Highlights from this week's "The Week in Review"
You can access the full version of "The Week in Review" by clicking on the link on the right side of this page.
Police
School Bussing Concern: On Thursday, July 30, 2009 staff received an email regarding a citizen’s concern over the reduction in school busses for the up-coming school year. The Citizen lives in the Veritas School area near Atherton Drive and Sparrow Hawk. Some of the walking paths for students in this area have no sidewalks requiring the children to walk on unpaved shoulders or in the street. She was requesting the assistance of the City in providing safe methods for children to get to school.
On Monday August 3, 2009 the Police Department received a notice from the Manteca Unified School District advising us of new “No-bus zones” established around Manteca, Sierra, and East Union High Schools and Lincoln, Stella Brockman, Walter Woodward, Veritas, and Joshua Cowell elementary schools. This program eliminated all bussing within 1.25 miles around each school. The notice advised us of the likelihood of a significant increase in pedestrian and vehicle traffic around these schools as more students would be walking to and from campus.
At the City Council Meeting of August 4, 2009, Council directed staff to research the possibility of altering or developing City Bus routes to help facilitate the student’s transportation to school. Beginning Monday August 14, 2009, the City bus system will begin a 30-day trial program that will provide bus service for both elementary and high school students in the Veritas School area. This program will be reassessed at the end of the trial period to determine the feasibility of continuing or expanding the service. A full report on this program will be provided to Council at the August 18, 2009 Council Meeting.
Public Works
BMX Park: This week, Public Works staff worked with Parks staff to complete the plan for the BMX starting gate. The plan was complete and signed today, and is now just awaiting formal approval from the ABA (American Bicycling Association) and the MPA (Municipal Pooling Authority) which had to approve the plan for insurance purposes. Both agencies have reviewed the new plan and will provide formal approval early next week. Once the plan is approved by the two agencies it will be provided to the Anderson209 group for construction by their volunteer team.
Hwy 120/99 Landscaping: Staff continues to work with SJCOG to secure additional funding for the Hwy 99/120 Interchange Landscape Project. The current plan being explored would utilize ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funds designated for state use on transportation enhancement projects. The funds originally approved were allocated for installing landscaping at both the 120 West and 120 East interchanges on Highway 99 and the project was intended to be managed by Caltrans and constructed by the CCC (California Conservation Corp). However, the Federal Highway administrators would not allow the sole sourcing of the work to the CCC, which was required under current state law for Caltrans project. So the current proposal is for SJCOG and the City to take over the project, thus relieving the funds of the CCC requirement, and to competitively bid the work. If successful, the end result would be landscaping for both interchanges. Note however that the landscaping proposed for the 120 West interchange would be less intensive than that proposed for the 120 East (Yosemite Ave) interchange. Currently the total project cost is in excess of one million dollars. Federal funds would provide for installation of all landscape and cover the construction management costs incurred by the City as well. City Measure K funds are budgeted for the installation of the irrigation system at the 120/East interchange. This portion of the project is the subject of the current bid which was extended at the last council meeting.
Fire Department
Significant Incidents:
· Vehicle Accident – Highway 99/Alpine Avenue, August 4
While visiting a neighborhood block party on Ashwood Court on August 4, Engine Company 241 heard other engine companies being dispatched to a vehicle accident on southbound Highway 99, with the vehicle going into the backyard of a residence. The dispatch listed a general location along the highway that wasn’t specific to one area. Hearing this, Engine Company 241, decided to move over a couple of streets and check the Alpine Avenue area, which backs up to Highway 99. Turning onto Alpine Avenue, they immediately noticed bystanders and a huge section of fence removed from one of the backyards. They immediately began emergency rescue operations. Engine Company 243 arrived on scene at the same time from the highway side of the accident. The driver, who was driving southbound on Highway 99, lost control of his vehicle and went through the backyard of two residences on Alpine Avenue, hitting the fence so violently that the fence shattered, sending lumber everywhere. One of these pieces of fence lumber was projected through the glass patio door of one of the homes, barely missing a 1-year-old girl who was standing next to it. In fact, the lumber pierced and shattered one pane of the glass patio door while she was standing behind the other pane. Thankfully, she was not injured. The driver of the vehicle, however, did sustain injuries and was transported to the hospital.
