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Home My WebLink About11/26/03 B A K E R S F I E L D CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM November 26, 2003 TO: Honorable Mayor and City C~ FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager SUBJECT: General Information 1. No real change in the Sacramento / budget situation this week. We will be doing more budget analysis and options over the next few weeks and will do a budget workshop at the December 10th Council meeting. Attached is an article from today's Los Angeles Times regarding the repeal of the VLF. The big City Mayors met with the Governor and got assurance he strongly supports the backfill. So far, regrettably, the legislature whose vote is necessary, is not cooperating. 2. Andrew Zoppo, former professional hockey player and three-time All American, was named Director of Hockey for the Ice Sports Center this week. He will oversee the development and implementation of youth through adult hockey workshops, clinics, camps, and programs. Staff is very excited to have him on board. 3. Attached is an article from the November 25th Los Angeles Times regarding WalMart's continuing battle with the labor union. The two lawsuits in Bakersfield are mentioned. 4. The November CIP Report is enclosed. 5. Public Works and Parks staffs met to discuss the logistics of the demolition of International Square. The scheduled completion is prior to December 31st. Honorable Mayor and City Council November 26, 2003 Page 2 6. Responses to Council requests are enclosed, as follows: Councilmember Couch Evaluation of striping for a third lane on Hageman near Centennial High School; · Analysis of north/south traffic congestion at Coffee and Truxtun; Response to citizen regarding a request for a stop sign at Elizabeth Grove and Kelvin Grove; Councilmember Salvaq,qio · Update on the status of project completion of the White Lane and Highway 99 project; AT:al cc: Department Heads Pam McCarthy, City Clerk Trudy Slater, Administrative Analyst Big-City Mayors Encouraged by Meeting,WithSchwarzenegger as much as $15 bill, on, some o~ The governor reassures the mayors said. The governor is drawing a them that they will not link between the car-tax rev- los~ billions in his enue and the bond initiative: repeal of the car tax Passage of the bond measure would make it easier to replace hike. He appeals for money lost through repeal of the car-tax increase, according suppOrt of his proposed" to the governor's office. $1'5-billion bond issue. "He didn't talk specifically about where the money would By PETER NICHOLAS come from," O'Neill said. '"He AND JOE MATHEWS did mention the [general obliga- Times Sto, ffWnters tion] bonds." Hahn voiced skepticism SAcRAMENTo -- After about the borrowing plan but meeting privately with Gov. Ar- said he was not necessarily op- hold Schwarzenegger on Tues- posed. day, the mayors of seven big "This is not something I usu- California cities emerged to say ally would support.., one-time they had been reassured they borrowing to balance the would not lose billions in car tax get," Hahn said. "This may revenue that helps pay for po- that extraordinary lice and fire protection.' stance that necessitates The' maYors spoke to viating from that. Schwarzenegger in his office for governor I'm very about 45 minutes, warning that lng at that. It may be the his ronback of the recent car-Il- way out this year." censing fee increase could trig- Schwarzenegger wants the ger local governmen, t layoffs Legislature to put the bond and service delays unless the measure on the March ballot. state comes up with another Hahn later pressed his point source of money, in meetings with the Assembly's- Although Schwarzenegger outgoing and incoming speak- had already pledged to do that, ers: Herb J. Wesson Jr. and Fa- the msyors seemed intent on bian Nunez, both Los Angeles pooling their clout in a well-pub- Democrats' licized visit to the Capitol. They The Legislature has an ira- said they wanted to impress portant say in the matter. Sen- upon state officials that their ate Republican Leader Jim cities simply cannot afford to Brulte (R-Cucamonga) has in- lose their share of ttie~ approxi- trOduced a bm in the specialleg- mately $4 billion generated an- islative session now Underway nually by a tripling of the vehicle that would appropriate $3.6 bfl- license fee -- the car tax. lion from the state general fund "He was very approachable to reimburse local governments and very agreeable to what we for loss of car-tax revenue. had to say," said Long Beach Democrats say the money isn't Mayor Beverly O'Nein. "We were BREAK: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger strolls through the state available and will require pro-' very encouraged." Capitol with an unlit cigar on a busy Tuesday. gram cuts. She was joined in the meet- ~ Rob Stutznmn, communica- lng by fellow Mayors James K. Since car-tax receipts are ear- peal of the tax increase pro- tions direct.or for Schwarzeneg- Hahn of Los Angeles, Dick Mur- marked for local governments, duced a shortfall of $175 million, ger, said after the meeting thaf phyofSan Diego, Ron Gonzales reducing the levy throws their with about two-thirds of that the governor would make good of San Jose, CurtPringle of Aha- budgets out 0fbalance. amount allocated for police and on his promise to the mayors. heim, Miguel Pulido of santa The mayors' plea ~- and the fire services. Los Angeles ."There's no question that lo- Aha and Heather Fargo of Sac- governor's promise is to County would, lose $700 million cal government needs to be ramento. Fresno Mayor Alan make the local governments a year if the state does not re- made whole," he said. "It's not Autry took part by phone, whole through a direct transfer plenish the car-tax revenue, their fault that the wacky way In a push to narrow a $38-bil- from the state general fund. In Hunclreds of cities and coun- we fund local government is lion budget gap earlier in the Sacramento-speak, that trans- ties across the state face a simi- through a car tax." year, former Gov. Gray Davis feris known as a backfill lar dilemma. TheY use 60% to "It doesn't make any sense. tripled the state's vehicle Ii- "If the backfill is not re- 75% of their car-tax anocation And so we're committed- this cerise fee, with the additional stored, it becomes very difficult money for public safety, accord-' governor is committed -- that revenue going to local govern- for us to provide services," said ing to Pat Leary, a Sacramento the essential services that local merits. Hahn, who served on Schwarz- lobbyist for