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Home My WebLink About10/17/03 B A K E R S F I E L D CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM October 17, 2003 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager /~'7-/.z~ SUBJECT: General Information 1. As you have likely seen in the news this week, PG&E and North American Power are attempting to move forward with the propose sale and reopening of the plant at Rosedale and Coffee, despite the City Council's opposition. The next step is formal objection to the sale during the public comment period of the Public Utilities Commission review process. 2. November 15th is the effective date of the higher transportation development fees. An exceptionally heavier number of submittals has occurred by those hoping to "beat the higher fee" by a finding of substantial completion. The maps will be processed in order of submission in a workmanlike manner, as always. Some submitters will be pleased; some are likely not to be. 3. A report from Jack Hardisty is enclosed on Mesa Marin. Sound testing is to be done, and there may be resultant compliance issues for them. 4. An article from the October 14th Los Angeles Times is attached regarding the rising costs of health care benefits and the effect on businesses and employees, such as the current grocery workers' strike. This will continue to be a very big issue. 5. Interim Recreation and Parks Director Alan Christensen reports that the proposed "City Technical Tree Manual" which will include standards and policies for selection, planting, maintenance and removal of trees within metropolitan Bakersfield, has been sent to all the departments for review and will subsequently be scheduled for the Urban Development Committee for consideration. 6. A bulky item collection day has been scheduled for Saturday, October 25th. A flyer is enclosed. 7. Per a Council request, a monthly update on the White Lane/Highway 99 interchange project will be provided. The first report is attached. Honorable Mayor and City Council October 17, 2003 Page 2 8. Responses to Council requests are attached, as follows: Councilmember Carson · Inquiry regarding water and sewer service on East White Lane; Councilmember Benham · Update on the feasibility of installing a bike rack for patrons of Centennial Garden and the Convention Center; · Citizen concern regarding stray dogs; · Status of traffic analysis at F Street between 1st and 3rd Streets and for pedestrian crosswalk on H Street near the new Albertsons; · Citizen concern regarding debris at the California and Rosedale exists along Highway 99; Councilmember Couch · Status report on MOU with North Bakersfield Recreation and Parks; Councilmember Sullivan · Correspondence to CalTrans requesting repair of the roadway at the railroad crossing at Morning Drive and Edison Highway; Councilmember Salvaggio · Code enforcement actions at the Blockbuster Building at White Lane and Hughes Lane; · Code enforcement actions at South H Street and Custer; · Status report on prior request to analyze the Monitor and Panama Lane area for the possible relocation of the traffic light and to determine a need for traffic control measures; · Status report on the southbound auxiliary lane at the White Lane/Highway 99 interchange. AT:m cc: Department Heads Pam McCarthy, City Clerk Trudy Slater, Administrative Analyst B A K E R S F I E L D MEMORANDUM October 10, 2003 OCT 13 TO.' Honorable Mayor and Members of the City~l ~/ /.//~'_ FROM: Jack Hardisty, Development Services D~/ SUBJECT: Mesa Marin Issues ~ / A recent review of a proposed subdivision resulted in some of--its not being approved due to noise impacts from the Mesa Marin Raceway in northeast Bakersfield. Mesa Marin is operating under a conditional use permit which, among other things, requires noise levels not to exceed the adopted standards to mitigate its imposition on neighboring properties. Apparently, this has not been done. However, to be sure we are working with current data, noise readings will be taken during a race. They will be necessary to carry on any meaningful discussion with the owners of the proposed subdivision and Mesa Marin to reach resolution of this problem. While we are looking at Mesa Marin other issues of compliance present themselves. For example: the obvious failures to (1) construct solid screening on the back of the grandstands, (2) provide a noise barrier, (3) improve 2300 parking spaces to City standards by March 1, 2002, (4) provide parking lot lighting by March 1,2002. We also have concerns about traffic control and event ending times. I feel it is important to bring this particular situation to your attention because Mesa Marin's past responses to efforts to gain compliance with its permits have been to pressure City Council to be more lenient. I wouldn't want you to be caught unaware of our concerns and intention to review Mesa Marin's compliance with conditions of approval which were agreed to by Mesa Marin. I will also keep you advised on the outcome of our review. JH:djl CC: Alan Tandy, City Manager Bart Thiltgen, City Attorney Stanley Grady, Planning