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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/02/2009 /0 L 0 B A K E R S F I E L D CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM October 2, 2009 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Cou I FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager SUBJECT: General Information MISCELLANEOUS CITY NEWS Congratulations are in order for our Fleet Division for receiving a nationwide award for being included in the Top 40 National Green Fleets. It is evidence of the commitment by Fleet Superintendent Mike Rogers and his staff, along with the support of the City Council, for "greening" our fleet. This award is open to all Federal, State, and Local Government Fleets, and is based on a comprehensive set of criteria specifically tailored around the challenges and requirements of the government fleet manager. More information is attached. -� Another of our Parks employees is to be commended. Gerardo Martinez recently came to the aid of a local citizen who, along with her dog, was attacked by a pit bull. His efforts are much appreciated -well done, Gerardo! -� You may notice we have slightly altered the Council Agenda Highlights to make them more reader friendly and less technical in nature. Our intent is to provide readers with a summary of potential "items of interest" on the agenda in a clear and understandable way. More detailed information can still be found in the Administrative Reports. The new format will be more conversational in nature and will allow us to condense this information to save on materials. Any feedback you may have is welcomed. The renovation project at the Padre Hotel continues to progress. You may have noticed that the owners recently re-installed the refurbished exterior signage on the top of the building. They are making strides with the interior renovation, which will feature several attractive dining and socializing areas, including an outdoor "patio" on the second floor, as well as the hotel rooms on the upper floors. Included are several rooms that have been designed for meetings and special events, so it will be a draw for both social and business related activities. We look forward to the opening - it will be a very appealing amenity in our downtown area! Honorable Mayor and City Council October 2, 2009 Page 2 -� All spray parks have closed for the season and will re-open again next spring. The Fire Department is holding a Re-Dedication Ceremony and Open House on Saturday, October 10th to commemorate the 701h Anniversary of Station 1 . A flyer is attached. The following reports are enclosed: • The Construction Division's weekly update of the roadway paving projects. • The Streets Division work schedule. RESPONSES TO COUNCIL REQUESTS Councilmember Couch • Berm around Taco Bell located at 9640 Hageman Road. Councilmember Sullivan • Weed and debris eradication on vacant lot. • Median Turf Cost Comparison. AT:rk cc: Department Heads Pamela McCarthy, City Clerk Roberta Gafford, Assistant City Clerk October 1, 2009 Provided by the Public Works Department The Fleet Division of the Public Works Department has received the award for the Top 40 National Green Fleets given by 100 Best Fleets. The rankings and winners will be announced in Chicago on the 19th of October at a special ceremony at the Green Fleet Conference. The evaluation standards are divided into several key categories: 1. Fleet Composition - This category compares the current fleet composition of conventional fueled (gas & diesel) vehicles versus hybrid, electric, and alternative fuels etc. The data submitted only applies to the current mix of the fleet at the time of application, not projected purchases. 2. Fuel & Emissions - The fuels criteria determines the use of renewable and alternative sources of energy. It compares your total use of conventional versus renewable fuels such as BioDiesel & Ethanol, and non-renewable fuels such as propane and compressed natural gas. The emissions criteria evaluates what the fleet has done to cleanup the current inventory of on and off road diesel equipment. 3. Policy & Planning - An integral part of any green fleet plan is not necessarily what is done today, but also what is planned for the future. Green fleet sustainability is the process in which a plan is created for the future environmental role of your fleet. Will the agency continue to budget and purchase green technologies, or will the agency stop your current green efforts? 