OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER

Transcription

1 OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER December 8, 2017 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager AT SUBJECT: General Information Notable Items The Bakersfield Fire Department has deployed 19 firefighters assigned to six (6) Fire Engines to the Thomas Fire that is located in Ventura County, California. The BFD Firefighters are battling this devastating 132,000-acre firestorm alongside firefighters from many other firefighting agencies. Strong Santa Ana winds continue to influence this fast-moving fire, which began Monday night structures have been reported destroyed already, but more are expected. Up-to-date incident information is available on the Cal Fire website at fire.ca.gov. Our thoughts are with those impacted by these devastating fires. Thomas Rye Creek Skirball Photo dated courtesy of the Cal Fire 2017 Statewide Fire Map available at fire.ca.gov

2 General Information December 8, 2017 Page 2 We received the 3 rd quarter 2017 sales tax distribution figures earlier this week. There was double-digit growth of 13.22% when compared to the same quarter last year. This is the first time in 4.5 years the City has seen double digit quarter over prior year quarter sales tax growth. This is good news; however, the 3 rd quarter of 2016 was abnormally low in terms of sales tax activity, which makes the percentage growth look more significant than in actuality. Looking back at 3 rd quarter activity in 2015 paints a clearer picture, as sales tax revenue was nearly identical to the rd quarter figure at just over $17 million. Although it is far better to have a quarter with growth than not to, the context still is that the past few years have not been good. It should be noted the long-term concerns outlined in the recent presentation to the City Council still hold true and we continue to project revenue growth that is not expected to meet cost increases staff is anticipating in the coming years. In a week or so we should have the breakdown by category so we will have a better understanding specific industry trends that are driving the growth. A memo with details and a graph showing trends from Finance Director Nelson Smith is attached. The City s Downtown Parking Study will commence within the next few weeks. The kick-off meeting with Quantum Consulting took place at the end of November. The project deliverables include a final report on parking conditions as well as recommendations for efficient use of parking inventory and enforcement. The consultant was directed to keep in mind matters that will impact parking demand now as well as in the future; an example being the goal to increase residency downtown to 10,000 by The report should be completed by March 2018 with a formal presentation to council in April Prior to that, the consultant will be performing demand surveys and hosting a public meeting to provide information to the downtown community. Our city s holiday spirit has caught the attention of some national press recently. A December 4 th article from the Huffington Post titled, Bakersfield, California, the Undiscovered Destination (even for Christmas), provides a thorough and glowing review of the area s yuletide offerings. The travel writer cites the top rankings these holiday attractions have received from publications such as Trip Advisor and the LA Times. In addition to the holiday theme, the article points out many other local attractions for visitors to explore, ending the article with, But go to Kern County with an adventurous mind and you can create your own magic anywhere. The article was also picked up by another publication, the Chattanoogan, demonstrating the pull the City s attractive amenities have to visitors near and far.

3 General Information December 8, 2017 Page 3 The water flow will be shut down at Mill Creek until after the New Year for maintenance repairs. This includes the fountains along Mill Creek. Traffic Advisories State Routes 58 and 99 - Nighttime Closures for Next Week The following work will require nighttime lane and ramp closures on State Routes 58 and 99 for the week of December 10. These closures will be in place between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. while work is performed. The contractor plans to continue concrete placement for the roadway along northbound State Route 99 near Ming Avenue. This work will require the closure of the Ming Avenue off-ramp and the two outside northbound lanes in the vicinity of the off-ramp. Work will also be underway on State Route 58 in the vicinity of Union Avenue. The work includes concrete paving for the roadway, sign installation, and electrical work and will affect both directions of travel. The eastbound Union Avenue off-ramp and westbound Union Avenue on- and off-ramps, as well as the two outside travel lanes adjacent to these ramps will need to be closed for this work. At least one lane will remain open to motorists in all areas while these work items are underway. Please stay alert and watch for construction workers and equipment while driving through the construction zone. The Thomas Roads Improvement Program apologizes for any inconvenience this work may cause the traveling public. For project information, please visit our website at

4 General Information December 8, 2017 Page 4 Reports Streets Division work schedule for the week of December 11 th Event Notifications Event calendar for the Rabobank Arena Theater and Convention Center

