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Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
Issue #18 ~ January, 2005
(Back to index of all issues)
Happy New Year from the Staff and Council of Redwood City!
IN THIS ISSUE:
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Council to Fill Vacant Seat by Appointment - Deadline to Apply is Monday January 3
With the election of now-former Council member Ira Ruskin to the State Assembly, the City Council of Redwood City must fill that vacant seat. To do this, the Council will accept letters of intent from members of the community interested in serving, hear presentations by the applicants, and make an appointment by the end of January. The appointee will serve on the Council until the November 2005 general election, at which time the seat will be open for special election to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.
Letters of intent will be accepted through January 3, 2005 (postmarks are acceptable). Letters may be sent to the City Clerk’s office, City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, 94063, or via email to phowe@redwoodcity.org, or by fax to 650-261-9102.
Letters should be no more than two pages, and it’s suggested they include the applicant’s reasons for desiring to serve on the Council, and an outline of the applicant’s view of the challenges and issues which may be facing Redwood City in the coming years. The letter should be accompanied by a separate personal/professional biography.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a United States citizen, and must have lived within incorporated Redwood City for at least 30 days. The California Fair Political Practices Commission requires Council members, including appointees, to file financial disclosure statements, which become part of the public record. More information is available from the Office of the City Clerk at 780-7220.
It’s anticipated that the candidates’ presentations to the Council will take place during the Council’s January 24th meeting. The appointment is expected to be made on January 31st.
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The Forum Presents: Healthy Streets for Healthy People
Another exciting educational forum on urban design has been scheduled in Redwood City! On Wednesday, January 5, 2005, from 6:00 to 7:45 pm, Mr. Dan Burden, a nationally-acclaimed pedestrian, bicycle, traffic calming and livable communities expert, will discuss how to bring back full and vital health to our neighborhood and town center streets.
Mr. Burden is the Director of Walkable Communities, Inc., a current National Advisory Board Member of Active Living By Design, a consultant, planner, expert witness, author, and a nationally-recognized authority on bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs. He will be sharing best principles, practices and case studies for creating healthy streets in our communities. His presentation will cover how to do a complete checkup, diagnosis and overall health analysis of our neighborhood and town center streets to restore them to health, by utilizing the latest innovations in street design and new approaches to creating more pedestrian-friendly communities.
The Forum takes place at the Little Fox Theater, 2209 Broadway, in downtown Redwood City. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the cost is $10 per person, payable at the door. An optional no-host dinner with the presenter and other participants will be held following the Forum for those wishing to continue the discussion.
The Forum at Redwood City brings nationally-known speakers and presenters to Downtown Redwood City for in-depth dialogues on city design issues, providing an on-going venue for professional-level education and dialogue about urban design issues, today’s hottest urban design topics, and most cutting-edge techniques. More information is available by calling 650-780-7363.
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New Water Conservation Web Pages Debut
Effective and ongoing water conservation is crucial to our current and future water supply in Redwood City, and we’re working hard to give you the tools to save water, and save money at the same time.
To help get the information to you, Redwood City created a new set of water conservation web pages, located at www.redwoodcity.org/conservation.
There, you’ll find lots of updated and easy-to-navigate detail about our water conservation programs, including:
- SMART Home kits
- SMART Home house calls
- Toilet rebates
- Toilet replacement
- Clothes washer rebates
- School educational programs
- Large landscape irrigation efficiency
…and more!
To make sure you home or business is "water wise” and to learn how to save money, go to www.redwoodcity.org/conservation.
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Yahoo! Donates to Redwood City Library Foundation
The Yahoo! Employee Foundation has generously donated $25,000 to the Library Foundation to fund the Teen Homework Center, located in Redwood City’s downtown library, and the library’s Traveling Storytime program. Of that donation, $22,000 will support the Teen Homework Center for fiscal year 2003-2004, and the remaining $3,000 will go toward training new volunteers to read stories to youngsters at day care centers and preschools throughout Redwood City.
Both the Teen Homework Center and the Traveling Storytime program were originally funded by the Foundation, and later were funded entirely by the library’s operating budget. However, with recent budget cuts, the Foundation once again took on the responsibility for funding these two worthwhile programs, and was able to obtain this generous donation from Yahoo!, the Sunnyvale-based Internet company.
The Redwood City Library Foundation was formed in 1998 to increase financial support for the library’s services, collections and programs, supplementing the scope of the library’s regular budget. The Foundation has successfully funded the Traveling Storytime program and the Teen Homework Center, and has contributed to library collections at the downtown and community libraries.
Many thanks, Yahoo!
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Reward Offered for Information on Fatal Hit and Run Accident
Redwood City Police Department investigators are continuing to follow-up leads concerning the identity of a hit-and-run driver responsible for a pedestrian fatality that took place on December 6, 2004 on Woodside Road. The police department is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension of the driver of a dark-colored SUV (sport utility vehicle) with front-end damage, which left the scene of the 8:04 pm fatal collision.
Anyone with information concerning the identity of the driver involved in the December 6 accident should contact Detective Eric Stasiak at 650-780-7141. This is the third pedestrian fatality on Woodside Road in 2004. Additionally, two pedestrian fatalities have occurred only blocks away from Woodside Road during the same period.
Police officers will be distributing safety information to residences and businesses while at the same time increasing traffic enforcement efforts. Earlier this year the police department successfully applied for a State grant to buy a portable message board to be used primarily for speed control and other traffic hazards on streets that need additional traffic enforcement. The department anticipates receiving the message board in early 2005 and will immediately begin using it to impart traffic, speed, and pedestrian safety information. The City’s goal is zero pedestrian fatalities for 2005. Traffic safety questions should be directed to Sergeant Dan Mulholland, 650-780-7614.
Tragically, approximately 6,000 pedestrians are killed each year throughout the United States. Redwood City urges motorists to obey all traffic laws and be watchful for pedestrians. Further, pedestrians should always follow these safe practices:
- Cross only when it is safe and always use crosswalks
- Look to the left, the right, then left again before crossing
- Use crosswalk signals…wait for the WALK signal
- When using crosswalks, continue to watch for oncoming traffic
- See and be seen…wear bright-colored clothing
- Allow plenty of time to cross streets
- If walking at night, carry a flashlight
- Never insist on the right-of-way when crossing a street
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Schaberg Library Renovation Contract Awarded
Last month, the City Council awarded the contract for renovation of the Schaberg Library to Coast Side Associates of Half Moon Bay. Construction is slated to begin after the first of the year, and to take an estimated three months to complete. The project will cost approximately $582,000, funded with the City’s Capital Improvement Program budget.
A large part of the necessary renovation work entails bringing the library into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The project will improve accessibility by providing a ramp entry for the meeting room, replacing a stairway, redesigning and expanding the public restrooms, widening entry doors, and installing new carpeting and paint.
The Library will also take this opportunity to expand the building’s public spaces, increase the number of displays for books and other media, and add more computers and a self-checkout machine. The meeting room downstairs will be refurbished to allow for public meetings and after school homework help. Other necessary work includes asbestos abatement and new landscaping.
The Schaberg Library, a branch of the Redwood City Public Library system, is a very popular facility, utilized frequently by all ages from infants through senior citizens. City and library staff are looking forward to reopening the revitalized library with a grand opening celebration, welcoming customers who have waited patiently to return to their neighborhood branch library.
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