4. Fleet Utilization - Involves not only how the fleet is used, but also how it is determined what size vehicle is appropriate for a given job classification. Purchasing oversized vehicles and engines when a smaller vehicle would suffice, needlessly adds unnecessary pollutants into the atmosphere while increasing fuel usage. Other programs such as loan pools and car sharing programs are also evaluated. 5. Education - Knowing what new technologies are in the marketplace is an important aspect to any green fleet manager. This standard requires each fleet manager to stay informed about green fleet news. Attendance in green seminars and subscriptions to green publications will keep staff appraised on what's new. 6. Executive & Employee Involvement - No longer is the fleet manager considered some abstract object sitting in the last row during council or commissioner meetings. The fleet manager of today is not only a manager, but also an educator. It is the duty of the fleet manager to educate the executive staff and political leaders of the advantages of a green fleet, new & available technologies, and the costs associated with them. Employee involvement outlines efforts to keep the fleet employees informed about the direction of the green fleet program. 7. Supporting Programs - Is a wide variety of other initiatives that includes: applying for grants, recycling programs, parts purchasing habits, and maintenance facility improvements. * f E L � ► VIEW FIRE * , 7CtA Mu&wmaW of Sf"#ff&,,fA " I October Re-Dedication Ceremony * 12 : 00 * Open H 11 : 00 3 : 00 p. m . CONSTRUCTION DIVISION WEEKLY UPDATES ROADWAY PAVING PROJECTS Status update of the roadway paving projects currently awarded as of October 2, 2009: Stockdale Highway - California to Wetherly and Country Club Lane to Ashe Road Median modification on Stockdale Highway is scheduled to be ongoing for the next several weeks. Currently the contractor is grading and compacting the dirt area to receive the new median curb. Construction delineation and temporary traffic signage have been configured to allow two lanes of traffic in each direction while this operation is being performed. The scheduled completion date of this project is February 10, 2010. White Lane - Gosford Road to Ashe Road The top lift of paving will be completed today. Once the paving is done the contractor will stripe the roadway, raise manholes to the new pavement grade, and install traffic detection loops at each intersection. The scheduled completion date of this project is October 16, 2009. AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT PROJECTS: Mt Vernon Ave — SR178 to University Avenue Lowering of utilities and reconstruction of handicap ramps is currently being done on Mt. Vernon Avenue. Pavement reconstruction operations north of Columbus Ave. are scheduled to begin next week. This project is expected to be complete on December 7, 2009. Ashe Road — White Lane to Ming Avenue Reconstruction of handicap ramps and replacement of curb and gutter is underway. PG&E is scheduled to begin lowering their facilites next week in preparation for the roadway reconstruction work. This project is expected to be complete on December 7, 2009. Wilson Road — White Lane to Planz Road Reconstruction of handicap ramps and replacement of curb and gutter is underway. This project is expected to be complete on December 7, 2009. Hughes Lane — White Lane to Planz Road Reconstruction of handicap ramps and replacement of curb and gutter is underway. This project is expected to be complete on December 7, 2009. Wible Road — Pacheco Road to White Lane Work in this street is not scheduled to begin for the next three to four weeks. All construction work on the street will be done at night between the hours of 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM. This project is expected to be complete on December 7, 2009. CDBG-R Pavement Rehabilitation Project This project is scheduled to begin on October 12, 2009. The first order of work on this project will be to reconstruct the handicap ramps in the project area and to repair any curb and gutter 10/2/2009 11.43:33 AM C.\DOCUME-1\alawrenc\LOCALS-1\Temp\XPGrpWise\RoadwayProjectsUpdates_October 2 doc that will affect the new paving. The streets being rehabilitated as part of this project are as follows: • King Street— Chico St. to E. 18"' Street • Chico Street—Owens Street to King Street • Owens Street - Chico St. to E. 18t" Street • Eureka Street— Owens Street to King Street • Dolores Street— Gage Street to Beale Avenue This project is scheduled to be complete by December 31, 2009. 