|
Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
Issue #36 ~ August, 2006
(Back to index of all issues)
IN THIS ISSUE:
**************************
Century Theatres and Other Businesses Open Downtown – More to Come!
Last Friday the long-awaited Century Theatres multi-plex opened its doors to the public, marking a major milestone in the revitalization of Downtown Redwood City. Crowds of people were enjoying the movies, and also enjoying just walking Downtown and experiencing the new look and feel.
Visitors are also now enjoying the other businesses which have opened in other parts of the Downtown retail-cinema project: Chipotle Mexican restaurant; Cost Plus; San Mateo Credit Union; Shoe Pavilion; and Marble Slab Creamery.
Other business slated to open in the very near future include Beard Papa’s featuring high-end creampuffs and other delights, the very popular Escape from New York Pizza, the sure-to-be enjoyed Portabella Grill…and many more to come later!
And, the beautiful new Courthouse Square public plaza, and the refurbished and restored Courthouse façade are well underway, with completion expected by October 1. Look for announcements about a tentatively-scheduled October 15th grand unveiling for the entire new Downtown!
**************************
Downtown Parking Information
Here is the very basic pricing information for parking Downtown, and a reminder that it’s not all $5 an hour - let’s put an end to that tall tale right now!
In fact, most Downtown parking is just 25 cents to 75 cents an hour, and between merchant validation and free areas, you can often park for nothing at all.
A few details (go online for all the information on where to park, how to park, and more): Lots of free parking is available with validation from many Downtown merchants. On nights and weekends there are many free spaces that are just a block or two from the center of action. Overall, most parking is just 25¢ to 75¢ an hour, and there are no time limits - pay for as much time as you need.
WEEKDAYS
- All parking: 25¢-50¢ per hour; most are FREE after 10 pm
- Jefferson and Marshall garages, and Middlefield Lot:
- 4 hours FREE with Century Theatre validation
- 1 – 2 hours FREE with validation from other participating merchants
NIGHTS & WEEKENDS
- County Garage on Middlefield between Bradford and Veterans (ground floor): FREE
- Core Area street parking: 50¢-75¢ per hour; FREE after 10 pm
- Standard parking lots: 25¢-50¢ per hour; FREE after 10 pm
- General street parking (outside Core Area): FREE
- Jefferson and Marshall garages, and Middlefield Lot: 4 hours FREE with Century Theatre validation; 1 – 2 hours FREE with validation from other participating merchants ($5 per hour without validation)
Many of these changes in our Downtown parking systems will take a little time to get used to, but the small inconvenience of ‘learning’ a new system will quickly be offset by the experience of a revitalized Downtown. As the Century Theatres and other businesses open, the City continues to monitor everything very closely and will make changes as deemed necessary.
**************************
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training
Redwood City’s new CERT Program is a great way for neighbors to join together and prepare for potential disaster such as earthquake, major fire, or flood.
The CERT program educates you and your neighbors about how you can best prepare your household, family, and neighborhood, and howto respond during the aftermath of a disaster that impacts your neighborhood. It provides community members with training in basic disaster response skills including:
- Fire safety
- Light search and rescue
- Team organization
- Disaster medical operations
The City encourages everyone to get CERT training – classes are now forming! Call 780-7400 and ask about CERT.
**************************
Apply Now for the Citizen Police Academy
From forensics to narcotics, auto theft to SWAT teams, and juvenile crime to K9, the 15th annual Redwood City Citizens Police Academy offers an in-depth, “real life” look at the day-to-day experience of police work.
The Academy is a rigorous and exciting 11-week program that is modeled after the State’s curriculum for actual police academies. Applications are available now for the 2006 session, which starts on September 6th.
Each participant receives intensive instruction in a variety of real-lifelaw enforcement activities. There’s no sugar-coating or soft-pedaling – it’s law enforcement reality, covering virtually every aspect of the roles and responsibilities of the Redwood City Police Department.
Call 780-7104 to have an application sent to you, or get the application online. Participants must be at least 18 years of age and live or work within San Mateo County. This Academy is not intended to train participants for certification as law enforcement officials.
**************************
City Seeking Community Input on General Plan “Infrastructure” Element
The Redwood City Planning Commission invites the community to participate in shaping the future of our community, as part of the General Plan Update. On August 15th, 2006 at 7 pm in the Council Chambers in City Hall ( 1017 Middlefield Road), the Planning Commission will have a community discussion on the “Infrastructure” element of the General Plan update. Over the next several months, all of the Elements will be discussed at public meetings.
The Infrastructure element addresses the way that the City moves, delivers, or processes certain vital services and functions such as water, sewage, energy, communications, and solid waste/recycling.
This is all part of the Update of Redwood City’s General Plan – the document which lays the foundation for the long-term physical development of our community.
The community is encouraged to attend the August 15th Planning Commission meeting, to comment on the Infrastructure Element of the General Plan, and help the City to create a blueprint for what our community will be like in the next 20 years. Please visit the General Plan web page.
**************************
Senior Center Seeking Volunteers
Redwood City’s Veterans Memorial Senior Center is offering a great number of fun, interesting, and rewarding volunteer opportunities to people of all ages. These opportunities are perfect for the student who needs community service hours, for anyone with some spare time who’s interested in a satisfying and fulfilling volunteer job working with the elderly, or for someone with a special talent that they’d like to share.
Just by stopping by the Veterans Memorial Senior Center at 1455 Madison Avenue in Redwood City (or calling 780-7320) , interested community members can learn about the numerous volunteer opportunities offered. The Senior Center will fit a volunteer opportunity into even the busiest schedule, and is always open to new ideas for volunteer projects that will help the City to better serve the public.
**************************
Caltrans Doing Night Work on El Camino Real
Underway now, and l asting until the end of September, Caltrans is performing major roadwork on both directions of El Camino Real in Redwood City, between Edgewood Road and Berkshire Street. At just over two miles, this is approximately the entire length of El Camino Real within Redwood City.
The City has been informed that the work will take place only between the hours of 9:00 pm and 7:00 am, in order to reduce the impact to motorists. This project consists of grinding the roadway, installing detector loops, overlaying/resurfacing the street, raising the existing utility covers to grade, and re-striping the roadway.
The contractor is allowed to work up to seven nights a week, and during this work there will be lane closures, lights, heavy equipment, and workers in the roadway. Motorists are advised to use extra caution when driving on El Camino Real in Redwood City during the construction hours. There will be little if any impact to motorists using El Camino during the day.
El Camino Real is a state route, and Caltrans is the state agency with responsibility for the roadway’s maintenance. Anyone with questions, concerns, or complaints regarding this project can contact Caltrans at 510-579-0604. The Caltrans website is www.dot.ca.gov.
|
