Message from the Interim City Manager, Andrew Espinoza, Jr.
During my initial month as Interim City Manager, I have been pleased to witness our highly motivated team members in our different City departments. Multiple activities and efforts have taken place, and I am proud to have actively engaged in various essential projects and initiatives.
Among them are:
I had the honor of participating in a significant meeting hosted by the Desert Mountain Division League of California Cities, where the Inland Empire Division and the Riverside County Division organized their inaugural joint meeting in San Bernardino. These gatherings play a vital role in improving local governance and positively influencing California's future.
We conducted the second workshop for the Community Benefits Fund, gathering input from Council Members, the community, and staff to brainstorm ideas for the fund's optimal utilization and process. Another meeting is set to be arranged in the upcoming weeks to maintain the momentum.
I attended the Barstow Community College Career Fair at Excelsior Charter Schools Barstow CTE Academy. It provided an excellent platform to present various career opportunities for individuals interested in law enforcement. There were numerous local businesses and military representatives were also present to discuss potential career paths.
I arranged a meeting with Union representatives to introduce myself, address concerns, and establish regular meetings to stay informed about employees' concerns.
While these are a handful of notable events that took place, I can’t be remiss in mentioning a new situation that could impact BIG (Barstow International Gateway). BNSF, along with our City and many others, are seeking support against a proposed regulation by The California Air Resources Board (CARB). The proposed “In-Use Locomotive Regulation” would require zero-emission (such as electric) locomotives in California, which do not yet exist.
FEBRUARY 2024 CITY MANAGER UPDATE
If this passed, projects like the BIG would not take place because it could not adhere to the new, costly, and misguided regulations. If passed, this regulation would cause: Thousands of jobs to be lost; a movement away from rail, causing higher emissions and more highway congestion; a drastic rise in costs for BNSF shippers and consumers; and more.
CARB’s regulation came into force on January 1, 2024, but cannot got into full effect unless and until the United States Environmental Protection Agency approves CARB’s request for a federal preemption waiver under the Clean Air Act. Residents, business owners, and community members can express their opposition, including by emailing or writing to the United States Environmental Protection Agency via the rulemaking process:
Written public comments, which need to be identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2023– 0574, may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Email: [email protected].
Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, OAR, Docket EPA–HQ–OAR– 2023–0574, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
Thank you all, and keep up the good work for the great City of Barstow! Andy Espinoza, Jr.
ENVIROMENTAL SERVICES
New Happenings:
The City was notified of its award of $75, 000 through the CalRecycle SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant. The acceptance of the grant and budget allocation is set to go to the Council on or before June 3, 2024. Approved projects under the grant include the purchase of compost application equipment, collection bins, and education & outreach.
The Residential Waste & Recycling Guide is now available on our website, at City Hall, and is being distributed to local property managers and real estate professionals in addition to be utilized by staff to help promote our programs and resources.
In the Pipeline:
Staff is planning the Earth Day Celebration for Saturday, April 20, 2024, 1-4pm at Dana Park. The flyer is out now, and we are accepting vendor applications until March 29, 2024. We also encourage children ages 5-11 to enter the Earth Day Kids Art Contest. Entry forms are available at City Hall, on our website, and have been distributed to elementary schools for distribution to students.
A Commercial Waste & Recycling guide is being developed as a resource for businesses to understand local programs and important legislation affecting their operations.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Our Building Department has been carefully examining different plans and here is a summary of the ongoing projects.
Commercial Projects
860 W Main St—Fire Rehab
222 E Main St—Commercial TI
1523 E Main St— Commercial TI
2611 Fisher Blvd—New EV Charging Station
490 Armory Rd—Building Structure & Fuel Tanks
110 Coolwater Ln—New EV Charging Station
Hampton Inn—2710 Lenwood Rd—Commercial TI
Starbucks—1540 E Main St—Building in progress
1307 E Main St—Commercial TI
1540 E Main St—Burger King
600 W Main St—Fire Damage Rehab
2641 W Main St—Generator installation
150 Yucca Ave—Water Heater Pumps & 7 Electrical Upgrades We currently have multiple projects in the Plan Review stage. Some of the projects on the list encompass a range of endeavors like a Tesla EV charging station, fire alarm installations, residential repairs, remodeling, and commercial grading, among others.
PLANNING
General Plan Comprehensive Update
In February, the planning staff and consultants PlaceWorks presented the City's current draft land use diagram to the City Council, Planning Commission, and community.
On March 13th, 2024, at 6 PM, the City will host an Informational Meeting at the Cora Harper Fitness Center (841 Barstow Rd.) to discuss the General Plan Update, land use designations, and the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) linked to the update.
