Pilot – November 2011

SAMTRANS

J Gee

This summer, I was elected by the Mayors on San Mateo County cities to the SAMTRANS Board. My Board position represents the cities that are in the Southern Judicial District (San Carlos and south).  I wanted to take a moment and share with you some of the accomplishments of SAMTRANS and the challenges and opportunities ahead.

The SAMTRANS Board consists of 9 members:  two of our Supervisors, a transit expert, three community members and three elected officials from a city in each of the judicial districts in the County.  Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at the SAMTRANS building in San Carlos.

To start with, I want to share some numbers with you:

•28.5 million

•100,000

•50/50

•33%

•$33,600

In the 2010-11 fiscal year, SAMTRANS (and all of its transit operations; buses, CalTrain, Redi-wheels, Paratransit) provided 28.5 million rides.  Our average weekday ridership is approximately 100,000 riders per day, about evenly split between buses and CalTrain.  One-third of our average weekday riders are students and youth taking the bus to school.  And the median income of our SAMTRANS rider is $33,600.

My day job takes me throughout the Bay Area and I do have the opportunity to ride MUNI, BART, AC Transit and other public transit.  SAMTRANS is reliable, the buses are clean, and the staff is committed to the District.  For my first meeting this past summer, a number of 35 year employees were recognized and thanked – these are employees that joined SAMTRANS 35 years ago when the District was formed.

In spite of the ridership figures (which are up), SAMTRANS, like most public agencies are faced with finding a solution for financial sustainability. 

The biggest challenge ahead is to find a dedicated funding source for CalTrain.  CalTrain is currently funded by VTA (Santa Clara County), MUNI (San Francisco) and SAMTRANS.  All three agencies are not required to fund CalTrain.  However, we all know that not funding CalTrain will put 50,000 more commuters onto the freeways every day – something that we all want to avoid!

While we tackle the big issues at SAMTRANS, there are many new things coming to the system on January 1.  Some of these include;

•Elimination of paper passes and using the Clipper Card

•A new Day Pass

•A New CalTrain Operator

•Federal funding for new train control system to improve train safety

Yu can find out more about SAMTRANS at www.SAMTRANS.com

October 2011 Pilot

J Gee

With summer over and Halloween coming soon, I wanted to take a few moments to highlight a number of events, happenings and decisions on the City.

Earlier this year, the City adopted the Downtown Precise Plan (DTPP).  Combined with last year’s adoption of the General Plan, both documents set a vision for the future of our City and the downtown.  The vision continues the “Renaissance” of Redwood City.  In addition to establishing a vision for our City, the General Plan and the DTPP provide clarity and certainty for developers, builders, and new business owners on what they need to do to develop a project.

One of our goals is to promote housing downtown.  There are a number of housing projects in the planning stages:  Mels’ Bowl on El Camino Real is planned for 141 units of rental housing; the former Dodge site at Veterans/Whipple is another site that is planned for rental housing.  Other projects include 333 Main Street, 132 units or rental housing, including affordable housing, and 201 Marshall Street, 116 units of housing.  All of these projects could be under construction next year.

As housing and residents arrive, so do new businesses.  Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi is a new “benihana” style restaurant that opened a couple of months ago.  Sakura has quickly developed a devoted and regular clientele; The Old Spaghetti Factory will be opening in a few weeks, as will Papa John’s Pizza.  Coming to Sequoia Station is Pier 1 Imports (opening in early 2012), and Barone’s Wood Fire Pizza (next to Young’s Ice Cream).

On a much quieter front, a number of new tech businesses have moved-in, or started in Redwood City.  These employers enjoy the access to CalTrain, the wide-variety of dining and entertainment opportunities for staff, and soon, nearby housing.

Finally, congratulations to Eric and Lori Lochtefeld, the owners of the Fox Theatre.  Last month, they celebrated their one-year anniversary with their 100th event at the Fox.  Where else could you hear the music of Michael Jackson (Foreverland was the featured band for the Friday night concert), followed by the music of Chicago (the Chicago Transit Authority was the opening act for the evening at the Fox), and then concluding with the music of Neil Diamond (Super Diamond).  All of this in Redwood City!

