Vallejo Weekly | Vol 11 Issue 47

Vallejo Weekly

Vol 11 | Issue 47 november 22, 2023

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message from mike Hello, Vallejo, Today, I’d like to share my gratitude for the hard work of all City Staff.

The City is issuing a one-time employee retention incentive utilizing ARPA-American Rescue Plan Act-funding, which has been approved by the council. This policy outlines the provision of the one-time retention incentive of $3,000 to all active regular, full-time employees with the City of Vallejo! The primary purpose of this incentive is to encourage employee retention.

To be eligible for this incentive, employees must meet specific criteria. First, they need to be on the city's payroll as of November 17, 2023, which marks the end of pay period 23. Furthermore, to qualify for this incentive, employees must not resign, retire, or be terminated during pay period 24, which spans from November 18, 2023 to December 1, 2023. This ensures that the incentive is granted to employees who remain in active service during this critical period.

Vallejo Weekly

It is important to note that this incentive will be subject to applicable taxes, and employees should expect this to be reflected in their net payment. This incentive will not count towards CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) calculations, which means that it will not affect an employee's retirement benefits.

To sum this all up- this policy serves as a significant initiative to retain valuable City of Vallejo employees using ARPA funding. By adhering to the specified conditions, employees can benefit from this one-time $3,000 incentive. We value our employees at the City of Vallejo and hope this will encourage other hard-working and talented individuals to join our Team! Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays! Please see my special holiday message to employees at https://vimeo.com/cityofvallejo/mikeholiday23 Respectfully, Mike Malone Vallejo City Manager 1

UPCOMING GVRD COMMUNITY EVENTS Join in the fun with a variety of events for youth and families brought to you by the Greater Vallejo Recreation District (GVRD). GVRD Main Office (registrations & reservations) is temporarily relocated to Cunningham Aquatic Complex (801 Heartwood Ave) open M-F 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Sat 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. All GVRD Board & Committee Meetings are held at 401 Amador St (administration, finance, & human resources). To pre-register for events or for more information on programs, events, classes and activities visit www.gvrd.org, call (707) 648-4600, or email recreation@gvrd.org.

View the GVRD Fall 2023 Activity Guide for more programs, events, classes and activities!

WONDERLAND TOY DRIVE Accepting donations now through Wednesday, December 6, 2023

or shine. Don't miss out on their amazing food vendors, hot cocoa bar, and a special visit from Santa.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS December 2, 2023 through December 30, 2023 Fridays - Sundays 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Donation Site: Costco Vallejo 198 Plaza Drive Join GVRD, Meyer, and Costo Vallejo to make a difference in the lives of Vallejo youth. GVRD invites you to donate any unopened and unwrapped toys that can be handed out to registered youth (ages 12 and under) at their Toy Drive Giveaway at Children’s Wonderland on December 15, 2023.

Registration for the Toy Drive Giveaway is required to receive a toy.

For more information call (707) 553-6403 or (707) 9808001, or email jgatmen@gvrd.org TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY Friday, December 1, 2023 Event opens 5:00 p.m. / Tree Lighting 6:30 p.m.

Children’s Wonderland Park 360 Glenn Street

Children’s Wonderland Park 360 Glenn Street This is a FREE community event!

Join GVRD for some holiday family fun at Festival of Lights! Bring the kiddos or friends down to Children's Wonderland to enjoy the Holiday festivities, music, and hot cocoa!

The park will be closed: 12/24, 12/25, and 12/31. Please remember to wear weather appropriate clothing as this is a rain or shine event. Let the holiday fun begin!

CITY PARK PUBLIC OUTREACH VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETING Thursday, December 7, 2023 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

This annual holiday event is FREE and fun for the entire family!

Join GVRD as they ring in the holiday season at Children's Wonderland Park. Papa Joe and the New Deal will kick off the holiday event hitting the stage at 5pm followed by the tree lighting ceremony begin promptly at 6:30pm. This event will happen rain

City Park’s horseshoe pit area is getting some upgrades, and we want to hear from you! Check out a couple of design options and renderings and let us know your thoughts and ideas. Share your insight with our General Manager, Gabe Lanusse at glanusse@gvrd.org

View these events and more at www.gvrd.org or scan the QR code

WE’RE HIRING JOIN THE CITY OF VALLEJO!