Director P:\Memos\mesa marin issue.doc L~)s Angeles Times: Rising Health-Care Costs at Heart of Labor Strife Page 1 of 4 http ://www. latimes.com/busi ness/la-fi-health 14oct 14; 1,5310682. story?col 1= la-home-headlines advertisement Rising Health-Care Costs at Heart of , Labor Strife Employers' attempts to reduce medical benefits roil Southland workers across industries. By Nancy Cleeland and Marla Dickerson Times Staff Writers October 14, 2003 When Southland supermarket workers went on strike Saturday, their main beef was an employer proposal to cut back their health plan. Mechanics with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are upset over the same thing. And health benefits are key to the contract fight that has prompted a sickout by Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies. Around Southern California and across the country, attempts by employers to medical benefits have become the top issue in labor contract talks, setting off a wave of strikes and other job actions that are likely to escalate as health insurance costs continue to balloon. "It's at the core of every major contract struggle," said Kate Bronfenbrenner, director of Labor Education Research at Comell University. "And it's going to be an issue until we see some national solutions." In fact, at least half the strikes in California this year have been staged over health benefits, according to Ken Jacobs, a researcher at the UC Berkeley Labor Center. He counted 11 such work stoppages in a four-month period this year in Northern California. They have affected the public and private sector, small and large employers, skilled and unskilled workers. At a Dodge dealership in Colma, 15 mechanics are walking the picket line to fight for their health benefits. In Southern and parts of Central California, 70,000 supermarket workers are doing the same. Those workers join wireless technicians, auto workers and other union members nationwide who have agreed to wage freezes and plant closings but draw the line at paying more for health insurance. Michael Rosales, a Ralphs meat cutter for nearly three decades, has a daughter who seven years ago was found to have a brain tumor. "To this day," Rosales said, "she's on medication that would probably break us without this plan. That's why ifI have to stand on a picket line to fight for these benefits, I will." http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-health 14oct 14,1,346219,print.story?coll=la-home-l~... 10/14/2003 LEs Angeles Times: Rising Health-Care Costs at Heart of Labor Strife Page 2 of 4 There are scores of stories like his among the pickets in front of Vons, Pavilions, Albertsons and Ralphs stores from San Luis Obispo to the Mexican border. A mother whose two young children suffer from kidney problems. A diabetic. A cancer survivor. They speak gratefully of a health plan that they know is among the finest in the country for hourly service workers. Those benefits, many say, have kept them on the job and loyal to their companies despite unpredictable part-time hours. Employers, however, say health-care cost increases are so extreme that they can no longer afford to soak them up unilaterally. The supermarket chains, in particular, say they are facing a double whammy of soaring insurance premiums and intense pressure from nonunion retailers to lower their prices. "It doesn't surprise me that the union is trying to hang on" to such rich benefits, said Jim Foreman, managing director of health and welfare for Towers Perrin, a New York-based human resources consUlting firm. "But it's just not realistic. No employer can continue to absorb the double-digit increases we've seen in health-care costs over the past few years or expect to pass them along to customers .... The [profit] margins, especially in the grocery business, just aren't high enough." Still, many of the grocery workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers union view the markets' proposal to cut health benefits as a betrayal, a reneging on a deal. Through decades of hard bargaining and strikes, the UFCW in Southern California won what is widely regarded as a Cadillac contract. Workers pay no premium for full family health insurance -- a perk enjoyed by workers at only 4% of large employers nationwide, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, an independent research group not affiliated with managed-care provider Kaiser Permanente. The benefit is particularly unusual for the retail industry, whose wages and benefits tend to lag behind those of other industries, according to the study's author, Gary Claxton. "It's extremely uncommon," Claxton said. "It's hard to think of any industry [that supermarket workers] could go to ... to get that good a health insurance package with no contribution." The big supermarket chains -- Ralphs parent Kroger Co., Albertsons Inc. and Safeway Inc., which owns Vons -- pay their health-care contributions into a trust fund that is jointly administered by the union and the companies. Through recent contracts, the employers have pledged to contribute whatever it takes to maintain benefits at