The City of Benicia Office of Economic Development is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Visit Benicia Photo Contest. More than 200 entries were received in the categories of Scenic/Fun, Arts, Dining, History and Shopping.

The 1st Place winner in the Scenic/Fun category received the choice of $100 in either a Shop Benicia eGift card or Downtown Dollars. (The overwhelming majority of entries received were in this category.) 1st Place winners in the Arts, Dining, History and Shopping categories received $250 each in either the eGift cards or Dollars to encourage more entries in these categories. Honorable Mention in all categories received $50 in eGift cards or Dollars.

By entering the contest, photographers gave the City of Benicia permission to use the photos in perpetuity, which is helpful in the Visit Benicia tourism effort to show all that Benicia has to offer. See the winning photos below.

Solano Public Health, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, NorthBay Healthcare, Partnership Healthplan, Touro University, Medic Ambulance, and several local agencies are hosting additional COVID-19 vaccine clinics for those who live or work in Solano County. Vaccinations are free and available to anyone regardless of health insurance or immigration status. Please sign up for an appointment slot in advance.

Those age 16-17 years old can only receive the Pfizer vaccine and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to their appointment, or have a parent/guardian we can contact by phone during the appointment. For help with making appointments, call the Solano County COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Line at 707.784.8655. For a full list of vaccine clinics, visit www.solanocounty.com/covidvaccine.

Wednesday, April 28, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Solano County Fairgrounds (16+, Pfizer) 900 Fairgrounds Dr, Vallejo, CA Sign up at www.bit.ly/sccovax0428

Wednesday, April 28, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Vacaville High School (16+, Pfizer) 100 W Monte Vista Ave, Vacaville, CA Sign up at www.bit.ly/sccovax0428v

Thursday, April 29, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Solano County Fairgrounds (18+, Moderna) 900 Fairgrounds Dr, Vallejo, CA Sign up at www.bit.ly/sccovax0429

Thursday, April 29, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., C.A Jacobs Middle School (16+, Pfizer) 200 North Lincoln Street, Dixon, CA Sign up at www.bit.ly/sccovax0429d

Friday, April 30, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Mount Calvary Baptist Church (18+, Moderna) 1735 Enterprise Dr Bldg 3, Fairfield, CA Sign up at www.bit.ly/sccovax0430

Friday, April 30, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Solano County Fairgrounds (18+, Moderna) 900 Fairgrounds Dr, Vallejo, CA Sign up at www.bit.ly/sccovax0430f

Every five years since 1985, the City of Benicia has adopted an Urban Water Management Plan (Plan). This valuable document, required by the State, carefully analyzes the City’s water availability and uses. The Plan then makes recommendations on how the City should effectively use its water resources in the future, including during droughts. This year, City staff are proud to present the draft 2020 Plan for public review. By state regulation, plans should be adopted and submitted to the Department of Water Resources in years ending in “1” or “6”.

The 2020 Plan represents the first time cities and water districts were required to “test” their water supplies under a five-year drought scenario.

“The City has enough water to survive a prolonged drought,“ said Kyle Ochenduszko, Deputy Public Works Director, “but, the City’s water resources are finite and must be managed carefully.”

A public hearing will be held during the Tuesday, May 18 City Council Meeting, (starting at 7 p.m.) to adopt the draft Urban Water Management Plan. The meeting agenda and instructions on how to participate will be available on May 12 at https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas.

Questions and comments can be sent to the Public Works Department at pw@ci.benicia.ca.us.

The City of Benicia invites residents to join one of two public meetings this week to provide input on the update of the City’s 1997 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan. The Master Plan will serve as a long-range planning and asset management document that will provide a framework for understanding the financial investments needed to maintain and improve the parks, trails, and open space assets the City owns. 

The City will conduct two identical virtual public input meetings this week that will engage the Benicia community to obtain their input through live polling, Q&A, and public comments.

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6 – 7 p.m.

Register for the login for either meeting on the project website, www.lovebeniciaparks.com, where you can also submit comments, review project videos and documents, and sign up for project updates.

For additional information on the Parks, Trails & Open Space Master Plan update, please contact Parks & Community Services Director Mike Dotson at mdotson@ci.benicia.ca.us, or Senior Planner Vic Randall at vrandall@ci.benicia.ca.us.

