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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/29/04 B A K E R S F I E L D CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM October 29, 2004 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Tandy, City Manager /~'7"b..~/F',~.~ FROM: Alan SUBJECT: General Information 1. Trudy Slater, who has been employed by the City for twenty-one years (she has worked that entire time in the City Manager's Office), has announced her upcoming retirement, as of December 30t~. Although she will be missed, we wish her well and commend her for a dedicated career in public service. Over the next few weeks, we will be assessing how to most appropriately address the additional void that will result from her departure. 'My office has already been operating with reduced staffing, as Alan Christensen has been serving as Interim Recreation and Parks Director, and Darnell Haynes is at EDCD serving as an Interim Principal Planner for an extended period. 2. Councilmember Couch asked for clarification on when the decade will begin that would allow the State to again appropriate local revenues, as identified in Proposition lA. As noted in the attached report, the language in Proposition lA is somewhat confusing on the issue of when the "decade" begins and may be subject to legal interpretation and challenge. 3. We finally received notification from the State Department of Parks and Recreation this week about our grant application for the Mill Creek project. There were 211 applications for funding and, unfortunately, our project was not selected. However, per the enclosed memo from Donna Kunz, we may be able to pursue other alternative sources for funding. Staff will be meeting with KernCOG and Kern Delta to discuss their continued interest, and we will continue to explore other funding options. We will have a comprehensive update for you when more information is compiled. 4. As you have observed this week, the news media has reported the unpleasant discovery of an old burial pit for cows while construction crews were trenching for a sewer line. The site is in a subdivision northeast of South H Street and Berkshire Road. County Environmental Health Services determined that it did not pose an immediate threat to public health, and the developer has been served with a notice to remove and properly dispose of the cow remains within seven days. 5. Enclosed is a very positive article about the City's woodwaste recycling facility, which was featured in the September/October edition of Government Engineering Magazine. (Over) Honorable Mayor and City Council October 29, 2004 Page 2 6. Responses to Council requests are enclosed, as follows: Counciimember Benham · Citizen inquiry concerning lighting in the area of Joshua's Park; Councilmember Carson · Report on feasibility of speed bumps on Cantleberry Street; Councilmember Maq.qard · Information regarding tree replacement sizes; · Report on feasibility of using inmate work crews; Councilmember Hanson · Status of signal timing at Ming, El Portal, Barrington, and Manning; · Citizen concern regarding Campus Park maintenance issues; Councilmember Salvaq.qio · Staff assistance in placing 15 mph speed limit signs in the Smoke Tree Mobile Estates; · Street light repair at Hughes and Ming. AT:rs cc: Department Heads Pam McCarthy, City Clerk Trudy Slater, Administrative Analyst B A K E R S F I E L D OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER MEMORANDUM October 27, 2004 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT: Referral g000977, Beginning of Decade At its Council workshop of October 20, 2004, the City Council asked staff to delineate the beginning of the decade in which the state can again appropriate local revenues as identified in Proposition lA. As background information, statements previously made by the Governor indicated that if cities gave up local funds for the next two fiscal years (2004-05 and 2005-06) Prop. lA would be placed on the November 2004 ballot so that the voters could decide the outcome of its proposals to protect local government revenues from state intervention. The language in Proposition lA is somewhat confusing on the issue of when the "decade" begins and may be subject to legal interpretation and perhaps challenge. Sec. 25.5. (a) of Prop. lA states that on or after November 3, 2004, the Legislature shall not enact a statute to do certain things to local government relating to their local government revenue streams. Section 25.5 (a)(1)(A) sets the general parameters, and Section 25.5(a)(1)(B) identifies that, beginning 2008-09, Sec. 25.5(a)(1)(A) may be suspended for a fiscal year if certain conditions are met. And in Sec. 25.5(a)(1)(C)(i) it specifies that Subparagraph (A) shall not be suspended for more than two fiscal years during any period of 10 consecutive fiscal years, which period begins with the first fiscal year for which subparagraph (A) is suspended. Later on there are further repayment conditions that must be met