Message from the City Manager
June 2023
Summer has arrived!
Please take a moment to review the following achievements, projects, and plans your colleagues have been working on recently.
City Clerk’s Department
Summer Interns Join Our City Team!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our summer internship program at the City of Barstow.
In partnership with EXP, this program offers an exciting opportunity for local high school students to gain hands-on experience, contribute to our community, and learn about the inner workings of municipal government.
Our summer interns will be working alongside our dedicated City employees and participating in meaningful projects, and engaging in activities that positively impact Barstow. This internship is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of local government while honing their skills and fostering personal growth.
By providing our summer interns with engaging projects, we have an opportunity to shape their professional growth while benefiting from their contributions. Let us make this a fruitful and rewarding experience for both our organization and our interns! Transparency and Accountability: The City Clerk’s Role with Campaign Disclosure Filings Did you know the City Clerk’s Office plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability in campaign finance? We collect, organize, and maintain all of the required documentation. Every candidate for any elective office and every committee (i.e., person or persons receiving or expending $2,000 or more to influence a campaign either for a candidate or a ballot measure) must file campaign statements per Government Code Section 84200.
The City Clerk’s Office will be gearing up for the next filing which is due July 31st and covers the period of January 1 – June 30, 2023. Candidates, campaign committees, and other relevant parties will be notified about the requirements and deadlines for filing campaign disclosure forms.
As campaign disclosure forms are submitted, our office receives and reviews the forms to ensure they are complete, accurate, and comply with the applicable laws and regulations.
Once the forms are received and reviewed, we then make them available to the public. The forms are available on the City's online search portal at the City of Barstow | Electronic Disclosure System (netfile.com) and physical copies are available at the City Clerk’s Office.
Our goal is to promote transparency by allowing citizens to access information about campaign contributions, expenditures, and other financial details. By overseeing the filing of campaign disclosure forms, our office helps ensure that campaign finances are accurately reported and publicly available, enabling Barstow citizens to make informed decisions and hold candidates and committees accountable for their campaign activities.
Code Compliance
Improvements have been noted and feedback has been received regarding the increase in staff for the department and enforcement action in the
field. Our new team members are acclimating to
the position and their assigned beats. Reports are
being built with property owners as violations are
being identified and cured.
With more boots on the ground, consistent efforts
are being rendered to bring sites into compliance.
Frequent communication with responsible parties is
taking place.
Code connected with a responsible party for a
parcel with established encampments. Movement is being noted to improve the parcel.
Property owners worked together to cure the waste, ongoing trespassing, and illegal dumping.
Thank you, Barstow! Efforts are noted as properties are abiding with enforcement! Before & After...1100 block Oasis Dr
QUESTION - How long may a vehicle be stored
on the street?
Use of streets for storage of vehicles is
prohibited.
No person who owns or has possession,
custody, or control of any vehicle shall park
such vehicle upon any street or alley for
more than a consecutive period of 72 hours.
BMC 10.40.050
Community Development
Currently Under Construction
Residential Projects
· 1150 Monterey Ave. - SFR finaled
· 1310 Prairie Dr. - SFR finaled
· 1250 Mecca Dr - SFR finaled
· 820 E Buena Vista St - ADU
· 316 Pioneer St. - ADU
Commercial Projects
· Marriot Inn - Still in progress (90% complete). Final by 7/30/23 · Freddy’s Restaurant - Pylon sign and building is about 95 % done · Chevron Gas Station - 490 Armory Rd - Building structure · El Rancho Motel - 112 W Main St. - Demolition, pending final inspection · 224 W Main St. - Demolition still in progress
· Burrtec Waste - 250 Elks Ln - Commercial TI finaled
· Hampton Inn - 2710 Lenwood Rd. - Commercial TI
· Starbucks - 1540 E Main St. - Pylon sign and shell building · Crocs - 2796 Tanager Way Ste 356 - Commercial TI finaled · Chevron Gas Station - 2890 Lenwwod Rd. - Commercial TI was finaled · Several Encroachment Permits throughout the city (Verizon, Spectrum & SWG) are still in progress (paving restoration)
Plan Reviews currently reviewing plans for the following:
· 1611 E Main St. - Hood & Duct System
· 2592 Mercantile Way. Bldg 20 - Fire Sprinklers
· 2596 Mercantile Way. Bldg 22 - Fire sprinklers
· 222 E Main St. - Commercial TI
· 2796 Tanger Way Ste 102 - Commercial TI
· 2795 Lenwood Rd. - Cannabis Dispensary TI
· 2809 Lenwood Rd. Cannabis Dispensary TI
· 1504 E Main St. - Tesla EV charging station.
