For the week ending Feb. 12

ADMINISTRATION

Civic Center Update

Due to the delays caused by the rain, the geopier installation is still ongoing. In an effort to make up time, crews will be working on Saturday, Feb. 13. There will be no transfer of materials to and from the site, so disruption to downtown will be minimal.

The geopier installation should be completed by the end of next week. In the meantime, the City Hall pad has been fine graded, and the Community Center pad has been rough graded.

A solution has been identified for the pedestrian issue along Second Street. The City will be installing a K-rail (concrete barrier) and bringing the fence out along the bike lane on Second Street between Oak and Maple. Lathrop’s construction fence will be extended out to the corner of Oak and Second, supported by additional signage for pedestrians clearly indicating that both the sidewalk and the bike lane are closed. This proposed solution has received the approval of City staff, the Liability Manager from Municipal Pooling Authority and Swinerton’s Vice President of Safety. The K-rail will be ordered next week and installed as soon as possible.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Redevelopment & Housing Division

Foreclosure Statistics

Brentwood was ranked seventh in the Bay Area for communities with high foreclosure concentrations in 2009 (based on percentage of existing dwelling units): 729 homes were foreclosed in Brentwood last year, down from 903 in 2008. Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley, San Pablo, Suisun City and Vallejo were ranked one through six respectively. Discovery Bay, American Canyon, Richmond, Fairfield, Cloverdale, Hercules, Hayward and Dixon ranked 8 through 15 respectively. (Source: ABAG Bay Area Economic Outlook 2010-11.)

Workforce Housing Production

Brentwood was ranked the sixth highest of 20 jurisdictions in Contra Costa County for producing workforce housing units (based on percentage of dwelling units). Of the 15,093 total dwelling units in Brentwood, 5.1 percent or 768 units are income-restricted to very-low, low- and moderate-income households. Richmond, San Ramon, San Pablo, El Cerrito and Pinole ranked one through five respectively, with the highest existing workforce housing ranging from 7.9 percent of dwelling units (Richmond) to 5.8 percent (Pinole). The lowest-ranked cities for affordable housing are Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, Walnut Creek and Danville, ranging from zero percent of dwelling units to 2.1 percent, respectively. (Source: ABAG 2009 Housing Report.)

Downtown Core Area

Staff is working with a restaurant partnership wishing to establish a breakfast/lunch business offering fresh bakery goods and a coffee bar at First Street. The two restaurant owners have extensive experience operating a long-standing, reputable Bay Area restaurant specializing in breakfast and lunch. Initial discussions with the property owner have been productive, and all parties are diligently working together on securing necessary kitchen equipment and tenant improvements. Redevelopment and Building Division staff met with the restaurant owners and property owner to discuss building occupancy regulations, fire sprinklers, ADA requirements, façade improvements, loan products to help with start-up costs, upcoming streetscape improvements, etc.

The proprietor of the soon-to-be-opened The Game Sports Pizza n’ Pub has applied for a façade improvement grant that includes fresh paint, building-mounted lights, awning and window signage, and new replacement doors and windows. The Game is located at the 200 block of Oak Street. Projected opening is next month.

– Contributed by City Manager Donna Landeros