This document is the City of Turlock Activity Update for the week of March 28 - April 03, 2009. The activity update is meant to keep the Turlock City Council and all areas of the government organization on the same page. The community may also view the complete document here at TurlockCityNews.com as it was sent out by the City of Turlock.TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Executive Team
DATE: April 5, 2009
RE: ACTIVITY UPDATE – WEEK OF March 28 – April 3, 2009
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Economic Development/Redevelopment:
· Economic Development/Redevelopment Manager provided information to prospective buyer of the Varco Pruden facility.
· Economic Development /Redevelopment Manager met with site selector and provided information on the WISP.
· Economic Development/Redevelopment Manager provided information and clarification to firms looking to submit proposals for the 2nd floor study in the downtown. Proposals are due by 5pm on April 3rd.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Planning Division:
· On Wednesday, the San Joaquin Regional Blueprint Policy Council endorsed Growth Scenario B+ for the Valley Blueprint Plan. This growth scenario is based upon General Plan land use densities combined with regional rail and high-speed rail service that would serve the entire valley and State. The average residential density represented in this scenario is 5.9 units/acre.
· On a related matter, the Statewide Strategic Growth Council met for the second time (also on Wednesday). This Council was established under SB 732 to guide the allocation of grants issued under the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006. The Council adopted their operating guidelines and began discussions on how to evaluate grant proposals for consistency with sustainable growth goals and SB 375 plans. Local agencies, Caltrans, the Air Resources Board, the Department of Conservation, and other Statewide agencies made presentations how their grant proposals helped to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions. Several members of the Council expressed concern that the agencies were focusing exclusively on greenhouse gas emissions, and not thinking more comprehensively about “sustainability” which includes all levels of environmental conservation, such as the preservation of agricultural lands and environmental resources. The Strategic Growth Council meetings are available for viewing at: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Broadcast/. During their discussion, great emphasis was placed on the Council’s desire to use the Blueprint planning process as a basis for determining whether projects are consistent with sustainability goals.
· On April 15, a second meeting will be held to discuss a County-wide Agricultural Mitigation program. The Central Valley and American Farmland Trusts have been invited to attend to discuss the mechanics of establishing such a program. Although the County’s Agricultural Element has been delayed by court action, there is some expectation that a County-wide mitigation program would be developed for consideration by cities over the next year. This issue will be addressed through the City of Turlock General Plan Update process.
· The State-required Housing Element Community Forum will be held the morning of April 24. An exact starting time has not yet been determined. The meeting is intended to provide the community with the opportunity to provide input on identifying the housing needs in the City of Turlock. The meeting will be held at the Yosemite Conference Room at City Hall (156 S. Broadway, Turlock). More information about the starting time and agenda will be made available in the next Council update.
· The second Joint City Council-Planning Commission meeting for the General Plan Update will be held on April 23 starting at 6 pm at the Turlock Senior Center. Staff will be seeking direction on the vision, goals and guiding principles for the General Plan and on the study area boundary for the update. Direction on the Housing Element update will also be sought to address the housing needs identified by the consultant team. The Existing Conditions and Key Issues report (a 174-page report on the City of Turlock) is being copied and will be distributed to the Council members and Commissioners over the next week. Copies of the printed document are available at City Hall (Planning and Building counter) and at the Turlock Library for public viewing. The public may have copies
· An appeal of the Stanislaus County Planning Commission’s approval of the Conditional Use Permit for the Turlock Golf Center project located near Taylor and Golden State will be heard on May 5 at 9:15 am. At the direction of the Interim City Manager, the Planning Division will be in attendance to request that the Supervisors consider adding a condition of approval requiring street improvements to City standards. The condition was removed from the project by the Planning Commission at the request of the applicant. The appeal was filed by a group of County residents who live immediately adjacent to the project.
· Bob Miller with Foster Farms met with staff to discuss expanding their existing turkey hatchery at 1506 S. Walnut Road. Specifically they would be adding 8,000 square feet to the existing 22,700 square foot building. Staff discussed additional parking needed to support the expansion, possible upgrades to the existing driveways, and completion of the sidewalk may be required. This is one of several sites that Foster Farms is looking at expanding. They have received an estimate for development fees and will be going through design review if they choose this site.
