City of San Leandro LED Street Light Conversion Project
As part of the national economic stimulus package, the City of San Leandro was allocated $732,400 from a one-time federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. The City allocated approximately $120,000 of the grant monies to a street light conversion project that would convert existing high pressure sodium (HPS) street light fixtures to more energy efficient light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures. Public Works staff recommended the LED conversion project for the following reasons:
In October of last year, the Public Works Department replaced six existing HPS street lights on two residential blocks with LED street lights as a test. Public Works staff installed two different types of LED fixtures and requested public input before starting the broader conversion project. The Public Works Department received positive feedback from the neighboring residents. The residents primarily preferred the new LED fixtures because of the whiter light.
This winter, the Public Works Department moved forward with a bid package to convert as many residential street lights as possible with the available funding. Both the LED street light fixture purchase and installation bids were very favorable and the City will be able to convert approximately 400 residential HPS street light fixtures to LED fixtures.
The 400 fixtures represent 7% of the City’s total number of street lights (~5,500). The selected LED fixtures use approximately 55% less energy than the current HPS fixtures. Based on PG&E’s rate tables, the City projects annual electrical savings of approximately $9,500 per year. In addition, there should be significant long-term labor and material savings as LED lights have a much longer expected life (3 to 4 times) than HPS lights.
The project is scheduled to start on April 25 and should take approximately a month to complete. The following maps show the two residential project areas, which include Bonaire, and portions of Floresta Gardens, Washington Manor and Estudillo Estates. These areas were selected so that the City could evaluate the effectiveness of the LED lights under differing street conditions (narrow v. wide, heavily wooded v. sparse vegetation) and to keep the type of lighting consistent in a neighborhood.
The funding for this project was a one-time grant from the federal government. Currently, there are no plans or funds to retrofit more street lights. The Public Works Department will continue to evaluate the LED fixtures for cost efficiency and performance. If funding becomes available in the future, further conversion projects may be possible.
For more information, call Michael Bakaldin at (510) 577-3440.
For more information on the City of San Leandro and its programs and services, visit the City’s website at www.sanleandro.org. To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or other electronic notifications, go to http://www.sanleandro.org/whatsnew/enotify.asp.
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]]>Arbor Day Foundation Honors San Leandro with Tree City USA Recognition and Growth Award
San Leandro has been recognized by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA community for its commitment to urban forestry. San Leandro has earned this national recognition for 14 years straight. San Leandro also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating progress in its community forestry program. The prestigious Growth Award honors environmental improvement and higher levels of tree care in Tree City USA communities.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.
San Leandro has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community. Tree City USA communities must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
"Communities that are honored with a Tree City USA designation and a Growth Award make a strong commitment to planting and caring for trees; we applaud their efforts," said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation.
In honor of Arbor Day, the community is invited to attend a tree planting ceremony to be held on April 26, 2011, 4:00 p.m., at McKinley Elementary School, 2150 East 14th Street. The actual tree planting will take place behind McKinley Elementary School on the Bancroft Avenue side of the school.
For more information, call Tim Orr, Tree Supervisor, City of San Leandro Public Works Department, (510) 577-3448.
For more information on the City of San Leandro and its programs and services, visit the City’s website at www.sanleandro.org. To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or other electronic notifications, go to http://www.sanleandro.org/whatsnew/enotify.asp.
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]]>SAN LEANDRO BRANDING AND MARKETING STRATEGY WORKING GROUP HOLDS KICK OFF MEETING
The first meeting of the Branding and Marketing Strategy working group met on April 4 to begin the process of evaluating how to bring greater attention to San Leandro in the eyes of businesses looking to relocate and people looking for entertainment and shopping experiences. The group is made up of business stakeholders and City of San Leandro staff, several of whom are residents, who engaged in lively discussions regarding their experiences in San Leandro as well as what they see as the future potential for the community.
Participants were asked hard questions – what they saw as strengths and weaknesses – for businesses and residents, as well for visitors. Members shared their ideas for the future of San Leandro, as well as critical assessments of past practices and efforts. All agreed that an opportunity exists to better coordinate efforts among this diverse group of stakeholders.
There were ideas for change including better embracing San Leandro's diversity, positive impacts to the schools, and marketing existing businesses to make them more attractive to current residents and visitors. San Leandro's strategic and central location within the larger Bay Area was mentioned several times as being one of its most positive aspects. One participant noted, "There are so many things to do in town, but they aren't yet connected – this effort will help to "connect the dots" for the entire community." With changes in leadership and strong efforts by the community to improve the schools and facilities, there is a sense that now is a great time to promote San Leandro. Many believe strongly that San Leandro is poised for positive change.
The Placemaking Group, a marketing and communications agency, facilitated the working group and over the next few weeks will be conducting a survey of consumers, businesses, brokers and visitors, in order to help develop a brand and create a marketing strategy for the future. This was the first of three meetings. Subsequent meetings will focus on distilling the group's findings into a cohesive set of messages that can be used to attract businesses, shoppers, and visitors to San Leandro. From there, the group will explore communication strategies to most effectively spread those messages. Ultimately, the branding and marketing strategy will be used by City staff, local businesses, business associations, residents, and real estate professionals to advance San Leandro's economic development efforts.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 2 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Senior Community Center, 13909 East 14th Street. The public is welcome to attend and visitors will be given a chance to provide input at the conclusion of the meeting.
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]]>City Council Seeks Community Input on City Manager Recruitment
The City of San Leandro is looking for a new City Manager, and the City Council is interested in hearing what qualifications and characteristics make up the ideal candidate for this critical position in City government. An on-line questionnaire has been developed to obtain community input on the qualities they would like to have in a new City Manager; the survey also provides an opportunity for the public to provide input on the important issues facing the City.
"The City Council wishes to have input from the community as part of the recruitment and selection process for a new City Manager," said Mayor Stephen Cassidy. "The community has an opportunity to tell us what qualities are most important to them in the person selected to manage all of our City departments."
An on-line questionnaire is available at the following link:
http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/cityhall/council/cmquestionnaire.asp
Responses must be submitted by April 30, 2011. Anyone wishing to receive a hard copy of the questionnaire is asked to call the City Manager’s Office at (510) 577-3351.
For more information on the City of San Leandro and its programs and services, visit the City’s website at www.sanleandro.org. To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or other electronic notifications, go to http://www.sanleandro.org/portal/default.asp.
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]]>Recreation and Human Services Department Holds Annual Egg Hunt at Marina Park on April 23
An Egg Hunt for children ages 1-10 will take place at Marina Park on April 23, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by the San Leandro Optimist Club.
The Egg Hunt will begin at Marina Park at 10 a.m. sharp, rain or shine. All children should bring a basket, and Egg Hunts will be divided into age appropriate groups. Get ready for a visit with the bunny, and an EGGciting Egg Hunt!
The Recreation and Human Services Department would like to thank the San Leandro Optimist Club for making this event possible.
For more information, call the Recreation and Human Services Department at (510) 577-3462.
For more information on the City of San Leandro and its programs and services, visit the City's website at www.sanleandro.org. To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or other electronic notifications, go to http://www.sanleandro.org/whatsnew/enotify.asp.
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]]>CITY OF SAN LEANDRO TO TEAM UP WITH BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO CREATE A BRANDING AND MARKETING STRATEGY
Mayor Stephen Cassidy announced today that the final members of a citywide branding and marketing strategy group have been selected and the group will conduct its first meeting in early April.
"We are determined to see San Leandro be a leader in job creation and business development in the East Bay as the nation and state recover from the deep recession," stated Mayor Cassidy. "To achieve this objective, the City is partnering with 23 local business leaders to create a branding and marketing strategy that will be an important component of a larger strategy to retain current and attract new businesses. I thank these business leaders for stepping forward and offering their talent and expertise to help jump start our local economy."
The City of San Leandro is undertaking the development of a branding and marketing strategy to evaluate how to most effectively communicate its story to those in San Leandro and those considering doing business in the community. The Placemaking Group, a marketing and communications agency, has been retained to facilitate a business working group, conduct a survey of consumers, businesses, brokers and visitors, develop a brand and create a marketing strategy for the future.
On March 7, 2011, the City Council approved the formation of a business working group made up of City staff and 23 business leaders from across San Leandro representing the diverse and varied small and large businesses in the community. The working group will meet three times over the next few months to assess the City's strengths and weaknesses, identify the important elements of San Leandro's brand and explore new methods of communication to most effectively promote the city.
The business leaders of the working group are as follows: Larry Allphin, Ana Apodaca, Robbin Bebbe, Dewayne Cornelious, Dan Dillman, Gordon Galvan, Charles Gilcrest, John Gooding, Tim Holmes, John Johnson, Debra Lambert, Sue Lee, Cartier Lee, Helen Lee-Takaki, Jenny Linton, Corina Lopez, Arlene Lum, Gaye Quinn, Fred Riecker, Jeff Starkovich, Hank Sullivan, Audrey Velasquez and Paul Woycheshin.
San Leandro's Commitment to Business Development
The City of San Leandro has a long reputation as a great place to do business. The City values industry and the jobs it creates; 23% of the land in San Leandro is zoned for Industrial use. Retailers are welcomed, and the City is a major importer of sales tax dollars with twice the average per capita sales tax income of Alameda County and the State of California. San Leandro's Downtown Transit Oriented Development Strategy received multiple awards and resulted in attracting approximately $30 million in grant funding. San Leandro is centrally located, considered a safe place to do business, and lease and purchase rates are relatively affordable.
For more information on the City of San Leandro and its programs and services, visit the City's website at www.sanleandro.org. To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or others electronic notifications, go to www.sanleandro.org/whatsnew/enotify.asp.
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]]>Alameda County Mayors Conference Formally Opposes the State Budget Raid of Local Redevelopment Funds
Alameda County – On Wednesday, March 9, the Alameda County Mayors Conference joined a broad coalition of local government, business, labor, and community groups in opposition to the proposed state budget raid of Redevelopment funds which they contend is in violation of the state constitution.
Four months ago, in November 2010, over 60% of California voters passed Proposition 22 – a measure that specifically stopped state raids of local Redevelopment funds. Despite this clear voter mandate, legislators could vote on a budget within the next week that takes these important local funds in blatant violation of Proposition 22 and the will of voters.
"The People of California want as much decision-making as possible to occur at the local level. That is why Proposition 22 passed by a landslide vote last November. For Sacramento to now eliminate Redevelopment Agencies and take full control of our local property tax dollars is equivalent to telling Californians that their vote doesn't count," stated San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy.
Redevelopment is strongly supported locally by business, labor, affordable housing, environmental, and community groups and local officials. Redevelopment creates 304,000 new jobs a year in California, $40 billion in economic activity statewide, and $2 billion in state and local tax revenue. At a time when California's economic recovery is stagnating compared to the rest of the nation, eliminating Redevelopment and its job-creating potential is counterproductive.
In San Leandro, Redevelopment has improved the quality of life in many ways over the past 40 years. In just the past decade, the City has been able to use Redevelopment funds to make improvements in the downtown area, along MacArthur Boulevard, and Doolittle Drive; build affordable housing for senior citizens and disabled residents; help San Leandro High School build the Fred Korematsu 9th grade campus; and build a new Senior Community Center.
If the state's illegal seizure of local funds goes through, projects like the transformation of a rundown motel on East 14th Street into a thriving affordable apartment building will never happen again. It will severely hamper the City's ability to spur future job creation, support clean technology growth, attract quality office development, and invest in quality of life improvements all over San Leandro. Should the Governor's proposal be approved, San Leandro would likely need to curtail almost all business assistance activities, as well.
The action of the Alameda County Mayors Conference is part of a massive statewide "MyVoteCountsCA.org Campaign to Urge Legislators to Respect the Rule of Law, the Will of Voters and Reject State Budget Raids of Local Redevelopment Funds." This campaign includes statewide radio ads, extensive online and Facebook advertising and an electronic and physical grassroots petition drive. For more information, to sign the petition, and to listen to the radio spot, visit www.MyVoteCountsCA.org.
For more information on the City of San Leandro and its programs and services, visit the City's website at www.sanleandro.org. To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or other notifications, go to http://www.sanleandro.org/whatsnew/enotify.asp.
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]]>Paramedics Plus Ambulance Service Coming to San Leandro
Beginning November 1, 2011, Paramedics Plus will be managing 9-1-1 emergency medical ambulance services to Alameda County from its new executive and administrative offices on Marina Boulevard in San Leandro.
"We are excited that Paramedics Plus has chosen San Leandro as its base of operations for Alameda County, creating 375 jobs," said Mayor Stephen H. Cassidy "Moreover, with the headquarters of its fleet of ambulances located here, Paramedics Plus will contribute to reduced ambulance response times for our residents and workers. Combined with San Leandro Hospital and the new Kaiser Hospital opening by 2014, Paramedics Plus is helping transform San Leandro into a hub for high quality medical care in the East Bay."
Paramedics Plus is a national ambulance company owned by the not-for-profit East Texas Medical Center in Tyler, Texas. Nationally, the company employs over 1,865 employees, serves a national population of about 3 million, currently deploys about 286 ambulances, answers 500,000 service requests, and transports about 353,000 patients annually.
"We are very happy to have our base of operations in San Leandro," said Jeff Taylor, Chief Operating Officer of Paramedics Plus-California. "San Leandro is a good location for our main base of operations in Alameda County and for our employees. We are particularly pleased with our proximity to BART, and hope to have a dialogue with the local area hospitals about possible opportunities to collaborate on programs and services for the community."
"This is an important new partnership for the Alameda County Fire Department," said Fire Chief Sheldon Gilbert. "It will result in greater emergency response coverage for San Leandro, as well as a level of integration and coordination between San Leandro's fire department and the local ambulance service that was not previously available. It will mean enhanced service levels and decreased costs to the community of San Leandro." The agreement between the Alameda County Fire Department and Paramedics Plus will have the ambulance service providing the Fire Department with all of its emergency medical response supplies, purchasing new emergency medical equipment for the fire companies, and will result in a savings to the City of approximately $10 per emergency response by the Fire Department. With approximately 8,100 emergency responses each year by the Alameda County Fire Department in San Leandro, this equates to an approximate savings of $81,000 per year.
For more information on the City of San Leandro and its programs and services, visit the City's website at www.sanleandro.org. To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or other notifications, go to http://www.sanleandro.org/whatsnew/enotify.asp.
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]]>SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS OPEN
Mayor Stephen H. Cassidy has announced that three openings exist for appointment to the San Leandro Shoreline Development Citizens Advisory Committee (Shoreline CAC). The Shoreline CAC provides input to the City Council and development team on a comprehensive master plan for approximately 40 acres of San Leandro's shoreline. The goal of the new shoreline development is to provide additional amenities to the San Leandro community that recognize and connect with current uses at the shoreline, such as the Monarch Bay Golf Course. The long-term vision for the plan is that its implementation must require little or no City investment and result in a Shoreline that is self- sustaining.
"The input the City Council has received from the Citizens Advisory Committee has been valuable as we work together with a developer to plan the future of the marina area within the San Leandro shoreline, said Mayor Stephen H. Cassidy. "I have the opportunity to add three more San Leandro residents to the committee and am interested in hearing from anyone who would wish to serve."
Applications for appointment to the CAC must be received by the City's Office of Business Development by the end of the business day on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. An application may be obtained by calling the Office of Business Development at 510-577-3314 or by e-mailing epeneranda@sanleandro.org, or by going to the following webpage: http://www.sanleandro.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=7950.
"For more information regarding the Shoreline Development Citizens Advisory Committee (Shoreline CAC), please call the City's Office of Business Development at 510-577-3352 or visit http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/cd/shoreline/default.asp.
For more information on the City of San Leandro and its programs and services, visit the City's website at www.sanleandro.org. To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or other notifications, go to http://www.sanleandro.org/whatsnew/enotify.asp.
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]]>Former San Leandro City Councilmember Faith Frazier Dies
Former City Councilmember Faith Frazier, who some call a pioneer toward the advancement of women in local politics, passed away on February 20 at the age of 85 after a lengthy illness. Mrs. Frazier leaves behind a long legacy of service to the community of San Leandro, having been actively involved in civic affairs and local politics since the 1950s.
Mrs. Frazier was appointed to the San Leandro Board of Library Trustees in 1962, where she served until 1974, and is remembered as being instrumental in the establishment of the City's branch library system. Shortly thereafter she was elected to the City Council representing District 1. She served on the City Council from 1974 until 1982, mirroring the service of her late husband, James Frazier, who served on the City Council from 1954 to 1960.
"Faith Frazier was a valued member of our community who played an instrumental role in making San Leandro the vibrant and diverse community it is today," said Mayor Stephen H. Cassidy. "Faith was deeply committed to supporting women in politics in our region, and was also a strong advocate for equal rights in our community and the nation. She will be missed."
"Faith Frazier was a trailblazing pioneer who changed the history of San Leandro for the better," said California Senate Majority Leader (and former San Leandro Mayor) Ellen Corbett. "She had a quiet strength and courage that inspired many people. Her commitment to her family was unwavering. She mentored and encouraged so many women to seek out public service and elected office. I learned much from her advice and her counsel."
"Faith Frazier was an incredibly gifted woman," said Mayor Emeritus Shelia Young. "She reached out to the community to help in many ways. She responded to community's needs by helping to initiate many service and community action groups in San Leandro. Faith was a charter member of the San Leandro Arts Council and the San Leandro League of Women Voters."
"I remember Faith Frazier as a strong supporter of women's issues," said former Mayor Tony Santos. "She and her husband, James, were the founders of the Bonaire Civic League, one of the longest standing neighborhood associations in San Leandro. She was also one of the founders of the Political Action Committee for Excellence in San Leandro (PACE)."
"Faith Frazier was a strong advocate for social services in San Leandro, and a mentor for women wanting to get into local politics," recalls former Vice Mayor Bob Glaze. "She worked hard to give women a step up into local government, and she was a strong supporter of disability rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act."
Funeral services are still pending. However, the February 22 San Leandro City Council meeting was adjourned in Mrs. Frazier's memory, and flags at all City buildings are being flown at half staff in her honor.
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]]>San Leandro Public Library Hosts "Amazing Race" For Teens
Teens can compete at the San Leandro Public Library in a fun and friendly competition based on the popular television show The Amazing Race. Students in grades 6 to 12 will form teams with their friends to attempt a variety of challenges and earn points towards great prizes.
A Chinese dinner will be served at this free event. The event will be held twice, and teens should attend just one of the events. The first is on Friday, March 4, from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Manor Branch Library (1241 Manor Blvd., San Leandro, 94579). The second event is Friday, March 18, from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Main Library (300 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro, 94577).
Registration is required. Visit the library's web site to download a registration form at: http://www.sanleandro.org/depts/library/teens/default.asp.
The event is in honor of the library's Big Read of Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
For more information about the event, call Chris Selig, teen librarian, at (510) 577-3957. For more information on the City of San Leandro and its programs and services, visit the City's website at www.sanleandro.org. To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or other electronic notifications, go to http://www.sanleandro.org/whatsnew/enotify.asp.
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]]>Proposed Elimination of Redevelopment Imperils Economic Development and Job Creation in San Leandro
On February 7, 2011, the San Leandro City Council passed a resolution opposing the Governor's proposal to abolish redevelopment agencies, taking 1.7 billion dollars in local redevelopment revenues to assist in balancing the State's budget. Redevelopment represents the City's sole tool for promoting economic revitalization through job creation, infrastructure improvements, and business assistance. In recent years, the State has exacerbated San Leandro's budget challenges by taking million of dollars from its Redevelopment Agency.
"Redevelopment has been an invaluable tool in making our city safer, creating jobs, and constructing facilities benefiting all San Leandrans," stated Mayor Stephen H. Cassidy. "The City used redevelopment funds to transform a former blighted hotel on East 14th Street that was a source of criminal activity into a well-run apartment complex, helping reduce street crime while expanding affordable housing. Redevelopment funds helped build the new Senior Community Center, which will open in April 2011, and were used to construct the Fred T. Korematsu 9th grade campus that opened last August."
"Countless projects and programs would need to be eliminated if the State were to take these local dollars away from us," added Mayor Cassidy. "The projects identified in the Redevelopment Agency's current Five-Year Implementation Plan are estimated to create over 1,500 permanent and construction jobs while leveraging over $150 million in private investment. The elimination of redevelopment would severely impede City efforts to spur job creation, affordable housing, and quality of life improvements."
Redevelopment has a history of success in San Leandro. The Governor's proposal would curtail local progress.
The Redevelopment Agency has contributed to crucial infrastructure improvements throughout San Leandro. The streetscape improvements on MacArthur Boulevard have spurred revived retail activity along a key corridor in the City's north area. Similarly, downtown lighting and pedestrian improvements have created a safer, more pleasant and walk-able environment in the heart of the City. A streetscape project on Doolittle Drive has improved access to the City's industrial areas and added to San Leandro's growing network of bike lanes. The Agency also funded a portion of the cost of the new Senior Community Center. None of these projects would have been feasible without redevelopment.
Redevelopment in San Leandro also serves as a catalyst for high quality development that leads to sustainable economic vitality. For example, the Agency contributed to the successful completion of the Creekside Plaza office complex, San Leandro's only class-A office development and home to over 1,000 jobs. A modest contribution of gap financing was used to successfully leverage a much larger private investment, ensuring that the finished product would be a source of community pride. Plans are now in place to use redevelopment assistance, through land assembly and/or gap financing, to facilitate additional development projects at the former Albertsons, the Davis/Hays, and the former EBMUD sites, consistent with the City's Transit Oriented Development Strategy. Without redevelopment, the City would lose its most valuable tool for supporting the SMART development that our residents desire.
Should the Governor's proposal be approved, San Leandro would likely need to eliminate almost all business assistance activities. Programs like the Commercial Rehabilitation Program, which provides matching funds for façade improvements in revitalization areas, would be canceled. Support for local business associations and community events would also be threatened because the City's General Fund has no capacity to absorb these costs.
This proposal is inconsistent with the will of the voters.
The City Council believes that the Governor's proposal is a clear violation of the will of the electorate. In November 2010, California voters passed Proposition 22 by a widespread margin across the state. It is clear that the voters want local tax dollars protected for local government use and insulated from State reallocation. Cities and agencies have made their case to the public and achieved widespread support.
For more information on the City of San Leandro and its programs and services, visit the City's website at www.sanleandro.org. To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or other electronic notifications, go to http://www.sanleandro.org/whatsnew/enotify.asp.
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]]>San Leandro Mayor Welcomes Dialogue with the Community at "Coffee with the Mayor"
San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy continues to offer opportunities for San Leandro residents and business owners to voice concerns and raise questions related to City programs and services with his open dialogue sessions called "Coffee with the Mayor."
Mayor Cassidy's next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 16, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m., in Multipurpose Room C of the Marina Community Center at 15301 Wicks Boulevard.
"As Mayor of San Leandro, I think it is important to keep an open dialogue with our neighborhoods and businesses," said Mayor Cassidy. "This is the best way for me to hear the pulse of the community, what people's concerns are, what they are expecting from City Hall, and what ideas they have for helping the City Council and me lead San Leandro out of the troubles we are facing today." Everyone is welcome to attend.
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]]>Odwalla Coming to San Leandro
Odwalla, the popular producer of juices, smoothies and snack bars, will be moving its warehouse and distribution operations from Berkeley to a 36,000 square foot space in the Alvarado Business Center at 2996 Alvarado Street. The facility will act as a major distribution hub and employ approximately 50 people. Odwalla is currently completing tenant improvements and plans to start operations in San Leandro on February 1. The company will maintain its headquarters in Half Moon Bay and continue to make its juices and smoothies in Dinuba, California.
For more information, please call Cynthia Battenberg at (510) 577-3352. For more information on the City of San Leandro and its programs and services, visit the City's website at www.sanleandro.org. To register to automatically receive press releases, meeting agendas or other electronic notifications, go to http://www.sanleandro.org/whatsnew/enotify.asp.
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]]>New San Leandro Mayor Hosts First Community "Coffee with the Mayor" Meeting
Newly elected San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy is inviting residents and business owners to share concerns, ask questions, or just come to hear what is on other peoples' minds at his first "Coffee with the Mayor" meeting on Friday, January 7, 8:30 -9:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 835 East 14th Street.
"Communicating with and listening to the community is essential to ensuring that our City remains responsive to the needs and concerns of all San Leandrans," stated Mayor Elect Cassidy. "Through these open door sessions, I want to give everyone the opportunity to come in and discuss with me what is on their mind – whether they are major issues or just small ways to improve the community."
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]]>San Leandro City Council Meeting Audio Recordings On City Website Beginning January 4, 2010
Beginning January 4, 2010, the day following the first City Council meeting of the new year, audio recordings of San Leandro City Council meetings will be available on the City's website – www.sanleandro.org/depts/cityhall/council.
"Our City is committed to operating in an open and transparent manner," said Mayor Elect Stephen Cassidy. "Having the audio recordings of our City Council meetings on the web is an important step in meeting this commitment."
"The meetings won't be live on our website at this time," said City Clerk Marian Handa, "but that is something we are working toward for the future." For the time being, digitized audio recordings of the City Council meetings will be uploaded onto the website the day following each meeting.
The San Leandro City Council has been looking for ways to make meetings more accessible to the community. This first step of placing the audio recordings on the website will provide the community an opportunity to hear the meetings in their entirety, rather than reading action minutes a number of days later.
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]]>Parking Availability Downtown During Garage Construction
The former Albertsons parking lot will be converted to permit and 3-hour parking
On November 29, 2010, when demolition is scheduled to begin on the downtown parking garage, the parking lot at 1550 East 14th Street (the former Albertons site) which is now open parking will be converted to a combination of permit parking and free 3-hour parking Monday – Friday. The entire lot will continue to provide unrestricted parking on weekends and holidays.
The parking lot was created to accommodate vehicles that will be displaced during the 18 – 24 month construction of the new downtown parking garage. The City is currently working with the Innisfree Companies on a plan to develop the 1.7 acre former Albertsons site into a mixed use development consistent with the City's Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy. "The City is hopeful that construction of a new retail/mixed use project will begin in 2013," stated Cynthia Battenberg, the City's Business Development Manager.
The new garage will replace the existing Estudillo garage which is outdated and seismically unsafe. The garage, which will be funded with redevelopment tax increment dollars, is a critical component of the City's award winning TOD Strategy. Centralized parking encourages downtown retail patrons to park once and walk to multiple destinations and promotes pedestrian activity in the downtown. The added capacity from the new garage will facilitate additional mixed use development in downtown San Leandro.