Notice of Preparation
The Planning staff also released the City's Notice of Preparation (NOP) for the Draft Environmental Impact Report and a notice for a Public Scoping Meeting. This document informs the public that the City of Barstow is preparing an EIR for the General Plan update and the Barstow International Gateway (BIG) Specific Plan project proposed by the BNSF Railway Company. The Scoping Meeting related to this NOP will take place at the Informational Meeting on March 13th, 2024, at 6 PM. The NOP was published on February 15th, 2024, and the comment period ends on March 26th, 2024.
To provide comments on the Notice of Preparation, please send them to [email protected] in writing or via email. Access a copy of the NOP here:
638434192375770000 (barstowca.org).
The IT department is actively engaged in completing Help Desk Work Orders, addressing Media and Audio-Visual requirements, and overseeing Multiple Projects.
Projects Currently in work:
Crime Statistics Implementation
Cashiering Upgrade
Utility Billing Upgrade
Police Department Renovations
FY24 Q3 Network Infrastructure Upgrades
EAM Upgrade and implementation
NG911 Implementations
Projects Upcoming:
Dispatch EMD server replacement
EPL Implementation
ERP Implementation
Public Safety Suite Major Version Upgrades
IT DEPARTMENT
Code Compliance actively enforces the Barstow Municipal Code, with a Beat Officer designated to each of the city's three sectors and two officers focusing on rental properties. If you own a rental property, please ensure you register again as we enter the second year. If you receive a Notice of Violation, reach out to the issuing officer promptly to ensure compliance. Thank you.
CODE COMPLIANCE
Before and after transformation of a commercial property. The landowners did a remarkable job repainting the peeling wall and clearing the weeds next to the structure.
Their ongoing efforts to make additional touch-ups on the fencing are truly appreciated! The North First Avenue Bridge project is 65% complete! In March, crews will continue construction of the new bridge and retaining walls. This includes the pouring of concrete for the new bridge decks and walls. Crews will also continue the removal of temporary support structures and steel beams surrounding the new bridge. Utilities are also being installed throughout the project corridor.
Sign up for text messages by texting NorthFirstBridge to (888) 525-1021. Reply STOP to cancel, text HELP for help. Normal text and data message rates apply.
Si prefiere recibir información de construcción en español, llame al (877) 55 - SBCTA.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
POLICE
The Barstow Police Activities League had the pleasure of presenting awards for the Barstow Unified School District 2024 STEM Fair. PAL Board Members and Interim City Manager Espinoza chose 10 projects to receive the Police Chief’s Award, the Top PAL Award, and 8 PAL Awards.
We welcomed Police Officer Trainee Simon Sanchez to our team! He will join the March Academy.
The Barstow Police Department was honored to take part in the Barstow Community College Career Fair at Excelsior Charter Schools Barstow CTE Academy. It was a great opportunity to showcase the different career opportunities to those looking for a career in law enforcement.
We held a written exam for both Police Officers and Public Safety Dispatchers.
Members of our recruitment team participated in the TAP Hiring Event in Ft. Irwin hoping to recruit some new officers and dispatchers to the team!
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Park/Open Spaces
Park Maintenance is carrying out regular upkeep tasks while getting the Baseball Fields ready for Little League and Girls’ Softball.
A total of one hundred thirty-five tons of clay was acquired and brought in for the maintenance of all in-field areas.
Both associations are scheduled to hold opening ceremonies on March 9, 2024.
Park maintenance inspected the base anchors and reconstructed the pitcher's mound to comply with the regulations of Little League and Girls’ Softball.
The Fleet Maintenance team is currently carrying out routine maintenance and repairs.
Regrettably, the Public Works Cat Loader sustained severe fire damage while clearing Lenwood Rd. of blowing sand. The exact cause of the fire, which originated in the engine compartment, remains unknown. Fortunately, no injuries were reported; however, a crucial piece of equipment was lost.
Fleet Maintenance Update
Street Maintenance Update
Street crews removed two Homeless Camps at the Waste Water Facility Treatment Plant. The camp was located in the tree line that separates the two Alfa Fields. One homeless person was difficult to deal with and P.D. provided assistance for the removal.
Public Works also had a bulldozer on the property for channel maintenance. Due to the homeless problem, crews decided to remove some of the trees possible to prevent future homeless encampments. The process of removing trees will be done in incremental phases based on the invasive root system.
Park and Recreation is seeking coaches for our T-Ball Season.
Coaching T-Ball can be a rewarding way to engage with the community and inspire young athletes.
It's a great opportunity to share your love for the sport and help children develop their skills.
Coaching can be a fulfilling experience that makes a positive impact on the lives of young players.
If you have a passion for baseball and enjoy working with kids, coaching T-Ball could be a perfect fit for you.
If you interested in coaching, please call 760.256.5617
PARK & RECREATION
DID YOU KNOW?
You can burn up to 250 calories from playing
pickleball for just 30 minutes, and if the game
is more intense, they could burn another 100
calories on top of that!