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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/24/02 BAKERSFIELD CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM May 24, 2002 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager /)~/ /// / SUBJECT: General Information '~/ / 1. Congratulations to the Finance Department for the 21st consecutive year of being awarded the Certification of Conformance from the Governmental Finance Officers Association. 2. Senior Officer James Gaines, who was wounded in the line of duty last July, was presented with the Award of Valor from the California Peace Officers' Association on Tuesday. Wednesday, the Kern County Law Enforcement Foundation named him Officer of the Year for 2002. 3. According to a Forbes Business Location Survey, Bakersfield's ranking as a place to do business increased by 71 places since 2001, which is more than any other metro area in California. 4. A memo is attached which highlights redevelopment and economic development projects through April 30th. 5. Joshua Park was hydroseeded last Fdday afternoon. All of the lanscaping, concrete work, electrical, irrigation, lighting, fencing is completed. We just need everything to establish itself now. 6. The April 2002 Prevention Services Operation Report is provided for you. 7. I will be off Wednesday through Friday of next week. In my absence, John Stinson will be in charge on Wednesday and Alan Christensen will be in charge on Thursday and Friday. The office can contact me in the event of something significant. 8. In response to a Council referral to the Urban Development Committee, a City of Los Angeles update on back pack blowers is attached. 9. Responses to Budget Hearing requests follow: Fire Department · Status report on the study of the overall fire service throughout Bakersfield - Councilmernber Carson HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MAY 24, 2002 PAGE 2 Fire Department - con't · Outline details of the role of Councilmembers in the event of an emergency or disaster - (dual referral with the Police Department) Councilmember Sullivan Police Department · Information on the purpose, staffing, locations and office hours of the Police Department Satellite Operations - Vice Mayor Salvaggio · Outline details of the role' of Councilmembers in the event of an emergency or disaster - (dual referral with the Police Department) Councilmember Sullivan Executive · Planning Division salary increase in FY 02/03 - Councilmember Hanson · Impact of insurance increases as related to employee costs - Councilmember Couch · Information regarding the possibilities of: a staff person to work exclusively for Council; and an increase in Council salades in order to hire someone to assist them - Councilmember Carson · Plans for the City to work with Golden Empire Transit to install additional traffic preemption devices at intersections - Councilmember Couch 12. Responses to miscellaneous Council requests are enclosed, as follows: Councilmember Benham · Review of Ordinance regarding removal of healthy trees in right-of-ways and penalties for non-compliance Councilmember Salva.qgio · Response from the Police Department regarding graffiti at Hughes Lane and San Lorenzo (Public Works response previously distributed) AT:al cc: Department Heads Pam McCarthy, City Clerk Trudy Slater, Administrative Analyst bakersfield.eom - Officer to accept state honor Page 1 of 1 bakersfield, com http://www.bakersfield.com/local/story/1133487p- 1241782e.html Officer to accept state honor The Bakersfield Californian Monday May 20, 2002, 10:21:58 PM A Bakersfield police officer shot in a gunbattle that put bystanders at risk last July will receive statewide and local recognition this week for heroism in the field. The California Peace Officers' Association will present Bakersfield police Senior Officer James "Mick" Gaines with its Award of Valor in Sacramento today. He's believed to be the first BPD officer to receive the award. Then Wednesday, the Kern County Law Enforcement Foundation will name Gaines Officer of the Year for 2002. "His quick action, tactically sound action, saved innocent bystanders and other officers from imminent danger," said police Lt. Jess Molinar, one of Gaines' supervisors. The July 14 incident for which Gaines is being honored began when he and his partner, Bobby Woolard, responded to reports of shots fired at a southeast apartment complex. The officers happened upon four people sitting around a card table, and after spotting a baggie of suspected marijuana, asked to search them. Tyrone Johnson, 31, fled inside an apartment, ran out a back door and in an ensuing chase, fired several rounds at Gaines. A passer-by, 29-year-old Rosie Navarez, her 2-year-old daughter and others were nearby. The first round flew by Gaines' head and the second struck him in the left arm. Gaines returned fire, and Johnson shot at him again. Gaines ended up fatally shooting Johnson. Johnson had fired nine rounds. One hit Navarez in the foot while others passed through her daughter's stroller, narrowly missing the child. It took Gaines a year to recover from his nerve and muscle damage; he only recently returned to the Bakersfield Police Department's Special Enforcement Team. Copyright © 2002, The Bakersfield Californian I Email the Webmaster ~ Privacy Policy Statement [ Terms of Use http://www.bakersfield.confflocal/v-print/story/1 i 33487p- 1241782c.html 5/21/2002 From: David Lyman To: Barry Zoeller; Carol Parks; Chris Frank; Darlene Fisher; Donna Kunz; ED staff; Guy Greenlee; INET:hlowenstein@csub.edu; INET:mckinney@kedc.com; Jesse Mach; John Nilon; Patrick Collins; Rhonda Smiley; Sheryl Barbich Date: 5/21/02 1:58 Subject: Forbes Business Location Survey---Additional Info Last week I sent you info from a Forbes survey regarding Bakersfield's improved placement on the list of business locations. Barry Zoeller asked me if Bakersfield had the biggest jump of California metro areas between the 2001 and 2002 surveys. My analysis shows the answer is yes. Bakersfield jumped 71 places between the two surveys, the largest increase in California. Column 1 in the attached spreadsheet ranks the cities by the size of this change, and Column 2 shows how many places each city rose (or declined) since 2001. So... this survey shows that Bakersfield's