Parking Permits are available to the public for $30 a month (a $25 discount from current garage rates) and employees are encouraged to purchase permits in order to leave short-term parking spaces for customers. Questions about permit parking should be directed to Tim Ricard 510/577-3315 or tricard@sanleandro.org. To purchase a parking permit, please contact Angie Denton at 510/577-3372 or adenton@sanleandro.org.
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]]>The City of San Leandro Says "Thank You" to San Leandro Voters
Sales Tax Increase to Take Effect April 1, 2011
The City of San Leandro wishes to express its thanks to the voters of San Leandro for passage of Measure Z, the temporary sales tax measure to maintain the City's essential services. The City is also appreciative of voter support of San Leandro Unified School District's Measure M. "Passage of both of these funding measures shows that residents have chosen to invest in San Leandro and protect the services, programs and amenities they want in their community," said City Manager Steve Hollister.
Although the City's election results will be certified by the City Council in December, the California Board of Equalization will not begin collecting the additional 1⁄4 percent sales tax in San Leandro until April 1, 2011. That is when the 1⁄4 percent increase in the sales tax for purchases made in San Leandro will begin. The City will not likely see those revenues deposited into the General Fund until the first week of July 2011. The sales tax is temporary and has a seven year sunset date. Consequently, the City is still facing a $2 million shortfall when this fiscal year concludes on June 30, 2010.
Staffing in the San Leandro Police Department will receive a boost thanks to a $2.4 million 3-year federal Community Oriented Policing Hiring Program grant. However, given the lengthy process for hiring and training new police recruits, it could take a number of years for Police Department staffing to be restored to pre-recessionary levels.
While program, service and personnel cuts anticipated if Measure Z failed will no longer be necessary, three years worth of cuts to the City's departments due to the recession will be slow to be restored. First priority will be given to essential services, such as public safety, but as funds permit and as the nation's economy improves, the City hopes to gradually restore needed reserves as well as amenities such as events, library hours, and programs for children and seniors.
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]]>Traffic Signal for San Leandro High School
Under the direction of the City Council and with the support of the San Leandro Unified School District, City staff applied for a grant under the State-Legislated Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Program Cycle 9. The City was awarded a grant for $421,245 for its $468,050 project by the Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
In response to community concerns about pedestrian and bicyclist safety and traffic congestion at the Bancroft Avenue and 136th Street intersection due to the development of the new 9th Grade Campus of San Leandro High, a project to install a traffic signal at the intersection was proposed. However, funding the project presented a challenge, so the City sought grant funds.
"We are pleased with this grant award," said City Mayor Tony Santos. "Both the City and the School District were concerned about the safety of students now that the 9th Grade Campus is open, and having the funds to install a traffic signal to assist the children as they travel back and forth from campus to campus relieves these concerns."
"We are thrilled that this project has been funded and appreciate the City working so hard to make it happen," said Superintendent Cindy Cathey. "There is no question that this stop light at a heavily used intersection by pedestrians and motorists will create a more safe passage for our students, families and staff as they travel between campuses."
"The competition for grants this year was especially intense, given the increased number of applicants and reduced level of funding," said Uche Udemezue, the City's Engineering & Transportation Director. "San Leandro was the only city in Alameda County, and indeed one of the few applicants among 400 statewide, to have its project approved for funding. City staff's expertise and dedication in aggressively pursuing grant funding combined with timely project implementation when awarded a grant have again aided in putting the City at the top of the funding list."
The grant funds will allow the City to construct a new traffic signal with bicycle detection and scrambled pedestrian signal phasing, signing, striping, curb ramps and provide traffic safety education. The traffic safety education program will be offered to both students and the general public. The program's workshops will allow attendees to learn about and review best practices for traffic safety behavior. The workshops will also encourage the use of alternative modes of transportation among students to decrease traffic congestion near school sites, creating a safer environment for students and residents.
For more information, call Senior Transportation Engineer Reh-Lin N. Chen at (510) 577-3438.
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]]>Town Hall Meetings Scheduled for November 9 and 17 to Discuss Alternatives for the San Leandro Boat Harbor Basin
The City is working with Cal-Coast Development, master developer, and a 33-member Shoreline Development Citizens Advisory Committee to develop a master plan for an approximately 40-acre opportunity site at the San Leandro Shoreline. Information on the Shoreline Development project and process to date can be found at the following website address: www.sanleandro.org/depts/cd/bizdev/shoreline. The website includes Discussion Plan 6, the plan that is currently being discussed; however, no formal recommendation for development has been made to the City Council.
While the City remains hopeful that future development can support the retention of a reconfigured boat harbor, as no source of funding has been identified for future dredging or transfer of the dredged materials, the City is exploring alternatives for the boat harbor basin. Town Hall meetings have been scheduled to provide the community an update on the Shoreline Development project to date and gain input on alternatives for the boat harbor basin. The study includes the following assumptions
Please plan to attend a Town Hall meeting and share your ideas. The same information will be covered at both meetings so you need only attend one.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 7 pm at the Main Library Dave Karp Room at 300 Estudillo Avenue
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 7 pm at the Marina Community Center at 15301 Wicks Boulevard
For more information or to share your ideas, please contact Debbie Pollart at (510) 577-6020 or dpollart@sanleandro.org.
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]]>City Hosts America Recycles Day Event on November 3
In recognition of America Recycles Day, the City of San Leandro has planned a special recycling event on Wednesday, November 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Marina Community Center, located at 15301 Wicks Boulevard. The event encourages residents to recycle items such as pharmaceuticals, mercury-containing items, household batteries and electronic media, such as floppy disks, DVDs, CD cases and toner cartridges. The event is open to San Leandro residents only.
Pharmaceutical pollutants are now commonplace in municipal waterways, and wastewater treatment plants are generally not equipped to effectively remove them. As a result, there is increasing concern that pharmaceuticals in surface waters cause adverse health effects in aquatic life and lead to increased antibiotic resistance in humans. And mercury is a toxic pollutant that accumulates in the environment and food chain. In 2006, the State of California established a requirement that all mercury-containing devices as well as batteries be taken to a household hazardous waste disposal facility, a universal waste handler or an authorized recycling facility for proper disposal or recycling.
Residents are encouraged to recycle pharmaceuticals, batteries and mercury-containing items at the event, including thermometers, thermostats and fluorescent lights. Those who bring in a mercury thermometer will receive a new digital thermometer for free!
America Recycles Day is a national campaign aimed at encouraging recycling and buying recycled products. The effort began in 1997 and now includes participation from residents in every state. For more information, call the City's Recycling Hotline at 577-6026.
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]]>Scandic Stays Competitive by Focusing on Sustainability
In today's economy, it has become nearly impossible for Bay Area manufacturers to compete in the global market on cost alone. To stay competitive, San Leandro's Scandic Springs, Inc. has continually repositioned itself to establish a business model that ensures success over the long run. Part of that transition has involved shifting from a focus on manufacturing coil springs to more specialized value- added processes like metal stamping, die-cutting and precision coiling. These adjustments have given Scandic the capability to manufacture highly-customized parts for high-tech equipment, products that are not likely to be manufactured by low-cost facilities overseas.
Scandic has further improved its long-term outlook by constantly re-evaluating the way that they do business. A focus on sustainability has helped the company identify opportunities to increase the efficiency of its operations, cutting costs and minimizing waste along the way. Scandic president Hale Foote characterizes sustainability as "eliminating the waste and using business practices that make it more likely that your business will endure."
Toward that end, Scandic has embarked on several key initiatives that move the company toward a more sustainable future. Most notable is the installation of a new solar roof earlier this year. The 93kW photovoltaic system, believed to be the largest is San Leandro, provides approximately 85% of Scandic's total electrical needs. Foote estimates that the remaining 15% can be eliminated "just by working smarter." Another successful improvement has been the installation of skylights, funded with assistance from the City of San Leandro's Industrial Competitiveness Program, to reduce the need for electrical lighting. A side benefit of the skylights has been a more pleasant work environment for employees.
Scandic's total electrical needs. Foote estimates that the remaining 15% can be eliminated "just by working smarter." Another successful improvement has been the installation of skylights, funded with assistance from the City of San Leandro's Industrial Competitiveness Program, to reduce the need for electrical lighting. A side benefit of the skylights has been a more pleasant work environment for employees.
In their continued efforts to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, Scandic is seeking out new ideas through participation in a Sustainability Circle run by Natural Capitalism, Inc. The circle, sponsored by the City's Office of Business Development and the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, brings together companies from a diverse range of industries to share resources and tips on how to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and operations. A fundamental premise of the Sustainability Circles is that increased efficiency is more than an environmental objective. Efficiency makes business sense as well because it yields positive impacts on a company's bottom line.
Scandic's group included six other San Leandro businesses: Ghirardelli Chocolate, Mi Rancho, Scandic Springs, Alameda County Industries, OSIsoft and Alco Iron, and Quorum Real Estate Group. The Participating businesses will share insights from their experiences at "Innovation and Sustainability," a symposium presented by the Chamber of Commerce and scheduled for Monday October 25 at the San Leandro Main Library from 8:15 – 11 a.m.
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]]>SAN LEANDRO TO RECEIVE ONE-TIME, TEMPORARY FEDERAL FUNDING
Yesterday, the City received notice from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder that the San Leandro Police Department will receive a one-time 2010 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grant award. The estimated amount of federal funds to be awarded to SLPD over the three-year grant period is $2,417,175.00, which will fund five police officer positions.
"I am extremely proud of this accomplishment for the City," stated Mayor Tony Santos. "A number of us have been working on getting this funding for over two years now. Through contacts I made at the U.S. Conference of Mayors earlier this year, and working with the City's Legislative Liaison, Len Simon, in Washington, D.C., I have been able to establish a good relationship with Bernard Melekian, Director of the Federal Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. He and I have spoken personally, and have shared correspondence on a regular basis. A City Council delegation went to Washington, D.C. the past two years during the National League of Cities conferences to lobby for this one-time funding. Together, we have clearly made a strong case for San Leandro's public safety needs, and I am so thankful that the City's efforts have paid off."
In an application submitted to the COPS Hiring Program in June of this year, Police Chief Ian Willis committed to maintaining Community Policing programs in San Leandro as much as possible. Due to budget reductions over the past three years, the SLPD sworn officer staffing has fallen to 87, the lowest level since 1992.
As San Leandro is facing a fiscal crisis, every dollar helps. While this one-time grant will help the Police Department for the next three years, the City is still facing a $3 million shortfall affecting police, fire, and all other services throughout the city. The City Council has placed Measure Z on the November 2010 ballot to address this $3 million shortfall and prevent further cuts. Without revenue from Measure Z, potential budget cuts to address the $3 million shortfall include:
Eliminate seven additional police officers
"As the Chief of Police, it is my job to do everything I can to protect the people of San Leandro," said Chief Willis. "I am very happy to have secured some help from the Federal Government during these difficult times, but it isn't enough. It only helps us with five officers when we need to support seven positions at least. With funding from both this one-time grant and Measure Z, we can prevent further cuts to our department."
City Manager Steve Hollister stated, "This is great news; we are delighted that our City won these scarce grant funds after an extensive application process involving scores of other cities across the country. It is clear that our City has public safety funding needs that simply won't go away."
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]]>San Leandro Mayor Keeps an Open Door to Citizens with "Coffee with the Mayor"
San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos continues to offer the opportunity for San Leandro residents and business owners to voice concerns and raise issues related to City programs and activities with his regular open office hour sessions at City Hall called "Coffee with the Mayor."
Mayor Santos' next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 14, at 10 a.m., in the Recreation Building of Mission Bay Mobile Home Park, 15333 Wicks Boulevard.
"Through these open door sessions, I want to give everyone the opportunity to come in and discuss with me things they have in mind – whether they are major issues or just small ways to improve the community," stated Mayor Santos. "People often feel they don't have access to government, and I hope this will be an avenue for helping folks become more involved."
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]]>San Leandro Shoreline Cleanup Event To Be Held September 25, 2010
California Coastal Cleanup Day is a statewide event held in September. Now in its 26th year, the event includes cleanup efforts throughout California's coastal communities that beautify and protect the coastline. The City of San Leandro has hosted its own Shoreline Cleanup Event for several years as part of the statewide effort and will do so again this year.
San Leandro's Shoreline Cleanup Event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, September 25, along the San Leandro Shoreline. Volunteers can join the cleanup effort from the staging area located at: the Monarch Bay Drive Bridge (at the end of Marina Park). Note: The Heron Bay entrance is not available this year due to the LAVWMA pipeline construction project in progress at the south end of the shoreline trail.
Trash bags, recyclable bags, gloves, and bottled water will be distributed to participants, and Alameda County Industries will donate dumpsters for debris disposal. In years past, as many as 500 volunteers have participated.
By request, students from the local high schools working on community service will receive certificates of service for participating in the event, including students from KIPP Academy in San Lorenzo who will be participating for their fifth year. 5th and 6th graders from Garfield Elementary School will assist in cleanup efforts from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, September 24 – the day before the statewide event.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Marina Manager Delmarie Snodgrass at (510) 577-3490.
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]]>San Leandro Mayor Keeps an Open Door to Citizens with Bi-monthly "Coffee with the Mayor"
San Leandrans will once again have an opportunity to visit with Mayor Tony Santos with his regular open office session called "Coffee with the Mayor." Mayor Santos' next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 9, 10:00 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 835 East 14th Street.
"I believe the community finds these meetings useful," said Santos, "and I do as well. It gives all of us an opportunity to discuss issues that are important to San Leandro."
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]]>Careers in Industrial Technology Program Created for San Leandro High School Students
City of San Leandro and Chamber of Commerce Team Up with the Exploring Program to Expose Students to Career Opportunities in Manufacturing
The City of San Leandro, San Leandro Chamber of Commerce and the Exploring Program have established an exciting Careers in Industrial Technology Program for San Leandro High School students interested in learning more about careers in manufacturing.
The program will introduce students to alternative career paths and educate them on the skills needed for a successful career in manufacturing. Using hands-on curriculum, local business leaders will educate participating young men and women on basic job skills such as measurement and inventory, completing forms, following directions, and basic computer skills. There will also be a focus on employer expectations such as punctuality, collaboration, interviewing skills, and working in a union shop. By highlighting the real world applications of these skills, the program aims to engage the students in their high school classes and provide information on relevant classes available at the local Community Colleges.
The program is designed to start students on a successful career track in manufacturing. The result will be increased career opportunities for local youths and a stronger employment base for local businesses.
Participating businesses include: Coca-Cola, Waste Management Davis Street Transfer Station, Georgia Pacific, Ghirardelli, Safeway Milk Plant, Scandic Springs, and General Foundry.
The program will meet on the second Tuesday of each month between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. Students will be picked up at San Leandro High School and transported to a local facility for a tour and hands- on experience. Students who have completed the 8th grade qualify for participation. The kick-off meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 14th at 3:30 p.m. in room 241 at San Leandro High School. For more information or an application, contact: Rebecca Jewel at 510/563-4214, rjewell@wm.com or Chad Pennebaker at 510/483-8770 ext.46, cit@douglas.com.
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]]>North East 14th Street Merchant Works with City to Spruce Up Building, Revitalize Area
Mike's Feed and Pets Takes Advantage of City's Façade Improvement Program
Mike Hauge, owner of Mike's Feed and Pets, which is a key business on North East 14th Street, recently completed an exterior renovation of his business located at 710 East 14th Street. Mr. Hauge partnered with the San Leandro Redevelopment Agency, utilizing the Agency's Commercial Facade Improvement Program, which contributed 75 percent of the cost of the renovation. The improvements included painting the entire building with an attractive three-color scheme, installing new awnings and two new signs, and refurbishing the existing sign. SZFM Design Group and Socha Visual designed the improvements and also completed the work.
San Leandro Redevelopment Agency's Commercial Facade Improvement Program is designed to make aesthetic improvements to existing commercial buildings within the City of San Leandro Redevelopment Project Areas. The Program serves to stimulate investment and improve the appearance of businesses in order to make commercial districts more attractive. Participants in the program may either be property or business owners.
"The improvements look great and my costumers have definitely noticed. They appreciate the new look," said owner Mike Hauge. Hauge also explained that his customers will be able to enjoy improvements to a parking lot in the near future.
Mr. Hauge has owned the pet store for almost 30 years, moving it to its current location in 1995. The neighborhood-oriented pet store serves clients from San Leandro and the surrounding areas. He was a recent sponsor of the San Leandro Paw-A-Thon.
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]]>SAN LEANDRO COMMUNITY URGES IMPORTANCE OF TEMPORARY EMERGENCY FUNDING MEASURE
City Council Places Measure on November 2010 Ballot
On Monday night the San Leandro City Council approved placing the San Leandro Temporary Emergency Funding Measure on the November 2, 2010 ballot to protect and maintain local city services. Community members, city employees, police officers, and members of the business community urged the Council to proceed with placing the measure on the ballot.
"We know how important this is to our community, and we thank the residents and service providers who came to speak on San Leandro's urgent service needs and all of those who have given us feedback on this issue," said Mayor Tony Santos. "Temporary emergency funding will help us weather this storm and maintain core services during this unprecedented economic downturn."
If adopted by voters, the San Leandro Temporary Emergency Funding Measure provides funds to protect and maintain local services, such as fire and 9-1-1 emergency response times, neighborhood police patrols, investigation and gang suppression officers, library hours/programs, street and pothole repairs, youth after-school and senior programs, and other general City services by adding a one- quarter cent sales tax to taxable purchases in San Leandro. The sales tax increase would have a sunset of seven years.
Isaac Benabou, Vice President of the San Leandro Police Officers Association, spoke on the potential impacts to safety in San Leandro without a local funding measure. "San Leandro's police force is already below the number of officers needed for a city of our size," said Benabou. "Without additional revenue in the next six months, there will have to be even more cuts to police—including eliminating seven more police officers, a code enforcement officer, and an animal control officer. These cuts will result in longer 9-1-1 response times, putting San Leandro's safety at risk."
Alameda County Fire Chief Sheldon Gilbert also conveyed concerns over longer emergency response time if additional cuts are made. "Without this ballot measure, San Leandro faces removing a fire ladder truck and nine firefighters from service in July 2011," said Gilbert. "This fire truck ran 877 calls last year with an average response time of 2.16 minutes. Without this truck, emergency response times would increase 184% to 6.13 minutes, which is over the five minute response time standard."
Residents and the business community were concerned with the State takeaways that have impacted San Leandro's budget—to the tune of $7 million.
"To protect and maintain our community's services, we need locally-controlled funds for our local services that cannot be taken by Sacramento," said Michael Fitzgerald, Past President of the Broadmoor Homeowners Association. "This measure is essential because the funds are legally- required to stay here in San Leandro."
"The RHO [Rental Housing Organization] has been in favor of the 1/4 cent sales tax local revenue measure since last fall when discussions first began about the very urgent need for an additional local revenue source that cannot be raided by our bankrupt state government," said a letter submitted by Thomas Silva, RHO President.
The City Council put a high priority on financial accountability by including fiscal provisions in the ballot measure itself. "This Measure requires independent citizens' oversight, a sunset clause, and annual financial audits to ensure funds are spent as promised," said City Manager Steve Hollister. "These safeguards will ensure funds are used efficiently and effectively for community priorities."
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]]>Marina Mechanical Demonstrates that Sustainability and Success in Business Go Hand in Hand
For Marina Mechanical President and CEO Jim Hussey, sustainability has become a driving force behind the way he runs his business and the way he serves his customers. Like many companies, the San Leandro-based HVAC services provider has sought out ways to make its operations more efficient. The improvements Hussey has implemented began with minor tweaks, such as opening window shades to reduce the need for electrical lighting, mandating double-sided printing, distributing documents electronically, switching to paper towel dispensers that generate less waste, and installing automated faucets that reduced both water consumption and sick time.
"Ultimately, moving toward greater sustainability has required a culture change," said Hussey. "This is something that takes both time and energy to achieve." Although sustainability efforts are nothing new at Marina Mechanical, the company has been aided in the last year through its participation in a Sustainability Circle run by Natural Capitalism, Inc. The circle brings together companies from a diverse range of industries to work together to share resources and tips on how to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and operations. The City of San Leandro's Office of Business Development recently partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to help six more San Leandro companies participate in Sustainability Circles - Ghirardelli Chocolate, Mi Rancho, Scandic Springs, Alameda County Industries, OSIsoft and Alco Iron. "We are promoting the Sustainability Circles because we understand that sustainable practices result in cost savings which ultimately help businesses compete," stated Cynthia Battenberg, City of San Leandro Business Development Manager.
Some of Marina Mechanical's larger projects include the use of pre-coolers on the company's air conditioning unit to shift energy demand to off-peak hours, and the implementation of a GPS system to assign work in a manner which reduces the company's vehicle fleet miles travelled. Marina Mechanical's facilities are now Energy Star rated, but Hussey isn't done looking for opportunities to improve: solar panels and lighting improvements are both being considered for the future.
Looking beyond his own operations, Hussey has identified an opportunity to better serve his customers by helping them improve the efficiency of their HVAC systems. Although increased efficiency has always been an effective way for companies to cut costs, it will become even more important as PG&E rolls out a Peak Day Pricing system that charges drastically higher rates for power consumed during times of peak usage. Hussey anticipates the new rate structures catching many business owners off guard. "Somehow, we've got to figure out a way to educate the consumer," he said. Marina Mechanical offers a variety of options to help its customers reduce their energy costs by implementing "load shifting" strategies that draw power when during off-peak hours when the costs are much lower and store the energy so that it can be used when needed.
Ultimately, Hussey cites two very different motivations for aspiring to sustainable practices; reduced energy costs that improve his company's bottom line, and a social responsibility to do his part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste. Being able to provide those same benefits for Marina Mechanical's customers is a natural extension of the improvements at his facilities, and a smart way to capture an emerging source of demand. "We've got to practice what we preach," he says. "If we can demonstrate that new options are effective, it's easier to offer those things to the customer."
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]]>Be part of a KaBOOM! Playground Build Day at Toyon Park!
San Leandro Recreation and Human Services Department and the San Leandro Rotary teamed up to apply for, and consequently received, a donation for a playground to be built in San Leandro through a community build process by KaBOOM! KaBOOM! is a national non-profit dedicated to bringing play back into the lives of children. KaBOOM! and its funding partner, AMGEN, a biotechnology company, picked San Leandro's Toyon Park to build a playground.
KaBOOM!'s community build model is designed to help a community build a playground, strengthen existing support networks, and discover new assets within the community. The actual Build Day will be much like an old-fashioned barn-raising where everybody in the community is invited to bring their skills, talents and enthusiasm to help build a playground!
Before we can build a playground, we need expert and community input on the playground design. You are invited to bring your "experts" (your child/children) and yourselves to the Toyon Park Playground Design Day. The Design Day will include designing the park and planning for the Build Day. Committees are set up to help with the planning and execution of the Build Day and we hope you will come and share your ideas and resources.
The Toyon Park Design Day is scheduled for Thursday, July 22 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. It will be held at Jefferson Elementary School, 14311 Lark Street, San Leandro. Light snacks and child care are provided for those that attend the meeting. Also plan to join us for the Build Day on Saturday, September 18, 2010 at Toyon Park, 1500 Bancroft Avenue.
For more information about the Design Day and the Build Day, please contact the San Leandro Recreation and Human Services Director, Carolyn Knudtson, at 577-3466. Also, visit kaboom.org to learn how you can ensure healthier kids and stronger communities through the power of play.
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]]>Senior Meal Program Relocating to Marina Community Center
The Bancroft Senior Center at Bethel Presbyterian Church will close after June 30, due to budget reductions. The Spectrum Senior Meals (formerly called Hot Lunch Program) and Fall Prevention classes previously held at the Bancroft location will be provided at the Marina Community Center, 15301 Wicks Boulevard, effective July 1. The suggested voluntary donation for a Senior Meal is $3.25, or purchase a 10-meal ticket for $30. You must call to reserve your lunch at least one day in advance. The new reservation number for Spectrum Senior Meals is (510) 825– 8793.
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]]>San Leandro Mayor Keeps an Open Door to Citizens with Bi-monthly "Coffee with the Mayor"
San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos will once again offer an opportunity for San Leandro residents and business owners to voice concerns and raise issues related to City programs and activities with his regular open office session called "Coffee with the Mayor."
Mayor Santos' next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 8, 10:00 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 835 East 14th Street.
"We have had many successes by the community bringing their issues to the sessions, and resolved or addressed many problems through the dialogue at the Coffee with the Mayor," said Santos. "Unfortunately, turn out in recent sessions has been relatively low. So, if there is still a low turn out in July, we will need to decide if it is time to sunset the sessions."
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]]>San Leandro Redevelopment Agency Forced to Make $4.26 Million Payment to Cover State Raid of Local Funds
The San Leandro Redevelopment Agency was forced to turn over $4.26 million dollars to the Alameda County Auditor yesterday, a required payment resulting from the State's decision to raid $2.05 billion in local redevelopment funds as part of the 2009-10 State Budget. Instead of going to fund local job creation, economic growth and urban revitalization projects, this money will now be siphoned off to help pay the State's obligations.
The payment was made in accordance with a ruling by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Lloyd Connelly last week which instructed local redevelopment agencies to abide by the provisions of ABX4-26 passed last year as part of the state budget. The bill allows the state to take $2.05 billion in redevelopment funding to use for state obligations. The California Redevelopment Association (CRA) is appealing the Superior Court ruling to the Court of Appeal.
"Taking this funding will stall job creation efforts in San Leandro at the worst possible time," said Mayor Tony Santos. "The money being turned over to fund State obligations was going to be used for local revitalization projects that would have improved our community, created jobs and stimulated our local economy."
"The State's take of money from local redevelopment agencies who are one of the state's strongest job creating engines, at a time when job creation and economic development are desperately needed, seems short-sighted," continued Cynthia Battenberg, Business Development Manager with the City of San Leandro.
In the near-term, the State take will have a devastating impact on the Agency's ability to fund redevelopment activities. Several programs have been cut or reduced in the proposed 2010-11 budget. Even more troubling is the potential for future state actions to take additional redevelopment funding. Among the specific projects that will be harmed by this state raid include:
California Redevelopment Association Executive Director John Shirey vowed to fight the Superior Court ruling: "We strongly disagree with Judge Connelly's ruling which effectively says the Legislature has unlimited discretion to redirect local redevelopment funds to any purpose it wishes. Under that logic any State program could be called redevelopment. The Legislature needs to deal with its budget problems by making hard decisions using its own limited resources -- not by taking away local government funds."
