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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/07/2021CC OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER May 7, 2021 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Christian Clegg, City Manager SUBJECT: General Information Notable Items  This was National Public Service Recognition Week, honoring those who serve the public as government employees and for the first time in two years, City leadership was happy to be able to host our (normally) annual Employee Appreciation Breakfast! The event was canceled last year due to the pandemic, and this year our Employee Incentive Team was able to coordinate a drive-thru-style breakfast, providing burritos to employees at Beach Park on Friday, May 7. Staff – joined by Mayor Karen Goh and Councilmember Andrae Gonzales (Ward 2) – was very excited to be able hold this event again to show our appreciation, especially General Information May 7, 2021 Page 2 given the work our employees have done throughout the pandemic, keeping the City open and continuing to provide high-levels of services to our residents. Thank you to all of our great employees!  On Saturday, May 1, the Bakersfield Police Department partnered with Motor City and the Bakersfield College Automotive program to host a Catalytic Converter Etching event to help deter criminals from stealing the part. Students in the Bakersfield Automotive program etched catalytic converters on 70 vehicles during the event (right). The BPD is planning similar events in the future and will announce when dates, times and locations are finalized.  The Clean City Initiative’s pop-up bulky item drive-thru events on May 1 were a hit once again, collecting more than 32,000 pounds of waste items. That’s more than 16 tons! This past weekend’s events were held at the parking lots of Kaiser Permanente Sports Village and at the Maya Cinemas, a new location for the events. Residents disposed of nearly 19,000 pounds of trash items at the Sports Village – including 1,100 pounds of recycling and 63 mattresses – and another 13,200 pounds at the Maya Cinemas location. These events have proved quite popular with residents since launching in January. They have been made possible thanks to funding from the Public Safety & Vital Services (PSVS) Measure. More large item drop-off events will be announced on the News section of the City’s website and social media pages when dates and locations are finalized. General Information May 7, 2021 Page 3  Our recently launched Clean City Initiative clean teams are already making a great impact around the City! A regular “field check” by our staff found illegal dumping in an alleyway in the 100 block of Goodman Street and we were able to get the Bakersfield Homeless Center cleanup crew out to clear it. The team removed 264 bags worth of trash and 50 miscellaneous items from the area and as you can tell from the before and after pictures (below), it looks much better! The Clean City Initiative and this team – along with the one contracted through the California Highway Adoption Company – is funded through the Public Safety & Vital Services (PSVS) Measure.  The City’s Animal Care Center administered almost 300 vaccinations to dogs at the May low-cost vaccine and licensing clinic held May 1 at Lowell Park. During the drive-thru event, staff gave 286 vaccinations to 146 pets, issued 90 licenses and 50 microchips as well. The next clinic is set for June 5 at Jastro Park on Truxtun Avenue.  Several programs and activities through the Recreation & Parks Department either have returned, or are expected to soon. First, the department’s partnership with the adaptive sports organization the League of Dreams is running again. Baseball games for young athletes with physical or developmental disabilities started on April 18 on Sundays and run through May 23. Recreation & Parks is currently working on a risk-mitigation plan to safely bring our popular adult softball leagues back to the field perhaps as soon as the end of May. General Information May 7, 2021 Page 4 We are also preparing for the summer aquatics season to begin on June 21. Programs will follow COVID-19 industry guidance provided by the State and County public health departments. The summer aquatics programs include: • Swimming lessons: Available to all ages at a variety of City-operated pools. Class schedules and registration details are expected to be available by the end of the month. • Youth swim clinics: This program is designed for proficient swimmers ready to join a swim team. Stroke development and daily workout plans will be provided by an instructor distanced six feet from participants. • Junior lifeguard classes: This class introduces teens to the vital skills needed to become a future lifeguard. • Adult lap swimming: This water fitness program is offered all year at the McMurtrey Aquatic Center. A variety of lap swim times are offered Monday through Saturday. Updates for these programs and schedules can be found on the Recreation & Parks webpage.  