City of Benicia This Week
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In this edition: Gathering Guidance, Winter Outside Dining BOOST Grant, Benicia Human Services Fund, Report a Pothole, Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste
Message from the Interim City Manager
November 16, 2020

Hello Everyone,
These continue to be trying times we're living in. As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Solano County as well as our state, our country, and our world, research suggests they the rise is attributable to gatherings. That is, people from different households gathering together indoors, without wearing masks, for longer periods of time.

Not only does the spike in cases affect our most vulnerable residents but it impacts our businesses and our everyday life. As the positivity rate increases and remains high, it forces us back to the most restrictive tier, the Purple Tier, which hurts our small independent businesses and further impact our everyday lives.

Returning to the Purple Tier forces our restaurants to only be able to serve outdoors and offer take-out service. It also force museums, religious service, gyms and dance studios back outdoors and restrict retail shopping to 25% of capacity.

Solano County Public Health will announce later today that the California Department of Public Health is moving Solano County to the Purple Tier today. Solano County will issue a press release later today with further details. (The change in tiers is based on the adjusted case rate and the positivity rate. You may find more information here.) We will share that information on social media and email our business license holders.

Solano County Public Health Department sent a newsletter last week to every residential and business address and every PO box in Solano County. (Click here to read a copy.) The newsletter provides information on:

  • The importance of getting a flu vaccine
  • Getting tested for COVID-19
  • Safety considerations for holidays
  • Information on Solano County in the Red Tier and small business assistance
  • COVID-19 community resource information
  • Solano Public Health esources

I encourage you to follow the gathering guidance issued by the Solano County Public Health Department highlighted in the article below to do your part to help your friends, family and neighbors stay well and support our local businesses.

Also in this newsletter, I've highlighted our Benicia Human Services Fund, which provides grants to organizations that help Benicia residents. If you have the means, I urge you to consider donating.

We will get through this. Let's all do our part to help others to stay well and survive financially.

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

Erik Upson
Interim City Manager
City News
Gatherings Guidance
Wondering how to safely gather for the holidays? The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful and isolating for many people. Gatherings during the upcoming holidays can be an opportunity to reconnect with family and friends. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 epidemic is worsening, and small household gatherings are an important contributor to the rise in COVID-19 cases. As residents plan for winter holiday celebrations, Solano County Public Health offers guidance on how residents can more safely interact and protect the health of their families, friends, and communities while reducing the risk and spread of COVID-19.

Click here for information to consider while attending or hosting holiday gatherings this season.
Winter Outside Dining BOOST Grant
The City of Benicia BOOST (Business∙Open∙Opportunity∙Support∙Thrive) Grant was established to support Benicia businesses in navigating the impacts of the COVID-19 shutdown. Four rounds of BOOST grants have been offered. Applications for the first three have now closed.

The fourth grant, the Winter Outside Dining BOOST Grant, offers up to $1,000 in a reimbursment grant to Benicia restaurants and bars for heaters, wind barriers or other equipment to help them operate outside during colder weather when Solano County is in the Purple Tier. Drawing from a pool of $50,000, the non-competative grants will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis until funds are exhausted or the grant ends on Friday, December 18.

Details and the simple applications are available on BeniciaBusiness.com. Questions should be directed to Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani at mgiuliani@ci.benicia.ca.us or 707.746.4289.
Benicia Human Services Fund
The City of Benicia Human Services Board (HSB) acts as an advocate and intermediary for non-profit agencies serving the needs of the citizens of Benicia. The Board is made up of volunteer members appointed by the Mayor and City Council. HSB members review and evaluate requests for grants and make recommendations to the Benicia City Council regarding City funding for services and programs on behalf of our community through the Benicia Human Services Fund (HSF).