A State-wide measure, which qualified for the November 2 ballot, The Local Taxpayer, Public Safety, and Transportation Act, would stop the State from raiding or borrowing funding for local public safety, transportation, transit and other essential local government services. Specifically, the measure would:
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]]>San Leandro Crossings Development Delayed
At the April 19 City Council meeting, City Manager Steve Hollister reported to the Council that construction of the initial 100 housing units for the San Leandro Crossings development in downtown San Leandro has been delayed. Nonprofit BRIDGE Housing Corporation is the developer for the 100- unit affordable rental development called The Alameda. In addition to The Alameda, the first phase of the San Leandro Crossings consists of a BART replacement parking lot and The Cornerstone, a 200-unit market rate development. Westlake Development Partnership is the private developer for the Cornerstone and the primary property owner for the project.
San Leandro Crossings had strong momentum following approval of the City's Downtown Transit- Oriented Development Strategy adopted in 2007 and a 2008 award of $24.5 million by the State of California's Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for the construction of critical infrastructure improvements and portions of The Alameda project. These funds were awarded from two new programs sponsored by the State to support transit oriented and infill development. The Alameda gained further momentum when it successfully competed for an allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits in 2009. The project experienced a setback when BRIDGE returned the Tax Credits on Tuesday because the parties were unable to finalize agreements that would have allowed the project to move forward within the timeframes specified by Tax Credit rules. "I appreciate the effort that all parties – Westlake, BRIDGE, the City and HCD – invested in working to integrate the needs of all programs within the time constraints, said Hollister. "While progress was made, we simply ran out of time to make all of the pieces work together. While we are deeply disappointed that our progress has slowed, all parties have committed to redouble their efforts to complete negotiations and move the project forward as quickly as possible."
A general concern about the current economic climate, the newness of the HCD programs and their requirements, in combination with the Tax Credit deadlines, were too much to overcome.
"The City is committed to continuing to work with all parties on scheduling commitments, and we believe we can collectively resolve all of the concerns to move this important project forward," added Hollister.
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]]>Arbor Day Tree Planting Celebration
San Leandro has been named a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to community forestry. It is the thirteenth year San Leandro has received this national recognition.
San Leandro is also the recipient of a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating progress in its community forestry program in the following activity areas:
The prestigious Growth Award recognizes environmental improvement and higher levels of tree care in Tree City USA communities.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.
Everyone is invited to join the City of San Leandro Public Works Department for an Arbor Day Tree Planting Celebration:
Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Where: Stenzel Park, 15300 Wicks Blvd.
Time: 4:00 p.m.
For more information, call Tim Orr, Tree Supervisor, at (510) 577-3448.
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]]>San Leandro Shoreline Cleanup Held to Honor Earth Day
In honor of Earth Day, the City of San Leandro will host its Annual Shoreline Area Cleanup Event on Saturday, April 17, from 8:00 a.m. to noon to encourage local volunteers to help beautify the San Leandro shoreline and take care of Mother Earth. The City has hosted the cleanup for several years and participation has been growing. Last year, more than 250 individuals helped clean up the area and removed 500 bags of recyclables, junk and debris.
Community volunteers, including individuals, families, service clubs, scout troops and office or company teams, are encouraged to join in the effort. City staff will be on hand to assist and participate along with members of the San Leandro City Council.
Volunteers should meet at one of two staging areas – either near the Monarch Bay Drive Bridge (at the south end of Marina Park) or at the west end of Lewelling Boulevard at the entrance to the shoreline trail near the Heron Bay housing development. Please note the Heron Bay location is "drop off" only. The Heron Bay Homeowners Association will tow away any vehicles parked in the area.
Debris bags, recyclable bags, plastic gloves and bottled water will be provided. The cleanup will be cancelled in the event of heavy rain.
For large volunteer groups, please call (510) 577-3490. Individuals or small groups may just show up!
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]]>Community Meeting Scheduled to Discuss San Leandro's Budget Crisis
Mayor Tony Santos is holding an informational meeting for the community to hear about the City's budget situation, how the recession has impacted City programs and services, and what cuts will need to be made to the upcoming Fiscal Year budget that begins in July.
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 7:00 p.m. in the Carnegie Lecture Hall at the Main Library, 300 Estudillo Avenue. After welcoming comments from the Mayor, City staff will make a presentation on the proposed Fiscal Year 2010-11 budget, followed by questions from the audience.
"This is the worst budget crisis the City has experienced in decades," said Mayor Santos. "I think it is important for the community to hear just how challenged our General Fund budget has been in the past year, and what we can expect for the next fiscal year. More programs, services and jobs are going to have to be cut in order for us to reach a balanced budget."
Questions about the Mayor's meeting can be directed to the Mayor's Office at 510-577-3355. More information about the City's budget crisis is available on the City's website at www.sanleandro.org.
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]]>SYMPOSIUM TO DISCUSS TRANSFORMATION OF DOWNTOWN SAN LEANDRO
Downtown Symposium to bring together the stakeholders and community members of San Leandro
The City of San Leandro will host a symposium to bring together the many people and organizations involved in Downtown San Leandro. The symposium, which will take place 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 30, in the Karp Room of the San Leandro Library, includes presentations by key stakeholders, question and answer sessions and networking opportunities.
The symposium will create a forum for organizations, community members, and the city's stakeholders to ask questions about and learn what is happening in Downtown San Leandro and how they can participate. Guest speakers include representatives from the City of San Leandro, Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Association, as well as developers and others who are also actively involved in the Downtown's transformation.
Community members are encouraged to attend and learn how to get involved in the reshaping of Downtown San Leandro. Refreshments will be provided for all attendees.
About Downtown San Leandro
Strategically positioned between Interstates 580 and 880, Downtown San Leandro's very active commercial district and dynamic demographics create the perfect opportunity for businesses to flourish in this growing marketplace. In addition, the city's infrastructure improvements to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment and the highly successful farmers' market provides the opportunity for residents and visitors to meet, shop, dine and enjoy the renaissance of this great third place. For more information about Downtown San Leandro, please visit www.DowntownSanLeandro.com.
Event Details: This event will take place in the Karp Room of the San Leandro Library from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 30th
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]]>City Employees Agree to Salary Decreases and Increased Costs for Benefits in Contracts
At the February 1 meeting, the City Council approved and ratified contracts with the San Leandro City Employees' Association, Local 21 and the San Leandro Management Organization (SLMO). Both contracts cover the period of January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010. The main elements of the contracts include:
The San Leandro City Employees' Association represents approximately 310 full and part-time employees throughout the organization; the Management Organization (SLMO) represents approximately 48 full and part-time employees. Both organizations have worked closely during the negotiation process to help address the significant budget issues facing the City. Members of both organizations brought the tentative agreements to their respective members for a vote last week. Both were ratified by the members and brought forth to the City Council for approval at the February 1, 2010 City Council meeting.
The City is currently facing fiscal challenges due to the significant and rapid reduction in local revenues. Effective last July, 61 positions were eliminated from the workforce, along with significant reductions to department budgets. The challenge continues with more reductions slated to be effective with the next budget cycle. The contracts reduce employee compensation with reductions in salaries, retirement and medical/dental benefits. This is the second consecutive year that members of the two bargaining groups have voted to forgo a salary increase. A two-tiered retirement program will now be in effect for all new hires.
For more information about the contracts, please call Human Resources Director Justinian Caire at (510) 577-3399.
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]]>San Leandro Mayor Keeps an Open Door to Citizens with Bi-monthly "Coffee with the Mayor"
San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos continues to offer the opportunity for San Leandro residents and business owners to voice concerns and raise issues related to City programs and activities with his regular open office hour sessions at City Hall called "Coffee with the Mayor."
Mayor Santos' next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 14, at 10 a.m., in the City Council Chambers on the first floor of City Hall, which is located just north of downtown, at 835 E. 14th Street.
"I truly believe in open government and active resident participation to help us, as a City, shape our policies and activities and to know what is of importance to the community," stated Mayor Santos. "Through these open door sessions, I want to give everyone the opportunity to come in and discuss with me things they have in mind – whether they are major issues or just small ways to improve the community. People often feel they don't have access to government, and I hope this will be an avenue for helping folks become more involved."
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]]>Former San Leandro City Manager, Wes McClure, Dies
Former City Manager Wesley McClure passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2009, at the age of 94. A 1937 graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, McClure is credited with a long list of major improvements for the San Leandro community during the 28 years he served as City Manager. In recognition of his years of service and accomplishments, the City Council named him City Manager Emeritus when he retired in 1976.
McClure was appointed City Manager by the San Leandro City Council in 1948, worked diligently in that role to move the City forward, and saw pivotal changes in San Leandro, including the annexation of West San Leandro, the redevelopment of Downtown San Leandro and creation of the downtown plaza area. During his tenure as City Manager, he played a key role in the development of a revenue generating industrial base in the westerly area of the City by providing the street and sewer system required to attract large manufacturers. The revenue from this expanded business activity allowed the City Council to reduce property taxes for 26 years in a row while maintaining excellent City services. His vision for additional recreational opportunities for the community led to the creation of the San Leandro Marina and Shoreline. In recognition of his efforts to obtain Federal and State grants for the development of the Marina, the City Council named a small boat launching ramp for him in 2003. McClure saw the need to replace the small Carnegie Library on Estudillo Avenue with the Main Library that was constructed in 1960 through the issuance of voter approved bonds.
McClure was recognized throughout the state and the nation as one of the most respected City Managers in local government, achieving numerous honors and service awards, including the L.P. Cookingham Award from the International City/County Management Association in 1973 for local government career development and ethics, and the Distinguished Service Award in 1997, also from the International City/County Management Association. In 2000, he was honored by the League of California Cities with its Past Presidents' Lifetime Achievement Award for his long and distinguished record of public service.
McClure remained active in local government after his retirement through his volunteer work with the California League of Cities and International City/County Management Association. He worked with the League to establish the "Ranger Rider" program where retired City Managers throughout the state meet with current managers to provide support and advice on dealing with complex issues. He also served as the Executive Director for the Alameda County Mayors' Conference. In addition, he worked with the Association of Bay Area Governments and other regional organizations to promote excellence in government services.
McClure was also instrumental in creating the professional organization Municipal Management Assistants of Northern California, a non-profit membership organization of local government management professionals located throughout the 49 counties of Northern California to address the professional needs of public management staff. It is the oldest and one of the largest organizations of its kind in the nation, helping to guide future city managers in the profession.
"Wesley McClure will be missed by everyone that knew him," stated current San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos. "Wes was one of the most respected and effective local government administrators in the nation and state. The City saw the creation of many of the facilities and programs the community enjoys today under his direction and leadership. His collaborative work with former Mayor Jack Maltester and the City Council transformed the City from a largely agricultural region to a thriving and diverse suburban community."
At Mr. McClure's request, no public memorial or funeral services have been planned.
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]]>City of San Leandro Promotes Health and Wellness in the Community
The City of San Leandro moved to tackle the obesity crisis head on December 7, 2009 by issuing a proclamation and signing on as a charter member of the Healthy Eating Active Living Cities Campaign (HEAL), a statewide campaign aimed at introducing changes in city policies and environments to reduce local obesity and physical inactivity rates and related costs.
"The health of our community has always been important to the City of San Leandro," states Mayor Tony Santos. "We are aware of the costs of obesity and will continue to keep the health of our community at the forefront of planning and land use policies." According to Council Member Michael Gregory (who was on the HEAL Advisory Committee), "When the City Council learned that for the first time in modern history, today's youth may live shorter lives than their parents, we knew incorporating health into our city policies was a must." Both Mayor Santos and Council Member Gregory walk the talk in their lifestyles. The Mayor walks and rides public transit whenever possible and Council Member Gregory commutes by bicycle.
In California, where more than half the adult population is obese or overweight, a recent study showed that the epidemic is costing the state more than $41 billion a year in health care costs and lost productivity. San Leandro hopes to control those costs by drawing on the HEAL campaign's free training and assistance in the adoption of policies to improve the community's physical activity and retail food environments.
While citizens play a pivotal role in the diet and exercise choices they make, San Leandro policymakers recognize that local government plays a part in making it easier for their citizens to move to healthier behaviors. The built environment contributes considerably to the accessibility of healthy choices and active living. Per the proclamation, the City will revise comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances to increase opportunities for physical activity including compact, mixed-use and transit-oriented development. It has miles of bike paths and open space and trails for walking and will continue to address walking and biking connectivity between neighborhoods and schools, parks and businesses. The City will continue to be a model for healthy eating and active living by encouraging employees to take walking meetings and walking breaks during long meetings, offering employees healthy food choices and providing links to wellness information. The proclamation also encourages restaurants doing business in San Leandro to remove foods containing artificial trans fat and to disclose calorie and fat content.
"San Leandro is a real pioneer in providing residents healthy lifestyle choices," said Charlotte Dickson of the HEAL campaign. "It takes an innovative city government to explore new policy approaches that answer both the challenges associated with reduced funding and skyrocketing obesity-related costs. San Leandro residents can be rightfully proud that their local government is on the cutting edge of this issue."
For more information about the HEAL Cities Campaign call (510) 302-3387 or visit www.healcitiescampaign.org. Should you have further questions for the City of San Leandro in regards to the HEAL campaign, please contact Carolyn Knudtson, Director of Recreation and Human Services, at (510) 577-3466.
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]]>Winter is Youth Basketball Season in San Leandro
Junior Warriors Basketball is back for its 10th year in San Leandro! This program is open to boys and girls 5-14 years of age. The 2010 season will be held on Saturdays starting January 9, 2010 and running through March 13, 2010. The program offers a non-competitive environment where beginners and veterans alike can improve their skills through weekly games and instruction. This program promotes healthy lifestyle choices for kids by encouraging physically active programming.
All participants will receive a reversible micro-mesh Jr. Warrior's jersey, instruction and league play. This program is co-sponsored by the Golden State Warriors, the NBA, WNBA and the City of San Leandro. Games will be played at the Bancroft Middle School gym as well as the brand-new gym at Washington Manor Middle School. Early registration discount ends on December 20, 2009, so register your player early!
To register please call customer service at (510) 577-3462 or register online at www.sanleandrorec.org.
For more information, call Veronica Gibron in the Recreation and Human Services Department at (510) 577-3477.
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]]>Development Projects to Bring Thousands of Jobs and Tax Revenue to San Leandro
Despite Economic Slowdown, Planning and Development Continue on Variety of Major Projects
SAN LEANDRO, CA –November 3, 2009 – The City of San Leandro is advancing major development projects and initiatives, which will attract thousands of jobs and generate tax revenue for the City. Recognizing the need to stimulate commerce and community engagement, City staff has been working diligently to ensure business and community development continues to thrive despite rough economic conditions.
"The City, through the guidance of the Council members and the hard work of staff, has made tremendous progress in improving San Leandro despite the economic slowdown," said Luke Sims, Community Development Director.
Major development projects bring benefits to City
Several projects currently under way will bring significant jobs and tax revenue, and will stimulate further development of retail and dining establishments. In early October, the City Council approved an amended contract with its environmental consultant, PBS&J, for the preparation of an environmental impact report (EIR) for the Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Medical Center, to be located at the intersection of Marina Boulevard and Merced Street. The proposed 264-bed, San Leandro Medical Center, will bring several thousand permanent jobs and approximately 3,000 construction jobs to the City. The EIR is slated to be certified by May of 2010 and construction to begin shortly thereafter. The Medical Center and hospital support building will open in late 2012. Kaiser Permanente intends to sell a portion of the land to an independent developer for a future retail center.
In downtown San Leandro, construction is proceeding rapidly on the third and final building of the Creekside Plaza Office Complex. The 83,000 square foot building – expected to be completed in early 2010 – will house The Regional Center of the East Bay and plans are in the works for a restaurant/café on the ground level. With over 600 jobs moving to San Leandro as a result of this new complex, the City expects an increase in property tax revenue, as well as an upsurge in the amount of working professionals dining downtown.
"This project has been a huge success," said Cynthia Battenberg, San Leandro's Business Development Manager. "It provides an opportunity for people to take public transit to work, and it's near downtown, where they have access to shops and restaurants."
Transit-oriented development and housing stimulate downtown
San Leandro City staff is in the midst of implementing a $200,000 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to develop a BART Station-Pedestrian Interface Plan to improve pedestrian safety in this heavily-used area. This plan is also part of the city's Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) strategy and is being used to facilitate pedestrian connections between the BART station and the city's downtown area.
In late September 2009, the State Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC) awarded BRIDGE Housing Corporation nine percent federal low income housing tax credits which, in conjunction with the $9.1 million in Redevelopment Housing set aside funds, will provide the majority of funding for the development of The Alameda at the Crossings. This was a major hurdle in the development of the 100-unit affordable rental housing development adjacent to the San Leandro BART Station. The tax credit application is a highly competitive process; however, BRIDGE's experience and expertise in developing affordable housing along with the merits of The Alameda contributed to a successful application. The Alameda will join the 200-unit market-rate Cornerstone building across the street as the first stage of the Crossings housing project that could eventually include up to 700 new housing units in downtown.
"These projects will bring much needed affordable and market-rate housing to downtown San Leandro. The presence of new residents downtown will also enhance the vitality of the office, retail, and restaurant activity in the area" said Tom Liao, Housing Manager with the City. "These developments will also be a key step toward creating a vibrant, walk-able, transit friendly downtown neighborhood."
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]]>San Leandro Mayor Keeps an Open Door to Citizens with Bi-monthly "Coffee with the Mayor"
San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos continues to offer the opportunity for San Leandro residents and business owners to voice concerns and raise issues related to City programs and activities with his regular open office hour sessions at City Hall called "Coffee with the Mayor."
Mayor Santos' next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, at 10 a.m., in the City Council Chambers on the first floor of City Hall, which is located just north of downtown, at 835 E. 14th Street.
"I truly believe in open government and active resident participation to help us, as a City, shape our policies and activities and to know what is of importance to the community" stated Mayor Santos. "Through these open door sessions, I want to give everyone the opportunity to come in and discuss with me things they have in mind – whether they are major issues or just small ways to improve the community. People often feel they don't have access to government, and I hope this will be an avenue for helping folks become more involved."
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]]>Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Applications Being Accepted
A Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) is being formed to provide input to the City in updating the 2004 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. The goal of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is to set forth a blueprint for bicycle and pedestrian facilities throughout the City to enhance bicycle and walking as appropriate and healthful transportation choices for San Leandro residents.
The Committee will meet at least three times over the course of six months or more, starting as early as January 2010. Meetings will likely be held on Wednesday evenings.
Applications are available from the City of San Leandro Engineering and Transportation Department located on the first floor at 835 East 14th Street, or from the City's website:
Applications are due by 5:00 p.m., Friday, November 20, 2009.
For further information, please visit the City's website listed above or call the Engineering and Transportation Department at (510) 577-3438.
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]]>PARK AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS PUBLIC WORKSHOPS
The City of San Leandro's Recreation and Parks Commission is sponsoring two public workshops designed to obtain information regarding park and facility improvement projects. The goal of the workshops will be to obtain public input on how the funds received from measure WW, the Regional Open Space, Wildlife, Shoreline and Parks Extension Bond, and the Park Development Fee funds might best be used.
Two workshops are planned; participants need only attend one as the same information and format will be used at each workshop. The workshops are:
For more information please contact Carolyn Knudtson at San Leandro Recreation and Human Services Department, 510-577-3466.
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]]>SAN LEANDRO RESIDENTS SUPPORT FUNDING FOR IMPORTANT CITY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
San Leandro residents want to protect their local City services and programs. According to a recent public opinion research survey conducted in August by the independent polling firm of Godbe Research, 66% of voters would support a potential local sales tax to protect and maintain important services like police, fire, emergency response, library programs and street and pothole repairs.
"I am excited by the strong support in our community for local City services," said Mayor Tony Santos. "Residents understand we need to invest in our infrastructure and services to keep our community vibrant."
Based on interviews with 600 randomly selected residents (two groups of 300), the independent survey found that 74% of respondents put a priority on ensuring funding for local services, that can't be taken by the State.
"Residents know that the State is taking money away from San Leandro to address its own budget crisis," said City Manager Steve Hollister. "Sacramento just took seven million dollars from the City, and they are considering additional money grabs for next year. We need a way to protect our revenues."
Public safety programs top the list of services voters want protected and maintained, with 76% of respondents more likely to support a measure to maintain fire response times, 75% to protect neighborhood patrol officers, and 74% to maintain investigation and gang suppression police officers. Other key city services voters want to maintain include library programs for children, adults and families (73%) and street and pothole repairs (71%).
"San Leandro is facing tough fiscal challenges and unfortunately has cut essential City services, including cutting six police officer positions," said Hollister. "Residents need to know that their local services are at risk for further cuts."
Over the coming months, the City will continue to solicit input on what essential city services should be protected, possible services cuts, and resident views about additional funding options.
"The City will work to ensure we get as many community perspectives as possible, through a variety of different avenues," added Hollister. "We need to address San Leandro's city services needs in the most fiscally responsible way possible."
For questions regarding survey methodology, contact Bryan Godbe with Godbe Research at (650) 288-3027.
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]]>San Leandro Recruits New Assistant City Manager
City Manager Steve Hollister has appointed Lianne Marshall, previously the Assistant City Manager of the City of Martinez, to come to San Leandro as the new Assistant City Manager.
"Ms. Marshall has an outstanding record of municipal service and teamwork, with expertise in finance, budget, human resources and information technology," Hollister said. She has been Assistant City Manager in Martinez since 1999, and served as a Human Resources Manager in the City of Oakland for eight years before joining the Martinez staff.
Ms. Marshall's appointment came after an extensive recruiting and evaluation process of candidates from all over California. She assumed her new duties in San Leandro on October 1, 2009.
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]]>LINKS Ridership Appreciation Day - Over 1,000,000 riders served !
The San Leandro Transportation Management Organization (SLTMO) is proud to announce that it's West San Leandro LINKS Shuttle Service (LINKS) has served over one million riders since its inception in 2001. The LINKS has been successfully operating for the past eight years providing free and reliable transportation from the downtown San Leandro BART station to the western industrial employment core of the City. The shuttle service was established to provide transportation services to an area of San Leandro underserved by other forms of public transportation for the benefit of employees and employers in the area.
The LINKS success has been made possible by funding from three interdependent sources: 1) the businesses within the service boundaries paying fees that make up the LINKS's Shuttle Business Improvement District (BID); 2) grant funding from the Alameda County Congestion Management Association and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District; and 3) support from the San Leandro Redevelopment Agency.
LINKS operates from 5:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., five days a week (Monday–Friday) excluding holidays. LINKS service consists of a 6.25 mile loop with 23 stops (see website www.sanleandrolinks.com).
To acknowledge the important and successful service the LINKS Shuttle has provided, Tony Santos, Mayor of the City of San Leandro, proclaimed Wednesday, September 30, 2009 as LINKS Ridership Appreciation Day. The Proclamation was made at a ceremony held yesterday at The North Face, 2013 Farallon Drive, along the LINKS route.
For more information, call Elmer Penaranda, Senior Development Specialist, at (510) 577-3314.
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]]>City Receives Crystal Eagle Achievement Award for its "We Are San Leandro" Downtown Marketing Campaign
The City's "We Are San Leandro" Downtown marketing campaign was awarded a Crystal Eagle for Marketing and Communications by the California Downtown Association for its creativity and innovation in promoting and enhancing the image and economic vitality of Downtown San Leandro.
Launched in 2008, the "We Are San Leandro" campaign is targeted at brokers and potential retailers to educate them on the changing demographics of the downtown trade area. This campaign was implemented to overcome an inaccurate perception that the trade area does not draw the consumers targeted by upscale lifestyle retailers. The campaign is a series of creative marketing pieces featuring real people from the San Leandro community taking an active role in the revitalization of their downtown. What makes the campaign unique is its authenticity as those who live and work in San Leandro are sharing demographic information and their desire for additional services with potential retailers.
The retail marketing campaign, one of many projects implemented in response to the City's adoption of a Transit Oriented Development Strategy in 2007, has brought attention to the exciting developments transforming Downtown San Leandro and continues to promote the present retail opportunities that are available. It is strategically coordinated with the City's infrastructure improvements to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, branding efforts to clearly identify Downtown San Leandro as a third place, and the creation of a highly successful farmers' market to bring people to Downtown San Leandro in the evening.
To learn more about what's happening in Downtown San Leandro, go to www.DowntownSanLeandro.com and click on the news feed or sign up for email updates. For more information, contact the Office of Business Development at (510) 577-3311.
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]]>Learn How to Implement Energy Cost Savings At Your Industrial Business
The City of San Leandro will hold an Energy Efficiency Resource Fair for industrial businesses on Thursday, October 8, between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Stop by anytime to meet vendors, contractors and consultants and learn about options for increasing the energy efficiency of your facility and operations. The event will be held in the Karp Room at the San Leandro Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue.
The Resource Fair is part of the City's efforts to assist businesses in remaining competitive by decreasing utility costs. The City has limited grant funding to encourage businesses to implement projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts while also providing substantial energy cost reductions for local businesses.
Vendors, contractors, and consultants will be on hand to offer information on a wide array of potential projects and services, including:
The event is open to all and admission is free. RSVP not required, but appreciated. For more information, contact the Office of Business Development at (510) 577-3311 or jkay@ci.san-leandro.ca.us.
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]]>Flu Shot Clinics in San Leandro
Flu shot clinics will be held on Monday, October 5 and Monday October 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Marina Community Center, 15301 Wicks Boulevard, San Leandro, and on Wednesday, October 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bancroft Senior Center, 14235 Bancroft Avenue, San Leandro.
Only seasonal flu shot vaccine will be administered at these clinics. H1N1 vaccine will not be available.
This service is offered by the City of San Leandro Senior Services program in partnership with Sutter Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice (VNA). All VNA flu shot clinics are receiving a smaller number of flu vaccines this year and they will not have free flu vaccines available for Medicare recipients.
Given the limited vaccine allocation, VNA has established the following guidelines: Flu vaccine will be given only to adults age 50 and over; Fee is $5.00 for everyone; Medicare Part B recipients will also pay $5.00 if they choose to have their flu vaccine at our clinic. Pneumonia shots will be available for $45.00 or free with a Medicare Part B card. Medicare Part B recipients (who used to get the flu shots for free at our clinics) may go to their health provider directly or to other flu shot clinics.
