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At its meeting tonight the City Council will consider authorizing the city manager to contract with a hazardous waste disposal company for the cleanup and removal of hazardous spills that may occur in the future. 

The recommendation will allow the city manager to immediately execute toxic clean ups for up to $500,000 without having to have the funds approved by the City Council. 

Five companies submitted bids for the contract and Consolidated Waste Management was selected as the lowest responsible bidder. If Consolidated is unable to perform cleanup tasks, the city manager has the authority to contract with two other companies, Sturgeon and Sons and Ecology Control. 

Aquatic add-on 

Mayor Shirley Dean has recommended the council adopt a measure asking the city manager look into purchasing land next to the Aquatic Park that will soon be vacated. 

The land is currently being used by American Soils. Zasa Swanson, president of Berkeley Partners for Parks wrote a letter to the mayor and City Council, that stated, “It is one of the last sites available in the entire city where a playing field could be added.” 

According to the letter there is enough acreage for a playing field, a basketball court and other amenities. 

The city manager will investigate applying for funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Murray-Hayden Urban Youth Services Grant Program. Both options would require a percentage of matching funds. 

Police proclamation 

The mayor will ask the City Council to commend the actions of seven police officers during the fire at 1628 Josephine St. on May 23.  

The officers are credited with saving the lives of four people, including a toddler, who were trapped on the roof of the building engulfed in flames. Officers Dozier, Lindenau, Louis, Luna, Mercado, Pon and Wilson will be thanked by the City Council for their actions, professionalism and dedication to the police department. 

Harrison Field update 

The City Council will hear from the city manager’s office about the costs to date of cleaning up groundwater contaminated with chrome 6 that filled excavation pits during the construction of the skateboard park at Harrison Field. 

Chrome 6 is a known carcinogen that increases the risk of cancer if inhaled. It is also known to cause a variety of diseases if it is ingested through the stomach through drinking water or other means. 

City officials have said there is no threat of the plume reaching drinking water and claimed there is no danger so long as the contaminant is not ingested through the stomach or lungs. However, construction of the skate park was halted and there has been no word as to when it will begin again. 

The City Council has already approved $100,000 for the immediate de-watering of the nine-foot deep pits. 

The City Council Meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at 2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way at 7 p.m. The meeting will be broadcast live on KPFB Radio 89.3 and Cable B-TV (channel 25).