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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/10/2013 OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER May 10, 2013 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager AT/al SUBJECT: General Information As reported last week, over the next two Council meetings, individual departments will provide you with an in-depth look at their respective budgets. On May 15th, the Public Works, Community Development and Water Resources Departments will each make their presentations during the 3:30 segment of the meeting, and the Police Department will follow with theirs during the 5:15 portion. Staff respectfully reminds Councilmembers that if there are any changes they want to make in the proposed budget, please let us know as soon in the process as possible. Doing so can prevent confusion, lack of relevant information, etc., at the last moment. Freeway Clean-up  The Bakersfield Homeless Center crew started May 3rd, and has been focused on Highway 99 clean-up this week, working daily. You can see them between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. along the slopes of the mainline, with a Caltrans bumper truck as their shadow vehicle. All of the northbound, and part of southbound, Highway 99 mainline from Panama Lane to Golden State Avenue will be completed this week. In this first round, small sections may have been skipped as safety issues are worked out with Caltrans. In addition, volunteer crews have been cleaning several Highway 99 ramps this week. Next week, hopefully by Wednesday, they will start on eastbound Highway 58, from the intersection with Highway 99. Attached are some before and after pictures. Miscellaneous News  I am pleased to inform you that the State Department of Finance has indicated that they will reverse a previous decision, and will now approve funding for the Mill House as an enforceable obligation. We should receive this news in writing very soon. Many thanks go to Nelson Smith, Finance Director, and Joshua Rudnick, Deputy City Attorney for their tireless efforts to advocate on our behalf! General Information May 10, 2013 Page 2  As you are aware, a section of Stine Road, just south of Panama Lane caved in late Saturday evening, and the cause was determined to be a failure of the sewer liner. City crews and private contractors, in conjunction with California Water Service, have been working almost non-stop to correct the situation. An emergency resolution is on the upcoming agenda to approve the necessary funding.  The dust storm this week also caused problems this week, including downed trees and walls of tumbleweeds that required clearing. My thanks to all of the staff who worked diligently to address it all. Some pictures are attached that provide a good idea of what they faced.  In keeping with Public Service Recognition Week, our Employee Appreciation Team, led by Christi Tenter, Human Resources Manager, delivered an exceptional effort on behalf of our employees. On Thursday, they hosted the Employee Appreciation Breakfast, which was very well-received by City staff. Due to budget constraints over the last five years, this particular component of our recognition program could not be held, so it was especially gratifying to be able to reinstate this event to show our appreciation to all of our employees. My appreciation goes out to Christi and the other Employee Incentive Team members for their outstanding efforts!  On Monday, the California Supreme Court ruled that cities and counties can ban marijuana dispensaries from operating within their boundaries. Advocates argue that allowing local governments to bar dispensaries thwarts the intent of the State's medical marijuana law, the nation's first, to make the drug accessible to residents with a doctor’s recommendation to use it. There is no doubt that this issue will be bantered about for quite some time, as there are strong feelings on both sides.  Reminder: National Peace Officer Memorial Week is May 12-18, 2013. Chief Williamson invites everyone to attend special ceremonial activities on May 13th that are intended to honor law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the community. TRIP Traffic Advisories  Potholing for Centennial Corridor utilities will begin next Thursday, May 16th, and continue for the next three to four weeks. Crews will be working in the Truxtun Avenue to Coffee Road area; on State Route 58 between Cottonwood Road and State Route 99; and along State Route 99 near the Ming Avenue, Stockdale Highway, and Rosedale Highway interchanges. Crews may also be on the side streets in these areas. Some lane closures are anticipated - TRIP will issue traffic advisories as necessary. General Information May 10, 2013 Page 3  Motorists are advised to anticipate a nighttime lane closure for the outside southbound lane on Coffee Road, between Truxtun Avenue and Brimhall Road, on Tuesday and Wednesday May 14-15, 2013, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. This will allow the contractor to remove the concrete barrier rail that has been separating traffic from the work area and replace it with temporary delineators. One southbound lane will remain open to traffic while work is underway, and both lanes will reopen in time for the morning commute. Northbound lanes will not be impacted. Motorists should anticipate frequent nighttime lane closures and changes to the existing traffic patterns in this area in the coming weeks as the contractor for the Westside Parkway completes road widening, paving, and other street improvements. Events Rabobank Theater Rabobank Arena Bright House Networks Amphitheater Bakersfield Symphony  Saturday, May 11th  8:00 p.m.  