Tag Archives: City Council

Redwood City Considering Ban on Polystyrene Food Service Containers

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The City of Redwood City is considering a ban on polystyrene food service containers, to correspond with a similar prohibition implemented by San Mateo County last summer. On the City Council’s April 9th agenda is the introduction of an ordinance which would prohibit the use of polystyrene-based food containers. If approved by the Council, the item would then be subject to a public hearing, tentatively scheduled for May 7th. The City’s action would adopt the County’s ordinance, by reference.

The proposed ban would not be implemented until January 1, 2013, allowing plenty of time for businesses to learn about their options, and transition to non-polystyrene containers. However, businesses will be encouraged to voluntarily implement the ban prior to 2013, and those that do so would be recognized by the City Council as “early adopters” and leaders in helping to reduce the volume of this pollutant in our environment. Adopting an ordinance banning the use of polystyrene will also help the City meet certain conditions of its Municipal Regional (storm water) Permit, related to reductions in trash loading in the City’s storm drain system.

Banned items are single-use disposable products used in restaurants and the food service industry for serving and transporting prepared, ready-to-consume food and beverages including plates, bowls, trays, and hinged or lidded containers (“clamshells”), but excluding disposable packaging for unprepared food.

Polystyrene is often referred to by its Dow Chemical trademark “Styrofoam.” It is a petroleum-based, lightweight plastic material commonly used by retail food vendors for disposable take-out purposes. Polystyrene has been identified as an environmental pollutant in part because it is non-biodegradable and generally non-recyclable and non-reusable. Various state and federal agencies indicate that polystyrene persists in the environment indefinitely without breaking down and consequently is showing up on roads, waterways, and the ocean. In addition to San Mateo County, a number of other cities on the peninsula, including Burlingame, Half Moon Bay, Foster City, San Bruno, Pacifica, South San Francisco, and Millbrae, have implanted similar ordinances.

If approved by the City Council, San Mateo County would work with Redwood City to publicize the impending implementation, and assist in outreach and education to the affected businesses. While every opportunity will be provided for businesses to comply, San Mateo County’s Environmental Health Division would enforce the ordinance and may issue fines for violations, which would be earmarked for use to supplement outreach and education around polystyrene.

A Message From Mayor Aguirre

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Dear Redwood City Residents:

I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts on the City Council’s decision-making process regarding the increase in garbage/recycling rates. As you may know, after a thoughtful discussion at our January 9, 2011 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a rate increase of 7.2% . This increase is less than the 7.81% increase that was originally proposed. The lower increase resulted from the Council deciding not to implement a proposed new curbside household hazardous waste collection service (which would have added 0.61% to the increase).

For the majority of Redwood City households, which have the 32-gallon cart, this amounts to an additional $1.78 per month/per cart (for those with 20-gallon carts the increase is 75¢ per month/per cart). Corresponding increases are reflected in the rates for larger bins and for commercial customers. More detailed information is available online at www.redwoodcity.org/garbagerates .

It’s important to remind you that all revenues from this rate increase are used only to provide garbage service to the community.

This was a difficult decision, especially in light of the 85 official protest letters we received, and knowing that this increase is of some level of concern to everyone in the community. During the Council’s discussion on the rate increase, we directed staff to update rate projections for future years and also asked that an analysis be done of the current rate methodology. We want to make sure that the most equitable and fair approach is in place, in order to ensure predictability and certainty in future rates for the community.

Thank you for your understanding, and please be assured that I and my colleagues on the Council appreciate your concerns with rate increases, and their impact on households during these difficult economic times. I encourage you to become involved in issues like this which are of concern to you — your involvement in important City matters is of great value to the entire community. You can keep up to date on City activities and issues through our website, or via this email list.

