City of Benicia This Week
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In this edition: Message from the City Manager, North Study Area Project, New Short Term Rental Licensing, City Awarded Air Filtration Systems, Job Openings, and much more!
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Message from the City Manager |
November 14, 2022
Dear Community Members,
I want to start by thanking the Fire Department staff, particularly our Fire Chief, Josh Chadwick, and our outstanding Fire Department Management Analyst, Della Olm. The Mayor and Council have been clear in their direction regarding public health, and specifically that they desire us to do more when it comes to air quality. Chief Chadwick and Della Olm took this direction seriously and found a Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) grant that we were able to compete for. They put in the application, and it was successful! As a result, the City was awarded over $400,000 in grant money to help improve the health of our community members. We will be purchasing 350 high quality air filtration systems, 300 of which will be used to put an air filtration system in every classroom in the school district. Additionally, the grant will provide 5-years of replacement HEPA filters. We are working collaboratively with a very excited Benicia Unified School District to roll out this initiative. Further air filter systems will be going in public places, especially those used during air quality events or as public sheltering locations. Great job Benicia Fire Department! For more information, see the article below.
In other big news this week, we have the rollout of the North Study Area project, with a community meeting on Wednesday, November 16th (see article below for more information). As most of you may remember, I discussed this several months ago. This is the piece of land (just over 500 acres) located north of East Second Street between West Channel and Lake Herman Road. It is the last very large developable property in the City of Benicia. The City will be hosting a number of community meetings, offering opportunities for public input, and working with some very smart people, including planning consultant Ben Noble, who you may recall from other recent planning efforts such as the Eastern Gateway Study. The City will be coordinating a joint visioning process with the community and the land owner. Our message for this outreach and visioning is Private land, PUBLIC VISION. The land is privately owned, but because of how it is zoned, it serves the best interests of the property owner to work collaboratively with the City to envision its future use and development. This unique effort will help to inform the property owner and City as to the preferences, opportunities, and potential future uses of the site. No plans or development proposals are on the table at this time, however, the City will have a great deal of influence on the ultimate vision and path that is determined. A group of community members will be working with Ben Noble throughout this process and we will be sharing the public meetings, results, and more on our social media platforms (@cityofbenicia_government), and a dedicated webpage, www.NorthStudyArea.org. This project launched with an economic analysis of the site to help everyone better understand what could be viable.
In closing, I would like to thank all of the volunteers who showed up to place flags in the City Cemetery (as well as doing some light cleaning)! Special thanks to Ann Dunleavy, Superintendent of Community Services, and the Parks and Community Services team for pulling the event together. We used our Helper Helper app to coordinate volunteer sign-ups for this event. Please consider signing up on our Benicia Helper Helper app if you are interested in volunteer opportunities.
Erik Upson
City Manager
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This month, the City of Benicia is launching the North Study Area visioning process. We want to hear from the community about the potential future land use of the "North Study Area", the last remaining large tract of privately-owned undeveloped land.
Mark your calendars for an upcoming community meeting this Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 7pm at Northgate Church, located at 2201 Lake Herman Road.
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New Short Term Rental Licenses |
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Visitors to our city have excellent options for lodging, including hotels, inns, and residential short-term rentals. A short-term rental is the rental of a dwelling unit, in whole or in part, for residing, sleeping, or lodging purposes for a period of 29 consecutive calendar days or fewer. These spaces are typically rented to guests using online platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO.
Benicia’s Short Term Rental Licensing process has recently launched on the City’s Online Permit Center. The licensing program and its associated requirements were designed through a community process to allow short-term rentals in limited circumstances while making sure they are compatible with neighborhoods and do not create a public nuisance. Renting a whole unit requires being in the immediate downtown where a wide range of businesses and living spaces are permitted, while rentals with a host on site are allowed in all residential zones. Find out more on the City’s Short Term Rental webpage. |
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City of Benicia Awarded $414,375 for Air Filtration Systems |
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Benicia Fire Department staff applied for and received $414,375 in grant funding from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Clean Air Centers Program for over 350 HEPA air filtration systems in public areas around Benicia. The Clean Air Centers will provide residents with an opportunity for respite from wildfire smoke during poor air quality events.