For a full list of job opportunities, visit the Government Jobs website.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT NOW HIRING FOR: EQUIPMENT MECHANIC I/II CLOSES: Continuous

Vallejo Weekly

SALARY: $29.49 - $35.84 Hourly $2,358.97 - $2,867.35 Biweekly $5,111.10 - $6,212.60 Monthly $61,333.17 - $74,551.15 Annually BRIEF DESCRIPTION / IDEAL CANDIDATE: The City of Vallejo's Fleet Division is seeking Equipment Mechanic II candidates, to help with minor and major mechanical repairs to gasoline and diesel powered automotive, heavy and light construction, and other power driven equipment as a collaborative member of the City's Public Works Department.

This recruitment is open until filled. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online on the Government Jobs website.

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WATER AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT NOW HIRING FOR: ACCOUNTING CLERK I/II BRIEF DESCRIPTION / IDEAL CANDIDATE: The Accounting Clerk I/II classifications are used in various departments throughout the City to assist with payroll processing, accounts payable/receivable, purchase orders, and to provide support to staff.

Apply here.

WATER - PUBLIC WORKS NOW HIRING FOR: UTILITY SUPERVISOR BRIEF DESCRIPTION / IDEAL CANDIDATE: The ideal Utility Supervisor will have at least four years of experience in the maintenance, repair, and alteration of water distribution facilities and be able to supervise, assign, review and participate in the work of the Distribution and Maintenance Division staff responsible for providing water distribution system maintenance and repair services. Apply here.

Vallejo Weekly

WE’RE HIRING

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PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SVCS

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SVCS

NOW HIRING FOR: ASSISTANT PLANNER/ASSOCIATE PLANNER

NOW HIRING FOR: CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

BRIEF DESCRIPTION / IDEAL CANDIDATE: The successful Assistant/Associate Planner candidate will be a team player and possess the ability to think outside the box. They will be solutions oriented with excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to communicate concisely and effectively, including public speaking and presentation skills. Transparent and frequent communication with community members is essential.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION / IDEAL CANDIDATE: The ideal candidate will have working knowledge of City codes, ordinances, and regulations, proper investigation methods, and techniques for code compliance enforcement, rules, and procedures.

They will possess superior communications skills and will be able to work closely with and build rapport with the City's homeowners, businesses, and community groups to enhance and preserve the quality of neighborhoods through public engagement, education, and other activities.

More info here.

More info here.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SVCS

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

NOW HIRING FOR: SENIOR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

NOW HIRING FOR: HOUSING SPECIALIST I/II

BRIEF DESCRIPTION / IDEAL CANDIDATE: To perform a variety of duties involved in the investigation of potential violations and the enforcement of municipal codes, ordinances and regulations including business licenses, zoning, building, property maintenance ordinance and related codes and regulations; and to coordinate through staff of other departments the City's overall code enforcement program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION / IDEAL CANDIDATE: This is the entry level class in the Housing Specialist series. This class is a training class; employees may have only limited relevant work experience. This class is distinguished from the Housing Specialist II in that the latter is the journey level class, able to perform the more difficult and complex tasks. It is further differentiated from the Senior Housing Specialist in that the latter is the advanced journey level class, performing the most complex tasks.

More info here.

More info here.

THANK YOU SO MUCH! HEARTFELT THANK YOU FROM YOUR WATER DEPARTMENT To the people of Vallejo, we wish to offer our most heartfelt thanks.

Vallejo Weekly

We had a drought. We asked for your help to conserve water. And you did.

To the people who work at the Vallejo Water Department, there is no resource more precious than water- It fuels our bodies, it keeps us and those we love healthy, it keeps us clean, it makes our gardens and nature thrive, it advances our culture through medicine and research, and it even allows us to have some fun, particularly in the summertime. Californians know all too well how scarce this resource can be in drought years, and what droughts mean not just to us, but to the people of Vallejo we serve.

Not every government agency is met with the kind generosity of conservation during drought years. But, Vallejo, you heard us and our plea to conserve water. And in Vallejo, you did it!

