Highlights from "The Week in Review"

Here are some items of interest from this week's "The Week in Review" (TWIR). A full version of this week's TWIR and previous TWIRs can be access from the "links" section of this website or by clicking here.

Police Department
Every 15 Minutes: The Manteca Police Department participated in the 2009 “Every 15 Minutes” program on April 23 And 24. This year’s event was presented at Sierra High School and included the students from all four Manteca high schools. This presentation is a cooperative effort between the School District and local emergency responders. Agencies participating in the event included the Manteca Police Department, Manteca Fire Department, Manteca Unified School District, Lathrop-Manteca Fire Department, Lathrop Police Department, Manteca District Ambulance, San Joaquin County Sheriffs Office, San Joaquin County Superior Courts, San Joaquin County District Attorneys Office, Kaiser Hospital, Manteca Tow Company, P.L. Fry Funeral Home, California Highway Patrol, and PHI Air-Medic Service. Along with these agencies, the program used more than 90 volunteers, 25 School District buses, and was attended by 1,311 students. The “Every 15 Minutes” program is a very powerful and emotional program used to reach out to high school juniors and seniors and educate them about the consequences of drinking and driving.

Public Works
Projects for Federal Funding: Last week was a busy week for Public Works Engineering staff, who prepared a number of appropriations requests to meet deadlines for our Congressional representatives. Staff submitted four requests to Congressman McNerney’s office, plus eight to Senator Feinstein’s office. The projects included interchanges at McKinley, Austin, and Union Road, plus funds for a reclaimed water distribution system and other utility improvements. These projects will compete with others submitted by entities throughout the State and nation for Federal funds that could be included in one of the appropriation bills that Congress will pass in the coming months.

Parks and Recreation
Spreckels Recreation Park: Construction of the masonry wall on the west property line has been completed. The installation of solar security lighting and the fencing to separate track users from spectators is expected to be completed in May. The Anderson 209 volunteer group is continuing to progress on its work on the starting hill gate and support systems. Anderson’s target date for completion is May.

Parks maintenance staff has been installing wood chips in planter beds and tree wells throughout the City. The wood chips are produced by Tree Division work crews from routine pruning and chipping operations. Recycling the wood chips provides multiple benefits, such as diverting waste going to landfill sites, retaining moisture in the ground, keeping weeds down and providing a more attractive appearance.

Damages:
Woodward Park vandalism – Vandals damaged 27 irrigation heads. Labor and materials to replace the heads cost approximately $200.

Primavera Park received graffiti by vandals three times in the past week. Labor and materials to remove the graffiti cost approximately $140.

Approximately 25 shrubs were destroyed by vandals in the Paseo West Landscape Maintenance District. Labor and materials to replace the shrubs is expected to cost approximately $450-500.