FRIDAY LETTER
Emergency Preparedness Talk- March 28th 5:00 pm
Police Chief Paul Tomas and Fire Chief Gaudenz Panholzer will be presenting on Emergency Preparedness at Carpenter Hall on March 28th at 5:00 pm. The Chief's plan to provide a short presentation on the City's emergency response to major incidents during the talk with time for questions and answers afterwards. The talk will focus on the types of emergencies were are susceptible to including our risk or wildfires and response. The presentation is being hosted by the Carmel Residents Association and will feature tables on emergency preparedness supplies and information.
Officer Joe Martis to be recognized as the County's Top Cop in 2018
On March 22 at 6:30 pm, Officer Joe Martis will be recognized with the top officers from each of the County's police and correctional agencies. Officer Martis will be recognized as the 2018, Police Officer of the Year for the County, representing the small agencies. Officer Martis is being given this award for his work on November 25th when he responded to a triple stabbing incident in the county. Officer Martis's actions in the response and treatment of three seriously injured victims in the face of danger are a credit to his dedication to serve the community. Congratulations Joe.!!!!!
Tree City USA
The Arbor Day Foundation has honored the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea as a “2018 Tree City USA” in recognition of its commitment to effective forest management. The City has been recognized as a Tree City USA for 15 years.
The City achieved this recognition by meeting the Arbor Day Foundation’s four requirements: having a commission with oversight of tree issues, a tree care ordinance, an annual community budget of at least $2 per capita for forest care management, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The 2019 Arbor Day observance is planned for Saturday, April 20th. Keep your eyes open for upcoming announcements of this family-friendly public event.
New Pine Trees
Speaking of trees, two pine trees were planted by Tree Care Specialist Kelley Green this week in Forest Hill Park. These trees replace one mature tree that was heavily damaged during recent storms and had to be removed.
Carbon Monoxide Safety – Often called the invisible killer, carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels (such as gasoline, wood, coal, natural gas, propane, oil, and methane) burn incompletely. In the home, heating and cooking equipment that burn fuel can be sources of carbon monoxide. A person can be poisoned by a small amount of CO over a longer period of time or by a large amount of CO over a shorter amount of time.
- CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and mounting height.
- Choose a CO alarm that is listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
- Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instruction.
- If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it. If it still sounds, call 9-1-1.
- If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel declare that it is safe to re-enter the home.
- If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open.
- A generator should be used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings.
- Gas or charcoal grills can produce CO – only use outside.
- Have fuel-burning heating equipment and chimneys inspected by a professional every year before cold weather sets in. When using a fireplace, open the flue for adequate ventilation. Never use your oven to heat your home.
If you have questions or would like additional information on Carbon Monoxide Alarms, please contact Monterey Fire Prevention Bureau at 831.646.3900.
Mike Tope, our New Certified Arborist
We apologize for some missing photos in last week's Friday Letter due to a computer glitch. But, we wanted to recognize Mike Tope, our Senior Maintenance Worker, who passed the International Society of Arboriculture’s arborist examination and is now a Certified Arborist. Mike has demonstrated exceptional commitment to furthering his education, skills, and credentials to better serve the community, and we are all very proud of him. Way to Go Mike!
Food Waste Compost Contamination
As the City begins to increase the amount of food waste that is diverted from the landfill for beneficial re-use as compost, it is important to understand just how much and what types of contamination impact the food waste stream.
This week, Environmental Compliance Manager Agnes Martelet went to the composting facility at the Monterey Regional Waste Management District’s landfill in Marina to inspect residue left behind during screening of compost material. (Be sure to put this adventure on your bucket list!) The ratio of usable compost to waste in the composting digester’s finished product is 50/50. Using certified compostable materials is critical to reduce such waste. As you can see on the photograph of the plastic fork, foodware can take a very long time to decompose if they are not certified compostable.
PG&E Gas Pipeline Project Update
PG&E’s progress on their 6-inch diameter gas pipeline project, which will ultimately extend 0.9 miles across the northern portion of Carmel, has been disappointing at best. This project has now been under construction for over five months, and City staff estimates that they are just over 50% done, 3 weeks behind their latest schedule. The City is working closdley with PG&E management to increase their resources on site.
PG&E has also changed their phasing and now plan to start installation of the pipeline in reverse, utilizing mostly underground boring operations, to begin at the end point inside Pebble Beach, south adjacent to the guard shack, and continuing south along San Antonio to the tie-in point on Fourth Avenue.
On a positive note, patch paving on the easterly half of the project was completed this week opening the door to place a new asphalt overlay along the entire alignment from Junipero at Camino del Monte to Fourth Avenue at Lincoln Street.
The City is watching this project closely to minimize inconvenience, and we appreciate your continued patience.
Facility Maintenance
Usually during storm events, lots of problems get plenty of attention. Downed power lines, broken tree limbs, local flooding and drainage issues, and many others are the focus of emergency responders and City staff to restore the community to normal conditions.
However, things that work don’t get any attention!
Facilities Maintenance Supervisor Cleve Water takes pride in the fact that during the three winter storms, there were no facility-related issues. Zero! For example, critical sump pump systems worked as they should, emergency generators at the Public Works/Police Department complex and at the Fire Station did their job, roll-up doors functioned just fine manually, recently-repaired roof leaks were confirmed to be sealed, and all public restrooms remained in service. We’re just wondering if our neighboring agencies can say the same thing!
Happening at Sunset Center and Forest Theater
- This weekend, the Monterey Symphony Presents Sound Waves, Concert IV - with guest conductor Jung-Ho Pak. Performances are on Saturday, March 16 at 8PM and Sunday, March 17 at 3PM, with a Youth performance on Monday morning, March 18. For tickets and information, please visit www.montereysymphony.org.
- Thursday, March 21 at 8PM Sunset Presents in Studio 105 Bumper Jacksons – bringing their unique Roots Jazz, Country Swing, Street Blues to the fun and intimacy of Sunset Center’s Studio 105. For tickets and information, please visit www.sunsetcenter.org.
- Visit Carmel presents a Mindful-by-the Sea Retreat on March 20-22 in Sunset Center’s Chapman Room, with World Renowned Mindfulness Teacher Rich Fernandez. Please click here for more information and to make a reservation.
- Lastly, a beautiful photo from this past Wednesday’s Sunset Presents STOMP exclusive Central Coast engagement on the Sunset Center Main Stage!
Lesley and I ran a Spartan Race last weekend in Arizona. As usual, she kicked my butt.
Happy St. Patrick's Day, enjoy the sunshine, and take good care.
CR
|
