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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/25/2020CC / CH OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER Nov. 25, 2020 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Christian Clegg, City Manager SUBJECT: General Information City Offices will be CLOSED Thursday, November 26, and Friday, November 27 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. Curbside trash and recycling services will be delayed one day. Special Community Message  This year has been extremely difficult for many – if not all – of us in our local community, as well as nationally. I am proud of the Bakersfield community’s response to the pandemic and hope to encourage that response to continue during the holiday season and beyond. Please take a moment to read this Thanksgiving message to the City of Bakersfield. Notable Items  The City’s annual Holiday Grease Collection event returns next week for 2020. Starting Monday, November 30, residents are asked to bring any used cooking oil and grease to one of two drop-off locations for proper disposal. Pouring the oil and/or grease down home drains can result in clogged pipes, causing General Information Nov. 25, 2020 Page 2   backups and costly repairs. This free service provides a place to dispose of the oil and grease in a safe and environmentally-friendly way. The event ends Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.  The Brundage Lane Navigation Center has been open and accepting clients for a little more than a month now and we are already hearing great things from the facility. As of Wednesday, November 25, 61 clients are enrolled: 32 single men, 19 single women and five couples (10 individuals). There are also 11 pets in the shelter: nine dogs and two cats. Weekend intake has also recently started, and the BLNC received three clients this last weekend. Some of the best news, however, is that in the first month, the BLNC has already had four housing placements! BLNC staff have also made clients feel at home by celebrating birthdays as they’ve come up! So far, several celebrations have been held – completely unprompted, with staff coming up with this on their own. Staff and clients gather in the dining room to sing “Happy Birthday,” light candles and celebrate. The response has been wonderful. Theo Dues, program manager at the BLNC, says by watching the faces of those being celebrated, you can see just how long it’s been since someone remembered their birthdays. “Overall, I interpret our first month’s performance as exemplary,” Dues said. “We have faced many challenges, and are still at the front end of a long learning curve, but we are growing and learning and getting better day-by-day.”  The 40-bed expansion project at The Mission at Kern County is more than 90% complete and is expected to be finished by early December! A ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected in January 2021. The City of Bakersfield committed $1.1 million in Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP) funds to this project in one of the City’s many efforts to address homelessness in Bakersfield. See the progress (right). General Information Nov. 25, 2020 Page 3    Work at the Bakersfield Homeless Center is also underway, with construction for a modular restroom project starting today, November 25 and is expected to be completed by Friday December 4. The modular restroom should be in place by December 9. The 40-bed expansion project at the BHC is awaiting permits from the City and State before it can begin. These projects are being paid for by a combination of Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP), Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.  A member of our City Manager’s Office team – Brianna Carrier, Administrative Analyst III – has recently received her Essential Management Skills Certificate for completing the Emerging Leadership Development Program (ELDP). The ELDP is a valuable professional development resource offered by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the lead professional group for city management and public administration. Throughout the one-year program, Brianna participated in courses on Managing Local Government Services, Management Policies in Local Government Finance, Human Resource Management in Local Government, and Ethics. This program is designed to benefit early to mid-career professionals build knowledge, skills, and abilities in basic management and technical topics. This unique opportunity is not only content-rich, but also an important networking resource. In addition to the technical knowledge and discussions with her cohort, Brianna has also gained valuable insight into complex issues cities are facing across the country. Our office, as well as our departments across the City, continue to encourage employees to seek out professional development opportunities to stay up to date on the latest best practices in our industries. Congratulations to Brianna for completing the ELDP and earning the Essential Management Skills Certificate. The valuable knowledge from this program will continue to benefit the City for years to come.  