the California State governments provide, that When Schwarzenegger un- enegger's transition team. "We Assn. of Counties. they're going to be able to con- did the increase last week ira- would have to have cuts involv- At the meeting, Schwarzen- tinue to provide them." mediately upon taking office, he lng layoffs, and you don't want egger asked the haayors -- most Times staff writers Gregg set off a scramble among cities to have that." of them Democrats -- to sup- Jones and Sue Fox contributed and counties around the state. In the city of Los Angeles, re- port his prop0sedbond issue of to this report. broader Problem. State due to issue its report. By KIMI YOSHINO said Aitken, who alSo re- Tirees Staff Writer presented the wife of the victim of the Columbia accident. As the state prepares to re- "Our long-standing commit- lease its report on the cause of ment to safety remains the September's fatal crash on Dis- same," Goodman said. "Anyone neyland's Big Thunder Moun'- who suggests otherwise is simply tain Railroad, the attorney for ~ wrong ..... We believe that our the victim's family said his ex: maintenance system incorpo- perts have determined that rates the best modern manage- faulty mq~,~enance is to blame ment practices and safety pro- and questlffned whether it's part cedures. We constantly evaluate of a larger safety problem at the and explore new ways to im- Anaheim amusement park. prove our operations." , Disneyland officials ackn°wl- ~ . , ,' edged late Tuesday that re- quired tasks on the ride were not he. Errors in Photographs by MARK ]]OSTER LOS Angeles Times strong ' statements denying Market'in San Clemente in 1959, no broader maintenance flaws. is wife, Edith. "Our own analysis foundthat -Disney Strike is'Good nance tasks required by Disney- Tax Bills resulted in a mechanical failure," said Leslie Goodman, senior vice Independents president of strategic communi-Disclosed cations for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. . "At no time have we ever done ~:~: ~i:i:~::~, % ,~ ,i,' ~ :~.:~ ~:~ .~ anything which we believe would By JEAN O. PASCO compromise the level of safety required for the safe operation of .' our attractions.' Orange County tax officials Disneyland did not specify revealed Tuesday that the value what safeguards are in place to of Disneyland Resoi't had been ensure that workers follow main- significantly overestimated over 'tenance procedures and if those, a four-year period, resulting in a ' safeguards also failed. Park offi- tax-refund windfall of several cials declined to comment fur- million dollars for the amuse- ther until the report from the. ment park. state Division of Occupational The errors, totaling more ~ Safety and Health is released, than $1.2 billion in over-assess- The crash occurred Sept. 5 ments, occurred during a 'spate when a wheel assembly on the 'of construction frpm 1994 to 1997 roller coaster fell off, causingthe . during which, for example, aride locomotive to separate from the being dismantled was confused passenger cars, in turn causing a width onebeing bdilt. .~ p ~a~_iaLd. er~e~nt, ~e!o Tor:~, ~ l~e_~t en~r -~ res,~22, of Gardena died at the county was created when the as- the scene; 10 others were injured. Sessor's office conducted a four- vice AT WORK: Cat Seabol dy~sts Wine bottles at Fred's, Market, After the crash, employe~s year audit of Disneyland Re- for where the lure is attentive service and cheap beer. told Anaheim police that they sort's real estate and property tine ' noticed an unusual clanking improvements. The county rou- in the demand, butchers' handiwork, sound at least 30 minutes before tinely conducts such audits of the "It's a good time for inde- "The product we sell is dif- the accident and were getting large businesses and property Chi- pendent grocers to shine and ferent than what you ~ get ready to take the ride out of serv- owners. take advantage of a new cas-' at a supermarket," Han said. ice. In the audit,, the county r0ns tomer base," said Auday Ara- "It's more expensive. But Other sources have said that wrongly increased the park's' [phs bo, president of the grocery .°ncc theYtaste our meat .... ' maintenance had been called to value by $178 million in 1994, an' trade group, which has 500 At Jimenez Market in look at the ride days beforehand. $149 miliion in1995,$344 million ini- merchant members in Santa. An~, o. wner Cesar Ji- In the wake of the crash on in 1996 and $378 million in 1997, ~ers, Orange, San Diego and Ira- menez stocks his shelves with 'the roller coaster, which Simu-. said county Assessor Webster J. dans perialcounties, the tastes of his Latino clien- lates a runaway mine train, Guiliory. :amc For decades, sul~ermarket' tele in mind: pickled pigs feet, many former employees com- The audit wasn't sent to DIS-. ~t to chains have been turning'the religious, candies, cactus, plainedthat Disneylan.d has seri- ney officials until July 2002, after ! are neighborhood grocer into a Most customers livewithin ous maintenance problems which the accumulated billion- ~ding fond memory, walking distance.' stemming from budget cuts and dollar error was caught by Dis- be Those that survive do' so The strike has been good a department reorganization in ney property tax experts. The. flty because owners find a niche: for business~ More cars in the thelate 1990s. That contention is mistake was corrected by the top-quality meat, fresher pro- par.king lot indicate people · echoed by Santa Aaa attorney county in February. ,m- duce, ethnic staples, are driving in ll, om. other Wylie Aitken, who is re- Separately, Disneyland Re- hift At Fred's Market in San neighb6rhoods. And more presenting Torres' family, sort's value was overestimated' ckly Clemente, the recipe for lon-' than a few are non-L~tinos Aitken said his experts be- by an aggregate $240 million in )ck- gevityhas been attentive cus- whom Jimenez has never lieve that bolts holding an "up- annual property tax assess- mp- tomer service and cheap seen before, stop' wheel -- a wheel that trav- meats from. 1994 to '97. Disney alto beer. "We sell a lot of beer," The strike forced Newport els below the track and helps had challenged those figures as -- said Flo Smith, 64, who startr Beach resident Tom Lalleur, keeps the train from jumping out well, and last week the c6unty's ~hich ed as a stocker at her father's .52, to seek alternatives -- .