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8 Scott S. Smith, Contributor Freelance Journalist Bakersfield, California, the Undiscovered Destination (even for Christmas) 12/04/ :06 pm ET Bakersfield in Kern County a couple of hours north of Los Angeles might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think about going somewhere to celebrate Christmas (whether the sacred or secular version or other seasonal holidays like Hannukah, Diwali, or Kwanzaa). Traditional carols that conjure up caroling in the snow don t quite fit a place that lives up to its name June through September with temperatures in the 90s. And outsiders don t seem to think this county seat is much of a destination otherwise. It merits two paragraphs in the AAA Tour Book Guide to Southern California, noting that it is

9 a marketing center for oil, natural gas and farm products and for having an annual hot rod race nearby (no doubt very hot). The rest of the county fares worse. AAA plugs the tours of wind-generating turbines as the highlight of Tehachapi. The Ridgecrest listing only mentions hotels, without providing a reason to stay over. Kernville does earn a paragraph about water recreation on Lake Isabella and the Kern River, though people regularly drown in the latter (nearly 300 since 1968). I only discovered that Kern County is the most overlooked destination in the state when I dropped by its booth at a travel show and was surprised by the enthusiasm of advocates (try to get their impressive publications for visitors see Resources below). Few outsiders realize that the average high for its largest city from October to April is usually 56 to 79 (and May is only 83 ). And there is a lot more to do than anyone could cram into one long vacation, regardless of preferred activity (see Many Other Things sidebar). Christmas for the Kid in All of Us I picked a few places in and near Bakersfield to visit with holiday themes from the long list on the city s events website that includes two parades, decorated home tours, two Breakfast with Santa fundraisers, multiple Nutcracker ballets, the Master Chorale Christmas, as well as Fox Theater s Irish Christmas and Acoustic Krab Christmas.

10 California Living Museum The California Living Museum 661/ CALM, as it is known, is a community zoo that takes in injured wild animals, with hundreds visitors can see that include mountain lions, condors, bears, owls, and beavers. It is also Tripadvisor s No. 2 visitor favorite and has an extraordinary holiday lighting show 5:30-9 p.m. (normally open daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m.). Each year, over three million bulbs are used to create seasonal designs, requiring an astonishing amount of work. The Los Angeles Times rated this one of the top 10 holiday lights shows in the state (even better than Disneyland s). All monies earned by this event go to improve this facility that saves so many animals and provides invaluable education.

11 Murray Christmas on the Farm Down the road from CALM in Arvin was Murray Christmas on the Farm 661/ The Murray Family Farm is ranked by Tripadvisor the No. 4 visitor favorite for the Bakersfield area because of its popular spring and fall activities that entertain and educate the whole family. This is the second year Steve and Vicki Murray have reworked their unique rides, games, and mazes with a Christmas theme.

12 Christmas Town Christmas Town 661/ has established itself as a local tradition, but moved to a new location this year: 3825 Riverlakes Drive in Bakersfield, open daily except Christmas Eve and Christmas until Dec. 31, Sun.-Thu. 5:30-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. until 10 p.m. (it will be at another location next year). It is another ideal place for the entire family, with millions of lights in holiday scenes to be seen on a hayride, sledding down a hill on real snow, a faux ice skating rink, paintball shooting at reindeer, a chance to have a (fake) snowball fight, holiday bounce houses, a train ride, light shows, and, of course, Santa and his helpers.

13 Kern County Museum In downtown Bakersfield, The Kern County Museum 661/ hosts annual Holiday Lamplight Tours in horse draw carriages through its Pioneer Village, which has 56 buildings of every kind from the late 19th century through the 1950s, many with dioramas or décor to illustrate their use, from a dental office and mobile sheepherder s cabin to the undertaker s and a blacksmith. The Black Gold interactive exhibit tells the story of the wealth that still gushes form Kern s wells. There is also an excellent museum about local history, including the rise of the Bakersfield Sound, which included local stars Merle Haggard and Buck Owens (whose Crystal Palace still hosts popular concerts. Early next year, a new exhibit will feature 80 vintage cars. The museum is Tripadvisor s No. 3 visitor favorite. Some of the other Kern holiday festivities I missed: Tehachapi s Christmas Parade and Santa at the historic Railroad Depot; Kernville s Candle Light Stroll, Live Nativity, and Parade of Giving; Ridgecrest s Santa s Art Shop and Children s Christmas Parade, and Altrusa s Home Holiday Tour. Of course, there are many reasons to visit in other seasons.

