Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/26/2013    Committee Members: Rhonda Smiley, Assistant to the City Manager Jacquie Sullivan, Chair Bob Smith Ward 1 Vacant AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, February 26, 2013 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 Councilmember Bob Smith Staff Present: Alan Tandy, City Manager Ginny Gennaro, City Attorney Rhonda Smiley, Asst. to the City Manager Joshua Rudnick, Deputy City Attorney Steven Teglia, Asst. to the City Manager Andy Heglund, Deputy City Attorney Chris Huot, Administrative Analyst Dianne Hoover, Rec. & Parks Director Lyle Martin, Assistant Police Chief Darin Budak, Asst. Rec. & Parks Director Raul Rojas, Public Works Director Nick Fidler, Assistant Public Works Director Kevin Barnes, Solid Waste Director Sal Moretti, Solid Waste Superintendent Jessica Felix, Solid Waste Community Relation Specialist Community Services Committee Meeting Agenda Summary Report Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Page 2   Others Present: Ahron Hakimi, KERN COG John Enriquez, Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Becky Napier, Kern COG Patrick Frase, Keep Bakersfield Beautiful John Liu, Cal Trans Susan Stussy, Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Katey Rusch, KGET – TV Norma Jackson, Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Tom Randour, KGET – TV Tom Burch, Keep Bakersfield Beautiful John Pilios, KGET – TV David Taylor, Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Scott Thackrey, KUZZ News Antonie Boessenkool, Bakersfield Californian Louis Gill, Bakersfield Homeless Center Carolann Wooton, Bakersfield Homeless Center 2. ADOPT OCTOBER 4, 2012 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT Adopted as submitted 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion and Committee Recommendation Regarding Freeway Litter Removal and Beautification Efforts 1. City of Oakland Excess Litter Fee Program – Gennaro City Attorney Ginny Gennaro provided a brief report regarding the City of Oakland’s excess litter fee. Ms. Gennaro stated that if the City chooses to implement a similar program, the City would be required to get voter approval due to the passage of Proposition 26, which requires local governments to secure local voter approval before implementing certain fees and an environmental review may also need to be conducted. Committeemember Bob Smith requested staff review options to require fast food businesses to increase the amount of signage at their location to discourage littering. 2. Enforcement Efforts Regarding Littering Incidents – Williamson Assistant Police Chief Lyle Martin stated littering is considered a misdemeanor or infraction in both the City and the State of California. An 18% increase in felony offenses has taken officers away from dealing with litter enforcement. Officers who observe littering offenses are expected to take enforcement action if they are not addressing or en route to higher priority incidents. In those circumstances, officers are to document a license plate to reach out to the vehicle owner at a later point in time. He also stated that the California Highway Patrol Office is committed to partnering with the Bakersfield Police Department to address uncovered loads on State Highway 58 and State Highway 99 by conducting special enforcement periods. Committeemember Bob Smith stated a general form letter similar to what the Air District uses to report individuals who litter may also be an option. The Police Department can then follow up with enforcement action. Community Services Committee Meeting Agenda Summary Report Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Page 3   3. Proposed Agreement with Caltrans for Freeway Litter Removal Program – Rojas/Moretti Public Works Director Raul Rojas thanked Solid Waste Division staff, Keep Bakersfield Beautiful volunteers, and Mayor Hall for all their efforts with the littering issue. He stated staff met with several groups including: Caltrans, The Bakersfield Homeless Center (BHC), Kern Council of Governments (KCOG), private sector sponsors, and other partners, which resulted in a feasible freeway cleanup program at no cost to the City. Funding for the program would be primarily provided by Caltrans. The funds would then be used to contract with the Bakersfield Homeless Center for labor assistance and pay for other costs associated with the program. Caltrans would also assist with the necessary lane closures for the clean ups. Work would be limited to the sides and slopes of the freeways due to safety concerns. Agreements with both entities would be necessary and forthcoming. Solid Waste Superintendent Sal Moretti provided a brief presentation summarizing the freeway cleanup program and incorporating it into a system-wide plan. Louis Gill with the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter stated there is a lot of excitement associated with this new partnership. The current partnership at the Green Waste facility has assisted many individuals who are working to reestablish themselves. 4. Proposed Kern COG Program for Freeway Litter Removal – Ahron Hakimi, Executive Director – Kern COG Executive Director Ahron Hakimi stated that KERN COG board members directed Kern COG staff to negotiate an agreement to partner with the City to provide funding from the Kern Motor Aide Authority for freeway litter removal which improves the overall safety of our freeways. 5. Freeway Landscaping: Sprinkler Repair and Maintenance – Rojas John Liu with Caltrans stated there is a large amount of deferred maintenance that Caltrans is trying to address. Irrigation maintenance is a very difficult and complex issue, irrigation lines can run for miles at a time and finding the source of a problem is difficult. Lower staffing levels have also worsened the issue. Public Works Director Rojas stated the irrigation system Caltrans utilizes is different and complex when compared to systems installed in homes. He also stated staff can work with Caltrans in prioritizing the most affected areas. Mr. Liu stated Caltrans is open to exploring other options including entering into agreements to assist in the maintenance of the irrigation system with the City or a contractor who specializes in commercial irrigation systems, providing funding to provide the services. City Manager Tandy asked if there is anything the City can do for additional funding from the State. Mr. Liu stated that the City always has the option to bring the funding of Caltrans maintenance activity up with our State Legislators. Community Services Committee Meeting Agenda Summary Report Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Page 4   Committee Chair Jacquie Sullivan asked staff to work with Mr. Liu on exploring alternatives for maintenance of the irrigation system. 6. Community Participation and Public Recognition Committee Chair Sullivan thanked the media for their attendance and media coverage regarding the litter issue. Tom Randour with KGET stated they are ready to assist with educating the general public on the issue. Many public service announcements have been aired to encourage individuals to cover their loads and help be part of the solution not the problem. They will also assist in recognizing everyone who donates funds through Bakersfield Foundation, companies who volunteer, etc. He also stated John Pilios with KGET will oversee the news participation on the litter issue. Committee Chair Sullivan asked staff to contact GET and find out if they have trash receptacles at each bus stop location. If not, what needs to be done to have one placed at each bus stop location that does not have one. Committee member Smith made a motion to present the agreements with Caltrans and the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter for the Freeway Litter Removal Program to the full City Council for approval. Motion was unanimously approved. B. Discussion and Committee Recommendation Regarding Adoption of 2013 Committee Meeting Schedule – Smiley Adopted as submitted 5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS None 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:05 P.M. cc: Honorable Mayor and Council