current levels. These include dental and vision care, as well as a full health plan at Kaiser or through another HMO. The amount of contributions has fluctuated in the last decade, with cost-containment measures such as limiting chiropractic care added over time. According to UFCW officials, the employer contribution in 1993 was $3 per hour per employee, compared with $3.85 per hour per employee now. That's an average 2.5% annual increase -- far below the national rate of health-care inflation. The way the union sees it, this shows that the supermarkets can afford to provide the same level of benefits they always have. But the companies view the situation much differently. They point out that their required contribution to the health plan fell during the mid-1990s, a period in which medical inflation was held in check. When the last contract was signed with the UFCW, their share amounted to $2.44 per hour per employee -- http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-healthl 4oct 14,1,346219,print.story?coll=la-home-k... 10/14/2003 I~os Angeles Times: Rising Health-Care Costs at Heart of Labor Strife Page 3 of 4 meaning their contribution has jumped 58% in the last four years. Today, the supermarkets are trying to cap their hourly contributions. Their proposal calls for a far lower rate of growth than the 13% annual increase projected for health-care costs. The union estimates that under this arrangement, the fund would have to cut benefits for members or raise deductibles drastically. Rick Icaza, president of UFCW Local 770 in Los Angeles, said workers could lose dental and vision benefits, and might have to pay 50% of the cost of doctor visits, drugs and hospital stays. Union members also would have to contribute to premiums for the first time, at least $780 a year for family coverage. Icaza said that's a non-starter in negotiations. But someone will have to pay. Health-care premiums nationwide have grown at double-digit rates in recent years -- 13.9% this year -- far outstripping the overall pace of inflation, which is running at just over 2%, according to the Kaiser foundation survey. Experts say a host of factors are driving the rapid increase. Consolidation in the health-care industry has reduced competition, giving medical providers more leverage in pricing negotiations with employers and insurers. New drugs to treat everything from depression to impotence have spun'ed consumer demand for prescriptions. Technology has played a role. "It used to be an X-ray was fine. Now everyone wants an MRI," Foreman, of Towers Pen'in, said. "We're all paying for that." To cope with the rising costs, Foreman said, employers are requiring workers to shoulder a bigger share of the financial burden, from higher co-pays and deductibles to paying a larger percentage of premiums. The typical family health insurance policy provided by an employer costs $9,068 a year, according to the Kaiser survey, with the average worker picking up 27% of the tab, or $2,412. That's a 50% jump over the last three years. In California, employer premiums rose 13% from 2001 to 2002, said Jacobs of UC Berkeley. In that same time, worker contributions jumped 32%, he said. Some employers are cutting health insurance altogether, or raising premium contributions to a point where workers are no longer taking the benefits. In 2002, the number of Americans who lacked health coverage rose 5.7% to 43.6 million, the biggest jump in a decade, according to the Census Bureau. The largest part of the increase came from people losing coverage through the workplace. In 2001, more than 6 million Californians lacked health insurance at some time during the year, the majority of them working people and their families, according to the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Health benefits are one strong advantage unions offer to workers, and they fight hard to keep them. "This is a major issue," said Dan Garces, executive director of the Los Angeles Sheriffs Professional Assn., noting that his union's members are facing a large jump in the cost of basic health coverage, from virtually nothing to $972 annually. Trying to preserve medical benefits "comes before their pay." http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-health 14oct 14,1,346219,print.story?coll=la_home.l:... 10/14/2003 Los Angeles Times: Rising Health-Care Costs at Heart of Labor Strife Page 4 of 4 In 2002, unionized workers in California were 42% more likely to be covered by health insurance than those who were not in unions, Jacobs said. The next few years could determine whether unions maintain that advantage or lose one of their strongest selling points. To reduce competitive pressures on their own employers, unions are pushing nonunion companies to offer health benefits to workers. That would eliminate a key argument made by supermarket chains in this latest contract battle. The companies say Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which soon will sell groceries in California, and other nonunion grocers are setting a new, lower market rate for labor -- and they have no choice but to match