City Manager's Report | Volume 8, Issue 11

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 11 | JUNE 18, 2020

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

City Hall Hours City Hall is currently open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Many staff continue to work remotely, with procedures implemented in response to COVID-19. Updates and resources are available at cityofvallejo.net/nCOV.

Face Masks Required Governor Newson has just announced that all Californians are now required to wear face coverings in public spaces - particularly indoors or when physical distancing is not possible.

Read more on the state’s new face covering mandate at covid19.ca.gov.

Your actions save lives.

218 Evelyn Circle

DEPARTMENTS IN ACTION

Before

After

Code Enforcement opened up a case on this property due to violations of Vallejo Municipal Code 7.54.030(A) vacant and unsecured; 7.54.030(C) broken windows; and 7.54.030(F) junk and trash on the property. Through Code Enforcement's repeated inspections, they learned that the property was being unlawfully occupied.

The Neighborhood Law Program sent a letter to the property owner demanding abatement of the nuisance conditions. The property owner confirmed the unlawful trespassing and asked for assistance from the Vallejo Police Department to assist with the removal of the trespassers while the owner secured the property. The Community Services Section of the Vallejo Police Department and Code Enforcement met the owner at the property and performed a civil standby while the owner fixed the garage door and abated the violations.

The abatement of the property was a collaborative effort between the Vallejo Police Department, Code Enforcement, and the Neighborhood Law Program.

Breaking Down Silos with a Backhoe to Better Serve YOU! In addition to making sure Vallejo residents receive the services they need, City employees have been hard at work on their personal and professional growth, too!

Last week, Fire Battalion Chief (BC) Matt Fenzl reached out to Acting Traffic Supervisor, Sheldon Henderson to commend one of his electricians, Jeremiah Robinson on his teamwork and creativity.

BC Fenzl contacted Jeremiah to ask for help in preparing for an upcoming training academy. Jeremiah quickly responded to the call within the hour by bringing over a backhoe to help out our Fire Department, saving eight hours of work for three people.

In the past, our Fire and Public Works teams may not have crossed paths much, or had opportunity to build relationships where they felt comfortable calling in a favor – but times are changing in Vallejo! These gentlemen met during Vallejo’s Supportive Supervision Series where they have been learning how to activate their leadership strengths, and discovering new strategies for connecting and collaborating with others.

This is just one of many examples of our staff embracing our values and advancing our mission: To facilitate connections amongst a diverse community to inspire collective pride and vision for a better Vallejo.

Stay tuned for more stories of our staff working together to shift our focus away from why we couldn’t in the past, to how we can today!

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Featured Recruitment: Senior Utility Mechanic (Water)

The ideal Senior Utility Mechanic will be able to perform general supervision and lead supervision over a crew and participate in the installation, repair and maintenance of pumps, valves, piping, clarifiers, ozone generators, reservoirs and other utility systems related components.

The incumbent selected for the position of Senior Utility Mechanic is expected to be placed on the Department's on-call rotation and to respond to after-hours service needs all hours of the day and night, including weekends and holidays.

Typical Qualifications includes the knowledge of: Principles and procedures of hydraulic sys-

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Basic materials, methods and tools used in the installation, operation, repair and maintenance of water utility systems.

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Maintenance and repair of mechanical equipment, gas and diesel engines, electric motors, pumps, valves and compressors.

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Safety precautions necessary for working in hazardous environments, including but not limited to confined spaces, aerial lift platforms, pump stations and other water utility structures and components.

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Effects of hazardous chemical conditions.

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Operation and repair characteristics of a wide variety of electro-mechanical, pumping and treatment equipment used in water utility systems.

PERSONNEL

The City of Vallejo is seeking to fill a Senior Utility Mechanic position, as a collaborative member of the City's Water Department.

tems, high pressure air systems and high pressure water systems.

To learn more and to apply, click here.

Outdoor Dining Permits The City of Vallejo realizes that some restaurants and cafes may not be able to meet the social distancing requirements for indoor dining, which could hinder their operations and reopening efforts. Outdoor seating can provide a solution.

Outdoor seating areas may be located: 

On public or private sidewalks in front of a restaurant or cafe (with a 4-foot clearance for pedestrians)

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Within a parklet (utilizing 1-4 parking spaces on-street)

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Within a public or private parking lot in front of the restaurant or café

To learn more, or to apply for an outdoor dining permit, click here. Questions may be directed to Annette Taylor, Senior Community Development Analyst via email at annette.taylor@cityofvallejo.net or by phone at (707) 649-3510.