before additional state raids can occur. One interpretation is that since the state cannot "raid" local governments after the passage of the proposition on November 2, 2004, unless certain conditions are met, 2005-06 could be the beginning of the "decade" in which the state cannot raid local governments more than twice in ten consecutive fiscal years and can't conduct the second raid until the first has been paid back. This interpretation would seem to conflict with the Governor's earlier statements recounted above in paragraph two as local governments will already be giving up local revenues to the state in 2004-05 and 2005- 06. Alan Tandy, City Manager October 27, 2004 Page 2 Referral #000977, Beginning of Decade Another interpretation is that the first time the state can "poach" local revenues is 2008- 09 (Section 25.5(a)(1)(B). This could be considered the beginning of the "decade" in which the state cannot raid local governments more than twice in a consecutive ten year fiscal period as it identifies the conditions under which the "no raid" policy can be suspended. Another interpretation is that the "decade" might not begin until the first time the state actually raids local government revenue streams. Thus, in this interpretation, it would be impossible as yet to tell when the "decade" really begins because it is unknown when the first raid will occur. To reiterate, the language in Proposition lA is not clear on the issue of when the "decade" begins and may be subject to legal interpretation and perhaps challenge. A copy of Prop. lA language is attached for your information. P:V~,T~M0410271 -Decade cc: City Attorney Attachment: Text for Proposition lA Proposition 1 A This amendment proposed by Senate Constitutional Amendment 4 of (ii) Sabparagraph (d) shall not be suspended during any fiscal year if · e 2003-2004 Regular Session (Resolution Chapter 133, Statutes of the full repayment required b. v a statute enacted in accordance with clause 2004) expressly amends the California Constitution by amending sections (iii) of subparagraph (B) bas not yet been cotnpleted. thereof and adding a section thereto; theretbre, existing pro~fisions pro- (iii) Subparagraph (7l)shall not be saspended during attyfiscalyear if posed to be deleted are printed in ::r!!::.;~:: .'-:¥:. and new provisions pro- the amoant that was requfl.ed to be paid to cities, coanties, and cities and posed to be added are printed in italic ~. 'pe to indicate that they are new. counties under Section 10754.11 of tire Revenue and Taxation Code. as PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES XI, Xlll, AND Xlll B that section read on Novembbr 3. 2004, bas not been paid in fitll prior to First--That Section 15 of Article XI thereof is amended to i'e,~d: the effective date of the statate providing fbr that suspension as described itt clause (i~) of subpa~t~graph (B). SEC. [5. (a) ~ Fl~m the revenues derived from taxes imposed pursuant to the Vehicle License Fee Law (Part 5 (~'ommenciag with Section fi'V) ~ suspension of subparagl~ph (~) shall not result in a total ad va- 10701) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Tax'ation Code), or its successor, lorem properO' tax ,wenue loss to all k~eal agencies withi, a county that other than fees on trailer coaghes and mobilehomes, over and above the ' exceeds 8 percent of the total atnount of ad valorem propers.' tax revenues costs of collection and any refunds authorized by la~: those t.evenues that were allocated amongall local agencies within that county for thefts- derived from that portion of the vehicle license fee rate that does not cal year immediately preceding the fiscal yearJbr which subparagraph (~) exceed 0.65 percent of the market value of the vehi'cle shall be allocated ~ is suspended. ;:.'.:.'::".:..; .~.';~ :.:.::.;; :.;;:.r~:.::~, t:. :'.:.:'.:::.. (2) (,4) Except as otherwise provided in subpa,~gn~phs (B) and (C), ,~, .,,.: ......:__ .~__, ___, ..... t. ......... : ..... .s ..........t~; .t.~. } .... restrict the authority ora city, count*; or city and ~ountv to impose a tax ................ .... .~ ~,.._ ~..~..~, ............ c..,.....: ..... , ..... ~ ........... ~ ........................ ~ ~r.~.: ......:~_ ~y .t... ;.:::._:. as - rate under, or change the method of distributing revenues derived under, follows: the Bradley-Burns Unifo{rn Local Sales and Use Tax Law set./brth in Part 1.5 &ommencing with Section 7200)of Division 2 of' the Revenue and (D ,4n amount shall be specified in the I~hicle License Fee La~; or the Taxation Code, as that law read on November 3. 2004. The restriction successor to that law. for deposit in the State Treasta7 to the c,vdit of the in,posed by this subparagraph also applies to the entitlement of a cio.', Local Revenue Fund established in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section . count); or city and county to the change in tax rate resulting from the end 17600) of. Part 5 of Division 9 of the lt,'elfare a,~d h,stimtions Code, or its qf the revemte exchange period, as defined in Section ?203.1 of the successor. (['an); Jbr allocation to cities, counties, and cities and coanties Revenue am! Taxation Code as that section read o, November 3. 