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Vallejo Heights Neighborhood Hosting a Community Clean Up Join us for a Community Clean Up in Vallejo Heights Neighborhood on Sunday, December 3rd, from 12 pm to 3 pm!

Ready to make a positive impact? Meet us at the MIRA Parking Lot, 51 Daniels Way, and be part of the team! Let's come together to beautify our neighborhood.

See you there!

When: December 3rd | 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM Where: MIRA Parking Lot 51 Daniels Way

THE CITY OF VALLEJO IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND COMMISSIONS VALLEJO, CA – The City of Vallejo is requesting applications to serve on a number of 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, commissions, and committees: (click links to access applications) Commission on Culture & the Arts (2) terms expire 12/31/27 Housing Authority (1) tenant commissioner) term to expire 12/31/24 McCune Collection Commission – (1) term to expire 6/30/24 Measure P Oversight Committee – District 1 Member Only – (1) term to expire 10/10/24 Participatory Budget Steering Committee (3 alternates) terms expire 6/30/25 Surveillance Advisory Board – District 3 Member Only – (1) term to expire 1/2/25 Solano County Mosquito Abatement District (SCMA) Board - (1) Vallejo representative. Term to expire 4 years from date of appointment For City Boards and Commissions, except for the Commission on Culture & the Arts, McCune Collection, Surveillance Advisory Board, and the Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee, 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.

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 4 years.

The application period will remain open until a sufficient number have been received in the City Clerk’s Office Interviews with the City Council will be held after January 1, 2024. Specific dates will be announced at a later date. Applicants must attend the interview to be considered for appointment on a board or commission.

Application forms and supplemental questionnaires are accessible in several ways: The City’s website, located on the Boards and Commissions page At City Hall, Office of the City Clerk, 555 Santa Clara Street, 3rd Floor, Vallejo, CA

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

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

27th Annual Meyer Corporation Sale to Benefit the Humane Society of the North Bay November 30 - December 17 Meyer continues the Annual Tradition and is gladly matching donations to the Humane Society of the North Bay up to a total of $15,000.

Please bring your donation to the Outlet Sale at either warehouse location.

Save up to 80% OFF on cookware, bakeware, ceramics, cutlery & more!

— FEATURED BRANDS — Find an assortment of over 1,000 items from your favorite brands including: Anolon, Anyday, Ayesha Curry, Bonjour, Breville, Circulon, Farberware, Hestan, Meyer, Ruffoni, KitchenAid, LocknLock, Rachael Ray, and More!

Vallejo:

Fairfield:

25 Curtola Parkway >> Directions: http://bit.ly/MeyerSaleVallejo

2001 Meyer Way >> Directions: http://bit.ly/MeyerSaleFairfield

Regular store hours: Thursday - Sunday, 10 AM - 6 PM

HUMANE SOCIETY PETs OF THE WEEK GRIZZLY

Vallejo Weekly

Miniature Pinscher, Male, Adult

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Lions and tigers and Grizzly, oh my! This tiny treasure may have a big bold name, but Grizzly is a sweet little softie who LOVES to cuddle. He is a 6-year-old Mini Pin mix who weighs a petite 4.5 lbs. and is a joy to hold. Grizzly is a tiny bit shy but he's becoming more confident every day and can't wait to share his world with someone special.

Grizzly is now in a loving foster home but he is still looking for his forever person. He appears to love everyone, all the time — including new doggie friends. And wait until you see him walk! He has the cutest little trot when he walks on leash. Grizzly loves to take miniature "sniffaris" where he gets to stop, smell and survey the big, beautiful world around him. If you'd like to show Grizzly your world, go to HSNB.org and fill out a dog adoption interest application.

For a list of our available cats and dogs, go to HSNB.org and click on the Adoptions tab.

We welcome potential adopters to browse available animals on our website and if interested, download an application. Email cat applications to catadoptions@hsnb.org and dog applications to adoptions@hsnb.org. Pets are available at time of article submission. We cannot guarantee they will be available upon publication. Humane Society of the North Bay is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We are located at 1121 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo. We are open by appointment, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, with up to two Open Shelter Saturdays per month. We are actively seeking fosters for our pets in need, and we are always seeking donations to help us do the life-saving work we do.

