 33.6 percent; Poway, 33.5 percent. CityIQ4 2002I Q4 2001I Year to Year % Change g~ers~e!d i~! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ : iSsl20~000iil !~!~ i~; $1~!3i010~' :i¢~i Fresno $132,000 $109,000 21.10% Modesto $185,000 $156,000 18.59% Monterey $490,000 $429,000 14.22% Moreno Valley $162,000 $140,000 15.71% Ontario $183,000 $162,750 12.44% Palmdale $159,000 $132,500 20.00% Riverside $188,750 $183,750 2.72% Sacramento $204,500 $167,250 22.27% San Bemardino $115,000 $100,546 14.38% San Diego $330,000 $250,000 32.00% San Francisco $555,000 $505,000 9.90% Santa Clarita $286,000 $243,000 17.70% Stockton $180,000 $155,500 15.76% Ventura $340,000 $270,000 25.93% Visalia $123,500 $123,500 0.00% B A K E R S F I E L D CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Raul Rojas, Public Works Director DATE: February 7, 2003 SUBJECT: Budget and Finance Committee Agenda Item 4B For the February 10th agenda item 4B, staff has prepared the attached chart. The Landfill Cap Funding Plan chart illustrates how the project funding has been assembled from various parts within the Refuse Enterprise Fund. The $5.4 million total at the end of FY 2002-03 should be adequate to cover the City's share of the joint City/County project. The City is responsible for half of the landfill cap cost, and all of the landfill gas system cost. This means the City will pay approximately 60 percent of the total. With a conservatively high estimate of $9 million for the total project cost, the City's portion would not exceed $5.4 million. The landfill closure plan is scheduled to be filed with regulatory agencies in the spring of this year. After a lengthy state review process, construction is anticipated in late 2004. P:\Budget and Finance Committee 2-10-03.doc February 7, 2003 .$6 ooo , $5,000,000 $4,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $0 ~ .~ ~ '99/00 '00/01 01/02 '02/03 Transfer From FY 2002-03 Fund Balance ($2.4 M) Interest Gate Fee Savings ($800 K/Yr.) Until FY 2003-04 Annual ClP Budget ($85 K/Yr.) _RECEIVED ! B .,k K E R S F I E L D Economic and Community Development Department MEMORANDUM February 13, 2003 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager/r~[g-~aq'n/°~ FROM: Donna L. Kunz, Economic Development Director SUBJECT: Employment Status for Pleasant Holidays Agreement No. 99-175 between the City of Bakersfield and Pleasant Holidays provided a $250,000 loan to the company for a term of five years. Twenty percent of the loan will be forgiven for each year the company meets all terms and conditions of the agreement. These terms included, · hiring 150 workers within the first five years, with 50 new jobs in Year 1, and 25 jobs in each of the following four years. · of those workers hired, at least 51% must be low- and moderate-income individuals for each of the first five years of the agreement. Exercising this forgiveness is a ministerial action and, thus, requires no Council action. Based upon the report submitted to our office from the company, the company has exceeded both conditions. For the fourth year of the agreement, the company employed 43 new hires, and 69.77% of these hires were low- and moderate-income individuals. Therefore, Pleasant Holidays has met the terms and conditions required in the agreement and qualifies to have 20%, or $50,000, of the loan amount forgiven for the fourth year of the agreement. I propose we send a letter like we have to other companies, which merely reflects the ministerial action of the debt forgiveness. With approval from you, we will immediately mail the letter. dlSP:\Pleasant Travel\Forgive 20% Year 4.doc Department of Recreation and Parks Date: February 10, 2003 To: Alan Tandy, City Manager From: Stan Ford, Director of Recreation and Parks Subject: Monthly Report for January Attached are the monthly activity reports for the department. Please let me know if you need additional information. CITY OF BAKERSFIELD Recreation &Parlcs Janua 2003 Monthl Re ort Silver Creek Community Center Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Program Leisure Classes Submitted by: Terri Elison, Recreation Supervisor Silver Creek After School Program Highlights of the After School Program included a special sports week, game week, and friendship week. The children played flag football, basketball, volleyball, and a variety of different games. They also learned some special dances, created sea mobiles, friendship bracelets, and celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday. Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Program Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee has adopted Chester Avenue from 29th Street to CalifOrnia Avenue and 1 block east and west of Chester. They have committed to have regular clean-ups to keep this area clean. We are also working on the paperwork with five other organizations on adopting other city streets and areas. KBB Committee Member Dana Karcher spoke with Honorable Mayor Harvey Hall at a press conference on January 21st concerning the Mayor's new program on cleaning up the on and off ramps of Highway 99. KBB supports this program and will continue to work on cleaning up our community. The Waste in Place curriculum was presented to Stella Hills School on January 13th and 14th and Del Rio School on January 28th. Seven classes with over 175 students were taught this curriculum which focuses on recycling, beautification, and litter prevention. Unfortunately, due to the staff cuts our department made, we had to cancel two other schools with 34 classes scheduled to be taught. The Liberty Garden committee has been meeting and working on fundraising. They collected $395.30 on their "Fill the Boot" fundraiser for the schools. They have scheduled a golf tournament at Seven Oaks Country Club on June 9th. KBB is working on the Great American Clean-up event which is schedule for April 26th. The clean-up will start at 9:00 a.m. at various locations around the city and lunch will run from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Yokuts Park. There will also be educational and activity booths for children as well as entertainment. KBB Committee members are working on securing sponsors as well as volunteers for this event. The 86 CLEAN Number is up and running now. 86-CLEAN is a phone number that our community can call to report any illegal dumping or areas in need of clean-up. KBB is also working on community clean-ups, Freeway Beautification, and C.U.B. Patch Program. ATTENDANCE FIGURES Silver Creek Rentals ................................................... $854.00(Figure does not include deposits) The Silver Creek multi-purpose room and/or pavilion were rented three times during the month of December. The center was rented for a birthday party, Girl Scout cookie rally and a gas fireplace showcase. Total attendance was approximately 1330. Silver Creek After School Program ..................... 38 Average Daily Attendance ...................... 568 Total Attendance Classes at Silver Creek: # Registered Total Attendance Ballet & Gym (6 -11 ) · 11 44 Ballet & Gym (3-5) 18 72 Calligraphy Workshop 8 8 Chess 5 20 Clogging 25 100 Dance & Gym (4-5) 10 40 Dance & Gym (2-3) 16 64 Dog Obedience no class no class Drawing 10 40 Jazzercize 8 128 Kardio Kick 34 272 Karate 43 344 Latin Dance no class no class Photography no class no class Pressed Flower Workshop no class no class Scrapbooking no class no class Spanish 16 64 Tennis (Child-Beg) 7 56 Tennis (Child-lnt) 1 8 Tennis (Adults) no class no class Upholstery 5 20 Watercolor 6 24 Yoga 7 56 TOTAL 230 1256 Classes at Other Facilities # Registered Total Attendance Siemon Park Tennis (Child) 4 32 Tennis (Adult) no class no class All Star Dance Studio Dance & Gym (2 ½ - 4) 6 24 Dance & Gym (4 - 5) 1 4 American Academy of Gymnastics Gymnastics (4 - 5) 1 4 Gymnastics (3 - 4) 1 4 Gymnastics (K - 6yrs) 4 16 Gymnastics (Mom & Me) no class no class Gymnastics (3 - 5) 5 20 TOTAL 22 104 Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Program: Waste in Place Trainings 175 Students 7 Teachers KBB Committee Meetings 32 Volunteers TOTAL Attendance Silver Creek Center: Rentals ......................................... 1330 Classes ........................................ 1256 Registrations Taken: 404 After School Program ................. 568 # of Guests Served: $84 (The # of Guests served does not include registration) TOTAL .................... 3154 ¢I T Y OF BAKER SFIEL D Recreation &Par JANUARY 2003 MONTHLY REPORT Adult and Youth Sports Mobile Recreation Submitted by: Dean Jones, Supervisor Youth Sports Basketball League began on January 4, we have a total of 140 participates. There are 4 teams in each grade level 1st / 2nd 37 ( first season) 3rd / 4th 41 5th /6th 32 7th / 8th 30 140 All games are played at the Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on Saturdays from 8am until 4pm. Golf We canceled the program for January, we require a minimum of 4 participates to offer the session, there are 6 registered for February. Adult sports Softball Registration began for the spring season early indication; we will be full to capacity for the program. Senior softball New program for adults 55 years old and older, we are offering individual and team sign-ups in hopes of getting the program off the ground Mobile Recreation Attendance: Centennial 130 365 Grissom 217 660 Wayside 96 286 Wilson 65 319 Windsor 77 229 Siemon 72 191 Jefferson 214 540 Total 2590 Special event