Category Archives: Benicia City Manager

Benicia CA, Benicia City Manager, City of Benicia, Keeping Watch on Earth News, Water Resource Tools

City of Benicia weekly newsletter

Benicia’s City Manager Lorie Tinfow publishes an email newsletter every Monday.   I found this one very interesting, especially the Water Resources Tools.  You can sign up to receive the newsletter here.  – R.S.

City of Benicia This Week

Highlights:  Water Resource Tools, Census Forms in the Mail

March 16, 2020

Hello Everyone,

On behalf of the City Council and City staff, I want to take a moment to reach out to everyone in our Benicia community with an important message about the current public health emergency. We understand that the emergence of COVID-19 has created some real challenges, as well as fear among members of the Benicia community and beyond. Our understanding of the future of the virus and its impacts continues to evolve on an almost a daily basis. A team of senior City staff that includes representatives from every department are meeting daily to stay on top of the changes, prepare our responses and keep the community as safe as possible. These activities are our primary focus right now.

There are many sources of information flooding us in the media and social media; some of this information is alarmist and false. To help everyone, we created a dedicated website with up-to-date vetted information regarding the City, State and National response to this virus as well as steps you can take to better protect yourself and your loved ones. You can rely on it for information to answer your questions: ci.benicia.ca.us/coronavirus. Please also take a look at the updates we’ve provided in press releases issued last week. You can find them under Press Releases below.

We understand how challenging this emergency has been for so many in our town and appreciate how fortunate we all are to live and work in a place that has such a profound sense of community and where we understand the importance of looking out for each other. Using the best practices for staying safe, we encourage you to check in on your neighbors and friends, especially those who might be more vulnerable. Provide support to them where you can. Think about those in need; do not horde, but rather share with others when possible.

We also remind you that if you find yourself in a place that you feel you cannot take care of yourself or feel you need help, please call us. Our emergency communications center is open 24-hours a day, 7-days a week and can be reached by calling 707.745.3411.

While these times are difficult, they also present an opportunity to show just what a caring and amazing community we are.

Wishing you good health!

Lorie Tinfow
City Manager
CityofBeniciaThisWeek@ci.benicia.ca.us

City News

Water Resources Tools:  Do you like data? Are you looking for trusted hydrologic and climate data sources? If so, here are some of the tools used by our Public Works Department to manage the City’s water resources.

Drought Information
The federal government brings data from many sources into the National Integrated Drought Information System. This portal serves as a one-stop-shop for near-term climate data and projections. These data are useful in projecting annual water demand in Benicia. Last week, 38% of California is experiencing abnormally dry conditions.
https://www.drought.gov/drought/

Major Reservoir Levels
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) aggregates reservoir data in this portal. Current reservoir information is needed to understand water available for diversion and use. Six days ago, Oroville Reservoir (the major water storage facility in the State Water Project) is 64% full.
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/resapp/RescondMain

Solano County Water Agency Weekly Operations Report
Our water wholesaler, the Solano County Water Agency, provides weekly reports on our local water sources. This link is a little technical in nature, but provides a critical snapshot of Benicia’s water sources: the Solano Project and the State Water Project. Lake Berryessa is about 92% full.
http://www.scwa2.com/about-us/weekly-operations-report

Census Forms in the Mail:

Census forms began arriving in our mailboxes this week. As a reminder, you are asked to respond by April 1. The easy questionnaire takes 10 minutes or less and may be completed securely online using the Census ID code you received in your envelope.

Your prompt response will —

  • Help direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services.
  • Help your community prepare to meet transportation and emergency readiness needs.
  • Determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and your political representation at all levels of government.

More information on the Census can be found at Census.gov. Details on Solano County’s outreach program can be found by visiting the Solano Economic Development Corporation’s website.

Press Releases

Recent City of Benicia press releases are available on the City of Benicia website under Main/Announcements.

Press Releases

Save the Date

Mar 17 – City Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber, City Hall. See the Full Agenda for more information.
Mar 20 – City Hall closed for Alternate Friday.

City of Benicia | edev@ci.benicia.ca.us | 707.746.4200 | ci.benicia.ca.us

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Benicia, Benicia City Manager, Coronavirus, Covid 19

Proclamation of Existence of a Local Emergency by the City Manager of Benicia

PROCLAMATION OF EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY BY THE CITY MANAGER OF BENICIA

[Download the PDF document here.]