For questions about the City of San Leandro clinics, call 510-577-3462. For questions about flu shots, call the Sutter Visiting Nurse Association Hotline at 800-500-2400.
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]]>Kidney Early Evaluation Program – KEEP Clinic September 30
This early detection screening will assess how well your kidneys are working. You are eligible for this free screening if you have one of these risk factors for kidney disease: high blood pressure, diabetes or an immediate family member with either one of these conditions or with kidney disease. The process starts with a health history interview and blood pressure check. Based on your results, your evaluation may continue with urine and blood testing, and a personal consultation with a physician. This free service is offered by the National Kidney Foundation and made possible by the generous support of Satellite Healthcare. Open to 18 years old and over. KEEP Clinic will be held at Marina Community Center, 15301 Wicks Boulevard in San Leandro, on September 30 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Pre-registration is required. Appointments are limited; register early. For more information or to register, please call 577-3462.
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]]>City of San Leandro Offers Relief at Cooling Center
Temperatures are projected to be 95 degrees or more over the next few days. In response, the City of San Leandro has activated a Cooling Center for residents to get relief from the heat. The Cooling Center is located at the Marina Community Center (MCC), 15301 Wicks Blvd between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The City's Cooling Center will offer air-conditioned comfort, water, tables and chairs and recreation activities such as family-friendly movies, and card and board games. Vending machines are also available. Residents are advised to bring their own food items, medications and other items necessary for comfort. Pets are not allowed, with the exception of service animals. The City's Flex Shuttle, as well as AC Transit Bus 81, both stop at regular intervals in front of the MCC.
Other air-conditioned places in San Leandro to seek relief during periods of high heat include Bayfair Center, any one of the City libraries or the movie theater. For information, contact the City's Recreation and Human Services Department at (510) 577-3462.
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]]>City Housing Rehabilitation Program Provides Relief to Low Income Homeowners
The City of San Leandro continues to offer grants of up to $5,000 and low-interest loans of up to $35,000 to qualifying low income homeowners through its Housing Rehabilitation Program. The primary purposes of these grants and loans are to eliminate health and safety hazards, replace obsolete or worn fixtures, and make general property improvements to enhance the City's housing stock. New roofs, windows, insulation, bathroom and kitchen improvements, and handicapped accessibility features reflect some of the common items completed under this program. The program utilizes pre-certified general contractors who provide quality workmanship and materials to achieve the goal of a safe, sanitary and decent home.
The program has been administered for the last five years by Neighborhood Solutions, a consulting firm that specializes in municipal housing rehabilitation program design and administration. The City has outsourced administration of the program due to its staffing capacity limitations and the need for staff with greater technical expertise. Neighborhood Solutions administers similar programs in the cities of Pleasanton and Livermore. The administrative and inspection staff from Neighborhood Solutions works closely with City staff while handling all of the project development and project management for the program, including application intake, initial home inspection, project development and quality oversight. City building staff handles all code inspections, and the result is a team approach to providing high quality project management. The program encourages homeowners' input in developing their scopes of work, and selection of a contractor.
As one of the City's most popular affordable housing programs, the Housing Rehabilitation Program is an integral part of the City's strategy to preserve the stock of affordable, owner-occupied housing in the City and to stabilize and strengthen San Leandro neighborhoods. Long time owners who are "equity rich" but who cannot afford a home improvement loan such as fixed income seniors are typical recipients of this assistance; however, homeowners with limited equity and savings are often also program participants.
"This is such an important program for our community," said Mayor Tony Santos. "It really gives people an opportunity to keep their homes in good condition when they personally may not have the wherewithal to afford basic maintenance projects. It also helps seniors stay in their homes longer, which is an important benefit."
Some of the recent thank you letters from satisfied local homeowners who have benefited from the program include Ms. Bernice A., who wrote, "Thank you so much for the grant that I received… the work done was excellent. Thanks also to all the people I've met in person and on the phone - everyone was so nice. Great program." In addition a Ms. Patricia T. wrote, "What a joy to know the house is restored to good condition and I won't have major problems to deal with… What a beautiful job."
In the recently completed fiscal year 2008-09, the program awarded 11 loans: six were for extremely low income (less than or equal to 30% of the area median income) and five were for very low (between 50-80% of the area median income). Nine of the loan applicants were senior citizens, and seven were female head of households. Of the 27 grants awarded, sixteen were for extremely low and 11 were for very low homeowners. Twenty of the grants were for senior citizens, and 21 were for female head of households. The program is annually funded with Housing Set-Aside funding from the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Leandro.
If you are interested in learning more about the City's Housing Rehabilitation Program, please call Neighborhood Solutions at 510-577-6008. The City's website also provides general information on the program at http://www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/CDHousProgs.asp.
For more information, call Neighborhood Solutions at (510) 577-6008 or City Housing Services Division staff at 510-577-6004.
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]]>San Leandro-BART Pedestrian Study Community Meeting Held September 21
The City of San Leandro will host the first of several meetings to gather community input on the creation of a new plan for the San Leandro Boulevard-BART station area relative to pedestrian and bicycle safety and access. The meeting will be held on Monday, September 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the Karp Room at San Leandro's Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue.
The City has received a $218,000.00 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to study how the San Leandro Downtown BART Station can be better integrated into the plans of the City's newly adopted Transit Oriented Development strategy. The goal of the study is to provide a transportation environment that contributes to increased ridership by emphasizing accessibility, safety, and a high quality environment for pedestrians, bicycles, public transit, and automobiles. Other transportation options, such as utilizing LINKS, a free shuttle linking San Leandro BART and the West San Leandro business community, carpooling, and "kiss and ride" will be encouraged. Development within the station area will ensure that it is multi-modally connected to downtown and enhance opportunities for regional connections. This transportation environment will significantly reduce vehicle miles traveled by residents.
The first community meeting will emphasis design ideas needed to make pedestrian and bicycle access between the Downtown BART station and downtown San Leandro safer and more pedestrian friendly.
For more information please call Philip Millenbah, Senior Planner, at 510/577-3327.
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]]>San Leandro Mayor Keeps an Open Door to Citizens with Bi-monthly "Coffee with the Mayor"
San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos continues to offer the opportunity for San Leandro residents and business owners to voice concerns and raise issues related to City programs and activities with his regular open office hour sessions at City Hall called "Coffee with the Mayor."
The sessions took a brief hiatus through the summer; however Mayor Santos resumes the bi-monthly meetings on Thursday, September 10, at 10 a.m., in the City Council Chambers on the first floor of City Hall, which is located just north of downtown at 835 East 14th Street.
"I truly believe in open government and active resident participation to help us, as a City, shape our policies and activities and to know what is of importance to the community," stated Mayor Santos. "Through these open door sessions, I want to give everyone the opportunity to come in and discuss with me things they have in mind – whether they are major issues or just small ways to improve the community. People often feel they don't have access to government, and I hope this will be an avenue for helping folks become more involved."
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]]>Captain Ian Willis Appointed New Police Chief
On August 6, City Manager Steve Hollister permanently appointed Police Captain Ian Willis as Chief of the San Leandro Police Department. Willis has been acting as Interim Police Chief since the retirement of Chief Dale Attarian on December 30, 2008.
With the department for 25 years, and an officer with the Foster City Police Department for three years before that, Willis has worked virtually all aspects of police work in his extensive career. His assignments have included SWAT, Field Training Officer, Certified Evidence Technician, Rangemaster, and he has had a special interest in working with schools in San Leandro and youth gang prevention. Willis promoted through the ranks in the SLPD, with appointment as Police Captain in January 2007.
"I am honored to be named the Chief of Police for the San Leandro Police Department," Willis said. "I enjoy working with the talented, dedicated and professional staff. I look forward to working with the community to keep San Leandro safe."
"Chief Willis has an exceptional record of service and dedication to the community of San Leandro," stated Hollister. While a state-wide search was conducted for a new Police Chief, "Willis' breadth of experience in law enforcement certainly made him the most highly qualified candidate for our Police Department. He is well respected by the department, City staff and the community," Hollister said.
Willis was born in Uppsala, Sweden, immigrating to the United States with his family at the age of two. He was raised in Berkeley, graduated from Berkeley High School, obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, plus completed studies in Administration of Justice at Chabot College. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He served in the United States Coast Guard as a Reservist for six years.
His community service includes membership in San Leandro Kiwanis, coaching youth soccer, and as Den Leader and Assistant Cub Master with the Boy Scouts of America while his son was in scouting. He is enthusiastic about physical fitness and weight training, and has competed seven times in the Police Athletic Games. Willis and his wife Janine have two children, Kimberly and Brad.
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]]>12th Annual Senior Resource Fair is September 11!
Did you know that in order to achieve a healthier lifestyle, older persons must take steps to prepare for later life? Join us Friday, September 11 from 10 AM – 2 PM for this FREE information-packed day to learn about services available to seniors in San Leandro such as housing, health and wellness, transportation and leisure activities. Over 75 agencies will be on-hand to answer your questions, distribute information and provide free health checks. Open to everyone, this year's theme is ‘Go Green.' Best male and female costumes win prizes! Event will be held at Marina Community Center, 15301 Wicks Boulevard in San Leandro. For more information, please call 577-3462. FREE Admission! Raffle Prizes! FREE Health Checks!
It's not too late to apply to become a Community Resource Vendor at the Senior Resource Fair! Pick up an application at City Hall South Offices, 835 East 14th Street or Marina Community Center, 15301 Wicks Boulevard. For more information, please call 577-3462. Deadline for vendor applications is August 14.
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]]>Cooling Center Established to Help Residents Beat the Heat When Temps Soar
The Marina Community Center on Wicks Boulevard has been designated as a Cooling Center to beat the heat when temperatures reach 95 degrees or more in San Leandro.
The Cooling Center will serve as a temporary public space between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to provide respite from the heat for local residents, offering shade, air conditioning and water. City staff will monitor weather conditions throughout the summer and fall and, when temperatures are predicted to reach 95 degrees or higher, the Center will be activated.
Residents are advised to bring their own food items, medications and other items necessary for comfort; no pets will be allowed with the exception of service animals.
The City's Flex Shuttle will operate on its regular schedule and is available on weekdays for registered seniors and peoples with disabilities, with stops at the Marina Community Center.
For more information, contact the Recreation and Human Services Department at 577-3462.
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]]>City of San Leandro - Senior Programs
The City of San Leandro's Recreation and Human Services Department is offering the City's first Mobility and Transit Fair on Friday, July 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Marina Community Center, 15301 Wicks Blvd., San Leandro. The event is aimed primarily at seniors and people with disabilities. Attendees will have an opportunity to talk to service providers to learn about transportation resources and options to stay mobile, independent and safe. Participants include the City's Flex Shuttle Service, San Leandro Police Department, DMV, ACTIA, AC Transit, BART, East Bay Parantransit and more. Attendees can also sign up for a CarFit assessment and get a free 20minute, 12 point vehicle inspection. This free inspection is designed to help older drivers find out how well they currently fit their personal vehicle, highlight actions they can take to improve their fit, and promote conversations about their safety and the safety of others. FREE.
Call 577-3462 to sign up for CarFit Assessment.
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]]>City Joins East Bay Green Corridor Partnership
The City of San Leandro officially joined the East Bay Green Corridor Partnership at the consortium's annual summit meeting on June 26, 2009. The Partnership represents a cooperative effort to strengthen the regional economy through support for green and sustainable industries, alternative energy research, and a healthy built environment. Building upon regional strengths such as a highly educated workforce and the presence of leading research centers, the Green Corridor is working to facilitate economic development that is consistent with the region's environmental values.
The collaborative nature of this joint venture will enable the partners to share some costs, standardize environmental policies and avoid redundant programs. The Green Corridor program has been receiving national acclaim for its innovative regional approach and early successes. At the annual summit, the Green Corridor Partnership announced that $76 million in Federal stimulus funds have been procured in the past year for green job training and weatherization programs.
As a new member of the Partnership, San Leandro will be able to enhance ongoing efforts to develop green businesses in the City, particularly in its industrial areas. The City has already had some success developing green businesses and will be well positioned to expand upon those successes in the future. Existing San Leandro businesses with an environmental focus or targeted green programs include Energy Recovery Inc., Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls, OSI Soft, and Zeta Communities.
"Membership in the East Bay Green Corridor represents a tremendous opportunity for San Leandro," said Mayor Tony Santos. "With our existing industrial base and strong inventory of industrial facilities, San Leandro is an ideal location for new or expanding green businesses."
The cities of Alameda, Albany and El Cerrito, and Cal State East Bay, Peralta Community Colleges and Contra Costa Community Colleges also joined at last week's meeting. The Partnership's original members, since its inception in 2007, are Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Richmond, UC Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.
For more information, contact the Office of Business Development at (510) 577-3311.
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]]>East Bay Innovation Showcase Spotlights Economic Development Through Entrepreneurship and Investment
EAST BAY, CA ––The most innovative product and technology companies from the East Bay take center stage July 15 from 4-7 p.m., at the Willow Park Event Center in Castro Valley for the East Bay Innovation Showcase. Companies seeking capital, visibility, and access to entrepreneurial networks will present to a panel of top-tier lenders, angels and venture capital investors for a chance to raise capital and an opportunity to represent the East Bay region at a statewide business competition.
Sponsored by the Alameda County Redevelopment Agency and East Bay Economic Development Alliance, hosted by Alameda County Supervisors Alice Lai-Bitker and Nate Miley, and produced by Golden Capital Network (GCN), this free event is intended to spotlight East Bay growth firms from multiple sectors to an audience of investors, influencers, advisors and colleagues to facilitate their success.
"Innovation and entrepreneurship are keys to the growing economic vitality of the East Bay" said Bill Lambert, Alameda County Redevelopment Agency's Assistant Director, Economic Development. "This is a great moment for innovative and high sales growth firms of the East Bay Green Corridor, the tech transfer Laboratories, the University, and all industries to step forward and showcase what the East Bay has to offer."
Up to 10 innovative companies will participate in the program, which includes screening, coaching and presenting in a competition format to a panel of leading East Bay capital sources, including bankers, angels and venture capital investors. Video from the event will be live broadcast on the web so investors and peers from outside the region can tune in to have a look at East Bay innovation trends as well.
"After working in Berkeley for 20 years as a banker, I have definitely seen many great companies start up and grow here in the East Bay," said Rauly Butler, a top East Bay business lender and Senior Vice President at Mechanics Bank. "I look forward to participating in this event and seeing what we can do to help these companies grow to the next level."
The companies are scored by a combination of judges and audience, and the top three competitors will be automatically invited to represent the East Bay in the California Business Ascent State Championships in San Diego November 17-18. There are 15 other regions participating in the statewide challenge.
Business Ascent is a statewide competition being produced by GCN in association with state of California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency and California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) to identify and accelerate the highest potential impact innovation companies from emerging markets throughout the state. "California has traditionally been the most innovative economy in the world," said Jon Gregory, president and CEO of GCN. "California Business Ascent is a competition to help keep that tradition and help growth companies succeed."
For more information, contact the City of San Leandro, Office of Business Development at (510) 577-3311.
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]]>Mayor Santos Joins Alameda County Mayors in Opposing State Raids on Local Funds
On June 10, the Alameda County Mayors' Conference voted unanimously to send a message to politicians in Sacramento to leave local revenues where they belong – with the cities that need them.
According to the Mayors' Conference, cities are facing their own significant financial challenges in this economy and have taken the difficult but necessary steps to balance their budgets by reducing or eliminating services and laying off valuable employees. The State, in contrast, is avoiding solving its problems by "borrowing" local revenues, which would have dire consequences for local governments and the people who rely on them for services.
The City of San Leandro could lose as much as $1.8 million in local property taxes—monies that directly pay for police, fire and other services—if the Legislature accepts the Governor's proposal to take local property taxes. Many cities are already facing severe fiscal hardships and can ill afford to lose 8 percent or more of their property taxes. State takeaways of this magnitude could force cities to close fire stations, reduce police patrols and further cut amenities like libraries and parks that contribute to healthy communities.
The State is also considering taking approximately $36 million in funds that Alameda County cities use to repair local streets and roads. California's infrastructure is crumbling; without regular repair work, the streets and roads will only get worse, requiring more costly rehabilitation in the future.
"The Mayors in Alameda County are united in saying enough is enough," stated San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos. "It's time for the Governor and the State Legislators to get their own house in order and allow us to continue to provide the services that our residents and businesses expect and deserve."
For more information, contact the Office of the Mayor at (510) 577-3355.
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]]>Mayor Santos Attends U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting
San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) 77th Annual Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, where more than 200 mayors gathered to discuss a variety of critical issues facing cities throughout the nation, including stimulus plan funding, crime prevention and poverty.
The meeting took place June 12 through June 16, and highlighted the impacts of the current economy on metropolitan regions throughout the country, especially the growing unemployment and increased job losses experienced by many cities. The meeting covered a broad range of topics, including taking advantage of the expanding green job sector, how mayors can work to improve relations with other countries and best practices in supporting healthy communities. Some 125 resolutions were passed by the conference, including those aimed at re-instituting the assault weapons ban and supporting Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
Mayor Santos currently sits on three U.S. Conference of Mayors committees, including the committee on Jobs, Workforce and the Economy, the committee on International Affairs and the USCM Census Task Force, which will guide the administration of the national 2010 census.
In addition, Mayor Santos is part of the Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign for a Nuclear-Free World and co-sponsored a resolution affirming the role of cities in achieving a peaceful world, free of nuclear weapons, by 2020. Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba spoke on behalf of the resolution.
"The conference approved a large number of resolutions urging the administration to take action on efforts that will have far-reaching benefits to cities and the nation as a whole," stated Mayor Tony Santos. "But none has the potential to benefit us more than ridding the world of nuclear weapons, which pose a continued and growing threat worldwide. Through the resolution, the mayors urge the United States to serve as a leader on the issue and formulate an agreement that commits all nations to eliminate nuclear weapons, thereby enhancing the security and prosperity of future generations."
For more information, contact the San Leandro Mayor's Office at (510) 577- 3355.
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]]>City Council Adopts 2009-2010 Budget
The San Leandro City Council adopted the fiscal year 2009-2010 City of San Leandro budget at their regular business meeting on June 1. The budget totals $134.6 M in expenditures, of which $78.2 M is allocated to General Fund spending. The 2009-10 budget includes significant cuts in most departments and an overall 10 percent cut in staffing to accommodate a current projected General Fund revenue shortfall. [The General Fund is what is used to pay for the majority of general City programs, including public safety, library services, city parks, recreation programs, permit review and more.]
Like cities across the nation, the City of San Leandro has seen multi-million dollar revenue losses in the past year due to the poor economy. The 2009-2010 budget is part of a three-year effort that will phase reductions over time and draw on reserves and other types of funds, such as the City's self-insurance funds, in the short-term to retain programs highly valued by the community as long as possible. However, the adopted budget does include reductions of as much as 15 percent in most departments and a 5 percent cut in police and fire services. The equivalent of nearly 50 full-time positions will be eliminated and program cuts are being made in virtually every department.
Police service reductions include elimination of a downtown Bicycle Officer, a School Resource Officer, staff from the Police Department's TAC Unit, a traffic officer, a property unit officer investigating minor property crimes and the City-sponsored school crossing guard program.
In addition, hours at the Casa Peralta, the History Museum and several of the City's branch libraries will be reduced, and the Washington Manor Branch Library Homework Center will be closed. Reference center hours will be cut back and other additional library programs will be reduced. The Community Benefits Grant Program, which includes funding for cultural arts programs, will also be eliminated and funding will be reduced for civic celebrations for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Cinco de Mayo, the Annual Egg Hunt, the Cherry Festival and others. Farrelly Pool will operate at reduced hours for the 2009 summer season and its pool entrance fees will increase.
The City's Public Information Program will be eliminated and the City newsletter will be suspended. Community emergency preparedness and fire prevention education will also be significantly reduced.
Permit center hours in the City's Community Development Department will be reduced by 50 percent, City street repairs will be reduced by 30 percent and all manner of facility maintenance will be cut back.
To balance the current budget, the City has drawn on its emergency reserves by $2.9 million, although the reserves will still be retained at a healthy level of 11 percent of the General Fund operating budget.
The City will continue to monitor the state budget situation and its potential impacts on San Leandro, with the hope that the State will not borrow as much as $1.8 million from the City's shrinking revenues to balance its own budget. With no major economic improvement yet in sight, the City will also be considering other strategies for reducing future expenditures and for enhancing future revenues.
Federal Monies May Help
The federal government has approved a variety of stimulus funds that the City has applied for to generate jobs and boost the local economy. In addition, federal COPS funding may also become available to help offset the Police Department staff reductions that were adopted as a part of the 2009-10 budget. And Federal Energy Block Grant funds will soon be made available for cities to utilize for energy efficiency measures, climate change programs and more. While these monies cannot be used to fund ongoing City operations, they can help provide additional funding for capital improvement projects and stimulate local economies to keep them moving forward.
For more information, contact Interim Assistant City Manager Jacqui Diaz at (510) 577-3389.
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]]>2009 Cherry Festival to Liven Downtown, Commemorate Past on June 6, Special Events to Mark 100th Anniversary
The 100th Anniversary of San Leandro's well-known Cherry Festival occurs this year, and the milestone will be commemorated by a Cherry Festival like no other, with a variety of special new activities and events. The traditional annual festival, which honors San Leandro's heritage as the former cherry-growing capital of the region, takes place along West Estudillo Avenue on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event includes fun and exciting activities for people of all ages, including live music and entertainment, games and rides, face-painting, an old-fashioned cherry pie bake-off, a farmers' market, specialty foods from local vendors and quality arts and crafts.
Special anniversary activities this year include a first-ever Cherry City Faire, in which entries for competitions in the areas of fine arts, arts & crafts and home-baked goods will be on display in a special Cherry City Faire tent. The festival also features a Royal Procession along West Estudillo Avenue starting at 11 a.m. that is a re-enactment of the original 1909 Cherry Festival's "Crowning of the Queen" event.
Other special activities include:
The Cherry City Cyclists will provide free valet bicycle parking during the festival at the corner of Davis and Carpentier streets. San Leandro residents are strongly encouraged to walk or bicycle to the festival or take transit to avoid the hassle of traffic and parking. Those who drive are advised to strictly abide by posted parking regulations at all times.
For more information, call Recreation and Human Services Department at (510) 577-3462.
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]]>Citywide Garage Sale and Recycling Event Planned for May 16
Residents from throughout San Leandro are busy pulling old, unused items out of basements and attics in preparation for San Leandro's annual Citywide Garage Sale and Recycling Event, being held this year on Saturday, May 16. More than three hundred garage sales will be held throughout San Leandro for those hard-to-find items or one-of-a kind deals. A map and listing of participating households will be printed in the San Leandro Times on Thursday, May 14. The Citywide Garage Sale takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Recycling Event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day, allows residents to recycle a variety of unwanted household items such as appliances, tires, scrap metal, clean wood, computer equipment, and mattresses at the Alameda County Industries recycling facility.
The Garage Sale and Recycling Event are part of the City's Neighborhood Cleanup Program that was introduced in April 2003 to keep San Leandro clean and green. The program encourages residents to spruce up their homes and properties and sell or recycle unwanted household items.
For more information, call the City of San Leandro Recycling Hotline at (510) 577-6026.
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]]>City's First Juried Art Exhibition on Display at Gallery May 14
The City has sponsored a juried art exhibit to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Cherry Festival. Roughly 25 of the 80 art pieces have been selected for the show and they will be on display at the San Leandro History Museum and Art Gallery, located at 320 West Estudillo Avenue, from May 14 through June 27. A special artists' reception and announcement of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will take place at the gallery on Saturday, May 16, starting at 1 p.m.
Called "Images of Northern California," the exhibit features works by artists living in the San Francisco Bay Area that have been created in a variety of two-dimensional media, including painting, drawing, mixed media, printmaking, digital and film photography, textile, collage and more. Imagery includes landscapes, cityscapes, flora and fauna, marine environments, abstracts and still-life pertaining to northern California. Artists were able to submit up to four separate pieces of art for consideration. The jury for the exhibit consisted of a panel of three local art professionals.
For more details on the exhibit, contact Gallery Curator Addie Silveira at (510) 577-3991 or at asilveira@ci.san-leandro.ca.us. Regular gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.
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]]>Application Deadline Extended to June 1 for New Cherry City Faire
The 100th year anniversary of San Leandro's traditional hometown Cherry Festival takes place this year, when the Cherry Festival comes to town on June 6. To celebrate this important milestone, a new Cherry City Faire that showcases the exceptional talents of local residents is planned. The Cherry City Faire is a series of contests in the areas of fine arts, arts and crafts, woodworking and home-baked goods, similar to those held at traditional county fairs. The deadline for entry applications for the Cherry City Faire has been extended to Monday, June 1, at 5 p.m. Actual art pieces for all art categories are also due at this time, while home-baked goods entered in the faire are due the day of the festival.
Entries can be submitted for a broad selection of craft and fine art categories, including block printing crochet, knitting, jewelry-making, pottery, quilting, photography, painting, woodworking, art made from recycled materials and more. Culinary categories are equally as extensive and include competitions for the best tasting creations in the areas of cherry breads, pastries and cookies as well as preserved goods such as jams, cherry butters, cherry chutneys or salsas and cherry BBQ sauces. All culinary entries must have a cherry-related theme, and all contests are open to applicants in any age group. Applications are only $5 per entry, and all entries will be displayed at the Cherry Festival in the "Cherry City Faire" tent on Saturday, June 6, 2009.
For additional entry information, see the Cherry Festival section of the City's website at www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us or call Recreation Supervisor Veronica Gibron of San Leandro's Recreation and Human Services Department at (510) 577-3477.
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]]>Two Shoreline Town Hall Meetings Coming Up in Late May
The City of San Leandro's Shoreline Development Citizens Advisory Committee (Shoreline CAC) has been working with the City's selected master developer, Cal-Coast Development, to develop design ideas for 40 acres of San Leandro's shoreline area. The Shoreline CAC has evaluated shoreline financial information as well as information on past development attempts, the results of a public opinion poll and information on environmental constraints. The Shoreline CAC began discussing preliminary design concepts in April and two town hall meetings are planned in May to provide the community the opportunity to share their visions, concerns, questions and perspective with the Shoreline CAC and Cal-Coast. The meetings, which will both cover the same information, are as follows:
The Shoreline CAC, which meets monthly, is comprised of boaters, shoreline area residents and business representatives, members of City boards and commissions, environmental and affordable housing advocates and others.