Car show (Highway 99 Cruise and Shine) We had our first committee meeting on January 15, and will meet the third Wednesday of each month. The only actions were changing of the date this year and add one additional day. The dates for this years program is October 23, 24, 25, and 26 2003. CITY OF BAKERSFIELD Recreat n gcParl JANUARY 2003 Monthl Re ort Submitted by: Holly Larson, Supervisor Josh Romine, Specialist Beigher Taylor, Coordinator Aquatics Classes: Reqistered Monthly Attendance Lap Swim cancelled indefinitely 0 Aqua Fitness 4 8 Total 4 8 Recruitment: Year to date Aquatic staff interviewed and selected 44 Leisure Classes: Reqistered Monthly Attendance East Coast Swing 28 112 Night Club Two Step 23 92 -- Total 51 204 Pool Usaqe: Silver Creek Pool is currently being used for our Aqua Fitness class, the Aquatics Club of Bakersfield swim team, and Ridgeview, South and Bakersfield High School swim teams. Explore Scuba classes begin in February. Jastro Pool is currently being utilized by West and Bakersfield High School swim teams. Jefferson Pool will be used by Garces Memorial High swim team pending execution of agreement. CITY OF BAKERSFIELD Recreation &Parlcs Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Program January 2003 Monthly Report Submitted by: Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee Sandy Garrigan (Ward 7) Kevin Burton, Chairman (Ward 4) Vacant (Ward 3) John Enriquez, Vice Chair (Ward 6) Dana Karcher (Ward 2) Mike Ming (Ward 5) Keith Stoller (Ward 1) City Staff Liaison: Terri Elison KBB Committee Members Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee Member Dana Karcher spoke with Honorable Mayor Harvey Hall at a press conference on January 21St concerning the Mayor's new program on cleaning up the on and off ramps of Highway g9. KBB supports this program and will continue to work on education to help combat litter. Adopt a Hi.qhwa¥ Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee has adopted Chester Avenue from 29th Street to California Avenue and 1 block east and west of Chester. Committee Members are committed to clean up the area on a regular basis. KBB is also working on the paperwork for five groups to adopt other city streets and areas. Waste In Place The Waste in Place curriculum was'presented to Stella Hills School on January 13th and 14th and Del Rio School on January 28th. Seven classes with over 175 students were taught this curriculum which focuses on recycling, beautification, and litter prevention. Unfortunately, due to the staff cuts our department made, we had to cancel two other schools with 34 classes scheduled to be taught. Liberty Gardens The Liberty Gardens committee met twice this past month to work on fundraising. Their "Fill the Boot" fundraiser for the schools collected $395.30. Each school that participated received a certificate for their efforts. Liberty Gardens Memodal has been designated by the Kern River Celtic Association to receive any money this group raises on their May 12th American Military~ Tattoo event at Centennial Garden. The committee also scheduled a golf tournament at Seven Oaks Country Club on June 9th. Great American Clean-up Dana Karcher and Keith Stoller are co-chairing this event this year. KBB Committee Members are working hard securing sponsors for this event. They are working on getting volunteers and team leaders who will be over a clean-up area. The locations of all the clean-up areas are also being selected by meeting with Cai Trans, looking at the litter index survey, and getting input from the community. 86-CLEAN 86-CLEAN Number is up and running now. This number received 23 calls in the month of January. KBB continues to recruit volunteers to provide clean-up for littered areas. This program received a $2,500.00 grant this past month from the California Integrated Waste Management Board's "Together We Can Make a Difference". The money will be used to promote this number to the community through promotional items and volunteer (thank-you) shirts with 86-Clean # on them. The next scheduled KBB meeting is for February 14, 2003 CITY OF BAKERSFIELD Recreation &Parks ,,Janua 2003 Monthly Report Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Submitted by: David Stricker, Acting Recreation Supervisor Dr. Martin Luther King CommuniW Center The center was utilized for a variety of activities during the Month of January. Staff participated in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration held on January 18th at the center. Approximately 300 participants received birthday cake and icc cream at the celebration. Participants colored pictures of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and watched a video on his life. They were entertained