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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/26/2013 Staff: Committee Members Rhonda Smiley, Assistant to the City Manager Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Bob Smith Ward 1 - Vacant SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE of the City Council - City of Bakersfield Tuesday, February 26, 2013 – 12:00 p.m. City Hall North 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 First Floor, Conference Room A A G E N D A 1. ROLL CALL 2. ADOPT OCTOBER 4, 2012 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee Recommendations Regarding Freeway Litter Removal and Beautification Efforts 1. City of Oakland Excess Litter Fee Program – Gennaro 2. Enforcement Efforts Regarding Littering Incidents - Williamson 3. Proposed Agreement with Caltrans for Freeway Litter Removal Program – Rojas/Moretti 4. Proposed Kern COG Program for Freeway Litter Removal – Ahron Hakimi, Executive Director – Kern COG 5. Freeway Landscaping: Sprinkler Repair and Maintenance - Rojas 6. Community Participation and Public Recognition B. Discussion and Committee Recommendation Regarding Adoption of the 2013 Committee Meeting Schedule - Smiley 5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS 6. ADJOURNMENT Committee Members: Rhonda Smiley, Assistant to the City Manager Jacquie Sullivan, Chair David Couch Rudy Salas AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Regular Meeting of the COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, October 4, 2012 – 12:00 p.m. City Hall North First Floor - Conference Room A 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield CA 93301 The meeting was called to order at 12:02 P.M. 1. ROLL CALL Committeemembers Present: Councilmember Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Vice Mayor David Couch Councilmember Rudy Salas Staff Present: Alan Tandy, City Manager Ginny Gennaro, City Attorney Rhonda Smiley, Asst. to the City Manager Richard Iger, Associate Attorney Steven Teglia, Asst. to the City Manager Dianne Hoover, Rec. & Parks Director Chris Huot, Administrative Analyst Darin Budak, Asst. Rec. & Parks Director Doug McIsaac, Community Development Director Raul Rojas, Public Works Director Jim Eggert, Planning Director Brad Underwood, Asst. Public Works Director Kate Shea, Planning Associate Planner Arnold Ramming, Civil Engineer Ryan Bland, Community Development Coordinator Ryan Starbuck, Traffic Engineer Stuart Patteson, Operations Manager Others Present: Bob Smith, Bike Bakersfield Cindy Parra, Bike Bakersfield Antonie Boessenkool, Bakersfield Californian Community Services Committee Meeting Agenda Summary Report Thursday, October 4, 2012 Page 2 2. ADOPT JULY 12, 2012 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee Recommendation Regarding Amenity Options for Planz and Siemon Pools – Tandy / Rojas Administrative Analyst Chris Huot presented a report summarizing two community meetings held to obtain citizen feedback regarding potential replacement amenities for the dormant pools at Siemon and Planz Park. Siemon Park Nine members of the public attended the meeting; four indicated they favored a spray pad, four indicated they favored a pool, and one did not express an opinion either way. Councilmember Ken Weir indicated he favored a spray park. Planz Park Despite ample advance publicity, no members of the public were in attendance. Councilmembers Rudy Salas and Russell Johnson indicated they favored a hybrid skate park/picnic area concept. Public Works Civil Engineer Arnold Ramming presented a report to the Committee detailing the spray pad amenity at Siemon Park and the hybrid skate park/picnic area amenity at Planz Park, including estimated costs, funding timeline and estimate time for design and construction of each amenity. Committemember Rudy Salas thanked staff for their outreach efforts and holding the community meetings. Committee Chair Jacquie Sullivan asked if the skate park at Planz Park was going to be constructed as large as possible in accordance with the amount of area available. Public Works Raul Rojas stated the skate park constructed will be larger than the current pool area. It can be expanded in the future if more area of the park is