10/2/2009 11:43:33 AM C:ID000ME-1lalawrenc\LOCALS-11 Templ XPGrpWise\RoadwayProjectsUpdates_October 2.doc Page 1 of 2 STREETS DIVISION — WORK SCHEDULE WEEK OF OCTOBER 5, 2009 — OCTOBER 9, 2009 Resurfacing/Reconstructing streets in the following areas: Resurfacing streets (overlay) in the area west of Allen Road, south of Stockdale Highway. Sealing streets in the area between Rosedale Highway & Stockdale Highway, from Highway 99 to the west City Limits. Blade sealing (with oilsand) Planz Road between McCourry Street & Stine Road. Blade sealing "F" Street from 24th Street to Golden State Avenue. Miscellaneous Streets Division projects: Installing curb & gutter in the area between 4th Street & California Avenue, east of Chester Avenue (CDBG FUNDED PROJECT). Installing a storm line and catch basins on "K" Street between California Avenue & 51h Street (CDBG FUNDED PROJECT). THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Week of October 5_2009_Work Schedule Page 2 of 2 STREETS SWEEPING SCHEDULE Monday, October 5, 2009 Between Golden State & 16th St. - "F" St. & Oak St. / Kern River Boundary. Between 34th St. & 301h St. — Chester Ave. & San Dimas St. Between San Dimas St. & Beale Ave. — 34th Street/ Bernard St. & Niles St. Between Olive Dr. & Riverlakes Dr. (ext.) — Riverlakes Dr. & Coffee Rd. Tuesday, October 6, 2009 Between California Ave. & Brundage Ln. — Oak St. & Union Ave. Between Renfro Rd. & Jenkins Rd. — Stockdale Hwy. & Kern River Boundary. Wednesday, October 7, 2009 Between Panorama Dr. & Bernard St. - Union Ave. & Loma Linda Dr. Between River Blvd. & E. Columbus St. — Panorama Dr. & Columbus St. Between College Ave. & Azalea Ave. — Mountain Dr. & Raval St. Between Ming Ave. & White Ln. — Allen Rd. & Buena Vista Rd. Thursday, October 8, 2009 Between Carr St. & California Ave. — Mohawk St. & Stockdale Hwy. Between Stockdale Hwy. & Marella Way— California Ave. & Montclair St. Between La Mirada Dr. & Chester Ln. — Montclair St. & No. Stine Rd. Between California Ave. (ext.) & Stockdale Hwy. — No. Stine Rd. & Hwy. 99. Between Stockdale Hwy. & Ming Ave. — New Stine Rd. & Ashe Rd. Between Mountain Ridge Dr. & Ashe Rd. — Taft Hwy. & Berkshire Rd. Friday, October 9, 2009 Between Ming Ave. & White Ln. — Buena Vista Rd & Old River Rd. Between Stine Rd. & Hwy. 99 — Ming Avenue & Adidas. Between Panama Ln. & Birkshire Rd. — Gosford Rd. & Stine Rd. Week of October 5-2009-Work Schedule L - 0 8"N"fts B A K E R S F I E L D Development Services Department Stanley C. Grady, Director M E M O R A N D U M TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: STANLEY C. GRADY, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR DATE: September 28, 2009 SUBJECT: Weed and Debris Eradication — Vacant Lot Council Referral No. CRMS # 130 (Ward 6) COUNCILMEMBER SULLIVAN REQUESTED THAT STAFF DETERMINE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WEED AND DEBRIS ERADICATION ON THE VACANT LOT WEST OF SPORTS AUTHORITY ON MI AVENUE. IF IT IS THE PROPERTY OWNER, STAFF IS TO MAKE CONTACT AND ENSURE ABATEMENT TAKES PLACE. Code Enforcement Officer Don Johnson responded to this location and inspected the property. He determined the property at 5001 Ming Avenue is privately owned. He sent a correction notice to the property owner for overgrown weeds,junk,trash and debris throughout the property. If the owner does not comply with the correction notice an administrative hearing will be scheduled and the property abated pursuant to our administrative process. /0 L - 0 O"Wftft B A K E R S F I E L D Development Services Department Stanley C. Grady, Director M E M O R A N D U M TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: �' STANLEY C. GRADY, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR DATE: September 28, 2009 SUBJECT: Berm around Taco Bell located at 9640 Hageman Road Council Referral No. CRMS # 126 (Ward 4) E MEMBER COUCH REQUESTED STAFF INSPECT THE BERM AROUND THE TACO HE NORTHEAST CORNER OF HAGEMAN AND CALLOWAY TO SEE IF IT MEETS GN REQUIREMENTS. Condition of approval 11.4. of Conditional Use Permit No. 04-0706 required the installation of a 5-foot high berm(with a minimum 30-inch high retaining wall along the drive-through lane side of the berm)landscaped with trees, shrubs, and groundcover between Hageman Road and Taco Bell's drive-through lane. Upon review of the landscape plan approved in conjunction with Taco Bell's building permit and a field inspection of the berm by staff, both the berm and landscaping appear to have been constructed and installed in accordance with the approved plan. However,the condition and health of much of the landscaping planted on the berm does not complywith the following City of Bakersfield zoning standard(Municipal Code Section 17.61.040.A.): "All plant material shall be maintained in a reasonably healthy condition. Maintenance shall include, but is not limited to, programmed watering, consistent fertilizing, weed control, cleaning, pruning, trimming, pest control and cultivating." Staff found that a number of the shrubs along the top of the berm are either dead, dying or have been removed and that the berm contains a number of areas with little or no groundcover and exposed bare dirt, subjecting the continued berm to water and wind erosion. This zoning violation has been referred to Code Enforcement staff for follow-up. �aa for ae,. �6p1.D Mp�� F. _ ACCREDITED ' -.