|
Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
Issue #8 ~ March, 2004
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Redwood City Budget Update*
*Join PACT Now - Application Deadline is March 12*
*Apply for a Seat on a Board, Commission, or Committee*
*"The Forum at Redwood City "*
*New Library Director Named*
*Library Seeks Volunteers for Traveling Storytime*
*Schaberg Library Closed for Remodeling*
*3rd Public Workshop on Courthouse Square Design*
*Project ChildSafe Comes to Redwood City *
*Information on Downtown Parking, Traffic*
*About Redwood City E-News*
**************************
Redwood City Budget Update
In last month's issue of Redwood City E-News, a brief overview of the City's current budget situation was presented. This month, we'd like to provide a summary of how the City is planning to address the budget deficit.
Cutting expenditures is the primary way to weather the budget situation. The City will couple the necessary expenditure reductions with the cautious use of reserve funds, giving us time to adjust our expenditures
and examine how we might
gain revenue. Reserves are not intended to fund ongoing operations.
Unfortunately, these necessary expenditure cuts will result in layoffs and a proportionate reduction in City services. Staff salaries and benefits account for about 71% of all City expenditures, and last year we eliminated 24 vacant positions and reduced "casual" (non-permanent) hours the equivalent of 14 positions.
Based on our forecasts, we will potentially reduce the City workforce during each of the next three fiscal years, resulting in a reduction in services to the community. It's important that the people of Redwood City know that there will be fewer City services, or a lower level of services, due to this ongoing budget problem.
In broad summary form, here is how the deficit will be addressed in coming years, through the use of reserves and significant reductions in expenditures:
Fiscal Year: 2004-2005
Estimated Deficit: $7 million (9.9% of expenditures)
Use of Reserves: $3.5 million (50% of deficit)
Expenditure Cuts: $3.5 million (50% of deficit)
Fiscal Year: 2005-2006
Estimated Deficit: $5.8 million (8.2% of expenditures)
Use of Reserves: $1.9 million (33% of deficit)
Expenditure Cuts: $3.9 million (67% of deficit)
Fiscal Year: 2006-2007
Estimated Deficit: $1.9 million
(2.7% of expenditures)
Use of Reserves: $0
Expenditure Cuts: $1.9 million (100% of deficit)
(*All projections are as of January 16, 2004 )
As you can see, we will depend less on reserves as we move forward, in order to be assured that we maintain reserves at an adequate level.
There is a great deal of confidence that City staff and the City Council will successfully meet this challenge. And, in the words of Mayor Jeff Ira, "This City's character, both as a community and as individuals, will see us through, and in fact will only be strengthened as a result of these difficult times."
Future issues of Redwood City E-News will provide updated information on the budget.
**************************
Deadline to Apply for Spring 2004 PACT is MARCH 12
Applications are available for the Spring, 2004 session of PACT (Partnership Academy for Community Teamwork). The deadline to submit an application is 5:00 pm , March 12, 2004 . 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 can also be downloaded and emailed from www.redwoodcity.org/pact . Enrollment is limited to 40 participants, who must be 18 years of age or older.
This is a nine-week citizens' academy that 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, 2004 program takes place each Thursday from April 8th through June 3rd 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.
**************************
Apply for a Seat on a Board, Commission, or Committee
Applications are now available for several of the City's appointed boards, commissions, and committees, and members of the public are invited to offer their interest, experience, and enthusiasm for the benefit of their community.
These appointed advisory bodies are an important and valued part of our City government, where public involvement is actively encouraged and supported. Members of these boards, commissions, and committees represent Redwood City 's diverse community and bring new ideas to the City Council and staff, helping them to make the best, most informed decisions possible for the benefit of everyone living and working in Redwood City .
Here are the boards, commissions, and committees for which the City is currently seeking applicants:
Architectural Review Committee
Board of Building Review
Civic Cultural Commission
Park and Recreation Commission
Planning Commission
Historic Resources Advisory Committee
Library Board
Housing and Human Concerns Committee
Senior Affairs Commission
Further information and applications are available by calling the City Clerk's office at 650-780-7222, on the City's website at http://www.redwoodcity.org/government/bcc/index.html 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 in corporate d Redwood City . The deadline for submitting applications is April 16, 2004 .
