City Manager Weekly Report – Week Ended January 19, 2019

GENERAL INFORMATION

Water and Sewer Open Community Engagement

Staff continues to outreach to the community to provide critical information on the water and sewer services and the need for the proposed rate changes. The next community meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 24 from 6-8 p.m. at the Milpitas Community Center Auditorium. The City’s website www.milpitas.gov/watersewer2018 continues to updated on a daily basis with information, including a list of frequently asked questions.

Community Meeting: Accessory Dwelling Units and Short-term Rentals

On Thursday, January 17, a community meeting was held related to accessory dwelling units and short-term rentals. There were a lot of good questions from attendees and staff continues to encourage the community to complete the online surveys, which will close on January 31.

Community Development Roundtable

A Community Development Roundtable was held on Friday, January 18 where staff provided key updates on staffing, Project Dox Electronic Plan Review, and updates to the TASP, Land Use, Environmental and Fee Study; General Plan Economic Development Element; and the MidTown Specific Plan.

CITYWIDE SPECIAL EVENTS

Lunar New Year
This years’ Lunar New Year event will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Milpitas Community Center and Civic Center areas. This year we are celebrating the Year of the Pig! The celebration will include traditional Chinese music performed by the Fire Bird Youth Orchestra, the traditional Lion and Dragon dances, and Vietnamese live vocalists. There will also be a fun kid’s craft area provided by the Mandarin Language and Cultural Center. In addition to all of the great entertainment, there will also be food provided by Sheng Kee Bakery. The evening will conclude with a fantastic firecracker display. This will be a great evening celebrating the Asian-American community!

Black History Month

To honor Black History month, the City of Milpitas will be celebrate and remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with a youth poetry contest. This year’s contest theme is “#Unity”. The writers may relate this theme to themselves or others in their family, school, neighborhood, or the world. There will be certificates for first, second and third place in pre-determined age categories. Awards will be given at the City Council meeting on February 19, 2019.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Emergency Drill at Anthony Spangler Elementary School 

On Tuesday, January 15^th at 9:30 a.m., the Police-Community Relations Unit observed an emergency drill at Spangler school located at 140 North Abbott Avenue.

Crossing Guards Assisting Pedestrians for Lunar New Year Celebration

On Saturday, January 19^th, two Milpitas Police Department Crossing Guards will assist pedestrians as they attend the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Civic Center Plaza.  The Crossing Guards will be stationed at the flashing light crosswalk located between Calaveras Blvd. and Beresford Court/Town Center Drive.  A light tower will help illuminate the roadway at night.  Police officers will be patrolling the event.

Milpitas Police Department Recruitment Team

The Milpitas Police Department Recruitment Team attended the following events this week actively looking for those interested in applying for police officer and dispatch positions:

• Wednesday, January 16^th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Academy at Monterey in Seaside.

 

Annual Function Testing of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

The Fire Department is conducting annual function testing of the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). SCBAs are one of the primary tools used by firefighters to enter into hazardous / smoke filled environments. The air tank, regulator, mask, and hazard alarm form a unit that firefighters rely upon to be able to safely make entry into hazardous environments. Testing is completed on an annual basis to ensure that our personnel are always safe.

Community Volunteer CERT Training with PG&E

Community volunteer CERT training was held last Thursday, with an emphasis on gas and electrical emergencies, which was coordinated with coordinated with PG&E personnel. There were approximately 45 attendees at the training. The biggest takeaway was to always call 8-1-1 before you dig, even for residential projects.

Training on New Medical Standards for CPR

Crews are being trained on new medical standards that outline improvements in cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). CPR is an essential part of the chain of survival for patients whose heart has stopped. The key change with “high performance” CPR is to increase sustained chest compressions while working on a team approach to improve patients care. This has become the new health care industry standard and Milpitas is embracing ways to improve patient survivability. 

BUILDING PERMITS AND OCCUPANCY

Building permits were issued to the following:

1. KB Homes developer, for the construction of one, 3-story building with total of 7 units out of 144 townhome residential unit development at Circuit located at 1210 California Circle, at an estimated construction cost of $2.3M.
2. Headway Technologies, designer and manufacturer of recording heads for high performance hard disk drives, for tenant improvement at their facility located at 497 S Hillview Dr. at an estimated construction cost of $325,000.

Building permit applications were submitted by the following:

1. Springhill Suites, for installation of 343.80 KW roof & carport mounted 933 solar panels for the hotel located at 1201 Cadillac Ct., at an estimated construction cost of $400,000.
2. Holiday Inn, for installation of 343.10 KW roof & carport mounted 940 solar system panels for the hotel located at 1100 Cadillac Ct., at an estimated construction cost of $400,000.
3. Cupertino Electric, for installation of 24 EV charging stations for Cisco Technology Inc. at their two facilities located at 725 Alder Dr. and 560 McCarthy Blvd., at an estimated construction cost of $360,000.
4. Toll Brothers, Inc., for the construction of a temporary sales trailer for 59 townhomes residential development located at 1980 Tarob Ct., at an estimated construction cost of $350,000.
5. Extended Stay America, for the interior renovations for an existing 2-story hotel located at 330 Cypress Dr., at an estimated construction cost of $300,000.

The following businesses have received final inspection and are now open for operation:

1. Hu Tao Li restaurant, a new Chinese restaurant located at 402 Barber Ln.
2. Igenex, a new research & development testing facility that detects Lyme and other Tick bone diseases located at 556 Gibraltar Dr.
3. Midland financial services, a tax preparation office located at 615 S Main St.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Sprig Center Storage Facility – 3 new shell buildings, total of 110,620 sq. ft. by McCarthy Ranch developer located at 1595 N. McCarthy Blvd.: The aerial photo below shows that the grading, site and building underground utilities are installed, and concrete exterior walls are being raised.

 

RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

Senior Center Activities

Senior Center Open House

On Saturday, January 12, the Senior Advisory Commission and Senior Center staff hosted its inaugural Open House event for our Milpitas community members. The Open House event had approximately 100 participants with approximately 50-55 participants who were visiting the Senior Center for the first time. The event offered community members a close-up look at the many programs offered to senior adults ages 50+ at the Senior Center as well as its many facility amenities. The game rooms were open for participant use, as well as a refreshments center, craft station, fitness demonstration, fitness room orientation and scheduled tours of the facility. Transportation was arranged to pick-up Terrace Garden residents who needed assistance in getting to the event.

New Book Vending Machine

The Senior Center now features a brand new Book Vending Machine from the Milpitas Library. The vending machine allows Senior Center members the opportunity to check-out (and return) books on-site using their Milpitas Library card. The library and Senior Center will periodically survey members to see what types of books and DVD material they would like to have offered.  Different languages and larger-type print options will also be available to seniors. Teen-related books and materials will also be added in the next few months.

Senior Center Shuttle Service

Starting February 1, 2019, the Senior Center will be offering free shuttle service to the Senior Center (and back home again) to members who live within the Milpitas City limits. The service aims to assist those Milpitas community members who do not have transportation options available to them and would like to participate in Senior Center activities and services. The service will be available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from approximately 8:30am to 2:30pm (a bit later on Wednesday’s for Bingo).

Upcoming Senior Center Activities

Thursday, January 24: Premier World Discovery Trip Preview, 1:30p.m.

Monday, January 27: Monday Afternoon Movie, 1:00p.m.

Saturday, February 2: Bingo Marathon, 10:00a.m. – 3:00p.m., (doors open at 8:30a.m.)

Sunday, February 3: Big Game Party (football), 2:45p.m. – 6:30p.m.