City of Benicia This Week
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In this week's edition: Halloween Safety Guidance, City Playgrounds to Begin Reopening, Evacuation Plan Implementation, Ballot Drop-Off Locations, Benicia Art Walk Returns Saturday, Solano County Jobs Report, Take the Eastern Gateway Tour, Free Online Expert Help, Emergency Wastewater System Repair on West I Street
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Message from the Interim City Manager |
October 5, 2020
Hello Everyone,
As mentioned last week, with our recent move from Purple Tier to Red Tier, we have a real opportunity to further support our local businesses. That said, with the recent steps forward, including opening of our playgrounds, limited indoor dining, and other positive steps, it is just that much more critically important for us to be very mindful of our role as a community in continuing to move forward. It would be incredibly devastating to have to move backwards. So let’s make sure we follow the basics:
- Keep 6’ social distance.
- Wear your mask when you can’t keep 6’ distance or indoors with anyone not in your ‘pod’.
- Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds.
While imperfect, we have generally done very well as a community and our numbers reflect that. Now let’s keep it up and help bring our county to the next level up!
Another important thing to consider is how online ordering benefits the community of Benicia. The city receives a significant funding stream from these purchases, including revenue to Measure C. The pandemic has seen a large increase in online purchases, which has helped the City significantly. So that said, first and foremost, if the product is something you can purchase locally, we would hope you would make that a priority to support local businesses. If it is not available, you can order it online as your purchase will support the community that way as well.
Finally, in closing, I would like to take a minute to remember City of Benicia Finance Department employee Alyson (Aly) Kauzer, who passed away last week from natural causes (not COVID-19). We send our deepest sympathies to her family and the many City of Benicia employees who loved her so much.
Thank you for your interest in the City of Benicia This Week! If you enjoy reading this weekly newsletter, please share and encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to subscribe or text jointhisweek to 22828 (messaging and data rates may apply).
Erik Upson
Interim City Manager
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Halloween Safety Guidance |
Solano Public Health offers the following considerations to help protect individuals, families and communities from COVID-19. In general, the more closely you interact with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. Remember the safety protocols – wear a mask, watch your distance and wash your hands.
- Lower-Risk Halloween Activities
- Higher-Risk Halloween Activities
- Trick-or-Treating:
- Safety tips for Trick-or-Treaters
- Safety tips for Homeowners
- Guidance for Safer Social Interactions
- General Best Practices
- What to Do if You Were Exposed to COVID-19 or Start to Feel Ill
- Getting Tested for COVID-19
- Resources
Locally, Trick-or-Treaters are reminded that if the porch light is off, please do not ring the bell at that home. They are not participating this year.
Benicia Public Library has fun offerings for Halloween
Jack-o'-Lantern Contest online in 2020!
The basics will be the same: you can vote on your favorite jack-o'-lanterns, judges will choose their picks (scariest, most creative, judges' wild card), they'll announce the winners and have storytimes for different age groups.
Photos of your jack-o'-lantern (photographed with the entry form clearly visible) will be due by 3 p.m. on Monday, October 26. Everyone will be able to vote on their favorites between the night of the 26 and 5 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28.
On the 28th, they'll have a series of live events:
- 6:30 Stories that aren't scary at all (best for preschoolers)
- 7:00 Stories for school-aged kids
- 7:30 We'll announce the winners of the contest
- 8:00 Stories that are for teens and adults - expect these to be scary or creepy!
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City Playgrounds to Begin Reopening |
Good news! With the new direction put out by the state and Solano County (driven in a great part by community involvement), the City will begin the reopening process for City-owned play structures. This will not happen overnight as we have an obligation to insure that they are safe for our community’s children. It will take time to put the required safety measures in place. But now that we know what they are, we can begin.
Below, is a message from our Parks and Community Services Department about the reopening process. We will communicate through our social media tools when they are reopened, and you will see that they are open when barricades are removed and new signage is installed.
Questions or concerns may be directed to the Parks & Community Services Department at pcs@ci.benicia.ca.us or 707.746.4285.
Message from Parks & Community Services
The City of Benicia currently has 23 playgrounds at 18 different sites throughout the city. Playground safety is highly regulated at both the Federal and State level. All playgrounds are required to be inspected by a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) at regular intervals to identify potential safety issues and ensure they meet minimum safety standards. Due to COVID-19 all of the playgrounds have been closed to the public and have not been inspected in almost eight months.