2004. as otherwise pravided by lau: (B) The Legislattq'e may change by statute the method of distributing (2) The balance shall :be allocated to cities, counties, and cities and the revenues derived under artse ta~ imposed pursuant to the Bradley- counties as othetnn'ise provided by laa: Bur,s Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law to allow the State to pal'- (b) Ifa statute enacted by the Legislature reduces the an,mai vehicle ticipate in an interstate compact or to comply with federal law. license fee below 0.65 percent of the market value of a vehicle, the ('C) The Legislature may attthorize by statute I~'o or more spec(fically Legislatare shall. ~br each fiscal ),ear Jbr which that reduced fee applies, identified local agencies within a couno; with the approval of the govern- provide by statuteJbr the allocation of an additional amount of money that lng body of each of those agencies, lo enter into a contract to exchange is equal to the decrease, resulting firm the .fee reduction, in the total allocations of ad valorem propert, v tax ,wenues.[br revenues derived frotn amount of revenaes that are otherwise required to be deposited and allo- a tax rate imposed under the Bradley-Burns UniJbtwt Local Sales and Use cared under subdivision (a) fi)r that same fiscal year. That amount shall be Tax Law. U,e exchange under this subparagroph of revenues derived fivm allocated to cities, counties, and cities and counties in the same pro rata a tax rate in,posed under that law shall not require voter approval for the amounts and for the same purposes as are revenues subject to sub- continued imposition of any portion of an existing tar rate from which division (a). those rm'enues are derived. Second--That Section 25.5 is added to Article XIII thereof, to read: (3) Except as otherwise provided itt suhparagraph ('C) of para- SE(2 25.5. (a) On or after November 3, 2004. tile Legislature shall graph (2), change Jbr an), fiscal )'ear the pro ram shares in which ad ,rot enact a slatate to do an)' of the following: valorem property tax reven,tes are allocated among local agencies it~ a (7) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagtr~ph (B). mod~' the county other than pursuant to a bill passed in each house of the manner itl which ad valorem property tax revenue~ arc, allocated in accor- Legislature by rollcall vote entered in the journal, two-thirds of the dance with sabdivision ('ti) of Section I of ,4rticle .¥111,4 so as to reduce for membership concurring. atty fiscal year the percentage of the total amoant of ad valorem property (4) Extend beyond, the ro'e,ue exchange period, as defined in Section tax revenues in a cottttty that is allocated among all of the local agencies 7203. I of the Reventte and Taxation Code as that section read on in that counO, below the percentage of the total amount of those rm'enues November 3, 2004. the suspensioa q['the attthority, set forth in ti, at section that would be allocated among those agencies Jbr the same fiscal year ott that date, of a city. counO; or city and county to impose a sales and use under the statutes in effect on November 3, 2004. For pu,poses of this sub- tax" rate under the Bradley-Burns Un~rm Local Sales and Use Tax Law. pa~graph, "percentage" does not inchtde any property tax rm,enues re.f- (5) Reduce, during any period in which the rate attthority sltspe,,sion erenced in pat~g, uph (2). described in paragtt~ph (4) .is operative, the payments to a cio; county, or (B) Beginning with the 2008-09.fiscal year and except ct~ otherwise ci~.' aad county that are required by Section 97. 68 of the Revenue and provided itl subparag,~ph (C). subparagraph (A) may be saspended for a Taxation Code. as that section read on Nove~nber 3. 2004. fiscal.year ~]'all of the following conditions are.,net: (6) Restrict the authoritl., of a local entity to impose a m~nsactions and (i) The Governor issues a proclamation that decla,es that. due to ti use tax rate in accordance with the Transactions and Use Tax Law t'Part sm,ere state fiscal hatr. lship, the suspension of subparagt~:tph (A) is neces- I. 6 (commencing with Seclion 7251) of Division 2 of the Revenue and saty. Taxation (bde). or change the method./br distribating revenues derived (ii) 7he Legislature enacts an urgency statute, pursuant to a bill under a transaction anti use tax rate imposed under that lau; as it read on passed in each house of the Legislature b)' ~gllcall vote entered in thejour- November 3. 2004. hal, two-thirds of the membership concrtrring, that contains a saspension (b) l;br pruT~oses t?