The Vallejo Weekly | Volume 9, Issue 2

THE VALLEJO WEEKLY VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2 | JANUARY 14, 2021

MAYOR’S MESSAGE Thank you Vallejo, for selecting me as your new Mayor. This first message to my community is the first of many to come!

All Council members are aware of the problems our community faces, the needs of our fellow residents and businesses, the financial limitations of our City, and the lack of staff we currently have.

What the Council needs now are new solutions that will work for our community. These solutions must be achievable; otherwise, they are just dreams and desires, not obtainable goals. Together, Council and the Vallejo community can measure our successes over time with the accomplishment of milestones.

To enable your Council to do the work needed, the Council needs to be fresh when the action calendar is presented. As Mayor, I will ask the public and the Council to address issues, but not personalities. Otherwise, as a City we run the risk of duplicating what recently occurred in our nation's capital. We need to be better than that. We ARE better than that.

The Council's annual goal-setting time is approaching. It has been suggested that we consider a different format for that session. The format that has been suggested is to include the community by having each Council member appoint four to five members of the public who would actively participate in creating feasible goals with Council. It only makes sense that the candidates selected would be a fair cross-section of our uniquely diverse community, allowing all voices to be heard. The final selection of candidates would still be up to the Council.

For now, I ask that you consider that approach and other ideas that will create a more inclusive process for our community members when it comes to Council's goal-setting session. Myself and your other City Council members would appreciate your thoughts on this new suggestion. You can email me directly with those suggestions at robert.mcconnell@cityofvallejo.net.

As Will Rogers, America's cowboy philosopher, observed, "Show me a man or woman who cannot change his or her mind, and I will show you a person who can never change the world.".

How about it Vallejoans? Are we ready to change our City for the better? Let's do this, together!

FLU SEASON IS HERE! Now more than ever, with Coronavirus still present, it is important that you protect yourself and the ones you love by getting your flu shot this winter.

Click here to find low-cost and no-cost vaccine flu clinics near you. For more information about getting tested for COVID-19, visit the following sites: Project Baseline, CVS Pharmacy, OptumServe.

NAMI CONNECTION RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) holds weekly Zoom meetings for a Recovery Support Group.

This groups is a free and confidential support group for adults living with mental health challenges regardless of diagnosis. These groups meet on: 

Mondays at 10:00 a.m.: Meeting ID: 87179683245 Passcode: 763669

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Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m.: Meeting ID: 81955337736 Passcode: 107172

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Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.: Meeting ID: 89216704571 Passcode: 062042

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Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.: Meeting ID: 87969655198 Passcode: 808312

Either enter in the Meeting ID and Passcode or phone in by calling 1(669) 900-6833.

For more information about this group, email info@namisolanocounty.org or visit NAMI Solano County’s website.

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 2

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The City of Vallejo is pleased to offer the following employment opportunities: - Deputy Police Chief - Police Officer (Entry - Academy Graduate) - Police Officer (Lateral) - Police Officer (Recruit) Visit governmentjobs.com/careers/vallejo for more information and to apply.

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JANUARY 14, 2020

FIREFIGHTERS BEGIN RECEIVING COVID-19 VACCINE Firefighters began receiving the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, January 4. It is expected that all staff who wish to receive the voluntary vaccine will have their first dose by Friday, January 15. Those who receive the first dose will receive the second dose 21 days after their first vaccination.

PUBLIC RELEASE OF THE DRAFT NEW ZONING CODE AND MAP The City of Vallejo has completed the comprehensive update to its Zoning Code (Vallejo Municipal Code Title 16) that includes both text and map amendments to reflect the goals, policies, and implementation measures expressed in General Plan 2040. The New Zoning Code represents a complete redesign and modernization of the Zoning Code making it clear, approachable, flexible and easy to use.

Click here to read the Public Release Notice.

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FIRE DEPARTMENT PROMOTIONS Congratulations to the newly promoted Battalion Chiefs and Captains!

Whitey Long (above) was promoted to Captain in December 2020. He was hired by the Vallejo Fire Department in 2014.

Matthew Fenzl (above) was promoted to Battalion Chief in December 2020. He was hired by the Vallejo Fire Department in 1999.