The following steps must be taken in order to safely re-open the playgrounds to the public:
- Each playground will need to be individually inspected to identify safety issues and any repairs that may be required.
- All critical issues identified during the inspections that cannot be made safe or removed must be repaired or replaced.
- All temporary fencing, caution tape, and barricades used to close the areas must be removed.
- Most, if not all, playgrounds will require additional Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF), which may or may not be an impediment to re-opening as determined by the CPSI.
- Power washing the play structures/equipment prior to opening is recommended but not required.
- Install temporary COVID-19 signage and implement protocols per state/county guidelines. Staff estimates that it will take approximately 5-7 days to complete inspections of all 23 playgrounds.
Some playgrounds may be suitable for immediate re-opening, while others may require more time depending on the availability of replacement parts and materials. In an effort to expedite re-opening, staff has prioritized the following high use playgrounds for immediate inspection and repairs:
- Benicia Community Park
- Jack London Park
- City Park
- Francesca Terrace park
- Alvarez/Ninth Street Park
The remaining playgrounds will be inspected and re-opened as quickly as reasonably possible without disrupting routine operations. Please refer to the Parks & Community Services website for more information on playground openings. Text Link
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Evacuation Plan Implementation |
In light of recently wildfires, it is timely that Benicia Police Department will make a presentation to the City Council at their Tuesday, October 6 meeting on the recently implemented Evacuation Annex Plan, The City has created the evacuation plan for citizens and businesses to use in the event of a disaster.
Should there be a large-scale emergency, a mandatory evacuation order will be issued and citizens will be directed to use the designated exit routes that have been identified and mapped out. (A mandatory evacuation order requires the immediate movement of people out of an affected area due to an imminent threat to life.) Choosing to stay could result in loss of life. Staying may also impede the work of emergency personnel.
The City has identified five main exit routes for citizens to use. They will soon be marked throughout Benicia with blue and white street signs. Please visit the Evacuation Plan webpage, and find your evacuation route from home and work.
Residents and businesses will soon receive the vinyl cling shown below in the mail reminding to Know Your Zone, Make a Plan, Pack a Go-Bag, and Stay Informed. Take steps to be prepared today!
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Ballot Drop-off Locations |
City of Benicia City Clerk, Lisa Wolfe, announces that two official Solano County Registrar of Voters ballot boxes will be available in for Benicia voters.
- Benicia City Hall at 250 East L Street. Voters may drop their vote-by-mail ballots in the secure drop box in the City Hall lobby, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. with the exception of the following days due to City Hall Friday closures: October 2, 16 and 30. Voters should use the City Hall entrance closest to the Post Office. Please note that the Finance Department Welcome Window in the lobby closes at 4 p.m. From 4 – 5 p.m., signage will direct voters to the relocated ballot box in the City Clerk’s Office.
- Raley's near the cafe at 890 Southampton Road. This may seem like an odd location but Raley's is open later hours and on weekends for your convenience.
There will also be a drive-through drop off location this year, as well as the usual in-person polling locations. Visit the Solano County Registrar of Voters website to see all your voting options and how to register to vote at https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov.
Voters are encouraged to make their ballot count by completely filling in each rectangle next to their choice and signing their ballot.
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Benicia Art Walk Returns Saturday |
Typically occurring on the Second Saturdays of June, July, September and October, Benicia Art Walk returns for its only occurrence this year on Saturday, October 10, 1 - 5 p.m. at six galleries on First Street.
Stop by Arata Art Gallery, HQ Gallery, Gallery 621, Benicia Plein Air Gallery, Once Upon a Canvas and The Little Art Shop to view unique local art and live demonstrations and entertainment. All galleries are on First Street in downtown Benicia. Look for the blue Benicia Art Walk 2020 banners.
Under the State's current guidelines, gallery occupancy is limited to 50%, and face coverings and social distancing are required.
Make a day of it and plan to come for lunch and stay for dinner. Escape to Benicia. Find out about A Great Escape by the Bay at www.EscapebytheBay.com. |
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Solano County Jobs Report |
Solano County Workforce Development Board (WDB) has compiled a review of industry and employment trends in Solano County as a result of the first six month of COVID-19.