A complete meeting schedule as well as agenda, meeting highlights, reports and a full list of committee members can be found on the City's website at www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/shorelinecac.html. Shoreline CAC meetings are open to the public and public participation is encouraged.
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]]>Former San Leandro Mayor Jack Maltester Dies
Former Mayor Jack Maltester – one of the most prominent leaders of San Leandro – passed away on Friday, May 1, 2009, at the age of 95. Maltester leaves behind a long legacy of accomplishments in San Leandro for which he received the title of Mayor Emeritus soon after he left office. He will be honored by local officials and state dignitaries for his many contributions in mid-May.
Maltester was appointed to the San Leandro City Council in 1948. He served on the Council for many years and then served as Mayor of San Leandro from 1958-1978. He was the first directly elected Mayor of San Leandro – he was elected in 1962 – and was the longest-serving Mayor in the city's history.
During his tenure, he was instrumental in creating the San Leandro Marina and in bringing a large industrial base to San Leandro. He led his colleagues on the City Council in reducing the city's property tax rate to the lowest in Alameda County, where it still remains. He served as the President of the League of California Cities, the Association of Bay Area Governments and the US Conference of Mayors during his tenure as Mayor. He served on various national, state and regional boards and committees and received many awards. The City's federal marine channel leading out to San Francisco Bay was named in Maltester's honor as was the Maltester/Polvorosa overcrossing on Highway 880.
While President of the US Conference of Mayors in 1969, Maltester helped craft "revenue sharing" and other domestic policies that assisted cities. He also served on the national Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations under various presidents, and had long been a leader in transportation issues in California. He was selected by the City of San Leandro as "Citizen of the Century" in 1999.
"In his time, Jack was one of the most respected and effective local politicians in the nation, bringing national prominence to San Leandro during his leadership," stated current San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos. "He played a huge role in shaping the wonderful town of San Leandro that we know and love today. Jack is nothing less than a legend and we will miss him deeply."
Maltester was born in San Leandro and lived his entire life in his family home on Woodland Avenue. He continued to be active in the San Leandro community throughout his life.
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]]>Weekly Downtown San Leandro Farmers' Market Returns on May 6
The City of San Leandro's popular weekly downtown farmers' market, which began last year, will return again on Wednesday, May 6, offering farm-fresh produce, artisan goods, entertainment and themed weekly activities. A special ribbon-cutting will take place at 5:30 p.m. to mark the opening day, and the Mayor and other city dignitaries will be in attendance. Other opening day activities include a special cooking demonstration, a "Bring Your Own Bag" raffle for the chance to win special prizes and the launch of a children's coloring contest. This year, the market is also "going green" with the introduction of a new program to reduce the amount of waste generated by the market and to reduce the use of styrofoam and plastics. This seasonal market is located on Parrott Street, between East 14th Street and Washington Avenue, and takes place every Wednesday, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., through October 21.
Operated by Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association, in partnership with the City of San Leandro, San Leandro's Downtown Association and the San Leandro Times, the market features a different theme each week:
When visiting the market, visitors are encouraged to enjoy dinner at one of the many local restaurants or visit any of the large variety of Downtown San Leandro retailers. Learn about weekly special events or sign up to become a friend of the farmers' market at www.pcfma.com. For additional information, call the City's Office of Business Development at (510) 577-3311.
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]]>City to Purchase Vacant Downtown Albertsons Site
The San Leandro City Council announced at their regular business meeting on April 20th that they have reached a settlement agreement with Norcal AL LLC, the property owner of the former Albertsons site in downtown San Leandro, located at 1550 East 14th Street. The action came following several years of litigation over the future use of the site. Norcal filed a series of lawsuits in Alameda County Superior Court against the City contending that various planning and zoning actions related to the City's approval of the Transit Oriented Development Strategy for the City's downtown area violated their constitutional rights or were otherwise contrary to law. The City prevailed in three actions now on appeal in the State Court of Appeal. A fourth action is pending in State Court. A priority was placed on resolving the litigation due to the prominence of this downtown site and the blight created by the store vacancy. The Council voted unanimously to the settlement terms which included the Redevelopment Agency's purchase of the site for $6.175 million and Norcal's demolition of the building prior to close of escrow. No General Fund money will be used in the acquisition of the property. The site will be used for temporary replacement parking during the construction of a new downtown parking garage. Thereafter, the City will pursue potential development opportunities in accordance with the Transit Oriented Development Strategy. The Purchase and Sale Agreement will be considered by the City Council on May 4, 2009.
Once the building on the site is demolished, the City plans to use the site for temporary replacement parking during the 18-24 month demolition and rebuilding of the downtown parking garage located between Estudillo and Callan avenues. The City will repave and landscape the Albertsons site in late June to make it available in the fall to individuals who currently lease space in the Estudillo/Callan garage.
The Lucky grocery store that had been operating at the location since 1947 had been purchased by Albertsons and was subsequently closed in 2005 due to underperformance. The City is hoping to attract a specialty grocery store to the location once the site is redeveloped into a mixed use development with retail on the ground floor and residential units and/or office space above. This type of development is consistent with the City's award-winning Transit-Oriented Development Strategy.
For more information, contact the Office of Business Development at (510) 577-3352.
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]]>City Joins Earth Day Launch of Regional "Stop Junk Mail" Campaign
The City of San Leandro this April is once again joining with cities, counties and businesses throughout the region in the Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition's (BayROC) effort to reduce wasteful junk mail. The Junk Mail Reduction Campaign will run for six weeks starting on April 22 – Earth Day.
This year, the campaign will be launched exclusively online in an effort to further reduce paper use. The heart of the campaign is the "Stop Junk Mail Kit," available at www.stopjunkmail.org, which takes less than five minutes to complete and can save years of hassle and aggravation and prevent unwanted junk mail from arriving at your door. The kit offers residents and businesses a simple solution to reducing unsolicited mail with online forms and ready-to-send letters to organizations designed to protect consumer privacy. The kit will remove your name from junk mail clearinghouses, credit card companies and the like. It offers options to choose to stop only some types of junk mail or to opt out completely.
Junk mail wastes precious resources and valuable time and money. Every year, over 100 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water are used to produce the 42 billion pieces of unsolicited mail sent throughout the country. And Americans collectively pay $320 million a year to dispose of junk mail that doesn't get recycled.
Some junk mail facts provided by BayROC:
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]]>16th Annual San Leandro Creek Watershed Festival Held This Saturday
The 16th annual San Leandro Creek Watershed Festival will be held this Saturday, April 25, 2009, in downtown San Leandro to recognize and help protect San Leandro Creek as an important Bay Area natural resource. Sponsored by the Friends of San Leandro Creek, along with the City of San Leandro, the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District and the Braddock Foundation, the free festival runs from noon to 4 p.m. and will take place in Root Park, located on East 14th Street, just north of Davis Street.
The festival offers a variety of educational and fun activities for people of all ages, including presentations, craft-making and the display of entries and announcement of winners for the festival's student art, writing and photography contests. Local organizations such as the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center, Stopwaste.org, Alameda County Industries, the San Leandro 4-H Club and the City's Environmental Services Division will host information booths. The event also features entertainment by Rock City Juggling and the Bancroft Middle School Jazz Band.
The San Leandro Creek Watershed Festival is part of a comprehensive watershed awareness program aimed at educating, informing and inspiring people to act on behalf of their communities to protect and enhance creeks, lakes and wetlands in their watersheds. Citizen education and participation is critical for preserving water resources and the natural environment, and the Watershed Festival offers a fun and engaging way to learn about the watershed. For more information, contact Laurey Hemenway at (510) 577-6069 or visit the Friends of San Leandro Creek web site at www.fslc.org. In the event of rain, the festival will be held indoors at the Helen Lawrence South Offices Conference Room, off Civic Center Plaza, at 999 East 14th Street.
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]]>San Leandro Shoreline Cleanup Held to Honor Earth Day
A special tree-planting ceremony is planned for Cherry Grove Park in San Leandro on Friday, April 24, at 4 p.m., in recognition of the 2009 national Arbor Day campaign. The park is located at 1600 Williams Street, behind Woodrow Wilson Elementary School. The ceremony is a way to encourage San Leandro citizens to plant trees for the benefit of present and future generations. San Leandro City Councilmembers, key City staff, community leaders and local school children will be in attendance.
In recognition of San Leandro's comprehensive tree planting and preservation program, the City of San Leandro was also recently designated a "Tree City USA" by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the 12th year in a row. In addition, the City qualified again this year for the prestigious "Growth Award," which recognizes environmental improvement and higher levels of community forestry in Tree City USA communities.
While trees help make San Leandro beautiful, they also enhance the quality of life for all San Leandro residents by moderating temperatures, reducing erosion, trapping carbon dioxide pollution and even increasing property values. Trees can also act as insulators around homes, reducing air conditioning needs by up to 30 percent and heating needs by 20 to 50 percent. Trees can also buffer noise pollution.
The San Leandro Public Works Department maintains an urban forest of some 25,000 trees. The Landscape Maintenance Section plants and maintains street trees within the public right-of-way in front of both residential and commercial property and in city parks. Any property owner in San Leandro who would like to have a City tree planted within the public right of way can call the Public Works Landscape Maintenance Division. For more information, call Tree Supervisor Tim Orr at (510) 577-3448.
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]]>San Leandro Garners 1st Place City Solar Award for Private Solar Installations
The San Leandro City Council was presented an award at their regular business meeting on April 6 from the Northern California Solar Energy Association (NorCal Solar), honoring the city as the #1 medium-sized city in northern California for the amount of solar photovoltaic wattage installed in 2007. The award was presented by Marvin Hamon, who sits on the board of Norcal Solar, a nonprofit organization established in 1975 that seeks to promote solar education and the implementation of solar energy measures. The awards were created three years ago to recognize cities such as San Leandro for their leadership in efforts that promote solar energy use and to raise public awareness about solar energy.
The City received the award on behalf of the community for ranking as the #1 northern California medium-sized city (population 25,000-100,000) in total watts installed, which amounted to nearly 770,000 watts in 2007. San Leandro is also in the top 10 of northern California cities in total watts per capita of solar power installed in 2007.
The City of San Leandro has undertaken a number of measures to improve the environment and reduce San Leandro's carbon footprint, including making changes to its Building Code in 2007 to make it faster and less costly to obtain permits for solar installation. The permit costs were cut by more than half and the permit approval time was reduced. Now most residential installation permits can be obtained over the counter or within 24 hours. City permit staff have also been trained in solar design review and installation techniques, and some are Build it Green or LEED-certified in green building practices and requirements.
Solar energy systems can provide for all or a portion of a building's electrical energy use and can generate hot water for home heating and domestic water uses. A primary benefit of solar power is that it generates negligible greenhouse gas emissions when compared to energy created through fossil fuels. According to Norcal Solar, a typical 2.5 kw residential photovoltaic system offsets more than 4,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. In addition to solar installations, the City encourages property owners to implement other energy efficiency upgrades, such as duct tightening, heating and air conditioning system optimization and improved insulation, to reduce energy use and the required size and cost of the solar systems installed.
For more information, contact San Leandro's Sustainability Coordinator Sally Barros at (510) 577-3458 or Building Official William Schock at (510) 577-3422.
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]]>San Leandro to Celebrate Its History and Diversity at May 9th Heritage Faire
The City of San Leandro will host its annual San Leandro Heritage Faire on Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to celebrate San Leandro's diverse community and rich cultural heritage. The event will be held at the San Leandro Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue. Admission is free and includes multi-ethnic entertainment and fun activities for kids. All are invited and attendees are encouraged to celebrate their heritage by wearing ethnic clothing to the faire.
The event features performances by Pacific Sticks, a group that plays percussion instruments from around the world; Rafael Manriquez & Ingrid Rubis, a duo that performs Latin American music with folk instruments; and NaachDuniya, a traditional Indian dance group that has dazzled audiences with their exotic Bollywood dance moves. Magician Gerald Joseph will also entertain children of all ages with funny gags and amazing tricks.
One of the event highlights will be the performance of classical Japanese cherry blossom dances by the Francisco Kiyonomoto Dance Group in honor of the City's Cherry Festival Centennial. The finale includes a lively combination of traditional Portuguese folk dance, music and song by the Grupo Folclórico.
An international arts and crafts area for kids will be hosted by the library, the Asian Community Cultural Association and the Arts Council of San Leandro, and a variety of delicious ethnic foods will be available for purchase. Vendors will also be selling textiles, crafts and gift items from many countries just in time for Mother's Day.
For more information, call Library Manager Nancy Fong at (510) 577-3947.
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]]>City Staff to Assist Bayfair Center with New Retail Star Competition
The City of San Leandro's Office of Business Development will assist Bayfair Center on a one-of-a-kind competition hosted by mall owner Madison Marquette in which aspiring entrepreneurs will compete for the chance to win a year of free rent in a built-out retail space at Bayfair along with financial assistance. The search for contestants for the unique competition, called Retail*Star, is now underway. Aspiring entrepreneurs with drive, retail expertise and a competitive edge are encouraged to participate.
This exciting incubator program will serve as a resource for up-and-coming new businesses in San Leandro, and will assist Bayfair Center in finding and supporting local viable businesses. Businesses that participate in Retail*Star will receive coaching from business professionals as they present their retail ideas to a panel that includes local business leaders and City representatives in a series of three challenges.
The Grand Prize includes:
Bayfair Center will host a Retail*Star Orientation and Business Opportunity Day on Wednesday April 29. The cost is free but registration is required and space is limited. RSVPs are due by Friday, April 24. To register or to learn more about the competition, call (408) 404-7711 or email retailstar@guggyent.com.
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]]>San Leandro City Council Declares April as Fair Housing Month
The City Council at its regular business meeting on April 6 declared April as Fair Housing Month to raise awareness about fair housing laws and the City's programs to help community members in need of housing assistance. The Fair Housing Act, enacted 41 years ago on April 11, was developed to prohibit housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or familial status.
The City of San Leandro has contracted its fair housing services with ECHO Housing (Eden Council for Hope & Opportunity) since 1989. ECHO assists San Leandro residents with inquiries and complaints related to fair housing issues and also hosts outreach programs to educate tenants, property owners and property managers about fair housing laws. In addition, ECHO provides counseling services for San Leandro tenants and landlords.
For additional information on fair housing issues, call ECHO Housing at (510) 581-9380. For more information on City of San Leandro housing services, call the Housing Services Division at (510) 577-6005 or visit http://www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/CDHousComSvcs.asp.
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]]>San Leandro Shoreline Cleanup Held to Honor Earth Day
In honor of Earth Day, the City of San Leandro will host its annual shoreline area cleanup event on Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to noon to encourage local volunteers to help beautify the San Leandro shoreline and take care of Mother Earth. The City has hosted the cleanup for several years and participation has been growing. Last year, more than 250 individuals helped clean up the area and removed 500 bags of recyclables, junk and debris.
Community volunteers, including individuals, families, service clubs, scout troops and office or company teams, are encouraged to join in the effort. City staff will be on hand to assist and participate along with members of the San Leandro City Council.
Volunteers should meet at one of two staging areas – either near the Monarch Bay Drive Bridge (at the south end of Marina Park) or at the west end of Lewelling Boulevard at the entrance to the shoreline trail near the Heron Bay housing development.
Debris bags, recyclable bags, plastic gloves and bottled water will be provided. The cleanup will be cancelled in the event of heavy rain.
For large volunteer groups, please call (510) 577-3490. Individuals or small groups may just show up!
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]]>New Cherry City Faire Part of 2009 Cherry Festival, Entry Applications Due May 6
The 100th year anniversary of San Leandro's traditional hometown Cherry Festival takes place this year, when the Cherry Festival comes to downtown San Leandro on June 6, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To celebrate this important milestone, many special activities are planned, including the introduction of a new Cherry City Faire that showcases the exceptional talents of local residents. The Cherry City Faire is a series of contests in the areas of fine arts, arts and crafts, woodworking and home-baked goods, similar to those held at traditional county fairs. The deadline for entry applications for the Cherry City Faire is Wednesday, May 6, at 5 p.m. Actual art pieces for all art categories are also due at this time, while home-baked goods entered in the faire are due the day of the festival.
Entries can be submitted for a broad selection of craft and fine art categories, including block printing crochet, knitting, jewelry-making, pottery, quilting, photography, painting, woodworking, art made from recycled materials and more. Culinary categories are equally as extensive and include competitions for the best tasting creations in the areas of cherry breads, pastries and cookies as well as preserved goods such as jams, cherry butters, cherry chutneys or salsas and cherry BBQ sauces. All culinary entries must have a cherry-related theme, and all contests are open to applicants in any age group. Applications are only $5 per entry, and all entries will be displayed at the Cherry Festival in the "Cherry City Faire" tent on Saturday, June 6, 2009.
For additional entry information, see the Cherry Festival section of the City's website at www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us or call Recreation Supervisor Veronica Gibron of San Leandro's Recreation and Human Services Department at (510) 577-3477.
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]]>Cherry Festival's 100th Year Celebration Continues, High Tea and Vintage Fashion Show Comes to Alta Mira Club on April 25
In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of San Leandro's annual Cherry Festival, the City of San Leandro is sponsoring a special High Tea and Vintage Fashion Show to highlight the fashion and culture of 100 years ago, at a time when the first Cherry Festival was held. This elegant affair takes place on Saturday, April 25, at the Alta Mira Club House, located on 561 Lafayette Avenue in San Leandro, beginning at 12:30 p.m. with the High Tea. The tea includes tea or coffee and a spread of assorted tea sandwiches and desserts. Deborah Rush of Fashions of Yesteryear will then present "100 Years of Fashion" from her private collection of vintage gowns and clothing. The show will include commentary on the various eras of fashion to bring the different eras to life.
Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at the Information Desk at the San Leandro Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue. Seating is limited, so be sure to buy your tickets early!
Mark your calendar for this special event! For more information, call San Leandro Librarian Mary Lee Barr at (510) 577-3986.
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]]>Friends of the San Leandro Library Host Spring Book Sale on April 4
The popular Spring Book Sale, hosted by the Friends of the San Leandro Library, is coming again to the San Leandro Main Library on Saturday, April 4, and promises bargains galore on books and other materials in a broad variety of topics and genres. Customers are also greeted with a free continental breakfast, sponsored by the Friends organization, before shopping.
At the sale, thousands of quality books will be available for purchase in the Karp/Estudillo Rooms of the Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue. The sale includes children's books, reference items, CDs, DVDs, software programs as well as collectible books. All books for sale are either in good or excellent condition.
Doors open to members of the Friends of the San Leandro Library at 9 a.m. and to non-members at 11 a.m. Membership is $10 per year for individuals and $15 per year for families. New memberships can be obtained the morning of the sale, although early registration is encouraged. The sale ends at 4 p.m., and proceeds help support programming for the San Leandro Public Library system.
Mark your calendar for this special event! For more information, call the San Leandro Library Information Desk at (510) 577-3971. Special advertising support has been provided by the Bay Area News Group East Bay.
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]]>Upcoming Festivities to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Cherry Festival
The year 2009 marks the 100th Anniversary of San Leandro's well-known hometown Cherry Festival, which was first introduced in 1909. The festival was launched with great fanfare as a way to promote San Leandro to the region. In the early 1900s, most of the land from Bancroft Avenue to the foothills was covered with cherry orchards, and in 1909 an anticipated bumper crop of cherries sparked the idea for the festival. To mark the 100th anniversary, a variety of special events are planned, as well as some special new activities at the festival itself, including a first-ever Cherry City Faire. Below is a list of upcoming events:
The events culminate with the traditional Cherry Festival on June 6 in downtown San Leandro, which includes live music and entertainment, an old-fashioned cherry pie bake-off, a farmers' market, specialty foods from local vendors and quality arts and crafts. This year the festival also features special activities such as a Royal Procession – a re-enactment by the San Leandro Players of the original 1909 Cherry Festival parade, a special passport to be completed in conjunction with a tour of downtown historical sites and a new Cherry City Faire, which includes contests in the areas of fine arts, arts & crafts, woodworking and home-baked goods, similar to those held at traditional county fairs. Entry applications for the faire are due in early May.
The City decided to participate in the pilot program not only because it stands to benefit the Zoo in this difficult economy, but also because it has many benefits for the City of San Leandro. The program saves City crews time from chipping and dumping brush for each job and, on a larger scale, it greatly reduces the use of chain saws and large chipper machines on job sites and thereby reduces pollution emissions to the environment. Additionally, the crews enjoy the fact that their normal daily work can provide a tangible benefit to the Zoo.
For more information, call Recreation and Human Services Manager Micki Cronin at (510) 577-3462.
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]]>City of San Leandro Issues Proclamation Regarding March 28th Earth Hour
The San Leandro City Council issued a proclamation at their regular City Council meeting on March 16 that acknowledges the international Earth Hour campaign on March 28 and encourages community members to get involved by turning off for one hour, starting at 8:30 p.m., all non-essential lighting that will not compromise security in an effort to save energy and raise awareness of the issue of global climate change. Earth Hour is a symbolic event organized by the World Wildlife Fund to encourage businesses, individuals and government bodies to take action on March 28 and throughout the coming year to reduce carbon emissions and their impact on the environment.
"Our community, like others throughout the nation and across the globe, is deeply concerned about the impacts of climate change and the future health and well-being of our planet," stated Mayor Tony Santos. "Energy efficiency and natural resource conservation are critical elements in combating climate change and one of the most important ways of bringing about change is to keep raising awareness. I believe that this type of campaign has the ability to both raise awareness and inspire action."
To do its part, the City will extinguish non-essential lights in city government buildings and encourages public schools, local businesses and citizens to do the same in order to send a clear message that the people of San Leandro are concerned about climate change and want to do something about it.
For more information, contact the Office of the Mayor at (510) 577-3355.
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]]>San Leandro to Host First Juried Art Exhibition as part of 2009 Cherry Festival
The City's Cherry Festival will mark its 100th Anniversary in 2009, and several special events are planned to commemorate the occasion, including the City's first juried art exhibition, called "Images of Northern California." The exhibit will be on display at the San Leandro History Museum and Art Gallery, located at 320 West Estudillo Avenue, from May 14 through June 27. Entry applications from interested artists are currently being accepted. Entry forms and image samples must be submitted to the gallery by 3 p.m. on April 3, 2009, to be considered; the delivery deadline for accepted art pieces is May 9 by 3 p.m.
The exhibit is open to artists living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Artwork can be created in a variety of two-dimensional media, including painting, drawing, mixed media, printmaking, digital and film photography, textile, collage and more. Subject matter must fit within the Images of Northern California theme in order to be considered for the exhibition. Imagery can be, but is not restricted to, landscapes, cityscapes, flora and fauna, marine environments, abstracts and still-life pertaining to northern California. Artists are invited to submit up to four separate pieces of art for consideration.
The jury for the exhibit will consist of a panel of three local artists or art professionals. Juried shows tend to have prestige in the art world because only art pieces selected by the jury are included in the exhibit and, of course, additional recognition is afforded to those who are awarded top honors in the show. Once the pieces have been selected, the panel will then award 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes.
For more details on the competition, applications and artwork specifications, visit the Cherry Festival section of the City of San Leandro website at www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/cherryfest.html or contact Gallery Curator Addie Silveira at (510) 577-3991 or at asilveira@ci.san-leandro.ca.us. Application materials will also be available at the San Leandro History Museum and Art Gallery during regular business hours as well as at the San Leandro Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue.
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]]>Engineering Aide Jane Lo Honored as Employee of the Quarters
Senior Engineering Aide Jane Kuang Lo has been honored by the San Leandro City Council as the City's Employee of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2009. She received the award not only for her expert engineering assistance on City projects but also for her dedication to San Leandro and the spirit of joy and enthusiasm she brings to her efforts of making the community better.
Lo's career with the City of San Leandro begin in April of 2000 as an Engineering Aide in the Engineering & Transportation Department, and in 2001 she was promoted to Senior Engineering Aide. Lo wears many hats in the department, from providing support to department engineers to offering Chinese translation assistance to customers at City Hall. As a Senior Engineering Aide, she is responsible for processing public and private encroachment permits, which are the permits required for all work done within public rights-of-way such as streets or sidewalks. Through the permit process, Lo works closely with residents, contractors and large utility companies to ensure that projects are completed according to City requirements. She also updates maps for City facilities including property, utilities, sewer pipes and storm drains and prepares project drawings using special global information systems software.
"Jane really cares about what happens in San Leandro and takes personal responsibility in making it a better place for all of its residents," stated supervisor Nick Thom. "She is one of those employees whose work with the community has given the City the reputation as a city with caring and competent staff".
"I can honestly say that I have loved working for the City from my very first day," stated Lo. "I enjoy giving back to the community where I live and helping people navigate the permit process is part of that. Getting a permit can sometimes be stressful or seem complex to applicants, so I try to put myself in their shoes and do my best to make the process as smooth and easy as possible. Hopefully, it makes a difference!"
Jane is married and has two children. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing the cello and traveling. For a full list of past employees of the quarter, call (510) 577-3396.
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]]>City Hosts Meeting on Census 2010 Preparations, Committee Participants Sought
In an effort to have as complete a census count as possible, the City of San Leandro will hold a kick-off meeting for its new Complete Count Committee on Monday, March 30, at 9 a.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue. All interested community members are invited to attend. Hosted by Mayor Tony Santos, the meeting is intended to brainstorm ways to reach those in San Leandro who are considered hard to count.
"Census counts are a critical tool that the federal government uses in determining how many federal dollars each city receives," state San Leandro Mayor Santos, who is also a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Census 2010 Task Force. "Because San Leandro has some of the most diverse neighborhoods in all of California, it is vitally important that we find ways to reach all residents and help them understand how the information they provide helps bring greater tax dollars and, hence, greater quality of life benefits to our community."
The U.S. Census Bureau has historically had difficulty in reaching new emigrants, renters, people on public assistance, combined families living together, the homeless as well as residents who do not speak English. The City's goal is to reach as many of those residents as possible so they will be counted in the 2010 Census once forms are mailed out next March.
For every person not counted, San Leandro stands to lose as much as $2,200 in federal funding each year – funding that is critical to a variety of programs, including community assistance programs. Census data is also used to draw federal, state and local legislative districts, provides demographic data for development and business opportunities, helps in forecasting future housing needs and more.