April 2011 Pilot

J Gee

In January, the City Council certified the Downtown Precise Plan – our revised and updated vision for downtown.  Unfortunately, the initial Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was challenged in court, and the judge ruled that there were two areas requiring additional work – potential shadows, and more work was required on the historic structures section of the plan.

Two years later, I am pleased to report that we have a new plan for downtown.  Staff and consultants have spent several hundred hours updating the plan, along with countless hours from our Historic Resources Advisory Committee, and the Planning Commission.

So why is downtown important – especially for those of us that live in Redwood Shores?  I typed this question into my internet search engine and received over 14.3 million responses.  Some of the answers included:

1. •A sense of identity for a community
   

2. •A social gathering space
   

3. •A place where a community can assemble
   

4. •Local businesses are part of a community’s quality of life
   

5. •Downtown is part of a community’s history
   

6. •Downtown is a neighborhood
   

The list goes on and on – for 14,295,000 other reasons. 

Our vision for our downtown includes all of the above and more.  The vision for downtown began over a decade ago with the appointment of a citizen task force.  The initial thoughts of this citizen task force helped change our downtown.  The foundation for this renaissance for downtown includes the new Courthouse Square and the retail/cinema complex (with the Old Spaghetti Factory opening later this year!).  More recently, several new start-up technology companies have moved in.

The key to continuing the transformation of our downtown are residents that live in this new neighborhood.  Hopefully, the new plan will attract new housing development and give each of us many more lifestyle choices.

March 2011 Pilot

Every couple of years, the City conducts a satisfaction survey of our residents.  In November 2010, over 400 residents were surveyed on the phone, and asked a number of questions related to our Quality of Life in Redwood City.  This is not just a one time, survey – by repeating the survey on a regular basis, we are able to track and review results.

What the 2010 Satisfaction survey revealed is that over 90% of our residents feel very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the overall quality of life in Redwood City.  These results were particularly high in Redwood Shores.  Other notable categories that received high marks from Redwood Shores residents included our satisfaction with city services, and public safety.

And how can we not be satisfied here in Redwood Shores?  We have a great library that was supported by our community, a new school, books for both the new school library and the library, levees that are now certifiable, restored bay wetlands at no direct tax payer expense, and a community that enjoys the opportunities to be outside!  The weedwhacker makes its annual visit to the lagoons, and last year, for the first time, parts of the lagoon were dredged.  For those that continue to say “Redwood City does not pay attention to the Shores” – Not True!  Building on the foundation that Councilmember Foust laid when she was first elected, I can assure you that Redwood Shores is part of Redwood City.

As life happens in its own way, things do happen that we need to address.  Last year we had the sewer line break at Lighthouse Cove.  Several homes suffered damaged and several gallons of sewage spilled into the lagoon.  Our city staff responded wonderfully, and many cities on the Peninsula offered their help.  Marilyn Harang, the Interim Director of Public Works Services led our response Team, and Evan Boyd, our new Director of Public Works Services arrived in time for all of the post-event paperwork. 

Evan and his staff are working hard to make sure that street lights and signals are working properly out here n the Shores.  During repairs, they have discovered crushed conduits, broken fixtures, and in some cases, missing copper wiring – probably removed by those seeking its recycling value.  I can assure you that functioning traffic signals and street lights are receiving attention from Evan and his staff.

Another area of the Shores that is also receiving attention is Marlin Park.  Chris Beth, our Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services and his Team are working with our residents on plans for the renovation of Marlin Park.  They are looking for your ideas about what you want our “new” Marlin Park to be.

Justin Ezell, Superintendent, is working with an additional 15 HOA’s that want to use recycled water for landscape irrigation.  As the President of my HOA, I can attest that the financial savings of recycled water are definitely positive.  We are not using recycled water where children can come into regular contact with it, and our landscape has not suffered.