HUMANE SOCIETY PETs OF THE WEEK PAPI

Vallejo Weekly

Pit Bull Terrier Mix, Male, Adult

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Meet Papi! This handsome pup is easy on the eyes and easy-going to boot. Papi is a 5-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix who sports a velvety soft gray and white coat. And what a fetching smile! He is a lean, athletic 65 pounds. He is house-trained, walks well on leash, and he loves playing with his favorite nubby toy ball. Papi is an athletic guy who will require daily exercise and mental stimulation to keep him happy. He will also require lots of love and affection! If Papi sounds like your kinda guy, go to HSNB.org, and fill out a dog interest application.

For a list of our available cats and dogs, go to HSNB.org and click on the Adoptions tab.

We welcome potential adopters to browse available animals on our website and if interested, download an application. Email cat applications to catadoptions@hsnb.org and dog applications to adoptions@hsnb.org. Pets are available at time of article submission. We cannot guarantee they will be available upon publication. Humane Society of the North Bay is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

We are located at 1121 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo. We are open by appointment, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, with up to two Open Shelter Saturdays per month. We are actively seeking fosters for our pets in need, and we are always seeking donations to help us do the life-saving work we do.

People experiencing homelessness need empathy, not judgment.

National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week November 13-21, 2023

1 Job lost is the number one cause of being unhoused.

2-4 More than 25% of former foster children become homeless within two to four years of leaving the system.

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The Bay Area has the third largest population of people experiencing homelessness in the US behind New York City and Los Angeles.

www.vallejotogether.org/

VOLUNTEER. DONATE. EDUCATE. http://www.bayareaeconomy.org/report/bay-area-homelessness/ https://asu.digication.com/tinyhomesforbayareayouth/data-and-statistics

MYTHS & FACTS ABOUT THE UNHOUSED

Most unhoused people have a mental illness or substance use disorder.

Many people who experience homelessness do not struggle with substance abuse problems or addictions. Just like in the general population, only a percentage of those who are experiencing homelessness deal with addictions. People experiencing homelessness may deal with other issues related to their experiences of homelessness, including trauma and mental illness, for example.

People choose to be unhoused, and most decline services when offered.

This myth is dangerous and allows us to ignore the trauma of homelessness and neurobiological effects trauma has on humans. Being homeless is stressful, humiliating, exhausting, and dangerous. It is a hard day-to-day existence for men, women, and children.

People who are unhoused are dangerous, violent, and/or criminals.

A person who is homeless is no more likely to be a criminal than a person who is housed, with one legal exception: camping ordinances. People who are homeless break that law merely by being unhoused. The reality is that most spend their time and resources trying to survive and improve their situation. One study found that half of the homeless people surveyed reported experiencing violence, and the risks were higher for people who were older, women, or those who were homeless for more than two years. Stable housing is key to safety.

Veterans are not unhoused.

Historically, national policy failures have meant that veterans are more likely to experience homelessness. In 2019, 21 out of every 10,000 veterans were homeless. This number is only slightly higher than the overall homeless rate of 17 out of every 10,000 Americans. Veterans of color have the highest likelihood of being homeless.

Homelessness is not my problem.

Effectively reducing homelessness will take the entire community working together around this common goal.

I will never become unhoused.

According a UCSF study published in June 2023, losing income is the number one reason Californians end up homeless.

And though survey participants listed a myriad of reasons why they lost their homes, more people cited a loss of, or reduction in, income than anything else.

https://www.councilforthehomeless.org/myths-facts-about-homelessness https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/myths-and-facts/ https://homelessness.ucsf.edu/our-impact/our-studies/california-statewide-study-people-experiencing-homelessness

https://www.vallejotogether.org/

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US DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IS RECRUITING Mare Island Naval Cemetery Grounds Maintenance

Role description: The National Cemetery Administration honors veterans with a final resting place and lasting memorials that commemorate their service to our Nation. National cemeteries are national shrines. The standards of maintenance, appearance and operational procedures performed by the Contractor at this cemetery shall reflect this nation’s concern for those interned there. For this reason, the Contractor’s strict adherence to the specifications shall be required and shall be essential. The Contractor shall demonstrate a clear understanding of, and the sensitivity to, environmental issues during the performance of the contract.

