City of Benicia This Week
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In this edition: Urban Water Management Plan, First Street Fishing Pier Closed for Repairs, Big Slide Closed at Community Park, Eastern Gateway Virtual Study Session Tuesday, Water Utility Grant for Small Businesses, Solano County Moves to Red Tier, State Loosens Restrictions, COVID Assistance
Message from the City Manager
March 15, 2021

Hello Everyone,
At the February Priority Setting Workshop (morning session, afternoon session), City Council discussed the top project priorities for the City. Tomorrow evening Council will continue the discussion of one of those priorities, the Eastern Gateway Study. I want to take a moment this week to highlight this particular Priority: Project D under Strategic Goal #4, the Eastern Gateway Study.
 
STRATEGIC GOAL #4: STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC AND FISCAL CONDITIONS
A. Priority Project 1: Support COVID-19 economic resiliency and recovery projects, such as BOOST grants, Parklet Program, and Fee Forgiveness Program
B. Priority Project 2: Support Community Development Department with initiatives to assess developing undeveloped City properties and report back to Council fall of 2021
C. Priority Project 3: Renegotiation of Port lease, completed by 2025
D. Priority Project 4: Eastern Gateway Study completed and presented to Council for adoption in January 2022

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, the Community Development Department will be presenting an important update on the Eastern Gateway Study. I highly encourage you to tune in to this either on Zoom or on our Channel 27. (You can livestream the meeting by going to https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas and clicking the video link under Upcoming Events or follow the Zoom instructions on the agenda.)
 
I’m very excited about the project and I think it lays out some very interesting options for the neighborhood around East 5th Street and Military East. I have often heard, in my six years here, that Benicia is completely built-out and has no or little hope for growth or development. But what if there was a way to grow that was in alignment with our identity as a community? A way to grow supported by the spirit of our General Plan and the importance of keeping the things that make Benicia special, but moving us forward at the same time? This Eastern Gateway Study gives a glimpse of that possible future.
 
I want to thank the Community Development Department for their incredible work to-date on this important project. I would also like to thank the stakeholders and community members who have been involved in this for their commitment, imagination and dedication to Benicia. There will certainly be some disagreement in some of the details, but working collaboratively, being willing to compromise, I believe this project could have great potential. Again, please tune in this Tuesday evening. The Council meeting begins at 7 p.m., though I suspect this item won’t be up until after 8 p.m. Those interested in receiving updates on the Eastern Gateway Study can visit the project page at https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/easterngateway and use the Email Sign-up on the left side.

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

Erik Upson
City Manager
City News
Urban Water Management Plan
The City of Benicia is preparing its 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) as required by the California Water Code (CWC). This effort must be completed by July 1, 2021.

CWC Section 10642 encourages “active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic elements of the populations” in preparing the UWMP and Section 10621(b) requires 60 day advance notice regarding the preparation of the UWMP. To that effort, the City anticipates holding a public hearing in June. The draft 2020 UWMP will be available for review prior to the public hearing. Details and updates on the 2020 UWMP and public hearing will be share on social media and published soon at https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/publicworks.

The public hearing will allow:
  1. Community input regarding the City’s water supply reliability,
  2. consideration of the economic impacts of complying with CWC statutes governing the UWMP, and
  3. the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan.

If you have any questions on the City’s UWMP update process, please contact the Public Works Department at pw@ci.benicia.ca.us or 707.746.4240.
First Street Fishing Pier Closed for Repairs
The City of Benicia is scheduled to perform repair work on the First Street Fishing Pier this week. In order to perform the work safely, the fishing pier will be closed Tuesday, March 16 through Friday, March 19, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Signs will be posed at the entrance to the pier. The parking area and public restrooms will remain open.

Questions regarding the work should be directed to the Parks & Community Services Department at 707.746.4285 or pcs@ci.benicia.ca.us.
Big Slide Closed at Community Park
The concrete slide at Benicia Community Park has been closed for maintenance. The slide is normally closed once a year in the late spring or early summer to repair rough areas, remove scuffing, and re-coat the surface of the slide. However, increased wear caused by the use of cardboard, bicycles, and other unauthorized uses necessitated the closure.

The coatings used on the surface of the slide require warm weather conditions free of moisture in order to cure properly. Maintenance on the slide will begin as soon as weather conditions permit.

Questions regarding the work should be directed to the Parks & Community Services Department at 707.746.4285 or pcs@ci.benicia.ca.us.
Eastern Gateway Virtual Study Session Tuesday
The Benicia City Council is having a Virtual Study Session on the Eastern Gateway Study on Tuesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. This is another opportunity to learn about the project and provide your feedback.

Instructions on how to participate in the workshop as well as meeting materials may be found in the meeting agenda, available at www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas under Upcoming Events.

Info on the Eastern Gateway Project is available at https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/easterngateway.

