City of Benicia This Week
read it - watch it - like it - share it
In this edition: Streateries Coming to First Street, Swim Lesson Scholarships Available, Updated Visit Benicia Website, Committee United for Racial Equity Opening, Spirit of Benicia Recap, Parks Make Life Better Month, City Employee Spotlight, COVID Assistance
Message from the City Manager
July 12, 2021

Hello Everyone,
I recently returned from a trip out of state for my daughter’s soccer. Traveling really helps give perspective, and I found myself very thankful for the fact I get to work in a community such as Benicia!
 
I am pleased to congratulate Corporal Michelle King on her promotion to Sergeant with the Benicia Police Department. I am very proud of her and the police department. To me she represents the very bright future of our entire City staff. I’m continually impressed (and reassured) when I look at the up-and-coming leadership within our ranks. It’s one of the things I think we’ve done very well over the last couple years. Through the excellent hiring and focus on diversity we set up a very strong future for our community. Retention of these staff is critically important and has been recognized by Council as a top priority. I encourage you to think of yourself as the CEO of our City Staff…as essentially you are in some degree through your elected officials who represent you. As CEO, while certainly expecting the highest level of service from your staff, it is also important to remember to see them as your devoted employees. Thank and recognize them when you can, appreciate the excellent work they do under very trying circumstances, and allow them to be human. My commitment to you, in turn, is to work to provide the highest level of professional service possible.
 
I want to touch briefly on diversity in the workforce. One of the things we have done a very good job of is extending a very wide net to try and improve the diversity of our staff. As I have previously mentioned, diversity helps us to be stronger in two very important ways. First, it allows those in our community to see themselves represented in the power-holding institutions that have a great deal of control of critical aspects of our lives. In seeing themselves represented, they can feel that they are actually a part of that system. Second, in surrounding ourselves with diversity we become stronger (having a wider variety of outlooks and solutions to problems). Additionally, surrounding oneself with diversity helps to defeat bias. We still have work to do in expanding the diversity of the City staff, especially in the higher ranks of the City. However, if we continue the excellent work in hiring and we do a better job with retention and development of staff, that future is very bright. My request of the community is to help make our staff feel they are valued and respected members of this community so we can continue to move this organization forward!

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

Erik Upson
City Manager
City News
Streateries Coming to First Street
Benicia Public Works announces the installation of pedestrian bulb-outs on First Street to make room for streateries (street eateries). Streateries allow restaurants to extend their dining space into the street freeing up sidewalk space for pedestrians.

Pedestrian bulb-outs enhance pedestrian safety by reducing the amount of time needed to cross a street and improving the ability of motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians to see each other. Additionally, they are a traffic calming measure as they narrow the width of a travel lane, which typically slows down motorists. Pedestrian bulb-outs are designed per site specific conditions. See the diagram to see the bulb-outs recently installed at First and E Streets.
 
Staff considered installing one curb ramp versus two curb ramps at each First Street bulb out. The “one curb ramp” option was selected because it provided increased safety over the “two curb ramp” option. Specifically, site visibility for motorists turning from West and East E street to First Street was greater with the “one curb ramp” option. The bulb-outs comply with federal Americans with Disability Act and the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices requirements. The bulb-out fronting Mare Island Brewing Co. is complete; the bulb-out fronting Lucca’s Bar & Grill is nearly complete. Crosswalks, striping and STOP pavement markings will be completed soon.
Swim Lesson Scholarships Available
Updated Visit Benicia Website
The City's Office of Economic Development announces the newly update VisitBenicia.org website. The new website highlights the Visit Benicia tourism program, letting visitors know about Things To Do (Restaurants, Shopping, Art & Culture, History, Waterfront, Plan Your Day, Parks & Attractions, and Events) and how to get here. Additionally, links to Benicia Marketplace online shopping and Shop Benicia eGift cards are available. Take a look, then encourage your friends, family and coworkers to visit soon.
Committee United for Racial Equity Opening
The City of Benicia is seeking applications for one (1) at-large position on the Committee United for Racial Equity (CURE). CURE is a new committee that was created and approved by the City Council to advise the Council and staff. CURE will be an ongoing, standing Council subcommittee, whose main purpose is to:
  • Provide input and advice for the successful implementation of Benicia’s Equity Plan.
  • Provide guidance for Council to create opportunities for greater accountability to the community on efforts to build awareness, engagement, and unity in the City of Benicia.
  • Communicate the City’s activities and progress.
  • Assist City staff in the creation and implementation of the Equity Plan evaluation.