14 Subscribe to The Morning . Wake up to the day's most important news. SUBSCRIBE Bakersfield Museum of Art One of these is the Bakersfield Museum of Art 661/ Small, but very well curated, it has a fascinating section on the area s tradition of surrealistic art and current exhibits with the wonderful stylized nature paintings of Astrid Preston and the beautiful wood sculptures of Gwynn Murrill. After strolling through the sculpture garden, we

15 saw the Federal Courthouse behind the museum, which is a notable piece of architectural art. Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science Another is the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Sciencewww.SharkToothHill.org 661/ Its 16,000 square feet might lay claim to the world s most tightly-packed collection of natural history objects, from gems to animals preserved by taxidermy. Nearby Sharktooth Hill has produced many world-class Miocene Era fossils (14-16 million years old) found here and the exhibit on prehistoric sharks is impressive. The hands-on Science Discovery Center makes this a favorite family destination. Ghost Towns, Ancient Rock Art, and Naval Weapons Among the county s other unusual attractions are its ghost towns, including Johannesburg, Caliente (which still has residents), and Randsburg (with a museum and some open

16 stores). Jay Corlew and friends at Silver City Ghost Town s saloon The most interesting is Silver City Ghost Town in Bodfish, a 40-mile drive north from Bakersfield through a beautiful canyon along the banks of the Kern River on the way to Lake Isabella. It is actually a composite of 20 buildings as old as 1858, which were hauled here from mining camps and towns in Kern Valley to preserve them (open seven days, contrary to some articles). Over 20,000 hours of restoration were required to bring them into a state of arrested decay, rather than being modernized, making it a favorite for videos and films about the Old West (a subject that fascinates Europeans, who make up a sizable portion of visitors). For a small fee, anyone can view the town on their own, but I recommend taking a guided tour with proprietor Jay Corlew, which includes an up-close view of thousands of artifacts. Silver City is also notoriously a real ghost town, one of the apparently most haunted places in America (Corlew said he was skeptical until strange things kept

17 happening). Nearby is the Nuui Cunni Native American Cultural Center, which I had hoped to visit, but it was not open at the time. I also spent a day in Ridgecrest, an hour east of Lake Isabella, which serves as a gateway to the High Desert, Mount Whitney, Death Valley National Park, and the National Parks of Sequoia and Kings Canyon. It is a jumping-off point for rock climbing, off-roading, and hikes to geological wonders like Fossil Falls, Trona Pinnacles, and Red Rock Canyon (where over 70 Westerns were shot). Ridgecrest is also next door to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, some of which can be toured if one passes a background check (the Naval Museum of Armament and Technology is in the process of moving from the base to Ridgecrest, to make it more accessible to the general public). I was there for two things. One was the Maturango Museum 760/ , which has an extensive collection of artifacts from the region, including meteorites, minerals, fossils, and those made by Native Americans. It also has presentations on geothermal energy and mining, a hands-on children s discovery area, and hosts lots of community activities. But what it is best-known for is leading tours to the greatest concentration of ancient rock art in the Western Hemisphere, with some 10,000 examples just in Little Petroglyph Canyon, which I visited (it is part of the historic landmark Coso Rock Art District, which may have ten times that number). For details about signing up, see the Petroglyph Tours section of the museum s website; tours get booked up very early and you should be in good physical shape (otherwise checkout the museum exhibits and events).