by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dancers and a dance group from thc center. Activity Monthly Attendance Registered Participants Weight Room 478 , After-School Program 231 Game Room 831 * Basketball Gym 385 · Tennis Class 76 20 Aerobics 191 18 Internet 151 * Dance Troupe 92 23 Cheerleading 174 25 Saturday Homework Help 18 .12 Sunday Basketball 20 19 Quilting Class 117 25 2,764 142 * Drop-in program (Registration not required) DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CENTER - RENTALS DATE AGENCY ATTENDANCE January 9 Webb-EDCD 20 January 16 BACCA 10 January 18 MLK Celebration 300 January 19 Church of Christ 15 January 23 Webb-EDCD 2 ! January 28 MLK Cel. Follow Up 15 January 31 Globetrotter Clinic 75 Total Attendance 456 ATTENDANCE Monthly Attendance of all programs including rentals .................. 3,362 Monthly Counter walk-in participants .................................. 297 LOWELL NEIGORHOOD COMMUNITY CENTER The Lowell Neighborhood Community Center had 686 participants during the month of January. The themes for the month were "Start the New Year with a smile," "I have a dream," and "Everyday is a surprise." The children participated in various events such as: creating a dream catcher, reading books on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., receiving help with their homework, and playing outdoor games and sports. B A K E R S F I E L D Department of Recreation and Parks January 2003, Monthly Report LAKEVIEW AVENUE TRANSFORMATION Final transformation of Lakeview Avenue to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard occurred during ceremonies celebrating the birthday of Dr. King on January 18, 2003. Project area is located from California Avenue south to Virginia Avenue. The project spans .61 acres of densely planted landscaping. Following development of medians, Parks staff installed a computer controlled irrigation system and landscaping. Staff planted 1,047 shrubs consisting of Rosemary, Berberi, Lantana, Nandina, and Rhaphiolepis. Forty trees were also planted throughout the development. Trees planted included London Plane, Cork Oak, Red Oak, Japanese Pagoda, and Chinese Pistache. PLANZ PLAYGROUND PREPARATION Parks staff began removing a portion of existing playground equipment at Planz Park. This task was initiated in anticipation of a contractor beginning installation of new equipment in mid February. Modifications to the southern play lot to increase the size for the new equipment are complete as well as replacing several areas of damaged sidewalk. Remaining playground equipment will be removed just prior to arrival of new equipment. CPRS AWARD California Recreation and Parks Society (CPRS) representatives confirmed we are awarded recognition o f S treetscape Landscaping for communities 1 arger than 10 0,000 population. Our submittal was for the Seven Oaks Area. Judging was based on outcome or result drivcn criterion. Our exploration and implementation of alternative equipment was instrumental to our selection. We were able to document significant labor savings by use of a cab forward tilt bed truck versus pick up with trailer. In addition, changing out incandescent to florescent type light fixtures at entry monument comers is documented to provide a 90% electrical energy savings. GUEST RESERVATIONS A relatively dry and mild winter season offered opportunity to get an early start on using park facilities. In January, we had 8 reservations for approximately 1,645 persons. In addition, California Fish and Game newspaper articles regarding stocking Truxtun Lake with fish continues to increase activity along the shoreline. NEW ACREAGE Five Parcels of Maintenance District acreage were accepted for Parks Division maintenance in January with a combined total of 5.449 acres. Landscaping improvements for these areas included 465 trees and 1,856 shrubs. One .61 parcel of Non-Maintenance District acreage was accepted for maintenance. This area includes landscaping of 1,047 shrubs and 40 trees. New Maintenance and Non Maintenance District combined total is 6.059 acres with 505 trees and 2903 shrubs. FEB I2 2003 CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM February 5, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SUBJECT: CROSSWALK NEAR HOMELESS SHELTER Council Referral #000370 Councilmember Benham requested staff review the letter received from Chester Moland regarding the GET bus stop near the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter and their proposal to install two stop signs and a crosswalk to facilitate a bus stop at that location, The Traffic Engineer will schedule a traffic study investigation of the intersections at Washington Street at East Truxtun Avenue and at Williams Street and East Truxtun for possible traffic control to facilitate the transit bus operation and pedestrian crossings to a bus stop. The warrant study will consider stop signs as proposed by Golden Empire Transit and also investigate warrants for possible traffic signal control for the two intersections. Mr. Moland of GET has been contacted for information on the bus stop locations proposed by GET and their frequency of use. GAGROUPDA3'~Referrals~2003~-'C Mtg 01-29~370 - Traffic.doc i RECEIVED FEB 3 B A K E R $ F I E L D CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM January 21, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ~-'~,.