The Benicia Unified School District (BUSD) will receive 300 HEPA air purifiers and enough replacement filters for 5 years for free. Without grant funding, this would have cost $350,176. There will be a new, high-efficiency air filter system placed in every classroom and in most indoor areas where students are present.
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During a poor air quality event, BUSD students will be able to breathe clean air while they are at school.
The City of Benicia will receive 55 HEPA air purifiers and enough replacement filters for 5 years for free. Without grant funding, this would have cost $64,199. The air filtration systems will be placed in the City’s public areas including the Benicia Public Library, Community Center, Family Resource Center, Senior Center, City Hall, Police Department, Fire Department, Water & Wastewater Treatment Centers, Emergency Operations Center, and emergency shelters hosted by the City of Benicia. During a poor air quality event, residents can get respite from smoke-burdened air by visiting one of these public spaces during regular business hours. If an emergency shelter or cooling center is opened, residents can breathe easy knowing that the air in the shelter is clean.
While the purpose of the Clean Air Centers Program is to reduce negative health impacts from wildfire smoke during a poor air quality event, the grant-funded air filtration systems will also provide some protection from the spread of cold & flu viruses like COVID-19 this flu season. HEPA air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants, including viruses, in a confined space.
The funds for the Clean Air Centers Program come from California Assembly Bill 836: Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Center Incentive Program for Vulnerable Populations. The purpose of the bill is to establish an expansive network of publicly accessible facilities with high-efficiency air filtration systems for people who may not otherwise have access to clean air during wildfire events. Because grant funding is only for publicly accessible spaces, individual residences and private businesses are not eligible for air filtration systems under this program.
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City of Benicia is Hiring Police Officers |
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The City of Benicia is recruiting for the position of Police Officer to fill current vacancies, as well as establish an eligibility list for future vacancies. We seek energetic, enthusiastic, and hard working individuals for our Police Department. Looking for people who are dedicated, empathetic, and committed to this community for these positions:
- Police Officers
- Public Safety Dispatchers
- Community Services Officers (non-sworn)
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Free Water Conservation Yard Signs |
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Do you want to help promote water conservation? Benicia Public Works is offering free water conservation yard signs!
Email the Public Works Department at pw@ci.benicia.ca.us with your address and staff will deliver a free water conservation yard sign.
View your water usage, check for leaks, and set-up alerts through our WaterSmart Portal.
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Seeking Crossing Guards & Student Supervision Aids |
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Mary Farmer Elementary is seeking Student Supervision Aids and Crossing Guards. Student Supervision Aids work with each and every student on campus and encourage students to play, help students problem solve, and try new things.
Crossing Guards assist students in crossing the street, training is provided. Mary Farmer is looking for someone who can help in the mornings from 7:40-8:15 am daily.
Position Listings:
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PG&E Virtual North Coast Town Hall |
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On Tuesday, November 15 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., PG&E is hosting an interactive virtual town hall to discuss improving operations and highlighting resources and programs for winter bill savings.
Learn about...
- Recent work in your region
- Programs for winter bill savings & safety
- Connect with PG&E’s regional leadership team, including Regional Vice President Ron Richardson
- Provide feedback and ask questions of the local leadership team
Call: 888-831-6082
Conference ID: 3042707
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Save the Date
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Nov 14 - Art Gallery Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Benicia Public Library, Dona Benicia Room. See the full agenda for more information.
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Nov 15 - City Council meeting, 6:00 p.m. at Benicia City Hall Council Chamber. See the full agenda for more information.
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Nov 17 - Historic Preservation Review Commission meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Benicia City Hall Council Chamber. See the full agenda for more information.
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Nov 17 - Special Art Gallery Committee meeting, 2:30 p.m. at Benicia Public Library, Dona Benicia Room. See the full agenda for more information.
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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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