Click here to learn more about the position and to apply.

The City of Benicia is always looking for citizens interested in volunteering of its Boards and Commissions. Click here to find about what various Boards and Commissions do, when they meet and how to apply.
Spirit of Benicia Recap
Benicia Parks and Community Services Department was pleased with the overwhelming interest in the Spirit of Benicia contest. Nearly 500 Spirit of Benicia signs were picked up creating entries in the random drawing for 100 $100 Shop Benicia eGift cards. All 100 winners have been contacted and gift cards sent.

Many of the participants sent photos of their patriotic displays and received an additional entry. Click below to view the video of some of the great entries.
Parks Make Life Better Month
July is Parks Make Life Better Month! The Parks & Community Services Department asked their participants to share with them their park and recreation story. Kristen Jovino, a dedicated and passionate lap swimmer at the James Lemos Swim Center, shared her swim story. They hope to inspire others to share their stories, too.

Parks and recreation have played an important part in many of our community member's lives, especially during the time of COVID. The Parks & Community Services Department can’t wait to hear your park and recreation story! Email your story to pcs@ci.benicia.ca.us with the subject, My Park & Recreation Story.

Excerpts from Ms. Jovino's email:
“In Benicia we are so lucky to have a beautiful Olympic size pool with an adjacent pool for recreation swimming, swim lessons and let's not leave out the kiddy pool for the younger swimmers.
I started lap swimming when my girls swam on the Benicia Blue Dolphins Swim Team 30 plus years ago. In those years I have watch so many kids go through the lifeguard program, they sit in that chair watching over us year after year rain or shine with the best attitude. When they leave, I am always sorry to see them go but I know they take with them the skills they learned for their future. 
Let's not forget there are some of the lifeguards who have made it a career and now work for the City of Benicia in many positions.

If there was a testing period it was the recent pandemic, the staff came through, not only did they open up the pool so we all could get some exercise, it was done safely. I met many new swimmers who were working from home or could not get into their gym and decided to try out the pool, many of those swimmers are still enjoying the pool.

I have always felt that lap swimming is not only good to keep us physically fit but also great for mental health. Lap swimmers are a unique bunch of people we watch out for each other, notice when we have not seen swimmers so we can check up on them.

I cannot say enough to the staff at both James Lemos Pool and the Benicia Park and Recreational Dept. past and present, you have given myself and others many hours of swimming pleasure.”
 
Thank you 
Kristen Jovino
City Employee Spotlight
Ann Deusenberry is a Library Technician II at Benicia Public Library. She has worked for the City for over twenty years and is recognized as a hard worker, ready and willing to master new areas of responsibility, and as someone who is always patient—with the public and with fellow staff members alike.

Did you know that we borrow books from all over the country and loan them to other libraries, too? Ann is familiar with this, because she's the staff person who oversees this process and does everything she can to get hard-to-find books into Benicia. You've probably seen Ann at the curbside service during the pandemic and at the Customer Service Desk, too.

Ann grew up in Solano County and has lived in about half its cities by now. She is passionate about environmental sustainability—her field of study in college. She always likes to learn new things! In her free time, she enjoys trying out different gardening techniques and she reads a wide variety of books (ask her about the Longmire books! (Hint: The author enjoyed his Author's Talk at the library so much he added mention of Benicia, CA to his novella The Highwayman.)
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:
Save the Date
  • Jul 14 - Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Commission meeting, 6:30 p.m. via livestream. See the Full Agenda for more information.
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.
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!