City of Benicia This Week
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In this edition: Memorial Day Observed in Benicia, Housing Element Workshops on Wednesday, State Adopts Water Conservation Regulations, No-Cost Business Assistance Grants Available, Summer Shows for Kids, Free Rides on Election Day, COVID Boosters Expand to 5-11 Years, City Employee Spotlight
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Message from the City Manager |
May 30, 2022
Hello Everyone,
Last Tuesday night at Council, your Fire Chief, Josh Chadwick, presented a summary of the City’s response to the Port Fire Incident that occurred on April 9. The response of our Fire Department, and other City staff, was remarkable. I would stack our response up against any larger agency. Being able to respond to an event of this magnitude so professionally, as a small agency is quite a challenge. Most large agencies have staff dedicated to training fulltime, they have massive training venues and training budgets, and they get the experience of dealing with large-scale incidents on a more frequent basis. For a smaller agency like Benicia, it takes a lot of work in the form of ‘ancillary duties’ (otherwise known as extra duties) for or our staff. Our Fire Department has no excess staff. All of the fire staff are assigned to fire and medical responses to calls with the exception of the Fire Chief, two administrative staff (not firefighters) and the fire marshal. To have such an exceptional response, they must work hard, be creative, and hold themselves to the highest standards. I strongly encourage you to watch this video (below) of the Fire Chief's presentation to Council.
I want to take a moment, this Memorial Day, to thank the families of those who have served in the armed forces, and who have a family member who have given their lives for our nation.
I hope I will see many of you at the Memorial Day Program at the Benicia Arsenal Cemetery.
I’d like to close with quote from the Normandy Visitor’s Center by General Mark W. Clark: “If ever proof were needed that we fought for a cause and not for conquest, it could be found in the [foreign military] cemeteries. Here was our only conquest: All we asked…was enough soil in which to bury our gallant dead.”
Thank you for your interest in the City of Benicia This Week!
Erik Upson
City Manager
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Memorial Day Observed in Benicia |
Benicia Memorial Day program on Monday, May 30:
8 a.m.:
8 a.m.:
- Guests may place flags on headstones if they wish
- Diablo Regional Concert Band (Nations Prayer, Sing We Liberty, Riders for the Flag, Armed Forces Medley)
9 a.m.:
- Diablo Regional Concert Band (God Bless America, National Anthem, Navy Hymn, America the Beautiful)
- Greetings and Introductions (Oren Rae, Master of Ceremonies)
- Steve Young, Mayor of Benicia
- Erik Upson, City Manager
- Ashaley Jackson, Assistant Director of Sacramento Valley National Cemetery
- Monica Brown, Solano County District Supervisor
- Paul Adler, Valero Director of Government Affairs & Community Relations
- Gary Ritchie, Commander of American Legion Post 101
- Shawn Hevener, Commander of VFW Post 3928
- Diablo Regional Concert Band (National Anthem)
- Pledge of Allegiance by everyone
- Prayer: Gary Smith
- Memorial Day Flags for Veterans, American Legion
- Brief History of the Arsenal Cemetery
- Speech by Veteran Hector Fulgencio
- Laying of Wreath, Commanders of American Legion and VFW
- Military Oath of Enlistment
- Rifle Salute, members of the Benicia Veterans Memorial Hall
- Taps
- Diablo Regional Concert Band (Amazing Grace, Sing We Liberty, Riders for the Flag, American Patrol, Zacatecas)
Flags Placed at City Cemetery
On Thursday, May 26, nine community volunteers placed flags at veteran’s headstones at Benicia City Cemetery on Riverhill Drive. Based on records, there are approximately 170 dedicated men and women who served our country and deserve our thanks. They have served in all branches of the military and in all different ranks. It’s heartwarming to see flags on the headstones of those who served in the Civil War, World Wars I & II, the Vietnam War and the Korean Conflict.
Many thanks to the generous community members who donated their time for this special project: Brett Alvord (Veteran), Errol & Margo Bissutti, Bill & Sara Casey, Susan Heppell, David Horn, Kristine Passalacqua and Lionel Largaespada.
City Cemetery Work for Memorial Day
The Parks & Community Services Department Parks Division has been working hard at the City Cemetery over the last couple weeks to prepare for the Memorial Day weekend. Irrigators were busy re-routing existing irrigation and installing new irrigation in the area where new vaults were installed last year. As soon as repairs are complete (sometime after Memorial Day), the area will be seeded and top dressed to restore the original turf.
Parks staff have been removing weeds and debris throughout the cemetery and trimmed around headstones. Contractors spent the last week removing 7 dead trees and grinding 26 tree stumps from trees that had been previously removed. Removal of the dead trees has opened spectacular views of the Carquinez Strait for families to enjoy as they visit loved ones and pay their respects.
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Housing Element Workshops on Wednesday |
The Solano County Housing Element Collaborative invites you to participate in a workshop to discuss the new Regional Housing Element fair housing requirements (AB 686).
The workshops will provide an overview of the fair housing requirements and a summary of the fair housing findings for Solano County. Attend to learn more about the fair housing section of the Regional Housing Element, provide feedback on fair housing needs and share your insights on how housing opportunities can be improved locally and on a regional level.