The challenge ahead for all of us is “what do we need to do to maintain the Quality of Life we enjoy in Redwood Shores”.  In partnership with our staff, department heads, executive Team and labor groups, we are working hard towards achieving financial sustainability for our City.  But what about our greatest asset in the Shores – our lagoons?  The GID fund is basically gone, and we will have on-going maintenance and repair needs for our lagoons (e.g., dredging) and for maintenance of the levees.  How do we fund these improvements and others?

There are a number of choices that need to be made on these issues and others.  Whatever choices are made, all of us need to be informed.  I ask that you stay engaged and involved, and let me know what’s on your mind.

February 2011 Pilot

Redwood City Lunar New Year Celebration

On Saturday, February 5, from 11- 3 at our Courthouse Plaza, Redwood City will be hosting our inaugural Lunar Year Festival.  I am pleased to have the Shaolin Culture Center, Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble and the Red Panda Acrobats help us welcome the Year of the Rabbit.  There will be food, crafts, activities for the kids and martial arts demonstrations.

Kristen Sze, morning news co-anchor and reporter for ABC7 News will be our emcee for the welcome and introductions at 11:00, followed immediately by a lion dance and martial arts demonstration by the Shaolin Culture Center.

I want to hank our presenting sponsor, AT&T for their help in making this event a possibility.  I also want to thank many of our other business partners:  Stanford University, Kaiser, Recology, First National Bank, San Mateo Credit Union, ABC7 News and Kristen Sze.  I also want to thank our community partners; the City of Redwood City, the Civic Cultural Commission and Redwood City International.

I hope that you will be able to join us for our first Lunar New Year celebration.  For additional information got to www.RedwoodCityEvents.com.

City Update

New Jail Site

At the end of 2010, San Mateo County closed escrow on the site for the new jail that the City assembled on Maple Street, east of Veterans, across the street from our Police Department.   The City Council was united in that a new jail is not the type of urban, high density housing that we envisioned for downtown.  Under the leadership of Mayor Ira, our City Manager, City Attorney and a team of real estate consultants, the City was able to assemble a site that met most of the requirements of the Sheriff’s office.  Thank you to all that helped let the Sheriff’s Office and the Board of Supervisor’s know that a new jail in our downtown was not wanted.

Levees are Certifiable

On January 21, city staff received a letter from FEMA indicating that our levees are certifiable. “….it appears that the Redwood Shores Levee Systems Map meets the minimum certification requirements.”  The four-page letter goes on and states that “…[levee] system can do and change with time.”  This means that the new flood maps will show Redwood Shores as protected from a base flood.

Please join me in thanking city staff and my council colleagues for providing the leadership and means to making this work happen.  Working with new regulations from FEMA, the City of San Carlos, the County of San Mateo, and the Department of Fish & Game (just to name a few agencies involved) on a very strict deadline was not easy.  By completing the work last year, each of us avoided the cost of flood insurance; a cost that ranged between $1,200 - $1,500 a year per residential property.

I look forward to seeing many of you at RSCA’s Annual Meeting on February 9, where I have the honor to talk about the “State of the Shores, and answer any questions that you may have.

See you soon!

November 2010 Pilot

An Alternative Site for a New Jail

Last year, Sheriff Munks indicated that he needed a new jail to address over-crowding.  With the courts and the Sheriff’s office in downtown Redwood City, the argument was made that the new jail needed to be downtown.  The preferred site was the County Motorpool lot on Brewster.

After several years of community planning and civic investment in our downtown, the addition of a new jail to our downtown was not the type of urban housing any of us on the Council wants.  Under the leadership of Mayor Ira, and with the full support of the Council, an alternative site has been identified – on Chemical Way, across the street from our police station.

Local government is more nimble and can move quickly.  A lot of effort was spent in working with 4 separate property owners to purchase their properties for a fair price.  Sales contracts were written, and the City executed the agreements with everyone’s knowledge and awareness that these contracts would be transferred to the County.  Sheriff Munks and the Board of Supervisors have agreed that the Chemical Way site is a viable site for a new jail, and they have endorsed this site at their October 19 meeting.

