Message from the Manager
February 2023
Pardon our dust! As we prepare for the growth that is coming, some much needed repairs to City Hall are at about 85% complete. BIG Shout out to Community Development staff and Public Works for their hard work and dedication.
Please take a moment to review the following achievements, projects, and plans your colleagues have been working on recently:
Building
Currently Under Construction
o 1150 Monterey—New SFH
o Marriot Inn—Still in progress.
o 820 E Buena Vista St—ADU
o 490 Armory Rd—Chevron Gas Station Retaining Wall.
o Several Encroachment Permits throughout the city (Verizon, Spectrum & SWG) o 112 W Main St.—El Rancho Demolition; pending final inspection. o 224 W Main St.—Demo still under progress
o 250 Elks— Burrtec Tenant Improvement
o 129 W White St.—Fire Damage Repair.
Plan Reviews - Currently reviewing plans for the following o Lenwood Rd. Track # 18446—7 SFR Remodel
o 1591 Coolwater Rd—Restaurant TI
o 2820 Lenwood Rd.—HVAC Replacement.
o 2710 Lenwood Rd.—Hampton Inn Remodel.
o 2795 Lenwood Rd.—Cannabis Dispensary Tenant Improvement o 2567 Commerce Pkwy.—Freddy's Fire Alarm.
o 2824 Lenwood Rd.—Cannabis Dispensary TI
o 1040 May Ln.—8 Unit Apartment Complex
o 2511 W Main St.—4776 SF. Metal Building
o 2592 Mercantile Way. Bldg. 20—Fire Sprinklers
o 2596 Mercantile Way. Bldg. 22—Fire sprinklers
City Clerk
Annual Form 700 Filing Now Electronic! - Designated employees and elected officials who are required to file an annual Statement of Economic Interest - Form 700 will now be able to file electronically using the City’s NetFile system. Information on how to file electronically was sent on Feb. 1 st from NetFile to all
designated filers. Please contact City Clerk Services Manager Christina Rudsell at 760-255-5122 or [email protected] for any questions or assistance with filing by the April 3, 2023 deadline.
Records Destruction Day - There has been a lot of spring cleaning at City Hall lately, which was also a good time to purge any records that were ready for destruction in accordance with the City’s records retention schedule. The Great PURGE of 2023 occurred on Thurs, Feb. 23rd. and was a huge success with multiple areas throughout City Hall being cleared of many boxes and clutter piled up.
Code Compliance
Code has started the process with the Building Department of implementing the newly enforced Rental Ordinance. The enforcement measures run alongside multiple facets of law from the housing code, fire code and municipal code. The balance to incorporate this assignment alongside the 738 active cases code is currently maintaining is challenging. It is with anticipation relief will come with additional staffing to the department. Code continues to push blight sites along through additional research; manage the concerns of the public from the on-going concerns of illegal vendors; complaints of homeless encampments/activities as well as properties reported to us in a blight condition.
Engineering
First Street lane striping has been reconfigured to allow construction activities on the west side of the street. Speed Limit over the bridge is 25 MPH.
Construction activities on the First Street Bridge are in progress.
Earthwork and construction of the abutments are underway on the north and south sides of BNSF’s rail yard.
Information Technology
This month your IT Department busy with assisting the facilities and building department in City Hall renovations. IT was busy moving computers, installing networking cables, phone equipment, and wall jack installations.
The department is also busy completing work orders for help desk assistance, and working on major projects for FY23/24.
Currently in work:
WWTP Wi-Fi – Ongoing – stalled due to renovations - Anticipated completion Q2 Police Dept. - Public Safety Suite Upgrade – Ongoing, Anticipated completion Q2 / Q3 Fire Dept. - Fire Station Alerting – Ongoing Anticipated completion Q3 / Q4 IT Server / Network Infrastructure Upgrade – Ongoing
Projects Upcoming:
Email Server Replacement
Lucity Asset Management Upgrade / Replacement
Complete On-Line Permitting Solution
Parks & Recreation
Youth Basketball season is in full swing. Come down to the Cora Harper Fitness Center Tuesday through Friday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Local resident wanted to thank Coach Tiare Alefaio for her hard work and continued dedication to the City of Barstow and its youth programs. Great Job Coach T! Tiny Tots Basketball officially started February 11th.