-- were not tightened. In addi- tax assessment appeals board market when it opened in Trader Joe's, tlie Asian gro- tion, a safety mechanism that sided with the company. ~.trike, 1959. Fred Gunning, 96, still cery chains, markets in Little would have kept the bolts in Disneyland Resort's assessed Los ~geles Times: Big-City Mayors Encouraged by Meeting With Schwarzenegger Page 1 of 3 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mayors26nov26,1,6948 .story THESTATE Big-City Mayors Encouraged by Meeting With Schwarzenegger The governor reassures them that they will not lose billions in his repeal of the car tax hike. He appeals for support of his proposed $15-billion bond issue. By Peter Nicholas and Joe Mathews Times Staff Writers November 26, 2003 SACRAMENTO -- After meeting privately with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday, the mayors of seven big California cities emerged to say they had been reassured they would not lose billions in car tax revenue that helps pay for police and fire protection. The mayors spoke to Schwarzenegger in his office for about 45 minutes, warning that his rollback of the recent car-licensing fee increase could trigger local government layoffs and service delays unless the state comes up with another source of money. Although Schwarzenegger had already pledged to do that, the mayors seemed intent on pooling their clout in a well-publicized visit to the Capitol. They said they wanted to impress upon state officials that their cities simply cannot afford to lose their share of the approximately $4 billion generated annually by a tripling of the vehicle license fee -- the car tax. "He was very approachable and very agreeable to what we had to say," said Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill. "we were very encouraged." She was joined in the meeting by fellow Mayors James K. Hahn of Los Angeles, Dick Murphy of San Diego, Ron Gonzales of San Jose, Curt Pringle of Anaheim, Miguel Pulido of Santa Ana and Heather Fargo of Sacramento. Fresno Mayor Alan Autry took part by phone. In a push to narrow a $38-billion budget gap earlier in the year, former Gov. Gray Davis tripled the state's vehicle license fee, with the additional revenue going to local governments. When Schwarzenegger undid the increase last week immediately upon taking office, he set off a scramble among cities and counties around the state. Since car-tax receipts are earmarked for local governments, reducing the levy throws their http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mayors26nov26,1,34772,print.story 11/26/2003 ' Los Angeles Times: Big-City Mayors Encouraged by Meeting With Schwarzenegger Page 2 of 3 budgets out of balance. The mayors' plea -- and the governor's promise -- is to make the local governments whole through a direct transfer from the state general fund. In Sacramento-speak, that transfer is known as a backfill. "If the backfill is not restored, it becomes very difficult for us to provide services," said Hahn, who served on ' Schwarzenegger's transition team. "We would have to have cuts involving layoffs, and you don't want to have that." In the city of Los Angeles, repeal of the tax increase produced a shortfall of $175 million, with about two-thirds of that amount allocated for police and fire services. Los Angeles County would lose $700 million a year if the state does not replenish the car-tax revenue. Hundreds of cities and counties across the state face a similar dilemma. They use 60% to 75% of their car-tax allocation money for public safety, according to Pat Leary, a Sacramento lobbyist for the California State Assn. of Counties. At the meeting, Schwarzenegger asked the mayors -- most of them Democrats -- to support his proposed bond issue of as much as $15 billion, some of the mayors said. The governor is drawing a link between the car-tax revenue and the bond initiative: Passage of the bond measure would make it easier to replace money lost through repeal of the car-tax increase, according to the governor's office. "He didn't talk specifically about where the money would come from," O'Neill said. "He did mention the [general obligation] bonds." Hahn voiced skepticism about the borrowing plan but said he was not necessarily opposed. "This is not something I usually would support ... one-time borrowing to balance the budget," Hahn said. "This may be that extraordinary circumstance that necessitates you deviating from that. And I told the governor I'm very open:to looking at that. It may be the only way out this year." Schwarzenegger wants the Legislature to put the bond measure on the March ballot. Hahn later pressed his point in meetings with the Assembly's outgoing and incoming speakers: Herb J. Wesson Jr,. and Fabian Nunez, both Los Angeles Democrats. The Legislature has an important say in the matter. Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte (R-Cucamonga) has introduced a bill in the special legislative session now underway that would appropriate $3.6 billion from the state general fund to reimburse local governments for loss of car-tax revenue. Democrats say the money isn't available and will require program cuts. Rob Stutzman, communications director for Schwarzenegger, said after the meeting that the governor would make good on his promise to the mayors. "There's no question that local government needs to be made whole," he said. "It's not their fault that the wacky way we fund local government is through a car tax." "It doesn't make any sense. And so we're committed -- this governor is committed -- that the essential services that local governments provide, that they're going to be able to continue to provide them." http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mayors26nov26,1,34772,print.story 11/26/2003 Los Angeles Times: Big-City Mayors Encouraged by Meeting With Schwarzenegger Page 3 of 3 Times staff writers Gregg Jones and Sue Fox contributed to this report. If~ 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/news/local/la-me-mayors26nov26,1,34772,print.story 11/26/2003 Media Release Date: November 21, 2003 Contact: Centennial Garden, Scott Norton (661) 852-7301 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Three Time All American named Director of Hockey at Ice Sports Center of Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA-The Ice Sports Center of Bakersfield today named Andrew Zoppo as the new Director of Hockey. Andrew, a former professional hockey player for the Macon Trax was a three time All American while attending college at St. Anselms in Manchester, NH. "I can't wait to get started. The staffofthe Ice Sports Center is very knowledgeable and energetic and I can already see that we are going to have a positive impact on the youth of Bakersfield," said Andrew. Andrew brings several years of youth coaching experience to the Ice Sports Center and will oversee the development and implementation of youth through adult hockey workshops, clinics, camps and programs. Lars Larsen, Director of the Ice Sports Center of Bakersfield stated, "He will be a valuable asset to our current team and I'm especially excited to have an expert goalie on staff. We now have all the aspects of hockey covered and will be able to build an outstanding hockey program." For more information on the Ice Sports Center of Bakersfield call 661.852.7400 or visit their web site at www.bakersfieldicesports.com. Los Angeles Times: Grocery Unions Battle to Stop Invasion of the Giant Stores Page 1 of 5 http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-walmart25nov25,1,3647063.story?coil=la-home-headlines Third of three parts Grocery Unions Battle to Stop Invasion of the Giant Stores ~ ..... ~ DSL RUSINE!'