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Winter 2019 | February Issue

Fairfield City Hall 1000 Webster Street, 4th Floor Fairfield, CA 94533-4836 [email protected] (707) 428-7609

WE ARE FAIRFIELD

Our mission is to enhance and preserve a desirable and ​thriving community for all Fairfield residents.

Welcome to the City of Fairfield's Newsletter, "We Are Fairfield!" Our goal is to improve and preserve the quality of life for all Fairfield residents through community engagement, partnerships, and enhancement of our vital resources. Follow our progress as we support and implement the vision of our and community. We welcome you to join us on our journey!

SWEET TOOTH CRAVINGS THIS VALENTINE'S DAY? LOOK NO FURTHER THAN FAIRFIELD! Who doesn't love chocolate? You Prefer something different? Solving can find dark or milk chocolate your French macaroon cravings dipped strawberries for yourself or could be as easy as stopping by your sweetheart this Valentine's Day Journey Coffee Co. to enjoy red at Famous Creations! Famous velvet and cannoli macaroons. Creations is located at 837 Texas Located at 370 Chadbourne Road, Street in the heart of downtown Fairfield Journey will also be caring Fairfield. fudge this month in honor of Valentine's Day! For more information about Famous Creations please visit their website! For more information about Journey Coffee Co. please visit their website!

PACIFIC FLYWAY PROJECT UNDER WAY

In November 2016, Fairfield voters approved Measure T in support of an amendment to the Fairfield General Plan that would allow a land preserve and open space conservation at I-680 and Gold Hill Road. This educational and interpretative nature facility proposed by the nonprofit Pacific Flyway Fund was later approved by the City Planning Commission in the fall of 2018.

The Pacific Flyway Center (PFC) will be located along Interstate 680 south of Cordelia within the Suisun Marsh. The Suisun Marsh is the largest contiguous brackish wetland in the , comprising nearly 10% of the remaining wetlands in the State of . The City of Fairfield serves as a layover on the Pacific Flyway, an “aerial superhighway” for migratory birds stretching thousands of miles from the Arctic to Patagonia. The PFC will expose visitors to ecological relationships between water, marsh vegetation, and migratory birds and other species that depend on the Marsh. It will allow the local community and visitors from all over the world to observe and interact with wetlands and wildlife in their natural habitat, and will educate visitors about habitat restoration and the conservation of wetlands and wildlife.

The project includes the construction of 3 buildings, totaling 125,000 square feet, which will house numerous exhibits intended to educate school children and the general public about the environmental and societal importance of the conservation of migratory birds within the Pacific Flyway, as well as a wildlife theater, gift shop and food service facilities. The project will also create a unique “Walk in the Marsh” outdoor education and wildlife viewing experience and network for visitors to enjoy. Construction is anticipated to occur in three phases, and is envisioned to serve up to 250,000 annual visitors with up to 150 full and part-time employees at build out.

For more information, or to be added to the meeting notification list about the PFC, please contact the City's Associate Planner Amy Kreimeier at 707-428-7450, or [email protected].

Click here to learn more about PFC!

CODE ENFORCEMENT MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN FAIRFIELD

Code Enforcement devoted several months time working with a Fairfield resident who was unable to eliminate or reduce the blight on their property. While it is always Code Enforcement's intention to have cases resolved through voluntary compliance, quality of life issues must be balanced with surrounding residents and neighbors. Therefore, in December and January, an abatement warrant was prepared and served on the property owner; a contractor was hired; and the property was brought into compliance.

Code Enforcement can issues such as overgrown landscaping, trash and debris, inoperable vehicles and vehicles parked on unimproved surfaces. If there is a problem property in your neighborhood call 707-428-7587 or e-mail at: [email protected].

Visit Code Enforcement's website!

CITY'S HOMELESS STRATEGY INITIATIVES SHELTER SOLANO BRINGS NEW PROGRAM TO 310 BECK AVE.

Since April 2018, the City has been working with Mission Solano, local heath care providers, and the of Solano to transition the Bridge to Life Center to a new operator. Through an extensive Request for Qualifications process and applicant presentations, City Council selected Shelter, Inc. as the new operator of the shelter located at 310 Beck Ave in Fairfield. Shelter, Inc. has been providing programs and services in Contra Costa County for individuals and families in need since 1975.

Under new leadership, SHELTER Solano will operate as a closed-campus, program-based shelter geared toward supporting an individual’s effort to progress from to stable, permanent housing. SHELTER Solano’s proven, program-based model will provide intensive wrap-around case-management services enabling participants to achieve self- sufficiency. Organizations wishing to place someone at the shelter are advised to contact Solano County’s Coordinated Entry provider, Resource Connect Solano, at 707-652- 7311 for referral information.

