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Redwood City E-News
Building a Great Community Together
Issue #9 ~ April, 2004
IN THIS ISSUE:
*Community Task Force on Recycled Water Presents Report to Council*
*3rd Annual Pet Parade - April 3*
*Ralston Avenue/101 Improvement Groundbreaking - April 5*
*Plan Now to Shape the Redwood City Community of the Future - Workshop April 6*
*"The Forum at Redwood City " Continues - April 7*
*Apply for a Seat on a Board, Commission, or Committee - Deadline is April 16*
*Join the Spring Cleanup - April 17*
*About Redwood City E-News*
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Community Task Force on Recycled Water Presents Report to Council
After seven months of frequent meetings, research, and discussions the City Council-appointed Community Task Force on Recycled Water has completed its charge and presented to Council its report and recommendations on alternatives for implementation of the city's recycled water project. The objective of the Task Force was to identify ways to reduce drinking water demand by 2,000 acre-feet per year in a financially feasible manner that would give the City alternatives to using recycled water at schools and playgrounds in the initial phases of the project (go to www.redwoodcity.org/water for the full report and other information).
At its regular meeting of March 22, the Council unanimously accepted the Task Force's report and directed staff to proceed with reviewing the recommended options for implementation. "The excellent report and very thoughtful recommendations are the result of a lot of hard work and consensus-building among a diverse group. The members of the Task Force are to be applauded for their dedication and focus," said Redwood City Mayor Jeff Ira . "This is a very sensitive issue, and I'm gratified that the members kept to their mission, worked together, and came up with a great outcome for the Council to digest."
The report recommends a combination of recycled water use, replacement of natural turf with artificial turf at selected schools and parks (sport fields only), continued use of groundwater at specified locations, and additional water conservation programs. The report states that these actions will save a total of 2,002 acre-feet per year of drinkable water, at minimal additional expense to the City.
The Task Force Report also recommends other measures that may result in additional drinkable water savings, including: additional use of groundwater and conservation measures; a commercial toilet replacement program; potential ordinance to implement additional conservation measures; consideration of low-flow urinals, electric eye faucets, and other conservation devices; potential water swaps with other drinkable water conveyers; evaluation of automated landscape irrigation technology and treatment technology.
In approving a broadly-defined recycled water project in August of 2003, the City Council had determined that the proposed use of recycled water for landscape irrigation is safe and environmentally friendly. Re-examining this issue was not part of the Task Force's purpose.
Through its diligent efforts, the Task Force unanimously approved and supported the report's recommendations, despite the great potential for divisiveness on this issue. Their work is a great example of creating consensus among diverse perspectives, toward the greater goal of building community.
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3rd Annual Pet Parade - April 3
This Saturday, April 3, is the third annual Pet Parade, taking place behind the Community Activities Building located in Red Morton Park at 1400 Roosevelt Avenue in Redwood City , starting at 11:30 am .
The last two Pet Parades featured dogs, cats, lizards, birds, and even a chicken - and this year is sure to be even more exciting. There will be awards for the contest winners in several categories: best pet costume, best pet/companion costume, best pet and owner look-alike, most unusual pet, and best pet trick. On hand will be our own emcees to play music and keep the Pet Parade rolling. There will be vendor booths with goodies to purchase, along with food booths for the hungry critters in the crowd. There will be a raffle with lots of fun prizes for the lucky winners. "Third Annual Pet Parade" T-shirts will also be available, and the event will feature animals for adoption as well as animal rescue groups.
The community is invited to bring their pet or special stuffed animal and join the Pet Parade. Sign up in advance by filling out an entry form at any Parks and Recreation location, or use the online form. The entry form can also be filled out on the day of the event. The cost is $5 per category, and proceeds benefit the Redwood City Pet Parade program.
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Ralston Avenue/101 Improvement Groundbreaking - April 5
Redwood City Mayor Jeff Ira , Belmont Mayor George Metropulos, and other dignitaries will host a groundbreaking and celebration of the start of construction for the Ralston Avenue/Route 101 Interchange Improvement Project at 2:00 PM on Monday April 5 at the corner of Ralston and Oracle Parkway , adjacent to the interchange site. This commemoration marks the start of construction on this multi-million dollar project to increase efficiency of the exit ramps and enhance safety for this major business and residential center.
"We've leveraged scarce local dollars with State grants and funds from the Shores Transportation Improvement District, including Oracle Corporation and other Redwood Shores businesses, to fund improvements to this interchange that will really make a difference to thousands of people every day." said Redwood City Mayor, Jeff Ira .