used. Committeemember Salas made a motion to recommend the demolition of the dormant pool structures and replacing them with a splash pad at Siemon Park and a skate park/picnic area at Planz Park be forwarded to the full City Council for consideration. Community Services Committee Meeting Agenda Summary Report Thursday, October 4, 2012 Page 3 The motion was unanimously approved. B. Bike Transportation Plan Update – Tandy / Eggert Planning Director Jim Eggert presented a report summarizing the progress of developing the Bike Transportation Plan (BT Plan). The City entered into an agreement with Alta Planning and Design in July of 2012 to develop the BT Plan. The goal is to present a Final BT Plan to the City Council for adoption in April 2013. Bob Smith with Bike Bakersfield asked if new bikeways, routes, and facility types would be included in the BT plan, in addition to what is already included in the General Plan. Mr. Smith also encouraged a bicycle tour as suggested in the consultant’s agreement. Community Development Director Doug McIsaac stated the consultant would not be limited to what is already described in the General Plan. The consultant will be developing new routes and facilities, and reviewing existing bikeways, routes, and facilities, for improvements. Vice Mayor Couch asked that the consultant include an analysis of the feasibility of designating two east/west arterials and two north/south arterials, with wider bike lanes to be the preferred route for the biking community. Committeemember Rudy Salas asked if the BT Plan would be adopted by April 2013. Planning Director Eggert stated it may be possible to adopt the BT Plan by then. Several public workshops still need to be held. There is no time constraint related to the funding sources. 5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS Committee member Salas thanked Mr. Smith for his assistance in acquiring the grant funding for the BT Plan. He also thanked staff for developing and initiating the installation of new amenities at Planz Park and Siemon Park. 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:05 P.M. cc: Honorable Mayor and Council BAKERSFIELD POLICE MEMORANDUM Date: February 21, 2013 To: Alan Tandy, City Manager From: Greg Williamson, Chief of Police Subject: Police Response to Littering Incidents Recent media coverage regarding a reported littering incident has brought attention to how the Bakersfield Police Department responds, and several factors which lead to a “non-response” by officers. Littering is considered a misdemeanor or infraction in both the City of Bakersfield, and the State of California. According to case law, violators of misdemeanor crimes may only be arrested if the violation occurs in the presence of an officer, with a few exceptions. The arrest must be made in a public place, once again with a few exceptions. The exceptions allowed by case law do not include littering. The arrest must also be executed within a reasonable amount of time after observing the offense. Officers may accept civilian arrests of individuals for misdemeanors; however the same rules stated above apply. An increase in Part 1 Crime (felony offenses), of approximately 18% has taken officers away from dealing with what are generally considered quality of life crimes including litter enforcement periods. Demands for police service continue to develop in all areas of the city to address various community issues. The Bakersfield Police Department tries to address these issues with a balanced approach. Officers who observe littering offenses are expected to take enforcement action if they are not addressing or en route to higher priority incidents. During 2012, officers observed 44 littering incidents for which enforcement action was taken. The Bakersfield Police Department has, at the request of Mayor Hall, conducted several traffic enforcement periods to address uncovered loads on the freeways that run through our city. During these operations we have partnered with the local California Highway Patrol office to conduct uncovered load enforcement on both State Route 99 and State Route 58. We will continue to request a partnership with the CHP to conduct these types of special enforcement periods. The Bakersfield Police Department