18 Little Petroglyph Canyon We started out at the museum at 6:30 a.m. and would return at 4 p.m. The long ride in (with cameras and cell phones stowed away for security) was fascinating because of what one could learn about the base, which covers 1.1 million acres (bigger than Rhode Island). Not only U.S. military, but allies go there to make use of the 19,600 square miles of restricted airspace (12% of the state s total) for testing every kind of defense technology, because of the variety of landscapes and weather, rising from 2000 to 8000 feet above sea level. The mysterious figures and geometric designs we saw were carved by various native peoples, perhaps as far back as 8,000 years, peaking around 500 A.D., but some recently. According to the museum s booklet Coso Petroglyph Landmark: Archaeology, Ethnography, and Rock Art, a wide range of scholarly interpretations have been put forth about their meaning, including magical symbols to improve the success of hunts, depictions of group rituals, storyboards for transmitting oral traditions, and reports of shamans about their visionary experiences. Even our veteran guides kept noticing new

19 examples. With cave art sites elsewhere in the world being closed off for preservation, going on one of these tours is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime truly magical experience. But go to Kern County with an adventurous mind and you can create your own magic anywhere. A Few of the Many Other Things to Do in Kern County *Dine on exotic and tasty Basque cuisine. *Visit several aerospace museums and tour Edwards Air Force Base (a lot of jet and space technology has been tested in the high desert). *Listen to the stars at country and western nightclubs. *Golf and camp. *Learn about alpacas and ostriches on specialty farms. *Appreciate the work of artists at galleries, studios, and on walls. *Enjoy local theater and music. *Support a breeding center for endangered big cats. *Explore historic forts. *Discover local Native American history. *Find out about the life of farm worker champion Cesar Chavez at a center devoted to it. *Visit museums that claim to make even drilling for oil and borax mining interesting. *Do some of the best bird-watching, star-gazing, and wildflower sightings in the state. *Watch cars and motorcycles compete on famous speedways or drive your own. Resources Be Here Kern County Visitor Guide

20 Bakersfield: More to Explore! Visit Ridgecrest and the High Desert Tehachapi Visitor Guide Kern River Valley Visitor s Guide Where to Stay and Dine Out BAKERSFIELD The Padre Hotel, th St. 661/ , Built in 1928, this AAA Four-Diamond landmark is the best and hottest local hotel, with well-reviewed restaurants, bars, affordable rooms with very comfortable beds, and excellent WiFi connections. Hodel s Restaurant 661/ famous for its $12 high-quality buffet, holiday décor, and operating model trains. RIDGECREST Springhill Suites by Marriott, 113 E. Sydnor Ave 760/ , This has been a frequent winner of top hotel and hospitality awards and Marriott has the world s most popular rewards program. Free WiFi and buffet breakfast, plus a fitness room and outdoor pool. Xin Bowl 760/ fusion Asian food, known for top flight sushi.

21 Page 1 of 2 STREETS DIVISION WORK SCHEDULE Week of December 11, 2017 December 15, 2017 Resurfacing/Reconstructing streets in the following areas: Maintenance Grind & Pave on Grove St east of Union Preparing a Maintenance Grind & Pave on Monitor between White Ln and Fairview (SB1) Reconstructing So. Halfmoon from Ashe to Edgemont (SB1) Preparing a Maintenance Grind & Pave on Bernard St between Union Ave. and Kern St. (SB1) Paving of Bike Path between Stockdale Hwy and Freeway 99 will extend through the month of December weather permitting. Miscellaneous Streets Division projects: Video inspection of City owned sewer and storm lines to evaluate condition of pipes Repairing damaged sewer line found during video inspection Miscellaneous concrete repairs throughout the City Concrete repairs to various bus stops throughout City limits Concrete work on Streets that are funded with SB1 money Miscellaneous concrete work at Sports Village Miscellaneous work at Mesa Marin Leaf pick up throughout the city, two crews will be cycling the city THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Week of December 11_2017_Work Schedule

