OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER July 17, 2020 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Christian Clegg, City Manager CC SUBJECT: General Information Downtown Entertainment District The City is excited to announce an agreement to sell a five-acre piece of Downtown property to a developer who is expected to bring new entertainment and retail options to residents! The property at the northeast corner of California Avenue and P Street will be to ME Development Company, LLC, a company owned by the same person who developed the Maya Cinemas to the west of the parcel. The Purchase Sale Agreement was approved by the City Council Wednesday, July 15, by a 5-0 vote. ME Development Company has already made a significant investment in the area with the theater and the City is excited to have this property further developed so locals and visitors alike have more to experience in Downtown Bakersfield! General Information July 17, 2020 Page 2 Notable Items Progress continues to be made in the creation of the Brundage Lane Navigation Center, the City’s new emergency homeless shelter. Staff provided an update to City Council on Wednesday, July 15, even taking the councilmembers on a “virtual” video tour of the active construction site. Current work at the facility include the creation of dorm space for female clients, plumbing upgrades and changes to accommodate showers and bathrooms, as well as roofing and HVAC upgrades and more (right). The project continues to be on track for a Fall 2020 grand opening with 50 beds to start, and expecting to grow to 150 beds in about three months. Progress can also be followed at www.bakersfieldcity.us/shelter. Visit Bakersfield kicked off its webinar series this week with a panel highlighting local museums. Even during a pandemic, local museums – Bakersfield Museum of Art, Buena Vista Museum of Natural History & Science, California Living Museum, and Kern County Museum – have offerings and programs for the whole family. The webinar featured a panel of museum representatives discussing their innovative programs, updates on current safety guidelines, online programs, and upcoming events. The focus of Visit Bakersfield’s webinar series is to bring information about what to see and do in Bakersfield directly to local travel partners, such as hotels, restaurants and attractions. Local residents will also find this first webinar to be valuable, especially with kids home during the summer. A recording of the “Virtual Museum Trail” webinar, along with more information about the series, can be found here. The newest Bakersfield Police Academy class (right) has started their training! The class of 28 trainees is the third funded by the Public Safety & Vital Services Measure (PSVS, or Measure N). One of the Measure’s priorities is to hire 100 new sworn officers over a three-year period. The project to retrofit the Bakersfield Police Department’s firearms facility on Truxtun Avenue is getting underway, with materials and equipment arriving this week. The facility was originally General Information July 17, 2020 Page 3 built in the late 1940s and is critical for officers to maintain their required training qualifications as well as to train new recruits. The open-air designed facility hasn’t been changed much since it was built and does not meet modern firearms range design and safety standards. The upgrades to the facility are funded by the Public Safety & Vital Services Measure (PSVS, or Measure N). Among the improvements, a modern baffle and trap system will be installed to reduce noise for neighboring property owners, as well as a roof. The project is expected to be completed by the fall of this year. The Recreation & Parks Department’s Rapid Response Team started repairs to some deteriorating wall panels on Wible Road, just north of Panama Lane. Several sections of the 39-year-old pre-cast concrete wall panels are in disrepair and must be replaced (before and after below). The damage has been caused by accidents over the years and abnormal deterioration. Starting Monday, July 20, the Recreation & Parks Department will be offering a new swim clinic at each pool. The program is designed to help already proficient swimmers develop their strokes as they prepare to join a swim team. The program is available at McMurtrey Aquatic Center as well as MLK, Jefferson, and Silver Creek pools. Registration is open and we are encouraging people to register online only. If anyone has questions, they can call McMurtrey at (661) 852-7430. PG&E has sent the City a notice of a request for a proposed rate increase. The proposed increases would raise the average customer’s bill by about $1/month. Reports Recreation & Parks Department monthly report, June 2020. MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Joe Conroy Wednesday, July 15, 2020 Public Information Officer (661) 326-3074 [email protected] CITY COUNCIL APPROVES SALE OF PROPERTY AS PART OF MILL CREEK VISION PLAN TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN AREA WITH NEW ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS For the past 10 years the City has worked to bring in new construction projects to revitalize the Mill Creek area of Downtown Bakersfield in an effort to bring new and exciting entertainment and commercial options to residents and visitors. On Wednesday, July 15, the City Council – by a 5-0 vote, with two absent – approved the Letter of Intent for the sale of a vacant five-acre parcel of land at the northeast corner of California Avenue and P Street to developer ME Development Company, LLC, kicking off the final step in the City’s Mill Creek Vision Plan. “This is an exciting opportunity for the City, its residents, and the thousands of visitors who come to Bakersfield every year,” said Assistant City Manager Jacqui Kitchen. “We are thrilled to be able to partner with ME Development Company, who has a history of bringing exactly the type of entertainment and commercial venues this part of the City deserves.” Bakersfield continues to grow, as evidenced by recent building trends, with the City’s population now trending toward young professionals in the Gen Z and Millennial age groups. The new amenities offered by this project would be extremely attractive to residents in these age groups. Since the early 2000s, the City has had a vision to create a unique area for this part of Downtown Bakersfield, building on a waterfront location close to housing, hotels and entertainment attractions. The location is well-positioned to attract both locals and visitors due to the proximity to the Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater and Convention Center, the Marriott Hotel, Amtrak Station and other amenities. Over that time, the City has contracted with consulting firm Gensler and Associates to create an updated Master Plan for the Mill Creek area, including updating that City Manager’s Office 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 661-326-3751 FAX: 661-324-1850 plan this past March. In a separate 5-0 vote, the City Council approved Options 1 & 2 in the updated South Mill Creek Master Plan. ME Development Company is owned by Moctesuma Esparza, who also serves as the Chairman of the Board of the parent company of the Maya Theater and retail spaces to the west of the purchased property. In 2007, ME Development Company developed the Maya Cinemas, making an important investment into the area consistent with the original Mill Creek Vision plan and subsequent growth. ME Development Company’s plans for the land align with the City’s vision for the South Mill Creek Entertainment District. The company’s proposal for the site includes retail, restaurant, hospitality and mixed-use development, all consistent with the City’s Vision and Master Plan for the area. ### City of Bakersfield Swim Clinics 6- 17 years oldSwim Clinics $54R/$64NR for McMurtrey Aquatic Center & Silver Creek. Session Dates $10 for Jefferson Pool & MLK Pool. Mondays and Wednesdays: July 20- August 5 This program is designed for proficient swimmers ready Tuesdays and Thursdays: July 21- August 6 for swim team. Stroke development and daily Saturdays: July 25- August 29 workout plans will be provided by an instructor Must Register Online. distanced 6 feet from participants. www.BakersfieldParks.us Location Days Time Code Session Specifies Class McMurtrey Aquatic Center M/Wed 8- 9am 259008 A1 McMurtrey Aquatic Center T/Th 8- 9am 259008 A2 Silver Creek M/Wed 1- 2pm 257008 A1 Jefferson M/Wed 1- 2pm 252008 A1 MLK M/Wed 1- 2pm 253008 A1 Silver Creek T/ Th 1- 2pm 257008 A2 Jefferson T/Th 1- 2pm 252008 A2 MLK T/Th 1- 2pm 253008 A2 Silver Creek M/Wed 3- 4pm 257008 B1 Silver Creek T/Th 3- 4pm 257008 B2 Silver Creek Sat. 8- 9am 257008 C1 Jefferson Sat. 9-10am 252008 B1 MLK Sat. 9- 10am 253008 B1 McMurtrey Aquatic Center Sat. 12- 1pm 259008 B1 Silver Creek Sat. 1:30- 2:30pm 257008 D1 A few things to keep in mind: • Arrive as close as possible to when the program Anyone with the following syptoms will begins. be prohibited from entering the facility: • Participants will be asked to maintain social • Fever or chills distancing from other participants. • Cough • No shared equipment will be provided by the City of • Shortness of breath Bakersfield. • Fatigue • Participants should be dressed and ready to • Muscle/ Body Aches participate. • Headache • Locker rooms will be limited to toilet and • New loss of taste or smell handwashing. Indoor showers and lockers will not be • Sore throat available at this time. • Congestion or runny nose • Please limit the amount of spectators. Spectators will • Nausea or vomiting be asked to maintain 6 feet social distancing and will • Diarrhea be asked to wear a mask when in the facility.