~ EDITION Wal-Mart plans to open 40 of its nonunion Supercenters in California. Labor is fighting the expected onslaught, but the big retailer rarely concedes defeat. By Nancy Cleeland ~d Abigail Goldman Times Staff Whters November 25, 2003 Inglewood seemed to offer the perfect home for a new Wal-Mart Supercenter, with low-income residents hungry for bargains and a mayor craving the sales-tax revenue that flows from big-box stores. But nearly two years after deciding to build on a 60-acre lot near the Hollywood Park racetrack, Wal-Mart is nowhere near pouring concrete. Instead, the world's biggest company is at war with a determined opposition, led by organized labor. "A line has been drawn in the sand," said Donald H. Eiesland, president of Inglewood Park Cemetery and the head of Partners for Progress, a local pro-business group. "It's the union against Wal-Mart. This has nothing to do with Inglewood." Indeed, similar battles are breaking out across California, and both sides are digging in hard. Wal- Mart Stores Inc. wants to move into the grocery business throughout the state by opening 40 Supercenters, each a 200,000-square-foot behemoth that combines a fully stocked food market with a discount mega-store -- entirely staffed by non-union employees. The United Food and Commercial Workers and the Teamsters are trying to thwart that effort, hoping to save relatively high-paying union jobs. The unions have amassed a seven-figure war chest and are calling in political chits to fight Wal- Mart. The giant retailer is aggressively countering every move, and some analysts believe that Wal- Mart's share of grocery sales in the state could eventually reach 20%. The state's first Supercenter is set to open in March in La Quinta, near Palm Springs. "If we have an advantage," said Robert S. McAdam, Wal-Mart's vice president for state and local government relations, http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-walmart25nov25,1,2963193,print.story?coll=la-home-headlines 11/25/2003 Los Angeles Times: Grocery Unions Battle to Stop Invasion of the Giant Stores Page 2 of 5 "it's that we are offering what people want." In fact, Wal-Mart has won allies by providing people of modest means a chance to stretch their dollars. "We need to have retail outlets that are convenient and offer quality goods and services at low prices," said John Mack, president of the Los Angeles Urban League.. "I really think that there are potential economic benefits for this community with the addition of a Wal-Mart." Yet the Supercenters also threaten the 250,000 members of the UFCW and Teamsters who work in the supermarket business in California. For decades, the unions have been a major force in the state grocery industry and have negotiated generous labor contracts. Wal-Mart pays its grocery workers an estimated $10 less per hour in wages and benefits than do the big supermarkets nationwide -- $19 versus $9. As California grocery chains brace for the competition, their workers face severe cutbacks in compensation. "We're going to end up just like the Wal-Mart workers," said Rick Middleton, a Teamsters official in Carson who eagerly hands out copies of a paperback called "How Wal-Mart Is Destroying America." "If we don't as labor officials address this issue now, the furore for our membership is dismal, very dismal." The push for concessions has already started, prompting the longest supermarket strike in Southern California's history. About 70,000 grocery workers employed by Albertsons Inc., Kroger Co.'s Ralphs and Safeway Inc.'s Vons and Pavilions have been walking the picket lines since Oct. 11, largely to protest proposed reductions in health benefits. The supermarkets say they need these cuts to hold their own against Wal-Mart, already the nation's largest grocer. Rick Icaza, president of one of seven UFCW locals in Southern Califomia, has taken issue with much of the supermarkets' rhetoric since the labor dispute began. But he doesn't doubt that Wal-Mart is the biggest threat ever posed to the grocery chains -- and, in mm, his own members. "The No. 1 enemy has still got to be Wal-Mart," he said. ~' The unions and their community allies have stopped Wal-Mart in some places and slowed it down in others. They have persuaded officials in at least a dozen cities and counties to adopt zoning laws to keep out Supercenters and stores like them. Homeowner groups, backed by union money, sued to stop construction of two Supercenters in Bakersfield, arguing that the stores would drive local merchants out of business. Contra Costa County and Oakland also have passed measures that could block Supercenters. In Los Angeles, several City Council members are drafting an ordinance to require an examination of how large:scale projects such as Supercenters would affect the community, including the possible loss of union jobs. As envisioned by supporters, the measure would allow the city to insist on higher wages as a condition of project approval. "We want Wal-Mart to be able to help us with our economic development," said Councilman Eric Garcetti, who is co- sponsoring the measure. "We just want to be able to do it on our terms and not theirs." Wal-Mart, however, can more than match its foes in resources and resolve. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-walmart25nov25,1,2963193,print.story?coll=la-home-headlines 11/25/2003 Los Angeles Times: Grocery Unions Battle to Stop Invasion of the Giant Stores Page 3 of 5 To soften its outsider image, the retailer has hired local political insiders to coax projects through planning bureaucracies. It has promised jobs and sales-tax bonanzas to cities struggling with deficits and unemployment. When the answer is "no," Wal-Mart rarely concedes defeat. At least nine times during its latest California push, the company has responded to legal barriers by threatening to sue or to take its case straight to local voters by forcing referendums. That's what happened in Inglewood after the City Council in October 2002 adopted an emergency ordinance barfing construction of retail stores that exceed 155,000 square feet and sell more than 20,000 nontaxable items such as food and pharmacy products. The measure was tailored to block a Supercenter. Icaza declared victory. "Wal-Mart's plans to enter the retail grocery business in Inglewood are dead!" he crowed in a union newsletter. But they weren't. Within a month, Wal-Mart gathered 9,250 signatures on petitions, more than enough to force a public vote. The company also threatened to sue the city for alleged procedural violations. Looking at a possible cOurt battle or an embarrassing failure at the polls, Inglewood officials withdrew the ordinance they had passed a month earlier... Furious with the council, Icaza ran his own candidate in city elections in June. Ralph Franklin, a former supermarket clerk and manager and now a UFCW business agent, won with 70% of the vote, ousting a council member who had gone against the union. Worried that the council might try to trip it up again, Wal-Mart went on the offensive. In late August, the company, through a group called the Citizens Committee to Welcome Wal-Mart to Inglewood, began gathering a new batch of signatures to force a popular vote on the Supercenter. The initiative, which calls for building permits to be issued without a public hearing or environmental impact study, is expected to be on the March 2004 ballot. "When people feel they're not getting a fair shake with the legislative process, they take things to a vote" of the electorate, said McAdam, the Wal-Mart vice president. Wal-Mart's opponents have vowed to sue to block the initiative on the grounds that it oversteps the limits of the ballot process. UFCW and Teamsters locals have raised dues or diverted funds f~om other programs to bankroll anti-Wal-Mart campaigns. With more than $1 million now available, thousands of members to draw from and encouragement from national leaders, local labor would seem to be in a strong position. But union efforts have been hampered by personality conflicts and disagreements over strategies and goals, according to people close to the situation. As in Inglewood, many union locals have focused on so-called site fights, winning zoning restrictions at the local level. That strategy can temporarily save union jobs and give leaders victories to celebrate, but it does little to stop the long- term march of Wal-Mart, critics say. After all, there are 478 cities in California, 88 in Los Angeles County alone~ Pushing for zoning restrictions also can backfire, stirring resentment among consumers and business owners -- even. those who directly compete with Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart opponents "try to use the government to accomplish things that they may not be able to accomplish in the http://www.~atimes.c~m/business/~a-~-wa~mart25n~v25~~~2963 ~93~print.st~ry?c~~~=~a-h~me-head~ines 11/25/2003 Los Angeles Times: Grocery Unions Battle to Stop Invasion of the Giant Stores Page 4 of 5 marketplace," said Alan Zaremberg, president of the Califomia Chamber of Commerce. "It's not government's role to interfere with what consumers want." For their part, national labor strategists want local leaders to focus less on zoning campaigns and more on the daunting, long-term goal of unionizing Wal-Mart employees. Few take the advice, and those who do quickly realize just what theY are up against. George Hartwell, president of UFCW Local 1036 in Camarillo, hired 18 organizers to hit the nine Wal-Mart stores in his jurisdiction. With few leads to go on and employees in stores forbidden to talk about unions, progress was slow. Then in mid-summer, a group wearing union T-shirts was served with trespassing papers and asked to leave a Wal-Mart in Lompoc. Lawyers tussled over that for months. Now Hartwell and his crew can enter the stores, but with strict limitations. "We go through and say, 'good morning' or 'good afternoon,' just to be visible," he said. Despite the long odds in taking on the company, many union activists insist they have no choice. "I've put 29 years of my life into this job, and now they're trying to pull the rug out from under me," said Diane Johnson, a union cashier at a Pavilions store in Los Angeles who is helping to coordinate anti-Wal-Mart efforts in Inglewood . . through the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy. Johnson and co-workers have made door-to-door visits and spoken from church pulpits, hoping to turn public opinion against the discounter.. "For me to go backwards would just be hell," she said. But Wal-Mart, the nation's largest seller of everything from toys to DVDs, has plenty of defenders too, some of them politically and financially powerful. They range from prominent Los Angeles toy importer Charlie Woo, who recently took up Wal-Mart's case before Los Angeles City Council members, to Jeffrey Katzenberg, a co-founder of Hollywogd studio DreamWorks SKG. He lobbied former Gov. Davis against signing a statewide anti-big-box measure passed by the Legislature five years ago; Davis vetoed the bill. McAdam said Wal-Mart doesn't order its suppliers to lobby on the company's behalf. But it does spell out for vendors {he consequences of anti-Wal-Mart legislation. "It's our belief that on certain issues, they have a vested interest in seeing ... that our company can continue to grow," McAdam said. Wal-Mart also helps smooth entry into new markets by cultivating relationships with civic groups. As it prepared last year to buy and renovate a former Macy's in the south Los Angeles community of Baldwin'Hi!lS}' corporate officials met with leaders of the Los Angeles Urban League and arranged to hire some employeeSthr0dgh the' organization. Allies in organized labor tried to dissuade the Urban League's Mack from cooperating. Normally pro-union, Mack turned them down, saying the community badly needed jobs and low-cost shopping options. "I'd rather haVe a person on somebody's payroll -- even if it isn't at the highest wage -- than on the unemployment roll," Mack said. "We're not going to punish job seekers by refusing to refer them to Wal-Mart for a job." By the time the Baldwin Hills-CrenshaWplaza Wal-Mart opened in January, Wal-Mart had doled out thousandsOf: ~' dollars, mostly in $1,000 grants, to local institutions such as schools and youth programs. The company cut the Urban http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-walmart25nov25,1,2963193,print, story?coll=la-home-headlines 11/25/2003 Los Angeles Times: Grocery Unions Battle to Stop Invasion of the Giant Stores Page 5 of 5 League a $3,000 check. It also provided $10,000 for new lights at the Martin Luther King Jr. Little League Baseball field. The ordinance being considered in Los Angeles would ask planners to weigh the "community benefits" of a mega-store in any zone that receives federal, state or municipal funding or incentives -- essentially the entire city. Like an environmental impact report, the community-benefits study would consider possible negative outcomes and propose ways to mitigate them. Wages could be held to "prevailing standards.'