City of Benicia This Week
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In this edition: Thank You, Benicia Voters!; We're Hiring; What’s the Difference Between Biodegradable and Compostable?; Gas Transmission Pipeline Safety; City Employee Spotlight; COVID Assistance
Message from the City Manager
April 25, 2022

Hello Everyone,
I wanted to start by apologizing for the last-minute cancellation of our annual Priority Goal Setting Workshop this last Saturday. An emergency came up and, after consulting, the Mayor and I felt it was best to postpone ensuring we had the entire team present. We will be working to reschedule this critical meeting. Additionally, the Mayor has emphasized the importance of broadcasting this meeting (even if we are not in the chambers) and we will find a way to make that work.

The port, and its repair, continues to be a priority for the City. Deputy City Manager Mario Giuliani, who so ably led the City’s response, is working closely with Amports and Valero on this matter.

The port is one of many properties owned by the City of Benicia and leased to private entities. In many of these situations we find ourselves as the landlord in leases that are decades old (in the case of the port, 1965). It's hard to judge those involved back in those times, as the situation was certainly much different than today, but some of them certainly leave me scratching my head. One of the things of critical importance we’ve done in our restructuring is to create a position that, amongst other things, will manage the City’s real property to ensure it is being done in the best interest of the community.

Lastly, I would encourage you to click on the link to Measure C, below. A measure I can tell you as City Manager has been absolutely critical for our community. I’m often surprised to hear some of the misconceptions regarding this measure. It has been meticulously tracked and has both served to help ‘keep the lights on’ in the City government, while also providing some of the most visible and impactful capital investments in the last decade. Thank you to our amazing citizens for your ongoing trust and support. We will do everything we can to continue to earn that in living our vision of excellence and community focus. 

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

Erik Upson
City Manager
City News
Thank You, Benicia Voters!
April 2022 marks the seven-year anniversary of Measure C, the one-cent-on-the-dollar sales tax. Benicia's Quality of Life Measure took effect to help keep necessary community services open following the negative impacts of the recession. Without Measure C, the City would not be able to maintain ample staffing to support services that ensure a high quality of life in our community, such as our fire and police departments, library, pool and parks.  

Since the passage of Measure C, the City of Benicia has allocated $45,441,007 of Measure C funds to continue to provide essential community services and maintain key City services. 
  
Thank you, Benicia Voters, for your commitment to maintain the high quality of life in Benicia.  
  
To learn more about Measure C, please visit www.BeniciaMeasureC.org.
We're Hiring
Ready to take on a new challenge? The City of Benicia Human Resources Division is accepting applications for the following positions:

  • Assistant Recreation Coordinator NEW
  • Benicia Recreation Positions (Part Time)
  • Department Aide
  • Engineering Technician I/II
  • Field Utilities and Streets Apprentice/Journeyman
  • Librarian I (On Call) NEW
  • Lifeguard NEW
  • Police Officer - Academy/Non-Lateral
  • Police Officer - Lateral (Currently Working)
  • Project Manager 
  • Public Safety Dispatcher 
  • Public Works Maintenance Superintendent 
  • Reserve Officer (Volunteer)
  • Safety Coordinator NEW
  • Temporary Part Time Account Clerk - Pool NEW

To apply for any of these positions, the application and supplemental forms may be found online, then click the job title. Employment applications may also be obtained from, and must be returned to, Human Resources at 250 East L Street, Benicia. Sign up with Job Interest Cards to be notified of future position openings when they occur.

Explore other job opportunities at the Napa Valley College Job Fair on Thursday, May 5, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Napa Valley College. This event is a hybrid of in person and virtual with 80+ employers attending. The virtual registration link is https://pvapi.premiervirtual.com/s/x5aD9x.
What’s the Difference Between Biodegradable and Compostable?
Information from our solid waste handler, Republic Services, notes the difference between biodegradable and compostable products:

BIODEGRADABLE: capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms

COMPOSTABLE: able to breakdown into a mixture of decayed or decaying organic matter used to fertilize soil with no toxicity left in the soil.