As seen here, Nicole Hodge of Provisions by League of Chefs established a “parklet” for temporary outdoor restaurant seating at 300 Virginia Street as part of the City’s program.

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CITY MANAGER’S REPORT | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 11

COMMUNITY

To assist our restaurants and cafes, we have streamlined the permitting process to allow outdoor dining, with specific requirements, at no cost to restaurants, for the first six months.

Census 2020: Helping Your Community is One Click Away It's not too late to complete your 2020 Census!

Vallejo has reached the 63.4% mark, which is just above the state average.

Well done Vallejo!

COMMUNITY

Head over to 2020census.gov to complete your survey in a matter of minutes, right from your device. Your responses show lawmakers, business owners, and others how to make critical decisions over the next DECADE, by showing them where communities need new schools, clinics, roads, and services for families, seniors, and children.

The results will also inform how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated to more than 100 programs, including Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP.

How To: Share Public Comment at a Virtual City Meeting Want to submit a public comment at a virtual public meeting?

Check out this "how-to" video showing just how to share your comments at public City meetings.

Please note that hyperlinks to submit public comment will close at the conclusion of public comment for each item.

To access meeting video and agenda details, please click here.

Solano County Needs to Hear From You! If you live and/or work in Solano County, the County wants to know about your health-related priorities.

We want to hear from you! The Solano Community Health Needs Prioritization Survey is open to both community residents and staff of organizations in Solano, we need input from anyone and everyone who lives or works in Solano County.

Please share widely with your networks in Solano, this is an opportunity to lift your voice and prioritize the most pressing health needs in Solano County.

The survey takes 10-30 minutes to complete and response window will close this Friday, June 19 by 6 p.m. For those who have yet to start the survey or have not finished, please click here.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 11

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Free Reusable Mask Giveaway Event Links2Hope has partnered with Pull Up Neighbor to provide masks to the communities of Solano County to help protect and preserve public health, as well as slow the spread of COVID19. The primary focus of Links2Hope is to diminish the impact of infectious diseases domestically and abroad, as well as underlying healthcare disparities that plague our communities, by providing educational outreach and protective equipment to medical professionals and the community at large.

They’ve had immense success in Compton and other under-served areas in southern California and across the country.

Together, Links2Hope and PUN are partnering with the City of Vallejo and Solano Public Health to host a free reusable mask giveaway event in Vallejo on Friday, June 19th, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom upper parking lot (1001 Fairgrounds Drive).

COMMUNITY Special thank you to the following organizations for providing volunteers for the event:

Pull up Neighbor (PUN) is a community-based emergency response initiative that brings masks and supplies to under-served neighborhoods and community organizations with a grab-andgo model to ensure proper social distancing.

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Family and Friends Corvette Club

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The Robby Poblete Foundation

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Soroptimist International of Vallejo

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Vallejo Peace Project

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 11

community members.

City of Vallejo and California Department of Justice Partnership

COMMUNITY

Following several months of coordination, the City of Vallejo approved an agreement on June 5, 2020, to collaborate with the California Department of Justice on modernizing and reforming the Vallejo Police Department (VPD). The agreement is in effect from June 9, 2020, through June 9, 2023.

The City of Vallejo and the VPD welcome insights and assistance on how to have the best possible police department for our community.

The VPD looks forward to collaborating with the DoJ regarding 21st Century Policing, an initiative aimed at increasing fairness and transparency throughout the criminal justice system.

According to the agreement, the City of Vallejo will work together and share information with the DoJ. The DoJ will review recommendations by the OIR Group, an expert consulting group the City proactively hired in 2019 to conduct an independent assessment of VPD policies and practices. The DoJ will then offer any additional recommendations on best practices and assist and evaluate as the Department implements the recommendations.

The City has had a series of reform projects in process and stands ready to implement further recommendations from both the OIR Group and the California DoJ. On November 12, 2019, the City welcomed a new Chief of Police, Shawny Williams. Williams was selected following a robust recruitment and hiring process, which involved community-focused activities, including two community forums and an interview panel of CITY MANAGER’S REPORT | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 11

Under Chief Williams’ leadership, the VPD has implemented a stronger body-worn camera policy, an improved de-escalation policy, and a program to regularly analyze use-of-force data. Additional initiatives to improve the relationship between the VPD and the community are listed on the Vallejo Unites webpage.

If you have questions about this issue, please refer to the list of Frequently Asked Questions at vallejodojpartnership.org, or contact us directly with your questions or feedback by emailing vallejodojpartnership@cityofvallejo.net.

The webpage will continue to be updated as additional information becomes available.

View the California Department of Justice Agreement here.