"The census is planned nationally but always happens locally," said U.S. Census Bureau Senior Partnership Specialist Lia Bolden. "This meeting is about mobilizing an effective grassroots effort to make sure everyone in San Leandro knows the importance of the census and sends in their census form in April 2010. We want to create an atmosphere of civic responsibility and engagement and also help those who might not understand or be wary to trust the value and importance of the census process."
In early April 2009, national census staff will start the Census 2010 process rolling be verifying address lists and maps in towns throughout the nation. Anyone wishing to participate in San Leandro's Complete Count Committee should contact Community Relations Representative Kathy Ornelas at (510) 577-3358 or kornelas@ci.san-leandro.ca.us. For general information about the census, contact Lia Bolden of the U.S. Census Bureau at (510) 230-3243.
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]]>City Council Work Session and Upcoming Community Meeting to Focus on Housing Element Update
Two public meetings are planned in the coming weeks to discuss the proposed update for San Leandro's Housing Element, which has been in development since last June. The Housing Element is the part of the City's General Plan that addresses affordable housing and other housing issues and serves as a blueprint for accommodating San Leandro's future housing needs. The current update, which must be completed by June 30, 2009, will establish plans for meeting the City's housing goals through 2014. A City Council Work Session will be held on Monday, March 9, at the City's South Offices Conference Room starting at 7 p.m. and a Community Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the City's South Offices Conference Room.
The revised Housing Element will include specific policies and actions related to housing, including new construction and rehabilitation, affordable housing development, first-time homebuyer programs, housing for seniors and others with special needs and fair housing practices in San Leandro. It builds on the City's downtown Transit-Oriented Development Strategy and adopted plans for the BART Station area and the South East 14th Street corridor, exploring ways to promote high-quality mixed-income housing development.
The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) has determined that San Leandro must add roughly 1,600 new homes between 2007 and 2014, including nearly 600 affordable homes for low and very low income-households. All jurisdictions in the region are required to update their Housing Elements and show how they will meet ABAG targets. Potential new housing policies were presented to the City Planning Commission in February. After the March 18th community meeting, the revised Housing Element will be further refined before submission to the state for preliminary review and consideration for adoption by the City Council.
For more information, visit www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/CDPlanHousElement.asp or call (510) 577-3327.
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]]>City Public Works Staff Helps Feed the Animals
City of San Leandro public works staff may not be able to walk and talk with the animals but, as of this week, they now can feed the animals as part of an innovative effort spearheaded by the Oakland Zoo to obtain tree and brush clippings from local cities to augment the Zoo's feed supplies. The City has responded to the Zoo's request for assistance and the City's Tree Division crew is now partnering with them to provide brush from job sites that Zoo representatives then pick up. The program minimizes impacts on City crews, while maximizing the volume of brush and wood provided.
The Oakland Zoo recently appealed to property owners and local jurisdictions for tree and brush donations as a cost-saving measure due to budget constraints. Many of the Zoo's larger animals (elephants, zebras, gazelles, giraffes, etc.) consume brush and wood in their diets on a regular basis.
The City decided to participate in the pilot program not only because it stands to benefit the Zoo in this difficult economy, but also because it has many benefits for the City of San Leandro. The program saves City crews time from chipping and dumping brush for each job and, on a larger scale, it greatly reduces the use of chain saws and large chipper machines on job sites and thereby reduces pollution emissions to the environment. Additionally, the crews enjoy the fact that their normal daily work can provide a tangible benefit to the Zoo.
Residents can also provide fresh yard trimmings to the Zoo, but trees and shrubs must be of specific varieties and contain no toxic plant materials. More information is available on the Oakland Zoo website or by calling (510) 632-9525 x 266.
For more information on the City's partnership, contact Tree Supervisor Tim Orr at (510) 577-3448.
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]]>City Seeks Members for New Redevelopment Advisory Committee
The City of San Leandro is seeking representatives to serve on a new Redevelopment Advisory Committee (RAC), which was approved by the Redevelopment Agency last October 2008. The RAC will provide input to the Redevelopment Agency and staff on large projects and redevelopment planning documents, including a soon-to-be-developed Five-Year Implementation Plan for the three Redevelopment Agency project areas: the Plaza Project Area, the City of San Leandro/Alameda County (Joint) Project Area and the West San Leandro/MacArthur Boulevard Project Area. Housing objectives and policies will also be included in this five-year plan. The new single RAC is taking the place of the two separate RACs that had previously been established to represent two of the project areas.
The new RAC will include 10 members, made up of a property owner and a business owner within each project area, an individual whose residence is located within 500 feet of that project area, plus one stakeholder representing the housing community, such as a nonprofit housing agency representative or a multi-family property owner or developer.
The RAC is expected to meet quarterly, as needed, to provide input on the objectives and programs related to each project area. The proposed term of office for RAC representatives is five years. Applications will be reviewed by Redevelopment Agency staff and the Mayor, and recommendations will be forwarded to the full City Council for consideration.
If you are interested in serving on the RAC, applications must be submitted to the Office of Business Development by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2009. For more information or to obtain an application, visit www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/RAC.html or call (510) 577-3314.
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]]>San Leandro Welcomes "Year of the Ox" on February 7
The San Leandro Main Library is hosting a Lunar New Year celebration welcoming the "Year of the Ox" on Saturday, February 7, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Arts Council of San Leandro, this free community event will feature bright costumes, melodic sounds and thrilling dances sure to entertain guests of all ages.
A Chinese lion dance and wushu (martial arts) demonstration by USA Kung Fu Studio will kick off the action-packed celebration. The festivities also include a magic show by Tamaka and the Empress, high-energy song and dance by Grant Avenue Follies; traditional Chinese songs by the Young Swallows Orchestra of the Chinese Christian School; inspiring Chinese folk dances by the Marina Community Center Chinese Dance Class; Thai classical music and dance by Wat Buddhanusorn and a martial arts demonstration of precision and power by Pallen's Martial Arts.
The Asian Community Cultural Association is sponsoring free children's arts and crafts activities, and there will be free lucky "lai-see" for all! Food and beverages will be available for purchase. The San Leandro Main Library is located at 300 Estudillo Avenue in downtown San Leandro. For more information, call (510) 577-3971.
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]]>Remember the Dream at January 19 Celebration for Martin Luther King, Jr.
The City of San Leandro will host its 9th annual celebration in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday, January 19, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at the Marina Community Center, located at 15301 Wicks Boulevard. Called "Remember the Dream," the celebration commemorates the birthday of King and his lifelong work toward equality and peace.
Opening remarks will be offered by San Leandro Vice Mayor Bill Stephens and KTVU Morning News Anchor Dave Clark, who volunteers on a number of community boards including those for "The Challenger's Boys and Girls Club" and "Cure Autism Now," will emcee the event. San Leandro City Attorney Jayne W. Williams, managing principal at the law firm of Meyers Nave, will be the keynote speaker. The event also features a special tribute to actor Paul Robeson by Bay Area recording artist and actor Lawrence Beamen. Robeson, who was also an athlete, attorney and civil rights activist, was a widely acclaimed actor in the 1920s and 1930s and was probably best known for his singing of the definitive version of "Ol' Man River."
The San Leandro High School Step Dance Team will perform a spirited tribute to King, and craft-making for kids and free refreshments are also part of the festivities. The event will be attended by San Leandro City Councilmembers, community and business representatives and others.
The Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday is now in its 24th year, having first been recognized as a national holiday in 1986. For more information call the Recreation and Human Services Department at (510) 577-3462.
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]]>City Councilmembers from Districts 2, 4 and 6 Seek Individuals for City's Boards and Commissions
San Leandro has nine different boards and commissions that provide guidance to the San Leandro City Council on a variety of far-reaching issues affecting the San Leandro community. With Councilmembers for Districts 2, 4 and 6 ready to assume office in January 2009, they are seeking individuals from those districts who might be interested in serving on the following six City boards and commissions:
You must be a registered voter and reside in San Leandro to serve. Commissioners are nominated by individual members of the City Council and appointed by the entire City Council. Interested individuals should send in their applications as soon as possible, but by no later than mid-January.
For additional information on the goals and activities of each of the boards and commissions, see the "Boards and Commissions" section of the City of San Leandro website at http://www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/slboardsandcomms.html.
If you are interested in serving but have additional questions, contact the City Councilmember for your District or the San Leandro City Clerk's Office at (510) 577-3366.
Help create a strong vision for San Leandro's future by serving as a City of San Leandro board or commission member. You CAN make a difference!
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]]>Long-time Engineering Aide Robert Fitzgerald Is Employee of the Quarter
Senior Engineering Aide Robert Fitzgerald, who has worked for the City of San Leandro for more than 16 years, has received the City's Employee of the Quarter award for his exceptional customer service and efforts to go the extra mile in providing expert engineering assistance on City projects but also for the warmth and camaraderie he brings to his work with citizens and staff alike.
Fitzgerald's career with the City of San Leandro began in January of 1992 as an Engineering Aide in the Engineering & Transportation Department, and in 1999 he was promoted to Senior Engineering Aide. In this role, he wears many different hats and is highly knowledgeable in the areas of traffic and transportation-related issues. Fitzgerald conducts field studies, prepares traffic control plans, creates project displays using the computer design program known as AutoCAD and also takes the lead in investigating routine traffic analysis related to requested parking changes, traffic calming requests and pedestrian safety improvements.
"We are so fortunate to have a great staff member like Bob who not only strives to provide the best customer service possible to citizens, but who also is so enjoyable to work with," stated supervisor and Senior Transportation Engineer Reh-Lin Chen. And his appreciation by the community does not go unrecognized. In fact, we recently received a commendation letter from a community member stating that he should be recognized as one of our most valued employees. We, of course, agree and so have done just that!"
"Working with the public is the favorite part of my job," stated Fitzgerald. "I know how important it is to feel like you are being heard and I want to make sure our community knows we are doing our best to address whatever concerns they may have. It brings a great deal of satisfaction to me to hear real agreement and understanding and to know that good projects are being accomplished for improving our community."
Fitzgerald is married and has two children and five grandchildren. While not at work, he and his wife Flo enjoy skating together as a professional dance team, and recently won a gold medal at the National Championship in Lincoln, Nebraska. Fitzgerald has a great love for music, having played trombone in school and in the Navy. And amongst his claims to fame is the fact that he played trombone on the U.S.S. Hornet during the Apollo 11 recovery.
For a full list of past winners, including previous employees of the quarter, call (510) 577-3396.
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]]>Most City Offices to Be Closed the Week Following Christmas
Most City of San Leandro offices will be closed from Thursday, December 25, through Sunday, January 4, in recognition of the winter holidays and to provide a cost-savings for the City budget. The City Hall and Recreation Department administrative offices as well as the Marina Community Center will be closed during this time period, and the San Leandro History Museum, the Casa Peralta and the Mulford-Marina and South Branch libraries will be closed from Christmas Eve, December 24, through January 4. Other City departments will be open as follows:
Also, street sweeping will be shifted by one day for those streets scheduled for sweeping on December 25 and 26 and on January 1 and 2. So those with sweeping scheduled for Thursday would shift to Friday, etc. (The other days in the last week in December did not have street sweeping scheduled.) Finally, the San Leandro Marina Harbor Office will be closed December 25 and 26 and January 1 but will be open on its normal schedule on all other days.
For further information, see the "News" section of the City of San Leandro website at www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/newsbriefs.html or contact the City Manager's Office at (510) 577-3351.
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]]>New Online Business License Renewal Available Through City Website
The City of San Leandro recently launched a new feature on its website that provides a convenient way for San Leandro businesses to renew their business licenses online, saving them both time and money. Most businesses with existing licenses can now renew their licenses online from their own offices, eliminating trips to City Hall or the hassle of filling out and mailing in paperwork. The Online Business License Renewal system is a password-protected, secure system located at www.slblrenewal.org that can be accessed by businesses that receive a business license renewal form by mail from the City. Forms have been sent out this week and renewal is required by the end of January 2009.
A City of San Leandro business license is required for any organization or person that conducts business within San Leandro, even if the business is physically located outside of city limits or the company or person has a business license from another city. Business licenses are also required of all home-based businesses and for property rentals. Most businesses with an existing license can renew online using the PIN number and account number provided in the renewal letter. The process is simple and includes the verification of current information and payment of fees online. Some business types are also required to separately submit their state employment quarterly wage and withholding report to verify employee and owner count. Renewal letters will specify when this additional information is required.
While most businesses can use the system, any new business or business that has expanded or changed its address cannot renew online, and some select types of businesses also cannot renew online due to additional documentation requirements. In addition, businesses that are part of the downtown Business Improvement District that supports the LINKS shuttle also cannot renew online due to the added calculation for the shuttle assessment.
"This is an exciting addition to the City's website and will truly make it more convenient for our businesses to renew their licenses," said Mayor Santos. "In the current tough economic climate, we want to do what we can to make it easier on businesses to meet City requirements in an effort to show that we recognize the challenges our businesses face and value their presence in our community."
The City created the system with HdL Companies, Inc., which has been in operation for 25 years and has developed similar business license systems for hundreds of cities throughout the country. For more information, call the Business License Division at (510) 577-3468.
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]]>Steve Hollister Appointed San Leandro City Manager
Interim City Manager Steve Hollister was formally appointed by the San Leandro City Council in a closed session of their regular business last evening to serve as San Leandro's next City Manager, succeeding long-time City Manager John J. Jermanis, Jr., who retired in September. Hollister joined the City of San Leandro in 2004 after an extensive nationwide search and has served as Interim City Manager since September.
In Hollister's four-plus years with the City, he has helped implement a wide range of City Council policies and actions, including those related to the City's award-winning Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Strategy, downtown revitalization efforts such as the launch of the new downtown farmers' market, a renewed focus on emergency preparedness, increased efforts to combat crime and the development of a comprehensive plan for the shoreline. In the past several months, Hollister has begun working with the City Council on how to manage the significant budget shortfalls projected for the current year as well as the next several years. Day-to-day, Hollister manages the activities of all departments and works closely with community leaders, business organizations and school officials on various joint projects.
"Over the past four years, I have enjoyed getting to know this wonderful city and I've sought to foster changes that will benefit all of our residents and businesses," stated City Manager Steve Hollister. "My goal is simple: to work with or City Council, staff and community members on continuing to move this city forward by implementing planning and development efforts that expand opportunities for businesses and enhance the quality of life for us all. I am honored to serve as San Leandro's City Manager and want the community to know that my door is open to any and all ideas that will make San Leandro the very best it can be."
Prior to joining San Leandro, Hollister served for seven years as the City Manager of Reedley, California, and as City Manager of Newman, California, for eight years prior to that. As a city manager, Hollister has strong experience with smart growth, economic development, public involvement, service enhancement and urban revitalization. Hollister has also worked in the areas of planning and law enforcement for the cities of Livingston, Los Banos and Berkeley. He holds a bachelor's degree in Criminology and a master's degree in City and Regional Planning, both from U.C. Berkeley. Hollister is a member of the International City Management Association and the California Redevelopment Association and is active in the San Leandro Rotary. He lives in San Leandro with his wife, Susan, and two teenage children. For more information, contact the City Manager's Office at (510) 577-3351.
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]]>First Shoreline Citizen Advisory Committee Meeting Held, Leadership Selected
The City of San Leandro's new 30-plus member Shoreline Development Citizens Advisory Committee (Shoreline CAC) met for the first time last week to begin discussing development of 40 acres of San Leandro's shoreline that will invigorate the area and expand business and recreation opportunities. Committee members introduced themselves and shared their interests in the shoreline as well as some initial ideas and hopes for the shoreline's future. Representatives to fill the positions of chair and vice chair were also selected. The new Shoreline CAC Chair is private business owner and former City Councilmember Kent Myers and the Vice Chair is Recreation and Parks Commissioner Peggy Hynd Combs.
The Shoreline CAC is comprised of six boaters, including Spinnaker Yacht Club representative Michael Cook; sailboat owner John Dilsaver; Bob Haynes Jr. who has a boat at the San Leandro boat harbor; Dave Clark, sailboat owner and rower; San Leandro Yacht Club representative Babs Freitas and Chair Kent Myers, who is past commodore of the Spinnaker Yacht Club. Other members include shoreline area residents and business representatives, members of City boards and commissions, environmental and affordable housing advocates and others. Several representatives from the San Leandro Youth Advisory Commission will also participate.
The Shoreline CAC meets on select Wednesdays of each month at The Marina Inn, located at 68 Monarch Bay Drive, with one Saturday meeting to be held in January 2009. A complete meeting schedule as well as agenda, meeting highlights, reports and a full list of committee members can be found on the City's website at www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/shorelinecac.html. Shoreline CAC meetings are open to the public and public participation is encouraged.
Questions and comments can be directed to Shoreline CAC Chair Kent Myers (kentmyers@aol.com/ (510) 351-1115), Vice Chair Peggy Hynd Combs (peggyhcombs@aol.com/(510) 635-6627) or Business Development Manager and Shoreline CAC Secretary Cynthia Battenberg (cbattenberg@ci.san-leandro.ca.us/(510) 577-3352). The next meeting, which includes a tour of the shoreline area, is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2009, starting at 10 a.m. The meeting will convene outside in the parking lot just north of El Torito restaurant, located at 5 Monarch Bay Drive.
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]]>Officials Mark Completion of Multi-Agency Roadway Improvement Project
Members of the San Leandro and Oakland city councils gathered today on Doolittle Drive in San Leandro to mark the completion of a multi-year project to improve the Doolittle Drive entrances to the cities of San Leandro and Oakland and the entryway to the Oakland International Airport.
The three organizations, as well as the Port of Oakland, partnered on the project, which includes part of a state highway (SR 61), to create an inviting gateway to the cities and the airport and to stimulate economic development in the surrounding commercial and light industrial districts.
The $3.67 million project included new landscaping, improvements to existing medians, new streetlights, relocation of traffic signals and the placement of monuments to mark city entries. Funding came from San Leandro's Redevelopment Agency, the City of Oakland and the Port of Oakland. Construction began in April 2007, with San Leandro acting as the lead agency coordinating the phases of the project on behalf of all the agencies.
"We are very pleased to see this project completed," said Mayor Santos. "I've already received compliments from area business owners about the improved appearance of the highway. I think this makes a very welcoming statement to people visiting and doing business in the area."
For more information, call San Leandro City Engineer Ken Joseph at (510) 577-3433.
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]]>New Shoreline Citizen Advisory Panel Selected, Meets on December 3
The San Leandro City Council at their regular business meeting last week approved 30 of the 32 committee members for a new Shoreline Development Citizen Advisory Committee (Shoreline CAC) that was authorized by the City Council earlier in the year. Two additional Youth Advisory Commission representatives are still to be selected. The committee's first meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 3, at 7 p.m. at The Marina Inn, located at 68 Monarch Bay Drive at the San Leandro shoreline.
The Shoreline CAC will provide input to developer Cal Coast as they craft a comprehensive master plan that identifies specific types of development and amenities – such as a hotel, a conference center, restaurants, office space and residential and retail development – for 40 acres of the City's shoreline. Development is intended to complement existing businesses and recreational uses and result in a self-supporting shoreline that offers many benefits and services to the San Leandro community and the region. The first meeting will provide introductions of each member, election of committee officers and initial idea sharing on the future of the shoreline area.
Shoreline CAC members were chosen by a selection committee out of the more than 60 applications received to achieve the broadest community representation as possible. The committee includes both new and long-term residents, business representatives and stakeholders from various interest groups.
Shoreline CAC meetings are open to the public, and each meeting provides time for public input. The Shoreline CAC will meet on select Wednesdays of each month. For more information or for a full list of committee members, see the City's website at www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/slbusdevshorelinecac.html or call (510) 577-3311.
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]]>Holiday Tree Lighting Kicks Off San Leandro Holiday Events
The City of San Leandro will mark the opening of this year's winter holiday season with several special events, including the City's traditional tree lighting celebration, which will be held on Friday, December 5, starting at 5:30 p.m. This annual event features a tree lighting party, music and entertainment by local groups, a craft area for children, cookie decorating, a gingerbread house contest display and judging (entries due December 3), free refreshments and a visit from Santa. The event will take place on Civic Center Plaza, located at 835 E. 14th Street, rain or shine.
Other events held this holiday season include:
Miracle on E. 14th Street on December 5 – Join San Leandro's Mayor and City Council as they kick off the 16th Annual "Miracle on E. 14th Street," hosted by the Downtown Association and the Pelton Plaza Merchants in downtown San Leandro – an event that includes entertainment and fun activities.
Hawaiian Holiday Concert on December 6 – Slack key guitarist Patrick Landeza performs at the Main Library in a Hawaiian concert featuring hula dance, heart-warming stories and traditional Hawaiian holiday songs. Food available for purchase. Doors open at 6 p.m.; concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $12 in advance and $15 at the door (children 5 and under free). Contact: (510) 577-3971.
Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 13 – Join Santa and his elves for breakfast, craft-making and entertainment by the Fratello Marionettes on Saturday, December 13, at 9 a.m. at the Wedges Grill at the Monarch Bay Golf Course. Event is for children 10 and under. Cost: $18 per person. Paying adult must accompany children. Registration required. Contact: (510) 577-3462.
Fratello Marionettes Holiday Show on December 13 – The Fratello Marionettes will showcase their frosty juggling penguin, their Brazilian ice skating snowman and Hawaiian singing sensation the Hi-Fi Sisters at a free variety show at the Manor Branch Library, located at 1241 Manor Boulevard, on December 13 at 11 a.m. Tickets are first-come, first-serve and can be picked up at the Manor Library.
"Light Up the Night" Holiday Light Display – Each year, dozens of San Leandrans adorn their homes with festive lights and decorations as part of the "Light Up the Night" self-guided neighborhood tour. Sign up by calling (510) 577-3462. "Light up the Night" directory available December 15 in the San Leandro Times.
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]]>City Hosts Free Training on San Leandro Green Building Guidelines and Upcoming New Requirements
The City of San Leandro is hosting a free training for all builders, contractors and homeowners anticipating major remodels or wanting to make their homes more sustainable on how to incorporate the City's green building guidelines in their building projects as well as how to complete the educational Green Building checklist that will be required of all major projects starting in 2009. The training takes place Tuesday, December 9, at 6 p.m. at the Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue.
The new Green Building checklist has been initiated by the City as a way to inform local builders about the value of following either Build It Green's GreenPoint Rated system or the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system. As of January 1, 2009, the City will require that all major building permit applications include a completed Green Building checklist. The requirement applies to all new construction, all residential additions over 500 square feet and all commercial or industrial projects valued at $100,000 or more.
Buildings have been shown to account for nearly 40 percent of the nation's energy consumption. With its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by the year 2020, the City is working to reduce its energy use and emissions in various areas. More than two years ago, the City endorsed several leading guidelines for commercial and residential green building practices as well as sustainable landscaping. And in May of this year, the City Council adopted a new mandate for City-owned facilities that requires a minimum LEED rating of "Silver" for construction projects valued at over $3 million.
Together, these efforts promote healthy and efficient City facilities through design, construction and operation, and will help the City reduce its energy consumption and carbon emissions. To help private developers and homeowners implement green building measures, select staff members have completed green building training, several information forums have been held and a kiosk showcasing green building materials and techniques has been placed in the City's Permit Center.
For more information, contact San Leandro Senior Planner Sally Barros at (510) 577-35458.
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]]>Police Chief Dale Attarian to Retire in December
San Leandro Police Chief Dale S. Attarian will retire at the end of 2008, after serving with the San Leandro Police Department for nearly 30 years. In his role as Police Chief, Attarian had targeted several key goals for the department, first among them was to foster greater interaction with the community in an effort to deter crime. He reinstituted and expanded a formal Crime Prevention Program for both residents and businesses and recently launched an interactive web site where residents and businesses receive crime statistics and trend information quickly and easily. He also worked to reduce quality of life issues related to blight through stepped up code enforcement, an effort that has significantly reduced citizen complaints to City Hall. In addition, Chief Attarian initiated annual reports and organizational updates to better layout the accomplishments and resource needs of the department.
"The decision to retire has not been easy, given the recent successes of the department and the many programs yet to be pursued," stated Chief Attarian. "But many issues have weighed into this decision, not the least of which is the important goal that the City's Chief live in town. When I was appointed just a couple of years ago, the housing market was already in decline and other stagnating home sales in my neighborhood made it fiscally impossible for my family to move. Unfortunately, my retirement may be one more victim of the housing crunch. I have been truly honored to serve the San Leandro community these many years and have worked hard to accomplish some important goals early on in my tenure as Chief. I know these programs will continue to enhance the Police Department's already high quality of services to this community into the future."
As a member of the San Leandro Police Department for nearly 30 years, Attarian had previously served as the Department's Police Captain, overseeing both the Bureau of Operations, which includes all uniformed personnel, and the Bureau of Service, which includes all support services and staff for communications, records and the jail.
"Dale Attarian has been an effective and progressive Police Chief, accomplishing many important goals in his tenure," stated Interim City Manager Hollister. "He has had an outstanding career with the San Leandro Police Department, and his professionalism and dedication are widely respected. He will be missed throughout the community."
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]]>City Launches New Crime Prevention and Information Website – SLPDINFO.ORG
The City of San Leandro this week launched a new crime prevention and information website called SLPDINFO.ORG. The new site – which is part of the City of San Leandro's official City website at www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us – includes crime prevention and crime statistic information and provides a variety of other new features, including the ability for neighborhoods to access information on calls for service and crimes that take place in their specific area. The new site also offers "Crime Alert" information on current crime trends as well as "Be on the Lookout" (BOLO) alerts regarding specific crimes. An online quarterly newsletter is also in the works and will become part of the website in the near future.
Over the past year, the Police Department has received numerous requests from community members for more information regarding neighborhood crime statistics, crime alerts and upcoming Neighborhood/Business Watch events. San Leandro, like other cities throughout the region, witnessed a surge in crime in the first half of 2008. In response, the City Council set goals this year of increasing the Police Department's outreach to the community, broadening its crime prevention efforts and making important information available to the community as quickly as possible. This new website is one step toward achieving those goals.
We are excited to roll out this helpful new resource for our community," stated Police Chief Dale Attarian. "The new site will greatly enhance our ability to provide timely crime information directly to our residents and businesses, it will help individuals take positive steps toward protecting themselves and their properties and will also be an effective new tool in actually reducing crime in San Leandro."
Other new initiatives undertaken by the department in the past year have included expansion of the Neighborhood and Business Watch Programs as well as the introduction of two new programs –Crime-Free Multi-Housing and Crime-Free Business. Both are aimed at improving safety and security and reducing crime through active partnerships with the local police department.