The 37th Annual Bakersfield Toy Run and Canned Food Drive will be held December 11-13 (Friday through Sunday) at Bakersfield Harley Davidson (35089 Merle Haggard Drive). Donors are asked to bring one unwrapped toy and two cans of food (a suggested cash donation of $20 is also acceptable). Donors will be entered for a chance to win a gift card worth up to $500. In past years, the event has been held at Beach Park, but has been moved due to the pandemic. Toy run organizers plan to set up a pop-up in Beach Park on December 13 from 6:30 a.m. to noon to direct anyone not aware of this year’s drop-off location.  The McMurtrey Aquatic Center is re-opening for lap swim on Monday, November 30 after being closed for two and a half weeks for winter maintenance. All COVID-19 safety protocols are still in effect. Program protocols, schedules, fees and lane reservation information can be found on the Recreation & Parks Department’s aquatics webpage.  The Fourth Annual Christmas Tree Lighting is set for 4:30 p.m. Saturday, November 28 at Centennial Plaza in front of Mechanics Bank Arena. Santa Claus is expected to arrive after 5 p.m. and the lighting will take place shortly after that. This event will be General Information Nov. 25, 2020 Page 4   livestreamed on the City’s Facebook page.  The Bakersfield Fire Department received a nice visit from a Bakersfield High School sophomore and her family this week, presenting a poster from the Associated Student Body to the department thanking the firefighters for their service and keeping the community safe! The poster was accepted by the department’s public information officer Michael Walkley (right). Thank you for your appreciation and thoughtfulness!  We also appreciate the generous donation of several hundred smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers (below) by the Home Depot on Rosedale Highway to the Bakersfield Fire Department. Each City fire engine carries three smoke detectors and three carbon monoxide detectors so they can be installed in homes if residents need assistance. These will certainly come in handy as part of that mission! Traffic Advisories  Reconstruction of Truxtun Avenue and H Street The City of Bakersfield will begin work on the reconstruction of the Truxtun Avenue and H Street intersection on Saturday, November 28. This work will require traffic detours and lane closures from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. General Information Nov. 25, 2020 Page 5   During the first phase of reconstruction, traffic heading south on F Street will be detoured at 17th Street, northbound traffic will be detoured at 16th Street. During the second phase of the project, the intersection of Truxtun Avenue and H Street will be reduced to right turns only. These changes are expected to result in traffic delays. Drivers are advised to use caution and allow extra travel time while driving in the area, or to use alternate routes. The intersection is expected to be open to traffic in all directions by 7 p.m. Saturday, November 28. Please note: Construction work may be postponed and rescheduled without notice due to inclement weather or other unforeseen conditions. The City thanks the public for its patience during the completion of these improvements.  Overnight closure planned on California Avenue California Avenue will be closed at Easton Drive during nighttime hours on Monday November 30. This closure is scheduled between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. and is needed to lower the bridge into place. Residents can detour around the work zone by using Oak Street to Truxtun Avenue and then Mohawk Street if traveling west and Mohawk Street to Truxtun Avenue and then Oak Street if traveling east. Construction schedules may be changed without notice due to unforeseen circumstances. The Thomas Roads Improvement Program apologizes for any inconvenience this work may cause the traveling public. Reports  Streets Division work schedule for Nov. 30 through Dec. 11, 2020.  WARN notice from In-Shape Health Clubs, LLC. Events  Fourth Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, November 28 at Centennial Plaza in front of Mechanics Bank Arena.  