Looking for a new job or a change in career? The City of Benicia Human Resources Division is accepting applications for the following positions:

To apply for any of these positions, the application and supplemental forms may be found online, then click the job title. Employment applications may also be obtained from, and must be returned to, Human Resources at 250 East L Street, Benicia. Sign up with Job Interest Cards to be notified of future position openings when they occur.

The City of Benicia is sensitive to the public’s concerns surrounding the use of herbicides and we are committed to providing beautiful parks, trails, and facilities that are safe for you, your children, and pets to enjoy. Here are some of the ways we are reducing herbicide use and fulfilling that commitment:

In order to limit the use of herbicides and synthetic fertilizers, we use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to controlling weeds and other landscape related pests. Over the past several years we have eliminated the routine use of synthetic fertilizers in turf areas by grasscycling (mulching the grass clippings) and improving irrigation efficiency. The only time synthetic fertilizers are used is for turf renovation projects and new sod installations. In both cases, fields are closed to the public by fencing or locking the fields. We have not applied any pesticides or herbicides to the turf areas in the last several years with the exception of tree wells, fence lines, and around obstacles.

The City discontinued the use of Glyphosate (Roundup) in 2018 in favor of safer alternatives, and in order to reduce the use of herbicides in general we have implemented a mulching program to control weeds in landscaped areas. Recycled chips from City tree pruning and removal operations are stockpiled and applied to landscaped areas to help improve the soil profile, retain soil moisture, and inhibit weed growth. In some areas leaf litter is intentionally allowed to accumulate in the planter beds under shrubs and trees, which helps inhibit weed growth, and helps to improve the soil profile as it breaks down, providing a suitable environment for beneficial organisms. As the leaf litter breaks down it becomes a natural way to provide nutrients for the plants without the use of synthetic fertilizers.

In the open space, we have eliminated the use of herbicides at open space access points by using goats to control unwanted vegetation. As the goats rotate through the open space areas eating vegetation, they reduce fuel load and keep access points clear and accessible without the use of herbicides.

Herbicides are only used in areas where other mechanical methods are impractical. Herbicides are used to control weeds in tree wells, along fence lines, planter beds, roadsides, etc. Herbicides are never applied to playgrounds. The herbicides used are the safest, least toxic, and most effective products available for commercial use. They are applied in strict adherence to the label requirements and in accordance with a written recommendation from a Pest Control Advisor (PCA) licensed by the State of California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). All herbicides are applied by City staff or contractors who are licensed or certified by CDPR. The city’s pesticide storage area, application equipment, application records, and application methods are inspected annually by the Solano County Agricultural Commissioner's Office and pesticide application records are submitted monthly.

As part of our ongoing commitment, the City of Benicia will continue to review new products, technologies, and cultural practices as they become available in order to continue our effort to reduce herbicide use while providing the safest, well maintained parks, trails, and facilities for all to enjoy.

SolTrans would like to invite the public to provide feedback on the proposed Phase I Service Restoration Plan during the public comment period between April 16 and May 20, 2021. Details about the proposals and a feedback survey can be found by clicking Request for Feedback on Phase I of the Service Restoration Plan and on the SolTrans website. A summary is available in print from the Vallejo Transit Center Ticket Office at 311 Sacramento Street. Due to restrictions on public gatherings, in-person public workshops will not be held for this service change. The public is invited to provide feedback via online survey, over the phone, or in person at the Vallejo Transit Center Ticket Office.

April is National Volunteer Month. The City of Benicia is fortunate to benefit from the services of many community volunteers and recognized them with a proclamation at last Tuesday's City Council meeting recognizing our volunteers during National Volunteer Week. The proclamation celebrated people in action and recognized volunteers' hard work and dedication.

Benicia Police Department honored their volunteers in Patrol, Clerical Services, Chaplains, Cadets and Interns.

Benicia Fire Department honored Benicia Fire Volunteers, Benicia Community Emergency Resonse Team (CERT), Benicia Amateur Radio Club (BARC), and administrative volunteers.

The Parks and Community Services Department honors the volunteers in their volunteer programs.

The City of Benicia is fortunate to have and thanks the many volunteers who serve on our Commissions, Committees, Boards and in other capacities for their commitment and hard work to make a real difference in our community.

If you think you might want to volunteer, please visit https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/cbc to find out more about our various boards and commissions. Click here to find information on current opening and links to applications. Feel free to apply for a board or commission even if there isn't currently an opening. Staff will keep your application on file to be considered when an opening becomes available. 

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: