|
Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
Issue #42 ~ February, 2007
(Back to index of all issues)
IN THIS ISSUE:
Downtown Precise Plan on Planning Commission Agenda - February 6th
After numerous community workshops and meetings, a Draft Downtown Precise Plan and Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) have been prepared. The Planning Commission will consider certification of the FEIR and a recommendation to the City Council to consider adoption of the Draft Downtown Precise Plan at its meeting on Tuesday, February 6th, 2007. The meeting begins at 7 pm in the Council Chambers at 1017 Middlefield Road.
The community is invited to attend and participate in the Planning  Commission’s consideration. The City Council will be briefed by staff on the progress and status of the Downtown Precise Plan at its regular public meeting on February 5th, 7:00 pm in the Council chambers.
The Draft Downtown Precise Plan outlines our Downtown’s future urban design, land uses, housing, architectural styles and other developmental aspects. It was developed with a great deal of community involvement and input, as people shared ideas and opinions, and helped the City to move forward in producing this important blueprint for the future. The Draft Downtown Precise Plan is available online, at City Hall, and at all Redwood City libraries. For more information call 780-7234.
**************************
Join "The Big Read" in March
 The Big Read is a great community-building activity for families, friends, kids and seniors, neighbors, and everyone from throughout the community. The purpose is to promote reading, a love of books and learning, and to highlight the need to stamp out illiteracy in our community.
The community of Redwood City will be invited to read the classic book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury during The Big Read – and then participate in a variety of fun, interesting, and illuminating book-related activities during a month-long calendar of events.
More information is available at the Montalvo Arts Center website!
Events include:
- Gala opening reception with special guest speakers
- Book discussions
- “Meet the author” events
- Panel discussions and book analyses
- "Fair on the Square" outdoor festival
- Film screenings
- Kids’ story times
- Live discussion with Ray Bradbury (via satellite)
- …and more for the whole family!
A great community partnership is hosting The Big Read: the National Endowment for the Arts, non-profit Montalvo Arts Center, the City of  Redwood City, the Redwood City Public Library, the Redwood City School District, Cañada College, and the San Mateo County History Museum.
The Big Read is sponsored by Peninsula Community Foundation, Montalvo Arts Center, the City of Redwood City, Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble, and Applied Materials.
This event is part of The Big Read, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in Partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
**************************
PACT Starts Soon - Register Now!
Applications are now available for the Spring, 2007 session of PACT (Partnership Academy for Community Teamwork). The deadline to submit an application is 5:00 pm, March 9th, 2007.
Applications are available 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. Middle school and high school students are encouraged to participate (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, 2007 program takes place each Wednesday from April 4th through May 30th 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. For more information call 780-7300.
**************************
Apply Now to Serve on a Board, Commission, or Committee!
The City of Redwood City is seeking applicants for appointment to several of its advisory boards, commissions, and committees. This is a wonderful opportunity for interested City residents to become involved in participating in City government and serving the community. Members of the public are invited to bring their interest, experience, and enthusiasm to one of these boards for the benefit of everyone who lives and works in Redwood City.
The deadline for submitting applications is 5 pm, Friday, March 16, 2007.
The City is currently seeking applicants for the following boards, commissions, and committees (click here for the application details):
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.
Basic requirements are that applicants 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 in corporated Redwood City (some board or commission positions may have additional requirements or preferred areas of expertise).
**************************
You Can Reduce the Solid Waste Generated In Your Home
In last month's issue of Redwood City E-News, we provided 10 easy things you can do to reduce carbon emissions (see that list here). This month, we'll feature one specific action - reducing the solid waste generated in your home.
The average US household produces about 4.5 punds of solid waste each and every day. About one-third of all that is just packaging from products we buy. In addition to the amount of useless packaging that goes into the landfill, producing this material requires a great deal of energy. In fact every pound of solid waste that goes into the landfill actually generates 1.5 pounds of greenhouse gases (raw-material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, etc.).
 How can you cut back on that waste? Here are some easy steps:
- Recycle! Get recycling guidelines from our local solid waste carrier, Allied Waste of San Mateo County, and make sure you're recycling all you can.
- Reduce unecessary packaging by bringing your own reusable cloth bags when shopping, buy in bulk, select items with less packaging and buy reusable items.