Jeremy Santos (above) was promoted to Captain in December 2020. He was hired by the Vallejo Fire Department in 2014.

Kevin Hickey (above) was promoted to Battalion Chief in December 2020. He was hired by the Vallejo Fire Department in 1999.

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JANUARY 14, 2020

FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO CRANE FIRE At around 5:20 a.m. on Tuesday, January 12, Vallejo Fire Department was dispatched to a first alarm fire at the 1100 block of Nimitz Avenue on Mare Island.

Upon arrival crews located a crane with smoke showing from the top rear area of the technician platform.

The crane operator stated he was doing his morning checks, suddenly lost power and personnel below started yelling that he was on fire.

Crews initially climbed the fixed crane ladders to investigate and then raised Truck 21 aerial ladder to assist. The fire was contained to the generator with no further extension to the crane. Fire crews deemed the fire under control approximately fifteen minutes after arrival. Staff were on scene for one hour.

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THE CITY OF VALLEJO IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS The City of Vallejo is requesting applications to serve on the City’s Boards and Commissions. Vallejo residents who are interested in serving on an advisory body are invited to submit an application and supplemental questionnaire for consideration.

There are currently openings on the following Boards and Commissions:      

Beautification Commission (1) Code Enforcement Appeals Board (1) Design Review Board (1) McCune Collection Commission (2) Planning Commission (1) *Greater Vallejo Recreation District (GVRD) (1)

With the exception of the McCune Collection, all appointed members must complete and file a Statement of Economic Interests, Form 700 within 30 days of appointment.

All City Board and Commission members must complete AB 1234 Ethics training and file a Certificate of Completion within 30 days of appointment. *Applicants for the Greater Vallejo Recreation District (GVRD) must be residents of the City of Vallejo. The appointment is to fill a vacancy and will expire on December 31, 2023.

In most instances, to be eligible for appointment, applicants must be residents of the City of Vallejo.

Information regarding the duties of each board and commission and specific criteria for appointment may be found within each application. With some exceptions, appointments are typically for a term of four (4) years.

Applications must be received no later than close of business on Friday, January 22, 2021.

City Council virtual interviews have tentatively been scheduled for Wednesday, January 27 starting as early as 5:00 p.m. Depending upon the number of applications received an additional date of Monday, February 1 has been reserved for interviews. Applicants must attend the interview in order to be considered for appointment.

Application forms and supplemental questionnaires are accessible in several ways: 

The City’s website, located on the on the Boards and Commissions page

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By e-mail at dawn.abrahamson@cityofvallejo.net, or by phone at (707) 648-4527

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By US Postal Mail: City of Vallejo, C/O City Clerk, PO Box 3068, Vallejo, CA 94590

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JANUARY 14, 2020

BUSINESS REIMAGINED IN VALLEJO DURING COVID-19 Concert and event specialist, Suite Treatments, is opening a new artist collective and showroom located at 3729 Sonoma Blvd, Vallejo, CA 94590. Grand Opening to be scheduled as COVID-19 guidelines allow.

Best known for their signature work with national and local clients such as Oakland Arena, Verizon, Facebook, Google, Live Nation, Chase Center, and music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and Outside Lands, Suite Treatments brings their creative and organizational expertise to Vallejo.

Founder and Vallejo resident, Jacqueline Crosetti, frames the new location and approach, “This is the first time in history where concerts and events have come to a complete halt. Due to the drastic socio-economic changes brought on

by COVID-19, the event industry has been hit extremely hard. We believe that by focusing on our local community, we can interject positive Urban Acupuncture.”

The company’s focus on community based services includes local artists featured monthly throughout the showroom, furniture sales, home staging, plant nursery, event space, and future services such as music performances, pop-up shops, yoga, and a variety of wellness offerings to further community-building and revitalization on the Sonoma Boulevard corridor.

Suite Treatments has elegantly designed and outfitted the dressing rooms for iconic speakers and performers including Michelle Obama, Oprah, Prince, Metallica, Madonna and Paul McCartney. There’s history and usually a fascinating story behind the art and decor in the showroom. Customers have the opportunity to rent or buy these same pieces that are a part of pop culture history.

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