2020 continues to be a record setting year for wildfires in California. According to Cal Fire, as of October 2, 8,320 fires have resulted in over 4 million acres burned, damaging or destroying 5,498 structures and causing eight confirmed fatalities.

The emergency response to these fires has been extensive. A tremendous number of firefighters and other emergency responders have, and continue to work these fires in an effort to protect life, property, and the environment. The coordination of these resources is accomplished through the California Fire Service and Rescue Emergency Mutual Aid Plan, which is an extension of the California Emergency Plan.

As a municipal city in California, Benicia participates in the mutual aid system by providing resources when called upon and requesting resources when needed. This season, both the Benicia Fire Department and Benicia Police Department have responded to assist throughout the State of California.

So far this season, the Benicia Fire Department has provided fully staffed fire engines or single resources such as Fireline Paramedics or Strike Team leaders to 13 large mutual aid fires. These crews have spent over 147 days, totaling over 8,600 hours (see chart below).

The Benicia Police Department also participates as part of a mutual aid network that offers assistance to neighboring areas during various incidents, such as wildfires. Benicia Police Officers have been deployed to at least two fires in this fire season: the LNU Complex Fire and Glass Fire. In August, officers were sent out to the LNU Complex Fire for 11 days, totaling in 574 hours. So far, multiple officers have also been sent out to the Glass Fire for six days to assist. These officers, and other area officers, help the communities by patrolling neighborhoods to prevent looting or burglary of evacuated properties and escort residents back to their home when the evacuation order is lifted.

Our Police and Fire Departments are honored to be able to provide this assistance to areas that have been ravaged by these wildfires. Fortunately, the City is fully compensated by the State for the resources we have sent. Additionally, as the City’s first priority is to provide protection to our community, when resources are sent out of the city on mutual aid, personnel backfill the positions to keep the city protected. Below is a chart of Fire Resources sent to fires throughout the State this year.

The California emergency mutual aid system is considered by many as the best in the nation. It has been fined tuned through many years of addressing the response needs of devastating earthquakes, fires, and other disasters. At the most basic level, emergencies are mitigated at the local level and, as the incident escalates beyond the ability of the local level, resources are requested through the Operational Area, Region, State, and if necessary Federal level. Benicia is in the Solano Operational Area and State Region II.

We know your time is very valuable and appreciate you sharing with us through this 10-minute survey through Tuesday, October 20: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/benicia1020

The Solano County Board of Supervisors approved $4 million in rental assistance for residents in Solano County. The COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program, administered by Catholic Charities of Yolo-Solano, provides one-time cash assistance to low-income households residing in Solano County who have lost their jobs or had their wages reduced due to COVID-19.

Grants are paid directly to landlords. The deadline has been extended to Monday, Octoer 12. That means today is the last day for tenants to apply! Details are available at https://www.ccyoso.org/covid-rap.

Visit Benicia, the tourism arm of the City's Office of Economic Development, continues to invite people suffering from cabin fever to escape and spend a day in beautiful, safe Benicia, where shopping, dining and outdoor opportunities abound.

Below is a video currently running on KTVU/KTVU+. Video production and ad buys are covered under our current tourism/public relations contract.

Have friends or family you're missing? Feel free to share the video, then plan to meet up for a "Great Escape by the Bay."

The Family Resource Center (FRC) has initiated a Homeless Backpack Program for transient and homeless citizens in Benicia. The backpacks were created for Benicia Police officers to distribute when they have contact with people in need. The backpacks contain a number of personal hygiene products, snacks, socks, blankets, rain ponchos, knit cap, face masks, hand sanitizer, water and first aid products.

An initial 24 backpacks were created with the ability to provide more, if needed. Some of the items were donated to FRC with the bulk of the expenses covered through a grant from Travis Credit Union.

Police Department personnel works closely with our homeless population, getting to know them, understanding their story, and offer whatever resources they can to get them services they need. The Backpack Program provides basic needs to those most vulnerable as the colder fall and winter months to come.

This is an important reminder about the U.S. Census. If you've already completed it, THANK YOU! If you've been meaning to, there’s still time! You can complete the census online at https://my2020census.gov/ or by phone at 844.330.2020. By law, you must provide your response by Saturday, October 31.

The Census is an important step in ensuring adequate funding and support for education, healthcare, housing, transportation, and social programs.

The Census determines representation for the State of California. The results of the census also determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they are used to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

Census data is 100% confidential. It’s quick and easy to complete the census. Learn more about the Census at https://2020census.gov.

Once each fall, Benicia Public Library staff decorate all the library nooks and crannies to highlight Banned Books Week, a way to celebrate our First Amendment rights and our freedom to read! Library Teen Volunteers embellish the entire library with over 2,000 orange bookmarks, each one representing a single title that has been challenged or banned.

Because the library has been closed to the public since March and everyone missed out on the beloved NBAs tradition of March Madness, they have created a Book Challenge Bracket, highlighting 64 books out of the 2,000+ titles. The Youth Services Librarians came together to ‘seed’ their choices of 8 books in 8 different categories: Series, Children’s Chapter Books, Teen Lit, Classics (all ages), Adult/Teen Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, and Adult Fiction.

Below is a sample their Graphic Novel Bracket. By the time you read this newsletter, they will almost be down to our final 4! On Tuesday, October 13 at 9 a.m., their Final 4 Bracket will go live! Go to www.Facebook.com/BeniciaPublicLibrary to cast your vote and to find the winner of the ultimate book challenge! To find out more about Banned Book Week, visit http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks.

Even though it is only October, it is time for Benicia Police Department's Family Resource Center (FRC) to begin preparing for their Christmas Adopt-a-Family Program.

2020 is a much different year than any other. The FRC is concerned, as they anticipate many more families will enroll to be sponsored in the Adopt-a-Family Program than ever before. However, they understand that many may not be in the position to help this year.

If you or your group have the means and would like to sponsor a family, please contact Kendall Lara at klara@ci.benicia.ca.us and let her know the size of family you think you can comfortably handle. She will match you with a family and get you their anonymous details in early November. By Friday, December 4, she asks that you return a family family basket for your family or you may donate gift cards for the parents to do the shopping for you. Either way, your sponsorship will be greatly appreciated and bring joy in a tiresome year.

This operational study comes on the heels of the City’s recent Condition Assessment (June 2020) which evaluated the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure. “We are not only looking at our assets, but also our operations,” said Kyle Ochenduszko, Deputy Public Works Director. “This change demonstrates to our rate payers that we are continuously looking for ways to save water and reduce costs.”

Questions or comments on water and wastewater operations may be directed to Kyle Ochenduszko, Deputy Public Works Director, at 707.746.4240 or email kochenduszko@ci.benicia.ca.us.

Every year, the third Saturday in September brings residents and visitors to Benicia's waterfront to celebrate and participate in Coastal Cleanup Day. Due to the ongoing pandemic, residents were encouraged to pick up litter closer to home throughout the month as part of an effort to reduce the amount of trash that may flow down streets and storm drains to the bay.

Last month, nearly 80 participants collected approximately 1,800 pounds of debris from our city streets, parks and shorelines. On one weekend in September alone, 40+ participants in several groups were spotted cleaning up around Benicia. In addition to individuals and families, members of the Benicia Yacht Club and Cub Scout Pack 108 took on the shoreline and waterways. The Benicia Litter Pickers fanned out across neighborhoods on both sides of the freeway and parts of downtown.