VOLUME 8, ISSUE 19 | AUGUST 13, 2020
THE VALLEJO WEEKLY
MAYOR’S MESSAGE Dear Fellow Vallejoans, This week I want to express my gratitude to the Vallejo Police Department Detectives who have worked tirelessly to make two arrests in the murder of a young Vallejo resident last week. The VPD has also been making traction on curbing the sideshows with the help of some of our partnering agencies. Last Sunday, our partnering agencies responded with VPD to sideshow activity which led to eight arrests, eight impounded vehicles, and three citations being issued. There was also one agency assisted vehicle pursuit, leading to a foot chase and arrest in Berkeley. You can read VPD’s full press release by clicking here. Unfortunately, we are still talking about COVID this week. While I am sure we all wish that it would just pass already, it’s still very much with us. So I just want to make a gentle reminder to maintain your social distancing, wear a mask or face covering, wash your hands with soap and water often, and please, stay home if you feel sick. The only way we are going to beat this virus right now is by not spreading it.
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
Coming up next week we are expecting some extremely hot weather. Because of COVID, there won’t be the usual cooling centers available so I want to be sure that everyone takes the necessary precautions. Stay in the shade, stay hydrated, and stay in climate-controlled areas if possible. Please be vigilant of those who cannot fend for themselves as well. Seniors, pets, and young children are at a higher risk for suffering from heat exhaustion which can turn deadly in some cases. So please be sure to check in on those who might need assistance in staying healthy and hydrated. Lastly, It’s important for me to remind you that shopping locally is one of the best ways you can support Vallejo. Our local businesses have felt the brunt of this virus. These hardworking folks live in Vallejo and employ people who also live in Vallejo. Let’s do what we can to support them and keep our economy thriving. Additionally, with all of this warm weather coming our way, this might be the perfect opportunity to spend an evening outside at one of Vallejo’s restaurants with outdoor seating. The City has started a map with Vallejo restaurants who have outdoor seating available. You can see that map here. If you know of a local restaurant that has outdoor seating that deserves a place on the map, please email the details to the City’s PIO at pio@cityofvallejo.net. Be well, Vallejo. Your Mayor, Bob Sampayan
Join Our Team!
PERSONNEL
The City of Vallejo is pleased to offer the following employment opportunities:
Communications Operator II (Lateral)
Police Cadet
Police Officer (Entry - Academy Graduate)
Police Officer (Lateral)
Police Officer (Recruit)
Visit governmentjobs.com/careers/Vallejo for more information and to apply.
THE VALLEJO WEEKLY | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 19
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VFD Deploys with Solano County Strike Team to Lake Fire Solano County Strike Team XSO 2350C departed early on the morning of August 13 to the Lake Fire, burning on the Angeles National Forest. As of their departure time, the fire has burned 10,000 acres in a 24 hour period, and remained 0% contained.
The strike team consists of firefighters from Fairfield, Vacaville, Rio Vista, Dixon and Vallejo.
City of Vallejo’s Neighborhood Law Program Abates Multiple Unlawful Marijuana Grow Operations As a collaborative effort of multiple City of Vallejo Departments and Divisions, including Building, Code Enforcement, Community Services Section (CSS), Police and Fire, the City Attorney’s Office’s Neighborhood Law Program (NLP) successfully investigated and abated several public nuisance matters related to unlawful marijuana grow operations throughout Vallejo. Over the course of the past year, the City Attorney’s Office received an increasing amount of information regarding possible unlawful marijuana operations from residents and businesses of Vallejo. Unlawful marijuana operations can result in the proliferation of unregulated cannabis, negatively affecting the health and safety of our community. In response to the complaints, the NLP investigated and sent demands to the property owners to cease and desist their unlawful operations. In lieu of bringing public nuisance lawsuits against the property owners, the NLP was able to obtain voluntary compliance from the property owners, and the cannabis plants and operations have been removed.
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THE VALLEJO WEEKLY | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 19
DEPARTMENTS IN ACTION
Each year, Vallejo sends firefighters up and down the state as part of the state’s master mutual aid system. This year’s fire camps face the additional challenge of incorporating COVID-19 protocols. For this reason, many firefighters will need to stay out on the fireline for multiple days, in order to reduce the number of firefighters that pass through fire camp each day for meals and rehab.
PROGRAM & PROJECT UPDATES
Temporary Outdoor Dining Permits On July 21, the Planning Division approved an Administrative Permit for outdoor dining for the Applebee’s restaurant at 1041 Admiral Callaghan Lane, allowing the restaurant to continue operating in compliance with the Solano County health order. The seating is located in the private parking lot adjoining the restaurant. The Vallejo City Council has authorized the issuance of temporary parklet permits, at no charge, through November 1, at which time the Council will review the current health orders to determine future outdoor dining permit program guidelines. To learn more about the temporary dining permit program, please click here.