· Multiple Grass Fires
- South Airport Way/Crom Street, August 2
Firefighters arrived on scene to find a small grass fire across the levee of an open field. The fire was quickly extinguished, and firefighters overhauled the area.
- Highway 99 north of Lathrop Road, August 3
Firefighters assisted Lathrop-Manteca Fire District with a grass fire along the west side of Highway 99, just north of Lathrop Road. The fire was quickly brought under control and units released.
- Highway 120 @ South Union Road, August 4
Firefighters arrived on scene to find the grass along the southwest side of the South Union Road overpass on fire. Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters checked both sides of the overpass to make sure there was no further fire spread before releasing the incident.
- Trailwood Avenue, August 4
Firefighters arrived on scene to find burned grass clippings in the park. Witnesses stated that juveniles were igniting grass clippings on the basketball court. The Police Department was called to the scene to investigate.
City Manager
PBID Steering Committee: The PBID (Property-Based Business Improvement District) Steering Committee met on August 5 to discuss a survey that was sent to business and property owners in a preliminarily defined downtown area. Of approximately 600 surveys that were sent, only 29 were returned to the consultant. The Steering Committee discussed the contents of the survey in length, and proposed a number of changes that would help to clarify the purpose and function of a PBID. The consultant will now revise the survey, which will be hand delivered by members of the Steering Committee to the various business and property owners. No commitment is being solicited at this time – rather, the consultant and the committee are attempting to gather opinions about what might be included in a potential PBID.
New Telephone System: The City’s new telephone system is up and running, and only general department numbers have remained intact. Callers who don’t know the new telephone number for a specific employee are prompted to a directory, where they can enter the first few letters of the employee’s name and be connected to the new line. The new system will save the City money after the first year, and is much more efficient than the old one. Staff is seeking the public’s patience during this transitional time.
Police
School Bussing Concern: On Thursday, July 30, 2009 staff received an email regarding a citizen’s concern over the reduction in school busses for the up-coming school year. The Citizen lives in the Veritas School area near Atherton Drive and Sparrow Hawk. Some of the walking paths for students in this area have no sidewalks requiring the children to walk on unpaved shoulders or in the street. She was requesting the assistance of the City in providing safe methods for children to get to school.
On Monday August 3, 2009 the Police Department received a notice from the Manteca Unified School District advising us of new “No-bus zones” established around Manteca, Sierra, and East Union High Schools and Lincoln, Stella Brockman, Walter Woodward, Veritas, and Joshua Cowell elementary schools. This program eliminated all bussing within 1.25 miles around each school. The notice advised us of the likelihood of a significant increase in pedestrian and vehicle traffic around these schools as more students would be walking to and from campus.
At the City Council Meeting of August 4, 2009, Council directed staff to research the possibility of altering or developing City Bus routes to help facilitate the student’s transportation to school. Beginning Monday August 14, 2009, the City bus system will begin a 30-day trial program that will provide bus service for both elementary and high school students in the Veritas School area. This program will be reassessed at the end of the trial period to determine the feasibility of continuing or expanding the service. A full report on this program will be provided to Council at the August 18, 2009 Council Meeting.
Public Works
BMX Park: This week, Public Works staff worked with Parks staff to complete the plan for the BMX starting gate. The plan was complete and signed today, and is now just awaiting formal approval from the ABA (American Bicycling Association) and the MPA (Municipal Pooling Authority) which had to approve the plan for insurance purposes. Both agencies have reviewed the new plan and will provide formal approval early next week. Once the plan is approved by the two agencies it will be provided to the Anderson209 group for construction by their volunteer team.
