3/27/2009

Quake Warning: See full text at the bottom of this bulletin.

Stimulus Watch: Cool website referred to me by Janice http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/by_state/CA

Strategic Planning: See Strategic Plan February 2009 Part 1 for City Priorities.  The following North Redondo Beach items were added to the City Strategic Plan this week:

• April 21st – the City Engineer will present to the City Council the action plans and specs for the North Branch Library.
• May 19th – the City Engineer will recommend to the City Council for action the award of a design contract for the first phase of the transit center.
• May 31st – the Transit Director will present to the City Council for action the design and schedule for repair, replacement or removal of bus shelters throughout the City.
• July 31st -- the City Engineer will complete the installation of North Redondo Beach Bike Path lighting.
• June 1st  -- the Planning Director will provide the draft EIR to the City Council regarding the South Bay South (i.e., Galleria South) Project.
• June 1st – The Audit committee will review the budget and financials and report the results to the City Council.
• July 14th – Planning director will report to the City Council the parking standards and their impact on commercial operations throughout the city and present options.
• Sept 1st – Asst City Manager will present to the City Council for action a lease for the Marine Ave site.
• Sept 1st – Asst City Manager and the Public Works Director will report to the City Council on the feasibility of suing the vacant I405 at Inglewood gas station as a CNG station.
• Sept 15th – City Manager working with Artesia Stakeholders will create an Artesia working group with the purpose of aiding the creation of and Artesia Business Improvement District and initiating a strategic Plan for the Artesia corridor.

Please be prepared.  Below is an advisory from the California Emergency Management Agency:

PREPAREDNESS ADVISORY

To: Operational Areas in the Southern Region
From: California Emergency Management Agency, Southern Region Operations Center
Subject: Today's Earthquake & Preparedness

As you may know, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake occurred three miles south of Bombay Beach, Imperial County at 4:55 am this morning. There have been no reports of damage or injuries associated with this event.

The U.S. Geological Survey has been tracking an unusual sequence of small earthquakes (50+) that have been clustered about 1 to 3 kilometers southwest of a projected extension of the San Andreas Fault just south of Bombay Beach, in the Salton Sea area.  The majority of the magnitudes have been less than 2.5.

As a precaution, the California Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (CEPEC) met by teleconference this morning to discuss the recent seismic activity. Based on scientific data, and the fact that these most recent earthquakes have been in close proximity to the San Andreas Fault, there is increased concern that these earthquakes could trigger a large earthquake (M7.0 +) on the San Andreas itself.  Historically, a major earthquake on this southern portion of the San Andreas Fault has not occurred in over 300 years, so the probability of a large earthquake is thought by seismologists to be higher than on portions of the fault that have ruptured more recently (e.g., in 1857 and 1906).

CEPEC believes that there is a 1% to 5% chance of a large earthquake (magnitude 7.0 or greater) on the San Andreas Fault over the next few days. However, as each day passes the risk of a large San Andreas earthquake decreases. This assessment is based on methodology developed for assessing foreshocks on the San Andreas Fault.

The California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) will continue to monitor the situation and keep in contact with CEPEC scientists over the next few days.  Cal EMA recommends that operational areas reach out to agencies and jurisdictions within their operational area to raise their awareness of today's events.  It is a good time to ensure the readiness of systems essential to emergency operations and remind the public about the importance of being prepared for earthquakes.

3/24/2009

NRB Library update: Since the ceremony on Feb. 3rd: Bookdrop placed at Perry Park.   The design plans are 95% complete.  Volunteers moved and stored the books.  The School District last week removed the old metal shelves for reuse at two of the schools.  The City Council awarded the bid for the demo.  The City Attorney's Office and Risk Management are finalizing the contract and the insurance with the demo contractor.

CalPERS warns of Rate Hike: Nearly a third of the value of the California Public Employees Retirement System investment portfolio was wiped out by last fall, possibly leaving the big fund far short of the money needed to pay projected retirement costs in the decades ahead. CalPERS warned that the annual pension contribution that must be paid by state and local governments could increase by nearly a third — starting July 1, 2010, for the state and schools and July 1, 2011, for local government agencies.

Tomorrow is the City Council's Strategic Plan Workshop.  Below is the staff's 2009 "Big List" items from earlier this year.

Proposed “Big List” Priorities for 2009

• UUT Election
• Implementation of Measure DD
• Fiscal adjustments and Budget balancing in recessionary economic times
• RFP for New Refuse Contract
• RFP for New BTC Contract
• Harbor Revitalization Activities, Business Plan and Shade Hotel Lease
• School District-City Property Leases and Land Use Plans
• Galleria Expansion Plans
• North Branch Library, Transit Center & Harbor Patrol Bldg. Construction
• Seaside Lagoon Final Plans
• March Council Elections
• Circulation & Housing General Plan Elements
• Organizational Development, Productivity and Customer Service

DC Report:  Mayor Gin, City Manager Bill Workman and Transit Director  spent 2 days in DC meeting with Federal representatives and staff.  Meetings were cordial.  Results are pending.  (We weren’t the only ones there asking for money for Cities)  The process is no guarantee of success, but not participating guarantees no success.

AES Power Plant update: AES General Manager Buck Hunt called to invite the Mayor and Council Members to tour the AES Redondo Beach Plant. In summary: 

1. AES intends to produce power at the plant at least through 2018 but very likely beyond that date.  
2. The property on which the AES plant sits is not for sale.  
3. The Redondo Beach AES plant site is an important location for integration of future renewable energy on the electrical grid.  
4. Depending upon the timing of new State/Federal regulatory rules, AES plans a re-powering/rebuilding project of their plant within the next 5-10 years using new technology.   They intend to construct around the existing, old generation equipment which will eventually be retired.  
5. At the end of their re-powering/rebuilding project (5-10 years from today), AES may be willing to talk about potential public uses at their site on what they might identify as "unusable" space on their property.  AES would be the ones to determine what might be deemed available "unusable" space on their property after the re-powering/rebuilding project.  AES would determine what potentially might be acceptable public uses on their property if they have identified any such "unusable" space after their project is completed. 

RBPD Meeting: The Redondo Beach Police Department will be hosting a community meeting on March 28, 2009.  The meeting is designed to provide information to residents and business owners on the services the Police Department provides to the community, along with soliciting feedback on the current level of Police service.  Items to be discussed include Neighborhood Watch, Crime Prevention, Smoking on the Beach Ordinance, Recreational Vehicle (RV) Parking Ordinance and Graffiti Abatement. The meeting will be held at: Franklin Community Center807 Inglewood Ave on Saturday 3/28/094:00 PM.

For further information, please contact Community Police Officer Ian Miesen at 310-379-2477 x1-2493 or via email at ian.miesen@redondo.org.