ranking as a place to do business increased more since 2001 than any other metro area in California. Thanks for the question, Barry. ** * DID YOU KNOW ? * * * Bakersfield is the only California city to make the Western Top 10 Housing Affordability List? For details: http://www.ci.bakersfield.ca.us/press/press_housing.htm David Lyman City of Bakersfield Economic & Community Development Department Telephone (661) 852-7509 Fax (661) 861-8326 dlyman@ci.bakersfield.ca.us Largest change since Increase 5-yr high- 2001 (decrease) 2002 5-yr salary 5-yr job tech GDP population / 2001 survey since 2001 Rank city, state growth growth growth thousand rank 1 71 S3 Bakersfield,CA 98 71 111 642 124I 2 58 81 Visalia-Tulare-Porterville,CA 125 70 171 358 139 3 35 103 Merced,CA 153 145 17 201 138 4 31 38 Santa Cruz-Watsonville,CA 111 82 143 245 69 5 29 31 Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc,CA 88 75 .213 391 60 6 24 15 Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa,CA 24 11 23 507 39 7 21 67 Fresno,CA 124 95 94 880 88 8 19 24 Stockton-Lodi,CA 52 40 71 563 43 9 18 100 Los Angeles-Long Beach,CA 185 175 181 9330 118 10 16 11 Riverside-San Bernardino,CA 7 2 81 3201 27 10 16 40 Modesto,CA 50 43 78 437 56 12 14 4 Ventura,CA 76 36 5 745 18 12 14 7 San Luis Obispo-Atascadero,CA 25 9 11 237 21 14 12 41 Chico-Paradise,CA 75 86 30 195 53 15 7 1 San Diego,CA 20 16 18 2821 8 16 4 2 Santa Rosa,CA 17 19 8 440 6 17 2 8 Oakland, CA 56 54 19 2349 10 17 2 10 Orange County, CA 28 23 73 2761 12 19 -7 18 Sacramento,CA 23 17 62 1585 11 20 -44 95 Salinas,CA 55 74 101 372 51 21 -51 54 San Francisco,CA 46 90 12 1686 3 22 -60 61 San Jose,CA 33 55 6 1647 1 BAKERSFIELD Economic and Community Development Department MEMORANDUM May 20, 2002 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Donna L. Kunz, Economic Development Director SUBJECT: 2002 First Quarter Economic Development Activities This memo will serve as an update through April 30,2002 highlights regarding redevelopment and economic development projects. The following confidential highlights are provided to keep you informed of specific clients and activities the department is involved in. If you require further information please call. 1. The Economic Study done for Southeast Bakersfield, which identified potential sites for new commercial businesses along three business corridors including retail spending and demographic data for these areas was mailed to potential developers. It has lead to a couple of potential projects already including commercial businesses and affordable housing. The study is available at the EDCD office and the City's web site http://www.ci.bakersfield.ca.us/edcd/library/FINALREPORT092401 .pdf 2. Staff continues to work with the Association of Old Town Kern and other interest groups in the area to develop a revitalization effort geared toward serving the vadous communities located in the area. The draft Baker Street Redevelopment Strategy suggests that the Baker Street Corridor has the historical presence to become a retail destination for restaurants, speciality goods and services, as well, as having available land for additional housing. On Apd117, the Association of Old Town Kern hosted a luncheon meeting for area businesses to discuss: What should the Baker Street area look like? When the final strategy has been completed, we will present it to the Agency and City Council along with a Request for Development poposals.. 3. Staff submitted the Downtown Rebound Planning grant application to the State of California to inventory potential housing and mixed use retail services development sites for new or reuse development in the Baker Street Corridor. Unfortunately, the funds were earmarked for Northern California cities in this round and they received bonus points in the application process. Our application was rated in the top 10 and would have been successful had the bonus points not be given out. 4. Staff has been meeting with Wall Street Alley property owners to finalize the Wall Street Alley Improvement Project between Chester Avenue and Eye Street. As a result of the meetings, a New Orleans style design theme has been selected for the alley. Design plans are to raise the street to curb level, with a slight grade towards the center for a "v-gutter" drainage system. Texture will be added to the concrete alley with different decorative finishes. Lighting includes three, 20 foot decorative light poles and twelve lighted bollards. Fifteen, 24" box trees will be planted in large decorative, colored reinforced concrete planters. Other features include two decorative gates at either end of the alley that can be closed dudng special events. Decorative trash cans will be added for pedestrian use. Existing commercial trash bins will be relocated to a new enclosure which will be constructed at the northeast corner of the 18th & Eye Street Parking Structure. Businesses have agreed to hand trucktheir refuse to this new location. Businesses have also agreed to eliminate vehicular parking in the alley and truck deliveries. A new loading zone will be marked on the west side of Eye Street just south of the alley, adjacent to the parking structure. 5. Federal funding of $490,000 through HUD's Special Economic Development Initiative (EDI) program for the City of Bakersfield's Baker Street Corridor Specific Plan was awarded. The money will be used to revitalize the district by improving public streetscape improvements. The goal is to create a new inner city urban center spurred on by economic activity and improved housing opportunities in the corridor. The money could help frame the development in attractive landscaping, lighting and pedestrian areas. The project is in the preliminary stages of project design and development. 6. Staff has been asked by the new owner of the former Montgomery Wards building, 3201 F Street, to assist them through the City's planning requirements in the opening of the structure. The re-use of the entire building is still not determined, however a retail mart is scheduled for the first floor. 