~~. SUBJECT: THIRD STREET AND CHESTER AVENUE CROSSWALK UPDATE Council Referrals #000350 and #000322. Councilmember Carson requested an update on the Third Street and Chester Avenue crosswalk. The traffic study for the pedestrian crosswalk at Third Street and Chester Avenue was completed this week. A crosswalk is not recommended for this location. The recommended crossing location is at the traffic signal with full pedestrian crossing protection located at Fourth and Chester, just 200 yards north of the intersection of Third and Chester. Since painted crosswalks are intended to channelize and direct pedestrians to the preferred and safest crossing location, and the preferred location for safety is the pedestrian signal at Chester and Fourth Street, a marked crosswalk is not recommended by the Traffic Engineer under current conditions. The location remains an unmarked crosswalk, as defined by the California Vehicle Code, and pedestrians are not prohibited from crossing at the intersection of Third Street and Chester. Third Street is a local Street. Chester Avenue is an Arterial, multi-lane street about 80 feet wide, curb to curb.The volume of traffic on Chester is 16,625 vehicles on a typical twenty-four hour weekday. The daily volume on Third Street is only 498 and the average side street volume is only 36 in the peak hour period. G:\GROUPDAT~Referrals~2003\CC Mtg 01-29k350&322update3rdChesterXwalk - TrafficReferal.doc RECEIVZL~ FEB I3 2003 B A K E R S F I E L D CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM February 5, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ~ SUBJECT: REAL ROAD AND CHESTER LANE VlSlBIMTY Council Referral #000363 Councilmember Carson requested staff address a concern from a citizen regarding the difficulty in seeing to turn right or left at the corner of Real Road and Chester Lane. Additionally, she would like staff to look at the corner of Real Road at Garnsey as well. The Traffic Engineer reviewed both sides of the intersection of Real Road and Chester Lane and found that shrubs and other vegetation had overgrown the area again and may be the cause of the citizen's difficulty. Traffic Engineering had the vegetation cut back a few years ago for the same reasons. We will work with the property owners and the Parks Department to remove or cut back the shrubbery to improve the driver's view of the roadway. The intersection of Real Road at Garnsey will also be checked for the same problem and improvements. O:\GROUPDAT~Rcfcrralsk2003\CC Mtg 01-29k363 - Traffic.doc CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM February 5, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SUBJECT: GRAFFITI ON EMPTY FAST FOOD BUILDING ON COLUMBUS Council Referral #000366 Councilmember Maggard requested staff contact the property owner of the empty fast food restaurant on Columbus regarding the abatement of graffiti. Advise him of his responsibility to clean up and that if it isn't done, the City will do so and charge him for the abatement. Anti-Graffiti staff has contacted Code Enforcement staff for assistance in contacting the owner. Code Enforcement staff will be sending a letter to the owner of the building at 2111 Columbus Street, to advise them of their responsibility to remove the graffiti and follow up action that may occur. G:\GROUPDATXReferralsX2003\CC Mtg 01-29X366 - GS response.doc FEB I2 20O3 B A K E R S F I E L D ; CITY MANAGER'S ""' CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM February 5, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M, ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SUBJECT: FURTHER LOOK INTO STOP SIGN REQUEST Council Referral #000365 Councilmember Maggard requested staff look further into the recent requests for stop signal/sign installations in Wards 2, 3 and 7. Review all circumstances and report back to Council. Public Works staff has reviewed the recent traffic control requests and traffic studies for Wards 2, 3 and 7. A meeting with Councilmember Maggard is being arranged to go over the subject traffic studies, traffic warrants