Route 101, in and around the Ralston Avenue Interchange, has been one of the most congested areas on the peninsula for years - a by-product of the economic vitality of the Redwood Shores and Route 101 businesses, and the fact that there are only two entrances/exits from this growing housing and business area. The project will improve the efficiency and safety of this interchange during peak traffic hours by reducing the need for motorists to weave in and out of traffic lanes to get to their destinations. The two off-ramp loops will be eliminated, and traffic will instead come to two new signalized intersections. Island Parkway will be realigned and connected directly to Marine Parkway at one of the new off-ramp intersections. The project should be complete in fall of 2005.
Redwood City is the lead agency for the project, and shares certain costs with the City of Belmont . The City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG), with support from the County of San Mateo , was instrumental in securing State grant funding for this project. Additional significant funding came from businesses in Redwood Shores throughout the Shores Transportation Improvement District. For additional information, please visit: www.redwoodcity.org/groundbreaking.
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Plan Now to Shape the Redwood City Community of the Future - Workshop April 6
The third General Plan Update Public Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6 at 7:30 pm at the Community Activities Building , 1400 Roosevelt Avenue .
Redwood City is asking some key questions about the future of the community: What do you like about Redwood 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 third in a series of public workshop as we update the City's General Plan. It's an opportunity for the community to be directly involved in defining and creating a plan for the future of Redwood City .
For this workshop, free child care (ages 3 and up only; call for required reservations) and refreshments are provided, and all attendees receive a $10 coupon for use toward any Parks and Recreation Department class or program. More information is available at www.redwoodcity.org/generalplan, by calling 650-780-7234, or by emailing generalplan@redwoodcity.org.
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"The Forum at Redwood City " Continues - April 7
On Wednesday, April 7, 2004 from 6 to 7:45 pm 'The Forum at Redwood City ' continues, this month featuring renowned urban designer Terry Bottomley, with his talk, "El Camino Real - Can a Declining Main Street Become a Grand Boulevard ?"
Mr. Bottomley brings over 20 years of experience preparing development master plans, design guidelines, concept designs, and construction drawings for streets and public places. The Forum takes 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.
On the first Wednesday of each month, the Forum at Redwood City brings nationally-known speakers and presenters to Downtown Redwood City for in-depth dialogues on city design issues. By bringing together local government officials from throughout the Bay Area, as well as planners, urban designers, architects, and other professionals in the urban design field, these forums are intended to educate and foster discussion on new and emerging concepts in city planning and design. Interested members of the public are welcome to attend. The Forum at Redwood City is co-sponsored by the Association of Bay Area Governments (www.abag.org).
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Apply for a Seat on a Board, Commission, or Committee - Deadline is April 16
Interested in making a difference in your community? Here's a great way to do just that: 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
Historic Resources Advisory Committee
Board of Building Review
Library Board
Civic Cultural Commission
Housing and Human Concerns Committee
Park and Recreation Commission
Senior Affairs Commission
Planning Commission
Further information and applications are available by calling the City Clerk's office at 650-780-7222, on the City's website at 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 incorporated Redwood City . The deadline for submitting applications is April 16, 2004 .
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Join the Spring Cleanup - April 17
It's spring, and once again Redwood City 's Pride and Beautification Committee presents the annual Spring Cleanup!
It kicks off at 8:30 am on Saturday, April 17, 2004 , and you're invited to show your community pride by spending a few hours joining with others to help clean up part of our City. Volunteers should meet at the City's Public Works Services building, located at 1400 Broadway (corner of Broadway and Woodside Road ).
This spring the focus will be on cleaning historic Redwood Creek and the Bair Island access - two areas that really help to make our City a unique place to live. After a complimentary continental breakfast to start the day, the group will be off to pick up litter, remove/recycle debris, and generally spruce up these areas.
Following the cleanup, volunteers and crew will be treated to lunch back at the Public Works Services building around noon , as a small "thank you" for their work in helping to beautify Redwood City . Both the continental breakfast and the lunch are being generously donated by the San Mateo Credit Union.
On the same day, Norcal Waste Systems of San Mateo County will sponsor the "Great Mulch Giveaway." Mulch is an excellent addition to existing soil, and also makes a great groundcover to help with weed and erosion control. On April 17th and 18th, members of the Redwood City community can bring their trash cans, bags, boxes, or other containers to the Public Works Services parking lot and load up with free mulch - a limited supply will be shared among our community's neighbors on a first-come, first-served basis.
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