City of Benicia This Week
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In this edition: Holiday Closure, COVID Vaccine Update, Ask Your 4th Grader About Water Treatment, City Cemetery Placed on Historic Registry, Call for Artists for Public Art Projects
Message from the City Manager
February 15, 2021

Hello Everyone,
I’d like to start by thanking Judie Donaldson for her article regarding the vaccination clinic in the Benicia Herald. It was inspiring, uplifting, but more importantly I think she hit on several of the most important things we need to keep in mind in these difficult times. Thank you, Judie!

These are ideas that I will try and reinforce in everything we do as City staff:

  • Care about all people, deeply, but, as a community, let's take special care for those most disenfranchised and struggling.
  • Every contact with the community is an opportunity for us to show how much we care, to demonstrate excellence, and to lift people up.
  • Bring people together, find common ground, and in doing so harness the true power of community.
  • Be the very best in everything we do and create excellence in governance
.
Since taking over as City Manger in August I’ve had a lot of time to connect with various department heads, the Mayor and Council, and to review the many, many reports, binders and history of the City of Benicia. What I have discovered gives me both great hope for our future, but also a real sense of just how much work we have to do. It is certainly daunting. But I believe the circumstances are right, and we will get it done. To that point, we will really begin tackling the heavy lifting of the work we need to do moving forward beginning at our Council Priority Setting Workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 27. I'll share more details after the workshop.

Much like with the vaccination clinic, it will take the entire community coming together, working collaboratively towards real solutions for us to tackle the many challenges that are ahead of us. If there was ever a community that was up for the challenge, it is Benicia.

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

Erik Upson
City Manager
City News
Holiday Closure
Benicia City Offices and Benicia Community Center will be closed on Monday, February 15, in observance of Presidents' Day.  

Requests for emergency water and sewer service may be made at the Benicia Police Department at 200 East L Street or by calling 707.745.3411.
COVID Vaccine Update
Just a friendly reminder that if you received your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Benicia on Tuesday, February 2, you are due for your second dose. Please return to the same location at your same appointment time on Tuesday, March 2. Only people who received their first dose in Benicia on February 2 will receive a vaccine at this clinic. No first doses will be administered and no second doses from other clinics will be administered.
 
PLEASE NOTE: It is very important that you bring your ID and the Shop Record Card that you received with your first dose in Benicia. If you do not bring both with you on March 2, we will not be able to give you the second dose. You will be referred to your primary care physician.

Other Vaccine Opportunities
Solano County Public Health, area hospitals and area pharmacies receive supplies of vaccines independent of each other. Vaccines are administered as quickly as possible based on the supply received. You are encouraged to be proactive and sign up with as many providers as possible, then take advantage of the first opportunity that comes up.

Solano County Public Health: Public Health is rolling out mass vaccine clinics. Find out about vaccine distribution in Solano County at www.solanocounty.com/covidvaccine. Sign up to be notified when you're eligible at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=rCB_XvHlg0-MO85EuEhkITmQkAJBpD5Ap6ySli1u7o1UMlBMV0VWMzdDOEJNVkc2U1VSTVpIWk1JMC4u

Health Care Providers: Kaiser and Sutter are administering vaccines to members only.

Pharmacies: If you are aged 65 or more, you may be able to get a vaccination at one of these pharmacies. Note: Vaccinations from these providers may not be free of charge.

Find out about the state's vaccine plan at https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/ and sign up to be notified when it's your turn at https://myturn.ca.gov/.
Ask Your 4th Grader About Water Treatment
The Public Works Department has again partnered with Solano Resource Conservation District (RCD) and Benicia Unified School District to teach 4th and 5th grade students about water treatment and resource management. This year, due to COVID-19 constraints, the program was conducted entirely online!

Last month, 218 4th graders from seven classes in the school district participated in the Water Education Program. Students completed an online lesson about water treatment, constructed their own wastewater filter, and attended a virtual lesson with Solano RCD and Wastewater Treatment Plant staff discussing water treatment and its impacts on the environment. The 4th Grade Program concluded with a 1-hour virtual tour of the entire Water Treatment Plant.

In March 2021, 260 students from nine 5th grade classes will participate in a similar program where students will begin virtual lesson/tours of Lake Herman and the Water Treatment Plant.

“We are excited about this program because it teaches students about the role they play in the ecosystem right outside their front door,” said Kyle Ochenduszko, Deputy Public Works Director. “I am thankful for Solano RCD and Benicia USD for helping Public Works staff take this program virtual so no child misses out during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

If you have questions about the City’s Water Education Program, please contact Marc Bautista, Water Quality Supervisor, at mbautista@ci.benicia.ca.us or 707.746.4336.
City Cemetery Placed on Historic Registry
Benicia City Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places last week thanks to the efforts of the Benicia City Cemetery History Committee.

The cemetery receives the distinction of being listed with 10 other Benicia places.

Thanks go to Robin Wood and her family, who have ancestors buried in the City Cemetery, for spearheading the effort from start to finish. Locals Michael Hayes and Karen Burns who supported the effort, and Benicia Historical Museum and Benicia Historical Society for letters of support.

Benicia City Cemetery is one of three historic cemeteries in Benicia. The others are St. Dominic Cemetery and Benicia Arsenal Post Cemetery.
Call for Artists for Public Art Projects
In an effort to build on Benicia’s popular and successful traffic signal box art and decorative benches initiatives, the City of Benicia’s Arts and Culture Commission (BACC) has announcing two new calls for area artists.
 
The BACC signal box program continues to grow, with three more signal boxes available for decoration. The three signal boxes are available to artists to transform into one-of-a kind works of art. Each signal box is a paid project. In addition, the Arts and Culture Commission will pay for supplies. The BACC is now accepting applications for individual box decoration.
 
Two of Benicia’s public benches are also available for artists to create one-of-a kind artworks. These are also paid projects, with the Arts and Culture Commission paying for supplies. Applications for individual benches are being accepted now.
 
There is no cost to apply. Artists may apply individually or as a group. Each project requires a separate application. Additional details and application forms are available at www.tinyurl.com/Benicia-public-art. The deadline to apply for both projects is Friday, March 5.
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.
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!