This is just the beginning of the process to confirm an alternative site for a new jail.  The sale of the properties cannot be finalized until the County completes the environmental review process.  The downtown site will likely be analyzed as an alternative site during the EIR process, so we must continue to be vigilant.  If a new jail is needed and is required to be in Redwood City, the Chemical Way site is the best site.

October Pilot

(10/10)

J. Gee

Earlier this year, all of us on the City Council debated on how we would balance our City budget.  While there may be some disagreements on what and how we balanced the budget, all of us were in agreement that we need to live within our means.  We cannot print money like the Federal government, and we cannot put off dealing with our finances as our state.  At the local level, we can only spend what we have.

While we have balanced our budget, one fear remains as we enter our fourth month without a state-budget.  Will the state take away more money from our City to balance the state budget? 

On November 2, we have a chance to protect local funds that were approved by voters for use by local government.  Proposition 22 was put on the November ballot by the California League of Cities.  The City Council is an active supporter of Proposition 22 and supports this measure. To balance last year’s budget, the State took nearly $6 million in local revenue to balance the state-budget.  We cannot afford to keep balancing the state budget by reducing local services.

By voting Yes on Proposition 22, we can stop state lawmakers in Sacramento from raiding funds that don’t belong to them. Prop. 22 will

1. •STOP the State from taking or borrowing local tax dollars dedicated to cities and counties to fund vital local services. 
   

2. •STOP the State from taking or diverting gas taxes we pay at the pump which voters have dedicated for transportation purposes.
   

Prop. 22 is a straightforward measure that simply ensures that our existing local tax dollars and existing gas taxes cannot be taken away by the state politicians again. It requires State Legislators to stop raiding funds that don’t belong to them. And most important during these tough economic times, Prop 22 will not increase taxes

I need your help in keeping local revenues at the local level.  Please join me on November 2 and vote Yes on Proposition 22.

September 2010 Pilot

(9/10)

In early-August, the California High Speed Rail Authority released the Supplemental Alternative Analysis (SAA) on the alignment of high-speed rail through the peninsula.  This report is a continuation of the process of refining the manner in which high-speed rail will travel through the peninsula.

The SAA report indicated that the preferred alignment through Redwood City is an aerial structure, four-tracks-wide.  The arguments for this alignment include:  CalTrain operations would be least impacted, reduced need to purchase additional properties, avoidance of creeks (Redwood Creek, Cordelleras Creek), and less cost.

I appreciate the fact that CHSRA has narrowed the list of potential alternatives that they are willing to review.  Until recently, there were just too many moving parts to be able to commit resources to explore, examine, review, estimate and engineer.

However, now it is our turn.  As a community, we need to develop a vision of what we want regional and state-wide transportation to look like in 2025/35.  If San Mateo County and the peninsula cities could have resolved BART in the 1960’s, we would not be having a conversation about high-speed rail today.  BART would ring the entire Bay Area.  BART would have been far less expensive to build then, than it will be today, there would be greater frequency in trips, greater reliability, and high-speed rail would be stopping at a multi-modal station somewhere in the South Bay.

I think it is a safe to predict that the world in 2025 will be different than it is today.  Our challenge is to create a vision and a plan for regional and state-wide transportation, and to define Redwood City’s role.

This Fall, there will be a series of meetings in Redwood City.  Some of these meetings will be hosted by CHSRA and the Peninsula Rail Board and will discuss the potential of a high-speed rail station in Redwood City.  Other meetings will be hosted by the City, and will work on developing a transportation vision for Redwood City.  Our efforts will involve a detailed examination of the aerial alignment proposed by CHSRA, the impacts and consequences of being aerial, examine “Redwood City-centric” solutions to high-speed rail and discuss whether we should have a high-speed rail station in our downtown. 

I hope to see you at these meetings!

August 2010 Pilot

After over thirteen hours of presentations, public comment, council conversations, and hours of studying the proposed budget, the Council approved our 2010–11 budget.  While we were fiscally responsible by approving a balanced budget without the use of reserves, I do not believe that anyone is happy with what we had to do.