- Reduce junk mail by writing to:
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 9008
Farmington, NY 11735
Request that your name and address be removed from all 3rd class mailing lists. You can make the request online for a $5 fee by going to www.directmail.com/junk_mail.
Contact the companies still sending you junk mail and request to be removed from their lists.
Take these simple steps in your home and you'll be amazed at the reduction in solid waste your family generates! And, you'll feel really great about being part of the solution to global warming.
**************************
Electronic Waste Disposal Event
Wondering what to do with that old computer, television, toner cartridge, printer, or other obsolete electronic device?
You already know that these items are not suitable for regular trash or recycling, but here's great news: A special FREE E-Waste Recycling  event is scheduled for Redwood City, on February 24 & 25, 2007! The event will be from 9 am to 3 pm at Redwood City's Public Works parking lot, 1400 Broadway (between Woodside Road and Chestnut).
You can help keep these items away from our roadside, and the landfill. Get that old stuff out of your house or garage, and drop off any of these items for free:
- Televisions
- Monitors
- Computers & Computer Components
- Fax Machines
- Printers
- Copiers
- Toner Cartridges
- MP3 Players
- VCR’s & DVD’s
- Cell Phones
- Telephone Equipment
(Please, NO household appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators, toaster ovens, batteries, light bulbs, etc.)
For more information call Universal Waste at (888) 832-9839 or go online to www.unwaste.com. Universal Waste Management, Inc. Is a State-Approved E-Waste Collector. E-Waste Recycling Is a California State-Funded Program.
This event is supported by the Redwood City Pride & Beautification Committee.
Want to volunteer for a couple of hours to help make this recycling event a great success? You'll help direct and guide cars through the parking area, where Universal Waste Management staff will handle the recyclables. Just call 780-7464 and ask for Kathy Hunter or Marilyn Harang, or leave a message with contact information and you'll be contacted to set up your volunteer time.
**************************
Library Offers Live Homework Help
Children, teenagers, and parents in Redwood City never have to be stumped by a tough homework assignment again!
Students from 4th grade to 12th grade (and college introduction level) can simply visit the Redwood City Public Library or the Library’s web site from a PC to get immediate, free help from qualified tutors.
The Redwood City Public Library now offers Live Homework Help,  an online tutoring service from Tutor.com that connects students to expert tutors in math, science, social studies and English via the Internet. Spanish-speaking tutors are available in math and science.
This free service allows students to connect to an expert tutor either from the Redwood City Public Library or from their home PC (sorry, Mac's don't currently work with this service) with a library card, every day from 1 pm to 10 pm and receive homework help from a live tutor via the library’s website.
**************************
Spring Gardening Workshops Scheduled
Learn how to beautify your garden and use water efficiently in
the 2nd Annual Spring Gardening Workshop.
All classes are FREE and offered on a first come first served basis.
Choose one class or attend them all!
- Drought Tolerant Plants
Learn the importance of using low-water-use and drought tolerant plants in your garden. You will become familiar with successful trees, shrubs and groundcovers well suited for your garden.
- Saturday, March 17 - 9:00 am to noon OR
- Thursday, April 19 - 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Irrigation Scheduling & Maintenance
How much water is enough...or too much? You’ll learn an easy
method to develop water schedules for your garden, and practical guidelines for the maintenance of your irrigation system.
- Saturday, March 24 - 9:00 am to noon OR
- Thursday, April 26 - 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Garden Design
Learn the importance of implementing an overall garden design program when installing or renovating your garden. This is an excellent course for homeowners looking for ideas to improve their garden, with water efficiency in mind.
- Saturday, April 7 - 9:00 am to noon
To Register Call (650) 780-7436 or visit redwoodcity.org/conservation.
Space is limited and will fill quickly. Call today to reserve your seat!
All workshops will be held at the Redwood City Council Chambers, 1017 Middlefield Road.
**************************
Homeless Count Provides Data for City, County
A group of 48 people worked in Redwood City in late January to tally one of the City’s most at-risk groups - the homeless population - and perform a thorough search for homeless individuals and families in our community who are on the streets.
The purpose of this effort is to help the City, the County, and service agencies to do a better job of accessing necessary resources and providing services to the homeless. The information gathered is also important in fulfilling federal funding requirements on a countywide basis. This year’s effort was the most wide-ranging attempt yet, throughout San Mateo County, to count and learn about the homeless in our community.