**************************
March Speaker for the "Forum at Redwood City "
The March 3rd, 2004 session of the "Forum at Redwood City " will feature Mr. Geoffrey Ferrell, of Geoffrey Ferrell Associates in Washington , DC . Mr. Ferrell will speak on the concept of "Design Charrettes - A Public Participation Tool for Integrating Community Values into Design." Note: this presentation begins at 6:30 pm instead of the Forum's usual start time.
The "Design Charrette" is a community-based planning forum which brings together local residents, government officials, and private developers to collectively craft a vision for their neighborhood, town, or county. This format encourages individual involvement in a constructive, meaningful, and non-threatening manner. The resulting citizen input is folded into a comprehensive master plan that provides a clear physical framework for the future. The input is then incorporated into the final plan. Public participation charrettes have unequaled, proven effectiveness at identifying and focusing the political will of citizens.
Mr. Ferrell has produced urban design projects across the United States for almost twenty years. As one of the country's leading New Urbanists, Mr. Ferrell's work has an emphasis on form-based coding and community planning charrettes for both urban infill/redevelopment projects and new development.
The Forum will take place at the Little Fox Theater, 2209 Broadway, in downtown Redwood City . Doors open at 6:00 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. For more information contact Tom Passanisi at 650-780-7234
*************************
New Library Director Named
Mr. David Genesy has accepted an offer from the Redwood City Library Board to become the City's new Library Director. He will begin work on March 25th, filling a vacancy created when the former director retired last year.
Mr. Genesy currently serves as the Program Manager for Innovative Library Services with the San Jose Public Library system. His focus there is designing and implementing new, creative services for that city's branch libraries. He brings that critical, hands-on knowledge, along with more than 13 years of experience in library management and administration, to this position with Redwood City . Mr. Genesy is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Institute for emerging library leaders, has been in demand as a presenter at library conferences, is Chair of the Collection Development Advisory Team in the San Jose system, and has been an Adjunct Professor at San Jose State University in the School of Library and Information Science.
As he assumes the Library Director position, Mr. Genesy notes his excitement at coming to Redwood City , and supporting and building upon the creativity and professionalism of the Library staff. "The Redwood City Library and its staff are already among the best, having won the Library of the Year Award from the American Library Association. I'm delighted to become a part of this team, where creativity, imagination, and resourcefulness are already the standard. The challenge for us will be to move forward with a difficult budget, and find ways to continue bringing the community the best possible library services."
**************************
Library Seeks Volunteers for Traveling Storytime
The Redwood City Public Library is seeking volunteers who want to help make a lasting difference in a child's life - it's wonderful for the kids, it's a rewarding and fun experience for the volunteer, and it can be done in only 30 minutes a week.
Making this difference to a child is really simple - volunteers are needed to read to preschool age children in day care centers and preschools throughout the City. Volunteers will be provided with two evening training sessions on planning and performing a weekly storytime for children, and are then assigned to a regular storytime schedule.
In a brief half-hour session per week, volunteers help youngsters develop pre-literacy skills, which are critically needed to succeed in school. Volunteers have noted how rewarding the experience is, and that they gain a wonderful new perspective on helping others, and have a great deal of fun doing it.
The Traveling Storytime program, funded by the Redwood City Library Foundation, is not yet three years old, but its success is clear - last year alone, volunteers made nearly 11,000 "child visits" for these special storytimes.
For more information and to sign up as a volunteer, interested members of the community should call program director JoAnne Wetzel at the Redwood City Public Library at 780-7014 or email her at wetzel@plsinfo.org .
**************************
Schaberg Library Closed for Remodeling
Redwood City's Schaberg branch library located at 2140 Euclid Avenue will temporarily close beginning March 1st, 2004 for a long-awaited remodeling. This branch library's renovation is more than just a 'face-lift' - it will greatly improve and enhance the facility, in order to better serve the community of Redwood City .
The library will be closed for an estimated four-to-six months for this $450,000 renovation that will include installing an elevator to allow easier public access to the lower level meeting room, remodeling restrooms for wheelchair access, improving telephone and Internet access, and generally refurbishing to make the library more vibrant, efficient, and welcoming. After clearing out all the library materials and making other preparations for the remodeling project, construction is expected to begin in May. The work is anticipated to be completed by late summer/early fall. Renovation of the Schaberg branch library is being paid for out the city's Capital Improvement Funds.
