City of Benicia This Week
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In this edition: Housing Element Open Houses, SolarAPP+ Release, Earth Day Litter Cleanup, FEMA Approves Hazard Mitigation Plan for Benicia, Operation Recognition Veteran Diplomas, Home Energy Upgrades Through MCE, 2021 Firefighter of the Year, City Employee Spotlight, COVID Assistance
Message from the City Manager
March 28, 2022

Hello Everyone,

In the last several weeks I’ve heard from several organizations regarding the need for volunteers. One of the most critical is the need for volunteers within the Kyle Hyland Foundation for Teen Support. This organization is doing critical work ensuring teens in our community have a place to turn when they are struggling, while also providing critical education and conducting awareness campaigns related to issues of importance for our youth. The pandemic has only made matters more challenging. If you are interested in playing a critical role in the wellness of our youth, please click on this link www.kylehyland.com/teen-center.

I also wanted to point to a group that is constantly in action around town, making our City a better place, the Benicia Litter Pickers. Here is what they said earlier this week when I reached out to them:

"The Benicia Litter Pickers are always looking for volunteers to join our group. Activities are primarily self-directed, so they can be tailored to the availability and comfort level of each individual. Carrying an empty grocery bag to pick up litter, whilst walking the dog, is one of the preferred methods. We have wonderfully dedicated members that are committed to keeping Benicia and its shorelines beautiful. We hope you'll join us! For more information, please visit our website at www.benicialitterpickers.org."

A sincere thank you to both of these organizations and I hope you will consider joining them.

The City continues to work on our Housing Element, crafting the roadmap for the next eight years of housing opportunities in Benicia. This was the subject of the last special Council meeting. Important questions are being asked and answered about where up to 800 units of housing would be allowed to be built. The next meeting in this process will be a Planning Commission meeting on April 7th. For more information about our Housing Element, please click here: www.ci.benicia.ca.us/housingelement.

Thank you for your interest in the City of Benicia This Week!

Erik Upson
City Manager
City News
Housing Element Open Houses on March 31 and April 6 
The City of Benicia would like to hear your opinion about housing opportunity sites! 
Join us at an upcoming Housing Element Open House to provide input about locations for additional housing in Benicia.

Your feedback is important in this process as we work to meet the State-mandated housing needs for the community.

To learn more about the Housing Element, visit www.ci.benicia.ca.us/housingelement




Upcoming Housing Element Open Houses 
 
Virtual Open House 
March 31 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
  
In-Person Open House 
April 6 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Benicia Community Center
370 East L Street
  
Not able to attend? The Virtual Open House will be recorded and available online for future viewing on the project webpage at www.ci.benicia.ca.us/housingelement.


Solano County Regional Housing Element Meetings

March 30
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. & 6 p.m.

City of Benicia Releases SolarAPP+
This month, the City of Benicia became one of only a handful of pioneers in California to launch SolarAPP+, an automated application for permitting new residential rooftop solar and storage systems. SolarAPP+ reduces installation costs by using artificial intelligence to expedite solar permitting, thus encouraging property owners to invest in renewable and sustainable energy. It's now possible to get a solar permit in as little as 15 minutes, entirely online! To get started, or for more information visit www.ci.benicia.ca.us/solar.

FEMA Approves Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for Benicia
On Monday, March 21, Benicia Fire Department staff received confirmation that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved the City of Benicia's portion of the Solano County 2021 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. This Plan is the product of experience and input of staff across most City Departments, including Community Development, Public Works, Parks & Community Services, City Manager's Office, Fire, Police, and Finance Departments. The success of the Hazard Mitigation Plan is also thanks to you: Benicia residents. Input from Benicia residents accounted for nearly half of all public comments submitted County-wide. Thank you for your involvement and contributions to the development of the Benicia specific annex and the Plan as a whole.

The Solano County 2021 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is active through March 15, 2027. The City's active and approved Hazard Mitigation Plan ensures the continued eligibility for funding under FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs for the next five years.

The Benicia Fire Department was eligible to apply for funding for the Defensible Space Program & Site-Specific Assessment project because of the City's active Hazard Mitigation Plan at the time of the application. The Fire Department was awarded $69,170 from FEMA for its 75% federal share of project cost. The grant funded a consultant to perform an analysis of the vegetation within the City's Wildland-Urban Interface open space areas as well as to complete a risk analysis for those properties that adjoin the open spaces in order to develop a more site-specific approach to addressing the issues within the open spaces. The consultant is working with City staff, with input from the community, to complete the analysis. Based on the information being gathered currently, the consultant will make recommendations for expansion and refinement of the vegetation management program. The project is currently in the draft phase.

Earth Day Litter Cleanup & Online Cooking Class
The recent Compost Giveaway held on March 19 at Alvarez Ninth Street Park had over 200 residents attend. In case you missed this event, the next giveaway will be held in early August. To sign up for notifications, please email mknutson@RepublicServices.com and include Compost Giveaway in the subject line.

Tops to Roots Online Cooking Class
April 6 at 5 p.m. via Zoom
Want to learn how you can cut back on household food waste, save money and resources, and be part of the climate change solution? Sign up for a zero-waste online cooking class, “Tops to Roots” hosted by Republic Services, Benicia's waste provider, and Sustainable Solano via Zoom. Sign up at www.sustainablesolano.org.