Tickets: $34 - $50 Juanes  Friday, May 17th  8:00 p.m.  Tickets: $30 - $75 Dark Hotel California  Saturday, May 11th  8:00 p.m.  Tickets: $10 Referral Response  Councilmember Maxwell o Street Repairs at Pacific and Stockton Streets  Councilmember Sullivan o Report regarding Synthetic Marijuana Reports For your information, we enclose the following:  Streets Division work schedule for the week of May 13th AT:rs:al cc: Department Heads Roberta Gafford, City Clerk Before After Union and Berkshire Eastbound White Lane C:\Users\alawrenc\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\UAXZJX7J\_383_Street_Repairs[1].docx CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM TO: Alan Tandy, City Manager FROM: Raul Rojas, Public Works Director DATE: May 9, 2013 SUBJECT: Street Repairs at Pacific and Stockton Streets Referral No. 383 The requested street repairs were completed the week of April 22, 2013. To further improve the condition of the streets, blade sealing was done on May 8, 2013. Councilmember Maxwell requested that staff repair cracks and potholes in the area of Pacific and Stockton Streets. BAKERSFIELD POLICE MEMORANDUM TO: ALAN TANDY, CITY MANAGER FROM: GREG WILLIAMSON, CHIEF OF POLICE DATE: May 9, 2014 SUBJECT: Report Regarding Synthetic Marijuana Council Referral No. 389 Council Member Sullivan requested that staff provide an update on how the City is handling the issue of synthetic marijuana that is being sold openly and legally. The Bakersfield Police Department and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) have worked vigorously on synthetic cannabis or “Spice” distribution in the city. They have sent letters to all known retailers as to the federal laws and regulations in regards to Spice. Several seizures of Spice and numerous arrests have been made in the past. California recently enacted Health and Safety Code11357.5, which states, it is a misdemeanor to distribute synthetic cannabinoid. Five separate synthetic cannabinoid compounds are listed in this code section. Investigations and arrests using state law are often frustrated when chemists make minor alterations to the listed synthetic compounds rendering them to be technically legal. The BPD and DEA are jointly involved in numerous ongoing investigations. Providing additional information might compromise these investigations. The police department will provide more information as it becomes appropriate to do so. GSW/vrf Week of May 13_2013_Work Schedule Page 1 of 2 STREETS DIVISION – WORK SCHEDULE Week of May 13, 2013 – May 17, 2013 Resurfacing/Reconstructing streets in the following areas: Reconstructing various streets in the area east of Buck Owens Blvd. and north of Select Ave Resurfacing streets in the area south of Panama Ln and east of Akers Rd for resurfacing Sealing streets in the area east of Union Ave and North of Brundage Ln Reconstructing Ardmore St between Akers Rd and Stine Rd Preparing various streets in the area south of E. California Ave and west of MLK Blvd for reconstruction (HUD funded area) Preparing various streets in the area south of Palm Ave and west of “H” St for reconstruction (HUD funded area) Miscellaneous Streets Division projects: Construction of spray pad at Siemon Park Video inspection of City owned Sewer & Storm lines to evaluate condition of pipes Miscellaneous concrete repairs throughout the city Installing handicap ramps on MLK Blvd between E California & E Brundage, Beale Ave between Monterey and Bernard St and Panama Ln between So. “H” St & Monitor prior to CIP project Building temporary parking lot at north end of Sports Village phase 2 using asphalt grindings Concrete work in the area north of Flower St and east of Alta Vista (HUD funded area) Asphalt repair on Stine Rd south of Panama at sewer cave-in THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Week of May 13_2013_Work Schedule Page 2 of 2 STREETS SWEEPING SCHEDULE Monday, May 13, 2013 Between So. “H” St. & Union Avenue – Pacheco Rd. & Hosking Rd. Between Stockdale Hwy. & Truxtun Ave. (ext.) – Coffee Rd & Partridge Ave. Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Between 99 Hwy. & So. “H” St. – Ming Ave. & Panama Ln. Cul-De-Sacs on the north side of Magdelena Ave., west of So. “H” St. Wednesday, May 15, 2013 City areas between Workman St. & Sterling Rd. – 58 Hwy. & Baja Dr. Between Morning Dr. & Park Dr. – College Ave. & Willis Ave. Between Buena Vista Rd. & Old River Rd. – White Ln. & Panama Ln. Between Old River Rd. & Gosford Rd. – White Ln. & Pacheco Rd. Thursday, May 16, 2013 City areas between Stockdale Hwy. & Ming Ave. – Ashe Rd. & Gosford Rd. Between El Portal/Laurelglen Blvd. & Ashe Rd. – Ming Ave. & So. Halfmoon/Olympia Dr. Between Ashe Rd. & Stine Rd. – Ming Ave. & So. Halfmoon/Edgemount Dr. Between Coffee Rd. & Wilson Rd. (ext.) – White Ln. & So. Halfmoon/Olympia Dr. Friday, May 17, 2013 Between Stockdale Hwy. & Ming Ave. – Allen Rd. & Old River Rd. Between Old River Rd. & Coffee Rd. – Ming Ave. & Ridge Oak/Westwold Dr. Between Ridge Oak/Westwold Dr. & White Ln. – Old River Rd., east to the PG&E easement. Between White Ln. & Asperata Dr. – Gosford Rd,, west to the PG&E easement. Between White Ln. & Cederwood Dr. – Stine Rd. & Wilson Rd. (ext.) NOTE: If raining, there will be no street sweeping service and all street cleaning personnel will be assigned to cleaning plugged drains and part circle culverts. This also applies when a large number of street sweeper are in Fleet for repairs. Areas that have been missed during this time will be swept at the end of the month.