Hwy 120/99 Landscaping: Staff continues to work with SJCOG to secure additional funding for the Hwy 99/120 Interchange Landscape Project. The current plan being explored would utilize ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funds designated for state use on transportation enhancement projects. The funds originally approved were allocated for installing landscaping at both the 120 West and 120 East interchanges on Highway 99 and the project was intended to be managed by Caltrans and constructed by the CCC (California Conservation Corp). However, the Federal Highway administrators would not allow the sole sourcing of the work to the CCC, which was required under current state law for Caltrans project. So the current proposal is for SJCOG and the City to take over the project, thus relieving the funds of the CCC requirement, and to competitively bid the work. If successful, the end result would be landscaping for both interchanges. Note however that the landscaping proposed for the 120 West interchange would be less intensive than that proposed for the 120 East (Yosemite Ave) interchange. Currently the total project cost is in excess of one million dollars. Federal funds would provide for installation of all landscape and cover the construction management costs incurred by the City as well. City Measure K funds are budgeted for the installation of the irrigation system at the 120/East interchange. This portion of the project is the subject of the current bid which was extended at the last council meeting.
Fire Department
Significant Incidents:
· Vehicle Accident – Highway 99/Alpine Avenue, August 4
While visiting a neighborhood block party on Ashwood Court on August 4, Engine Company 241 heard other engine companies being dispatched to a vehicle accident on southbound Highway 99, with the vehicle going into the backyard of a residence. The dispatch listed a general location along the highway that wasn’t specific to one area. Hearing this, Engine Company 241, decided to move over a couple of streets and check the Alpine Avenue area, which backs up to Highway 99. Turning onto Alpine Avenue, they immediately noticed bystanders and a huge section of fence removed from one of the backyards. They immediately began emergency rescue operations. Engine Company 243 arrived on scene at the same time from the highway side of the accident. The driver, who was driving southbound on Highway 99, lost control of his vehicle and went through the backyard of two residences on Alpine Avenue, hitting the fence so violently that the fence shattered, sending lumber everywhere. One of these pieces of fence lumber was projected through the glass patio door of one of the homes, barely missing a 1-year-old girl who was standing next to it. In fact, the lumber pierced and shattered one pane of the glass patio door while she was standing behind the other pane. Thankfully, she was not injured. The driver of the vehicle, however, did sustain injuries and was transported to the hospital.
· Multiple Grass Fires
- South Airport Way/Crom Street, August 2
Firefighters arrived on scene to find a small grass fire across the levee of an open field. The fire was quickly extinguished, and firefighters overhauled the area.
- Highway 99 north of Lathrop Road, August 3
Firefighters assisted Lathrop-Manteca Fire District with a grass fire along the west side of Highway 99, just north of Lathrop Road. The fire was quickly brought under control and units released.
- Highway 120 @ South Union Road, August 4
Firefighters arrived on scene to find the grass along the southwest side of the South Union Road overpass on fire. Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters checked both sides of the overpass to make sure there was no further fire spread before releasing the incident.
- Trailwood Avenue, August 4
Firefighters arrived on scene to find burned grass clippings in the park. Witnesses stated that juveniles were igniting grass clippings on the basketball court. The Police Department was called to the scene to investigate.
City Manager
PBID Steering Committee: The PBID (Property-Based Business Improvement District) Steering Committee met on August 5 to discuss a survey that was sent to business and property owners in a preliminarily defined downtown area. Of approximately 600 surveys that were sent, only 29 were returned to the consultant. The Steering Committee discussed the contents of the survey in length, and proposed a number of changes that would help to clarify the purpose and function of a PBID. The consultant will now revise the survey, which will be hand delivered by members of the Steering Committee to the various business and property owners. No commitment is being solicited at this time – rather, the consultant and the committee are attempting to gather opinions about what might be included in a potential PBID.
New Telephone System: The City’s new telephone system is up and running, and only general department numbers have remained intact. Callers who don’t know the new telephone number for a specific employee are prompted to a directory, where they can enter the first few letters of the employee’s name and be connected to the new line. The new system will save the City money after the first year, and is much more efficient than the old one. Staff is seeking the public’s patience during this transitional time.
Labels: The Week in Review
posted by City Manager @ 5:02 AM
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