it. Such arguments prompted organized labor to lobby for a new law that would require businesses with more than 20 workers to provide health-care coverage and pick up 80% of premiums, or pay into a state fund that would do it for them. Under the new law, businesses with 200 or more employees would have to provide coverage for workers and their families beginning in 2006. Smaller firms gradually would be required to offer similar benefits. Lawmakers say the legislation would extend health-care coverage to 1 million uninsured Californians. But businesses have said it was a job killer that would discourage companies from growing and hiring. In the end, said Jacobs of UC Berkeley, the law would help the state cope with rising health-care costs by relieving some of the burden of caring for the uninsured. The law, said Jacobs, "is designed to level the playing field up, rather than down." Times staff writers Kurt Streeter and Andrew Blankstein contributed to this report. Ifl~u want other stories on this topic, search the Archives at latimes.com/archives. Click here for article licensing and reprint options Copyright 2003 Los Angeles Times http://www, latimes.com/business/la-fi-healthl 4octl 4,1,346219,print.story?coll=la-home-l~... 10/14/2003 A Bulky Waste Collection Event is Being Held Saturday, October 8:00 a,m. to 12:00 noon Or LY![ Bring your unwanted Household Bulky Waste Items such as: · Refrigerators · Mattresses · Stoves · Water Heaters · Washers & Dryers · Other Large Items ~ ALL ITEMS iIC~EPTED itt ~0 Items NOT Accepted Trash, Greenwaste, Television & Computer Monitors, Construction or Remodeling Waste and Hazardous Waste DB, OP,OFF LOI~ifTIONS North High School Liberty High School 300 Galaxy Avenue 925 Jewetta Avenue Corner of Planz Road DiGiorgio Park &Horne Street Hill .St. & Haven Dr. Kern County Fair Arvin, CA 1142 So. P Street Kern Medical Center Belle Terrace Entrance 1830 Flower Street This collection event is being organized by the Kern County Waste Management Department, City of Bakersfield and the Kern Refuse Haulers. Residents are encouraged to deliver items. THE SALVATION ARMY AND GOODWILL INDUSTRIES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ACCEPT DONATIONS I6 '-~ B A K E R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM October 15, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM' RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ~ SUBJECT: WHITE LANE PROJECT Council Referral #622 Councilmember Couch requested from Public Works Department a monthly update regarding the White Lane/Highway 99 interchange. The Public Works Department, Construction Superintendent's office, will begin providing a monthly update report on the White Lane Bridge Widening at S. IR. 99 project, the first of which is attached. G:\GROUPDA"~Referrals~2003\CC Mtg 10-08\622 - Stuart.doc BAKERSFIELD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: RAUL ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR FROM: STUART PATTESON, CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENDENT DATE: October 15, 2003 'SUBJECT: White Lane Bridge Widening at SR99 - Project Status CONTRACT STATUS Contract Award Date: July 9, 2003 Contract Allotment: $ 5,624,075.00 Begin Construction: September 2, 2004 Progress Pay Estimates to date: 1 Contract Completion Date: August 11, 2004 Total Amount of Estimates to date: $ 88,414.06 Contract Working Days: 240 5.83% Time Elapsed Working Days to Date: 21 1.75 % Complete (based on payments to date) Estimated Date of Completion: August 11, 2004 OVERALL PROJECT STATUS The Contractor began construction work in September and continues to progress on stage one activities in a diligent manner. There have been no construction-related complaints by the public, nor have there been complaints by Caltrans Resident Engineer oversight. The designers are responding timely with the required information and the project staking is progressing without delaying the Contractor. There have not been any safety issues to date. Communications within the project team are open and congenial. Completed work items this month: Removal of the Eucalyptus trees · Removal of the White Lane median island · Asphalt paving of the median island to allow switching the East bound traffic Refinishing of the bridge deck median island · Contractor and Construction Manager's field office established · Temporary relocation of the Palm trees · Construction area sign placement Work items in progress include the following: · Clearing and grubbing · Import fill for embankment construction · Conduit installation for traffic signals and lighting Contract changes / Unanticipated work · Surface grinding the median area of the bridge deck in lieu of refinishing (net credit) Relocation of Caltrans telephone pull boxes not shown on the contract plans · Shared additional flagging costs per Caitrans specifications · Shared costs"for the Partnering meeting · Profilographing the Northbound No. 3 lane for straight edge requirements Plan revisions SUMMARY The project is on track with good relations and open communication throughout the entire team. Project construction