7. Staff assisted two affordable housing projects in southeast Bakersfield with the required documents, fee schedules and support letters for the projects to apply for state tax credits on their respective projects. The California Ave Senior Housing project recently received notification of a pre-award letter this month. The Brundage Lane family project owner is appealing their preliminary points assignment 8. Staff is working with a developer for the design and construction of a new single family housing project near Central Park. Site plans, elevations and craftsman style cottage renditions will be available in June and will be shared with the City Council and Agency. 9. Staff submitted a new CHAFA HELP loan application to the State in the amount of $2,000,000 to provide financing for the required acreage needed for the Central Park Cottages project. Alternative financing opportunities are also being explored in the event a CHAFA award is not received. From: Allen Abe To: Stan Ford Date: 5/20/02 11:30 Subject: Joshua Park The park was hydmseeded last Friday afternoon. All of the lanscaping, concrete work, electrical, irrigation, lighting, fencing is completed. We just need everything to establish it self .................................. PREVENTION SERVICES OPERATION REPORT APRIL 2002 Fire Safety Services During the month of April we reviewed 52 new site plans for either new construction or tenant improvement. These plans included six sprinkler systems, seven alarm systems, and four commercial hood systems. In addition to these plans, we issued and inspected four tent permits and four resident care facility permits. We currently have 37 significant projects on our Construction Project list with 30 projects cun'ently in progress. Two project were completed in April. We completed 161 fire safety inspections during April including 61 school inspections and 29 commercial hood inspections. This completes the school inspections for this fiscal year. Of the 29 commercial hood inspections fifteen inspections were a result of our third party reporting process and all were found to have significant violations and were given N.O.V?s. Eleven were follow up inspections to previously issued N.O.V's. These facilities were found to be in compliance and hoods cleaned. We completed 46 Tobacco Enforcement inspections during April. We also distributed 171 letters to bars and restaurants that had been previously inspected and enclosed "No Smoking" signs where appropriate. Fifty two of the people we have sent "No Smoking" signs to have called to report that their signs are in place. We have verified that 44 of these facilities are currently in compliance. Our current compliance rate is 45%. This is an increase from 20% in March and will show another significant jump in May. Environmental Services For the month of April we had 1,262 businesses filing business plans of which 167 are underground storage tank sites and 147 are exclusively small quantity hazardous waste generators. The 167 underground storage tank sites contain 454 underground storage tanks. New California requirements to test all secondary containment for U.S.T.'s have begun in Bakersfield. To date, 44 tank systems have been tested. We have found problems with all but seven of these tanks. The penetration boot at the turbine sump has been found to be cracked and leaking on the remaining 37 tank systems tested. This is a problem statewide. 327 more tank systems need to be inspected this year in Bakersfield, and to date a failure rate of 84% has been in evidence. The Double D Recycling site located at 340 Daniels Lane is being cleaned up by the US EPA. Currently, the surface has been cleared, and all junk and debris has been removed. Soil testing has begun to determine the full extent of any contamination that may have penetrated from the surface. Previous tests have indicated that DDT contamination does exist in the soil as well as possible high levels of lead. The overall remediation is progressing well however. We responded to three (3) haz-mat incidents during April. DATE: May 15, 2002 TO: John Stinson, Assistant City Manager FROM: Stan Ford, Director ~ SUBJECT: BACK PACK BLOWERS-CITY OF LOS ANGELES UPDATE In 1996 the City of Los Angeles banned the use of 2 cycle back pack blowers within 50i) feet of any residence by ordinance. The enforcement of this ordinance was by citizen complaint or a police officer citing the offender. Since that time the city parks department has made adjustments to meet the ordinance requirements and still maintain a quality maintenance standard that the citizens would accept. 2 cycle gasoline powered back pack blowers are still used at their regional parks, special use facilities and others that are outside the 500 feet distance of residences which comprise about half of those areas that the city parks department maintains. In those residential areas the city maintenance crews use a three wheel blower machine that is a 4 cycle gas engine that runs quieter and cleaner than the 2 cycle blower. This three wheel blower machine weighs about 135 pounds and is not self propelled. It has replaced the back pack blowers in the residential areas even though it takes 50% more time to clean up a 10 acre size neighborhood park than the back pack blower. Garden rakes, large brooms and water hoses are used in some situations. Some of the maintenance areas consist of tennis courts, sidewalks, picnic slabs, benches, tables and other hard surface areas. When the ordinance went into effect the city parks department was given no additional staffing to make up for the additional labor hours created by the loss of the use of back pack blowers. The city parks department estimates about a 15% drop in maintenance levels. A large portion of the private sector in the City of Los Angeles are converting their gas powered back pack blowers to ethanol alcohol fuel according to a Los Angeles park maintenance supervisor. By performing this conversion they are in complete compliance with the way the ordinance is worded and approved in 1996. Currently there is no mention of proposed revisions to this ordinance by the City of Los Angeles. ' The costs of purchasing a back pack blower is about $400 and a three wheel blower is $1068. A three wheel blower creates additional storage needs because of its size and transporting it from site to site. You need room in the back of a pick up truck or something similar. The average weight of a push behind blower is about 135 pounds and for safety reasons it is best to use two employees to load and unload the blower