WHEREAS, the California Emergency Services Act (California Government Code sections 8630, 8550, et. seq.) defines a local emergency as the existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of a city, caused by conditions such as an epidemic, which are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of a city, and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat; and

WHEREAS, Section 2.36.020 of the City of Benicia (“City”) Municipal Code defines emergency as the actual or threatened existence of conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within this City caused by conditions such as an epidemic, which are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of this City, requiring the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat; and

WHEREAS, Section 2.36.050(A) of the City’s Municipal Code designates the City Manager as the Director of Emergency Services for the City; and

WHEREAS, 2.26.050(A)(l) empowers the City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services, to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when the City Council is not in session so long as such proclamation is ratified by the City Council within seven (7) days; and

WHEREAS, in December 2019, reports began spreading worldwide of a flu-like virus first found in China, that was significantly more deadly than the flu generally, with the virus becoming known as the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”); and

WHEREAS, from January 2020 to March 2020, COVID-19 spread throughout the world, with over 100,000 confirmed cases of individuals contracting COVID-19, and over 3,000 confirmed cases of individuals dying from COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 3, 2020, the County of Solano (“County”) ratified a proclamation of a Local Emergency due to the threat of COVID-19 in the County; and

WHEREAS, on or about March 4, 2020, as part of the State of California’s response to address the global COVID-19 outbreak, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19 following one official COVID-19 death; and

WHEREAS, as of March 8, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) has confirmed 105,586 cases of COVID-19 internationally, with 3,171 cases resulting in death; and

WHEREAS, as of March 10, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) has confirmed 647 cases of COVID-19 in the United States, with 25 cases resulting in death, with thirty-six (36) jurisdictions reporting cases, including California; and

WHEREAS, on March 13,2020, the President of the United States issued an emergency declaration relating to the widespread transmission of COVID-19.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Director of Emergency Services finds that:

A. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) has determined that the virus presents a serious public health threat, requiring coordination among State and local health departments to ensure readiness for potential health threats associated with the virus; and

B. The County has found that the conditions constituting a threat to community health, including a presumptive case of community infection, may be present in the County, warranting a proclamation of a County emergency; and

C. Conditions of disaster and extreme peril to the safety of persons and property have arisen within the City caused by the threat of COVID-19 that will impact significant City and community operations, including critical public infrastructure and services, and which will require the provision of additional public safety and emergency services; and

D. As contemplated in the California Emergency Services Act contained in Government Code Section 8550 et seq., including Section 8558(c), a local emergency exists because of the existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the City caused by the aforesaid conditions, which are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel and facilities of the City, and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat; and the proclamation of a Local Emergency is necessary to enable the City and other local government entities to adequately plan, prepare and preposition resources to be able to effectively respond to the threat posed by COVID-19, and to warn City residents and visitors of the threat posed by COVID-19 and to enable them sufficient time to plan and prepare; and

E. In consequence of said conditions and pursuant to Government Code section 8630 and the City Municipal Code section 2.36.050, a local emergency now exists throughout the City of Benicia; and

F. At the time of this proclamation, the City Council is not in session.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, a local emergency is hereby declared on March 15, 2020, within the City of Benicia. During the local emergency, the powers and duties of the City Manager and the Disaster Council of the City shall be as defined in state and federal law, and the ordinances, resolutions, and approved plans of the City of Benicia in in order to mitigate the effects of said local emergency; and

This proclamation shall be transmitted to the City Council within seven (7) days for ratification, and this local emergency shall continue until terminated by further declaration of the undersigned, or by resolution of the City Council.

SIGNED AND SUBSCRIBED on this 15th day of March, 2020.
LORIE TINFOW
Director of Emergency Services
Press Release -City of Benicia COVID-19 Update 03.15.20.pdf

Benicia City Attorney Heather McLaughlin, Benicia City Council, Benicia City Manager, Benicia Planning Commission, Crude By Rail, Environmental Impacts, Federal pre-emption, Local land use authority, Local Regulation, On-site impacts, Surface Transportation Board, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Crude By Rail

City staff again recommends approval of Valero Crude By Rail – Council can vote on Tues, Sept 20

By Roger Straw, September 15, 2016

New staff report again recommends overturning Planning Commission’s unanimous decision

oil tank carsOn Thursday, City of Benicia staff released the agenda for the crucial and perhaps decisive September 20 meeting of the Benicia City Council.

A staff report accompanying the agenda stands by the staff’s previous positions on Valero’s oil train proposal, recommending on p. 10 that Council approve Valero’s appeal, reject Benicia’s Planning Commission decision, and approve the Crude By Rail project.

The staff report fails to quote the City’s own strong defense of local land use authority as stated in its recent legal brief before the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB), and attaches the brief seemingly as an afterthought, the 10th among 10 attachments.

Although City staff follows protocol, offering Council four alternative courses of action including approval, denial, re-working the environmental report and continuing discussion – it’s recommendation is unenlightened, a repeat of previously heard pro-oil-train postures of Valero and the City’s paid consultants.

The one indication that staff is giving Council real alternatives is that they include a ready draft of a resolution to deny the project, a professional courtesy not afforded to Benicia’s Planning Commission last February.

That said, eight of the ten attachments that accompany the staff report  lean heavily in favor of Valero and against opponents. A new memo by Valero Benicia executive Don Cuffel disputes the findings of environmental expert Dr. Phyllis Fox. In the memo, Cuffel touts his own experience and authority, then launches into a 6-page attack on Dr. Fox, characterizing her arguments as based on “ideology or on heated rhetoric.”