costs are within budget with the changes to date resulting in a reduced cost. The month of October should show a significant increase in work activities with the completion of the structural embankment allowing for the bridge foundation work to start (Critical path). G:\GROUPDAT~Construction\White La at SR99 Widening~RauI-Update 10-15-03.DOC B A K E R S F I E L D MEMORANDUM October 16, 2003 TO: Alan Tanager FROM: Florn Core, Water Resources Director SUBJECT: Request for domestic water service to property located on East White Lane Council Referral No. 000620 (Ward No.1) Councilmember Carson would like staff to investigate the possibility of providing domestic water service to property on East White Lane and report back. The property in question lies within the service area of California Water Service Co. Cai Water's district manager Timothy Treloar was contacted concerning the feasibility of providing domestic water service to the property on East White Lane. It is the responsibility of the landowner/developer to construct all utilities or extensions of utilities to service their property. Cai Water contacted Mr. Tauchen and provided the following information: On October 15, 2003 Mike McMasters from Cai Water Service Co. contacted Norman Tauchen, owner of the property at 98 E. White Lane to discuss the process for Cai Water to provide domestic water service. Mr. Tauchen was informed of existing water facilities within the area and the most reasonable access to serve his property. Cai Water currently has an existing 12" main on Union Ave. that is approximately 1200' west of his property. They discussed the costs of extending the existing water line to his property in comparison to his costs to drill a new well. Mr. Tauchen believes that his neighbors across White Lane are also currently hauling water in due to their water well being out. Cai Water offered to meet with him and his neighbors, at their convenience, to address the feasibility of providing domestic water service to their properties. The Water Resources Department will continue to monitor the situation and provide assistance if needed. B A K E R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM October 16, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ~'//f~ SUBJECT: CITY SERVICES ON EAST WHITE LANE Council Referral #620 Councilmember Carson referred correspondence from Norman Tauchen requesting water and sewer service on East White Lane. There is no sewer line in White Lane to serve this property; but sewer is available immediately to the north on Coy St. and about 660 feet to the west of this parcel in Union. A lift station may be required to provide service. The parcel (ATN 172-140-30) is approximately 20 acres in size and is zoned M-1. Any subdivision of this property would trigger all City.requirements regarding service -including requiring the extension of existing sewer main lines. There is no City project planned to extend sewer service to this area. G :\GROUPDAT~Referrals~003\CC Mtg 10-08\620 - Marian.doc B A K E R S F I E L D OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER MEMORANDUM October 13, 2003 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM' Alan Christensen, Assistant City Manager SUBJECT: Bike Racks at Centennial Garden - Ref000569 COUNCILMEMBER BENHAM REQUESTED STAFF LOOK INTO THE FEASIBILITY OF ENCOURAGING BIKE TRANSPORTATION TO DAYTIME EVENTS AT CENTENNIAL GARDEN AND POSSIBLY PROVIDE AN AREA FOR BIKES. Staff met with SMG staff to identify an area where a bike rack might be located in front of Centennial Garden or the Convention Center. Staff believes the best location for a rack is on a wall next to the shod-term parking and handicapped parking stalls adjacent to Truxtun Avenue in front of the Convention Center. The rack can be installed at minimal cost and provides easy access to bike riders. The location also keeps bikes off Centennial Plaza, which is desirable from a pedestrian safety perspective. There is room enough for a rack big enough for 10 to 12 bicycles at that location. Installing lockers next to the racks to serve bicyclists was also considered. Staff is not recommending lockers because there is not sufficient room for both a bike rack and lockers at that location, and there is currently no budget identified to purchase and maintain lockers. B A K E R S F I E L D OFFICE-OF THE CITY MANAGER MEMORANDUM October 14, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: TRUDY SLATER, ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST III SUBJECT: COUNCIL REFERRAL #000596, STRAY DOGS Councilmember Benham requested staff respond to a complaint from Isaac Sandifer, Baker Street Church of Christ, regarding stray dOgs in the area. Police Department staff had been forwarded Mr. Sandifer's letter prior to the time of the referral, and Mr. Sandifer had also contacted the City Manager's Office. Front office staff had also provided Mr. Sandifer with the number for Animal Control. Lt. Stokes of the Police Department has indicated several attempts were made to contact Mr. Sandifer directly. As a follow through to the referral, I contacted