Below is the City Manager's General Information Memo of March 7, 2008.


March 7, 2008

TO:    Honorable Mayor and City Council

FROM:    Alan Tandy, City Manager

SUBJECT:    General Information


1.    Congratulations to the B.P.D. on its receipt of a Cal-Grip Grant
to combat gang violence in the amount of $154,052.  The award will be
utilized to oversee the purchase, installation, implementation and
management of a data exchange system in partnership with eleven other
law enforcement agencies in Kern County.  Please refer to the enclosed
news release for complete information.

2.    We have begun a project this week to install a Trunk Sewer Line
on Redbank Road from Fairfax Road to Vineland Road and on Vineland Road
from Redbank Road to Edison Highway.  Redbank Road will be closed to
through traffic until April 5th between Fairfax Road to the railroad
tracks, which are approximately ½ mile east of Fairfax Road.  Detours
will be posted which will direct all other traffic to alternate routes.

3.    Enclosed is an update on the Multi-City Department and volunteer
neighborhood clean up that took place on February 23rd.

4.    Mill Creek Update – The brick pilasters have been built and we
are just waiting for the decorative caps to be placed on top.  A
prototype of the fence panels may be viewed at the park on Monday.

5.    The City of Bakersfield will be celebrating Arbor Day on
Saturday, March 8th at 9:00 a.m. along the bike path near the CSUB
parking lot.  Mayor Harvey Hall will kick off the celebration with a
proclamation, and over 50 volunteers will plant 150 trees along the
path.  Other agencies involved include the Kern River Parkway
Foundation, the Tree Foundation of Kern and Bike Bakersfield.  This is
the 11th year for the Tree City USA designation.  All trees were
supplied through a state grant.

6.    Several activities for youth at MLK Center are designed to
educate for a lifetime of positive activities, thus deterring them from
entering gangs.  The activities include the Build-a-Bike program and the
Master Garden project.  The bikes are donated from the Police
Department, and the garden project was funded by the Bakersfield
Californian.  Participating youth actually learn how to build and repair
bikes and may keep a bike that they repaired.  The Garden project
teaches lifelong gardening and cooking skills along with good
nutrition.
7.    The second annual Underwater Eggstravaganza will be held at
McMurtrey Aquatics Center on Saturday, March 15th at 10:00 a.m.  Last
year we had over 700 participants, and this year should be even bigger.

8.    GHOST “Graffiti” Statistics and Special Enforcement Unit’s
monthly report February are enclosed.

9.    The Streets Division work schedule for the week of March 10th is
enclosed.

10.    Responses to Council requests are enclosed, as follows:

Councilmember Benham
●    Landscaping/Streetscape in Oildale;
●    Bike Path Maintenance;

Vice-Mayor Hanson
●    Kern County and City of Bakersfield Tobacco Ordinances;
●    Response to letter from Dean Gardner regarding Train Horn Quiet
Zone; and,

Councilmember Scrivner
●    Rob Boyles & Associates program to reduce graffiti.