Live Stream Vaccine: The Entertainment Cure: Niner Niner with Matt Salkeld, 7 p.m. Friday, December 4. City Manager’s Office 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-326-3751 FAX: 661-324-1850 MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Joe Conroy Monday, Nov. 23, 2020 Public Information Officer 661-326-3074 JConroy@bakersfieldcity.us THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY TRASH COLLECTION SCHEDULE The Thanksgiving holiday will bring some changes to the normal trash collection schedule. There will be no trash pick-up on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. All Thursday trash, recycling and green waste services will be completed on Friday, November 27. Friday collections will be made on Saturday, November 28. The Mt. Vernon Green Waste Facility will also be closed on November 26, re-opening on November 27 at 7 a.m. The City of Bakersfield’s Solid Waste Division wishes residents a very happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday! For more information, please contact Ariam Isaac, Business Manager, Solid Waste Division, at 661-326-3114. ### City Manager’s Office 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-326-3751 FAX: 661-324-1850 To our Bakersfield Community, This has been a very unpredictable and challenging year. The pandemic has pushed all of us to our limits. By now, many of us are understandably feeling tired and numb from COVID fatigue. I understand the personal challenges that many are facing; I acknowledge that we still have much work to do to recover and make our community better. But please allow me a moment to share some positive thoughts about how we can be thankful and how we can show thanks. • I am thankful to be planting roots with my family in a wonderful new community. I am thankful for how friendly and welcoming everyone has been. Bakersfield is a great place to live. • I am thankful for the incredible generosity I have witnessed as this community has donated food, supplies, time and money to those impacted by the pandemic. • I am thankful for our health care, public health and public safety workers. • I am thankful for how this community has come together in response to the pandemic. • I am thankful for the many individuals and organizations that have stretched themselves to make sure services and goods are still available to our community. • I am thankful for all the support that has been shown for our residents’ local businesses most impacted by the pandemic. • I am thankful to be able to spend the upcoming holidays with my family. There are so many things that are not in our control. Let me suggest some things I can do in coming weeks to show thanks, that are in my control: • I can show thanks by taking advantage of every minute I have with family. • I can show thanks by donating to the many local agencies providing food and supplies to those in need during the holidays. • I can show thanks by supporting local restaurants. • I can show thanks by doing my holiday shopping locally. • I can show thanks by doing what I can to keep my family healthy and safe. We are fortunate to live, work and raise our families in such a wonderful place. It is up to us, working together, to keep Bakersfield the great place we know it to be. Best wishes to you and your families for this upcoming holiday season. Take care and stay safe. Christian Clegg Bakersfield City Manager City Manager’s Office 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-326-3751 FAX: 661-324-1850 MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Joe Conroy Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020 Public Information Officer (661) 326-3074 JConroy@bakersfieldcity.us GREASE COLLECTION EVENT RETURNS FOR 2020 HOLIDAYS The City of Bakersfield’s annual Holiday Grease Collection event returns for 2020, offering a safe disposal option for cooking oil and grease for City residents. Disposing of used cooking oil and grease down residential drains can result in clogged pipes and other damage, causing backups. Instead, residents can stop by either of the City’s Holiday Grease Collection locations and dispose of used oil and grease in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Residents are asked to collect their used cooking oil and grease in sealed containers before dropping it off at the locations. There is no charge to dispose of used cooking oil and grease during the event. The 2020 Holiday Grease Collection event kicks off Monday, November 30 and ends Friday, January 8. Cooking oil and grease drop-off locations:  City of Bakersfield Wastewater Treatment Plant 3, 6901 McCutchen Road  North of River Sanitary District Main Office, 204 Universe Avenue Residents may drop off their used cooking oil and grease at those locations Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is closed on December 24 and 25, as well as December 31 and January 1, 2021. For more information, please contact the Wastewater Division