Mr. Sandifer on October 13 to see if his issues had been resolved. He indicated that there is still a stray black dog which he sees each morning in the vacant lot behind the house next to him. I indicated I would have Animal Control continue efforts to attempt to catch the animal. I thanked Mr. Sandifer for contacting us and letting us know his issues and assured him the City did not wish citizens to endanger themselves by trying to catch stray animals themselves. P\M0310141 -IsaacSandifer cc: Allen Brown Kevin Stokes David Paquette B A K E R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT cITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM October 15, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ~ FROM: RAUL SUBJECT: SPEEDING ON F STREET/CROSSWALK ON H STREET Council Referral #614 ICouncilmember Benham referred a request by Alexa Mergen to review traffic and 3 Streets; and requested Public Works speeding on F Street between 1st rd analyze the need for a pedestrian crosswalk on H Street near the new Albertsons. Traffic Engineering will schedule a radar speed study for the segment of F Street, between 1st and 3rd Streets and schedule an analysis of pedestrian usage on H Street in the area of 1st Street. The signalized pedestrian crossing of H Street at Brundage is less than 300 feet south of 1st Street. Results of the two studies should be available in four to six weeks. G:\GROUPDA~Referrals~2003\CC Mtg 10-08\614 - Traffic.doc B A K E R S F I E L D PUBUG WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM October 13, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ~ SUBJECT: DEBRIS ON HWY 99 EXITS Council Referral #612 Councilmember Benahm referred a complaint from Bruce McFarland regarding debris piled up at the California Avenue and Rosedale exits along Highway 99 to Public Works. Staff to contact Mr. McFarland. Staff contacted Mr. Bruce McFarland on October 13, 1003, and informed him that all exits along Highway 99 are maintained by Cal-Trans, however, we would forward his concern along to them. G:\GROUPDAT1Referrals~003\CC Mtg 10-08\612 - Brad.doc DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS DATE: October '17, 2003 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Alan Christensen, Interim Director Recreation and Parks ~ SUBJECT: MOU WITH NORTH BAKERSFIELD RECREATION & PARKS Ref000609 (WARD 4) Councilmember Couch requested staff meet with AYSO and North Bakersfield Recreation and Parks District regarding NOR agreement to use two (2) lighted fields at the 40-acre park at Stockdale Hwy. and Buena Vista Road, and report back at the November 5 council meetine. City staff from Property Management, Water, and Recreation & Parks met with two (2) representatives of Region 73 to discuss the City's MOU with North Bakersfield Recreation & Park District to use two (2) lighted regulation soccer fields at the 40 acre water recharge area. AYSO representatives explained their current and future soccer field needs. They also informed us of their conceptual idea of soccer fields and related amenities at the water recharge area. North Bakersfield's agreement with the City for the use of two (2) lighted regulation soccer fields here was a major concern for them as well. The MOU language was discussed and then all parties agreed to make the exact location of the two (2) fields very non specific and open for future discussion but the intent of the City providing the lighted soccer fields intact. North Bakersfield and the City would meet to work on the revisions to the proposed MOU for future Council approval. All of those attending the meeting agreed to meet in early January, 2004 to discuss further development of the soccer fields at the water recharge area as well as any other possible areas for a multi-field soccer cOmplex in the northwest area. S:\Council Referrals[Ref000609. doc October 17, 2003 (11:32AM) OCT I 6 B A K E R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM October 10, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR///'~~ SUBJECT: REPAIRS TO RAILROAD CROSSINGS Council Referral #621 Councilmember Sullivan requested Public Works staff contact Craig Pope at the County for assistance regarding conditions of the roadway at the railroad crossing at Morning Drive and Edison Highway. The section of Morning Drive at Edison Highway over the railroad tracks is actually part of State Route 184 which is under Caltrans' jurisdiction. Staff prepared the attached letter to Caltrans and forwarded a copy to Craig Pope since this area is also in the unincorporated area of metropolitan Bakersfield. G:\GROUPDAT~Referrals~003\CC Mtg 10-08\621 - Jack.doc B'A KE R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 1501 TRUXTUN AVENUE BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA 93301 (661) 326-3?24 RAUL M. RO.IAS, DIRECTOR · CITY ENC;1NEER October 10, 2003 Mike Leonardo- Director Caltrans District 6 PO Box 12616 .. Fresno CA 93778-2616 Subject: SR 184 - conditions of roadway at the railroad crossing at Morning Ddve and Edison Highway Dear Mr. Leonardo: City CounCilmembers have requested we contact you for