/'this section, lheJbllowing definitions apply: of subparagraph (A) for that fiscal year and does not contain any other (1) ':4d valorem property tax revenues" means all twenues derived provision, from the tax collected by a county render subdivision (a) of Section I of (iii) No later than ~he effective date of the statute described in clause ..trticle Xlll A, regardless of any of this twenue being otherwise classified (ii), a statute is enacted that provides for the full repayment to local agen- by statute. cies of the total amount of revenue losses, including interest as provided (2) "Local agency" has the same meaning as specified ih Section 95 b), law. resultingJbom the modification of ad valorem property tax revenue of the Revenue and Taxation Code' as that section read on November 3, allocations to local agencies. This fidl repayment shall be made not later 2004. than the end of the third fiscal year immediately following the fiscal year to w/t/ch the modification applies. Third--That Section 6 of'Article Xlll B thereo~is amended to read: (C) (i) Subparagraph (~{) shall not be Suspended for more than two SEC. 6. (a) Whenever the Legislature or any state agency mandates fiscal years during any period of I0 consecutive fiscal years, which a new program or higher level of service on any local government, the perioc[ begins with Ihe fit;~l fiscal year for which subparagraph (A) is sus- State shall provide a subvention of funds to reimburse ~ that local gov- pended, ernment for the costs of ~;:..'.. the program or increased level of service, 16 I Text of Proposed Laws TEXT OF.PROPOSED LAWS Proposition lA (cont.) except that the Legislature may, but need not, provide :;:h a subvention (4) This subdivision applies to a mandate only as it affects a cio.', of funds for the following mandates: county, city and county, or special district. ~'~ (5) This subdivision shall not apply to a ~equire~nent to pravide or rec- (/) Legislative mandates requested by the local agency affected ,~. ognize any p~vcedural ok substantive protection, right, benefit, oremploy- ment status of any local govermnent employee or ~eti~ee. or of any local q~ goven~ment employee o~ganization, that arises from, affects, or directly (2) Legislation defining a new crime or changing an existing definition tvlates to fututv~,, cumvnt, or past local govet'nment employment and that of a crime,-~, constitutes a mandate subject to this section. (~ (c) A mandated ne,v progtz~m or higher level of service includes a (3) Legislative mandates enacted prior to January I, 1975, or execu- nrmsfer by the Legislatune from the State to cities, counties, cities' and rive orders or regulations initially implementing legislation enacted prior counties, or special districts of complete or partial financial responsibili- to January 1, 1975. ty fov a required p~vgram for which the State p~eviously had complete or (b) (1) F-rcept as provided in paragraph (2), .for the 2005-06 fiscal partial financial responsibiliO,. year and ever?., subsequent.fiscalyeat:fora mandate.[b~' which the costs Fourth--That the people find and declare that this measure and the cfa local government claimant have been determined in a pteceding fis- Taxpayers and Public Safety Protection Act, which appears as Proposition cai year to be payable by the State pursuant to law, the Legislature shall 65 on the November 2, 2004, general election ballot (hereafter Proposition either apptvpriate, in the anmtal Budget,4ct. thefidl payable amount that .65) both relate to local government, including matters concerning tax rev- has not been pneviousl, v paid. or suspend the operation of the marutateJbr enues and reimbursement for the cost of state mandates, in a comprehen- the fiscal year Jbr which ihe annual Budget Act is applicable in a manner sive and substantively conflicting manner. Because this measure is intend- prescribed by law. ed to be a comprehensive and competing alternative to Proposition 65, it (2) Payable claims for costs incutved prior to the 2004-05fiscal year is the intent of the people that this measure supersede in its entirety - . Proposition 65, if this measure and Proposition 65 both are approved and that have not been paid prior to the 2005-06 fiscal.vear may be paid over this measure receives a higher number of affirmative votes than a tetrn of years, as prescribed by la~: Proposition 65. Therefore, in the event that this measure m~d Proposition (3) Ad valoretn ptoper(y tax rm'enues shall not b~ used to t~imburse a 65 both are approved and this measure receives a higher number of local government Jbr the costs cfa new program o~' higher level of service, affirmative votes, none of the provisions of Proposition 65 shall take effect. BAKERSFIELD Economic and Community Development Department MEMORANDUM ,~'<,~¢'~'5, / October 29, 2004 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manage~,~u~0.. FROM: Donna L. Kunz, Economic Development Director SUBJECT: Mill Creek Update We received disappointing news late yesterday from the State Parks that the Mill Creek Project was not selected for funding. The City has been advised by the California Department of Parks and Recreation they had received 211 applications, requesting over $419 million. On a positive note