City of Benicia This Week
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In this edition: COVID Vaccine Clinic Wednesday, Wastewater Enterprise is Debt Free!, Fitzgerald Field Foul Ball Netting Replaced, Highway Safety Improvement Grant Award, Report Freeway Litter, City Employee Spotlight, COVID Assistance
Message from the City Manager
May 3, 2021

Hello Everyone,
First, I would like to highlight our upcoming fourth vaccine clinic on May 5. We still have many appointments available. I would ask that you all help get the word out and encourage those eligible who have not yet been vaccinated to make an appointment. As we continue to linger in the ‘Red’ tier in Solano County and see the dramatic effects of new waves of COVID infections in other parts of the country and the world, it is so critically important we all do our part for the community. It is my feeling that this is the most important work we can do right now…protecting the health and safety of our community and working towards a full and open economy. The vaccine is the best way for us to get there.
 
Secondly, I’d like to talk briefly about water. Increasingly we are seeing water as the new ‘gold’, as demands grow and change, and we fight through what seems to be more and more frequent droughts. Fortunately, the City of Benicia is in good hands. When you read the biography in our employee spotlight, you’ll see just how fortunate we are in our Deputy Public Works Director Kyle Ochenduszko. His background in water and his connections continue to help the City remain in a very strong position in regard to our water resource. In fact, the Public Works team was recently able to arrange to purchase extra water at an exceptional value that we will have access to over the coming years which will further strengthen our water position (coming to the May 18 Council Meeting for approval). His knowledge and the knowledge of our Public Works Director, Will Tarbox, will help us be well prepared for whatever the future brings us! As your City Manager, I can’t tell you how pleased I am with the work of this team over the last few months to improve the security of Benicia’s water future for its amazing community members.
 
The Urban Water Management Plan continues to be front and center for the City and the Public Works Department. The Urban Water Management Plan is adopted every five years and is a very important document to help the community understand our planning around our water resources. The May 18 Council Meeting will also include the public hearing to adopt the Urban Water Management Plan. The meeting agenda and instructions on how to participate will be available on May 12 at https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas.
 
Once we are able, we will be reinstituting community tours of our water and wastewater treatment plants.
 
If you are not yet utilizing our WaterSmart Program, I encourage you to take a look at it here: https://benicia.waterinsight.com

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

Erik Upson
City Manager
City News
COVID Vaccine Clinic Wednesday
The City of Benicia is pleased to host another COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Wednesday, May 5, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., at the Benicia Senior Center. Sign ups are preferred. Register at WWW.TINYURL.COM/MAYBENICIAVACCINE. The clinic offers Pfizer vaccines, which will require a second dose on Wednesday, May 26 offering full vaccination by June 9, just in time for summer.

Vaccines are available to those aged 16 and above. Many colleges and workplaces are requiring full vaccination. This clinic gives area students the opportunity to get vaccinated. As an additional incentive, the City's Office of Economic Development is offering a $25 gift certificate to a Benicia pizza restaurant of choice to young adults aged 16-24 upon receiving second dose. Sign up is preferred but walk-in are welcome, subject to available vaccination staff.

Questions and assistance in making appointments are available by calling 707.746.4710, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Wednesday.
Wastewater Enterprise is Debt Free!
The City of Benicia’s Public Works Department is proud to announce that the Wastewater Enterprise is now completely debt free!

In 1998, the City encumbered a $20 million loan from the State Water Resources Control Board to significantly upgrade the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Watch this video to see how these key pieces of infrastructure are holding up after 20 years!
Thank you to all our rate payers for your continued support. The City of Benicia’s Public Works Department is here for the city every hour of every day, and every day of every week.
Fitzgerald Field Foul Ball Netting Replaced
Last week City staff replaced the foul ball netting around Fitzgerald Field at East Third and East H Streets. The old netting lasted many years but had reached the end of its useful life. Along with the new netting, City staff installed new cabling and hardware that will strengthen it and make it easier to service the net in the future. The new net improves the look of the ball park and improves safety for neighboring homes, businesses, and the general public.
Highway Safety Improvement Grant Award
The Benicia Public Works Department is pleased to announce that its Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Cycle 10 grant application has been awarded in the amount of $249,000. The approved project includes pedestrian infrastructure improvements at the following locations:
  • Kearney Street at Rose Drive
  • Kearney Street mid-block pedestrian crossing north of Rose Drive
  • Hastings Drive at Southampton Road
  • Military West at West 3rd Street