assistance regarding conditions of the Roadway at the railroad crossing at Morning Drive and Edison Highway. Since this area is also part of the unincorporated area of metropolitan Bakersfield, we are also forwarding a copy of this letter to Craig Pope at the Kern County Roads Department seeking assistance. Very truly yours, RAUL M. ROJAS Public Works Director 1××/~s~aenStRl~uL~iRcOv~h'~l('se Directo; /? cc: Jacquie Sullivan, City of Bakersfield Councilmember - Ward 6 Craig Pope, Kern County Roads Department G:\GROUPDAT\Referrals~2003\CC Mtg 10-08\621 - letter.doc B A K E R S F I E L D MEMORANDUM TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager ./'"'-h // FROM: Jack Hardisty, Development Services Dir tor~~ DATE: October 14, 2003 SUBJECT: Cleanup at Blockbuster Building / Referral No. 617 Councilmember Salvaggio requested code enforcement look into the cleanup of the Blockbuster Building at White Lane and Hughes Lane. On October 13, 2003, a notice of violation was issued to the owner to remove the overgrown weeds and trash located on the property. A reinspection will be conducted on October 20, 2003. B A K E R S F I E L D MEMORANDUM TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Jack Hardisty, Development Services DATE: October 14, 2003 SUBJECT: Yard Sales at S. H Street and Custer / Referral No. 618 Councilmember Salvaggio requested code enforcement contact the owner of property at S. H Street and Custer regarding items for sale in the yard. On October 13, 2003, code enforcement contacted the property owner. A 72-hour notice to clean the property was given to the owner. They were also informed of the regulations regarding yard sales. OCT B A K E R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM October 15, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.~'-~-~_.,._..~...~ SUBJECT: TRAFFIC LIGHT AT MONITOR AND PANAMA Council Referral #619 Councilmember Salvaggio requested an update on his prior request to staff to analyze the location of the traffic light at Monitor and Panama and determine whether the light should be moved to the south; also, analyze intersections to the south to determine need for traffic control measures. (Prior Referral #560) The intersection of Berkshire and Monitor has been under developer construction for the past several weeks. Because of the construction activity in the intersection and area surrounding the school, data collection of traffic counts for an updated traffic signal warrant study has not been possible. When the road work is complete and the traffic flow returned to normal, the traffic volume counts will be taken and an updated signal warrant study completed. The intersection is under a four-way stop control. The intersection of Panama and Monitor is fully warranted for a traffic signal and is currently budgeted for construction in the 2003-04 CIP. Other locations of interest in the area are also under study. The intersection of Union and Berkshire is in the County. The County Road Department will be undertaking a study at that location this week. A study for the intersection of Berkshire and South H was completed this week by the Traffic Engineer. At this time, the intersection does not meet warrants for a 4-way stop. The intersection will be reviewed again in about six months for any changes in traffic patterns or volumes that might warrant traffic controls. G:\GROUPDAT~Referrals~003\CC Mtg 10-08\619 - Traffic.doc B A I,C R $ I l., D PUBUC WORKS DEPARTMENT CFFY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORJ~NDUM October 15, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: PAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR_//¢.~!.~%.~.__...~. SUBJECT: STATUS OF WHITE LN/HWY 99 INTERCHANGE Council Referral #616 Councilmember Salvaggio requested staff contact Caltrans District Director Mike Leonardo and check on the status of the southbound auxiliary lane at the White Lane/Hwy 99 interchange. Staff contacted Ahron Hakimi, Local Government Liaison with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), for a status update for the above mentioned project. Through correspondence with Caltrans District Director Mike Leonardo, Mr. Hakimi provided the following information: Plans, specification and estimates for the southbound auxiliary lane will be completed by the end of October 2003. Caltrans anticipates having the project Ready to List (RTL) at the end of the month; this includes having the Right of Way certification provided by the City completed as well. Once the project is RTL, the project is then placed on the California Transportation Commission (CTC) agenda for funds to be allocated. Caltrans is requesting funding to be allocated at the next CTC meeting so the project can begin advertisement in December 2003, and construction to begin in spring 2004. While this project is programmed to be funded this year, with the State's current cash flow situation, there is the possibility that this allocation could be delayed by the CTC for several months. City staff and Caltrans are continuing to lobby for this allocation. G:\GROUPDAT~Referrals~O03\CC Mtg 10-08\616 - Nick.doc