Vallejo Police Department & the OIR Group Recommended Implementation Plan: Provide Your Feedback On Tuesday, June 16th, the OIR Group presented a thirdparty audit of the Vallejo Police Department (VPD). Their findings were shared, without redaction, for the Vallejo community to get the full picture of the challenges we are seeking to address in the VPD. Following the presentation, Chief of Police Shawny Williams presented his draft plan for implementing the recommendations by the third-party auditor that will help advance police services in the City of Vallejo.

Chief Williams noted that his plan was a draft, and he is looking for public feedback on the plan to ensure critical issues and points of timing have not been missed. Now you can share your Page 6

thoughts, with full access to the documents that Chief Williams used to make his plans.

Read the documents, and then submit your ideas, concerns, and questions through our portal, by clicking here.

This information will be directed to Chief Williams and his staff person who is aiding in gathering feedback from stakeholders so we can perfect the plan together - as a community. 

OIR Implementation Executive Summary

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Vallejo OIR Group Report

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OIR Implementation Plan Recommendations

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Staffing Report

Vallejo Police Department Issues Ban on Carotid Control Hold

“This immediate ban of the carotid control hold is the right thing to do as our department focuses on assessment and reform,” said Chief of Police Williams. “I also think it’s important for the Vallejo community to know that the carotid control hold is not a stranglehold or a chokehold; those types of holds were never authorized by VPD and do not reflect our values as a department.”

The VPD ban on the carotid control hold comes following last week’s direction from Governor Newsom to the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to cease law enforcement training on the Carotid Control Hold. As a result, California POST is currently considering proposed changes to decertify training of the carotid control hold.

To learn more, and to view the full press release, click here.

Sign Up for Alert Solano In order to receive important messages during emergencies, the City of Vallejo urges local residents who live, work, play, or travel through Solano County to sign up for its emergency alert system.

Alert Solano efficiently delivers messages and information during incidents and emergencies as they occur via email, cell phone, and/or text messaging.

On June 16, 2020, Chief of Police Shawny Williams issued a special order banning the use of the carotid control hold until further notice, and has suspended the “Carotid Control Hold” section of VPD's Use of Force/De-Escalation Policy.

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To register, click here.

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COMMUNITY

Our goal is to have a final plan by sixty days, so please take action now to submit your questions and feedback as soon as possible. We will close out this item after 45 days to ensure all feedback is properly reviewed.

The carotid control hold, a vascular neck constraint that does not restrict air flow when properly applied, had been previously permissible when necessary to restrain a violent or combative individual.

Vallejo Fire Department Wildland Safety Reminds Residents That Throughout California, wildfires will continue to Fireworks are Illegal in Vallejo be fueled by a build-up of seasonal dry vegetation driven by extreme dry conditions and local strong winds, making brush fuels extremely dangerous and challenging for firefighters.

COMMUNITY

The Vallejo Fire Department stands ready to quickly respond and contain wildfires, but we can't do this without your cooperation.

Vallejo Fire and Police Departments are reminding residents that all fireworks are strictly prohibited within City limits, including the unincorporated areas. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, all public display of fireworks have been canceled at the City's Waterfront and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Amusement Park.

Vallejo Fire Department appreciates the community's support in ensuring the safety and protection of life and property by avoiding the purchase and use of illegal fireworks. Each year, dozens of unnecessary injuries and property loss occurs which are directly attributed to illegal fireworks.

On July 4th, both Vallejo Police and Fire Department resources will conduct community patrols to educate residents remain safe and educated of the dangers associated with illegal fireworks.

Your Police and Fire Departments thank you for your cooperation and support. From your City family, please enjoy a safe 4th of July celebration!

For additional information, please contact the Fire Prevention Section during regular business hours at (707) 648-4565 or by emailing Vincent.Sproete@cityofvallejo.net.

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The "Ready! Set! Go!" brochure is intended to provide valuable information on being prepared in the event of an immediate evacuation order due to an emergency like a brush fire.

The "Defensible Space" brochure provides critical information on proper protecting your family and property associated with the threat of wildland fires.Both brochures (below) can be downloaded and referred to for pre-planning and preparation.

Please take the time to learn how to create and maintain a defensible space around your property and how to harden your home against flying embers. You play the most important role in protecting your family and home in the event of wildland fires evacuations and other significant emergencies.

Prepare yourself by taking the necessary steps to give you, your family, and property the best chance of surviving a devastating wildfire.

For additional information, please visit the Fire Department's website.

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COVID-19 Business Recovery Plan The City of Vallejo recognizes the real need for our community to re-open for business.