off of a truck. We have been informally evaluating the 'three wheel blowers in the northwest and southwest areas of the city over the past year. Once they get the units offthe trucks and onto the site they reportedly are easier to operate. They appear to be more efficient in the streetscape landscape areas rather than our parks because of less turning, few tight confines and operating on hardscapes almost exclusively. Staff has reported it is easier to perform this maintenance task by using this three wheel blower. This unit having a quieter sound, less emissions, and control of where the dust goes may be a partial solution to this back pack blower Lsue. Our parks department has a inventory of 40 back pack blowers and the cost to convert them all to a three wheel blower would be about $42,720. Using the City of Los Angeles ordinance guidelines, our parks department could operate back pack blowers in only 5-6 park sites or areas in the city because they are not within 500 feet ora residence. But within these assignment areas there may be a need or requirement to use a three wheel blower rather than the back pack blower. These three wheel blowers can be transported in the back of any pick up truck bed so transporting this equipment should not be a problem with our existing resources. Staffing levels should not be effected by changing to the three wheel blowers. It is our opinion that commercial gardeners are not using a lot of these three wheel blowers for several reasons. These blowers cost two to three times as much as a back pack blower. Secondly, it does not operate efficiently in small areas such as residential yards. Lastly, these units need more storage and transportation area than the back pack blower and often times these commercial gardeners don't have a lot of spare storage space. : Staff will continue to evaluate the use of the three wheel blower and the impact it has on our field maintenance. We propose to use these units in the streetscape and median areas beca~,S,~ stafffeels there are more opportunities to be efficient here than in our parks. The safety issue of loading and unloading a blower off the back of a pick up truck should not be a problem because assignment areas have at least two staff available. Location to store these units can be made available throughout the various areas of the city. This department will purchase four more of these three wheel blowers and put them out into the field for testing within the next few months. We will evaluate the cost effectiveness of a back pack blower ($400) versus a three wheel blower ($1000) along with possible labor hours savings, employee satisfaction, meeting maintenance standards, and reducing noise and dust concerns. The power of :hurricane force winds - yet easy on the ears. OB blowers have had the industry's lowest noise.levels for the professional features like our exclusive, lightweight 14-blade fan that . gyro" effect; a proprietary curved radius housing that reduces air turbulence unpara'il'eled strength; shock isolation .mounts to reduce irritating vibration; pneumatic ~ear wheels (N/A on QB553HC) with grease zerks and commerc, ial-duty throttle. We chal- lenge you to fin(] any blower with as much value or-better weight-to-performance ratio than the one and only Quiet Blovv~! blower A lightweight (under 100 pounds), PRO Series.blower- economical Does t:he job of blower with two 11HP'blowers. Honda GC .power. QB.1004 PRO Series 'blower The QB 884H, 1004 and 1104H model now feature the only hand-operated Optional front caster wheel kit (All 8.and 11 HP models) exhaust in the industry. This unique feature For the ultimate in maneuverability, allows the operator to control the air-stream exactly where he wants it when he wants it. Patent Pending Handle with control Air where you want it when you want it. QB 5 HC Honda OHC GC 5 HP -- 98 lb QB 884 H Honda OHV GX 8 HP -- 1361b QB 1004 B & S Intek OHV lC 10HP -- 1471b QB 1104 H Honda OHV GX 11 HP -- 1521b QB 1601 B & S Vang. Twin OHV 16 HP -- 233 lb Optional blower hold-down kit QB 1601 SP B & S Vang. Twin OHV 16 HP I/ 274 lb (All 8, 10 and 11 HP models) Keeps blowers secure in transit. FY 2002/03 BUDGET WORKSHOP QUESTIONS/RESPONSES Date: .,May 20, 2002 Presentations to City Council Question Response Councilmember No. 2 Is there a Downtown Element of the Response in process. Will be included in next packet. Sue Benham General Plan included in the FY 02-03 Planning Division budget? (Stan Grady) No. 3 Planning division salaries are proposed Response memo attached. Harold Hanson to increase by 9% in FY 02-03; what is causing the increase? (Darnell Haynes) No. 4 What is the impact of insurance Response memo attached. David Couch increases as it relates to employees costs? (Darnell Haynes) No. 5 Would like information regarding Response memo attached. IrmaCarson having a staff person available to work exclusively for the Council, or what can be done to increase Council salaries so Councilmembers can hire someone to assist them? (John Stinson) Date: May 20, 2002 Presentations to City Council - continued Question Response Councilmember No. 6 Requested a status report on the study Response memo attached from Fire Chief Fraze for Irma Carson of the overall fire service throughout Question No. 6 and also includes response to Bakersfield. Question No. 9. (Chief Fraze) No. 7 Are there plans for the City to work with Response memo attached. David Couch Golden Empire Transit to install additional traffic preemption devices at City traffic intersections? (John Stinson) No. 8 Requested a brief memorandum Response memo attached from Police Chief Matlockfor Mark Salvaggio providing information on the purpose,Question No. 8 and also includes response to staffing, locations and office hours of Question No. 9. the Bakersfield Police Department Satellite operations. (Chief Matlock) No. 9 Requested a memorandum outlining Response memo from Fire Chief Fraze included in Jacquie Sullivan details of the role of Councilmembersresponse memo to Question No. 6. in the event of an emergency or Response memo from Police Chief Matlock included in disaster, response memo to Question No. 8. (Chief Matlock) and (Chief Fraze) 2 QUESTION NO. 3 BAKERSFIELD CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM May 21, 2002 