Through the Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program, for instance, the Police Department has been reaching out to the more than 100 multi-family housing complexes in the city since this past June. The success of the program, which has reduced crime in some communities by more than 60 percent, is already being noted by one complex that has seen its calls for service drop to zero in just the past two months.
For more information, contact San Leandro Police Lieutenant Jim Lemmon at (510) 577-3250.
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]]>New City Survey Seeks Feedback on Future Downtown Enhancements
The City of San Leandro recently placed a survey on its Downtown San Leandro webpage at www.DowntownSanLeandro.com to gather input from business owners, residents and others primarily on what types of retail community members would like to see in the downtown area. Over the past several years, the City has undertaken a variety of projects to improve the downtown, including adopting a Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Strategy, launching a downtown Farmers' Market, adding a history walk and launching an innovative marketing campaign called I am San Leandro. The most recent project, now underway, includes major renovations to add pedestrian amenities to the downtown and improve safety by increasing lighting.
The new Downtown San Leandro Survey seeks feedback on the people's consumer habits as well as input on the types of additional amenities that people would like to see in the downtown area. Survey takers also have the option of providing their email address to receive updates on changes taking place downtown as well as to be involved in upcoming letter-writing campaigns to encourage specific retailers to locate in Downtown San Leandro.
The survey is short and easy to take and is accessible from the main page of www.DowntownSanLeandro.com, which is a part of the City of San Leandro's official website. The survey will be available on the website through the end of the calendar year.
For more information, contact Office of Business Development Manager Cynthia Battenberg at (510) 577-3352.
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]]>New Traffic Control Equipment Helping Make City Streets Safer
The City has made great strides in making San Leandro streets safer, especially for students traveling to school, thanks to the recently completed installation of new equipment being used to slow traffic. The equipment includes speed feedback signs obtained through a $126,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and crosswalk lighting in various locations throughout the city. The crosswalk lighting was funded through ACTIA Measure B Bicycle and Pedestrian Funds and a grant from Safe Routes to School – the national program aimed at helping kids walk and bicycle to school safely.
The Office of Traffic Safety grant funded the purchase of 26 Vehicle Speed Feedback Signs, which were installed on 13 streets near schools in San Leandro, helping slow traffic and enhance safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. The signs instantly tell motorists how fast they are driving to encourage them to slow down and proceed at the posted speed limit. The signs have the added benefit of being solar-powered, so they do not add new energy costs to the City and also help the environment. A separate Safe Routes to School grant provided funding for new flashing crosswalk lighting at intersections near the Roosevelt, Corvallis, McKinley and Jefferson elementary schools and ACTIA Measure B funds supported flashing crosswalks near the Main and Manor Branch libraries.
"We are pleased to have these solar-powered signs and crosswalk lights now operating near schools in San Leandro," stated Engineering and Transportation Director Uche Udemezue. "The equipment reminds drivers to ease off on the gas pedal and slow down, which is particularly important around schools when children and other pedestrians are sharing the road with motorists."
For more information, contact Dean Hsiao of the San Leandro Engineering & Transportation Department at (510) 577-3243 or dhsiao@ci.san-leandro.ca.us.
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]]>San Leandro Library's Teen Book Group Chosen to Preview Novels as Part of National Program
The San Leandro Public Library's teen book group, Novelteens, has been chosen as one of only 15 groups across the nation to participate in the Young Adult Library Services Association's (YALSA) Galley Group and Teens' Top Ten Project. As part of this honor, local teens will be the first to read new young adult books three to four months before they are published (called galleys) and write short reviews for the publishers. They also will be one of 15 exclusive book clubs to nominate books for the annual "Teens Top Ten" reading list, which is voted on by teens throughout the country during YALSA's Teen Read Week each October.
The library's Novelteens group is one of only two groups chosen in California. The other is the Mountain View High School Book Club. They are joined by 13 other book groups from schools and libraries in Maine, Maryland, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Indiana, Georgia, Minnesota, and Missouri. The teens from all these book groups will also get a chance to become literary pen pals as they share their reviews and recommendations with one another via e-mail.
YALSA is the fastest growing division of the American Library Association. YALSA's annual list of the best books for teens is influential in the purchasing decisions of libraries and bookstores nationwide. Being selected as part of the Galley Group gives San Leandro teens a substantial voice in the world of young adult book publishing.
San Leandro's Novelteens group will have this appointment for the next two years. High school teens wishing to participate in Novelteens can contact Kelly Keefer at (510) 577-3957 or kkeefer@ci.san-leandro.ca.us. For more information about the Teens' Top Ten List and the YA Galley Program, visit www.ala.org/teenstopten.
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]]>San Leandro Green Report Presented to City Council
The San Leandro City Council reviewed the City's environmental progress report (Green Update) at their regular meeting on Monday, October 6. The Green Update included an overview of City efforts underway or completed that foster sustainability, protect the environment and reduce City greenhouse gas emissions, as well as an outline of steps to be taken in the future. The report was provided to inform the Council of actions taken in support of the City's goal of reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels 25 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, which was adopted in early 2007.
In coordination with StopWaste.org and ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives), of which the City has been a member since 2006, the City in 2007 hired a Climate Protection Plan Intern, completed a citywide greenhouse gas emissions inventory utilizing ICLEI software protocols and established a multi-departmental Climate Task Force to assess current environmentally oriented projects and begin laying the groundwork for future municipal efforts to reduce emissions further.
Over the past several years, departments have undertaken significant emissions-reducing activities. For instance, in late 2007, the Public Works Department began participating in the Association of Bay Area Government (ABAG) Energy Watch program, which includes free energy audits and subsidies for retrofits within City facilities. As part of the program, efficient lighting has been installed at several fire stations and the South Offices building, resulting in an estimated yearly energy savings of 22,258 kilowatt-hours (kWh) and a Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emission savings of approximately 5 tons.
Other significant recent projects include the adoption of a Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy in 2007; the completion of Phase I of a three-part Civic Center heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) and water heating system upgrade in which existing boilers were replaced with high efficiency models; the replacement of several City pool vehicles with hybrid or electric models; the implementation of staff-related practices related to paper conservation and reduced driving; the completion of a $1.6 million project to use reclaimed water from San Leandro's Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) to irrigate the Monarch Bay golf courses; the approval of a cogeneration facility at the Water Pollution Control Plant to reduce plant energy use by 68 percent; the adoption of a Municipal Green Building Ordinance in May 2008; and much more.
"We are proud of the many efforts that we, as a City, have taken on to address the pressing issues of climate change and sustainability, but we know that we have much further to go," stated Mayor Tony Santos. "We must all do our part to keep the planet healthy for future generations, and these initial steps will go a long way toward making San Leandro a sustainable and thriving community as well as a model for other small cities in the region."
The City is looking to complete a Climate Action Plan (CAP) by the end of 2009 that will lay out specific programs for helping the City achieve its greenhouse gas reduction goals, including additional ways to reduce emissions from municipal operations and engaging with the public and businesses on citywide sustainability efforts. To assist in CAP development, the City received a $40,000 grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. In addition, as a member of the Alameda County Climate Protection Project, the City will host a Climate Summit for elected officials in Alameda County in early 2009.
For more information, contact the City's Sustainability Coordinator and Senior Planner Sally Barros at (510) 577-3458.
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]]>15th Annual Trivia Bee Benefiting Project Literacy to be Held October 17
The City of San Leandro's 15th Annual Trivia supporting the Library's Project Literacy Program is set to take place on Friday, October 17, at the Marina Community Center, located at 15301 Wicks Boulevard. Some 30 teams will compete to outsmart and outlast each other in answering a wide variety of trivia questions, promising an evening of fun for all. The event starts at 6 p.m. with dinner, followed by the trivia bee at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door (includes dinner) and can be purchased at the Marina Community Center or the San Leandro Main Library at 300 Estudillo Avenue.
Each year, more than 300 fans come to watch sponsored teams compete. Team sponsors include a variety of local community organizations, residents, businesses and San Leandro City Councilmembers. Eleven-time "Jeopardy" champion and long-time trivia bee host Leslie Frates will again assist in moderating this lively and challenging game of wits. Raffle drawings will be held for exciting prizes donated by local businesses and community members.
The Trivia Bee raises funds for Project Literacy, an adult and family literacy program administered by the San Leandro Public Library. The program offers free tutoring and support for English-speaking adults who want to improve reading and writing skills.
For more information, contact Project Literacy Coordinator Cinda Mariscal at (510) 577-3944.
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]]>Phase II of City's Successful Noise Insulation Program Begins, Only a Handful of Slots Remain
The City of San Leandro has undertaken numerous efforts to enhance San Leandro's downtown, including adopting a Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Strategy, launching a downtown farmers' market, adding a History Walk and refurbishing the transit plaza. Additional downtown improvements have just begun that include major renovations to the downtown San Leandro Plaza shopping area and adjacent streets. The new Downtown Beautification Project includes creating a pedestrian plaza on West Joaquin Avenue (west of E. 14th Street) with benches, trees, decorative lights, and a fountain; enhanced street lighting that will brighten the area; redesigned crosswalks to improve pedestrian safety and new landscaping to beautify the area and enhance the shopping, dining and entertainment experience. New lighting and other pedestrian enhancements will also be completed on West Juana Avenue, Washington Avenue and Parrott Street.
Construction on the project, which includes reconfiguration and repaving of some of the plaza's parking lots, has just begun and should be completed by early summer 2009. The first segment of the project requires clearing the area for parking lot construction and construction of the pedestrian plaza. About 20 of the existing trees on the plaza will be removed, and 25 will be re-planted along with a variety of other new landscaping enhancements in early 2009. Important to note is that no construction activities that would impact parking will take place starting from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day to ensure that businesses are not adversely affected during the holiday shopping season.
The goal of the downtown improvements is to reinvigorate the downtown by attracting successful retailers and improving the downtown's commercial and pedestrian environments. Comerica Bank, for instance, will be moving into the former Sanwa bank site towards the end of 2008 and expects to add more than $1 million in building and landscaping improvements. The City's Office of Business Development is also working on bringing new types of retail downtown to meet the needs and desires of the community, and is working cooperatively with downtown property owners on major façade improvements to further enhance the area.
Funding for the Downtown Beautification Project comes solely from the San Leandro Redevelopment Agency. For more information, call the Office of Business Development at (510) 577-3311.
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]]>Phase II of City's Successful Noise Insulation Program Begins, Only a Handful of Slots Remain
The City of San Leandro's Residential Airport Noise Insulation Program has successfully provided noise relief to some 80 San Leandro homes in or around the flight path of the Oakland International Airport, and more than 100 additional homes are currently in the pipeline as part of Phase II.
Through the program, sound insulation materials are being installed for free in homes in western San Leandro to reduce interior noise levels. Each home is individually evaluated to determine what measures are needed. In all, 200 properties will be insulated in the Timothy Drive, Davis West and Neptune Drive neighborhoods, including owner-occupied homes and single-family rental properties.
The design process for Phase II of the program began in August, with the conducting of initial architectural surveys for half of the Phase II homes. The remaining surveys should be completed in the next few months. Once floor plans are developed, reviewed and approved, contracts are finalized and materials are ordered, installation of insulation materials should begin in mid-2009.
Homeowners whose insulation work has already been completed overwhelmingly endorse the program, noting especially the professionalism of the work crews and the effectiveness of the insulation materials. The Final Acoustical Report for Phase I homes bears this out, showing that noise decibel levels have been reduced more than required and that the insulation measures are working.
A small number of slots are still available for those interested in participating. Any new homes added will become part of Phase III. Call C. Kell-Smith & Associates, the firm managing the program, at (888) 807-6200 or (650) 827-3900 or send an e-mail inquiry to: sanleandro@kell-smith.com.
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]]>City Seeks Docent Volunteers for Monarch Butterfly Tours
For more than a decade, the City's Monarch Bay Golf Course at the Marina has become home to a large population of Monarch butterflies during the winter months, and the butterflies are now beginning to migrate back to San Leandro. The City will once again provide docent-led tours of the roosting areas – this year on Saturdays, from October 11, 2008, through mid-January 2009.
The City is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to serve as docents on at least one Saturday a month for this year's upcoming Monarch Butterfly Program. Interested volunteers must attend a docent training. Two fun-filled and educational training opportunities are available: Saturday, October 11, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., or Sunday, October 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Trainings will be held at the Mulford Marina Branch Library, located at 13699 Aurora Drive (at Fairway Drive).
All volunteers receive a docent manual filled with information needed to conduct Monarch tours as well as an official Monarch butterfly docent sweatshirt to wear during the tours. If you love nature, enjoy talking to people and are available to volunteer, we want you! For more information and to sign up, contact Adrienne De Ponte at (510) 577-6085 or email butterflynaturalist@earthlink.net
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]]>City Approves Construction of New Cogeneration Facility at Wastewater Plant; Major Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions Expected
In one of its major efforts to date to reduce City energy use and help the environment, the San Leandro City Council approved a contract for the construction of a 330-kilowatt cogeneration facility at the City's Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) that is expected to save 60 percent in plant energy costs (roughly $235,000 annually) and reduce CO2 emissions by 1,500 tons per year, or the equivalent of planting 1,500 new trees. The new facility represents a major step in helping the City meet its goal of reducing San Leandro greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.
The $5.6 million agreement with Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., includes design, construction and maintenance for the cogeneration system. Project costs will be covered by WPCP enterprise funds, which are collected annually for City sewer service for use in maintaining and improving the plant. Siemens will provide a system that is cost-effective, reliable and environmentally responsible. The new facility will also take advantage of applicable rebates, including a $255,000 Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) rebate from PG&E.
The WPCP treats an average of 6 million gallons per day of municipal and industrial wastewater, and is the largest single consumer of electrical energy of all City facilities. In its current operation, the plant uses PG&E-supplied energy to run wastewater treatment operations. The plant also produces some 96,000 cubic feet per day of methane gas (a greenhouse gas shown to be 21 times more potent than CO2), most of which is burned off and not re-used. The new co-generation facility will now convert all of the waste methane gas, through specially designed engine generators, into energy needed to power the plant and treat the wastewater. In addition, the waste heat produced by the generators will be used to heat water needed in the treatment process. This system more efficiently uses waste methane by creating both electrical energy and heat; hence, the term cogeneration.
The proposed facility features three major components: 1) three 110-kilowatt internal combustion generators that produce 285 kilowatts of continuous electrical energy needed to power the plant; 2) a conditioning facility that takes the methane gas from the digester process and cleans it for use by the generators; and 3) a grease receiving station that will accept additional waste grease from commercial waste haulers to enhance the digester process and increase methane gas production. With the new system, the City will be using waste grease from companies throughout the local area, providing the additional benefit of "recycling" grease while generating revenue from these companies for City disposal of their waste grease.
"Any way you look at this project is a win-win," stated San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos. "We are cutting the City's energy costs, reducing the City's impact on global warming, re-using a waste product, namely, grease; and using only funding that is specifically dedicated for this purpose, preserving our General Fund monies for critical city programs. It is exciting to be at the forefront of cities taking on this type of project and look forward to all the benefits it will bring."
Prior to construction, the project will require review and approval by the City's Community Development Department and permits from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Construction on the facility should begin in late summer 2009, after the necessary permits and reviews have been completed. For more information, call 577-6030.
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]]>Volunteers Sought for September 20th San Leandro Creek and Shoreline Cleanup Event
The City of San Leandro is hosting two cleanup events on Saturday, September 20, in recognition of California Coastal Cleanup Day: a Shoreline Cleanup Event and, in association with the Friends of San Leandro Creek, a San Leandro Creek Cleanup Event. Volunteers are being sought for both events.
San Leandro's Shoreline Cleanup Event has taken place for the past several years. This year's event runs from 8 a.m. to noon, and volunteers can join the cleanup from one of two staging areas: the Monarch Bay Drive Bridge (at the end of Marina Park) and the Heron Bay entrance to the shoreline trail at the end of Lewelling Boulevard. Bags, gloves, and bottled water will be distributed, and Alameda County Industries will assist with debris disposal. Local high school students working on community service, including students from KIP Academy in San Lorenzo, will also participate. In addition, this year's event once again includes a pre-event cleanup effort by Garfield Elementary School students from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, September 19.
The San Leandro Creek Cleanup will take place on September 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Root Park, which is located at East 14th and Hays streets (one block north of Davis). The event is aimed at cleaning and restoring the creek and raising awareness of the need to protect and enhance San Leandro Creek as an important resource in the region. At the event, area residents and volunteer groups will remove litter and non-native invasive plant species from the creek bed near Root Park. Individuals, families, service clubs and others are encouraged to participate. Volunteers should wear long pants and sleeves, sturdy shoes and mosquito repellant. Heavy work gloves are also suggested. Refreshments will be provided.
For the Creek Cleanup, participants under 18 years of age are required to provide the signature of a parent or guardian, and children under 14 years of age are welcome to participate but must be accompanied by an adult. To participate in the Creek Cleanup, contact Watershed Awareness Coordinator Laurey Hemenway at (510) 577-6069. To volunteer for the Shoreline Cleanup, call Marina Manager Delmarie Snodgrass at (510) 577-3490.
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]]>Transportation Engineer Reh-Lin Chen Honored as Employee of the Quarter
Senior Transportation Engineer Reh-Lin Chen has been selected as the City of San Leandro's Summer 2008 Employee of the Quarter for his technical skill and expertise, his excellent customer service and the positive team spirit he brings to City Hall.
Reh-Lin's career with the City began in October 2002 as a Senior Engineer in the Engineering and Transportation Department. He brought over 14 years of municipal traffic and transportation experience to his current position, where he is charged with overseeing traffic and pedestrian safety, including speed limit regulation, signal systems, signage, striping, street parking and traffic flow management. Chen works closely with all departments in the City, including the Police Department and Public Works, as well as with developers and outside agencies and directly with the community to improve traffic flow throughout the city and to resolve difficult traffic issues.
"Reh-Lin is a huge asset to the Transportation Department and the San Leandro community overall," stated Supervisor Keith Cooke. "He gives 110 percent to everything he does and bends over backwards to be sure that everyone he works with gets what they need and projects are done well. But more than that, he is a great co-worker, bringing so much enthusiasm and energy to the office that he makes work enjoyable for everyone around him. This award was meant for him."
Chen is a regular presenter of technical papers to various traffic and transportation agencies and recently presented a paper entitled "The I-80 Integrated Corridor Mobility Project" to the International Chinese Transportation Professionals Association (ICTPA) in Nanjing, China, and Taipei, Taiwan.
"I have been humbled to receive this award from a place I enjoy working for so much….I should be giving an award to the City," stated Chen. "I have worked for a number of other municipalities and can easily say that San Leandro is one of the best. I feel fortunate to be able to serve this great community and hope that my work makes a difference, if even in a small way, in the lives of San Leandro citizens."
Reh-Lin is married with two children. When not at work, Reh-Lin enjoys jogging, traveling and playing the ancient Chinese game called "Go." Chen is also known as the staff's resident photographer. For a full list of past winners, including previous employees of the quarter, call 577-3396.
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]]>Assistant City Manager Steve Hollister to Serve as Interim City Manager
San Leandro Assistant City Manager Steve Hollister will assume the position of Interim City Manager upon the retirement of long-time City Manager John J. Jermanis, Jr., at the end of today. Hollister joined the City of San Leandro in 2004 after an extensive nationwide search for a new Assistant City Manager.
In Hollister's four-year tenure, he has helped implement City policies and actions taken by the San Leandro City Council, overseeing such critical projects as the City's award-winning Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Strategy, downtown revitalization efforts, including the launch of the new downtown farmers' market, a renewed focus on emergency preparedness, increased efforts to combat crime and a process to develop a comprehensive plan for the San Leandro shoreline. Day-to-day, Hollister has managed the activities of all City department heads, including programming, budgeting and personnel. Hollister has also worked closely with community leaders, business organizations and school officials on various joint projects.
Prior to joining San Leandro, Hollister served for seven years as the City Manager of Reedley, California, and as City Manager of Newman, California, for eight years prior to that. As a city manager, Hollister maintained a solid track record on issues such as smart growth, economic development, public involvement, service enhancement and urban revitalization. He successfully managed multi-million dollar city budgets, led successful redevelopment efforts, including downtown beautification and infrastructure improvements, expanded parks and public facilities and helped improve city-constituent communications. Hollister has also worked in the areas of planning and law enforcement for the cities of Livingston, Los Banos and Berkeley.
"We are all saddened to see such a major figure of San Leandro's City government move on and I know I have big shoes to fill," stated Assistant City Manager Steve Hollister. "But I have learned much in partnering with John these past four years and have a solid understanding of how the City works and the critical areas of need facing our community, so I feel ready for the challenge. I look forward to working with our great City Council, active citizenry and talented staff in continuing the legacy of making great things happen here in San Leandro."
Hollister holds a bachelor's degree in Criminology and a master's degree in City and Regional Planning, both from U.C. Berkeley. He is a member of the International City Management Association and the California Redevelopment Association and is active in the San Leandro Rotary. He lives in San Leandro with his wife, Susan, and two teenage children. For more information, contact the City Manager's Office at (510) 577-3351.
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]]>District 2 Hosts Town Hall Meeting September 18 on Emergency Preparedness
Are you ready for the next big earthquake? A District 2 Town Hall Meeting, hosted by Councilmember Surlene Grant, is being held to help you prepare. The meeting will be held on Thursday, September 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Bethel Presbyterian Church, located at 14235 Bancroft Avenue (across the street from Jefferson Elementary School). All community members are invited to attend.
The meeting will feature presentations on safety and emergency preparedness by San Leandro fire officials, including 25 tips that can help you in any emergency and how to organize for effective community response. A contest on who is best prepared in District 2 will also be held.
District 2 generally includes neighborhoods and business districts in the southern portion of San Leandro, east of Washington Boulevard, including the Halcyon-Foothill, Colonial Gardens and Huntington Park homeowners associations.
For more information, contact Councilmember Surlene Grant at sgrant@ci.san-leandro.ca.us or by calling (510) 577-0602.
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]]>"Behind the Scenes in San Leandro" Exhibit Coming to Main Library
A special photography and writing exhibit featuring the works of 12 San Leandro teens and their observations about downtown San Leandro will be on display at the San Leandro Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue, from August 25 though September 14. Called "Behind the Scenes in San Leandro," the exhibit is the culmination of a 10-week project called How I See It: My Place, a program supported by the California Council for the Humanities that involved more than 300 young people in 21 libraries across the state.
An opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 23, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., in the Karp Room of the Main Library. Refreshments will be served and the teen artists will present their work. The event is free and open to the whole community.
The California Council for the Humanities sponsored the program and supplied participating libraries with materials, equipment, a curriculum and a grant to conduct the project. Through the project, participants learned research and presentation skills, how to document their observations with photography and writing, how to curate an exhibit and how to organize and conduct a public program.
In addition to the San Leandro Library exhibit, the youths' work will be featured on the California Council for the Humanities' website next spring. For more information, contact the San Leandro Library at (510) 577-3957, write to kkeefer@ci.san-leandro.ca.us or visit www.calhum.org/programs/HowISeeIt_overview.htm.
This project is part of "California Stories: How I See It: My Place," which is supported in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, and administered in California by the State Librarian. This project is conducted in partnership with Califa, a membership-based service bureau designed to provide cost-effective delivery of services, programs and products through a membership network of California libraries: www.califa.org.
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]]>Members Sought for Shoreline Development Citizen Advisory Committee
The San Leandro City Council at their regular business meeting on July 21 approved the creation of a new Shoreline Development Citizen Advisory Committee (Shoreline CAC) that will provide input to the City Council and newly selected master developer, Cal-Coast Development, in determining the future of development along a portion of the San Leandro shoreline. The Shoreline CAC will help the City Council and Cal-Coast craft a comprehensive master plan that identifies specific types of development and additional amenities – such as a hotel, a conference center, restaurants and office, residential and retail development – that will complement existing uses and result in a self-supporting shoreline that offers many benefits and services to the San Leandro community and beyond.
Much like the Downtown Transit-Oriented Development Strategy Citizen Advisory Committee, the Shoreline CAC will be comprised of a variety of stakeholders, including residents, property and business owners, boating enthusiasts, affordable housing, labor and environmental advocates and members of City boards and commissions. The 20- to 30-member committee will meet at least six times over the course of a year or more, starting as early as October, depending on the number of applications and the length of the selection process. Meetings will likely be held on Wednesday evenings and include one or two Saturdays.
The establishment of the Shoreline CAC and the master development process grew out of a series of public meetings over the past year and a half to develop solutions to the challenge of further developing the shoreline. With a large-scale retail and medical complex slated for future development at Marina Boulevard and Highway 880 coupled with the City's downtown revitalization efforts and recent grant funding received to jump start the City's Transit-Oriented Development Strategy, development in San Leandro is strong, making the City's shoreline uniquely poised to become a prime East Bay business and recreation destination.
For more information or to obtain an application for the Shoreline CAC, call San Leandro's Office of Business Development at (510) 577-3311 or visit www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/slbusdevshorelinecac.html. Applications can also be picked up in the Office of Business Development on the second floor of City Hall.
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]]>Free Voices in Harmony Concert at San Leandro Public Library!
The City of San Leandro will host a special concert by Voices in Harmony, Northern California's premier a cappella men's chorus, on Saturday, July 26, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., as part of the City's Music in the Summer Air outdoor concert series at the San Leandro Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Ave. The Voices in Harmony chorus is comprised of 100 men of all ages who share a love of singing and performing. The free concert will feature barbershop, jazz, adult contemporary, pop and traditional choral selections performed by the full chorus or one of the group's several quartets.
The Voices in Harmony chorus has performed widely and recently won a Bronze Medal at the 2008 Barbershop Harmony Society International Convention in Nashville. For more information, call the San Leandro Main Library Information Desk at (510) 577-3971.
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]]>Cooling Center Established to Help Residents Beat the Heat When Temps Soar [REVISED]
The City of San Leandro has recently established its Marina Community Center (MCC) as a Cooling Center for residents to beat the heat when temperatures reach 95 degrees or more. With summer temperatures increasingly hitting record highs, the risk for heat-related illnesses has grown, especially for the elderly, young children and those who work outdoors. The City's Cooling Center will serve as a temporary public space that provides respite from the heat for local residents, offering shade, air conditioning and water.
City staff will monitor weather conditions throughout the summer and fall and, when temperatures are projected to reach 95 degrees or higher, the center will be activated. When activated, the center's hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., to provide relief during the peak temperature hours of the day.