· 2790 E Main St. - Temporary modular storage units
· 2184 P St. - Room addition
· 2567 Commerce Pkwy. - 1185 sqft shell building
· 2511 W Main St. - 4776 sqft. metal building.
· 1040 May Ln. - 8-unit apartment complex.
Highlights:
· Approval of Conditional Use Permit PCUP-23-0001 to allow for the establishment of a towing/dual storage facility for businesses Statewide Towing & Statewide Emergency Services Inc. located at 3850 Jasper Road.
· Three (3) year extension of Tract Map 17713, located along the south side of Rimrock Road approximately 1,200 feet West of Montara Road. Tract Map 17713 development proposes a four (4) phase development of one-hundred forty-six (146) residential homes. · The 2023 Election of Officers was conducted at the Planning Commission’s regular meeting on March 13th. Commissioner Bea Lint was nominated for Chair and Commissioner Ziemer was nominated for Vice Chair. Both nominations were approved unanimously. · Approval of an Initial Request for a General Plan Amendment for 203 West Main Street, proposing a land use designation change from Commercial (C) to Diverse Use (DU). · Approval of Conditional Use Permit PCUP-22-0031 to establish a secondary eight-hundred fifty-six (856) square foot drive-thru restaurant on the property.
Cannabis
All current cannabis applicants that have been approved by Council are under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review. With the recommendations provided by the Air Quality Management District (AQMD), staff is confident the remaining CEQA paperwork pending submittal will be processed with no additional issues. CEQA documents are prepared and ready to submit to the State, pending the remaining signed Development Agreements by applicants.
Staff is also coordinating with the AQMD to ensure applicants are obtaining the required permits through their agency. Inspections will be conducted in coordination with the AQMD, Barstow Police Department, Building Department, and the Cannabis Division before projects are finalized and approved to open. Currently, two retail locations are in compliance and operational. Two additional retail spaces are under plan review and two are currently under construction. Out of the 24 cannabis businesses that have been approved by Council for the old Merchant Mall location, none are operational. Four of the buildings are nearing the end of construction and are close to scheduling their final inspections. The remaining 20 buildings at the location are still in their construction phase and will not be operational soon.
Stats: The Cannabis
Licensing Program
has brought nearly
$932,017 in
revenue to the City
of Barstow.
Engineering
Capital Improvements
First Avenue Bridge over BNSF
Construction continues through June on the North First Avenue Bridge over BNSF. Construction consisted of placing foundations, piers, and grid supports congruently with placing forms to build the concrete box girder structure. Additionally, modification and construction of drainage structures will cause intermittent lane closures and full road closures on Hutchinson Street and Second Avenue. Please be prepared to minimize or alter your traveling on these roads during construction.
Current Projects
• First Avenue Bridge over Mojave River- Plans, Specifications, and Estimate Phase
• Rimrock Road and Barstow Road Traffic Signal Improvements - Plans, Specifications, and Estimate Phase
• Traffic Signal Improvements along Main Street and Barstow Road- Plans, Specifications, and Estimate Phase
• Mojave River Valley Museum Roofing Project-CDBG-Rebidding Phase • ADA Barriers and Concrete Project- Plans, Specifications, and Estimate Phase • Inspection of sewer replacement at Foglesong Park – New Current Grants
• Local Road and Safety Plan – Contract being
signed.
• ATP Cycle 5- Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Safe Routes
to Schools Corridors (SR2S)
• ATP Cycle 6 – Pedestrian, Bicyclist, and Safety
Improvements
• Clean California Grant
• Transformative Climate Communities
• Technical Assistants for CalOES Hazard Mitigation
Plan - New
Did you Know?
As part of the Active Transportation Program
grants and to increase pedestrian safety,
Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Signal Lights will
be install by a few schools throughout town.
Development
Inspection
• TownePlace Suites/Fairfield Inn
• Freddy's Frozen Custards and Steak Burger in Lenwood
• Starbucks at the corner of East Main Street and Roberta Street - New
• New Residential Homes on Monterrey Avenue, Prairie Drive, Pine Avenue
• Inspection of driveway improvements for Starbucks Driveway at 1620 E. Main Street.