On March 23rd, the City of Barstow is teaming up with the Barstow High School for Youth Government Day. Youth Government Day primary goal is to develop awareness in the youth and how their city functions and assist its citizens in the community. Selected students will participate and staff, touring City Hall and hold a mock City Council meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
P & R is HIRING part-time RecLeaders. Please visit the City of a Barstow website for more information.
New class flyers are posted on our social media (Instagram) Barstow Parks and Recreation (Facebook) City of Barstow Parks and Recreation Department.
Planning
General Plan Update - City of Barstow staff is diligently working with planning consulting agency PlaceWorks on the General Plan update. As due diligence progresses on existing conditions, anticipated growth, and necessary revisions—the City partnered with PlaceWorks who will begin to host public outreach events. This public outreach will give our community the chance to hear, discuss, and see the progressive direction City Planning and the General Plan as a whole is working towards.
Police Department
The department participated in the annual Science Technology (STEAM) judging and awards for all the student doing projects. The Department’s Police Activities League recognized 12 students for their outstanding projects.
The department partnered with Barstow Unified School District and officers facilitated an active shooter/critical incident training event at Crestline Elementary School.
Officers and evidence techs participated in the Mojave XP Industry Coaching with students at Barstow High School.
The recruitment team attended the career fair at Ft. Irwin.
We conducted Police Officer and dispatch testing.
The entire department transitioned to the new Sig Sauer 320 side arm. All officers qualified with the firearm, optics, and lights. We also started the officer buyback process for the guns to offset the costs.
Held a department strategic planning meeting.
The command staff attended a tour of the Ft. Irwin facilities to collaborate on training options for our officers and Special Response Team
Public Works
• Fleet Maintenance
a) Patrol Car 9112; Replaced engine with a Long Block due to impact with cross gutter and broke the oil pan that leaked out all the oil and caused damage to the engine. b) Dump Truck 8602; Replaced transmission due to normal wear and tear. • Street Maintenance
a) Demolition at City Hall of exterior walls, removal of carpet and furniture. b) Pavement Preservation on Main St. between Avenue “H” & Avenue “A”.
I. Crack Sealer 6750lbs. placed
II. Mastic Sealer 15,750 lbs. placed
c) Congratulations to Gilbert Romero, who passed his Commercial Class B Permit Exam. • Facility Maintenance
a) Relocate ceiling lights, switches, and install motion detectors. b) Mud & Tape drywall and textured.
c) Baseboard
d) Paint walls and windows
• Parks/Open Spaces
a) Removed old Landscape at Harvey House by PAL’s Center, installed Desert Scape and boulders.
b) Lillian Park restroom sewer line; staff worked with Waste Water to camera line to locate the blockage. Once the blockage was located. Parks staff demoed concrete to run the sewer rodder to release the blockage.
Solid Waste
With the support of Burrtec, we are having a Recycle Right contest for residents to encourage more participation in the green barrel organics program. Two selected residents will be given a chance to win a $100 prize. More information is coming out in the Spring Newsletter (bill insert) and the City’s media channels.
Staff will begin planning an event for Earth Day, which is April 22, 2023. We hope to continue our partnership with Desert Discovery Center, the Chamber of Commerce, and other community-based organizations to bring local vendors and fun activities to this year’s event. More details will be announced soon.
Gabe Gandara has been lending his talent and expertise to assist the department in developing a brand identity and visual aesthetic that will enhance community engagement and interest in recycling programs.
We look forward to creating campaigns that will increase our reach and influence, encouraging our citizens to see the value in the things they do that help our community and our environment.
Wastewater
Congratulations to Noel Escoto and Levi Lewis passing their Commercial Class A Permit Exam.
Operator in Training employment opportunity is available! Solar carport should be going live this week.
The digester rehabilitation project is about 90% complete.
THANK YOU to our 2023 Homeless Point in Time Count Volunteers and Staff! Barstow is definitely the “Little City with a Big Heart” and we would like to thank all of our 2023 Point in Time Count volunteers along with our Police, Public Works, Code Enforcement and City Manager’s Office staff for a successful count. Results of the annual count will be available in April and help communities secure funding to assist individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Thank you to all for your continued hard work and know that your efforts are seen and much appreciated! Best wishes,
Willie A. Hopkins, Jr.
City Manager