Recreation & Parks has started construction on a park access improvements project at five City-maintained parks. The project – funded by the Public Safety & Vital Services (PSVS) Measure – includes renovating parking lots and service roads with American Disability Act improvements. The parking lots will therefore be closed at various stages during the completion of those improvements. The entire project is expected to be completed by early July. The improvements will be made at the following parks in this order: • Patriots Park (began May 6, below) • Grissom Park • Wilson Park • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park • Siemon Park The City appreciates the public’s understanding and patience during the completion of these improvements. General Information May 7, 2021 Page 5  Fire blight is unfortunately having a negative impact on some of our trees in northwest Bakersfield. Recreation & Parks has reported losing 25 Bradford Pear trees to the blight so far. Most of them are along the west side of Coffee Road near Hageman Road. These young 25 trees were planted in late 2019 and were not well-established yet. Recreation & Parks staff is working to remove the trees in the coming days and our annual contractor will replace them with Bay Trees. That work is expected to be completed by the end of May.  The California Department of Finance has released its annual population estimates for the state as of January 2021 and it shows Bakersfield continues to grow! The new population estimate has crept even closer to the 400,000 mark, with an estimate of 397,392. That total reflects an estimated growth of 0.8 percent, and means Bakersfield remains the ninth-largest city in the state, ahead of Anaheim (353,468) and behind Oakland (435,514). Additionally, looking at year-over-year housing data, Bakersfield (1,339) ranked second to only Los Angeles (2,291) in the number of reported single- family housing unit growth. Of the four largest cities that saw population increases, Bakersfield had the largest percentage increase. Overall, the state population decreased by an estimated 182,083 people, and the negative growth rate is the first 12-month decline since state population estimates have been recorded.  The City of Bakersfield is losing some terrific leadership and a wealth of institutional knowledge. This week I received letters of resignation from Assistant City Manager Jacqui Kitchen and Public Works Director Nick Fidler. A Bakersfield native, Jacqui joined the City as Planning Director in 2014 after eight years with Kern County, eventually moving up to Director of the Development Services Department and then Assistant City Manager in 2019. Jacqui has been a crucial member of the City Manager’s Office and has led the way on a number of important projects for the City, including overseeing the purchase and construction of the Brundage Lane Navigation Center, spearheading the return of the City’s Economic & Community Development Department, and working with external stakeholders to strengthen the City’s position at a regional and statewide level, all in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jacqui has also been a champion for the City and has successfully worked with countless developers and businesses who have invested in the community. Jacqui’s last day with the City will be May 14. I thank her for her tireless work as a member of our team, her mentorship to our Staff, and wish her the best in her new venture in the private sector. A national recruitment effort to find her successor will begin immediately.  I also want to thank Nick Fidler for his service to the City, which stretches over 22 years. The definition of born and raised in Bakersfield, Nick started as a Temporary Engineer I in 1997, working his way up to lead the Public Works Department in 2014 – with some stints with Kern County and CalTrans in between. General Information May 7, 2021 Page 6 In his time as Director, Nick has overseen a variety of major City projects, including the Thomas Roads Improvement Program, starting during the final phase of the Westside Parkway. Since then, Nick has been active in the construction of all major State Routes in the metro area, including Highways 43, 58, 99 and 178. He’s helped carry TRIP to the final phases of connecting Highways 99 and 58 to the Westside Parkway through the construction of the Centennial Corridor. He was also instrumental in the design and construction of the Bakersfield Police Training Facility and the Brundage Lane Navigation Center. Most recently, he helped launch the Clean City Initiative, helping keep trash off our streets and out of our neighborhoods. We will miss Nick’s leadership and knowledge and wish him the best in his new position with another Southern California city. The City will immediately begin a national recruitment effort to fill this position. Assistant Public Works Director Stuart Patteson will serve as acting director effective May 25 until a successor is chosen.  