Capital Improvement Projects:
Projects in Construction
· Golden State and Tuolumne Road Signal, Contract Amount $1,786,903.95: Teichert and their subcontractors are on site completing the landscaping and installing the wireless detectors. The “turn-on” is scheduled for Monday, April 13th and on Tuesday Teichert will remove the barricades and open up the intersection.
· South Avenue and South Orange Street Signal, Contract Amount $178,213.00: This signal was turned on Wednesday, April 1st.
Traffic & Transit:
· Staff was notified that the new bus is ready for a final inspection before delivery.
Building & Safety:
Among the 30 building permits applied for this week:
- 2669 Geer Rd – Tenant improvement to add a service bar at “Mariachi’s” restaurant.
- 3200 Countryside Dr – Vanilla shell improvements.
Among the 30 building permits issued this week:
- 3045 N Tegner Rd – Tenant improvement for “Dollar Tree”
Certificates of Occupancy were issued for the following projects:
- 3004 Humphrey Ct – New warehouse building with office space
Public Works Inspectors:
The Railroad has been busy making repairs at South Tully and South Walnut, and they are now complete.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Recreation Division:
· The Recreation Activity Guide will be ready for distribution the week of April8, 2009.
· The Recreation Division has received several donations from community members for the Summer Swim Program.
Water Quality Control Division:
· On Thursday, April 2, 2009, the Regional Water Quality Control Facility received an audit/inspection of its California Accidental Release Program/Risk Management Plan (CalARP/RMP) by the Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources. The CalARP/RMP Program is a State and Federal requirement of Agencies that store hazardous chemicals over a threshold amount. The City of Turlock is required to implement the Program due to its storage and use of Chlorine for disinfection of the Facility Effluent. The Plan ensures that individuals working with the hazardous material are trained in safe work practices and what to do in an emergency. An audit report will be generated by the County and forwarded to staff.
Regulatory Affairs Division:
· 2008 Water Quality Annual Report: The 2008 Annual Water Quality Report is being prepared for printing, and will be distributed to City of Turlock residents by July 1st. The annual report provides important information about Turlock’s water supply, water quality and water conservation.
FIRE SERVICES
Training Division:
· Turlock City Fire and Emergency Services and California Dairies of Turlock conducted a joint training exercise at the California Dairies site for a simulated ammonia release. The drill required two Fire Engines, one Training Division Chief, one Battalion Chief and a few members of the Turlock City Fire and Emergency Services Department Hazardous Materials response team to participate with the California Dairies safety team and other facility employees. The goals of the exercise were to familiarize the Fire Department members with the California Dairies facility, develop a coordinated response between the two entities, pre-plan the strategy and tactics for a live event and to build a positive rapport between the two work groups involved. By all accounts and feedback the goals were fully achieved.
POLICE SERVICES
Service Demands:
Calls for Service 2246
Criminal Investigations 260
Arrests 107
Staffing Levels:
Sworn Personnel- 86
Deployed 82 (6 Officers: Field Training)
Vacancies 5
Non-Sworn Personnel 46
Deployed 44
Vacancies 2
Field Operations Division:
Significant Events and Trends
Traffic Unit
· Surveys were completed on Monte Vista at Amethyst, due to recent complaints of excessive speeding. The survey revealed no anomalies despite a recent collision.
· A Speed Enforcement Detail was conducted at two locations, N. Golden State Blvd at W. Syracuse Ave and Fulkerth Rd at Edgewater Dr. During that time 22 total citations were issued with 20 for speed violations.
Uniformed Patrol
· Officers responded to a reported prowler, associated with subjects seated in a suspicious white vehicle, parked on the street in the 500 block of Angelus. The first officer made contact with the driver who was agitated but cooperative. A second officer contacted the passenger who was acting very suspicious and kept reaching into his waistband as he exited the car. The officer stopped him immediately. The subject was searched and found to have a loaded .357 magnum handgun in his pocket. A corporal arrived on scene and ordered everyone detained in handcuffs to which one subject took offense and resisted. A short struggle ensued with the subject refusing to show his hands. The subject was contact-tased in the lower back and taken into custody. The third subject in the vehicle was booked for narcotics offenses.
· A subject was found walking in the area of N. Tully Road and W. Canal Drive. He had been the subject of a missing person report in which his brother feared he had been murdered. The subject refused to disclose where he had been; stating it was nobody’s business and his family had lied to police. He was subsequently cited for an outstanding Merced County warrant.