has worked with the Keep Bakersfield Beautiful (KBB) Committee and Mayor Hall to assist in improving our quality of life using a balanced approach to all other crime problems and additional community concerns. We will continue to work with KBB and the community to address the littering problem in the City of Bakersfield. CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: Community Services Committee FROM: Raul Rojas, Public Works Director DATE: February 20, 2013 SUBJECT: Caltrans Freeway Litter Report In light of recent discussions both in the media and at our most recent City Council meeting, the Solid Waste Division has been asked to research some funding sources and identify parameters for removing freeway litter. After meeting with Caltrans, private sector “sponsors”, the Bakersfield Homeless Center (BHC) staff, Kern Council of Governments (KCOG), and other partners, staff is prepared to propose a thorough freeway cleanup program at no cost to the City. The cost to adequately perform system-wide monthly freeway cleanup in the City is anticipated to be around $500,000. Funding for this program is expected to come primarily from Caltrans, who have stated that around $250,000 (or even more) is available annually for two years to Bakersfield in the event the City coordinates freeway cleanups in the City. KCOG has recently indicated $250,000 might be available through them. Additional funding is also anticipated from local private sector donors such as PG&E, Federal Express, KGET, and Kyle Carter, among others, who have expressed an interest in contributing financially and otherwise to a solution. Private sector funding would be “donated” into the Bakersfield Foundation. Funding from these sources would then be used to contract with the Bakersfield Homeless Center. Funding could also be used to pay for other costs associated with this program. The City already has a very successful agreement with BHC for this type of service at the Mount Vernon Green Waste Facility. Both the City and BHC are prepared to change the agreement to allow BHC clients to perform freeway cleanups. While $500,000 is estimated for system- wide solutions, partial solutions ($175,000) can mobilize a full-time crew and start to make a dent on the problem. The role of the City must be explained here. Freeway litter is a Caltrans responsibility but reflects unfavorably on the City. The City, through its Solid Waste Division, is uniquely positioned to study and develop freeway litter solutions. Keep Bakersfield Beautiful, organizationally within the Solid Waste Division, has been working with the Mayor, Caltrans, and other stakeholders looking for a solution to this problem. The Solid Waste Division is most familiar and best positioned to coordinate and implement a solution that routes and schedules various work crews and volunteer groups into a system-wide plan. Through KBB, the City already has the contacts with volunteers, sponsors, potential labor sources such as Cal Works, KC Probation Dept., and KC Sheriff’s Dept. We also already have a contract with BHC. Also important to note here is that not all litter is on freeways. A central scheduling and dispatch of crews to handle all litter problems, whether Caltrans freeways or City-areas, whether volunteers or paid, provides the most comprehensive approach to this problem. While County freeway litter issues are not addressed here, they can be incorporated into this discussion as well. Safety is the most critical concern to this endeavor. Freeway litter removal must be done with the utmost caution, and even with all safety measures implemented the task has inherent risk. It will be important to build this program with a safety first approach. Caltrans will need to provide traffic control as needed initially. Training for all crews working on main lines will occur, and signage should be available to alert traffic. Shadow vehicles, that block the path of oncoming vehicles from workers, will need to be in place. Volunteers will only be used on ramps deemed safe. BHC crews, who will be working the mainline, must have the proper safety equipment, will have to demonstrate the best safety training and procedures and these crews will need to be covered under the highest levels of