22 Page 2 of 2 STREETS SWEEPING SCHEDULE Monday, December 11, 2017 Between So. H St. & Union Avenue Pacheco Rd. & Hosking Rd. Between Stockdale Hwy. & Truxtun Ave. (ext.) Coffee Rd & Partridge Ave. Tuesday, December 12, 2017 Between 99 Hwy. & So. H St. Ming Ave. & Panama Ln. Cul-De-Sacs on the north side of Magdelena Ave., west of So. H St. Wednesday, December 13, 2017 City areas between Brundage Ln. & Ming Ave. So. H St. & Union Ave. City areas between Wilson Rd. & Pacheco Rd. So. H St. & Union Ave. Between Casa Loma Dr. & Planz Rd. Madison Ave. & Cottonwood Dr. Between Planz Rd. & Brook St. Madison Ave. & Hale St. Thursday, December 14, 2017 Between Carr St. & California Ave. Mohawk St. & Stockdale Hwy. Between Stockdale Hwy. & Marella Wy. California Ave. & Montclair St. Between La Mirada Dr. & Chester Ln. Montclair St. & No. Stine Rd. Between California Ave. (ext.) & Stockdale Hwy. No. Stine Rd. & 99 Hwy. Between Stockdale Hwy. & Ming Ave. New Stine Rd. & Ashe Rd. Between New Stine & Ashe Rd. Taft Hwy. & Berkshire Rd. Friday, December 15, 2017 Between Stockdale Hwy. & Ming Ave. Allen Rd. & Old River Rd. Between Old River Rd. & Gosford Rd. Ming Ave. & Ridge Oak/Westwold Dr. Between Ridge Oak/Westwold Dr. & White Ln. Old River Rd., east to the PG&E easement. Between White Ln. & Asperata Dr. Gosford Rd,, west to the PG&E easement. Between White Ln. & Cederwood Dr. Stine Rd. & Wilson Rd. (ext.) NOTE: If raining, there will be no street sweeping service and all street cleaning personnel will be assigned to cleaning plugged drains and part circle culverts. This also applies when a large number of street sweepers are in Fleet for repairs. Areas that have been missed during this time will be swept at the end of the month only when possible. Week of December 11_2017_Work Schedule

23 BOX OFFICE HOURS Mon-Fri 10 AM - 5 PM (Excluding Event Days) UPCOMING EVENTS CHARGE-BY-PHONE GROUP SALES INFORMATION SEASON TICKET INFORMATION Bakersfield Condors PUCK (7825) Bakersfield Symphony Broadway In Bakersfield Week of December 4th December 21 Condors vs San Jose 6:30 PM $37, $27, $22, $18, $14, $12 On Sale Now December 23 Condors vs Texas 7:00 PM $37, $27, $22, $18, $14, $12 On Sale Now December 27 Condors vs Ontario 6:30 PM $37, $27, $22, $18, $14, $12 On Sale Now December 29 Condors vs Tucson 7:00 PM $37, $27, $22, $18, $14, $12 On Sale Now January 19&20 - Monster Trucks 7:30 PM $40, $21, $18, $16, $11 On Sale Now January 10 Condors vs Texas 6:30 PM $37, $27, $22, $18, $14, $12 On Sale Now January 12 Condors vs Chicago 7:00 PM $37, $27, $22, $18, $14, $12 On Sale Now January 13 Condors vs Rockford 7:00 PM $37, $27, $22, $18, $14, $12 On Sale Now January Condors vs San Diego 7:00 PM $37, $27, $22, $18, $14, $12 On Sale Now February 13 WWE Smackdown 4:45 PM $95, $70, $50, $35, $25, $15 On Sale 12/8 February 19 - Harlem Globetrotters 2:00 PM $90, $50, $40, $33, $25, $18 On Sale Now December 8 Nutcracker 7:30 PM $36, $32, $30, Student - $18, $16, $15, $10 On Sale Now December 9 Nutcracker 1PM/7:30 PM $36, $32, $30, Student - $18, $16, $15, $10 On Sale Now December 10 Nutcracker 1:00 PM $36, $32, $30, Student - $18, $16, $15, $10 On Sale Now January 13 Sesame Street Live 2 & 6 PM $60, $35, $25, $20, $15 On Sale Now January 19 Rent 7:30 PM $65, $55, $30 On Sale Now January 26 Jo Koy 7:30 PM $45, $35 On Sale Now February 10 Bakersfield Symphony 7:30 PM $45, $35, $30, $20 On Sale Now February 27 Buddy Holly Story 7:30 PM $55, $45, $35 On Sale Now March 10 Bakersfield Symphony 7:30 PM $45, $35, $30, $20 On Sale Now March 27 The Avett Brothers 7:30 PM $77, $44 On Sale Now March 30 Jay Owenhouse 7:30 PM $50, $40, $30 On Sale Now April 7 Bakersfield Symphony 7:30 PM $45, $35, $30, $20 On Sale Now -