The report highlights the employment trends and in particular some good granular detail on the Unemployment Insurance Claims in Solano County. In drafting the report, WDB staff have added a narrative to the data.
According to Economic Development Manager, Mario Giuliani, "Heather Henry (WDB Director) and her staff have been a fantastic partner to the City of Benicia’s Economic Development efforts over these past six months."
Click the cover photo to read the report. Pages 19 and 23 highlight Benicia's efforts to get information to and aid our business community with PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) and with our local financial investment to our business community. Benicia is highlighted as investing more local dollars to support our businesses than in other city in the Solano County.
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Take the Eastern Gateway Tour |
City of Benicia Community Development staff would like to thank the residents and business owners who participated in the Eastern Gateway walking tour on September 23. Staff and project consultants had the opportunity to speak with 50-60 people about the project before they left the welcome center on their self-guided tour.
In an effort to give everyone the opportunity to learn about and engage in this project, they've posted the self-guided walking tour, informational videos, and a brief survey on the project webpage, www.ci.benicia.ca.us/easterngateway.
Through the Eastern Gateway Study, the City will create a new mixed use zone district around the intersection of Military East and East Fifth Street that will accommodate new housing development. It is hoped that this walking tour helps you envision what new development could look like in the area and that you share your feedback by the survey deadline of Friday, October 9.
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The California State Library has arranged for all public libraries in the state to have access to three important new resources during this time of financial uncertainty for so many people. These free services are now available through the Benicia Public Library.
JobNow
Live Job Coaching: Connect with a coach to get help with job searching, applications, and interview preparation. Job coaches can also help transition your resume from military use for civilian careers.
Resume Lab: Submit your resume and receive expert feedback on formatting, key words, transferable skills, translating military resumes for civilian employers, and more.
eParachute: Complete a self-assessment to discover a career or academic path that best suits your interests, skills, and experiences.
VetNow
Live Navigator: Connect with an expert veteran to learn more about eligible VA benefits and community resources. Cannot hold on the phone for long periods, talk to a Navigator.
Veteran Resources: Review carefully selected resources to help you understand your benefits and community resources.
LearnNow
Live Online Tutoring: Connect with live tutors for help with career-enhancing academic skills.
Writing Lab: Develop better writing skills through expert analysis of your papers, complete with constructive comments.
LearnNow: Receive live skills tutoring and access an extensive library of lessons, videos tutorials, and practice tests including SAT, ACT, GED, GRE, and more.
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Emergency Wastewater System Repair on West I Street |
Construction activities resumed on Thursday, October 1 and will continue for approximately six weeks to repair a clogged wastewater collection pipe in the 500 block of West I Street. Residential traffic in the area will be limited due to movement of heavy machinery.
On August 29, 2020, Public Works Department staff noticed atypical flows in the City’s wastewater collection system. Upon investigation, a two-foot by nine-foot blockage of cement was found in the wastewater collection system in the vicinity of West I Street and West Fifth Street. The wastewater collection system is the underground pipe network that transfers water from customer’s drains to the wastewater treatment plant. Staff immediately installed a pumping system to move wastewater around the blockage.
On September 15, 2020, City Council declared a contracting emergency, which enabled City staff to work with Ghilotti Construction and their subcontractors to remove the blockage without having to excavate the pipe. After a week of unsuccessful attempts, the City determined excavation will be necessary to remove the 27 square foot blockage.
Construction crews with heavy excavation equipment will be working in the area to remove and replace the clogged wastewater collection pipe. The City of Benicia appreciates the patience of area residents while they work to repair the blockage.
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Modified service due to COVID-19
City Hall is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you require entrance to City Hall offices outside of these hours, please make arrangements with staff from the department that you will be visiting.
All visitors shall be required to enter City Hall from East L street through the door located on the left (East) side of the building closest to the Post Office. Please check in with the staff person at the designated Welcome Window.
You will be required to wear a face covering over both your nose and mouth for the duration of your visit to City Hall. Please maintain 6 feet of social distancing between other visitors and staff. Do not visit City Hall if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Appointments can always be rescheduled.
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City of Benicia This Week is published each Monday morning. Previous editions are available here. We also communicate on Nextdoor.com and AlertSolano.com. Sign up now!
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City of Benicia This Week is published each Monday morning. Previous editions are available here. We also communicate on Nextdoor.com and AlertSolano.com. Sign up now!
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