and the state regulations on traffic controls. G:\GROUPDA'I~Referrals~2003\CC Mtg 01-29~365 - Traffic.doc 15 A K E R S F ! E L D MEMORANDUM Tandy, City Manager / TO: Alan FROM: Jack Hardisty, Development Services Dire o~7~ / DATE: February 10, 2003 SUBJECT: Council Referral 368 ICouncilmember Couch requested staff contact the developer of the apartment complex at Hageman and Jewetta regarding control and abatement of dust during construction. On January 29, 2003, an inspection by code enforcement revealed that dirt had blown and been tracked from recently installed roadside landscaping and an unpaved entrance to an adjacent apartment complex under construction. The on-site supervisor, Harold Miller, was contacted. Mr. Miller advised that he had not monitored that portion of the project recently, but would abate the problem and be more diligent to prevent its recurrence. On January 30, 2003, a crew was engaged in removing the dirt. DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS · DATE: February 11, 2003 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager 'FROM: Stan Ford, Director ~ SUBJECT: LIGHTS AT SKATEBO/{RD PARK Ref000371 (WARD 5) Councilmember Hanson requested staff investigate the feasibility of installing lights at the Beach Park skatepark. Staff responded to Christopher Smith's e-mail by a letter sent to him on January 24, 2003 explaining the feasibility of lights at Beach Park skatepark. Letter attached. C:\Documents and Settings~sforsyth\Local Settings\Temp\Ref000371.doc February 12, 2003 (2:26PM) B A K E R S F I E L D ® 1990 January 24, 2003 Mr. Christopher Smith 3026 Cedarwo0d Drive Bakersfield, California 93309 Dear Christopher: I have just received your e-mail message regarding the installation of lights at our skate board facility in Beach Park. The skate board facility was constructed by the City of Bakersfield and is maintained by the City Recreation and Parks Department. The construction of this facility was funded by the City and community contributions. Several problems exist when discussing the possibility of installing lights at the skate park. Our nearest power source is about 1,000 feet away which is near the sol, ball diamond. Secondly, and probably the largest obstacle is the severe restrictions thepower company has on the overhead electrical transmission lines and what you can and cannot install under those lines. Staff estimates the cost of installing lights is between $30,000 - $40,000 and we don't haVe those funds available to us currently. We fully understand you and your fellow skate boarders desire to have lights at this facility but due to the economic times and other related items that will not occur. We will keep your suggestion in mind for possible future projects. If you have any other questions or comments, please contact me at 326-3117. Sincerely, . Allen Abe Assistant Director Recreation and Parks RECREATION AND PARKS 4101 Truxtun Avenue · Bakersfield · California · 93309 (661) 326-FUNN o Fax (661) 861-0864 FEB I 2 2003 B A K E R S F I E L D CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM February 5, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SUBJECT: BARRICADE ON EASTBOURNE Council Referral #000367 Councilmember Hanson requested staff provide an update on the barricade being installed on Eastbourne. The Traffic Engineer gave a copy of the plans to the residents earlier this month. The neighborhood contact, Mr. Shawn Brandon, has reviewed the plans for the barricade wall and is requesting that the wall be increased in height and that the "fire crash gate" be narrowed, along with some other comments. Mr. Brandon is also circulating the plan to the neighborhood for review since some residents are out of town until later in the month. Mr. Brandon will be contacting the Traffic Engineer to set up another meeting after the neighbors have commented on the plan. G:\GROUPDAT~Referrals~.O03V~-'~ Mtg 01-29~67 - GS.doc B A K E R S F I E L D MEMORANDUM TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER ~/ FROM: JACK HARDISTY, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DI DATE: February 10, 2003 SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE FROM RICK'S RECYCLING Council Referral No. REF000369 ICOUNCILMEMBER SALVAGGIO REQUESTED STAFF RESPOND TO CORRESPONDENCE FROM RICK'S RECYCLING AND REPORT BACK TO COUNCIL. On January 16, 2003, City of Bakersfield Planning Department and Code Enforcement staff members visited Rick's Recycling at 730 California Avenue. The purpose of the site visit was to verify compliance with conditions associated with an approved Conditional Use Permit (CUP #5192). Staff noted three deficiencies in condition compliance, and also informed the owner of