Briefs on Key City Issues

10/10/24 Sideshows Brief
The City of Vallejo has two main tools to combat sideshows and other reckless driving. They are 1) enforcement of traffic laws and 2) engineering of roadways to make it harder to carry out sideshows.
The VPD’s primary strategy to deter sideshows through traffic enforcement is to learn about a possible sideshow in advance (sideshows often travel from city to city over the course of an evening) and post an officer at an intersection to deter sideshow vehicles from gathering there. Once a sideshow has started, VPD’s strategy is to gather with other law enforcement agencies to disrupt the sideshow and encourage the vehicles to move out of town.
Vallejo usually experiences a sideshow, which the City generally defines as a gathering of approximately 24 vehicles or more, every Friday and Saturday night. VPD is usually able to eventually gather with other law enforcement agencies to disrupt most sideshows and encourage them to move out of town, although often only after the sideshow has occurred for approximately 60 minutes at the various intersections each night. That said, sometimes the department simply is responding to too many other high priority calls for service to respond to sideshows.
VPD is experiencing a significant staffing shortage. Department staffing is slowly increasing. Based on recent trends, it will still be at least two years before staffing is at a level where the City can prevent or promptly respond to sideshows. The department is working on many strategies to add additional officers both on a limited-term basis and permanent basis, which might shorten that timeline. In the meantime, response times will vary. VPD currently responds to calls for service based on the following prioritization: Priority 1: Immediate danger of injury or loss of life; Priority 2: Urgent response is needed to prevent the call from escalating to Priority 1; and Priority 3: Ongoing issues with little to no danger of escalating and burglar alarms.
Note that sideshows present serious risks to officers. Sideshow participants sometimes use high-powered lasers to disorient and impair officers; launch powerful fireworks or explosive devices at officers; or fire shots at officers. It is therefore necessary for a substantial number of officers to collaborate to encourage sideshows to leave town.
VPD encourages residents to continue to report sideshow activity by calling 9-1-1. Timely reporting is crucial not only for officer response but also for our data analytics. Every call provides vital information that helps identify sideshow hotspots and allocate resources more effectively. This data-driven approach enables us to be more proactive in preventing future incidents and deploying resources to the areas most affected.
It is very challenging to apprehend sideshow participants due to the dangerous nature of the sideshows and some of the participants. State law has recently changed to increase penalties for sideshow participants, which might help curb them in the future.
The Public Works Department is implementing several measures to deter sideshows. The City installed sideshow deterrent and traffic calming devices in 15 intersections as a pilot project throughout the City. These have mostly been at neighborhood scale intersections. The department is also working with peers to assess technologies and strategies that may work at larger intersections. The department expects to pilot some new devices and approaches at major intersections within the next few months. Note that any intersection that falls on a State highway is controlled by Caltrans, so the City would need to coordinate with Caltrans on the design of the devices as well as receive Caltrans approval to install the devices.
We understand how frustrating and disturbing the sideshows are and appreciate your patience as the City looks for more effective ways to combat them.
10/24/24 Homelessness Brief
As the community may be aware, there was a temporary pause in encampment clean-ups due to an application for a temporary restraining order (TRO) filed against the City. The Court did not grant the TRO and the City has begun to initiate the appropriate steps to conduct encampment clean-ups.
Prior to encampment clean-ups occurring, City staff provide a posting at the identified location and request that non-profits and other service providers visit the area to provide any available resources. Staff also share a copy of the posting on the MyVallejo.com/homelessresources page for anyone interested in being notified of posted locations.
Although there are limited resources and staffing, the City is committed to performing encampment clean-ups and other initiatives to address homelessness in the City of Vallejo including: an Unhoused Strategy anticipated to go to Council in Q1 of 2025, completion of the Vallejo Homeless Navigation Center (a 125 bed shelter) anticipated to open in early 2025, completion of the Broadway Project (a 47 unit permanent supportive housing project) anticipated to open in early 2025, and continuing to research opportunities and receive feedback from the community.
10/24/24 Update on Relocation of the City’s Public Safety Dispatching Staff
The City’s public safety answering point (PSAP), also referred to as our public safety dispatch center, is currently located at 111 Amador Street, the building that also serves as the headquarters for the Vallejo Police Department (VPD). The building was built in the 1960’s to house both officers and staff of the police department. However, today, the building is in poor condition and requires maintenance responses frequently.
