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1. Ward 7 community meeting planned

   By The Bakersfield Californian

   Wednesday, May 16 2012 11:53 AM

   Bakersfield City Councilman Russell Johnson will host a community meeting in Ward 7, which he represents, to talk with residents and answer questions.

   The meeting is planned for next Monday, May 21, at 6 p.m. at Berkshire Elementary School, in the school's multipurpose room. The school is at 3900 Berkshire Rd., in south Bakersfield.

   City councilmembers hold community meetings in their wards from time to time, and Johnson said this will be his first since being elected to the council in 2010.

   Johnson said the meeting will cover infrastructure, parks and efforts to fight graffiti, which he calls an ongoing issue. Also, several road improvements in the area have gotten the OK to move forward, so the meeting will also address those projects. Improvements are planned for Wible Road, Hosking Avenue and Stine Road.

   "It's for residents to share their concerns," Johnson said. "Because we're in the middle of the budget, if there's other issues we're not aware of, its a great opportunity for me to get other ideas from residents."

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2. Bike Bakersfield treats commuters during Bike to Work Week

   This week is national Bike to Work Week, focused on encouraging commuters to bike rather than drive to work.

3. City Manager apologizes to council over High Speed Rail plans

   In his weekly memo Friday afternoon, City Manager Alan Tandy apologized to city council members for not telling them sooner about a new High Speed Rail alignment being proposed for downtown Bakersfield.

4. City may require employees to take public records training

   The controversial question of how Bakersfield City Hall handles its emails got a partial answer Monday when a city council committee recommended more training for staffers about what do to with their email.

5. Bakersfield sales tax growth rate "more normal"

   Bakersfield sales tax revenue grew by 2.07 percent in the last three months of 2011 versus the same quarter a year earlier.

6. Homebuilding task force ends meetings for now

   The Bakersfield Housing Incentive Task Force has ended regular meetings for now, and its final action was to direct homebuilders to a statewide program to help them pay development fees.

7. Public hearing planned for Highway 178 widening

   CalTrans, city and Thomas Roads Improvement Program staff will hold an open house on March 20 for public comment on plans to widen Highway 178. The project is part of the Thomas Roads Improvement Program.

9. Leap Day specials at Bakersfield businesses

   The Bakersfield Convention & Visitors Bureau and several area businesses will offer special deals on Wednesday, Feb. 29, to mark the Leap Year.

10. Californian Radio looks at high speed rail

    Executive Editor John Arthur is the host on Californian Radio Friday.

11. On hold: Court's redevelopment decision interrupts local projects

    A gas station and market in Arvin. Industrial jobs in Shafter. The need to keep companies in Tehachapi.

12. Environmental report out on Rosedale widening

    The city's Thomas Roads Improvement Program office released a draft environmental impact report for the planned widening of Rosedale Highway on Friday, kicking off a 45-day public comment period.

13. TRIP Draft Environmental Report Available

    The draft Environmental Impact Report for another stage of the Thomas Roads Improvement Program was available to the public Friday morning on the TRIP website, www.BakersfieldFreeways.us.

14. Future Redevelopment Plans Will Wait

    While two new affordable housing projects opened this month in Bakersfield, the city's Redevelopment Agency is holding back on making plans for future projects until the state Supreme Court decides if the state can effectively end redevelopment agencies.