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Darnell Haynes, Assistant to the City Manager ~ SUBJECT: Response to FY 2002.03 Budget Workshop Questions The following is in response to a City Council question from the Development Services budget hearing on Monday, May 20, 2002: Question No.3 - Planning Division salaries are proposed to increase by 9% in FY 02- 03; what is causing the increase? (Councilmember Hanson) In fiscal year 2001-02 the adopted personnel costs for the Planning Division was $1,247,038. In fiscal year 2002-03 proposed personnel costs are $1,354,050, which represents an 8.58% increase when compared to fiscal year 2001-02. However, if you remove the operating cost of the proposed Associate Planner position of $63,975, the salaries and associated benefits increase is 3.45% higher than fiscal year 2001-02. This increase is primarily due to negotiated salary increases, increases in health benefits and workers compensation rates. S:\02-03 Budpro~RESPONSES~Responsetoquestion3May20,2002.wpd QUESTION NO. /+ BAKERSFIELD CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM May 24, 2002 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Darnell Haynes, Assistant to the City Manager ~ SUBJECT: Response to FY 2002-03 Budget Workshop Questions The following is in response to a ~City Council question from the General Government budget hearing on Monday, May 20, 2002: Question No.4 - What is the impact of insurance increases as it relates to employees costs? (Councilmember Couch) · Medical insurance for active employees is projected to increase by 11.4% or $634,000 and medicare insurance by 11.8%-or 60,000. Retiree medical insurance is projected to increase by 10% based on current actual expenses and a projected 13% increase for Blue Cross and a 15% increase for all others on January 2003. · There is a 14.5% or $464,000 increase in the workers' compensation portion of the budget, a 2.3% increase for liability and a 2.1% increase for property. The City is self insured for workers' compensation and liability exposures. · The increase in the workers' compensation 'budget reflects the actual increase in costs for the City, as well as increases in benefits, which are discussed below, effective January 2003. · City Department rates for workers' compensation and liability are based on their individual claims experience and their payroll. · An already hardening insurance market was significantly accelerated by 9-11, which will result in increases in premiums for workers' compensation, liability and property coverages. · Medical costs are increasing dramatically mainly due to increases in prescription drug costs, new drugs on the market, and new and more expensive medical prOcedures. S :\02 -03 Budp ro'd~.,SPONSES~.esponsetoquesfion4May20,2002.wpd · AB 749 was signed by the governor and becomes effective in January 2003. This bill significantly increases workers' compensation benefits to injured workers. For example, temporary disability rates increase from $490 a week to $602 a week. The rates also increase to $782 in 2004 and $840 in 2005. Permanent disability rates were also increased. · Senate Bill 424 was signed into law which adds "low back" to the ever increasing list of presumptive injuries for safety officers. · We are beginning to receive other presumptive injury claims such as hepatitis that we had not seen in the past. These will be very expensive claims. With increasing costs for all lines of insurance, listed below are measures staff is recommending or has already taken to help reduce costs: · Smith System-Driver Improvement Class: Classes are held the first Wednesday of each month to teach employees driving techniques to avoid accidents and reduce wear and tear on City vehicles. · A blood bourne pathogen program will be-introduced to help reduce .exposures to blood-related illnesses such as hepatitis. · The City's Injury and Illness Prevention Program will be updated and reintroduced. This will help identify areas of safety we'need to address and also raise awareness levels. · Risk Management will begin contacting all injured employees personally at the time of injury. This will help foster a better claim handling process and reduce the number of employees who retain attorneys. Risk Management will continue to work closely with the safety committee and departments to reduce accidents and foster safety awareness. This fiscal year the City had three periods where miscellaneous employees went sixty days without a lost time accident. In previous years, the City never went more than one sixty-day period without a lost time accident in a year. We will continue to build on this momentum going into 2002/03. S:\02-03 Budpro~RESPONSES~Responsetoquesfion4May20,2002.wlxl -~ QUESTION NO. 5 B A K E R S F I E L D OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER MEMORANDUM May 24, 2002 To: Alan Tandy, City Manager From: John W. Stinso~ssistant City Manager Subject: Councilmember Carson's Question regarding Council Staff and Compensation This memo is in response to Councilmember Carson's questions from the May 20th budget workshop regarding having a staff person work exclusively for the Council, and what can be done to increase Council Salaries so Councilmembers can hire someone to assist them. The City Charter provides that the City Council shall appoint the City Manager and the City Attorney. All other employees are appointed by the City Manager, who per the Charter shall have general supervision and direction of the administrative operation of the city government. The Mayor and Council cannot direct or control the activities of any department head or any employee of any city department. To change this condition would require a voter approved Charter amendment. The City Clerk's Office and City Manager's Office provide significant staff support to the City Council. Special efforts have been made to provide administrative, clerical and other staff support as needed and requested by Counqilmembers. Staff from these offices assists Councilmembers With correspondence, constituent referrals and responses, meeting scheduling and reservations, providing agendas and meeting calendars, timely distribution of correspondence and written information, travel arrangements, expense reimbursement and other duties related to the variety of City business required