.' If supermarkets were deemed the ' standard, that would mean union scale. Backed by Garcetti and Councilman Ed Reyes, the ordinance could be ready for a council vote next month. Several studies commissioned in recent years by independent groups, including the Orange County Business Council and the San Diego Taxpayers Assn., found the state would suffer a net economic loss if union jobs were traded for jobs at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart had declined to respond with numbers of its own until a few months ago, when it commissioned the Los .; Angeles County Economic Development Corp. to measure the effect of Supercenters on the region. Researcher Gregory Freeman said the study balanced wage losses with consumer savings, noting that Supercenter prices are typically 20% lower than at union markets. The study was completed two weeks ago, Freeman said, but hasn't yet been released. As he began his study in mid-summer, Freeman told council members that other analyses haven't fairly measured all the pros and cons of the Supercenters. For one thing, he said, savings from lower grocery prices could be used by working- class shoppers for other things, such as buying homes. As for those merchants who won't be able to compete with Wal-Mart, others say, progress always carries a price: "I grew up in Pennsylvania; my father had a comer market there. When I was 3 or 4, the A&P moved in and put him out of business," recalled the Chamber's Zaremberg. "That was tough for us, but I don't think anyone would go back and say we shouldn't have supermarkets." If~ want other stories on this topic, search the Archives at latlmes.com/archives. Click here for article licensing and reprint options Copyright 2003 Los Angeles Times : http://www~~atimes~c~m/business/~a-~-wa~mart25n~v25~~~2963 ~93~print.st~ry?c~~~=~a-h~me-head~ines 11/25/2003 RECEIVED MANAGER'S OF' ' ::, CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM November 25, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR~ SUBJECT: CIP REPORT ~`~i;~;~...~i;~.~.;..e~ii~;~.~..~.~;~.~;~.~.gi.~;;~;.~.;.;ii;.~i~i;~.i~; ~i~;i~';'";i"~'~;~;i:,~'~;';~"~i'i~ ................... projects. If you have any questions, please call me at 326-3596. G:\GROUPDAT\Dani\CIP\FY 03-04~memo Nov 03.doc Git3 of Ba[tersfielb Public worlds Capital Improvement Pro,qram scbebu[e Fisca/Year :zoo3-:zoo4 )dated November 20~ 2003 PROJ PROJECT TITLE WARD COMMENTS DESIGN PHASE CONSTRUCTION PHASE NUM NUM BEGIN (est.) END (est.) BEGIN (est.) END (est.) T3K056 20TH STREET PARKING MALL 2 construction completed Mar-03 May-03 Jul-03 Sep-03 P2C109 120 SUMNER WATER SERVICE 2 in design Oct-03 Jan-04 Feb-04 Mar-04 I AIRPORT ,T4K139 PAVEMENT REHAB 1 in design Jul-03 Jan-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 ~ Not Yet Not Yet Not Yet T3K047 AKERS ROAD CONSTRUCTION 6 awaiting approval for railroad crossing Jan-03 Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled Not Yet Not Yet Not Yet T3K014 AKERS ROAD RR XING/BRIDGE 6,7 awaiting Public Utilities Commission approval Jan-03 Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled BIKE PATH WIDENING E2J121 CSUB TO MANOR 2,3,4 under construction Sep-02 May-03 Sep-03 Dec-03 BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION - HAGEMAN Not Yet Not Yet TOK012 FLYOVER @ SR99 2 PSR approval anticipated in March 2004 Jul-01 May-03 Scheduled Scheduled BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION FY 03-04 funding is only for environmental study. Environmental study is in T4K142 :ALLEN ROAD @ KERN RIVER 4 )rogress. Sep-03 Aug-04 2005 2006 BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION T3K051 BERKSHIRE RD @ KERN ISLAND CANAL 7 Developer of adjacent property is preparing design. Plans are in first check. Mar-03 Nov-03 Dec-03 BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION T3K050 HOSKING @ KERN ISLAND CANAL 7 Developer of adjacent property is preparing design. Plans are in first check. Mar-03 Nov-03 Dec-03 BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION Not Yet Not Yet T3K041 SR 99 @ HOSKING AVENUE 6, 7 on-going; this current project is for preliminary design only. May-03 Dec-03 Scheduled Scheduled BRIDGE WIDENING T8K002 WHITE LANE @ SR 99 7 under construction Mar-02 Apr-03 Aug-03 Aug-04 T3L103 BRUNDAGE LANE STREETSCAPE 1 Nov-03 Feb-04 Apr-04 Jun-04 Not Yet Not Yet T4K121 CENTENNIAL CORRIDOR 2, 5 Nov-03 Nov-06 Scheduled Scheduled DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS E4K106 DOWNTOWN 2 FY 03-04 funding is only for property acquisition for storm drain facilities. Sep-03 Jun-04 Not Applicable Not Applicable DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS E3K011 TEVlS RANCH 5 ;Construction start date subject to developer scheduled project Aug-03 Sep-03 Nov-03 Jan-04 Not Yet Not Yet T4K113 EAST BELTWAY ADVANCED PLANNING 3 This is project is for a study o~ly. Oct-03 Jun-04 Scheduled Scheduled T3L101 EAST CALIFORNIA AVE. STREETSCAPE 1 Base maps done; design started Jul-03 Dec-03 Mar~04 Jun-04 FIRE STATION #1 P2H003 REWIRE 3 Bid Opening: November 4, 2003, Council Award: December 10, 2003 Jan-03 Oct-03 Dec-03 Feb-04 FIRE STATION #15 P8H001 WSPS 4 under construction Aug-01 Jan-03 Mar-03 Dec-03 GOSFORD LIFT STATION ODOR E4K105 CONTROL 5 in design Jul-03 Dec-03 Feb-04 Mar-04 GRADE SEPARATION Not Yet Not Yet T4K120 24TH @ OAK 2 Nov-03 Nov-05 Scheduled Scheduled HVAC UPGRADE P1K003 CITY HALL 2 construcl~on completed May-02 Jun-02 Sep-03 G:\GROUPDAT~Dan~ClI~FY 03-04~1P FY 03-04 NOV. xls I of 4 Cit of Ba ersfie[b P.b/Jc Wor s Ca jta[ ImWoveme.t Pro,qram Sc ebn[e Fisca/Year zoo3 zoo4 Updated November 20, 2003 PROJ PROJECT TITLE WARD COMMENTS DESIGN PHASE CONSTRUCTION PHASE NUM NUM BEGIN (est.) END (est.) BEGIN (est.) END (est.) Not Yet Not Yet Not Yet Not Yet T3K133 HWY 58 ENTRY MONUMENT 