at 661-326-3249. ### City of Bakersfield Holiday Grease Collection Event Monday November 30, 2020 through Friday, January 8, 2021 FREE for Residents Closed: Christmas, December 24-25 and New Year’s, December 31 & January 1 Cooking oil and grease drop-off locations and time: Wastewater Treatment Plant 3, 6901 McCutchen Road NORSD Main Office, 204 Universe Avenue Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (661) 326-3249 Wastewater Treatment Plant 3 6901 McCutchen Road (661) 326-3249 NORSD Main Office 204 Universe Avenue (661) 399-6411 4th Annual PLEASE REMEMBER TO Mayor Karen Goh and City Councilmembers will be joined by Santa Claus for the ceremony. Music and a live nativity will also be provided at the event. The event starts at 4:30 p.m., with the lighting following Santa's arrival. Christmas TreeLighting Saturday, November 28 / 4:30 p.m. Centennial Plaza at Mechanics Bank Arena 1001 Truxtun Avenue MAINTAIN PROPER SOCIAL DISTANCE FROM OTHERS (at least six feet) WEAR A MASK OR FACE COVERING AVOID TOUCHING OTHERS AND PUBLIC SURFACES IF POSSIBLE Week of november30_2020_Work Schedule Page 1 of 2 STREETS DIVISION – WORK SCHEDULE Week of November 30, 2020—December 11, 2020 Resurfacing/Reconstructing streets in the following areas: Concrete repairs – 22nd St from B St To F St Island work (concrete)—E 19th and Truxtun Alley work in Ward 2 Paving on 22nd St – from D St to F St Section repairs – Old River Rd from Taft Hwy to McCutchen Rd Section repairs –southbound Coffee Rd between Jet Way and Brimhall Miscellaneous Streets Division projects: Video inspection of City owned sewer and storm lines to evaluate condition of pipes Repairing damaged sewer line found during video inspection Miscellaneous concrete repairs throughout the City Concrete work in the Old Town Kern HUD area Concrete work in the Wilson HUD area Concrete work in the E California HUD area Leaf pickup program ongoing from October 15, 2020 – January 15, 2021 Week of november30_2020_Work Schedule Page 2 of 2 STREETS SWEEPING SCHEDULE Monday, November 30, 2020 Makeup day Tuesday, December 1, 2020 California to Brundage, Oak to Union Wednesday, December 2, 2020 Panorama Area Thursday, December 3, 2020 E. Brundage to Flower, Union to Williams Friday, December 4, 2020 College to Paladino, Morning to Columbus Monday, December 7, 2020 Jastro Park Area Tuesday, December 8, 2020 Ming to Panama, Wible to S.H Wednesday, December 9, 2020 Brundage to Pacheco, S.H to Cottonwood Thursday, December 10, 2020 Truxtun to Ming, Ashe to Oak Friday, December 11, 2020 Belle Terrace to Pacheco, New Stine to Wible 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 sweepers are in Fleet for repairs. Areas that have been missed during this time will be swept at the end of the month only when possible. November 18, 2020 VIA EMAIL & US MAIL Mayor@bakersfieldcity.us Hon. Karen Goh, Mayor City of Bakersfield City Hall South 1501 Truxtun Avenue Bakersfield, CA 93301 Dear Mayor: This is to inform you that In-Shape Health Clubs, LLC has conducted a “mass layoff” effective November 23, 2020. In-Shape Health Clubs 3409 Coffee Road Bakersfield, CA 93308 This action currently is expected to be temporary. The date we may resume operations if possible is unknown and will depend on the length of the crisis and further direction from state and local officials. The separations will take place on November 23, 2020. Enclosed is a listing of the job titles of the positions that are affected and the number of affected employees in each job classification. The reason for the action is: the involuntary closure of most of our health clubs, and the statewide and local orders to discontinue indoor operations that are deemed “not essential.” These are business circumstances that could not have been foreseen at the time notice would have normally been required under the California or federal WARN Acts. The layoffs occurred immediately after it became clear that the state’s order closing all indoor operations in In-Shape’s health clubs, most recently issued on November 16, 2020, and related county orders related to the mitigation and prevention of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, are going to continue in effect for an indeterminate period of time. There are no bumping rights at this facility. No employee is represented by a Union. You may contact Gina Aaron, the Company’s Vice President of People Operations, at (209) 922-0006 for further information. Very truly yours, GINA AARON Chief People Officer In-Shape Health Clubs, LLC 6507 Pacific Ave., #344, Stockton, CA 95207 Enclosure Attachment to Local and State WARN Notices Temporary separations effective November 23, 2020: Job Title Number of Positions MEMBER EXPERIENCE AMBASSADOR 11 CLUB CUSTODIAN 5 KID ZONE TEAM MEMBER 1