The City recognizes the need for physical and economic health and wants to support its residents and businesses with these recommendations to keep us safe and healthy. City of Vallejo staff will continue to provide on-site and online support to businesses and residents until we resume to full time in-person, regular business hours.

Get free testing for COVID-19, even if you have no symptoms.

The OptumServe community testing sites are available to anyone, including agricultural workers, undocumented individuals, residents, and homeless individuals.

Testing is free, and you will receive test results within 2-5 days.

Schedule your appointment today at lhi.care/ covidtesting. For those without internet access, call (888) 634-1123.

Questions? For more information:  Visit: solanocounty.com/COVID19  Call: COVID-19 Warmline at (707) 784-8988  Email: COVID19@SolanoCounty.com

COMMUNITY

This document contains recommendations which are not necessarily regulatory, unless specifically required by a local, County, State or Federal agency. The City of Vallejo is closely monitoring government policy changes, Center of Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, government mandates, and Public Health directives.

The City will continue to adjust as necessary or appropriate to these recommended procedures and work to support businesses and residents during this difficult time.

COVID-19 Testing

Click here to view the Recovery Plan.

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Vallejo Wastewater Announces Additional Rate Reduction Vallejo Flood & Wastewater District offers a Reduced Rate Program for qualifying residential customers who own and are living in their home.

For this billing year (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021) the District has increased the sewer bill reduction from 10% to 17.5% off standard rates.

VALLEJO NEWS

Current participation in Pacific Gas and Electric Company's CARE Program is required. (You may apply for the CARE program at PGE.com/ care).

For details about the District’s Reduced Rate Program and an application, please visit vallejowastewater.org, click “I am a customer,” then “I want to understand bill payments.”

If you would like the District to mail you an application, or you would like to speak with them in person, please call (707) 644.8976 for billing questions, and (707) 644.8949 for general questions.

Solano Youth Coalition The Solano County Office of Education is accepting applications for youths, ages 14 to 21, to be a part of the Solano Youth Coalition (SYC). To become part of the SYC, youth must complete an online application before July 10. Coalition members are expected to participate in bi-weekly meetings, (online web meetings, teleconference, or inperson) attend leadership trainings, and contribute to coalition projects and activities. The SYC CITY MANAGER’S REPORT | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 11

builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development which engage youth as active leaders and resources in their communities.

The SYC is a youth led coalition that provides opportunities for youth to build capacity and commitment for life-long involvement in health promotion. The SYC is comprised of youth from Solano County’s high schools and colleges and is supported by an advisory team of adults.

For more information about Solano Youth Coalition, visit their website or email Johanna NowakPalmer at jnowak@solanocoe.net or call (707) 646-7608.

Solano Virtual Fair and Livestock Program The Solano County Virtual Fair will take place over four days, June 18 to 21, via live and prerecorded entertainment on their web site and social media channels. The community will be able to interact by viewing activities, sharing content, entering contests, donating to the Fair and learning more about Solano County Fair's sponsors, partners and community.

The Fair will open June 18 at 5:00 p.m. with it's opening Ceremony following their Virtual Fair showcase at 6:00 p.m. Performing at 7:30 p.m. is Bryan Simmons and Erin Bakke and Don Bassey will follow at 8:00 p.m.

Follow along with the Fair on TikTok with #ChairdanceChallenge and #AnimalCallChallenge. Also make sure to #Haytothebay on all social media to share Fair memories and to enter their contest.

For more information about the fair, click here.

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Vallejo Ferry Service Beginning June 15, San Francisco Bay Ferry will have four trips in each direction on weekdays, including the commonly requested 5:30 a.m. Vallejo departure to San Francisco. Weekend service and ferry service to Mare Island and Pier 41 remain suspended.

WETA, the agency that provides San Francisco Bay Ferry, is also sharing information on its Passenger and Crew Safety Plan to protect the health of all those who board the ferry. The 6-point safety plan includes enhanced cleaning, social distancing, face coverings, hand sanitizer, healthy crews and touchless payment. Please note that masks or face coverings are required for all passengers on board the ferry.

Additional information is at sanfranciscobayferry.com/bestwayback.

available

Have a positive community story or event you'd like to submit for consideration in an issue of Vallejo News? Send us an email!

CITY OF VALLEJO | 555 SANTA CLARA STREET | VALLEJO, CA | 94590 CITYOFVALLEJO.NET | VALLEJONEWS@CITYOFVALLEJO.NET

VALLEJO NEWS

The Vallejo Ticket Office will be open weekdays from 5 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. the week of June 15 so that passengers can load Clipper Cards and purchase tickets or passes.

Passengers can also load Clipper or buy tickets and passes at Bay Crossings in the San Francisco Ferry Building.