On April 11, 2023, the Vallejo City Council authorized the design of a new police facility at the Amador location, and the first phase of design is underway. The architects working on the design are on schedule to submit 90% design drawings in November 2024. However, completion of full design and construction of a new police headquarters will take several years, and there is an immediate desire to relocate the dispatch center temporarily until a new police headquarters is completed. On December 13, 2022, the City Council authorized $1.5 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for a dispatch center relocation project.
The City of Vallejo currently utilizes several state-of-the-art technologies for the PSAP. This highly specialized and mission critical equipment needs to be moved in a systematic manner to a new dispatch location. Unfortunately, the existing equipment simply cannot be taken down and moved to a new location. The major requirement is that the current dispatch must remain in operation due to its critical nature until a new dispatch center is fully ready for operation, which will result in additional cost and lead time for the relocation.
On October 24, 2023, staff presented a technical comparison of potential sites as relocation options to the City Council (new portable buildings at 111 Amador St., 970 Nimitz at the Fire Administration Building, 400 Mare Island Way, and 2 Florida Street). Key issues in evaluating each site included, but were not limited to, back-up generator, moving the PSAP, emergency building specification requirements, ADA improvements, and site and personnel security. Using new portable buildings at Amador Street, being on the same campus as the existing VPD headquarters, met most of the criteria, was the most cost efficient, and provided the most security.
Council's direction to City staff was to move the dispatch center into two modular units at 111 Amador. Staff immediately engaged Indigo Hammond + Playle Architects to prepare architectural design and civil site plans and CSG Consultants to begin the site survey, environmental assessments, and management of this project.
In January 2024, Indigo Hammond + Playle Architects completed the site drawings for the project and sent informal proposal packages to eight modular companies, requesting responses by April 1, 2024. Of the eight solicited companies, three responded that they were unable to meet either the specifications or timeline for completion, while 2 responded, with similar pricing.
At that time, staff expected that one manufacturer, Whitley, would be able to complete construction of the two modular units, deliver the two units to the Amador site, and have City staff complete the site work in August/September 2024; a contractor would be able to install the units at the site in September 2024; and a City IT vendor would be able to complete the relocation of the PSAP and other communications work and dispatch would be able to go live in January 2025.
In May 2024, staff received Council approval relating to the acquisition and construction of the modular units in the amount of $485,849, which included the cost of the modular units, installation of the units, installation of ADA ramps, landing and awning, as well as furniture installation.
From May 2024 through October 2024, contract execution was delayed due to company name, construction qualifications, bonding and insurance requirements. One major issue was that the contract was drafted and approved for Whitley Manufacturing Co. while the modulars were being manufactured by the sister company, Whitley Evergreen. In addition, during the contracting process it came to light that neither Whitley Manufacturing nor Whitley Evergreen is licensed for installation of the portables being purchased, which also created issues with bonding requirements for the installation construction work. After working with the City Attorney’s office and the contractor, the City will enter into a Purchase Agreement with Whitley Evergreen for the fabrication and delivery of the modular units. Staff is currently in the process of contract execution, and once that is complete, a first payment will be made to Whitley Evergreen. To date, no payments have been made toward the purchase of the modular buildings. Once Public Works receives the schedule of delivery from Whitley Evergreen, Public Works will enter into a construction contract with a State of California C47 licensed contractor, which is a certified contractor that specifically installs manufactured buildings.
Due to the delay in contract execution, the modular build window has shifted delivery of the units to Q1 of 2025. The Public Works Department will perform all trenching, site work, and fence/wall work in preparation for the delivery of the modular buildings. City staff currently anticipates that the two units will be delivered and the site work will be completed in January/February 2025; the contractor will install the unit, ADA ramps, landing and awning, and furniture in February/March 2025; and a City IT vendor will complete the relocation of the PSAP and other communications work and dispatch will be able to go live in June/July 2025.
The dispatch center will occupy the two modular units until the new PD Building is completed.
10/31/24 Measure P Street Projects and New VPD Building Brief

The City is currently constructing a number of large capital projects, as well as planning a number of additional large projects. The City is nearing the completion of two substantial projects, the Navigation Center homeless shelter and the Broadway Project affordable housing facility. The status of those two projects will be further described in another brief.

 

 

Regarding planning large capital projects, the City is completing the design of a new Police Department headquarters building as well as beginning the design of a series of large street improvement projects.

 

The current Police Department headquarters building, located at 111 Amador Street, has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced. In April 2019, the City engaged an architectural firm to analyze multiple potential locations for a new headquarters building. In March 2024, the City Council directed City staff to work with the architectural firm to complete design documents for a new headquarters building at the Amador site. This work is on schedule, and the architectural firm is expecting to submit 90% design documents for the new headquarters building to the City for plan review in November 2024.

 

 

The City has not yet identified a specific funding source and financing mechanism for the construction of the new headquarters building. The City has been working with a municipal advisory firm to identify funding options. City staff believe that it would be beneficial to begin working with a new advisory firm that would bring a different skillset and experience to advising the City on financing options. The City will issue a request for proposals (RFP) in  November 2024 to select a new municipal advisory firm, and expect to have a new firm on board by February 2025.

 

In November 2022, Vallejo residents approved Measure P, a 0.875% general purpose transactions and use tax (also referred to as a “local sales tax”). At the time Measure P was placed on the ballot, the City Council identified the following City services as priorities for Measure P: street projects; fire protection and emergency medical response services; keeping the City clean; and addressing homelessness. Measure P currently generates approximately $18M per year.

 

 

Because street projects are one of the priorities for Measure P, City staff has been planning to design and implement a very large street improvement project using Measure P revenues. Staff anticipated presenting a proposal for a large street improvement project, along with some financing options, including “bonding” against future Measure P revenues, to the City Council at a special City Council meeting on October 29, 2024. However, City staff was unable to work with the City’s current municipal advisory firm to develop sufficient analysis and recommendations to present at a special Council meeting on October 29, 2024, so that meeting was cancelled and that agenda item deferred. There are several issues that complicate the financing of a large future street improvement project, including that many City assets are already collateralized. This is one reason City staff intends to engage a different municipal advisory firm.

 

 

It will take some time to retain a new municipal advisory firm and develop recommendations for how to finance a new Police Department headquarters and a very large street improvement project. The City Council did budget $5M from Measure P in early 2024 for street projects. That is being used for a $2M slurry seal project that is underway right now (fall 2024) and RFP for development of long term Pavement Management Program, various pavement repairs, pavement striping, pothole repairs, and design of a citywide curb ramp project to support next annual project. While the City is awaiting the analysis and recommendations from the new municipal advisory firm on how to possibly borrow against future Measure P revenues to soon implement a pavement project equivalent to multiple years of Measure P revenue ($60M), City staff will conduct planning and engineering to design a very substantial pavement project for summer 2025, of perhaps $10 million.  This will be reviewed by our new advisory firm and our Finance Department.

11/21/24 Addressing Street Sex Trafficking​

Addressing Street Sex Trafficking 

Background 

The City of Vallejo has consistently experienced street sex trafficking over the years. The City has seen an increase in street sex trafficking in the past few years. 

The Vallejo Police Department is responsible for enforcing laws against sex trafficking, which it does both through proactive work as well as responding to calls for service reporting sex trafficking. The Department is currently experiencing a significant staffing shortage, and is therefore unable to engage in proactive work on this issue. The Department does respond to calls for service on sex trafficking and other matters based on the severity of the call for service and officer availability. Officers are dispatched to high priority calls for service first, which include violent crimes or severe injury (priority 1).  Sex trafficking-related calls for service that are not violent in nature are generally classified as a priority 2 or 3. Due to current call volume and officer availability, priority 2 and 3 calls for service are experiencing significant delayed officer response. 

The Police Department is filling vacant positions and expects to have sufficient staff to reconstitute a Problem Oriented Policing (POP) crime suppression team in summer 2025. This team will focus on addressing street crimes, including prostitution, sideshows, gun violence, auto theft, and quality of life concerns. 

Recent Change in State Law Makes Enforcement Harder 

A recent change in State law makes it more challenging for police departments to address sex trafficking. Senate Bill (SB) 357 - The Safer Streets for All Act became effective January 2023. It repealed the ability for officers to enforce persons loitering with the intent to engage in or solicit prostitution. It made it unlawful for officers to detain individuals based solely on suspicion of loitering for prostitution purposes unless additional criminal violations were also present.  

Officers can still enforce a violation of Penal Code 647(b), which requires proving more than mere loitering to commit these offenses.  Penal Code 647(b) requires engaging in or soliciting to engage in a sexual act in exchange for money.  Obtaining this amount of evidence often requires undercover operations. VPD has experience and historical success in conducting undercover sting operations, however due to current staffing levels, utilizing officers for these campaigns would significantly affect the Police Department’s ability to respond timely to priority calls for service. 

Current Mitigation Strategies 

The Police Department has implemented a demand-reduction strategy known as "Operation Starvation." Through this strategy, officers conduct occasional high-visibility patrols in areas known for prostitution when their time permits. The high-visibility patrols make sex workers and sex buyers concerned about enforcement of anti-solicitation laws, and the sex workers and sex buyers vacate the area. Additionally, officers contact sex workers and provide information on counseling and other exit resources.  

The Police Department is also in the process of reinstating the "Report John Program” (RJP).  Previously, the VPD had entered into an agreement with the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking to bring the RJP to citizens of Vallejo. RJP enabled the community to report suspected sex buying activity through a website. The citizen can provide vehicle and suspect information which is then evaluated by the Vallejo Police Department. If deemed appropriate, a “Letter of Visibility” is sent to the registered owner of a suspected vehicle alerting them that their vehicle was seen in an area known for high levels of prostitution. This also educates the registered owner about the dangers of prostitution and related illicit activities. 