� a B A K E R S F I E L D DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION & PARKS DIANNE HOOVER,DIRECTOR Department of Recreation and Parks Date: October 2, 2009 To: Alan Tandy, City Manager From: Dicd e` Hoover, Director of Recreation & Parks Subject: Median Turf Cost Comparison Council Referral No. CRMS #131 (Ward 6) Councilmember Sullivan requested that staff determine the cost effectiveness of using artificial turf in medians compared to the maintenance involved with regular grass. She suggested the new median on Stine Road, south of Ridgeview High School, as an ideal location to make the cost comparison. Although the City of Bakersfield Public Works Department was originally assigned lead responsibility, the Recreation and Parks Department was determined to be more familiar with key issues and have agreed to be the lead for this referral. The City of Bakersfield Recreation and Parks Department is focusing this document on comparing the relative cost and benefits of synthetic turf to natural turf for use in medians, streetscapes and possible parks applications. In conducting this analysis staff used 3 different published reports. A thorough, balanced analysis comparing synthetic turf and natural turf was done addressing the following issues: • relative installation costs, • expected life span, • relative annual maintenance costs, • potential impacts to the environment. The advantages of synthetic turf are well known and include the following: reduced maintenance costs, reduction in water usage, irrigation repairs, mowing, fertilizers, and other turf related maintenance. The disadvantages of synthetic turf include the following: extremely high initial investment, life expectancy of less City of Bakersfield•Department of Recreation&Parks• 1600 Truxtun Avenue,3`d Floor Bakersfield•California•93301 (661)326-3866•Fax(661)852-2140 than 10 years, cost to replace and dispose of old material when replaced, and potential vandalism (fire, destruction, etc...). A big concern for the City of Bakersfield is the heat produced by synthetic turf. A recent study published by Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, has shown surface temperatures can be as much as 95 to 140 degrees higher than natural turf when exposed to sunlight. In our hot summers these synthetic areas could reach temperatures over 200 degrees. The advantages of natural turf include: low initial investment, atmospheric pollution control (noise reduction, dust reduction, and conversion of carbon dioxide into oxygen), cooling effect on outside temperatures, and if maintained properly never needs to be replaced. The one disadvantage to natural turf is the ongoing maintenance costs including: irrigation, mowing, and fertilizing. The following chart shows the average costs of installation and maintenance of synthetic turf verses natural turf. This average cost is derived from three (3) case studies done by San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, Turf Managers Association and California Parks and Recreation Society. Type of Turf Installation Cost Annual Maintenance Cost Synthetic Turf $9.80 per s . ft 1.04 er s ft Natural Turf $4.16 per s . ft $.37 er s ft A newly constructed median island exists on Stine Road approximately 1,500 feet north of Ridgeview High School. Two medians on Stine Road are separated by a turn slot into Ambrister Drive in this area. The planting area of these medians were field measured at approximately 1, 600 square feet. The following chart provides estimated installation and maintenance costs for the project. Type of Turf Project Installation Cost Project Maintenance Cost Synthetic Turf $15,680 $64 Natural Turf $6,656 $592 Using the yearly savings on the difference in maintenance, it would take 17 years to capture the additional expense of installing synthetic turf. Warranties for synthetic turf vary from 8 to 10 years with a replacement required in 10-12 years. Replacement of synthetic turf averages half the original installation costs. Staff recommendation: Based on the costs, staff does not recommend use of synthetic turf on medians, streetscapes, parks or playing fields. City of Bakersfield•Department of Recreation&Parks• 1600 Truxtun Avenue,3`d Floor Bakersfield•California•93301 (661)326-3866•Fax(661)852-2140