Plan Review
• Grading Plans: 2
• WQMP 2: 2
Permits
Oversize Transportation Permits
Received notifications
as of June 29, 2023: 73
ENCROACHMENT PERMITS
Utility Permits
• Received: 18
• Issued: 13
• Pending 5
Development Permits
• Issued: 1
• Pending: 1
Encroachment Permits Cases:
• Open 21
Issued as of June 29, 2023: 7
Finance
The Finance Department would like to thank all fellow City departments for their assistance in preparing for fiscalyear-end 2023. Additionally, the assistance received from all City Departments during the budget process was beyond helpful and very much appreciated. Moving into FY 24, the Finance Department has begun:
• Preparation for annual tax bill assessment and placement of utility billing liens. • Implementation of newly adopted rates for trash and affected commercial sewer rates. • Preparation of FY 2023 year-end payouts that will be processed on the July 14th payday. • Preparation of FY 2023 year-end processes, with the annual audit scheduled for October 2023.
• Completed the input of the FY 2024 budget into Eden. Departments can begin monitoring their FY 24 fiscal year budget using the various reports within Eden. If you need assistance running any reports, please contact Heidy Riley, at (760) 255-5151 or [email protected].
• Preparation of the FY 2023 carryforwards. Finance Staff will be reaching out to affected departments for FY 2023 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) and equipment carryforwards in August/September.
The Finance Department is always happy to assist with any questions any employees may have regarding budget, audits, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, utility billing, or any other Finance Department functions.
Information Technology
Completed
The Police Department and IT Department completed the Implementation of the Public Safety Suite Upgrade.
Huge Kudos go out to Police Services Supervisor Carolyn Hawkins for the outstanding dedication and abundance of long hours she committed to making this implementation the success it was!
Kudos to the supporting IT team for their hard work in ensuring all the training, installations, and setup was a success!
Currently in work:
WWTP WiFi – Ongoing – Anticipated completion Q3
Fire Dept - Fire Station Alerting – Ongoing - Anticipated completion Q4 IT Network Infrastructure Upgrade – Ongoing
Projects Upcoming:
Dispatch EMD server replacement
Active Directory – Server upgrade and implementation
Email Server upgrade and implementation
Asset Management Upgrade and implementation
On-Line Permitting / Solar Permitting implementation – tentative Police Department
• We welcomed Level II Reserve Officer Matthew Breit to the department. • Officer Irwin Islas was recognized at the Inland Empire MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Recognition Luncheon for leading the Barstow Police Department in DUI (Driving Under the Influence) arrests in 2022.
• Members of the department hosted a Business Outreach Meeting in the Western Beat. It was a great way for us to share information and listen to concerns from businesses in the Lenwood area.
• Congratulations to Eric Santos was promoted to Corporal! • Officer Jordyn Jara and Officer Jason Rodriguez both graduated from Basic Academy Training Class 231 and were sworn into the department.
• The department went live with our new CAD and RMS system, Central Square. • We held department-wide Wellness Training hosted by the Counseling Team International.
• Members of the department attended the Community Resource & Veterans Connection Fair.
Fleet Maintenance
Fleet staff continue repairs for all Departments
trying to remain on schedule. Unforeseen repairs
are handled accordingly and Police and Fire are
at the top of the repair list.
Street Maintenance
Street staff is striping city-owned parking lots, doing sidewalk repair, and prepping large striping for our city streets. Spring allows for street maintenance in our public right-ofways.
Parks/Open Spaces
Staff is at their peak level of maintenance, replacing playground equipment, cutting grass, pruning trees, and removing weeds. Homeless occupying park restrooms and dugouts make it very difficult to stay on daily schedules. Every day, parks maintenance staff comes to work with positive attitudes knowing that the rest of the community appreciates their hard work.
Solid Waste
New Happenings
1. The Solid Waste Division had a booth at the 2023 Community Resource Fair where they were able to engage with residents and businesses about responsible waste management and recycling programs including SB 1383.
2. Burrtec announced the winner of the Spring Recycle Right Challenge. Congratulations to David Rosse at 1124 Kelly Dr.! Burrtec will award Mr. Rosse with a $100 prize for properly sorting his trash, recycling, & organics.
In the Pipeline
1. CalRecycle is developing the grant application criteria for the next cycle of its SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant. The Q&A period ends July 7th and applications are scheduled to be open in September 2023. We will be submitting our grant application in hopes of receiving additional funding to help with SB 1383 activities.
Wastewater
Operator in Training Ethan Burnau started at the Wastewater Plant on June 12th.
Operator in Training Noel Escoto completed a 12-month job requirement to obtain the Class A license on June 28, 2023.
Plant Mechanic Christopher Biles enrolled at Barstow Community College to pursue welding certifications and an Associate of Arts degree.
Thank you for all your hard work and remember that when we push ourselves, we return stronger.
Best wishes,
Willie A. Hopkins, Jr.
City Manager