insurance coverage. The City will need to protect itself from any liability associated with freeway litter clean up. Historically, safety is often cited as the main reason why different participants don’t get involved. If all potential parties excuse themselves due to safety, the litter on the freeway will remain and in fact get worse. Adequate safety procedures and protection from liability permits litter to be removed without putting the City at risk. Other labor groups may become available in time to improve the ability of Caltrans or the City to clean up freeways. These other groups are welcome and may lower the cost of funding this program. The problem with other groups has in the past been reliability. That’s why the BHC crews are such an important ongoing feature of this plan. As additional groups become available, to include volunteers such as the Mayor’s Freeway Cleanups, they only make the program better. If prisoners become available again, whether through the State or the County, these groups will be scheduled accordingly. BHC crews can be reduced as necessary as the problem of freeway litter is alleviated and funding reduced accordingly. The BHC crews are paid for work performed only. Of course, another feature of this program is providing a stepping-stone for high skill level homeless center clients to get back on their feet. But this is not a hand-out program. In fact, the Center is so eager to provide opportunities for their clients they have established extremely favorable rates to secure this opportunity, making it a great bargain for the City and Caltrans. But it is an important part of this program that while we are cleaning freeways that desperately need attention, we are creating the stepping stone for those in need to remove themselves from the cycle of homelessness and poverty. In time, other duties may be desired such as landscaping, vegetative control, sprinkler repair, among other things. Once an agreement is in place with Caltrans, new duties can be added. At this point in time, it is not recommended within the scope of these agreements as it will affect prevailing wage and public works projects clauses, which would make this initial solution cost-prohibitive. But, with the framework established for cooperation between Caltrans and the City, these can be addressed in the future. Recommendation: The problem of freeway litter requires immediate response such as identified herein. As ideas and new solutions present themselves, they can be incorporated into this plan. Staff recommends adoption of this report and authorization to proceed. Hi g h w a y  tr a s h  pi l i n g  up  fo l l o w i n g  lo s s  of  in m a t e  crews BY  AN T O N I E  BO E S S E N K O O L  Ca l i f o r n i a n  st a f f  wr i t e r Ex c e r p t  fr o m  Th e  Ba k e r s f i e l d  Ca l i f o r n i a n   Fe b .  16 ,  20 1 2 "( I t ' s ) a l m o s t l i k e a t h i r d ‐wo r l d c o u n t r y ‐‐ th a t b a d , " [R u s s ] s a i d . " I t w a s p r e t t y s h o c k i n g . . . a n d e m b a r r a s s i n g . " Ci t i z e n s  Sh a r e  Sh a m e  an d   Ou t r a g e  Ov e r  Lo c a l  L i t t e r   Ci t i z e n s  Sh a r e  Sh a m e  an d   Ou t r a g e  Ov e r  Lo c a l  L i t t e r   Fr e e w a y  l i t t e r  he l p i n g  us  li v e  up  to  im a g e  as  st a t e ’ s  ‘armpit’ CO M M U N I T Y  VO I C E  BY  SY B I L  VI L L A R Y O Ex c e r p t  fr o m  Th e  Ba k e r s f i e l d  Ca l i f o r n i a n   No v .  22 ,  20 1 2   “M y b r o t h e r v i s i t e d … a n d c o m m e n t e d o n h o w b a d t h e ro a d s l o o k b e c a u s e o f t h e t r a s h . … W h a t c a n b e d o n e … to c l e a n u p H i g h w a y 9 9 … ? Wh i c h  Ba k e r s f i e l d  ma k e s  yo u  mo r e  proud?  Be f o r e   Af t e r Ne g a t i v e  Im p a c t  of  L i t t e r  on  Ba k e r s f i e l d In c r e a s e s  Cr i m e  Pu b l i c  Bl a m e  on  th e  Ci t y  Sa f e t y  Ha z a r d s De c r e a s e s  To u r i s m    Pr o p e r t y  Va l u e s    Co m m u n i t y  Pr i d e    Bu s i n e s s e s  an d  Ta l e n t e d  Jo b  Se e k e r s ’  In t e r e s t  in  Locating Here Cu r r e n t  Ci t y  In v o l v e m e n t  on  Hw y  99 Ra m p s  an d  in t e r c h a n g e s  on l y  ‐ It ’ s  a st a r t …  Ma y o r ’ s  Hw y  99  En c r o a c h m e n t  Pe r m i t  Pa n a m a  Ln .  –B u c k  Ow e n s  Bl v d .  2 Sa t u r d a y s  pe r  mo n t h  (e x c e p t  su m m e r )  Hw y  17 8  Ra m p s  to  be  Ad d e d  KB B  w/ K e r n  Co u n t y  Yo u t h  Pr o b a t i o n  De p t .       Pa n a m a  Ln .  –B u c k  Ow e n s  Bl v d .  Sa t .  an d  Su n .  Su b j e c t  to  Av a i l a b i l i t y  KB B  w/ V o l u n t e e r s  Pa n a m a  Ln .  –B u c k  Ow e n s  Bl v d .  As  av a i l a b l e …b u t  it ’ s  no t  en o u g h Fr e e w a y  L i t t e r  Pr o p o s e d  So l u t i o n Wh a t ’ s  Ne e d e d  Ag r e e m e n t s  wi t h  Ca l t r a n s ,  BHC  Ca l t r a n s  Fu n d s  $2 5 0 K / Y e a r  for 2 Years  Ba k e r s f i e l d  Ho m e l e s s  Ce n t e r  Crews   Pr i v a t e  Se c t o r  Sp o n s o r s  Ke r n  CO G  Fu n d i n g  Vo l u n t e e r s ,  Pr i s o n e r s ,  BH C ,  Others Are  Al l  Pa r t  of  th e  So l u t i o n  Pu b l i c  Aw a r e n e s s  an d  Ed u c a t i o n    In c r e a s e d  En f o r c e m e n t  Re c o g n i t i o n  Sy s t e m ‐Wi d e   Sc h e d u l e  of Clean‐ups Wh a t ’ s  No t  Ne e d e d  Ci t y  Fu n d s  Ci t y  Pe r s o n n e l  (b e s i d e s  planning)  Ci t y  Eq u i p m e n t Hw y  99  Cl e a n ‐Up  Cr e w  Ro u t e 32  Ho u r s  To t a l  Sh o u l d e r s  Cr e w  Ti m e   16  Ho u r s  To t a l  Me d i a n s  Cr e w  Ti m e   ww w . K e e p B a k e r s f i e l d B e a u t i f u l . u s On l i n e  Ca l e n d a r   Su m m a r y  of  Ke y  Po i n t s  Fr e e w a y  li t t e r  ma k e s  a ma j o r  ne g a t i v e  im p r e s s i o n  on Bakersfield  Ca l t r a n s  ca n n o t  so l v e  th e i r  pr o b l e m  du e  to  bu d g e t  woes and  pr i s o n  re a l i g n m e n t  is s u e s  Ci t y  ca n  ta k e  th e  le a d  fo r  a po s i t i v e  ch a n g e  th r o u g h  a “delegated  ma i n t e n a n c e  ag r e e m e n t ”  wi t h  Ca l t r a n s  Fu n d i n g  av a i l a b l e  fr o m  Ca l t r a n s  ($ 2 5 0 K  or  mo r e )  Ad d i t i o n a l  po t e n t i a l  fu n d i n g  av a i l a b l e  Ke r n  CO G  ($ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 )  and  th r o u g h  pr i v a t e  se c t o r  do n a t i o n s  in t o  th e  Ba k e r s f i e l d  Foundation   Fu n d s  ad e q u a t e  fo r  sy s t e m ‐wi d e  mo n t h l y  cl e a n u p s  No  Ci t y  fu n d s  or  pe r s o n n e l  (b e s i d e s  pl a n n i n g  an d  sc h e d u l i n g )    Ba k e r s f i e l d  Ho m e l e s s  Ce n t e r  ha s  in s u r a n c e ,  ex p e r i e n c e  and  in f r a s t r u c t u r e  in  pl a c e  to  be  a cl e a n ‐up  cr e w  co n t r a c t o r    Vo l u n t e e r s  an d  ot h e r  pa r t n e r s  st i l l  we l c o m e     KB B / S o l i d  Wa s t e  is  pr e p a r e d  to  im p l e m e n t  an d  co o r d i n a t e  a  sc h e d u l e  of  cl e a n ‐up s Qu e s t i o n s ? Community Services Committee Calendar January 2013 Through December 2013 All meetings will be held at City Hall North, First Floor, Conference Room A Approved: DRAFT Community Services City Council Meetings Committee Meetings 3:30 Closed Session 12:00 p.m.5:15 Public Session Holidays - City Hall Closed MARCH SMTWTHFSSMTWTHFSSMTWTHFS 123451212 678910111234567893456789 131415161718191011121314151610111213141516 202122232425261718192021222317181920212223 2728293031242526272824252627282930 31 APRIL MAYJUNE SMTWTHFSSMTWTHFSSMTWTHFS 12345612341 789101112135678910112345678 14151617181920121314151617189101112131415 212223242526271920212223242516171819202122 28293026272829303123242526272829 30 JULY AUGUST SMTWTHFSSMTWTHFSSMTWTHFS 1234561231234567 7891011121345678910891011121314 141516171819201112131415161715161718192021 212223242526271819202122232422232425262728 28293031252627282930312930 OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER SMTWTHFSSMTWTHFSSMTWTHFS 12345121234567 67891011123456789891011121314 131415161718191011121314151615161718192021 202122232425261718192021222322232425262728 272829303124252627282930293031 League of California Cities Annual Conference - September 18 - 20, 2013 JANUARY FEBRUARY SEPTEMBER DOCUMENTS HANDED OUT AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING Media Notification for Community Services Committee Meeting Tuesday, February 26, 2013