The total numbers for Redwood City/North Fair Oaks homeless count are:
- 81 Individual Men
- 22 Individual Women
- 2 Individual Youth
- 23 Cars with sleeping occupants
- 31 Vans or RVs with electrical or water connections
- 13 Encampments with people
These numbers represent only the “street count” portion of the City’s homeless population. All of the county shelters and other emergency shelter programs are submitting separate information that will be combined for a more accurate total number.
There are homeless in our community – and as a community we can help. One way is to contact the Shelter Network at (650) 685-5880 and ask how you can help, or contact the Volunteer Center of San Mateo County at 650-235-3550 and discover a variety of ways you can be part of the solution.
**************************
Free Tree Pruning Workshop
 The City of Redwood City, in partnership with local non-profit CityTrees, presents the Third Annual FREE Tree Pruning Workshop! This great hands-on seminar includes classroom training on proper tree care, pruning, and tree maintenance, as well as hands-on pruning practice on live trees in the field.
Reservations and more information are available by calling Dan Beeder at 650-465-6586. The workshop takes place on Saturday, February 17th, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Public Works Services Department building, 1400 Broadway in Redwood City.
Participants will learn basic tree biology and how it influences taking care of young trees. A demonstration of safe tree pruning work practices and handling of tools is also part of the workshop. After the “classroom” time, the group will then meet at a selected site in Redwood City to practice their newly-learned tree pruning techniques. Refreshments will be served.
**************************
Water Conservation Annual Report Available
The very first Annual Report from Redwood City's Water Conservation Program is now available! Call 780-7436 to request a copy, or go online and download the report as a PDF.
 In this Report you’ll find information on our water conservation
accomplishments for the 2005-2006 fiscal year, an overview of the programs we are currently implementing, and a look at the new water-saving ideas we’ll be pursuing in the near future.
We're very happy to congratulate the water-conserving community of Redwood City for your great performance in fiscal year 2005/06: for the first time since 1998 our water purchases were below our contracted supply amount! In fact, you conserved nearly 150 million
gallons during that period, and we ended up about 55 acre feet below our contracted supply amount.
Way to go, Redwood City! This proves that our water conservation efforts are effectively working. Of course this is great news, but don’t forget that water conservation must be ongoing, and is a never-ending effort.
Let’s keep up the good work, and continue to conserve water for today, and for the future. We’re confident that by working together with the community we’ll continue to “close the gap” between our water supply and demand, and assure that the quality of life for everyone who lives and works in Redwood City is maintained and enriched.
**************************
New High-Tech Parking Meters Debut in Redwood City
The City of Redwood City is installing an advanced new parking meter system in the Downtown area. These multi-space meters will make it more convenient to park in the core of Downtown. The meters run on solar power and accept many more forms of payment than the old-fashioned single-space parking meters. Now you’ll be able to pay with coins, bills, credit cards, and even your cell phone!
Time limits have been eliminated from the metered area, so you can now pay for as much time as you need. And if your visit takes you away from your car and you need to add more time, don’t worry! You can simply add time from the nearest meter.
Prices are configured to keep some spaces open everywhere, even right in front your destination. So if you want to park right in the heart of the action, you can! Or, if you would prefer a lower price, simply park on a side street or in a parking lot. There is even plenty of free parking on nights and weekends within a short walk of Broadway
Look for the new high-tech meters Downtown!
**************************
Schools Invited to Learn How to Create an Educational Garden
Attention Educators:
~ The Watershed Project presents an educator workshop ~
Kids in Gardens
Get a jump-start on creating and sustaining an educational garden for your school! Learn the skills you need to propagate plants, improve your soil, reduce waste and pesticide use, conserve water, and create wildlife habitat.
- Saturday, March 3, 2007
9 am - 4 pm
Oak Knoll Elementary School
1895 Oak Knoll Land, Menlo Park
You'll go home with over 500 pages of background information, resources, and activities correlated to California Content Standards, as well as plants, seeds, worm composting bins and more for your school garden.
The cost is just $30, and you can sign up online or by calling 510-665-3546.
This workshop is funded with support from the San Mateo Countywide Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (STOPPP) and sponsored by The Watershed Project. The mission of The Watershed Project is to educate and inspire communities to protect their local watersheds. For more information on this or other programs, visit www.thewatershedproject.org or call 510-665-3546.
**************************
|
