City of Benicia This Week
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In this edition: Art Walk Season Ends Saturday, COVID Booster Vaccines, Dog Park Gets New Turf, Compost Happens: Compost 101, City Employee Spotlight, COVID Assistance
Message from the City Manager
October 4, 2021

Hello Everyone,
We have some important changes to announce in the leadership team of our City government. The Community Development Director, Brad Misner, has left the City to pursue a career in the private sector. Brad was instrumental in bringing about some exceptional changes in the Community Development Department. Under his tenure the department improved its customer service approach greatly and created a number of enhancements to their online capacity. This included the institution of our Online Permit Center, Open Gov at https://beniciaca.viewpointcloud.com/, as well as an improved customer appointment system.

We are very fortunate to have Suzanne Thorsen, AICP, our former Planning Manager, who will be serving as our Interim Community Development Director effective immediately. 

September 30 was Library Director David Dodd’s last day at work, as he is retiring. As a community we appreciate his leadership and his continued vision of the library as ‘the Heart of the Community’. David achieved so much and was especially instrumental in the City’s work around equity, diversity and inclusion. We wish David the very best in his retirement! In early October we will begin the process of finding a new Library Director and will be announcing that vacancy. Anita Faltrick has graciously agreed to be the Acting Library Director, while we go through the selection process.

This a good reminder that one of our struggles as a City has been our ability to retain staff. Council has made it a priority to address this issue and the City has been taking steps to retain staff. I appreciate Council’s commitment to this as staff turnover continues to negatively impact the City’s ability to carry out its vision of greatness and community focus. The latest series of labor negotiations went very well (and I am deeply appreciative of the positive work of our labor representatives, Kim Imboden, our Human Resources Manager and her team, and our Council). I believe this has helped moved us forward as an organization. We are also working hard to create a more positive work environment and culture; a culture that appreciates our hard-working staff and their commitment to this community.

Finally, I would like to point out that our favorite way to hire new staff is to have the very best steered our way by our staff or our community. So, on that note, take a look at our opportunities here, http://agency.governmentjobs.com/benicia/default.cfm, and please refer any outstanding candidates you might know!

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

Erik Upson
City Manager
City News
Art Walk Season Ends Saturday
The last event of the 10th season of Benicia Art Walk occurs on Saturday, October 9, 1 - 5 p.m., on First Street in downtown Benicia. Demonstrations, music and original art are the highlights of Benicia Art Walk, sponsored by the City of Benicia through the city’s tourism program, Visit Benicia.
 
During Art Walk, the Galleries of First Street, an organization of the eight First Street galleries, will host the Benicia Art Passport competition. Stop by any of the participating galleries, pick up an Art Passport, then get it stamped at each Art Walk galleries for a chance to be drawn to win the prize of $200 to spend at any of the eight galleries.
 
Visitors to First Street in October can check out the unique scarecrows in front of businesses on First Street. Vote for your favorite or just marvel at the creativity. Ballots are available at Benicia Main Street, 90 First Street. Voting ends Monday, October 25.
 
Benicia Art Walk is always free and so is the parking. Look for the bright blue banners hanging in front of each gallery or pick up the 2021 Benicia Art Walk brochure and map to find the fun.
 
Here’s a list of participating galleries and what’s in store during the October 9 Benicia Art Walk:
 
The Little Art Shop at 129 First Street. Situated on the waterfront in the red-brick Tannery building, find the works of 30 different artists on display created in glass, wood, metal, clay, mixed-media, encaustic, textiles, assemblage, fabrics and mosaics. Artist Kerry Lee will be on hand with her Spirit Painting Showcase, works that will touch the heart.
 
Once Upon a Canvas at 129 First Street. Also in The Tannery, they are offering music and a demonstration during Benicia Art Walk. They invite you to visit their new artists on display and check out their Artist of the Month, Claudia Bennett. 
 
Benicia Plein Air Gallery at 307 First Street. Carol Tarzier is the Featured Artist in October with her exhibition, Seas and Skies. Carol was juried into the Telluride and Sonoma Plein Air events this year, as well as into group shows featuring the California coast. Her show highlight works based on her Plein Air trips to Colorado, Sonoma County and Mendocino County. Meet Carol at the gallery, 2 – 4 p.m. during Benicia Art Walk.
 
HQ Gallery at 333 First Street, Suite D. Mixed media artist Michal Lehman takes center stage as Featured Artist of the Month, with extra pieces on display. One of her creations will be the prize for the winner of the gallery’s October scavenger hunt inside HQ. Come in and see Michal’s unique plaques and what you might win. Also, on display out front will be Matilda the Artist scarecrow.
 