however, Bakersfield is still a winner in that the Community Action Partnership did receive a grant allocation for $3 million to rebuild the Friendship House. Mill Creek is an ambitious project with a total price tag of over $10 million dollars. We knew this project would be challenging, both in design and in securing funding. If we decide to continue to pursue this vision, we must realize that the project will be long term and may have to be tackled from many different angles and funding sources. For example, in the next few months, HUD will be releasing their SuperNofa which includes a competitive grant opportunity called Brownfields Economic Development Initiative (BEDI). This grant is designed to assist localities in clearing brownfield development sites, providing public works and job creation opportunities through new development. It must be used in conjunction with a Section 108 federal loan. You may recall we received one of these grants two years ago for the Baker Street mixed use project. The southern tip of the Mill Creek project and the Phase II of the City Place project is an excellent project that could be submitted for consideration for BEDI funds. Obviously we are financially set back on the Mill Creek vision at this time without the State Parks funds. Staff will meet with KernCOG and Kern Delta in the next few weeks to determine their continued partnership interest in this project and discuss alternatives. A full report on our fact finding meetings will be presented for your consideration in December. S:\The Mill\Mill creek.doc Wood Waste Rttytfing Proltram Pumps tp Oulput As a city's wood waste rec',cling program increasingly matures, .rising volumes necessitated the purchase of'new equipment to meet growing demands. Un its early stages, the wood waste recycling program used by the Bakersfield, CA,. Depart- ment of Public Works' (DPW) Solid Waste Division was bare bones. Implemented to both lower the volume of material landfilled and simul- taneously generate a product that could be used by area residents, initial volumes collected and processed were relatively low. Processing was handled by a small, low horsepower grinder that, for the first couple of years, proved adequate. However, as the program matured and volumes increased, it became evident that a larger, more productive grinder was needed. To s~y that the wood waste recycling program in place is only for Bakersfield is incorrect. According to Kevio Barnes, the DPW's solid waste director, the area Large tub grinder generates product that is disposed of at a co-generation plant or used se[wed encompasses far more than just bylandscapers andgrading co~npaniesfor erosion ¢ontrolpurposes. the city itself. "The program as it exists today serves the population of Bakers- collection system in which residents generated as part of our woodwaste pro- field as well as all residents of the unin- deposit green waste in 64-gal containers gram gets left unused." corporated Kern County immediately for pickup, but that material--more Making the move from a small, high- surrounding the city. So, given the quar- than 50,000 tons per year--goes ly inefficient grinder to a larger one that ter of a million people living in the city straight to our composting area. Mater- could help the wood waste program ' and the 130,000 county residents, our iai that is slated for grinding, however, is grow was essentially a no-brainer. total scoEe is actually reaching no fewer .collected at Mt. Vernon and sent Deciding which type and model to put than 380,000 people." through a tub grinder to create the to work was a different matter entirely. Barnes says that the program is geared mulch product we need. The end prod- "We looked at a broad range of grinders 'almost exclusively around a ~op-offsys- uct, three, in. and smaller wood chips, is and weighed the strengths of each tem, with green waste and wood primarily sold to a huge co-generation against a list of specifications; price was waste--both natural wood material and plant not far from here for biofuel, also a consideration, but performance clean construction and demolition Other markets for the material include was the key," Barnes stated. Based on wood--collected at the nearby Mt. Vet- landscapers and grading companies, those criteria, the city selected a Mor- non Green Waste Facility. which find it useful for erosion control, bark 1300 (www. morbark.com) tub "The overwhelming majority of our The county finds the material equally grinder, which has provided the per- material comes from urban sources: valuable for erosion control at its land- formance needed to meet general pro- mainly tree trimmings or c6nstruction fill, so we supply them with the mulch gram growth as well as special needs like .wood from remodeling jobs, fence they need. And finally, we keep some of an unexpected increase in volume or replacements, and so. on. We do have a the material for our own use. Nothing particularly difficult materials. 