City of Benicia This Week
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In this edition: 4th of July in Benicia, Emergency Generator Installed at Community Center, STA Set to Approve Transportation Project, Visit Downtown Galleries at Saturday's Art Walk, Library's Author Talk Series Begins, We're Hiring, Increased Turf Replacement Rebates Effective July 1, City Employee Spotlight
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Message from the City Manager |
July 4, 2022
Hello Everyone,
Happy Independence Day! What an amazing weekend it has been for our town. We kicked off our holiday weekend with a news feature called Zip Trips from KTVU Channel 2. If you missed the show on Friday morning you can view it at https://www.ktvu.com/video/1088112. Thank you to KTVU Fox 2 anchor and Benicia High alumni Claudine Wong for her help to promote Benicia and to City Staff Teri Davena who worked closely with KTVU staff to coordinate the event.
Then we had a parade! After a two-year hiatus it was so uplifting to, once again, come together as a community to celebrate our American Independence. Of course, in Benicia we don’t’ wait for the 4th of July to begin our National Birthday Bash, we begin on the morning of the 3rd (or earlier for some) by lining up chairs on the sidewalk of First Street to prepare for our Torchlight Parade. A big thank you to Benicia Main Street for their effort to put on such a fun parade.
Following the Torchlight Parade came something very special this year as we capped off the eve of Independence with a Lighted Drone Show by Verge Aero, sponsored by Gene Pedrotti of Ace Hardware who was celebrating 100 years in business!
If you were part of the thousands who joined us by the waterfront you viewed something incredibly special. The show was truly an awe inspiring lighted night sky of story telling. Last night’s effort was a partnership of Gene Pedrotti sponsoring the Drone Show and hosting East Bay Mudd Band with the City of Benicia who sponsored an event company (Evntwrks) who provided the stage, staff, equipment and support for such an epic night. Please extend a gracious thank you to Gene Pedrotti and our Mayor and City Council for making the sizable investment of City resources to make last night possible.
Now today, our 4th of July festivities continue at the First Street Green beginning at 3 pm with live music and vendors that play all the way until 9:30 pm when the Benicia sky will once again be aglow with a grand firework show. Please give yourself extra time and patience as you work your way downtown. We know parking and traffic will be a challenge today and we appreciate your flexibility as our community returns to the waterfront today.
As for parking, some of you may notice some angled parking spots on East H Street opposite the baseball fields. These are temporary angled spots designed to increase parking capacity for our weekend events. If you park there, please let the City know how it worked out; this may be an idea we continue for future special events or even make permanent. Also, if you see our City staff today, please extend your thanks for their work and effort. We have many members of our Police, Fire, Public Works and Parks staff working today to ensure a fun and safe day for our community.
Finally, a special thank you to all those who answered the call of service, this includes our City Manager Erik Upson who enlisted in the Army early in his life and is enjoying some much deserved time off with his family. We would have neither this holiday or a history of a great nation without the men and woman who put themselves in harm’s way, some making the ultimate sacrifice, without their commitment to our nation.
Please have an amazing day, stay safe and a very happy birthday to these United States of America.
Thank you for your interest in the City of Benicia This Week! If you enjoy reading this weekly message, please share and encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to subscribe or text jointhisweek to 22828 (messaging and data rates may apply).
Mario Giuliani
Deputy City Manager
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Celebrate the return of Benicia's 4th of July by heading down to the First Street Green at the foot of First Street. There will be food vendors, activities and live music beginning at 3 p.m. until the fireworks spectacular at 9:30 p.m. Support downtown restaurants and retailer while you're there. Parking will be very limited. Consider using a ride share service. Limited disabled person parking is available at East Second and B Streets.
Boaters: 4th of July fireworks, provided by the City of Benicia, will be set off around 9:30 p.m. from the end of the First Street Pier. There will be no barge this year. Boaters must remain at least 1,000 feet away from the launch site.
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Emergency Generator Installed at Community Center |
The City of Benicia’s top priority is to protect the health and safety of the community. The City coordinates shelter for residents during emergencies that require evacuation. The Benicia Community Center has been identified as a temporary shelter location, but it lacks backup power. Shelters need backup electrical power because emergencies are often coupled with power outages. Generators are costly, so staff applied for the Community Power Resiliency Allocation to Cities grant funded by the California Office of Emergency Services. The application was successful, and the City was awarded $277,866 in grant funding to install a generator at the Community Center.
The generator has been installed and is now fully functional. In case of emergency, the Benicia Community Center can now serve as a temporary emergency shelter. The entire project was budgeted to cost $349,513: $277,866 from grant funds and $71,647 from the City. In total, $281,911 was spent, using just $4,045 of the City’s funds. The project came in $67,602 under-budget!
How to be notified of an emergency
In the case of an emergency that requires a call to action such as evacuations, the City will use multiple messaging platforms to notify residents including AlertSolano and social media. Residents can register for AlertSolano at www.alertsolano.com.
If the City is sending informational messages about an incident and residents do not need to take action, the City will use the Non-Emergency Notification system. To receive Non-Emergency Notifications, visit https://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/publicinfobank and register your email and/or phone number under “Non-Emergency Notifications”.
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STA Set to Approve Transportation Project |
On June 16, the Solano Transportation Authority’s (STA) Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Bicycle Advisory Committee considered eight Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 grant applications from seven agencies. The committees recommended approval of six applications including Benicia’s Military East / East 5th Street Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements Project. The project will enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety at the intersection of Military East / East 5th Street by providing for the installation of bicycle lanes and bike boxes (Phase 1) and construction of two (2) pedestrian bulb-outs and four ADA-compliant curb ramps (Phase 2).