Excessive Heat Watch
COMMUNITY
Temperatures in Vallejo are expected to reach the 90’s in the next several days. Please make sure you practice heat safety and check on the vulnerable elderly, children, and pets. For additional information, please click here. Due to the pandemic, many traditional hot-weather resources have been impacted, such as cooling centers. The JKF Library in Vallejo is a designated cooling center, however due to COVID-19 capacity restrictions currently in place, visitors must call in advance to reserve a time slot. Reservations are limited to a one-hour visit.
Ensure you receive timely updates about emergencies and other important community news by subscribing to Alert Solano, Solano County’s emergency alert notification system, by clicking here.
THE VALLEJO WEEKLY | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 19
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GVRD Ten-Year Master Plan Forum Greater Vallejo Recreation District (GVRD) is developing a comprehensive ten-year master plan to see where their parks can grow, how their programs can expand, what improvements can be done for their facilities, and better ways to serve the community. GVRD will hold a Public Forum to gather community input for their 10 year master plan on August 20 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. Input from community members of all ages and neighborhoods is highly encouraged. "During this COVID time, we will be asking the citizens of Vallejo to participate in our ten-year master plan. At first, it may be difficult to answer questions about what you want to see in Parks and Recreation when you cannot currently participate in group activities, but it is a great time to reflect upon what you want to see from GVRD as we move forward. If history teaches us anything positive, it is that even the difficult times eventually pass. We look forward to seeing you and your families in our parks and programs soon," says GVRD General Manager, Gabe Lanusse, in his recent message to the community. To register for this event, click here. For more details about this forum, email publicforum@gvrd.org or call (707) 648-4604.
COMMUNITY
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THE VALLEJO WEEKLY | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 19
Town Hall Meetings: Update on Solano County’s COVID-19 Situation Solano Public Health is hosting town hall meetings to provide a Solano County COVID-19 update. During the town halls, Solano County Health Officer Dr. Bela Matyas, will provide a brief data synopsis, an update on reopening, and reminders for bringing people back to work safely. The first town hall meeting will occur on August 24, from 5-6:00 p.m. and the second is August 27 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held via Microsoft TEAMS
August 24: Click here for the link or call (323) 457-3408 with conference ID 725 292 792#
August 27: Click here for the link or call (323) 457-3408 with conference ID 461 864 509#
COMMUNITY
For more information visit the Solano County Public Health’s website or Facebook page.
THE VALLEJO WEEKLY | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 19
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Solano County Library Student Resources
Earthquake Early Warning Alerts App
Solano County Library offers Tutor.com to connect students to over 3,000 highly vetted expert tutors. Any community member with a library card can connect with a highly qualified, expert tutor in a safe and secure online classroom. Tutor.com provides online, on-demand academic tutoring, homework help, and test preparation to kindergarten through 12th grade students, plus early college students and adult learners.
Google has just announced the launch of the nation’s first statewide earthquake early warning alert technology into the Android and iOS operating system of all smartphones as a result of their partnership with Cal OES and USGS. Download the app, MyShake, which provides earthquake early warnings in California for estimated magnitude 4.5 earthquakes and higher to phones in the “light shaking” or higher areas.
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. The library also has Wi-Fi hotspots readily available for checkout with a library card, a great resource for parents and students learning from home. To access Tutor.com for free, or see all the online resources Solano County Library has to offer, visit solanolibrary.com. For more information call 1-866-57-ASKUS (1-866-572-7587).
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Alert Solano efficiently delivers messages and information during incidents and emergencies as they occur via email, cell phone, and/or text messaging. To register, click here.
THE VALLEJO WEEKLY | VOLUME 8, ISSUE 19
VALLEJO NEWS
Tutors are available in a variety of subjects and test prep areas every day 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Help is available in either English or Spanish. Tutor.com also offers expert writing help, test prep resources from The Princeton Review® for the ACT®/SAT®, Advanced Placement (AP®) course videos, and so much more.
VALLEJO NEWS
Solano County Takes COVID-19 Regulations
on
Business
Not
Complying
with
Businesses in Solano County that receive three valid complaints for not complying with Covid-19 regulations are being turned over to a state task force for possible action. Terry Schmidtbauer, the interim director of the Solano County Department of Resource Management, told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that the action is new for the county. Schmidtbauer said the county has largely tried to educate businesses about the violations, and that is still the primary goal of the county, however, once a third complaint is filed, he said the county intends to refer the matter to local enforcement agencies – meaning city police or the county sheriff’s offices – as well as the state task force. The state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control last month cited eight county business owners or managers for suspected Covid-19 violations, and referred the misdemeanor allegations to the Solano County District Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution. Among the reported offenses included employees failing to wear face coverings, social distancing infractions and allowing consumption of food or alcohol inside. For example, the ABC has power over alcoholic beverage licenses, and Cal/OSHA – the Division of Occupational Safety and Health – also brings its far-reaching authority to the task force.
To read the full article, click here.
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