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Redwood City E-News
"Building a Great Community Together"
Issue #6
~ January, 2004
IN THIS ISSUE:
*Excavation Begins on Downtown Underground
Public Parking Garage*
*The “Forum at Redwood City”
Continues - January 7*
*Public Involvement Sought for General Plan
Update – January 13*
*City Celebrates the Spirit of Martin Luther
King Jr. – January 19*
*Andrew Spinas Park Re-Dedication Ceremony
– January 24*
*You Can Help Prevent Runoff Pollution*
*Real Stories about Redwood City’s
Core Values*
*Redwood City Neighborhood Associations*
*Four Redwood City Playing Fields Closed
for Annual Repair and Rest*
*About Redwood City E-News*
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Excavation Begins
on Downtown Underground Public Parking Garage
Excavation for the downtown underground two-level public
parking garage began in December, a construction milestone
event in what will ultimately become the new the retail-cinema
project – a development which will greatly contribute
to the renaissance of downtown Redwood City.
The excavation consists of digging approximately 30 feet
deep and removing an estimated 90,000 cubic yards of earth
– enough dirt to cover the football field at Sequoia
High School to a depth of 45 feet! The “dewatering”
process involves installing 32 wells around the site and pumping
down the ground water to allow for excavation. The site must
also be “shored,” a procedure entailing driving
steel beams approximately 45 feet deep spaced every eight
feet, and installing wood between the steel beams.
This work is expected to last until the beginning of March
depending on weather, and the excavation will consist of hauling
out at least 120 truckloads of dirt per day. It’s expected
that the trucks will travel from the site up Middlefield Road,
then east on Woodside Road to Seaport Boulevard. Pedestrians,
bicyclist and motorists are urged to use caution around the
construction site during this activity.
The City’s new construction project webcam is located
at www.redwodocity.org/webcam, and will remain active for
the duration of the entire project, from the garage excavation
through completion of the retail-cinema project.
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The “Forum at
Redwood City” Features Michael Freedman, Nationally
Renowned in the Field of City Design and Planning –
January 7
The speaker for the January 7th session of the “Forum
at Redwood City” is Mr. Michael Freedman, Principal
and Founder of Freedman,Tung & Bottomley City Design &
Town Planning, who will speak on the subject, “Beyond
Business Parks – The Workplace District in the 21st
Century.”
During the technology and dot-com boom in the Bay Area, campus-style
business parks became the norm. Despite attractive landscaping,
convenient parking, jogging paths, and other amenities, questions
have arisen about their long-term desirability and sustainability.
With their low density, inefficient land use, and separation
from housing, commercial uses, and other businesses, the business
park is overdue for a fresh evaluation. In light of this,
Mr. Freedman’s discussion will examine new workplace
concepts for the 21st century.
The Forum takes place on Wednesday, January 7th 2004 from
6 to 7:30 pm 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” is a series of educational
forums for city leaders and urban design professionals, and
takes place the first Wednesday of each month. Interested
members of the public are welcome to attend.
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Public
Involvement Sought for General Plan Update – January
13
The General Plan for Redwood City is a document that establishes
the policies, goals, and programs for the long-term physical
development of the City, and it provides the basis and foundation
for decisions on future development. The City’s existing
General Plan was adopted in 1991, and now – as we move
forward in the 21st century – our City faces new challenges
and opportunities that need to be addressed.
Members of the community of Redwood City are invited to participate
in the General Plan Update, which begins with a public workshop
on Tuesday, January 13th at 7:30 pm in the Council chambers
at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road. This meeting will be
televised on Comcast cable channel 27, and RCN cable channel
26.
This is the first in a series of public workshops hosted by
the City’s Planning Commission. Public involvement is
an essential element of the General Plan Update, in order
to identify and address the City’s major issues and
opportunities, and to reflect our community’s values,
needs, goals, and vision.
More information is available at www.redwoodcity.org/generalplan,
by calling 650-780-7234, or emailing generalplan@redwoodcity.org.
