TO: MAYOR AND COUNCIL
FROM: KRISTINA MILLER, CITY MANAGER
DATE: August 27, 2021
CITY MANAGER:
CA COVID-19 Rent and Utility Payment Assistance Relief:
Landlords and tenants can apply for rent and utility payment assistance relief if the tenant has been impacted by COVID-19. Impacts from COVID-19 can be due to unemployment, childcare issues, decreases in income, etc. Income limits for a family of four are $55,750. Please visit CA COVID-19 Rent and Utility Payment Assistance Relief https://housing.ca.gov/covid_rr/index.html.
The City will also be offering a Utility Payment Assistance Program (City Utility Assistance Program) for those residents impacted by COVID-19. Due to grant requirements, the City will be restricting reimbursement to three months of expenditures. If you know of anyone that owes back due rent or utilities, I strongly encourage they apply for the CA COVID-19 Rent and Utility Payment Assistance Relief Program first – please see link above. If there are unmet needs, they can also apply for the City Program. The City is currently awaiting the contract from the State before it can proceed.
COVID-19 in Tehama County:
Tehama County is experiencing a surge in COVD-19 infections in Tehama County. According to Tehama County Public Health there were 66 cases in June, 153 cases in July, and from August 1-22 there have been 694 positive cases. Valerie Lucero, Executive Director, anticipates by the end of the month there will be over 1,000 cases in August. As of Tuesday August 24th, the case rate was 44.2/100,000 and the positivity rate was 15.3% based on a seven-day period with a seven-day lag. Based on the high case rates in Tehama County, it is recommended everyone mask indoors by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Rural Recreation and Tourism Grant and Free Swim Day:
The City is offering a free swim day at the Corning City Pool on Saturday August 28th starting at 11:00 a.m. During the free swim day, City staff will be asking attendees for suggestions on recreation features to include in its California Department of Parks and Recreation Rural Recreation and Tourism grant application.
PLANNING/RECREATION:
Recreation:
Food Truck Tuesdays:
The next Food Truck Tuesday Event is planned for Tuesday, September 7th in the same location on Solano St. We will be having an Olive Pit Spitting contest if you would like to join in. Our two Chiefs (Fire Chief Tom Tomlinson & Police Chief Jeremiah Fears) will lead the contest with a spit match of their own. We would like to give a huge shout out to Bell-Carter for donating the olives that will be used for spitting.
The following Food Truck Event will take place on October 5th, we will be bringing back the bed races, so if you or a group that you know of would like to participate, I plan to have paperwork ready to give out in the next week or two.
Recreation Classes:
We are currently working on scheduling fall recreation classes. We have teamed up with Kinetics Dance Academy in Chico to offer our dance and tumbling classes and Staff is very excited about this relationship.
PUBLIC WORKS:
Water Supply and Usage:
The parts to lower the pump at the Hwy. 99 Well have been ordered and the Contractor will complete the work as soon as they arrive; we do not have an estimated completion date at this time.
To date for the month of August the City has provided 15,280 gallons of water to County residents that have dry wells. The City currently has 21 County residents located within 5 miles of City Hall that are approved to purchase City Water. Of these 21 County residents 10 have purchased water in August. We are currently not providing water to the Paskenta Water District as their water source is still providing adequate water.
Stage I – Voluntary Water Conservation Program:
On August 24, 2021, the City Council in observance of the State Executive Order N-10-21 declared the City of Corning in a Stage I – Volunteer Conservation Program – 15% reduction in normal water usage effective immediately. The following represents the elements of the Stage I Conservation Program:
- Notification to customers by direct mailing, newsletters, press releases, public meetings, educational materials (handouts) and/or meetings in the local schools explaining that a drought condition exists, and that the City must reduce its water consumption. Local grade schools may be encouraged to hold water conservation poster contests. The posters could be displayed by local merchants in their windows for a period of time;
- Provide educational literature for conservation practices regarding waste, over watering, leaks, etc. Provide information and assistance to customers on reading their water meters and monitoring water usage;\
- Encourage the use of native plants or other water conserving vegetation;
- Encourage the use of efficient landscaping systems (drip, timed sprinkler, etc.). Encourage evening and early morning watering to reduce evaporation;
- Discourage the emptying and refilling of swimming pools, ponds, etc;
- Informational/educational warnings for waste, overwatering and leaks;
- Encourage water-reducing methods in household use (full loads for dishwasher and clothes washer, low-flow showerhead, patio sweeping, use shut-off valve on hose for car washing and watering, patio cleaning, etc.).
Airport Survey:
Armstrong Consultants, in conjunction with their Sub-Contractor will be at the Airport on Monday August 30th performing the PCI inspection/assessment of the existing pavement utilizing a drone. A NOTAM will be issued for this work.
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
Corning Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) Call Volume:
The Corning Volunteer Fire Department responded to 16 calls for service last week, they consisted of: 13 medicals, 1 fire, 1 traffic collision, and 1 public service.
The Orland, Capay, Artois, Glenn Codora, Ord Bend, and Butte City Volunteer Fire Department Call Volumes:
The Orland, Capay, Artois, Glenn Codora, Ord Bend, and Butte City Volunteer Fire Departments were dispatched to a combined total of 34 calls for service last week, they consisted of: 16 medicals, 8 fires, 6 traffic collisions, and 4 investigations.
August 28th Veterans Hall Flagpole Drive Through (or eat there) Tri-Tip Dinner Fundraiser:
The Corning Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting a drive-through Tri-Tip Sandwich dinner on August 28th from 5pm to 8pm. This dinner is a fundraiser to help purchase a new flagpole for the Corning Veteran’s Hall. The Department is asking for a $15 donation per meal.
Chief’s Message:
Please do your best to conserve water.