If you have questions or comments, please reach out to Associate Planner Danielle Crider at 707.746.4324 or dcrider@ci.benicia.ca.us.
Water Utility Grant for Small Businesses
Benicia City Council has authorized the Economic BOOST Round 6 Water Utility Grant. Targeted to businesses that have been some of the most adversely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, the grant is limited to restaurants, bars, hotels, retail and personal-service (spa, massage, salon, barber, gym, fitness) business classifications only, on a first come, first serve basis.

The City of Benicia BOOST (Business-Open-Opportunity-Support-Thrive) Grants were established to support Benicia businesses in navigating the impacts of COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions. This grant may only be used for City of Benicia water/wastewater utility costs or the costs associated with water utility costs in triple-net lease agreements and will reimburse up to 6-months (3 invoices) of water utility costs for an amount up to $2,500.

Business Eligibility Information
To be eligible for this grant, businesses MUST:
  • Operate as a bar, restaurant, retail store, hotel, personal service business located in a commercial zoned district within the City of Benicia.
  • Not be a chain or national franchise (three or more locations, national or local).
  • Be in good standing with the City of Benicia. (Does not have any current City Code Enforcement violations or is in arrears with City fines, fees or taxes.)
  • Have not already been awarded a BOOST Round 3 Water Utility Grant.

The deadline to apply is Friday, April 16 at 5 p.m. Requirements, application/agreement and instructions are available at www.beniciabusiness.com/boost-grant-water.

Questions may be addressed to Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani at 707.746.4289 or mgiuliani@ci.benicia.ca.us.
Solano County Moves to Red Tier
The State of California announced last Tuesday that Solano County has moved from the most restrictive Purple Tier (Tier 1) to a less-restrictive Red Tier (Tier 2) of the State’s COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy. Effective Wednesday, March 10, more businesses and activities are able to expand capacity or resume operations, including indoor services at restaurants, increased capacity at retail and shopping centers, youth sports activities and an opportunity for schools to reopen.

Moving into the Red Tier allows
  • Restaurants indoor dining (max 25% capacity of facility or 100 people, whichever is fewer)
  • All retail indoors (max 50% capacity of facility)
  • Shopping centers, swap meets indoors (max 50% capacity of facility, closed common areas)
  • Museums, zoos and aquariums (max 25% capacity of facility)
  • Movie theaters indoors (max 25% capacity of facility or 100 people, whichever is fewer)
  • Gyms and fitness centers indoors (max 10% capacity of facility)
  • Schools may open while in Red Tier status and provide in-person instruction
  • Youth sports: Outdoor low-and moderate-contact sports are permitted; outdoor high-contact sports are also permitted if state guidelines are adhered to

Businesses must still implement State-mandated industry guidance
Prior to opening under the Red Tier, all businesses and activities must review the State guidelines, complete a State COVID-19 general checklist and ensure a written plan is on file and available for public review. Information and resources on Guidance for Specific Industries is available on the State’s COVID-19 website at www.covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy/.

What can happen over the next several weeks
To move to an even less restrictive tier, the Orange Tier (Tier 3), test positivity rates and additional metrics must continue to improve for two consecutive weeks. If Solano County residents and businesses continue to make progress in preventing COVID-19 transmission, additional business sectors and indoor activities can progressively begin to open, with modifications.

Vaccinated sectors in Solano County
Nearly 90,000 people have been vaccinated and more than 30,000 have received two doses, including the healthcare and emergency services sectors, individuals 65 years of age and older, childcare workers, teachers and school employees, food and agricultural workers.

Notification About Upcoming Vaccine Clinics
Solano Public Health urges Solano County residents to register on both the Solano County Vaccine Interest Form and on the State’s MyTurn system to be pre-screened and notified of opportunities to receive a vaccine when it is their turn. Register for the Vaccine Interest Form by visiting bit.ly/solanovax or by calling 707.784.8988. Register on the State’s MyTurn notification system by visiting https://MyTurn.Ca.Gov or by calling 833.422.4255.

Solano County COVID-19 information
For the most recent local COVID-19 health information, including the number of COVID-19 cases and to register for vaccination in Solano County, visit the Solano County website at www.SolanoCounty.com/COVID19 and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SolanoCountyPH
(@SolanoCountyPH).
State Loosens Restrictions
Last Thursday, the State of California updated its criteria for operations of various business sectors in Counties in less restrictive tiers, according to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, impacting several business operations within Solano County and across California.
 
Certain industries, including breweries, wineries and distilleries – businesses that were not permitted to operate without food service until now – may start operating on Saturday, March 13. Outdoor events, including sports, live performances and amusement parks, may start operating beginning on Thursday, April 1, 2021. Recreational activities, including overnight youth summer camps, may begin operating on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.
 
The State of California updated its criteria for operations of various business sectors in less restrictive tiers due to a steady increase in the number of individuals getting vaccinated, as well as a decline in COVID-19 transmission rates. Solano County residents and businesses can get the most current information on various business requirements by visiting COVID19.Ca.Gov/Safer-Economy.
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
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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