Current programs and agencies receiving funding through the HSF include:
  • Benicia Community Action Council (www.bencac.com):
  • Provides guidance for economically disadvantaged residents who are striving to establish self-sufficiency. Includes employment and financial counseling as well as food assistance, clothing and services needed to end homelessness.
  • Families in Transition (www.familiesintransition.org):
  • Supports families needing temporary assistance paying utility bill, rent, car payment, etc. due to unexpected economic setbacks such as illness, injury, unemployment or other transition.
  • Special Friends (beniciaunified.org/departments/special-services/special-friends):
  • Provides support to young learners (K-3) who may be exhibiting difficulty with transition and adjustment. Goals of the program are to foster resiliency and positive self-concept, develop a sense of belonging at school and encourage engagement with peers and teachers.
  • The Kyle Hyland Foundation Teen Center (www.kylehyland.com):
  • Supports Benicia teens by providing a place of belonging, mental health counseling, focus groups, and prosocial interactions designed to help teens thrive.
  • Carquinez Village (www.carquinezvillage.org):
  • Supports Benicia seniors in building a community that provides social support, practical help, and referral assistance to older adults who want to remain in their homes as they age.
  • Soroptimists International SCOOP! (www.soroptimistofbenicia.org):
  • Located at the Benicia Family Resource Center, the Soroptimist Closet of Opportunity and Provisions (“SCOOP”!) supplies various personal care items to support community members in need.
Additional funding requests are expected next cycle due to the challenging year we are experiencing.

How you can help? 
Benicia residents and businesses continue to have the opportunity to support the Human Services Board and its' beneficiary organizations by donating monthly through their water bill. During this particularly challenging time and with the uncertainty of future funding, it is hoped Benicians will either continue or increase their monthly donation, or start donating through their water bill or donate directly to the City of Benicia Human Services Fund to help with funding for grantees who really depend on this financial assistance to keep their programs running. Please help if you can.

If you'd like to make a contribution, please make check payable/send to:
Human Services Fund c/o City of Benicia
250 East L Street
Benicia, CA 94510

Members of the Benicia Human Services Board wish to send a big thank you to those who regularly donate to the Benicia Human Services Fund.

For more information about the Benicia Human Services Board and the Human Services Fund, contact Senior Management Analyst Sarah Terherst at sterherst@ci.benicia.ca.us or 707.746.4334.
Report a Pothole
As we continue to struggle with finding the funding to repair our roads to a degree desired by all, the need to keep roads from deteriorating further in important. If you see a pothole in need of repair, there are two ways to report it to the City's Public Works Department:

  • Submit a Request for City Services through this link, or
  • Call staff at the Corporation Yard at 707.746.4296.
Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste
Disposing of household hazardous waste can be complicated due to the many kinds and many options. The information below will help clarify. If you have questions, find Republic Services information for Benicia at www.republicservices.com/municipality/benicia-ca

Which Items Do I Take Where? In Benicia, we have a 3-tiered system for household hazardous waste.

Pickup by Your Cart
  • Batteries and CFSs (flourescent bulbs) can be placed in a Ziploc bag and placed next to your brown recycle cart.
  • Motor oil and filters (oil in well-sealed container and filters that are punctured and drained, then placed in a Ziploc bag) can go next to your brown cart, too. Pedrotti’s Ace Hardware accepts batteries, light tubes, and CFLs.

Take to the A.B.O.P. Drop-off
Located at the Corporation Yard, 2400 East 2nd Street (open Saturdays, 9 a.m. - noon). They collect
  • Antifreeze
  • Batteries -including car batteries
  • auto Oil and oil filters,
  • latex Paint
  • light tubes/CFLs
  • aerosols
State regulations limit the transportation of household hazardous waste to 15 gallons or 125 pounds per vehicle per visit. Individual containers are limited to a 5-gallon capacity. For your safety, always transport items in your trunk. Place any leaking items in sealable plastic bags to avoid fumes and mixing of toxins.

Door to Door
Are you frying a Thanksgiving turkey? Used cooking oil and other items can be picked up from your home through the Door to Door Household Hazardous Waste Program. You will need to schedule an appointment to receive a bag and instructions. A special hazmat truck will pick it up. To schedule an appointment, call Republic Services customer service at 707.747.0608.

Prescription Medication
Benicia Police Department has prescription take-back box at their entrance at 200 East L Street. Remove pills from bottle and pour into a Ziploc bag to save space. Remove personal label and recycle the bottle.
Benicia Fire Department has a “sharps” (needles and lancets) collection box at Fire Station 11, 150 Military West. Items must be in a puncture-proof, well-sealed container.

Thank you for disposing of your Household Hazardous Waste properly!
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!
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!