The Center will be set up with tables and some recreation options such as access to a TV with family-friendly DVDs and card and board games. Vending machines are also available at the MCC for snacks. Residents are advised to bring their own food items, medications and other items necessary for comfort, and no pets will be allowed (with the exception of service animals, such as those for the visually impaired.)
The City's Flex Shuttle will operate on its regular schedule and is available on weekdays for registered seniors and people with disabilities. The shuttle operates on an hourly schedule until 5 p.m. and stops at the MCC. (Visit www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/paratransit.html to learn more.) AC Transit Bus 81 also stops on the street at regular intervals in front of the MCC, seven days a week.
Other air-conditioned places in San Leandro to seek relief during periods of high heat include Bayfair Center, one of the City libraries or the movie theater. For more information, contact Recreation and Human Services Manager Joann Oliver at (510) 577-3463.
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]]>City Helps Lead Effort to Improve Safety at Bay Fair BART station
The City of San Leandro along with the County of Alameda, BART and Madison Marquette, which owns Bayfair Center, are spearheading a new planning effort to improve safety and security within the half-mile radius of the Bay Fair BART station area, which includes Bayfair Center. As part of that effort, a community workshop called "Crime Prevention through Environmental Design" is planned for Tuesday, July 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Room 311B, next to the Center Court of Bayfair Center in San Leandro. All community members and transit patrons are encouraged to attend.
Last November, BART received a grant for the development of an overall improvement plan for the Bay Fair BART station area. Called the Station Area Improvement Plan (SAIP), it involves a collaborative planning process with the City of San Leandro, County of Alameda and other key stakeholders to create a safety and security plan for Bay Fair BART station area. The goal is to encourage transit ridership and enhance access for residents, shoppers, workers and transit users. The SAIP will include a second community meeting this fall, with completion of the Plan expected by the end of this year or in early 2009.
For more information, contact City of San Leandro Senior Planner Sally Barros at (510) 577-3458 or BART Senior Planner Tim Chan at TChan1@bart.gov.
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]]>Meet the Author: "John Muir" to Visit San Leandro Library on July 19
The San Leandro Library will host a meet the author event with "John Muir," the world-famous author and naturalist, on Saturday, July 19, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue. In this interactive performance, Frank Helling portrays Muir and shares his extraordinary life story. The free event is part of the City's summer-long San Leandro Reads program that celebrates authors that have a local connection.
Born in Scotland, John Muir came to California as a young man and was captivated by Yosemite, writing that it is "the grandest of all special temples of Nature." His activism on behalf of Yosemite saved it as well as other wilderness areas from development and led him to found the Sierra Club. A prolific writer, Muir is still considered one of the best nature writers in the English language and his works include My First Summer in the Sierra, The Mountains of California, Steep Trails, and others. Muir believed that wilderness had a spiritual as well as economic value and his philosophy has strongly influenced the modern environmental movement..
Frank Helling, a retired teacher, will portray John Muir. Helling first became interested in Muir in the 1970's. Then, to celebrate Muir's birthday one year, he was inspired show up in class dressed as Muir, telling students that he was their substitute teacher for the day. Popular demand among the student body ensured that this became an annual event, and Helling found his Muir portrayal to be an effective way of keeping Muir's message alive. Besides performing at special events, Hellling is also a part-time ranger and storyteller at Grant Grove in Sequoia National Park.
"Meet the Author" is the first of three San Leandro Reads events this summer. The book chosen for the San Leandro Reads program is titled The Wild Muir, Twenty-two of John Muir's Greatest Adventures, a collection of some of his most thrilling experiences while exploring nature's splendors.
Upcoming events include a showing in August of the Oscar-winning movie The Inconvenient Truth as well as a bus trip up to John Muir's home in Martinez on September 13. (Seating is limited.) To learn more about San Leandro Reads events, visit the Main Library's Information Desk, call (510) 577-3971 or visit www.sanleandrolibrary.org.
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]]>Cooling Center Established to Help Residents Beat the Heat When Temps Soar
The City of San Leandro has recently established its Marina Community Center (MCC) as a Cooling Center for residents to beat the heat when temperatures reach 100 degrees or more. With summer temperatures increasingly hitting record highs, the risk for heat-related illnesses has grown, especially for the elderly, young children and those who work outdoors. The City's Cooling Center will serve as a temporary public space that provides respite from the heat for local residents, offering shade, air conditioning and water.
City staff will monitor weather conditions throughout the summer and fall and, when temperatures are projected to reach 100 degrees or higher, the center will be activated. When activated, the center's hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., to provide relief during the peak temperature hours of the day.
The Center will be set up with tables and some recreation options such as access to a TV with family-friendly DVDs and card and board games. Vending machines are also available at the MCC for snacks. Residents are advised to bring their own food items, medications and other items necessary for comfort, and no pets will be allowed (with the exception of service animals, such as those for the visually impaired.)
The City's Flex Shuttle will operate on its regular schedule and is available on weekdays for registered seniors and people with disabilities. The shuttle operates on an hourly schedule until 5 p.m. and stops at the MCC. (Visit www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/paratransit.html to learn more.) AC Transit Bus 81 also stops on the street at regular intervals in front of the MCC, seven days a week.
Other air-conditioned places in San Leandro to seek relief during periods of high heat include Bayfair Center, one of the City libraries or the movie theater. For more information, contact Recreation and Human Services Manager Joann Oliver at (510) 577-3463.
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]]>City Receives Major Grants for Downtown Transit-Oriented Development, Jump Starts Implementation of Award-Winning Plan
The City's Downtown Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy received a major boost earlier this week, when the California Department of Housing and Community Development announced that San Leandro will receive over $24 million in Proposition 1C grant funds to go toward construction of some of the first key projects included in the strategy. The City of San Leandro received funding in two newly established categories – Infill & Infrastructure and Transit-Oriented Development.
The funding will support housing infrastructure and infill infrastructure for several development projects key to the City's new downtown TOD Strategy. The funds will support infrastructure for San Leandro Crossings, a 100-unit affordable housing project to be built by BRIDGE Housing Corporation on a portion of the large vacant parcel just west of the downtown BART station called the Westlake property. The funds will also be used to support stormwater, sewer and other infrastructure needs to accommodate a new 200-unit market rate housing development to be built on the existing BART parking lot on the east side of San Leandro Boulevard and to replace the existing lot with a new parking garage on the Westlake property.
Together, these grants will launch implementation of San Leandro's recently adopted Downtown Transit Oriented Development Strategy, which seeks to increase transit ridership, enhance the pedestrian and retail experience of the City's transit-rich downtown and increase development density and variety in the downtown core. The project will also help provide critically needed affordable housing, result in a per capita reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that would have resulted from the new developments and boost the economy.
"The awards are great news for the City of San Leandro because it will enable us to keep the downtown TOD's strong momentum moving forward, even in these tough economic times," stated San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos. "Green, transit-oriented development is the wave of the future and serves as the framework for our TOD and we are excited to now have the needed start-up funds to literally lay the groundwork for successful TOD development to come."
For more information on the grants or the City's Downtown TOD Strategy, contact Planning Manager Kathleen Livermore at (510) 577-3350.
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]]>City Streamlines Public Information Requests with New Online Record System
The City of San Leandro recently added a major new feature to its website - Public Records Online - making many City of San Leandro electronic public records available via the City's website at www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/recordsonline.html. The public can now view, e-mail, print or save certain public documents, including City Council meeting agenda packets, minutes, ordinances, resolutions and agreements, instead of making a request via phone or e-mail or driving to City Hall.
The Public Records Online page provides information on the records that are available as well as instructions on how to access, browse and search the electronic records database. The new feature links off of the "City Services" section of the City's site.
Utilizing a web publishing tool called Weblink, the Public Records Online feature provides users with access to documents in the City's Laserfiche electronic records database. Currently, most of the records in the database are from the end of 2006 to the present. Additional records will be made available as they are added to the Laserfiche database. A link to a public records request form is also available on the page, so that users can make a written request for other records not currently available through the Public Records Online system.
For more information on the system, see the website or contact City Clerk Marian Handa at (510) 577-3367.
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]]>San Leandro Fireworks Ban in Effect Over Fourth of July Weekend
The Fourth of July holiday will soon be here, and San Leandrans are getting ready to celebrate our nation's birthday with potlucks, parades and neighborhood gatherings. The City wants to ensure the safety of all community members over the holiday weekend and so, together with its police and fire departments, the City has once again launched a campaign to educate the community about the City's fireworks ban and to discourage fireworks use. Information is being distributed through local papers, neighborhood groups, street signage and information on the City's website and government cable station – Channel 15.
The City has prohibited the sale, manufacture, purchase and use of fireworks, even those considered "safe and sane," since the 1980s. The ban was enacted due to public safety issues surrounding fireworks use, particularly injuries and fires. The San Leandro City Council last year expanded the provisions of its ban to affect not only those caught handling fireworks but anyone who allows fireworks to be set off on their property or any property under their control. Those who violate the ban will be subject to citation and/or arrest and may be required to pay substantial fines.
The ban will be strictly enforced over the holiday. Extra police and fire department staff will be on duty, and areas where fireworks have been a problem in the past will receive special attention, including Marina Park, which will be closed after 6 p.m. on July 4. Access to the Marina will only be allowed for restaurant, hotel and golf course patrons that evening.
While fireworks may be exciting to watch, each year they injure thousands of people, many of them children, and cause thousands of fires. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is through approved public displays conducted by professional pyrotechnicians. No public fireworks displays are being sponsored this year at the San Leandro Marina, and the displays of neighboring cities are not visible from the Marina or shoreline areas.
Anyone seeing illegal fireworks displays should contact the San Leandro Police Department at 577-2740.
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]]>United States Air Force Band of the Golden West Performs at Main Library
The United States Air Force (USAF) Band of the Golden West has entertained millions worldwide through their live and broadcast shows and they are returning to perform once again at the San Leandro Public Library on Saturday, June 28, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Travis Brass, the band's chamber brass ensemble, will be the group performing this year as part of the City's Music in the Summer Air outdoor concert series at the Main Library, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue.
The Travis Brass, which is featured on the recordings called Bayside Bravura and Wood n' Brass, is a talented group that will perform selections from a mix of musical styles, including traditional brass classics, Broadway hits, and favorites from the Dixieland and Big Band eras.
The concert is free, however, tickets are required. Free tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Reference Desk at the San Leandro Main Library Reference Desk, located at 300 Estudillo Avenue. Call (510) 577-3971 for more information.
]]>City Manager John Jermanis Announces Retirement
City of San Leandro City Manager John J. Jermanis, Jr., announced his retirement last night after convening with the City Council in closed session after their regular City Council meeting. The announcement came with minimal fanfare, as is the style of San Leandro's talented yet humble staff executive, but was met with congratulatory remarks and sadness by many. The announcement culminates Jermanis's more than 37 years of dedicated service to San Leandro's city government, 12 of those years in service as City Manager. Jermanis's retirement becomes effective September 6, 2008.
Jermanis began his decades-long tenure with the City as its Finance Director, helping to balance San Leandro's books in lean years and in years of surplus. His expertise and skill helped the City successfully navigate several very difficult budget cycles, including those in the early 90s and the current budget cycle.
Under Jermanis's leadership as City Manager, the City has accomplished many major projects and facility enhancements that now benefit the entire San Leandro community, including: the rehabilitation of Bayfair Center, the building of Creekside Office Plaza, the opening of Westgate Parkway and the Hilton Garden Hotel, the transformation of the Islander Motel into a successful affordable housing complex, the opening of the new Washington Manor Branch Library and San Leandro Family Aquatic Center, the seismic retrofit and renovation of San Leandro's main library, the opening of the San Leandro History Walk and San Leandro History Museum, renovations to the majority of City parks, the opening of two new firehouses, the planning and design of a future San Leandro Senior Center to break ground in the fall, the adoption of several far-reaching planning documents, including a new General Plan and the City's award-winning downtown transit-oriented development plan, and many more accomplishments too numerous to mention.
"While the news of John's retirement is not unexpected, it certainly is sad news for all of us, and I think somehow we all held out hope that John would stay working here forever," stated Mayor Tony Santos. "He is one of the hardest working and most dedicated individuals I know, truly giving all that he can to make this City great. He is also enormously talented and has guided City staff in accomplishing an astounding list of major projects. But more than that, John is a genuinely good-hearted soul and cares about people from every walk of life. Aside from his keen know-how and business acumen, it's John's enjoyable and accessible nature that we will miss most of all. We wish him well."
Through Jermanis's guidance, the City also facilitated a fundamental shift in the business sector from one that was largely manufacturing into a successful mix of service-oriented, high tech, manufacturing and industrial businesses, helping strengthen the City's financial picture. This was accomplished while still retaining and enhancing the business-friendly, can-do atmosphere for which the City is known. During Jermanis's tenure, the City of San Leandro has also become known as a regional leader in a variety of areas, including emergency planning, building code requirements, library programming and more. Jermanis has also helped the City government and community begin grappling with issues dealing with population growth and increased development, climate change and sustainability, increased crime, the future of the San Leandro harbor – all of which has laid the groundwork for a City that is planning thoughtfully for its future.
"It has been a privilege and honor to have been able to serve my community as its city manager and to try to make San Leandro the best it can be," stated Jermanis. "I will miss the day-to-day interaction with folks from all areas of our community – school officials, state representatives, seniors, homeowner groups – but I know that I will never be very far from City Hall. I have seen so much positive change here in San Leandro brought about through the great leadership from our City Council and the dedicated work of a very talented staff. And with so much more to come, it makes it bittersweet to leave. But I look forward to turning over a new chapter in my life and giving back to my community in new and different ways."
Prior to his service with the City of San Leandro, Jermanis began his work in municipal government at the City of Livermore and worked for General Motors in Fremont prior to that. Born and raised in Berkeley, Jermanis received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State University and completed graduate studies in Public Administration at California State University-East Bay. John and his wife, Linda, have two grown children and one grandson. During his retirement, Jermanis plans to spend more time visiting with his children and grandson, traveling to his favorite spot – Disneyland, and working on his classic car collection.
Assistant City Manager Steve Hollister will serve as Interim City Manager once Jermanis's retirement takes effect. For more information, contact the City Manager's Office at (510) 577-3351.
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]]>City of San Leandro Declares June 18 and June 19 as Local "Dump the Pump" Days
With gas prices at record highs, the San Leandro City Council at their regular business meeting last evening announced that it will join with other public agencies nationwide in the third annual national Dump the Pump Day campaign and has declared June 18 and June 19 as San Leandro "Dump the Pump" Days. Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association, the campaign encourages people to ride public transportation and learn how taking transit can save money, conserve gasoline and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The national campaign also coincides with another regional campaign to offer free transit on June 19, making it even easier for individuals to not drive that day.
According to a new study, public transportation reduces our nation's carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons annually – equivalent to the amount of electricity used by nearly 5 million households. In addition, U.S. public transportation systems save 1.4 billion gallons of gasoline annually, the equivalent of 108 million fewer cars filling up each year. And households with two workers and one car that use public transportation save $6,200 every year, compared to a household with no access to public transportation.
"If gas prices are too high for you, then dump the pump on June 18 and June 19 and take a bus or the BART instead; using public transportation is the quickest way to beat the high price of gas," stated San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos. "And public transit has a critical role to play in reducing greenhouse gases, too. So if you leave your car behind to take public transit, you will also help combat climate change."
Transit systems will participate in a variety of ways this year. Some may offer free or discounted rides, while others may hold contests or open houses. Public transit use has been up 32 percent since 1995 and, in 2007, there were 10.3 billion trips taken on public transportation – the highest in 50 years. Local transit agencies that plan to participate this year include the Alameda-Oakland Ferry, AC Transit, BART, MUNI, and many more.
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.]]>City's Golf Courses Go Green, Newly Launched Reclaimed Water System Reduces EBMUD Water Demand
The City recently completed a $1.6 million dollar project to use reclaimed water from San Leandro's Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) for the majority of irrigation needs at the Marina and Tony Lema golf courses at Monarch Bay. The new system has been launched just as the East Bay Municipal Utility District has announced a mandatory drought management program to safeguard the district's shrinking water supply. The new system will save 98 million gallons a year in City demand for EBMUD water, which equates to roughly the amount that 600 households use in a year, and also saves nearly 100 tons of carbon emissions.
Through the system, the City extracts wastewater treated at the WPCP that would otherwise be discharged into the Bay through the East Bay Dischargers Authority pipeline at the San Leandro Marina. The recycled water is then pumped to the golf course pond for use in irrigating the fairways instead of using EBMUD water. The reclaimed water system provides roughly 95 percent of golf course irrigation needs with the remaining 5 percent drawn from EBMUD's drinking water stores. Because the City's golf courses are now irrigated with recycled water, EBMUD's mandatory watering restrictions do not apply, courses continue to be watered daily and golf course turf has actually improved. Such projects have been implemented successfully throughout the country, including the notable Pebble Beach Golf Links, and no aesthetic or operational impacts are expected from the change in irrigation water.
"This new facility is yet another way that San Leandro is taking important steps toward a sustainable future," stated San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos. "The recycled water is reliable, drought-proof and low cost, replacing the use of valuable and limited drinking water supplies. We also owe much to the foresight of previous City Councils in establishing a vision for using recycled water to irrigate the courses. And to complete the facility just when drought restrictions have been put in place is a case where timing is everything. We are excited about the many benefits this facility will bring to our community, the golf courses and the environment."
The project was funded in part by a state grant, which covered roughly 25 percent of the construction costs. The remainder of the funding came from City wastewater enterprise funds and will be repaid over time through payments by American Golf Corporation, which operates the City's golf courses.
The WPCP also supplies recycled water to golf courses in the cities of Oakland and Alameda through a contract arrangement through EBMUD. With these two other courses, the City's water recycling facility saves over 237 million gallons of drinking water annually, the equivalent of that used by nearly 1,500 households.
The City has undertaken a variety of other actions to meet the new water restrictions set by EBMUD, including shutting off City fountains, reducing irrigation of parks and ballfields, reducing City vehicle washing, increasing lawn mower heights so lawn areas retain more water, evaluation and repair of any faulty irrigation control valves and possible use of well water for street sweeping.
EBMUD's new restrictions seek a 15 percent reduction in water use districtwide, with the percentage of reduction varying by type of customer. The drought program also prohibits such activities as using water for decorative fountains, except those using recycled water; washing sidewalks, patios and similar hard surfaces; irrigating outdoors on consecutive days or more than 3 days a week; sewer and hydrant flushing; washing streets with potable water except for essential purposes; the use of potable water for construction if alternatives are available and more.
For more information, contact the Public Works Department at (510) 577-3440.
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]]>Marina Master Developer Recommended by Shoreline-Marina Committee
New Citizen Advisory Committee to Guide Development ProcessThe City Council Shoreline-Marina Committee yesterday recommended the selection of Cal-Coast Development as the master developer to work closely with City staff, the City Council and the San Leandro community to create a multi-faceted, successful development along San Leandro's shoreline. The recommendation will be forwarded to the San Leandro City Council on June 16 for approval. The recommendation came after a several-month process in which an ad hoc committee evaluated the five master developer proposals that were submitted for consideration.
Cal-Coast Development was recommended by the Shoreline-Marina Committee due to its strong track record of completing high-quality successful developments, including those in areas with high political sensitivity and community concern. Past projects have included a similar shoreline project at Los Angeles Harbor, called the Cabrillo Marina, that now includes a hotel, conference center, offices and restaurants. Cal Coast also achieved high marks for its proven ability to work collaboratively with affected communities and critical stakeholders to ensure that any development reflects a community's long-term vision. Cal-Coast's architectural partner also brings experience in building attractive, LEED-certified commercial developments, assuring that the City's recently adopted green building requirements are incorporated in the development plan.
The master development process is part of a multi-pronged effort to transform the marina area into a bustling and attractive destination for residents, new businesses and visitors containing a variety of retail, recreation and leisure activities. Any development considered will capitalize on the area's existing assets, including the Monarch Bay golf course, miles of walking trails and parks and a variety of water recreation opportunities.
The master developer selection will set in motion an extensive development proposal process that will incorporate community input every step of the way. A Citizen Advisory Committee, made up of representatives from key groups throughout the community, including residents, business owners, boaters, affordable housing advocates, union representatives and others, will be established to help guide the development process. The procedures for how that committee will be formed will be developed by the Shoreline-Marina Committee in upcoming meetings.
"All of us in San Leandro care deeply about our marina and feel it truly is the crown jewel of our town," stated San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos. "We have grappled over the years with ways to make the marina area a success and feel we now have an experienced, well-recognized developer that can help us shape the area into the vibrant and economically successful community resource that we know it can be. Cal-Coast has the experience and know how to make it happen and we look forward to a shared process with our community to create something that benefits all of San Leandro," he said.
The Shoreline-Marina Committee meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Sister Cities Gallery of City Hall. (Please note: Dates are subject to change. To confirm meeting dates and times, visit www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/slcommmarina.html.) For more information, call Business Development Manager Cynthia Battenberg at (510) 577-3352.
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]]>City to Host Housing Element Workshops
The City of San Leandro has begun a year-long process to update its Housing Element, the part of the City's General Plan that addresses affordable housing and other housing issues and serves as a blueprint for accommodating San Leandro's housing needs through 2014. As part of the process, the City will hold several community meetings to invite input from San Leandro residents and businesses.
The revised Housing Element will include specific policies and actions related to housing, including new construction and rehabilitation, affordable housing development, first-time homebuyer programs, housing for seniors and others with special needs and fair housing practices in San Leandro. It will build on the City's new downtown Transit-Oriented Development Strategy and recently adopted plans for the BART Station area and the South East 14th Street corridor, exploring ways to promote high-quality mixed-income housing development in these areas.
The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) has determined that San Leandro must work to add roughly 1,600 new homes between 2007 and 2014, including nearly 600 affordable homes for low and very low income households. All jurisdictions in the region are required to update their Housing Elements and show how they will meet ABAG targets. San Leandro's revised Housing Element will be presented to the San Leandro City Council and Planning Commission in early 2009 and will then be submitted to the state for certification.
"Having a certified Housing Element is critical to the success of the City's housing programs," said San Leandro Community Development Director Luke Sims. "Many state and federal housing grants are contingent upon certification, and Housing Element policies also provide the legal foundation for certain zoning requirements, fees and development standards."
Since the City adopted its first Housing Element in 2003, nearly 270 units of affordable housing have been built in San Leandro. The City also adopted a new Inclusionary Zoning ordinance, transformed the former Islander Motel into a 60-plus unit affordable housing complex and has taken other steps to improve housing opportunities in the city.
The following workshops are the first in a series of meetings that will take place throughout the update process:
| Housing Workshop #1 | Housing Workshop #2 |
| June 17, 2008 | June 18, 2008 |
| 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. | 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. |
| Marina Community Center | San Leandro Public Library |
| 15301 Wicks Boulevard | 300 Estudillo Avenue |
For more information, visit www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/CDPlanHousElement.asp or call (510) 577-3327.
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]]>Cherry Festival to Sweeten Downtown San Leandro May 31
San Leandro's traditional hometown Cherry Festival returns to downtown San Leandro again this year and promises a day of excitement and fun for people of all ages. The one-day festival includes live entertainment, thrilling games and rides for kids, great food and a variety of fun activities. The Cherry Festival has become the City's largest community event and celebrates San Leandro's distinction in years past as the cherry-growing capitol of the region. The one-day event will be held in downtown San Leandro on May 31 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along West Estudillo Avenue, which runs between the downtown BART station and Washington Plaza.
The festival features music and entertainment on two stages, an old-fashioned cherry pie bake-off, a farmers' market and foods from local vendors. Quality arts and crafts and cherry products of all types, including cherry kettle corn and cherry cotton candy, will also be offered. A free cherry-themed canvas tote will be given away with any purchase from the Cherry Store to promote the use of reusable bags.
Free valet bicycle parking will be provided by the Cherry City Cyclists to encourage festival-goers to ride their bikes to the festival; a special rapid bus will be on display, courtesy of AC Transit and a special health check station will be hosted by San Leandro Hospital. Cherry Lane will once again feature information on the latest City services and programs and offers kids the chance to meet police and fire officials and also hop aboard a police motorcycle. And a special recycling event for mercury thermometers will be hosted by the City's Environmental Division, in which residents that bring in an older mercury thermometer will receive a new digital model for free. Both the Casa Peralta and the History Museum & Art Gallery will be open for tours during the festival, with old-fashioned, living history-based activities for kids offered in the Casa Peralta courtyard from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m-4 p.m.
Festival sponsors include the San Leandro Times, Eden Hospital-San Leandro Campus, AC Transit, Comcast, Madison Marquette/Bayfair Center, Kaiser Permanente, St. Leander's Parish and the Cherry City Cyclists. For more information, call the City of San Leandro -Recreation and Human Services Department at (510) 577-3462. And be sure to look for the full festival program in the May 29th edition of the San Leandro Times! Special advertising support has been provided by the Bay Area News Group East Bay.
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]]>Library Camp Academy at San Leandro's Manor Branch
San Leandro's Manor Branch Library this summer will offer for the first time four week-long Library Camp Academies to students entering the 3rd, 4th or 5th grades. Each camp academy will feature a variety of fun activities focusing on exploring the world of bugs, in keeping with this year's summer reading program theme: "Catch the Library Bug @ Your Library." Activities include innovative arts and crafts projects, entertaining games, zany bug stories, riddles and trivia and individual and team projects. Kids will also get the chance to design their own camp T-shirts and visors, make bug cities, complete a scrapbook, read books as part of the summer reading program and enjoy delicious snacks. [Camp participants who go on to complete the Summer Reading Program will be eligible to participate in the Library's highly popular Summer Reading Program Carnival in August and will receive free passes to a variety of local excursions, including the Lawrence Hall of Science, Children's Fairyland, the Lindsay Wildlife Museum and the Chabot Space and Science Center.]
Each week-long session costs $40 per participant and runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Monday-Thursday. Sessions are as follows: Session I – June 16 to June 19; Session II – June 30 to July 3; Session III – July 14 to July 17; and Session IV – July 28 to July 31. Camps will be held in the Library's homework center, which is not in operation during the summer months, and will be run by homework center tutoring staff with assistance from community volunteers. The Manor Branch Library is located at 1421 Manor Boulevard.
Registration is first-come, first-serve and enrollment is limited. For more information, call Manor Branch Manager Sandy Wee at (510) 577-7964 or email swee@ci.san-leandro.ca.us.
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