As noted above, when staffing allows, the Police Department intends to reconstitute a POP team to engage in sting operations to address sex trafficking and other issues. 

The Police Department strongly urges community members, local businesses, and stakeholders to actively report any suspicious activity related to sex trafficking by calling 9-1-1. Each report is invaluable in  the Police Department’s ongoing efforts to combat sex trafficking and prostitution. By analyzing incoming data, the Department can identify trends and hotspots related to prostitution and trafficking, which provides intelligence for our operational strategies. This information enables us to allocate resources more efficiently, ensuring officers are effectively deployed to affected areas during peak trafficking times. 

VPD’s long-term goal is to secure vital resources and improve community partnerships, to develop a comprehensive prevention, intervention, and suppression strategy better suited to support victims of sex trafficking and reduce sex trafficking activity.  

Additional Public Safety Assistance 

The Police Department continues to explore ways to temporarily supplement its current staff while it addresses vacancies. The City has requested assistance from the California Highway Patrol and the Department is in discussions with the Solano County Sheriff’s Office for contracted public safety services. The City also plans to expand the use of the unarmed private security guards that provide site security to City Hall to conduct high-visibility security presence and surveillance of key locations in the City. 

The Police Department is committed to working with community members, city officials, and partner agencies to enhance public safety and address these pressing issues. 

 

12/05/24 Navigation Center and Broadway Project Updates

Broadway Project

The Broadway Project is a 47-unit Permanent Supportive Housing Project for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. This is a Homekey project, through the California Department of Housing and Community Development, which is a statewide effort to sustain and rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. The City was awarded a $12 million grant after a successful application process. This is a joint project with developer Firm Foundation Community Housing and operator Shelter Inc.

The project is comprised of 47 studio units and 1 manager unit. It will also include a community room and courtyard. On-site supportive services will be client-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed to help participants with goal setting, life skills, financial literacy, budgeting, needs assessments, and connections to benefits and community resources.

The project is currently over 80% complete and is estimated to finish construction in Q1 of 2025. The project will have a full lease-up within 90 days of construction completion.

Individuals or families will be referred to the project through the Coordinated Entry System, which for Solano County is Resource Connect Solano. City staff and the operator, Shelter Inc., have been working on a referral process to screen applicants to ensure they meet the program requirements and then refer them to the project.

For more information about the project please visit: https://www.myvallejo.com/broadwayproject

Project Funding Sources 

State of CA – Homekey

$11,621,866

City of Vallejo – American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

$3,663,075

Solano County – American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

$3,000,000

State of California – Infill Infrastructure Grant Program

$2,559,656

Wells Fargo Grant (awarded directly to Firm Foundation)

$90,000

LMIHAF Loan

$3,300,000

Measure P Loan

$2,879,665

Total project funding:

$27,114,262

 

Vallejo Homeless Navigation Center

The Vallejo Navigation Center will be a “one-stop-shop” that will provide services and shelter critical to helping to address homelessness in Vallejo. The center will offer 125 shelter beds and provide individual case management connecting people to social and medical services. Participants will have access to job training and be assisted in becoming prepared to secure sustainable permanent housing. The center is anticipated to serve approximately 200 individuals annually.

The Navigation Center construction is on schedule to be completed in January and opened in for move-ins shortly after.

The Linked Equipment restroom contract was approved by Vallejo City Council on 8/5/2024. The restrooms are currently being built off-site and will be shipped and installed at 1937 Broadway once completed.

The City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an operator for the Navigation Center on October 1st, where they were looking for an operator that prioritizes an equitable and inclusive approach, ensuring fair access to services and shelter for all participants. City staff are finalizing the award process and anticipate having a contract finalized for Council approval, with an operator starting in January.

For more information about the project please visit: https://www.myvallejo.com/navigationcenter

Project Funding Sources

City of Vallejo – American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

$2,000,000

Solano County – American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

$1,500,000

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

$3,517,254

General Fund

$162,937

Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program (HHAP)

$1,169,949

Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP)

$50,330

Permanent Local Housing Allocation Program (PLHA)

2019, 2020, 2022

$$2,155,287

Capital Outlay

$1,420,000

Total:

$11,975,757

 

In addition to the project construction funding above the City of Vallejo was granted $6.1M in operating funding from our local Healthcare Partners: Sutter Solano, Kaiser Permanente, and NorthBay.

This project could not have been possible without the support and funding from the City of Vallejo, County of Solano, CAP Solano JPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, California Department of Housing and Community Development, Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente and NorthBay Health.

Site Powered by: Civiclive © 2004-2024