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Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
Issue #19 ~ February, 2005
(Back to index of all issues)
IN THIS ISSUE:
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The Forum Presents: "The Economics of Mixed Use - A New Opportunity for Downtown Development"
On Wednesday, February 2, 6:00 to 7:45 pm, noted real estate economist Denise Conley will be speaking on the “Return to Downtown,” where changing household composition and a strong interest in a more urban lifestyle are creating new economic opportunities for both residential and commercial development within historic downtowns.
Ms. Conley, with more than 25 years of experience in market and financial feasibility assessment, will discuss the emergence of market sectors that prefer downtown living and explore what this means for our existing town centers. Shifting demographics, rising home prices, and worsening commutes are making the traditional suburban single family home a less acceptable choice, and there is a rising demand for in-town housing choices coupled with a growing acceptance of urban density.
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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Preschool/Childcare Parents Resource Fair
The City of Redwood City, Bay Area Parent Magazine, and the Redwood City Mother’s Club are teaming up to give parents the information necessary to help them make the best preschool and child care decisions possible. The community is invited to the 10th annual “Preschool Preview Night,” a preschool/child care & parent resource faire that has become a key resource for parents considering their child’s early care and education.
This open house event will be held on Thursday, February 3, 2005 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Avenue, in Redwood City.
Parents are invited to drop in and see displays and obtain information from a variety of early care and education programs, from Belmont through Palo Alto, and representatives from these programs will be available to talk with parents about their organizations. Parents’ questions about family child care homes, State licensing, in-home care, quality indicators, accreditation, and more can be answered, giving them the tools necessary to help them make informed and intelligent decisions about their child’s care and educational development.
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Help Shape the Future of Our City - General Plan Update Meeting
Redwood City has been holding a series of workshops throughout the community, asking some key questions about the future of the City – What do you like about your City? What needs to be improved? What do you want your neighborhood and your community to look like in 10 years? What kind of community do you want your children to have in the future? How should the City address housing, transportation, development, and other issues?
These and other questions will be discussed at the seventh public workshop on the City’s General Plan update, scheduled for 7:30 pm on Tuesday, February 15 2005, in the Community Room of the Downtown Library in Redwood City (1044 Middlefield Road).
It’s an opportunity for the community to be directly involved in defining and creating a plan for the future of Redwood City. In addition to refreshments, all attendees receive a $10 coupon for use toward any Parks and Recreation Department class or program. More information on the update of the Genearal Plan is available online, by calling 650-780-7234, or by emailing generalplan@redwoodcity.org.
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Sign Up for Redwood City PACT!
Applications are now available for the spring, 2005 session of PACT (Partnership Academy for Community Teamwork). The deadline to submit an application is 5:00 pm, March 11, 2005.
You can get an application from the City Manager’s office, located in City Hall at 1017 Middlefield Road, or by calling 650-780-7300. The application is also available online. Enrollment is limited to 40 participants, and high-school aged youth are encouraged to apply (waiver must be signed by parent or guardian).
This nine-week citizens’ academy will provide participants with a hands-on overview of the management and governance of Redwood City, while helping to build relationships that will strengthen our entire community.
The Spring, 2005 program takes place each Thursday from April 7th through June 2nd and engages in dynamic and interesting activities illustrating how the City functions. The sessions cover subjects from Public Works to the Police Department, from the City Council to Finance, from the Fire Department to the Library, and more. This is a great opportunity for interested community members to get an insider’s view of where the City is going, become experts on how the City operates, and help to build a great community, together.
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City Seeks Applicants for Boards, Commissions
The City of Redwood City announces great opportunities for any adult resident interested in helping to build a great community! Applications are now available for several of the City’s appointed boards, commissions, and committees and members of the community are invited to offer their interest, experience, and enthusiasm for the benefit of their City.
Here are the boards, commissions, and committees for which the City is currently seeking applicants:
- Library Board
- Board of Port Commissioners
- Home Improvement Loan Committee
- Planning Commission
- Historic Resources Advisory Commission
(appointed by Planning Commission)
Further information and applications are available by calling the City Clerk’s office at 650-780-7220, on the City’s website, or by visiting the City Clerk’s office at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City. Applicants’ basic requirements are that they have an interest in civic and community improvement, are 18 years of age or older, are a United States citizen, and are a resident of incorporated Redwood City. The deadline for submitting applications is March 18, 2005.
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Council Appoints Alicia Aguirre to Fill Vacancy
On January 24, the City Council of Redwood City appointed Alicia Aguirre to fill the seat which has been vacant since last fall. Aguirre is a member of the Redwood City School District Board (an elected post from which she will resign to serve on the Council), and has been a professor at Cañada College for over 16 years. She is also currently on special assignment as Visiting Dean at the Sequoia Union High School District, serving as Director of English Learners. Aguirre has a Masters Degree in Education, has undertaken doctoral studies at the Universidad Iberoamericana, and has been honored as a Fulbright Exchange Professor.
The Council members heard presentations by the 11 people applying to fill the seat vacated by Ira Ruskin when he was elected to the State Assembly last November. Aguirre 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.
“This is a great opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to the Council” said Aguirre. “This City is taking the lead on so many great things – our downtown renaissance, the recycled water project, addressing our affordable housing needs, partnering in the education of our youth, and building our community on the strength of its diversity - and I’m proud to be able to contribute as a Council member.”
Aguirre has been an active member of the community, serving on the boards of numerous organizations in San Mateo County including Youth and Family Assistance, Service League of San Mateo County, Latina Mentor Advisory Council of the San Mateo County Office of Education, Redwood City Library Foundation, Young Latino Leaders, Redwood City International, Hispanos Unidos, the Mt. Carmel School Board, and others. She is a long-time resident of Redwood City, and is married with two sons.
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Oracle Donates to New Shores Library Collection
The Redwood City Library Foundation announced today that Redwood Shores-based Oracle Corporation has awarded it a grant of $161,000 to help fund the collection at the planned Redwood Shores Library. This marks the first gift of its kind in the Foundation’s new campaign to raise $750,000 to stock the new branch library with books and other library materials.
Funds will go toward the creation of two Science and Technology hubs located within the library. The one for young adults and older children will offer an integrated presentation of print and digital resources in the fields of science, mathematics, and technology. A bank of state-of-the-art computers with Internet access and specialized databases anchor the collection; around the perimeter will be a collection of books, reference books, and subject specific periodicals. Youngsters aged two to six will have their own Science and Nature Hub, with a collection of science books designed to appeal to that age group and computers loaded with early learning software and links to sites for younger children.
Many thanks to our great corporate neighbor, Oracle Corporation!
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
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Peninsula Community Foundation Offers Neighborhood Improvement Grants
Redwood City is pleased to pass along this information about the Peninsula Community Foundation’s (PCF) Neighborhood Grants Program. They offer grants from $500 to $6,000 for great neighborhood improvement project ideas.
PCF is also holding a workshop on March 3rd so folks can learn more about the program and how to apply for a grant. And, on March 17th they’re holding a follow up proposal-writing workshop to which you can bring draft grant applications for review.
This is a wonderful opportunity provided by PCF - give some thought to developing your neighborhood improvement ideas into a proposal and submit it to PCF. It’s a great way to help build community! Visit their website for all the details.
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