Phase 1, Benicia’s “local match,” will be funded and installed at the intersection as part of this summer’s micro-surfacing project, which is currently in construction and includes Military East, between East Second Street, and East Fifth Street, between I-780 and East H Street. Phase 2, proposed to be fully funded by the TDA Grant, will provide for the construction of a bulb-out adjacent to the Bottom of the Fifth Sports Bar and Grill and a minor bulb out, for ADA access around existing traffic signal poles, adjacent to 7 Eleven.
The committee’s funding recommendations will be brought to the STA Transportation Advisory Committee on June 29 and, subsequently, to the STA Board on July 13 for their consideration and approval.
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Visit Downtown Galleries at Saturday's Art Walk |
Benicia Art Walk continues Saturday, July 9, 1-5 p.m. Enjoy live entertainment and demonstrations at eight galleries on First Street.
You're invited to come for lunch then stay for dinner and make a day of it. You’ll find great shopping and dining, live entertainment, amazing historical sites and our beautiful waterfront, all for…A Great Day by the Bay in Benicia!
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Library's Author Talk Series Begins |
The Benicia Public Library is a founding partner in the Library Speakers Consortium, a new program launching this month with the goal of increasing access to the most interesting and impactful authors of our time. With this new program, the library will bring opportunities to hear from and engage directly with best-selling authors every month! The books and authors selected cover a wide range of fiction and non-fiction genres including historical fiction, contemporary fiction, romance, OwnVoices, poetry, business, personal growth, social justice, history, art, culture and more with a minimum of two authors a month participate online.
For the first event, this Thursday, July 7 at 6 p.m., the library invites readers to join in an enchanting evening with New York Times Best Selling author and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Alka Joshi as she discusses her captivating and bestselling novels, The Henna Artist and The Secret Keeper of Jaipur.
Alka Joshi was born in India and immigrated to the US when she was nine years old. She published her debut novel, The Henna Artist, at the age of 62. Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist leads the audience on a journey through 1950s post-independence India that is all at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel.
In this interview, Alka will share her inspirations for her work, how her mother’s life story has influenced her writing, and her experience and role in the creation of a Netflix series based on her books. Bewitching the senses, Joshi’s The Henna Artist, invites you to feast on Indian culture with mind, body, and soul. Following the interview, the audience is invited to engage in a Q&A with Joshi.
Joshi’s books are available to check out from the library in print, large print, audiobook, and ebook. Reserve your copy today!
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Ready to take on a new challenge where you are valued? The City of Benicia Human Resources Division is accepting applications for the following positions:
- Community Services Officer I
- Engineering Technician I/II
- Facility Attendant II (Part Time)
- Information Technology Analyst I/II
- Librarian I (On Call)
- Management Analyst I/II - Permit Services Analyst
- Management Analyst I/II - Sustainability Coordinator (Limited Duration)
- Police Officer - Academy/Non-Lateral
- Police Officer - Lateral (Currently Working)
- Project Manager
- Public Safety Dispatcher
- Public Services Librarian I/II
- Public Works Maintenance Superintendent (Division Manager)
- Reserve Officer (Volunteer)
- Temporary Part Time Account Clerk (Pool)
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.
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Increased Turf Replacement Rebates Effective July 1 |
The popular Water Efficient Landscape Rebate Program increased from $1 to $1.50 per square foot effective July 1. Residents are eligible to receive a $1.50 per square foot rebate, up to 1,000 square feet or $1,500, for replacing thirsty grass with low water use plants.
The City partners with Solano County Water Agency (SCWA) who administers the rebate program. If you are interested, please reach out to SCWA for more information at solanocash4grass@scwa2.com or 707.455.1113.
Did you know that the majority of household water use is designated for landscaping? Much of the water that is used for landscaping and lawns is also lost to the environment through evaporation, inefficient sprinklers, or leaks. By opting for drought tolerant and native adapted plants, households can help save up 30-60 gallons per 1000 square feet each time you water. Not only does changing your lawn to a drought-tolerant landscape help save water, but it can help bolster local biodiversity that relies on diverse habitats and native plants.
Please note that non-permeable materials like concrete and artificial turf are not part of the rebate. Rebates are based upon funding availability. Rebates cannot be applied retroactively. You must have a yard with grass (dead or alive) at the time of inspection.
For inspiration, check out these before and after photos:
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Dorothy Hill works in the City Manager’s Office – HR Division as a Human Resources Assistant. Dorothy started with the City in September 2021. She had applied and interviewed for a couple different roles with the City simultaneously and multiple departments wanted to hire her. Yes, that’s how awesome she is! Her kind and gentle demeanor has made it simply a joy to have her on the HR team. The Human Resources Division is an extremely fast-paced environment and Dorothy came in and hit the ground running. She has quickly fit into the HR team-oriented approach and has risen to every challenge thrown her way.
Prior to this role, Dorothy worked as a Billing Administrator for many years with Biagi Bros. Trucking Company. Previously, she worked in administrative roles for multiple cities and counties including Solano County, City of Vallejo, and City of Napa.
Dorothy grew up in Louisiana and has 2 brothers and 1 sister. She now resides in Fairfield with her son, William (who is currently in college studying Project Management) and her sassy girl cat, Opal. Dorothy is currently pursuing a Bachelors’ degree in Business Administration from Purdue University.
In Dorothy’s free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as binge watching CSI.
An interesting fact about Dorothy is that she LOVES classic cars, especially the 1965 Mustang.
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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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