Though we’ll have some departures from our ranks, we’ve also added a new team member this week. On Monday, Rick Anthony started his tenure as Director of the Recreation & Parks Department. Rick, a Bakersfield native, spent the past 10 years serving as the Director of Recreation and Parks for Anne Arundel County in Maryland. During his time there, he guided the large agency in both policy and operational practices and has ensured the Department provided both active and passive recreation opportunities for the community of over 500,000 residents. Rick is a proud alumnus of South High School and Bakersfield College and is also a Certified Parks & Recreation Executive through the National Recreation and Parks Association as well as a Veteran of the United States Air Force. Welcome to the team, Rick! Traffic Advisories  Overnight alternating lane closures planned on southbound Highway 99 Nighttime lane closures have been scheduled for the northbound State Route 99 from Ming Avenue to State Route 58. The closure will take place on May 9 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. alternating the three lanes, with at least one lane remaining open at all times. The on-ramps at Ming Avenue and Wible Road will be closed during this time. The northbound State Route 99 to eastbound State Route 58 will also be closed. The closure is needed for re-striping work. 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. General Information May 7, 2021 Page 7  Nighttime closure planned on California Avenue California Avenue will be closed in both directions between Easton Drive and Marella Way on Thursday, May 13. This closure is scheduled from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The closure is needed for bridge work. Traffic will be routed using Oak Street to Truxtun Avenue to Mohawk Street if traveling west and Mohawk Street to Truxtun Avenue to 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  Recreation & Parks Department Rapid Response Team report, April 25 - May 1, 2021.  Monthly TRIP status report, May 2021. Events  Colorado Eagles at Bakersfield Condors, 6 p.m. Friday, May 7 at Mechanics Bank Arena. Limited in-person attendance.  Live Stream Vaccine: The Second Dose, Nate Parrish with Modern Wives and NineFingers, 7 p.m. Friday, April 23.  San Diego Gulls at Bakersfield Condors, 5 p.m. Saturday, May 8 at Mechanics Bank Arena. Limited in-person attendance. RRT Weekly Report For the week of 4/25/21-5/1/2021 City Council and/or Public Requests • None City Source Requests • None Projects Completed by RRT 1. Sister Cities (encampment clean-up) • The RRT assisted Code Enforcement with an encampment clean-up. One truck load of trash was removed and disposed of. • Work began and was completed on 4/26/2021. 2. Gosford Rd. & Ming Ave. (block wall board-up) • The RRT responded to board up a block wall that was damaged by a vehicular accident on the east side of Gosford Rd. north of Ming Ave. • Work began and was completed on 4/26/2021. 3. Siemon Park (new trash enclosure) • The RRT completed the last phase of the new trash enclosure project which included fabricating and installing a new cover, in addition to painting the new cover and recently installed doors. • Work began on 4/27/2021 and was completed on 4/29/2021. Miscellaneous 1. Wayside Park (restroom fire damage repairs – vandalism) • The RRT continued with the bathroom repairs. Work on the interior continues. • 4/25/2021- Continued installation of toilets, urinals and sinks. • 4/26/2021- Completed caulking the toilets, sinks and urinals. • 4/27/2021- Prepped and painted the outside of spray park pump room. • 4/28/2021- Completed painting the pump room and cleaned up work area. 2. Centennial Park (women’s restroom security gate repair – vandalism) • The RRT repaired the damaged women’s restroom security gate, due to vandalism. • Work began on and was completed on 4/28/2021. 3. River Run Blvd. & Astoria Dr. (block wall board-up) • The RRT responded to board up a block wall that was damaged by a vehicular accident on the north west corner of River Run Blvd. and Astoria Dr. • Work began on and was completed on 4/29/2021. 4. Kaiser Permanente Sports Village Stadium (portable restroom set-up) • The RRT opened the facility and connected the portable restroom trailers for a scheduled reservation on 5/1/21. 5. Jastro Park (new trash enclosure) • The RRT started Phase 2 on the new trash enclosure, fabricating new doors. 6. City Hall North (tree limb removal) • The RRT removed a low hanging tree limb in the north employee parking lot. • Work began on and was completed on 5/1/2021. Ongoing Projects 1. Greystone Park (trash enclosure modification) • The RRT will schedule fabrication of a new cover on the existing trash enclosure. 2. McMurtrey Aquatics Center (wrought iron fence modification) • The RRT will schedule wrought iron fence modification on west side concession area to prevent illegal entry. 3. Jastro Park (new trash enclosure) • The RRT will schedule fabrication and installation of a security cover and gates for the new trash enclosure. 