of Councilmembers. If there are any areas that Council feels are not being adequately addressed, staff certainly can make modifications to address them. City Council compensation was set at $50 per month and was amended as provided for in the Charter by ordinance submitted to a referendum in 1956 to the current $100 per month. The Council could by Ordinance submit a salary change to referendum of the voters at an upcoming municipal election. When this could be done would depend on when the Council adopted such an ordinance and County election schedule requirements. There was also a request to research information regarding the Cities of Fresno, Santa Clarita and Riverside regarding Council Salaries as increases may have recently been implemented in those cities. In contacting the City of Fresno, they are currently reviewing an increase to their Council salaries. Their city charter provides that the City Council may set its own salaries. The Council there has typically used an advisory committee to review the salaries and make recommendations to the Council for implementation. Recently they adopted an ordinance which makes the Civil Service Commission the body to review Council Salaries and recommend any changes. This is the first time this is being done and they are currently completing their review. Should the Council approve an increase, no sitting Councilmembers can receive the increase unless they are reelected to office. Councilmembers newly elected after the increase is adopted would also receive the higher amount. Fresno has term limits and Councilmembers may only serve two terms. Fresno also has a strong Mayor form of government and the Mayor may veto a proposed salary increase. This happened when their last increase was adopted in 2000, however the Council can override his veto with 5 of the 7 Councilmembers voting for approval, which was what occurred. Council Salaries in Fresno are now $3,709 per month. The City of Santa Clarita is a general law city, which means they follow state law. State law provides for setting Council salaries based on population (for a city the size of Bakersfield the amount would be $1,000) and they may be increased to a specific amount by a vote in a municipal election or may be increased by ordinance, not to exceed 5% per year since the last increase. There can be no automatic increases. Santa Clarita last changed Council Salaries in July 2000. At that time they were set at $1,063.77 per month. They are currently proposing they be increased by 5% for each of the last 2 years to $1,172.81 per month to be effective July 2002. The City of Riverside is a charter city and their charter provides that Council compensation is fixed by ordinance, after a noticed, public hearing. Five affirmative votes of the City Council are necessary to establish a level of compensation for the City Council. Once a level of compensation for City Council members is established, it is not permitted to change automatically or to be linked to an external factor. Every change in compensation must be approved by five affirmative votes of the City Council (they have seven members on their Council). Their Charter also provides for a Salary Commission which reviews in every even numbered year proposed increases to Council salaries and fringe benefits. They must conduct public hearings regarding any proposed increases and the Commission is made up of seven members composed, if practicable, of one business executive, one representative of a nonpartisan voter organization, one person experienced in public administration, one representative of a labor organization, one representative of an educational institute, and two other appointees. The Commission is currently reviewing Council salaries. Current salaries for the Riverside City Council are $1,957 per month with the Mayor Pro Tempore receiving an additional $100 per month. JWS S:~JOHN~Budget Questuion re. Council Staff & Compensation.doc MEMORANDUM Date: May 23, 2002 To: Alan Tandy, City Manager//./~ From: Ron Fraze, Fire Chief - ~/V~.~ SUBJECT: Questions from Councilmembers at the Department Budget Presentation on May 20, 2002 Councilmember Sullivan inquired as to the Council's responsibilities during a disaster. Attached is the checklist used by Councilmembers upon arriving to the City's Emergency Operations Center. Attached also is a memorandum sent by the Fire Chief requesting Council's role in a city-wide emergency to be placed in the Council Orientation Handbook. Councilmember Carson requested information on emergency responses in Station 5's area and a review of station locations city-wide. We have purchased the software program Fireview to assist in gathering statistical and geographical information from our Records Management System. This software is needed to perform the complicated tasks necessary to review the entire city and develop alternatives to improve r. esponse times. We are using this program to review Station 5's issues and will expand it to the entire city as we become more familiar with the software. RF/kec Attachments (2) P:'maemos~Fraze\Budget questions 2002.doc Bakersfield Emergency Operations Plan City Council CITY cOUNCIL / CITY COUNCIL/ }-- -- -~, OF LEGAL OFFICER ,, MAYOR / ' EMERGENCY SERVICES LIAISON OFFICER ~ ~ ~ -- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~- SAFKTY OFFICER EMERGENCY MGMT. ~ SECURITY OFFICER COORDINATOR i OPERATIONS [ PLANNI~G LOGISTICS FINANCE O t ENFORCEMENT ~-COORDfNATOR .;~--COMM TIMEUNIT ~- C _ DOCuMeNTATION -- BASE ARKA MGR ' Primary Members, City Council Alternate Not Applicable ,,.. Reports to Citizens, City of Bakersfield ..... V Supervise. Director of Emergency Services I Work Station City Council Chamber R Y CMD2.wpd / October 1998 EOC Checklists, Page 65 Bakersfield Emer~;ency Operations Plan City Council Responsibilities The City Council, serving as a Policy/Advisory Group, is responsible to proclaim and/or ratify a local emergency, approve emergency orders, and provide,a point of contact for public input regarding the emergency and response effortsl · Proclaim and/or ratify a local emergency p · Mayor has specific authority to issue and enforce reasonable rules and regulations related to life and property · Establish exeCutive-level policies for emergency management L · Ensure that the D~irector o.f