22 '~1 GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING 2004 www.govengr, com · S~MBE~-Ocro~E~ One such difficult material is the Mul- where residents can discard their Christ .berry tree, which is seemingly everywhere mas trees. We can now easily take one or in the Bakersfie{d/Kern County region, both of the grinders to the sites and The tree produces long, slender branches grind the trees onsite." that have to be almost continually According to Barnes, the DPW has pruned. Seeing people coming to the site been able to initiate a new program with with 20-fL trailers 'full of Mulberry Bakersfield's Parks & Recreation branches that have grown up over the Department. In the past,'when that summer is not uncommon, Barnes says. departmen,t did its regular tree mainte- The tub-type grinder handled the spindly nance, it would haul the material to the Mulber~7 branches well in field trials, central processing site. Now, satellite Armed with a more powerful grinder, locations set up throughout the area the city's wood waste program has serve as processing sites. Doing so will evolved into a 60,000 tons-per-year suc- help spread some of the workload cess story. Equally important now, says around, reducing pressure on the central Barnes, is the Program's ability to react to site, which, he says, is. jus? about 'at sudden unforeseen increases in volume, capacity for a single grinder. . "This area, though it might seem otb- "No single piece of equipment can be Having a pair of tub grinders now allows · some auxiliary grinding in the area. erwise, has a seasonality to it, October held responsible or accountable for a through January is the pruning season program's success," he adds. "However, tant to us as it is to someone in the pti- and we see our volumes rise by at least the performance we've gotten from the vate sector, that support weighed heavi- 50 percent. We are geared up for those tub grinders has'been everything the ly on our decision when choosing the volumes and have no problem meeting company promised and then some. second unit. We're doing things now them. However, occasionally, things More importantly, we've gotten excel- that, at the program's outset, we never happen that we don't anticipate, which lent support for that'equipment and imagined we'd be doing, and we're see- put us to the test. In 1998, for example, because reducing downtime is as impor- lng new possibilities al! the time." a fl'eak snowstorm dumped six in. of snow on Bakersfield, overloading the I'~KING limbs of trees in the area. The result of that storm was one month in which we SOISBO0 went from an average of 2,000 truck- TO loads of wood waste per week to 7,000 SBWSr truckloads a week. It was chaotic and unbelievably challenging, but we proved that we could rise to the occasion. A 5<~.--.~ LUMBERJACK " CUTTER smaller, less productive grinder would surely not have afforded us the same performance--and the same results.!' Bar,~es and his department recently AdvancedPatented purchased a second Morbark 1300 tub ~' ,t~es""ns in Nozzles grinder. He says the purchase was based PREDATOR on a routine life-cycle replacement, but NOZZLE arid Cutters adds that the department now also has a luxury it has never had in the past. "Our Call today, and we will help you specify the nozzle or curler that studies have found that these units have works best with your own equipment to save you money. a five-to seven-year life cycle and we www. flo ekcorp.com were in our seventh year with the older CALk FOR YOUR FREE unit. We felt it was time to bring in INTERACTIVE CATALOG CD TODAY! another unit, which would ,allow us to 800.331.7498 rotate the two machines when routine mai n renan ce needs arise. However, hav- ~~~~~ lng two grinders also openi up a number of additional possibilities for the pro- gram. For example, it is now much eas- ier for us to do some auxiliary portable Flow-Tek Corporation INTRUDER grinding around the area. After Christ- Safety Harbor, Florida IMPACT & DRILL mas, we have a ,~umber of drop-off sites info at www. govengr, com/flowtek or circle 738 www.govengr, com ' GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING n SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2004 n 23 DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS DATE: October 26, 2004 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Alan Christensen, Director Recreation and Parks SUBJECT: Lights at Joshua's Park Ref000980 (WARD 2) Councilmember Benham requested staff respond to a citizen inquiry regarding lights which are out at Joshua's Park. Staff researched the lights that were reported out at Joshua Park. PG&E informed us that the lights in question belonged to the owner of the apartments north of the park. The two light poles were located on the north side of the park but across the street next to the apartments. These lights shined only on the apartment buildings. We contacted the citizen to inform them that the responsible party for the lights was their apartment owner. S:~Council Referrals 2004\Ref00098Qdoc October 26, 2004 (11:33AM) B A K E R S F I E L D. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM October 27, 2004 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR~.~ SUBJECT: SPEED BUMPS ON CANTLEBURRY Council Referral #970 Councilmember Carson requested staff investigate installation of speed bumps on Cantleberry. Traffic Engineering Staff will contact Mr. Maurice Gamble of Cantleberry Street with information on speed bumps, information on the official City policy and an application package for speed bump installation on a public street. The street is a local residential street terminating in a cul-de-sac. The local speed limit is 25 miles per hour. A speed profile study will be conducted in the next four to six weeks, depending on favorable weather conditions. C:\Documents and Settings\glorenzi.000~-ocal Settings\Temp\970 - CantleberrySpeedBumpRequest - Traffic.doc CITY OF BAKERSFIELD Recreation Parlcs DATE: October 29, 2004 TO:. Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: . Alan Christensen, Director Recreation and Parks ,f~j SUBJECT: Tree Replacement Sizes Ref000976 (WARD 3) At the October 20, 2004 council meeting workshop staff made a presentation on "City Trees Conflicting with Electrical Power lines." Councilmember Maggard requested staff prepare a memo addressing tree replacement sizes. The growth of a' fifteen (15) gallon tree versus a twenty-four (24") inch box tree is interesting. If a fifteen (15) gallon tree and a twenty-four (24") inch box tree were planted at the same time within three (3) years they would be the same size. 'The average costs of a fifteen (15) gallon tree is about $00.00 and a twenty-four (24") box tree is $120.00. Depending on the type of commercial development tree sizes will vary between fifteen (15) gallon trees to twenty-four (24") inch box trees. There is no replacement standard for street trees in the ordinance. PG&E has committed to provide fifteen (15) gallon trees as replacements, along with a budget for that standard. If we opt for a larger tree standard we will not have enough resources to replace trees on a "one for one" basis. 'BAKERSFIELD OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER MEMORANDUM October 29, 2004 To: Alan Tandy, City Manager From: John W. StinSo~,~ssistant City Manager Subject: Councilmember Maggard referral re. Inmate work crews Councilmember Maggard asked that staff look into the possibility of using inmate work crews to do clean up in the Panorama Bluffs and other areas. The use of County inmate labor is administered by Kern County Sheriff's Department. Inmate labor is sometimes perceived as a cost savings alternative. However, there are various associated costs which can offset any potential savings.. For example, we are required to provide worker's compensation insurance; also we may, in some cases have to provide transportation to work sites which would require a van and driver licensed to transport passengers. Inmates require a greater level of supervision than typically required and we may be required through union agreements to pay non-supervisory employees premium pay to act as lead personnel for small work crews. There are usually specific rules as to how we must treat inmates working for us regarding work hours, rest periods, access to restroom facilities, etc. which may affect their productivity and the productivity of City workers working with them. The city currently participates in the County's Work Release program where inmates are assigned to specific City work areas, such as the Equipment Division, General Services Division, Woodwaste facility and the Fire Department to perform basic tasks such as washing cars, sweeping up, general clean up and some janitorial tasks. Work Release participants must be supervised by City employees at all times and the City is responsible to provide worker's compensation insurance for them if they are injured while working for the City. Over the past few years the City has had several workers compensation claims, although generally minor in nature. Additionally, Work Release workers are available for short sporadic periods, so it is difficult to plan for their availability to perform tasks. Whether an inmate wants to participate in the Work Release program is at the inmate's choice. I recently spoke with Marty Williamson, Chief Deputy-Detentions for the Sheriff's Department who indicated that fewer inmates have chosen the Work Release option lately which reduces the amount of workers available from the County. He also said he was uncertain if any work creWs were currently available to the City or if any were in place at all and he would have to get back to me. When I receive a response from him I will provide that information. SS JOHN\Council RefemlsWlaggard~Inmate Work Crews.doc B A K E R $ F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM October 27, 2004 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SUBJECT: SIGNAL TIMING EL PORTAL AND MANNING Council Referral #971 Councilmember Hanson requested