Earth Day Litter Cleanup
April 16 from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. at Alvarez Ninth Street Park
Looking for ways to give back to your community? Sign up for Earth Day Litter Cleanup event. This event is co-hosted by the City of Benicia and Benicia Litter Pickers. Supplies will be provided. For more information, please email sdenney@ci.benicia.ca.us.

Home Energy Upgrades Through MCE
MCE, one of the energy providers in Benicia, is offering free home upgrades to help save energy. The upgrades, at no cost to residents, include:

  • Gas furnaces
  • Water heaters
  • Attic insulation
  • Heat pumps
  • Duct sealing
  • Pipe insulation

Step 1: See if you qualify

Step 2: Sign up 
Schedule your no-cost virtual or in-person assessment where an energy advisor will view your home and point out simple ways you can save energy and money, and improve comfort. The 30-45 minutes you spend in this home energy assessment could save you thousands on upgrades, in addition to helping you lower your energy use and make your home more comfortable for years to come.

Have questions or want to learn more? Visit mceCleanEnergy.org or call (877) 284-1764.

Families Can Apply for Operation Recognition Veteran Diplomas
The Solano County Office of Education (SCOE), is hosting “Operation Recognition” which honors United States Veterans and Japanese-American citizens who were unable to finish high school due to wartime circumstances with retroactive high school diplomas. SCOE is now accepting applications for the 2022 Operation Recognition celebration on May 18th.

Throughout the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, thousands of young men and women left high school and the comforts of home to serve in the United States Armed Forces. During World War II many Japanese-American citizens were interned in relocation camps in various locations across the United States. Some veterans who served were not able to finish high school and receive their diplomas due to military service or Jim Crow laws in effect at the time. Veterans and Japanese-American citizens now have the opportunity to be granted diplomas as a gesture of gratitude for the sacrifices they made.

“We have been honored to recognize local veterans and their families with retroactive and posthumous diplomas for more than a decade now. The sacrifices our fellow Americans made should be acknowledged and revered, and being able to say thank you from the Solano County community means so much to SCOE,” remarked Solano Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson.

Who is eligible?
Individuals who served in World War II, the Korean War or Vietnam War and were honorably discharged from their military service.

Japanese-American citizens who left high school due to internment in World War II relocation camps. Families may apply for Operation Recognition diplomas on behalf of eligible persons who are deceased.
 
Families can obtain an application on at www.solanocoe.net/oprec or by calling
(707) 399-4429.

Applications must be submitted by Friday, April 29, 2022.
 
Individuals will be honored in a celebration hosted in collaboration with Veterans’ organizations in Solano County on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. 

2021 Firefighter of the Year
Please join Fire Chief Josh Chadwick in congratulating Firefighter Kyle Williams as the 2021 City of Benicia Firefighter of the Year.

Kyle was born and raised in Solano County and attended high school in Vacaville. After high school, he attended Sacramento State University where he received his bachelor’s degree and also played goalie for the Sacramento State ice hockey team.

Kyle began his career with the Benicia Fire Department in October of 2015. Prior to coming to Benicia, Kyle worked as an EMT for Medic Ambulance, an ER Tech for NorthBay and VacaValley hospitals, and a Paramedic for Fairfield Fire Department. At the Benicia Fire Department, Kyle is a CPR instructor, acting Engineer, and acting Captain.

This award is presented to the individual who has given selflessly of themselves in support of the department, the fire service, and the community. Kyle was selected for this recognition from an amazing group of candidates, all nominated by their peers and his selection as Firefighter of The Year is well deserved. Kyle has been a driving force behind the implementation of Benicia Fire Department’s High-Performance CPR program which re-structured the way the Department runs CPR calls. This change has led to better CPR by our crews. The Department is proud to have a Return of Spontaneous Circulation rate of 40%, which is dramatically higher than the American Heart Association reported national average of 10%. Kyle's work makes a direct positive impact on our citizens.

City Employee Spotlight
Tony Fisher recently joined the Public Works Department as Project Manager. Mr. Fisher has over 24 years of experience in the construction and real estate industries. Prior to joining the City of Benicia, Tony served as project and construction manager on various water, wastewater, building facilities and public works projects. His experience includes roadway rehabilitation, utilities, pump stations, pipelines, waste treatment buildings, and semi-conductor supply and treatment systems. He has experience with project inspection, change order work, preparing and managing project budgets, contract negotiation and project closeout. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Resources Engineering with a focus on Water and Wastewater Treatment and Geotechnology.

COVID Assistance
Find resources and information for seniors, local food access, basic needs and rental assistance, mental health, stress and coping, and more courtesy of Solano County Public Health. Benicia residents in need of help during these difficult times may find assistance through these local resources:

Press Releases

Recent City of Benicia Press Releases are available on the City of Benicia website under Main/Announcements.
Save the Date
  • Mar 28 - Committee United for Racial Equity (CURE), 6:00 p.m. via livestream. See the Full Agenda for more information.
  • Apr 1 - City Offices closed for Alternate Friday.
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