If you like to learn more about SHELTER Solano please visit their website!

Visit SHELTER Solano's Website!

NATIONWIDE HOMELESS POINT IN TIME COUNT ​COMPLETED IN SOLANO COUNTY

How many people are currently homeless in the United States? In California? In Solano County? The answer can determine how much federal funding communities such as the Solano County region receive from the McKenney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program each year.

The Point-in-Time (PIT) count is a biennial count of persons experiencing homelessness, whether sheltered or unsheltered, on a single night in late January. The PIT count is a requirement to receive homeless assistance funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and therefore conducted in Solano County. The 2017 Solano County PIT count helped the Community Action Partnership of Solano Joint Powers Authority (CAP Solano JPA) to secure $1,284,935 in funding from HUD in 2018 for housing and homeless services. It also enabled CAP Solano JPA to secure $726,212 in California Emergency Solutions and Housing funds and $4,917,499 in Homeless Emergency Aid Program funds from the State of California. These funds are allocated to local homeless service providers to assist homeless individuals obtain much needed resources, and to reduce .

This years PIT count was held on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. Results of the count and survey will be completed by this summer.

Visit JPA's Website! FAIRFIELD HOUSING AUTHORITY ​ASSISTING FAMILIES IN NEED

In efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness, the City applied for and was awarded grant funds from the California Department of Housing & Community Development to assist low-income Fairfield residents with emergency rent and housing expenses. Established in 2017, the Fairfield HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program has provided funds to 60 Fairfield residents that need assistance in paying rent and/or security deposits.

TBRA has proven to make an impact for the recipients. One family in particular seeking shelter since July 2018 was able to secure housing with deposit assistance from the TBRA program, and proof of residency to gain employment. This single mother moved into her new home with her two children in January.

If you are interested in learning more about these programs or the Fairfield Housing Authority's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) and Project Based Vouchers, please contact the FHA at 707-428-7392 or visit their website!

Visit FHA's Website!

FAIRFIELD HOMELESS INTERVENTION TEAM EFFORTS

The Homeless Intervention Team (HIT) held a c ommunity education forum on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 in Fairfield Council Chambers designed to help the public understand HIT's role in reducing homelessness in Fairfield. This presentation informed the Fairfield community on the various methods HIT utilizes to assist homeless individuals and families connect to resources. If you are interested in watching the entire forum please visit the City of Fairfield's Police Department Page.

HIT hands up approach proves to be successful. An example of this is in October 2018. HIT came into contact with a local Fairfield homeless person who was routinely seeking shelter underneath some stairs at a barracks at Travis Air Force Base. The gentlemen was found to be a veteran of the Army and was in need of help. Through HIT’s efforts, this local veteran was connected to resources that aided him in securing financial resources for an apartment he moved into January 11, 2019. In addition, the veteran was able to become gainfully employed and has recently started taking college courses at . Great work, HIT!

​ PUBLIC WORKS HEART HOMELESS ENGAGEMENT & RESPONSE TEAM

Since January, the Homeless Engagement and Response Team (HEART) has been proactively maintaining the tunnel on Linear Trail from Oliver to Beck after a major cleaning conducted last month with the department's water truck. The Traffic Division has also assisted in their efforts to help maintain the tunnel by replacing the lights within the tunnel.

Furthermore, HEART posted and cleaned over 25 homeless camps on Linear Trail from Rockville Road to Business Center Drive. Within 4 days, HEART removed 162 cubic yards of debris from all the camps for the month of January.

Thank you, HEART! To learn more about Public Works Department please visit their website!

Visit Public Works' website!

TAKE THIS MONTH'S SURVEY!

The City of Fairfield is completing a study on fair housing and housing opportunity here in our community. Your response as a resident of Fairfield is an important part of this study, and will equip us to better fulfill our fair housing obligations and to plan in a manner that promotes fair housing choice. The survey begins with a section asking information about you. This survey is completely anonymous. Because we want to know if you experience differences in finding and accessing housing, we are asking for some personal information about you. A response is required for each of the questions in this first section, although some allow you to answer, "Decline to respond." Most of the other questions in this survey are not required to progress. There are a few that will determine if you will be asked some questions not asked of everyone.

Please click below to take this month's survey!

Click here to take this month's survey!

#WeAreFairfield

City of Fairfield | Quality of Life | 1000 Webster Street, Fairfield, CA 94533-4836 | 707-428-7609 | [email protected]

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