Rick's Recycling, Mr. Whitlock, that loading and unloading of metal containers is not permitted within adjacent road rights-of-way. On January 17, 2003, staff mailed a letter to Mr. Whitlock notifying him of deficiencies found regarding compliance with conditions of approval for the Rick's Recycling facility at 730 California Avenue. On January 29, 2003, Mr. Whitlock submitted a letter to the City of Bakersfield in . response to the city letter dated January 17, 2003. Staff visited Rick's Recycling at 730 California Avenue again on February 7, 2003, and spoke with Mr. Richard Whitlock. Staff has verified that Rick's Recycling has replanted three trees along Q Street and one tree on California Avenue in compliance with conditions of approval associated with the Conditional Use Permit #5192. Staff has also verified that space is being cleared on site to accommodate the four required off street parking spaces. Staff has reiterated to Mr. Whitlock that no loading and/or unloading of metal containers is to occur within adjacent road rights-of-way. Mr. Whitlock understands the city's concern and has curtailed the loading and unloading activities within road rights-of-way. With regard to the screening fence surrounding the site, Mr. Whitlock is correct that only a six foot high chain link fence with redwood slats is required around the site. However, it is staffs position that the actual intent of any screening fence is to reduce visual impacts from off site locations. Mr. Whitlock is in the process of moving containers and materials that are visible from off site to a part of the site that is not visible from off site locations. In addition, trees adjacent to the site along Q Street and California Avenue will provide site screening as well. Staff is satisfied that. Mr. Whitlock is making substantial progress in complying with the conditions of approval of Conditional Use Permit #5129. Staff will continue to monitor compliance with conditions until the site is in compliance with all conditions of approval. JH:djl CC: Rhonda Smiley, Office Administrator/Public Relations P:\CCReferra~Ref000369.doc January 29, 2003 City of Bakersfield Development Services Department 1715 Chester Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301 Attn: Mr. Jake Sweeny Associate Planner RE: Rick's Recycling, Inc. 730 California Avenue ~Dear Mr. Sweeny: I am writing this letter as a follow-up to our joint meeting with City Code Enforcement officer, Tony DeMarco, on January 16, 2003, and your letter to me dated January 17, 2003 (attached hereto), regarding deficiencies identified by your department regarding the referenced property, "Rick's Recycling." As a side note, I would like to give you some background information on recent deficiencies identified by your department for Rick's Recycling. In November 2002, Tony DeMarco visited Rick's Recycling and explained to me that he was assigned to the area in the vicinity of Rick's Recycling with the goal to "clean it up" so that it did not distract from the proposed new uses in the area. By letter dated November 8, 2002 (attached hereto), I received notice t~om the City to correct the following: (1) Repair the fence (2) Razor wire to be removed (3) No encroachment with roll-offboxes I promptly complied with the City's request and there was no additional City action taken against Rick's Recycling for non-compliance on these identified violations. No sooner had I corrected this initial violation, on January 16, 2003, you and Mr. DeMarco visited Rick's Recycling as a follow-up inspection to ensure compliance with the Conditional Use Permit No. 5192 ("CUP") for Rick's Recycling, Inc. (attached hereto). At this inspection and per the January 17, 2003 letter, you identified the following deficiencies to be corrected: (1) Landscaping: We have taken immediate action to ensure maintenance and replanting of trees. (2) Parking: Stripes will be promptly painted. (3) Metal storage containers: All activities on the street have previously been curtailed. (4) Fence height: The fence is within the express requirements of the CUP - that of being a chain link, redwood slatted fence six feet high around the perimeter of the Rick's Recycling facility. There is no express language in the CUP indicating that any materials can be visible from the street. However, as a courtesy, we will make a reasonable effort to move the containers as was suggested. In conclusion, actions will be promptly taken to correct the deficiencies identified in the January 17 letter. I trust that once these deficiencies are corrected, your department should be satisfied, and no further action will need to be taken by your department. Very truly yours, Richard A. Whitlock President and Owner