4. Beale Park (new trash enclosure) • The RRT will schedule fabrication and installation of a security cover and gates for the new trash enclosure. Weekly Data: Assignment Locations Job Description Date Man Hours Equip/Hours Misc. Cost Weight Approx. lbs. Wayside Park Restroom Fire Damage Repairs 4/25/2021 4/26/2021 4/27/2021 4/28/2021 30 19.5 30 20 30 19.5 20 20 $88.70 $296.07 $353.27 $10.15 0 Sister Cities Encampment Clean-up 4/26/2021 6 6 $0 0 Gosford & White Ln Block Wall Board-up 4/26/2021 3 3 $97.40 0 Siemon Park New Trash Enclosure 4/27/2021 4/28/2021 4/29/2021 15 35 28 15 29 22 0 $126.78 $86.38 0 0 0 Centennial Park Women’s Restroom Security Gate Repairs (Vandalism) 4/28/2021 2 2 0 0 River Run Blvd. & Astoria Dr. Block Wall Board-up 4/29/2021 9 12 $685.44 0 City Hall North Tree Limb Removal 4/29/2021 4 4 0 0 Kaiser Permanente Trailer Portable toilets 5/1/2021 3 3 0 0 Jastro park Trash enclosure project 4/29/2021 4/30/2021 5/1/2021 6 34 37 9 34 28.5 $992.66 0 0 0 0 0 Totals: Projects Completed: 9 7 291.5 Hrs. 267 Hrs. $2,736.85 0 lbs. Next Week City Source Request • None City Council and/or Public Request • None Priority Projects • RRT will continue to work with Code Enforcement regarding any illegal homeless encampment sites within City Parks, Streetscapes, and/or City buildings. • Jastro Park trash enclosure project. Training • None See pictures below Wayside Park Spray Park Pump Room Siemon Park Trash Enclosure Project Jastro Park Trash Enclosure, Phase 2 River Run Blvd. & Astoria Dr. Block Wall Board-Up Page 1 TRIP projects are moving rapidly through the various stages of project development. This report is to provide a periodic up-to-date snapshot of each project’s recent major activities and progress. If you have questions, or need additional information, please contact Kari Pressler at the TRIP office, (661) 326-3700. Regular construction updates are also available on the TRIP website at BakersfieldFreeways.us MILESTONES  Removed and replaced existing Belle Terrace Pump Plant  Finished the construction of the Ming Ave off-ramp retaining wall #48  Finished all columns for the northbound State Route 99 to westbound State Route 58 connector and began construction of the southern abutment. PROJECT STATUS 24th Street Improvement Project Contractor: Griffith Company Construction completed The project added a lane in each direction between Oak Street and M Street, improved the 24th Street/Oak Street intersection, and landscaped the corridor in the residential section of 24th Street. The project also installed a new drainage system to address frequent flooding along this downtown corridor. Centennial Corridor Phase 1 - Kern River Bridge Improvements Contractor: Security Paving Company Construction completed This phase constructed new bridges across Truxtun Avenue and the Kern River for the future westbound Centennial Corridor (State Route 58) exit to Mohawk Street and widened the existing eastbound bridges at the Kern River and Truxtun Avenue to accommodate the future freeway lanes. May 2021 TRIP Status Report TRIP Status Report May 2021 Page 2 Phase 2 – Belle Terrace Operational Improvements Contractor: Granite Construction Construction completed The Belle Terrace Project included improvements on State Route 99 and Belle Terrace. The improvements on SR-99 included the addition of a northbound auxiliary lane from the Ming Avenue on-ramp to the northbound SR-99/eastbound SR-58 connector over Wible Road. The local road improvements included realigning Wible Road and Alamo Street as well as raising Belle Terrace to match the reconstruction of the Belle Terrace overcrossing. Phase 3 – Bakersfield Freeway Connector Contractor: Security Paving Company 64% complete; anticipated completion: Fall 2021 This phase of Centennial Corridor reconstructs the westbound-to-southbound loop ramp at the State Route 58/State Route 99 interchange. The project also constructs a new barrier-separated off-ramp to Ming Avenue from southbound State Route 99. Completed retaining wall #48 by southbound SR99 and the Ming Avenue off ramp. Contractor will begin backfilling behind retaining wall 48. Drainage work continues at various locations within the project site. Construction of the Stage 2 tunnel continues. Phase 4 – Mainline Contractor: Security Paving Company 47% complete; anticipated completion: fall 2022 This phase constructs the freeway and multiple bridge structures between State Route 99 and the Westside Parkway. Falsework installation continues for the Stockdale overcrossing bridge. Pavement construction will begin in the westbound SR58 to southbound SR99 area. Begin restoration of Del Rey Court. Various walls and drainage systems remain under construction throughout the project area. State Route 43/Stockdale Highway Roundabout Contractor: Griffith Company Construction completed This project replaced an existing 4-way stop with a roundabout at the State Route 43 (Enos Lane) and Stockdale Highway intersection. TRIP Status Report May 2021 Page 3 Top Left: Crews working on drainage system Top right: Demolition of the existing pump plant station on SR99 near Elcia Basin Left: Mulch being spread along the sides of the Elcia Basin. Bottom: Crews setting rebar cage for a concrete barrier rail on the eastbound SR58 to southbound SR99 connector. PROJECT PHOTOS TRIP Status Report May 2021 Page 4 Top Left: Contractor setting mason blocks along eastbound SR58 to Ming exit from Real Road to Elcia Basin. Top right: Mainline view from State Route 58 at Real Rd Left: Crews prepare trench for fiber optics along the northbound retaining wall. Right: Sub-grade prep along northbound Ming Avenue on-ramp. Bottom Left: Contractor setting column forms at bent #2 on State Route 58 bridge over Real Road. Bottom Right: Mainline view of Commerce bridge before stem and soffit pour and a view of the MSE wall.