Emergency Services has clear policy direction · Obtain briefings 1~om the Director of Emergency Services and, in coordination C with Public Information Officer, prov. ide information to the public and media y :, Support a. multi-agency disaster response · Accompany VIPs and government officials on tours of the emergency/disaster R Y CMD2.wpd / October 1998 EOC Checklists, Page 66 Bakersfield Emergency Operations Plan City Council READ ENTIRE CHECKLIST AT START-UP AND AT BEGINNING OF EACH SHIFT Start-Up Checklist Action Taken: Time/Date P ~{~ . Contact the Director of Emergency Services to receive a situation O brief L c~,l emergency meetings of the City Council to proclaim and/or I ratify a lodal, emergency and approve emergency orders as needed: · A quorum of the City Council is needed to eom'mn new C rules and regulations y Emergency proclamations shOtlid be ratified within seven (7) days · Approve extraordinary expenditure requirements as necessary A .: Review Municipal Code, Chapter 2.40 D ~l~ Review, at least every 14 days, the need for continuing the local emergency and proclaim the termination of the local emergency as V conditions warrant per Municipal Code 2.44.050 I ~[21 . In consultation with the Director of Emergency Services and S General Staff, develop temporary emergency policies for managing the strategic aspects of the emergency O " ~[~1 Oversee the release of official statements R Y ~1~ In coordination with the Public Information Officer (PIO), host and accompany VIP's and governmental officials on tours of the emergency/disaster area In coordination with the PIO provide interviews to the media Refer all requests for emergency information to the Director of Emergency Services or PIO cMD2.wpd / October 1998 EOC Checklists, Page 67 Bakersfield Emeri~ency Operations Plan City Council Open and maintain .a MajOr Incident or Significant Event Log (Chapter Three, Tab 4); maintain all required records and documentation to support the After Action Report and the history of the emergency/disaster to include: · Messages received · Actions taken · Decisions, justification, and documentation .p (Note: Precise information is essential to meet requirements for 0 reimbursement by California OES and FEMA.) L Consider utilizing citizen's advisory group to address concerns ~[~[ Consider developing an emergency planning task force within the C local business or trade association to discuss concerns and disseminate pre-event planning information and post-evener · y ', recovery information Consider developing a plan to provide a "citizen and business aid" location which can be utilized for information and assistance to A citizens and businesses impacted by an emergency D , ~,{~ Encourage post-event discussions in the community 'to idenfi~ V .. perceived areas of improvements I c or :The City Council members should refrain fi.om direct involvement with the City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activities. The City Council members will be S provided information updates through the Director of Emergency Services.) . R Y ~2MD2.wpd / October 1998 EOC Checklists, Page 68 DATE: 14 FEB 02 TO: RON FRAZE, FIRE CHIEF FROM: KIRK BLAIR, DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF SUBJECT: DUTIES OF CITY COUNCIL DURING A DISASTER In the Council Orientation Handbook it may be appropriate to explain the role of the City Council in a citywide disaster. It would probably fit best in the section titled "other duties between meetings" on page 22. It could include the following; Responsibilities of City Council During a Disaster The City Council shall serve as a Policy/Advisory Group. Council members are responsible for proclaiming and/or ratifying a local emergency, approving emergency orders, and providing a point of contact for public input regarding the emergency and response efforts. The role includes ensuring that the Director of Emergency Services (the City Manager or alternate) has clear policy direction and to establish executive- level policies for emergency management. The council will obtain briefings from the Director and, in coordination with the Public Information Officer, provide information to the public and media. Council members may accompany VIPs and government officials on tours of the emergency/disaster. QUESTION NO. 7 B A K E R S F I E L D OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER MEMORANDUM May 24, 2002 To: Alan Tandy, City Manager From: John W. Stinso~(~sistant City Manager Subject: Status of Golden Empire Transit (GET) grant funding for traffic preemption devices. I contacted Chester Moland regarding GET's efforts to obtain Federal funding for traffic pre-emption devices. Chester informed me that GET did apply for discretionary Federal transportation funds last year for this project but it was not funded. His staff indicated they have reapplied again this year for $1.5 million to fund 235 signals and necessary equipment for 79 buses. The request is currently being considered and GET staff is in contact with Congressman Thomas's office monitoring the status of the request. The funding is from a annual set aside of discretionary transit dollars which can be requested by members of Congress. GET staff has indicated they will keep me informed of the status of their request. As a reminder, Traffic Engineering has recommended against placing these devices in GET vehicles due to a belief that it will be disruptive to traffic flow. QUESTION NO. 8 QUESTION NO. 9 BAKERSFIELD POLICE MEMORANDUM Date: May 23, 2002 To: Alan Tandy, City Manager Honorable Mayor Hall and Council Members From: William R. Rector, Assistant Chief of Police for Eric W. Matlock, Chief of Police Subject: Response to Budget Workshop Questions for Fiscal year 2002/03 Question #8: Council Member Salvaggio requested a brief memorandum providing information on the purpose, staffing, locations and office hours of the Bakersfield Police Department Satellite Operations. In an effort to bring police services closer to the community, the Bakersfield Police Department is looking to open two satellite offices, one in the Lakeview Avenue area and another in the South High School area. These offices will be open during typical business hours and will be staffed on a full time basis by non-sworn personnel (crime prevention specialists and