staff check the signal timing in the area of Ming Avenue, El Portal, Barrington, and Manning. Traffic Engineering staff will recheck the traffic signals along Ming Avenue between Gosford Road and New Stine Road for proper operation. This segment of Ming Avenue is not under a signal synchronization program due to incompatibility of the existing signal timing cycle lengths at each end of the segment. The Traffic Engineer is developing a work program to upgrade the synchronization signal timing plan on the Gosford Road corridor and the New Stine/Stine Road corridor to be compatible. This will then allow the Ming Avenue segment to be placed in synchronization between Gosford and New Stine. The work program is tentatively scheduled for spring/summer of 2005, depending on available manpower for data collection. C:\Documents and Settings\glorenzi,000\Local Settings~Temp\971 - SignalTimingMingAve - Traffic.doc DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS DATE: October 26', 2004 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Alan Christensen, Director Recreation and Parks~ SUBJECT: Campus Park Issues Ref000972 (WARD 5) Councilmember Hanson requested staff respond to correspondence £rom Donald F. [~u_rtz regarding the need £or improved levels of maintenance l~rovJded t'or the maintenance district in the Campus Park area and l~OSSJb]y increase staffing levels. Also staz't to remove trash bags. in Campus Par~'. and abate moscluJtoes due to the moisture accumulation in trash containers. Staff sent a response to Mr. Kurtz describing locations that we have performed maintenance in his area, We also communicated to him areas of the Campus Park neighborhood that still need our attention and we will be addressing them in the coming months. We inspected all of the trash cans at Campus Park North and South for excessive trash and water accumulation in the trash liners. Staff have been reminded to punch holes in the plastic liners prior to positioning them in the trash cans so water will not accumulate and breed anymore mosquitoes. S:\Councit Referrals 2004\Ref000972.doc October 28, 2004 (2:43PM) B A K E R S F I E L D ® I990 Department of Recreation and Parks October 28, 2004 Donald F. Kurtz 9504 Thoreau Ave. Bakersfield, California 93311-1416 Dear Mr. Kurtz: This letter is in response to your correspondence directed to the level of maintenance in your neighborhood. Since the last time you had a conversation with Mr. Allen Abe regarding maintenance in your area, I believe some progress has been made. In the area of Old River between White Lane to Campus Park. Boulevard work on the streetscapes and medians have been done. In partial area of Parkview weeds have been cleaned up and dead shrubs removed. Shrubs have been trimmed off the sidewalks on Parkview from Carvalho to Campus Park Blvd. There is still some work left here. Just recently we were able to increase our manpower in the Maintenance Districts so we will be able to increase our level of maintenance. With increased staffing we will be going through the Campus Park area, including Parkview, Pin Oak Park Blvd., and District Blvd. Some of the work performed would include irrigation repairs, trimming shrubs, removal and replant of plant materials. This is anticipated to begin within the next several weeks. The recent increase in staff levels have given us an opportunity to increase our maintenance work. Our staff has been working on weekends to catch up on maintenance, and we will continue to do so in the coming months. We appreciate your patience in this matter. Sincerely/./~/ -...~ Director Recreation and Parks RECREATION AND PARKS 9(10 Truxtun Avenue · Suite 100 · Bakersfield · California · 93301 t.661) 326-FUNN - Fax (.661) 852-2140 B A K E R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM October 27, 2004 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ~_ SUBJECT: SMOKE TREE MOBILE ESTATES Council Referral #968 Councilmember Salvaggio requested staff assistance in placing 15 MPH speed limit signs in the Smoke Tree Mobile Estates. He cited California Vehicle Code 21107.a. Traffic Engineering staff will contact the manager of Smoke Tree Mobile Estates with the information they need to comply with the California Vehicle Code Section 21107.9 to obtain 15 mile per hour speed enforcement by the Bakersfield City Police Department. C:\Documents and Settings\glorenzi.000%ocal Settings~Temp~968 o SmokeTreeMobile-speed limit - Traffic.doc B A K E R S F I E L D PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF BAKERSFIELD MEMORANDUM October 27, 2004 TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: RAUL M. ROJAS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ~ SUBJECT: STREET LIGHTS AT HUGHES AND MING Council Referral #981 Councilmember Salvaggio requested staff check two street lights which are not functioning properly at the southeast and southwest corners of Hughes and Ming. The streetlights were repaired on October 21,2004. G:\GROUPDAT~eferrals~2004\10-20~981 - Steve H.doc