During this temporary closure for renovation, those people that normally visit the Schaberg branch are invited to visit Redwood City 's Main Library or Fair Oaks branch library for the City's wide selection of library services and programs. Materials previously checked out from Schaberg may be returned to the either of those facilities, or to any other public library in San Mateo County . Library patrons are also being given information handouts at all Redwood City public libraries.
**************************
3rd Public Workshop on Courthouse Square Design
Residents of Redwood City and other interested people are invited to help bring back a piece of history - a time when every downtown had a central gathering place, a plaza, or a town square; a comfortable place for people to gather, meet, and be part of a real community. Redwood City announces the third in a series of public workshops on the Courthouse Square design, and encourages the community to participate in reviewing the recommended design concept and to comment on the refined concept plan from the previous two public workshops.
The third workshop is scheduled for Thursday, March 4, 2004 from 7 to 10 pm in the Redwood Room at Veterans Memorial Senior Center , located at 1455 Madison Avenue in Redwood City . This is another opportunity for the community to help shape the future plaza in the heart of our Downtown.
The City's is planning to remove the 'annex' building and restore the façade of the old Courthouse on Broadway, across from the Fox Theater. With the annex gone, the opportunity will exist to create a great public space for the community, which will bring pedestrians and new life and vitality to the Downtown area. It's part of the renaissance of our Downtown that is coming together, and part of building a great community together.
**************************
Project ChildSafe Comes to Redwood City
Redwood City and the national organization Project Childsafe are teaming up to prevent firearms accidents in the home. All too often, such an accident results from an unauthorized individual, often a child, finding a loaded and unsecured firearm in the home, and can end in tragedy. The Redwood City Police Department is working to reduce the risk of such injuries or deaths by helping gun owners fully understand their responsibility to handle firearms safely and store them in a secure manner.
In partnership with Project ChildSafe, the Redwood City Police Department will provide 2,600 free firearm safety kits to local residents. The safety kits, which include a gunlock, are available at the front counter at the Redwood City Police Department and will be offered at various community events. Redwood City residents are encouraged to securely store their firearms by picking up a kit which contains a safety brochure and a cable-style gunlock. The locks fit on most types of handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
For more information about the City's free firearm safety kit program, contact the Redwood City Police Department's Community Policing Unit at 780-7105. Project ChildSafe is a nationwide program whose purpose is to promote safe firearms handling and storage practices among all firearms owners through the distribution of safety education messages and free gun locking devices. Since September 2003, Project ChildSafe has distributed over 5 million safety kits in 30 states and has brought this important safety message to over 7,800 communities. Visit the Project Childsafe website at www.projectchildsafe.org.
**************************
Information on Downtown Parking, Traffic
Possibly hundreds of members of the national and international media are expected to be centered in downtown Redwood City during the course of the Peterson trial taking place here, along with their satellite and microwave trucks and trailers, and other vehicles. To help accommodate this flood of additional vehicles and their temporary but significant impact on downtown parking and traffic, the City has reconfigured lanes and outlined parking availability.
For the duration of the trial, the north side of Middlefield Road between Veterans' Boulevard and Bradford Street will be closed to provide long-term parking for media trucks and equipment. The south side of Middlefield will be open for one-way eastbound traffic only. No westbound (toward downtown) traffic on Middlefield at this location will be permitted. Westbound motorists will be required to use an alternate westbound street, and are urged to exercise extra caution in this area, and watch for special signage and lane changes. Depending on circumstances, the City may make additional changes to lane configurations or take other traffic safety measures.
Due to the high volume of additional vehicles expected to park downtown during the trial, available parking in the area is expected to be limited. To assist downtown visitors with locating parking, the City provides a downtown public parking map, available on the City's website at www.redwoodcity.org/about/visiting.html. Media support vehicles (passenger size only) may obtain a monthly permit for special overflow parking areas to be designated, by visiting Redwood City Revenue Services Department at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road . Redwood City Police remind visitors that areas marked "No Parking" or "Private Parking" will be monitored and parking restrictions will be strictly enforced.
**************************
About Redwood City E-News
|