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City Celebrates the Spirit
of Martin Luther King Jr. – January 19
For nearly two decades, Redwood City’s Martin Luther
King, Jr. Celebration Committee has organized a community
event in honor of Dr. King’s struggle for justice and
peace, in order to bring his ideals to life in today’s
society. This year marks the 3rd Annual Martin Luther King,
Jr. ‘Freedom Festival’ which will honor Dr. King’s
memory and celebrate the legacy of his great efforts for civil
rights.
The community is invited to join in remembering and rallying
to Martin Luther King Jr’s ideals of freedom on Monday,
January 19, 2004 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This free family
event takes place at Redwood City’s Veteran’s
Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Avenue.
“This year’s Freedom Festival will help bring
Dr. King’s important messages to a new generation, and
to carry forward his legacy of seeking equality among all
people,” said Jeff Ira, Mayor of Redwood City, who will
inaugurate the event. “Together, we will bridge cultural
difference and celebrate the wonderful diversity in our community.”
Here are a few of the exciting, inspirational, fun, and educational
activities for the entire family:
- Dramatization of “Fanny Lou Hamer” by performer
Marijo
- Axis Dance Company
- Mt. Zion Baptist Church Praise Dancers
- Derique’s Circus Arts
- Carlmont High School Polynesian Dancers
- Poetry by Kalamu Chache
- Redwood City Freedom Festival Interfaith Choir
- Exhibits on the Civil Rights Movement
- Educational Displays and Presentations
- Dr. King’s Inspirational Words
- Music, food, kids’ activities, and much more
This Redwood City event is co-sponsored by the Redwood City
Friends of the Library, Alsace Development Corporation, San
Mateo Credit Union, SBC, First United Methodist Church of
Redwood City, Margaret Marshall, Provident Credit Union, and
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
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Andrew Spinas Park
Re-Dedication Ceremony – January 24
Redwood City’s Andrew Spinas Park was built in the
1960s, and was last renovated in the 1980s. Now, after a half-million
dollar investment, this park is state-of-the-art for the 21st
century. The community is invited to join the re-dedication
of Andrew Spinas Park on Saturday, January 24th at 9 am. Andrew
Spinas Park is located on Second Avenue between Bay Road and
Broadway (next door to Redwood City Fire Station 11). Light
refreshments will be served.
This event will celebrate the major renovation of the park
– the updated layout includes new swings and spring
toys, a fire engine climbing structure, a special waterplay
"sprayground" that will be very popular during the
summer, new restrooms, picnic tables, and benches, and new
turf and landscaping.
Redwood City would like to thank the Rotary Club of Redwood
City, which made a significant donation for a picnic table
that was installed in the park. This project was funded with
Redwood City Capital Improvement funds, allocated in the 2000-2001
fiscal year.
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You Can Help
Prevent Runoff Pollution
Runoff from our streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and other
man-made surfaces goes into storm drains and waterways, sweeping
up litter and debris in its path. During storms trash, organic
matter, and automotive pollutants are primary sources of pollution
that threaten water quality and wildlife in our local watersheds.
The City of Redwood City and the Bay Area Stormwater Management
Agencies Association (BASMAA) urge residents to learn more
about their local watershed and to become active in reducing
pollution.
Storms flush large amounts of pollutants down Bay Area watersheds
causing erosion, destroying habitat, depleting oxygen levels,
and poisoning fish. Most people don't realize that even leaves
and grass clippings carried into creeks with rainy weather
can disrupt the ecological health of our waterways. Our irreplaceable
watersheds and waterways are necessary to support habitat
for plants and animals, and they provide drinking water for
people and wildlife.
The good news is that reducing such runoff pollution during
the rainy season is preventable. BASMAA offers a list of 6
things residents can do to make a difference in their watershed.
1. Set an example for others by not littering; if you do
see litter, pick it up and put it in a trash can.