June 1, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
June 1, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Following the workshops, recordings of the presentation will be available in English, Spanish and Tagalog on the Solano County Collaborative website at solhousingelements.com.
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State Adopts Water Conservation Regulations |
On May 24, 2022, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted emergency water conservation regulations in response to the Governor’s March Executive Order. California is in a serious drought and conservation is increasingly important as we enter the summer months. Below is what Benicia residents and businesses need to know:
- Mandatory water conservation is coming. Staff will bring this issue before City Council soon.
- The City will be asking everyone to voluntary conserve 11-20% of water.
- Residential properties with turf are allowed to continue irrigating, with voluntary conservation of up to 20%.
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Please use water efficiently and sign up for WaterInsight so you can track your own water use.
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No-Cost Business Assistance Grants Available |
MCE has partnered with The Energy Alliance Association (TEAA) to support businesses interested in reducing their energy usage. MCE’s energy efficiency offerings include comprehensive energy evaluations and retrofit projects for businesses in Benicia. Participants will receive personalized technical assistance, procurement and contracting support, and referrals to other cost and energy saving programs. Beginning June 1, 2022, a new joint program between TEAA and the City of Benicia will provide significant financial assistance to business with energy and water reduction improvements.
Projects will be funding on a first come basis, so it is recommended to apply early as funding is limited. If you are interested in the no-cost energy survey program, please contact TEAA at [email protected] or 707.542.3171 to find out if MCE’s commercial energy efficiency offerings are right for your facility.
Details are shared below.
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Free Rides on Election Day |
SolTrans will offer FREE rides on all Local and Paratransit services on Election Day, Tuesday, June 7. Their commitment is to offer free rides this election day, to allow the community access to the polls.
Free rides will be on all local-fixed routes for all riders all day, regardless of destination. Paratransit trips will be free for all ADA eligible persons. (Reservations are required for Paratransit service, please follow normal protocol to book a Paratransit trip on June 7.)
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COVID Boosters Expand to 5-11 Years |
The Solano County Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health Division, in accordance with state and national guidance, is expanding the Pfizer COVID-19 booster doses to individuals age 5 to 11 years.
The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup unanimously concluded that a booster dose of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine is safe and effective for youth ages 5-11, following the Emergency Use Authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration and the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Parents who are interested in getting their child vaccinated are encouraged to reach out to their provider to schedule wellchild visits and get the COVID-19 booster, along with the recommended childhood immunizations.
“Getting a booster dose for COVID-19 provides an extra layer of protection to keep your child safe and healthy,” said Bela T. Matyas, M.D., M.P.H., Solano County Health Officer. “We encourage parents to schedule routine visits with their child’s healthcare provider to get their child’s immunizations up to date and prepare them for the following school year.”
During the pandemic, Solano County has seen a significant decline in well-child visits and immunizations. The “Beewise, Immunize!” campaign, which is a collaborative effort that includes Solano County, First 5 Solano, Partnership HealthPlan, Childstart, and Solano County school districts, encourages families to get up to date on routine visits and vaccinations with their child’s primary care provider or community clinic. For help finding a primary care provider or getting health insurance, call Help Me Grow Solano at 844.501.5437 or visit helpmegrowsolano.org.
In addition to getting up to date with well child visits and immunizations, children are required by California law to undergo the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment (KOHA) by May 31 in either kindergarten or first grade, whichever is their first year in public school. The KOHA is an important tool to keep children in school, as poor oral health can affect attendance, grades, and overall performance in school.
“Children who are having tooth pain may potentially struggle in school or miss school and end up in the emergency room,” says Tracy Nachand, Oral Health Project Director for Solano Public Health. “It is important to incorporate dental visits as a preventive routine in the life of children to adulthood.”
COVID-19 Information
- Homebound individuals interested in requesting an in-home vaccination appointment are encouraged to call the COVID-19 vaccine line at 707.784.8655 for scheduling assistance
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Residents without transportation to and from vaccine sites hosted by Solano County are urged to call the COVID-19 vaccine line at 707.784.8655 and arrange for a free ride through Uber.
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For vaccine clinic updates and upcoming vaccine clinics in Solano County, visit www.SolanoCounty.com/CovidVaccine.
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For vaccine clinics available throughout the State, visit https://MyTurn.Ca.Gov or https://www.Vaccines.Gov
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Annie Price, the City's Planning Intern, is a Pomona College graduate with a degree in Public Policy Analysis and Biology. In college she played lacrosse and worked as a backpacking guide and ski patroller. After college she worked as an EMT in Seattle and then for a carpentry shop in Eugene, Oregon. After biking all the way from Seattle to San Francisco for fun, she decided to move to the Bay Area and explore her passion for planning and transportation. When she’s not at City Hall, she can be found working in a Berkeley bike shop and exploring her new home.
Annie has been such an asset to the planning team the last couple of months. Her work has included advanced use of GIS (mapping software), community outreach, grant research, and much more. The City is lucky Annie has chosen to serve the City of Benicia this season.
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Save the Date
- May 30 - City Offices closed in observance of Memorial Day.
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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!
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