Many “Earth Friendly” tableware products claim to be compostable. These products are only accepted in a controlled industrial composting environment. Composting facilities vary, using different methods, so not all facilities accept what some companies market as compostable, including where Benicia’s foodwaste and yardwaste will go.

Corn-, potato-, and sugarcane-based products (Polylactic acid or PLAs) say they are better for the earth, but they contain mostly traditional petroleum-based plastic. They only break down in the landfill a little faster. By mixing natural products with plastic, a hybrid is created that is now difficult to compost and is not 100% plastic, therefore it is no longer acceptable in the recycling cart either. Saying it is biodegradable doesn’t help. Everything biodegrades eventually, but that could be 10,000 years in a landfill!

Republic Services advises to please put all “compostable” and “biodegradable” single-use utensils and cups in the trash.

Senate Bill SB 1383 (SB 1383) now requires all residents and businesses to recycle organics (food waste) by disposing of it in your yard waste cart although, currently, the carts are picked up every other week. The City is in negotiations with Republic Services to move to weekly organics/yard waste pickup. Details will be shared in June. For more information on SB 1383, visit CalRecycle’s website at https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/ or Republic Service’s website at https://www.republicservices.com/municipality/benicia-ca.
Gas Transmission Pipeline Safety
PG&E shares information on their ongoing gas safety vegetation work and how our community can help keep the area above and around the gas transmission pipeline safe.
 
They note that it’s important to keep the area above a gas transmission pipeline clear of structures, trees and brush, as they can block access in an emergency or for critical maintenance work. These types of items can also damage the pipe and potentially cause corrosion, which can lead to leaks. That’s why, as part of their commitment to safety, they regularly inspect the area above and around the pipeline and partner with their customers to address any items that pose a safety concern.
 
By working together, City staff and the community can reduce safety risks and help prevent accidents and damage to the pipeline by:
 
  • Calling 811 before starting a digging or landscaping project so any underground utilities can be marked.
  • Monitoring and reporting any suspicious activity near pipelines.
  • Following the guide to safe landscaping (below) when deciding where to install new trees and plants.
  • Ensuring structures are installed at least 14 feet away from the pipeline.
 
Below, please find additional resources on this safety work and the industry best practices PG&E follow. Click here for more on this safety work.
 
PG&E's Webpage on Gas Safety Vegetation Work

PG&E’s Guide to Safe Landscaping

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration


Pipeline Safety Trust
City Employee Spotlight
Dispatch Lead Michele Foley was recognized last week as the 2021 Dispatcher of the Year, as part of the recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. It is a high compliment in that Michelle was chosen by her peers.

Michelle has over 24 years of dispatching experience with the last 22 years for the Benicia Communications Center. Over the last year, she has demonstrated leadership skills and courage in different ways. Michelle is always willing to learn new things and adapts well to the ever-changing world of dispatch. She is kind and empathetic to callers and takes an extra moment to build a positive relationship with the community she serves.

On a personal note, Michelle's favorite happy place is Hawaii but she'll take any beach, bad weather or not, all day, any day. She loves to watch the SF Giants play with her adult son Ryan. She in involved in her daughter's sports of soccer, swim team and most recently pageants. She is also an online yoga instructor. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends at her family cabin. Michelle is the seasonal decorator for the Dispatch Center and coordinates the Benicia Dispatchers Association's annual adoption of local families who may need a little help over the holiday season. 

The City thanks all public safety dispatchers, especially Benicia's! This incredible team faces stressful situations and makes sure that our community and our officers are safe every day.

Considering an exciting career as a Public Safety Dispatcher. Click here for details or to apply.
Police Chief Mike Greene and Dispatch Lead Michele Foley
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:
Press Releases

Recent City of Benicia Press Releases are available on the City of Benicia website under Main/Announcements.
Save the Date
  • Apr 25 - Committee United for Racial Equity meeting, 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber, City Hall. See the Full Agenda for more information.
  • Apr 28 - Tourism Sub-committee meeting, 10 a.m. via livestream. See the Full Agenda for more information.
  • Apr 28 - Historic Preservation Review Commission meeting, 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, City Hall. See the Full Agenda for more information.
  • Apr 29 - City Offices closed for Alternate Friday.
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!