police service technicians) and part time by sworn police officers. The offices will enhance the community policing efforts of the police department by giving the community easier access to police services and by physically situating a police facility in the neighborhood. The police department expects to provide crime prevention services from these offices, including neighborhood watch programs and senior safety programs. Each office will have a community meeting area and residents of the area will be encouraged to use the facility for community meetings. Police reports and vehicle impound releases will eventually be available from these satellite offices Question #9: Council Member Sullivan requested a memorandum outlining details of the role of Council members in the event of an emergency or disaster. (Dual referral to Chief Fraze) In his written response, Chief Fraze provided recommendations for the role of Council Members in the event of a manmade or natural disaster. I have discussed this information with Chief Fraze, and I concur with his recommendations. Please refer to his response for details. DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS DATE: May 21, 2002 TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Stan Ford, Director SUBJECT: Referral Subject #WF000084 (Ward 2) Councilmember Benham referred to Urban Development committee a request to prepare an ordinance for review regarding the removal of healthy trees in city right- of-ways and penal ties for non compliance. Councilmember Benham further requests that the Urban Forester be involved in these decisions, that communication between Public Works and Recreation and Parks be enhanced, and that property owners be noticed when trees are to be trimmed or removed in the right-of-ways. Councilmember Benham wishes to be informed of current procedure. There is no written policy for this issue; however the Metropolitan Bakersfield Tree Advisory Ad-Hoc Committee has adopted, as a model, the Tree Technical Manual of the City of Palo Alto. The document addresses this issue and is currently the model policy, under edit, for use in Bakersfield. In addenda to this policy, it is suggested that alternative flexible paving methods such as rubber sidewalks or interlocking pavers be researched to offer an alternative to the removal of healthy trees causing sidewalk damage. In draft, the model policy would allow the removal of a healthy street trees after written assessment by the city urban forester or arborist and subsequent approval of the Director of Recreation and Parks or his/her designee. The assessment process would include; · Taking in consideration the health and safety status of the tree; i.e. hazard/safety/monetary/environmental evaluation. · Public safety issues within the surrounding site; i.e. damage to sidewalks, curb, & gutter. · Property owner needs/desire S:\COUNCIL REFERRALS\WF000084,. DOC May 21, 2002 (2:22PM) For an approved removal, the process should require a non-fee permit and that all costs for replacement are at the expense of the requestor. The replacement of removed trees, authorized and unauthorized, should be based on a matrix that outlines with respect to DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) ranges, the quantity of trees required to fulfill the replacement value of removed trees. Notification of property owners in the case of removal or pruning. Removal generally occurs at the request of the property, owner unless significant problems related to public safety are observed. The decision to remove is based upon an extensive hazard evaluation of the tree in question. If failure potential is severe the decision to remove is based on the presence of highly valued targets; i.e. buildings, automobiles, human life. It is currently practiced policy that potential removals are documented and that property owners are notified when a removal is to take place, except in an emergency situation, where the property owner may or may not be notified. Once the proper documentation is in place, the property owner is given a copy of the hazard evaluation, and is notified of the expected removal date. The removal is then scheduled and executed. Other cases for removal include biologically unproductive trees. This case generally includes trees that have been grossly mismanaged by topping and/or over thinning. The ability of the tree to recover from the damage is either impossible or will result in hazardous structural development. Pruning notification is not done. Most pruning occurs at the request of the property owner, unless significant problems related tolpublic safety are observed and request is made internally; i.e. sign clearance, city vehicle clearance, streetlight or signal head clearance, and line of sight visibility. Current staffing levels and technology result in a more reactive approach to pruning activities. As we move to a proactive Pruning approach (scheduled residential/commercial blocks) we expect to gain the ability to notify property owners of work scheduled at their property. Please note that the pruning standards of this section have been changed to the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) standard. This section expects to receive very few complaints stemming from our current pruning methods. Additionally this section currently strives to replace removed trees at a one to one ratio or better. S:\COUNCIL REFERRALS\WFOO0084..DOC May 21, 2002 (2:22Prvl) TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: ERIC W. MATLOCK, CHIEF OF POLICE~ DATE: MAY 23, 2002 SUBJECT: GRAFFITI AT HUGHES LANE AND SAN LORENZO Council Referral No. WF000090 (Ward 7) Council Member Salvaggio requested staff remove graffiti on masonry and canal walls east of Hughes Lane, North of San Lorenzo Avenue. Additionally, he requested that Police intensify efforts to catch vandals. (Dual referral to Public Works "lead") Central Area Commander, Lt. Don DeGeare, informed graffiti enforcement Officer Paglia of the graffiti/vandalism in the area of White Lane and Hughes. Officer Paglia is working with Public Works to monitor any future activity and will continue to provide extra patrol at that location. The central area officers have also been instructed to provide extra patrol. Public Works staff removed graffiti in the area on May 9. EWM/vrf