The scope of work for all four locations includes:
  • Pedestrian bulb-outs (also known as curb extensions)
  • Solar Powered Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs)
  • Higher visibility crosswalks
  • ADA-compliant curb ramps
  • Striping and signage

Bulb-outs with RRFBs and higher visibility crosswalks enhance safety by increasing the visibility of pedestrians, creating a shorter distance for pedestrians to cross the street, providing a traffic calming effect by physically narrowing the roadway.

The City of Benicia ensures public safety is a top priority for Benicia residents. The Public Works Department is preparing a Request for Proposals for design services. The schedule calls for design to be completed in the winter 2021 and construction in spring/summer of 2022.

The photo shows the recently completed Panorama Drive bulb-out near James Court, which was funded 100% by two grants: a $26,691.25 Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) grant and a $23,801 Transportation Development Act (TDA) grant.

Questions or comments on the project should be directed to Dan Sequeira, City Engineer, at dsequeira@ci.benicia.ca.us or 707.746.4240.
Report Freeway Litter
We all know whether you’re trying to bring in customers or selling your home, curb appeal matters. The freeways running through Benicia are our curb appeal. They are the first thing visitors draw an impression of when they come to Benicia and think about spending dollars at local businesses.

Our freeways and off-ramps are Caltrans property and have been recently restricted to Caltrans only maintenance. In an effort to improve and maintain the appearance and cleanliness of our freeways, we remind residents and business owners to contact Caltrans whenever you see something that needs to be cleaned or maintained. Visit csr.dot.ca.gov and report any issues. The more often Caltrans receives calls from Benicia, the more likely we are to see continued results.

While most freeway litter comes from uncovered trucks, please do your part and do not litter. Keep Benicia beautiful.
City Employee Spotlight
Kyle Ochenduszko is the City of Benicia’s Deputy Public Works Director – Utilities and has a true passion for service. He is responsible for the City’s Water and Wastewater Enterprises ($23.7 million annual budget, 48 employees). Last year, Kyle and his team concluded a $500,000 independent engineer’s assessment of the City’s water and wastewater systems. This year, he is working to complete the City’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, updated utilities rate study, Fiscal Year 2021-23 Budget, implementing a paperless invoice payment process for all City staff, and managing water resources through the current drought. 
 
Before coming to Benicia, Kyle worked for the State of California for 15 years. He traveled throughout the state gaining experience in wastewater, water recycling, policy, drinking water, water quality, public health, finance, and local government issues while working on high profile projects (indirect potable reuse in Orange County, WaterFix water right hearing, etc.). He, either directly or through teams he led, helped over 200 communities build major water and wastewater infrastructure projects valued in excess of $400 million. Immediately before coming to the City, Kyle served as the Chief of Water Rights Enforcement for the State of California.  
 
Kyle is a Captain in the National Guard and currently serves as the Headquarters/Headquarters Company Commander at Joint Forces Headquarters – Sacramento. Over his eight-year military career, he has also served as a Platoon Leader, Administrative Officer, Training Officer, and Battle Captain in the State’s Joint Operations Center. CPT Ochenduszko has deployed within California in response to over ten emergencies including the Camp, Carr, Woolsey, Mendocino Fires, 2020 Civil Unrest, and the Oroville Dam Disaster.      
 
Mr. Ochenduszko holds two bachelor of science degrees (Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering) from the University of California at Davis, a Master of Public Administration degree from the Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California, is a Professional Engineer, and holds multiple FEMA and military certificates in emergency management. 
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:
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!