The City’s release of Cuffel’s September 13 memo at this late date will no doubt make it difficult if not impossible for Dr. Fox to rebut and defend herself and her positions prior to the September 20 meeting of Council.

The agenda also attaches a second September 13 memo commissioned by Valero that claims Benicia’s Sulphur Springs Creek is perfectly safe from potential environmental impacts, and that the “proposed project meets the requirements and intent of the City of Benicia’s stream setback ordinance.”

It is interesting that public comment on the proposal has officially been closed, and yet Valero’s latest memos are attached to the official Council agenda.  Would the City have given such prominence to an afterword by Dr. Fox?  Did staff choose to attach the recent critiques of Benicia structural engineer Amir Firouz or Benicia engineer C. Bart Sullivan, who have pointed out on-site impacts that have nothing to do with rail-related dangers?  Of course not.  When does manufactured rebuttal by the project applicant come to a close here?

Valero plays hard ball, of course, and has done so throughout the more than three years of procedings.  One can only guess at the behind-the-scenes pressure applied by Valero to City staff and supposedly impartial City consultants.  Who knows why our City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Principal Planner have chosen to leave our employ in recent weeks?

Opponents of the project have been waiting and watching for signals from Benicia’s new interim City Manager Steve Salomon. It is disappointing, if not alarming, to witness staff’s new (old) approach on Valero’s dirty and dangerous proposal. The lone holdovers on senior staff are City Attorney Heather McLaughlin and Community Develolpment Director Christina Ratcliffe. These two will be responsible, along with Council members, if Valero gets its way.

One can only hope that City Council members have taken note of the recent derailment disaster in Mosier, Oregon, the consistent input of outside experts, local structural engineers, California’s Attorney General and outside attorneys, and make a decision – finally on September 20 – to be done with Valero’s foolish proposal.

There is ample evidence of off-site and on-site factors that are sufficient for denial of this project. An entirely inadequate environmental review should not be certified, and a permit should not be granted.

(For a full listing of links to the staff report and attachments, see Benicia City Council: Sept. 20 agenda & attachments.)

****

attend2016-09-20x

Please attend the Tuesday, September 20 City Council meeting. Arrive early if you want a seat – some  will arrive as early as 5pm for this 7pm meeting! City Hall, 250 East L Street, Benicia.

Benicia City Manager, Crude By Rail, Environmental review, Federal pre-emption, Local Regulation, Public permitting, Surface Transportation Board, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Crude By Rail

Benicia City Manager leaving to take post in Martinez, CA

By Roger Straw, April 30, 2016

City Manager Brad Kilger oversaw Valero Crude By Rail proposal, not sticking around for outcome

Brad Kilger, City Manager of Benicia, 2010-2016
Brad Kilger, City Manager of Benicia, 2010-2016

In Benicia’s Council/Manager form of government, there is no more powerful person than the City Manager.  The Mayor and City Council supposedly run the city, and they do make the final decisions. Some decisions are also made by Commissions, but the real power in Benicia is the city manager.

The CM presides over staff, and staff guides every decision of our elected and appointed officials, making recommendations and consulting with officials outside of public meetings. For instance, the city manager works with the mayor in setting the agenda for every Council meeting.

Brad Kilger was hired as Benicia’s city manager in 2010, and has overseen the Valero Crude By Rail (CBR) proposal from the start. Outwardly, CBR has been routed through the City’s Community Development Department and its Planning Division. Those offices have undergone personnel changes during the lengthy 3½ year Valero process, but Mr. Kilger has remained in charge throughout.

Kilger is due to begin work in Martinez on June 13, leaving only 6 weeks to finish up here in Benicia. As of this writing, no word has been released as to Kilger’s final day in Benicia. Nor have details been given about his rather sudden departure.

Getting out of dodge before a decision on CBR may very well be a smart career move. Everyone expects litigation, which would be any manager’s nightmare, and a loss either way could be expected to leave a blemish on his professional profile.

Kilger was welcomed to Benicia by Council members and citizens in 2010 as a promising new presence, bringing credentials and commitments that offered hope in the area of environmental sustainability. Indeed, his tenure has seen numerous advances on that front. But many of those advances can be credited primarily to the leadership of Mayor Elizabeth Patterson and the Community Sustainability Commission.

City Council during Kilger’s time in Benicia has often been contentious. Collegiality has often been wanting among Council members, and the public has come into fierce conflict with staff over staff’s seemingly blind support for Valero’s CBR proposal.

The City will no doubt bring in an interim. No telling how long the interim will be in charge, but it seems highly likely a permanent replacement would not be in place until January 2017, after elections, and under the authority of a new City Council.

It seems likely the City Council will face a decision on Valero CBR in September with a new and possibly untested interim city manager. If the delay for review by the federal Surface Transportation Board results in a re-write and recirculation of the environmental report with attendant written comments and lengthy public hearings, it could be a real handful for whoever is in charge.

It may be a real challenge locating a qualified candidate who is willing to step in at this critical moment in Benicia’s history.