2. Carry a litterbag in your car or bicycle.
3. Keep trash containers covered securely to prevent wind
or animals from spreading litter.
4. Keep leaves and yard clippings picked up around your home
and recycle as green waste.
5. Regularly maintain your vehicle to avoid auto fluid leaks
that build-up on roadway surfaces.
6. Organize or join in the cleanup of a neighborhood, creek,
estuary, or wetland.
For information on reducing storm water runoff, visit www.flowstobay.org.
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Real Stories About
Redwood City’s Core Values
Earlier this fall, after over a year of work involving many
City employees, the City unveiled its Core Purpose and Core
Values for its employees. These are the guiding principles
for how we do business, how we work with customers and each
other, and how we all put effort toward a common purpose.
That common Core Purpose is, “Build a Great Community
Together.”
The Core Values that we developed, and to which we are committed
in our everyday work are:
- Excellence: Passion to do our best in each moment;
- Integrity: do the right thing, not the easy thing;
- Service: we care and it makes a difference;
- Creativity: freedom to imagine and courage to act.
We want to occasionally share a true story about employees
and members of our community that exemplify one or more of
our core values. Today’s story illustrates our core
value of Service:
An employee at Redwood City’s Schaberg Library was
getting ready to open for business one morning when she heard
a soft knocking at the back door. When she opened the door,
standing there was a little girl, crying. The girl told the
employee that her mother had dropped her off at Roosevelt
School next door, forgetting there was actually no school
that day.
The little girl did not know her mother’s cell phone
number, but mentioned that her mom’s dentist must know
the number because the dentist’s office had called her
on that phone. The employee opened the library to this little
girl, gave her some books to read and had her wait while she
proceeded to contact the dentist. The employee spoke with
the dentist’s office, and that office called the mother
who then came to pick up the girl. When the mother arrived,
the little girl was happily reading children’s books
and had been introduced to our homework center and some of
the other employees.
A situation that could easily have turned out disastrous
instead became a really wonderful event because of employees
who care – and it makes a difference. This is a great
example of an employee really taking to heart the concept
of “service.”
If you encounter a member of the community or a City employee
who exhibits one of our Core Values, please let us know via
email at e-news@redwoodcity.org
and we’ll share your story in a future issue.
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Redwood City Neighborhood
Associations
Redwood City has strong, involved neighborhoods that frequently
participate in making our community a better place. From the
Farm Hill Road area to Redwood Shores; Friendly Acres to Downtown;
or Woodside Plaza to Roosevelt, our neighborhoods reflect
the diversity, strength, and character of the City.
Some areas have their own organized neighborhood associations,
affiliated with and recognized by the City, which meet periodically
to discuss issues affecting their homes, streets, services,
or other topics.
Here are the eleven “official” neighborhood associations
(and one more which is un-affiliated with the City), and contact
information for each – they’d love to hear from
you, and you’ll enjoy getting involved in helping to
build a great community together!
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Four Redwood City Playing Fields
Closed for Annual Repair and Rest
Beginning last month, four playing fields at Redwood City’s
Red Morton Park were closed to the public for annual repair
and rest. McGarvey, Bechet, Griffin, and the Mitchell/49er
fields are all undergoing their annual repair and restoration,
during which public access will not be available. Signage
noting the closures is on-site, and the City apologizes for
any inconvenience that these closures may cause.
All fields are fenced to prevent access so that work can take
place, and to give these natural-turf fields a chance to regenerate
and re-grow. These fields are expected to re-open to public
use by March 1, 2004.
The work that is taking place includes aeration of the turf
and soil, adding sand to improve soil and drainage, re-seeding
for a fuller turf, and fertilizer application. The end result
will be healthier, fuller, and higher-quality playing fields
for the Redwood City community.
In comparison, the artificial turf at Hoover Sports Field
does not require the rest and renovation that natural turf
needs each year. With superior drainage capacity and the ability
to withstand higher levels of use, this field will not require
any wet-weather closures during the winter.
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