If you are interested in this position, please contact Brian Trahan at brian.trahan@va.gov or click here for more details.

The closing date for receipt of application is Wednesday, December 6, 2023 4:00 PM PST.

Bike Plan Update Caltrans Bay Area (District 4) is excited to announce that Caltrans has initiated an update to the District 4 Bike Plan, first adopted in 2018. The 2018 Bike Plan analyzed conditions for biking along and across the State Transportation Network in the nine-county Bay Area, and identified priority improvements to provide a more connected, lower-stress bicycle transportation network in our region. The current Bike Plan Update is now being initiated to continue this process, and aims to accomplish the following: • Asses our progress on implementing the bicycle improvements identified in the 2018 Bike Plan • Identify new locations for bicycle improvements along and across the State Transportation Network • Develop strategies for implementing more/higher priority bicycle projects over the next 5+ years

Caltrans Wants to Hear From You! Between now and December 1st, we encourage you to take and share the public survey that will inform our Bike Plan Update, which you can access through the below link:

www.dot.ca.gov/d4bikesurvey Caltrans has developed a webpage that will provide basic information about the project and updates on our progress:

www.dot.ca.gov/d4bikeplanupdate For any questions, comments or suggestions, please reach out to us at D4BikePlan@dot.ca.gov, where either Greg Currey (Branch Chief) or Jasmine Stitt (Project Manager) can collect and respond to your feedback

The Basics of Personal Finance Women Empowering Women: Breaking the Barrier on the ABCs of Women and Money Empowered Through Home Ownership: Expert Insights, From Credit to Closing We Spend More Time Preparing for a One Week Vacation than for 30 Years of Retirement: Let’s Start Planning An Educational Workshop for Women; Planning for the Future

AD 11 at City Hall December 4, 2023

Vallejo City Hall 555 Santa Clara Street Vallejo, CA 94590 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Schedule a one on one meeting with Assemblymember Wilson while she is in Vallejo by emailing Tisha Simpson at Tisha.Simpson@asm.ca.gov.

asmdc.org/wilson

(707) 438-7359

AsmLoriDWilson

Register to Volunteer Today!

Solano

POINT IN TIME Count What is a Point-in-Time Count?

The Point In Time (PIT) Count is a count of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January.

This is a requirement by HUD to be conducted every other year.

When: January 31, 2024 Time: 5:30AM – 10:00AM For more information or to sign up to volunteer: Visit https://solano24.pointintime.info/ or scan the QR Code from your mobile device

The PIT Count provides data that is used to determine funding from the State and Federal Government to help provide better programs and services to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

For any additional questions, please reach out to: Natalie Peterson homelessness@cityofvallejo.net

or

Becky Farris PIT Coordinator rlfarris@solanocounty.com

THE CITY OF VALLEJO BROADBAND SERVICE VALLEJONET IS NOW VIP FIBER

Vallejo Weekly

The City of Vallejo is excited to announce that its municipal broadband service, formerly known as "VallejoNet," has been rebranded as "VIP Fiber."

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This rebranding initiative is part of the City's ongoing efforts to position Vallejo as a hub for technological innovation and to reflect its commitment to providing high-quality, reliable internet service to its residents and businesses.

Community-owned ISPs are driven by the needs and interests of the local residents rather than profitdriven motives. The profits generated stay within the community, promoting local growth, job creation, and economic development. VIP is committed to upholding net neutrality principles, ensuring everyone enjoys a level playing field on the internet.

Local businesses currently using VIP are Brooks & Co. Real Estate, Kindred Motorworks, Aardvarks Adventureland, Suite Treatments Inc., and many more! You, too, can be a part of VIP. Learn more about your local ISP and request a quote today to experience the premium internet service offered by VIP Fiber and join Vallejo in its mission to lead technological advancements in the region while enjoying fast and affordable internet!

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CONTACT 555 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo, CA 94590 Facebook.com/cityofvallejo Instagram.com/cityofvallejo cityofvallejo.net For maintenance emergencies, please call: (707) 648-5235