Here are the highlights of the 2010-11 Budget;

•General Fund Budget: $75 million

•Balanced budget without the use of Reserves

•Overall 8% reduction

•Department reductions ranged from 1% to 13%

•No layoffs of sworn police officers

•No layoffs of firefighters

•No pay cuts, reduction in benefits or furloughs

•Elimination of over 40 staff positions

•Layoffs of 15 – 20 staff

We also increased parking meter rates downtown, will be charging for annual fire department inspections of  commercial properties and apartment buildings, and will be developing a new tree preservation ordinance with associated fees for tree removals.

Even though were able to approve a balanced budget, the hard work ahead will be implementing the changes that we made.  What is even worse is that we are already looking at annual multi-million deficits for the foreseeable future.

The BIG questions that what we need to answer regarding our Quality of Life in Redwood City are:

•What are the services that we need Redwood City to provide?

•What are we willing to pay for these services?

If we are able to answer these two questions as a community, we might be able to establish a more sound financial foundation for our City.  I look forward to hearing from you regarding your thoughts and answers – jgee@redwoodcity.org

July 2010 - Home Owners Association NEWSLETTER - JEFF GEE’S MESSAGE

Summer in Redwood City

Summer in Redwood City is here!  Downtown, Marlin Park, Stafford Park and throughout our City, there are plenty of events to fill out your summer schedule.  The Downtown summer concerts are Friday night, Jazz on Main Street (Monday’s) now include a Farmer’s Market,  Dancing on the Square, and Target Family Days are all underway this summer.  If you love blues, the Police Activities League (PAL) is once again sponsoring the Blues Festival on July 24.  For more information about summer downtown and all around Redwood City, visit http://www.redwoodcity.org/events/musiconthesquare.html

    Upcoming Events

July 7      Stafford Park Concert [6:00 – 8:00]

July 9    Caravanserai [Santana Tribute]

July 11      Target Family Day  [Asian Theme 11:00 – 3:00]

July 14      Stafford Park Concert

July 16      Luce [Pop Rock Alternative]

July 21      Stafford Park Concert

July 22      Music in the Shores [Marlin Park]

July 23    Café R&B [Blues]

July 24      PAL Blues Festival [10:00 AM– 9:00 PM]

July 28      Stafford Park Concert

July 30     Hot for Teacher [Van Halen Tribute]

August 6      Steve Lucky & the Rhumba Boys [Jazz/Boogie] + Art on the Square

June 2010 Pilot

In June, the Council has scheduled a series of meetings to address our budget crisis.  For the next fiscal year, our City Manager and our Director of Finance have projected that there will be close to a $6 million gap between revenues and expenses.  The Council has been very clear to our City Manager and his staff - we need to see a budget that balances expenses and revenues, and focuses on core services.

What this means is the very real possibility that we may need to eliminate between 35 – 50 staff positions, and that some services may be reduced or eliminated. 

This economic reality is not new, nor is it for the 2010-11 fiscal year only.  For the next four years, the budget projections are that the gap between expenses and revenues will continue.  As an architect, I needed to draw a “picture” of these budget projections so I could “see” what the trends are, and unfortunately, the lines on the graph do not cross in the foreseeable future.  From my perspective, this structural deficit will last much longer than any of us can/or are willing to anticipate.  Unfortunately, we cannot look to short term solutions.  We need to work together to identify long-term, sustainable solutions to our City’s finances.  All of us on the Council are committed to having a balanced budget and having a sound and solid financial plan for our community.

The Council has committed the following dates for budget discussions:  June 21, 28 and 30, 7:00 pm at City Hall.

In early-April, the California High Speed Rail Authority (HSR) released their Alternatives Analysis.  This report discusses the physical options that exist for high speed rail on the peninsula, including aerial, tunnel, trench and cover, and other combinations and variations.  There were two community meetings held in May for input and discussion. Our City has different challenges than the other cites on the Peninsula, especially with freight traffic from the Port, and the future of rail traffic on the Dumbarton Rail.

I hope that you are able to take some time to study both of these issues.  I look forward to hearing from you about high speed rail and our budget.