Happy Life Pottery at 632 First Street. Stop by to watch live pottery “hand-building” demos and enjoy the work of featured artist Janet Glore Davis, presented by Arts Benicia. Additionally, there will be a special sale of large prints by the late, great, incomparable Janet Matthews.
 
Arata Art Gallery at 637 First Street. Stop by to meet artist Geri Arata, MFA, and view her Retrospective Solo Show. Her works are a visual treat of color and texture!
 
Artcentric, 733 First Street. The paint-you-own ceramic studio and gallery offers quality handmade art for sale and local Benicia souvenirs.
 
Gallery 621 at 920 First Street, Suite 203. Gallery 621 has reopened in their new spacious location above Olson Realty. The gallery features the works of 16 regional artists working in a variety of media including painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Relief sculptures by Tom Arie Donch, the gallery's newest artist, are included. Gallery 621 artists invite old and new friends to visit their new location!
COVID Booster Vaccines
Booster shots and extra doses are available for those at risk if you received the Pfizer vaccine more than 6 months ago and are:
  • Age 65+
  • Residents and staff in long-term care settings
  • Age 18+ and have underlying medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, obesity
  • Age 18+ and work in high-risk settings including healthcare workers, teachers, grocery store workers

Additional doses are recommended for immunocompromised individuals. Guidance for Moderna and J&J recipients is forthcoming.

Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Has Full FDA Approval

Click here for information and locations for vaccines in Solano County.
Dog Park Gets New Turf
Starting Monday, October 11, the main entrance to the large dog area at Phenix Dog Park will be inaccessible due to scheduled renovations. The Parks and Community Services Department is using funding from Prop 68 to renovate the turf in the large dog area. The renovation will provide the canine community and their owners with a more enjoyable environment, and will contribute to the City's commitment to water conservation.

Access to the large dog area will be available through a side gate in the small dog area. For the safety of all dogs and their owners, large dogs should remain on leash while passing through the small dog area.
The Parks Department looks forward to unveiling a new and improved dog play area in the coming months.
Compost Happens: Compost 101
A free live compost webinar, sponsored by Republic Services and the Solano County Water Agency, will teach you how to:

  • make compost
  • harvest compost
  • use this valuable amendment in your garden

Lori Caldwell, owner of CompostGal Consulting and certified Master Gardener, will teach how easy it is to transform your yard waste and food scraps into “gardeners’ gold”.

Thursday, October 14
6 – 7:30 p.m.

visit the calendar at SustainableSolano.org.
City Employee Spotlight
The Parks and Community Services Department has been exceptionally fortunate to retain some incredible part time workers over the years. A perfect example of this is Michael Arwine.

Michael started with the City of Benicia when he was 16 (in 1979) at the James Lemos pool. He worked in aquatics for 13 years as a lifeguard and swim instructor and moved up the ranks to become the aquatics coordinator. During his last year at the pool he was approached about a new position opening in the recreation department as a Facility Attendant. The City was expanding its rental facility program to include the Clocktower. He was hired for the position. This worked perfectly for his schedule since it was a part time position that would not interfere with his full-time job at St. Patrick St. Vincent High School (SPSV). Michael started at SPSV in 1989 and continues to work there today. Michael has had many roles at SPSV, a teacher, the Dean of Students and now a high school counselor.

What Michael enjoys the most in his role as a Facility Attendant at the Clock Tower is assisting and sharing in so many family’s major life events. He has worked and assisted with the success of hundreds of wedding ceremonies and receptions, many of our local nonprofit annual fundraisers, birthdays, anniversaries and much more. It’s obvious to anyone who meets Michael that he genuinely cares about people and loves to serve the public to ensure that their events are successful.

Michael’s former supervisor, Wendy Stratton-Monahan describes Michael this way:
“Mike is an exceptional member of the Parks and Community Services’ team. His experience and knowledge of the Clock Tower is immeasurable, and his devotion to the facility is invaluable. However, it Is not just Mike’s strong work ethic that makes him the wonderful person that he is: It is his gentle spirit, his kindness, and his commitment to our community. He cares for the Clock Tower as if it were his own home, but he also shows the same level of care for every event that he works. He will tell you that his goal is to ensure that every renter has an enjoyable event. Mike’s smile is welcoming, and his heart is pure gold and we are fortunate to have him in our City of Benicia family.”

In his spare time, he likes to relax and travel. This past summer he went to Maui, Las Vegas and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria which is one of the Canary Islands.

Thank you, Michael, for your 42 years of service as a valued member of our team. You have made our department, city and community a better place.
COVID Assistance
Find vaccine locations, 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
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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