1 on hold Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled P3C0821 ICE SPORTS OF BAKERSFIELD 2 under construction Jul-02 Dec-02 Feb-03 Nov-03 INTERCHANGE .... project report submitted to Caltrans. consultant has begun T7K021 SR 178 @ FAIRFAX 3 final design Jul-99 Dec-g3 Jun-04 Nov-05 INTERSECTION EXPANSION Not Yet Not Yet T1K034 MING ~ ASHE TO NEW STINE 3 in design; currently on hold pending identification of funding source Dec-00 Dec-03 Scheduled Scheduled INTERSECTION EXPANSION design complete; project's construction will be combined with Truxtun Ave right T2K022 MING @ SR99 4 turn lane project; State may withhold construction funding Nov-01 Nov-03 Jan-04 Apr-04 INTERSECTION EXPANSION design 90% complete; utility companies are relocating their facilties; State may T3K045 RIGHT TURN LANE - MING/TRUXTUN 5,7 withhold construction funding Oct-02 Nov-03 Jan-04 Apr-04 1~3C084 JEFFERSON & MLK PARKS - POOL Advertise: October 28; Bids open: November 25, City Council Award: P3C085 REHAB & WET PLAY AREAS 1,2 December 10 Jul-03 Oct-03 Jan-04 Jun-04 LANDSCAPING Staff is finalizing design options to be presented to Council Member for T3K052 NEW STINE ROAD 5 determination of which option to implement. Feb-03 Nov-03 Feb-04 Apr-04 P3C081 McMURTREY AQUATIC CENTER 2 under construction Aug-02 May-03 Aug-03 May-04 design concepts not yet prepared. Schedule will be prepared upon finalization Not Yet Not Yet Not Yet Not Yet P3K002 MT VERNON FACILITY AC PAD 1 of design concepts by staff. Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled T4K107 NORTH EAST BIKE PATH II 3 Dec-03 Mar-04 May-04 Jul-04 PARKING LOT EXPANSION POB001 P &14TH STREET 2 award construction contract November 19, 2003 Apr-03 Sep-03 Nov-03 Jan~04 PARKING POCKETS T4K118 WHITE LANE 6 in design Aug-03 Jan-04 Mar-04 Jun-04 P3K003 REPLACE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM 2 construction complete Sep-02 Dec-02 Mar-03 Sep-03 RETAINING WALL T4K110 COLLEGE AVENUE 3 Mar-04 Jun-04 Aug-04 Oct-04 rough grading of park site complete; remaining portions of Phase I are in P1C020 RIO VISTA PARK 4 design Mar-01 Dec-03 Feb-04 Feb-04 T8K083 T8K084 SEISMIC RETROFIT OF 4 CITY BRIDGES 2,3 under construction Jan-98 Sep-02 Feb-03 Jan-04 3EISMIC RETROFIT OF MANOR BRIDGE waiting on environmental clearance, design complete. State funding Not Yet Not Yet T8K083 LEFT AND RIGHT 3 withdrawn. Jan-98 Sep-02 Scheduled Scheduled SEISMIC RETROFIT OF NORTH T8K085 CHESTER BRIDGE 3 in design Apr-02 Dec-03 Feb-04 Feb-05 SEWER CONSTRUCTION E2K012 MCDONALD WAY 5 Jan-04 Apr-04 Jun-04 Sep-04 SEWER IMPROVEMENT E4K104 ALLEN ROAD 4 in design phase; currently selecting consultant for project AUg-g3 Apr-04 Jun-04 Nov-04 SEWER IMPROVEMENT ELK003 PACHECO #10 7 in construction Mar-02 May-03 Aug-03 Apr-04 SEWER IMPROVEMENTS - P STREET E4K110 AND 2ND STREET I construction start subject to funding source verification Aug-03 Oct-03 Nov-03 Jan-04 G:\GROUPDAT~Dam~ClP~FY 03-04\CLP FY 03-04 NOV.)ds 2 of 4 Updated November PROJ PROJECT TITLE WARD COMMENTS DESIGN PHASE CONSTRUCTION PHASE NUM NUM BEGIN (est.) END (est.) BEGIN (est.) END (est.) SEWER IMPROVEMENTS E4K109 STOCKDALE HWY 4 in design phase; currently selecting consultant for project Aug-03 Jul-04 Oct-04 Feb-05 SEWER REHAB E3K010 L STREET 1 !in design, checking utility impacts May-03 Mar-04 Feb-04 Jul-04 SEWER REHAB MAIN - PLANZ ROAD, E7K005 CHESTER TO WWTP#2 1 in design phase; currently selecting consultant for project Deco03 Apr-04 Jun-04 Oct-04 SEWER REHAB .E3K009 BRUNDAGE LANE 1 in design, checking utility impacts May-03 Mar-04 Feb-04 Jul-04 SEWER REHAB E4K101 !Q STREET 2 Mar-04 Aug-04 Oct-04 Jan-05 SEWER STUDY Not Yet Not Yet E4K102 SW - INTERCEPTOR 4, 5, 6 Project funded only for study - no construction. Oct-03 Jun-04 Scheduled Scheduled SIGNAL NEW BUCK OWENS @ RIO T4K125 MIRADA 2 Oct-03 Jan-04 Apr-04 May-04 4 SIGNAL NEW CALLOWAY @ OLIVE 4 construction complete completed completed Jul-03 Oct-03 T3K063 SIGNAL NEW HAGEMAN AT PATTON WAY 4 construction complete Jan-03 Mar-03 Jul-03 Oct-03 SIGNAL NEW T4K131 BRIMHALL @ OLD FARM 4 advertise for construction Aug-03 Oct-03 Dec-03 Feb-04 SIGNAL NEW construction contract has been awarded and executed. Project construction Not Yet Not Yet I'2K028 BRUNDAGE @ WASHINGTON 1 will be scheduled now that utility issues have been resolved. Feb-02 Jul-03 Scheduled Scheduled SIGNAL NEW ~n design, 65% complete; project on hold pending resolution of right-of-way Not Yet Not Yet Not Yet F3K055 HAGEMAN @ JEWETTA 4 and funding issues Mar-03 Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled SIGNAL NEW F3K012 lEWd- J ~ @ 34TH 2,3 Sep-03 Dec-03 May~04 May-04 SIGNAL NEW r4K134 PANAMA @ MONITOR 7 in design Aug-03 Nov-03 Feb-04 Apr-04 SIGNAL NEW 1'4K135 SAN DIMAS @ WEST COLUMBUS 2 Oct-03 Dec-03 Mar-04 May-04 SIGNAL NEW Not Yet Not Yet r2K043 STOCKDALE @ MCDONALD 2,5 design complete; KernCOG is reprogramming for funding Mar-02 Feb-03 Scheduled Scheduled Not Yet Not Yet 1'4K112 SR 178 ADVANCED PLANNING 3 This is project is for a study only. Oct-03 Jun-04 Scheduled scheduled $ I-ORM DRAIN IMPROVEMENTS -'4K108 CHESTER @ 32ND 2 in design Nov-O3 Mar-04 Jun-04 Jul-04 sTORM DRAIN IMPROVEMENTS --4K103 iTR 5130 4 in design Jul-03 Jan-04 Mar-04 Apr-04 ~5 ~-P-i IMPROVEMENTS r'4K123 COFFEE @ DOWNING 4 in design. Started right-of-way condemnation proceedings against PG&E Jun-03 Apr-04 Jun-04 Aug-04 STREEI IMPROVEMENTS Castle & Cooke designed and is now constructing these improvements which r'4K140 JEWE'I-I'A AVENUE 4 will facilitate future construction of Westside Parkway done done Jul-03 Dec-03 ~51HI=Er IMPROVEMENTS- Castle & Cooke designed and is now constructing these improvements which r4K119 JEWETI'A AVENUE 4 are adjacent to the City's future soccer park. done done Jul-03 Dec-03 STREET IMPROVEMENTS ['4K108 MING AVE - EDNA TO ANITA 7 in design; currently acquiring additional right-of-way from adjacent developer Jul-03 Feb-04 Apr-04 Jun-03 G:\GROUPDA'iADan~CIF~'Y 03-04\CIP FY 03-04 NOV.xls 3 of 4 NovembBr 20 2003 I~ROJ PROJECT TITLE WARD COMMENTS DESIGN PHASE CONSTRUCTION PHASE NUM NUM BEGIN (est.) END (est.) BEGIN (est.) END Iest.) STREET IMPROVEMENTS design is complete. Waiting for Southern Cai Gas to relocate their main line in Not Yet Not Yet TOK013 OLIVE DRIVE W OF CALLOWAY 4 order to schedule street improvement construction, done done Scheduled Scheduled STREET IMPROVEMENTS Not Yet Not Yet Not Yet T1K027 RR CROSSINGS 3 in design, awaiting Public Utilities Commission approval Jan-02 Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled STREET RESURFAClNG CALLOWAY T3K017 DRIVE, ROSEDALE TO MEACHAM 4 in preliminary design. Project includes construction of curbed median islands. Jan-04 Mar-04 May-04 Jul-04 STREET WIDENING CALLOWAY DRIVE, T3K017 ROSEDALE TO MEACHAM 4 awaiting final utility relocations prior to City work crews proceeding May-03 Aug-03 Oct-03 Nov-03 STREET WIDENING ROSEDALE HIGHWA'~ T4K106 CALLOWAY TO THE EAST 4 This is a multi-year project - design FY03-04; construct FY 04-05 & 05-06. Nov-03 Oct-04 Sep-05 Nov-05 STREET WIDENING ROSEDALE HIGHWA'~ TOK006 I- GIBSON TO SR99 2 in design Aug-01 Nov-03 Jan-04 Apr-04 STREET WIDENING T3K057 BRIMHALL - CALLOWAY TO JEWE'FrA 4 in design Feb-03 Nov-03 Feb-04 Apr-04 STREET WIDENING CHESTER & T4K144 BRUNDAGE 1 in design Oct-03 Mar-04 May-04 Jul-04 STREET WIDENING Final design of retaining wall pending. T1K028 3OLLEGE @ FAIRFAX 3 Design for street widening is 80% complete. May-01 Dec-03 Mar-04 May-04 STREET WIDENING T3K053 STOCKDALE HWY-MEDIAN RECONST 2, 5 This is a multi-year project - design FY03-04; construct FY 04-05. in design Jun-03 Mar-04 Jun-04 Aug-04 LBS301 STREETSCAPE BAKER STREET - PHASE 1 2 construction complete: October 24; ribbon cutting ceremony October 29 Sep-02 Mar-03 Jun-03 Oct-03 T4K104 STREETSCAPE BAKER STREET - PHASE ~ "2 concept plan to business group in November Dec-03 May-04 Jul-04 Oct-04 STREETSCAPE FY 03-04 construction funds were pulled from this project and will be T4K105 19TH @ EYE 2 reinstated for FY 04-05. Jan-04 Apr-04 Jul-04 Aug-04 STREETSCAPE T3K049 NORTH CHESTER 2 :Bid date: October 28; Council Award: November 19 Mar-03 Oct-03 Nov-03 Jan-04 T3L102 Union Avenue Streetlights I project requires approvals from Caltrans to construct Jan-04 May-04 Jul-04 Sep-04 WEST BELTWAY Not Yet Not Yet T4K114 ADVANCED PLANNING 4, 5 IThis is project is for a study only. Sep-03 Jun-04 Scheduled Scheduled T2K046 tNESTSlDE PARKWAY 2, 4 ~n-going Jun-02 Jun-05 Jun-05 Jun-09 E3K004 tNWTP #2 EFFLUENT STORAGE I project currently out to bid. done done Oct-03 Mar-04 E7K012 WWTP#3 HEADWORKS 4 under construction done done Dec-03 G:\GROUPDA'IADani~CIFAFY 03-04\CIP FY 03-04 NOV.xls 4 of 4 ~ [~'~-'-~'~VED , ~i ANAGER $ OF' :~ B A K E R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM November 25, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ~.,,~/~.~_......~ SUBJECT: DEMOLITION SCHEDULE FOR INTERNATIONAL SQUARE Council Referral #642 ICouncil/City Manager requested Alan Christensen and Public Works Department develop a plan and schedule demolition of International Square Park. Public Works and Parks Division staff have met to discuss the logistics of the demolition which is scheduled to be complete prior to December 31, 2003. G :\G ROUPDAT~Referrals~003\CC Mtg 11-19\642 - Brad .doc RECEIVED NOV 2 5 2003 MANAGER'S B A K E R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM November 24, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SUBJECT: STRIPING ON HAGEMAN AVENUE Council Referral #651 IVice-Mayor Couch requested staff evaluate striping of the third lane on Hageman near the Centennial High School Area. A project to add a third lane on Hageman Road, in the area of Centennial High School, was initiated by Traffic Engineering in October 2003. Currently, City crews are removing existing markings and lane lines in preparation of painting new lane lines and markings for three lanes on Hageman Road. General Services - Signing and Striping expects to complete the project in the next few weeks, as weather conditions allow. G :\GROUPDAT~Referrals~2003\CC Mtg 11-19\651 - Traffic.doc ...... RECF:]VF:I[~- '- MANAGER'S Or:" _ B A K E R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM November 24, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR~~......__~ SUBJECT: COFFEE ROAD AND TRUXTUN AVENUE TRAFFIC Council Referral #649 Councilmember Couch requested staff analyze the North/South traffic congestion at Coffee and Truxtun in order to reduce morning and evening traffic congestion. Traffic Engineering staff were able to adjust the signal timing by four seconds to accommodate changes in traffic flow while keeping the intersection operationally balanced for all directions. The timing adjustments do not relieve the intersection of congestion, but they will reduce the backup problem slightly. Based on the Traffic Engineer's review, future improvements to reduce congestion were identified. The intersection needs an additional lane for the northbound approach, increasing the lane count to three northbound lanes, alongside the two existing right turn lanes. This would require an additional 12 feet of roadway on the east side of Coffee, adjacent to the existing shopping center. The southbound left turn lanes also need to be lengthened by about 100 feet or more. This would require widening the bridge structure over the Kern River to accommodate the lengthened turn lanes. No improvements are planned at this time. Traffic Engineering staff will continue to monitor the signal operations for possible adjustments to the signal timing as traffic patterns change. G:\GROUPDAT~Referrals~2003\CC Mtg 11-19\649 - Traffic.doc ~ i ..... RECEIVED ....... B A K E R S F I E L~?-.:DAN~GER'S OFT[C[{ PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM November 24, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ~ SUBJECT: STOP SIGN - ELIZABETH GROVE/KELVIN GROVE Council Referral #650 Vice-Mayor Couch requested staff respond to an e-mail from Stacy Jimenez requesting a stop sign at Elizabeth Grove and Kelvin Grove. Traffic Engineering had placed a stop sign at this location, earlier this month. Ms Stacy Jimenez was contacted this week to confirm that her request was answered. She told the Traffic Engineer that the stop signs were in place as requested and thanked the City for responding to her concern. No additional action is required. G:\GROUPDAT~Referrals~2003\CC Mtg 11-19\650 - Traffic.doc ; RECEIVED_ MANAGER'S OFF~CE B A K E R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM November 24, 2003 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SUBJECT: WHITE LANE AND HIGHWAY 99 UPDATE Council Referral #646 Councilmember Salvaggio requested Public Works Department provide Council with an update on the status of the project completion of the White Lane and Hwy 99 project. Granite Construction was hired under an emergency situation top repair the failure of the Carrier Canal at 19th Street and Oak Street, and in order to respond rapidly they had to pull crews off of the White Lane and SR99 widening project. Granite crews are reporting back to the White Lane and SR99 project as they are finishing at 19th and Oak. G:\GROUPDA'I-~Referrals\2003\CC Mtg 11-19\646 - Stuart.doc