Sincerely,
— Alicia Aguirre, Mayor

City to Consider Moderate Increase in Solid Waste (Garbage/Recycling) Collection Rates

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Early next year, the City Council of Redwood City will be considering a 7.81% increase in the residential and commercial rates for garbage and recycling collection within Redwood City. For the great majority of Redwood City households (most of which have a 32-gallon cart), this would be an additional $1.93 per month/per cart (for those with 20-gallon carts the proposed increase is 81¢ per month/per cart). Corresponding increases would be effective for larger carts and for commercial service.

To help ensure residents and businesses have a full understanding of the services provided and the need for an increase in these rates, the City will hold a community information meeting on Thursday, December 15, 2011, starting at 7 pm, in the Community Room of the Downtown Library, 1044 Middlefield Road. The community is invited to join staff from Redwood City, Recology (the collection company), and the South Bayside Waste Management Authority (SBWMA) for this update on garbage and recycling services (including a proposed new Household Hazardous Waste collection service), and the latest information on the proposed 2012 rate increase. SBWMA is the joint powers authority representing the various cities and agencies that contract with Recology. The required public hearing on the proposed increase is scheduled for January 9, 2012, at 7 pm at City Hall.

The rate increase is due to higher costs and lower revenues than originally anticipated, during Recology’s first year of service and projected for service to be provided in 2012. Additionally, a new service is being considered – Household Hazardous Waste curbside collection – which contributes a small percentage to the proposed increase. The rates charged to customers must reflect Recology’s actual cost of providing service, and take into account the contractually-agreed upon revenues – in other words, Recology is guaranteed a specified amount of revenue, which was negotiated as part of the franchise agreement. This type of arrangement is typical in the garbage/recycling collection industry.

Other cities are also considering rate increases. Due to Redwood City’s ongoing deliberate, conservative fiscal management, we’ve been able to keep the proposed increase to a moderate level, and avoid the more significant increases being proposed by some cities.

If the proposed rates are approved by the City Council at the public hearing on January 9, the rate increase would be effective the following day, January 10, 2012. Notices of the proposed increase have been sent to all garbage/recycling service customers in Redwood City. Customers have the opportunity to protest the proposed rate increase in advance of the public hearing by writing to the City. Details of the protest procedure were included in the mailing, and are also available online, along with more information on the proposed rates, at www.redwoodcity.org/garbagerates .

Each year an analysis is done of the expenses and revenues from the prior year, along with projected expenses and revenues for the following year. A recommendation is made by the SBWMA concerning the following year’s rates, which is then considered by the City Council. The proposed 2012 rate increase is based on a financial evaluation of 2011 actual operating costs and revenues, and projected operating costs and revenues for 2012. Based on that analysis, the proposed 7.81% rate increase is comprised of these elements:

  • 2.9% to cover cost increases that occurred in 2011
  • 2.3% to cover anticipated cost increases for 2012
  • 0.61% to cover the proposed Household Hazardous Waste Collection service
  • 2.0% to cover anticipated revenue shortfall in 2012 due to cart-size reductions (customers choosing to move to a smaller cart, at a lower cost)

In the interest of keeping community members fully informed, it’s important to note that in spring of 2012 the City will need to propose increases in water and sewer rates, due to continually escalating costs in those services. The City understands that these increases are a challenge for many residents, and continues to work to keep necessary increases at a moderate level.

City Council Appoints Interim City Manager

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The City Council of Redwood City has named Human Resources Director Robert (Bob) Bell to serve as the interim City Manager, upon the resignation of City Manager Peter Ingram. Mr. Bell will assume his new duties as interim City Manager effective Monday, November 15.

Mr. Bell has been with the City for five years as the Human Resources Director and also served as the Assistant City Manager for 2 years. Among other city-wide projects, he has worked closely with the City Council and City Manager’s office on the City’s strategic plan and budget reduction process.

“Bob has an excellent sense of the organization and the Council’s priorities and direction,” said Redwood City Mayor Jeff Ira. “My colleagues on the Council and I feel Bob is the right choice to keep the City moving on the right course. We also know we will be working closely with him over the next several months in selecting our next City Manager.”

Mr. Bell has over 15 years experience in public administration and over 20 years experience in human resources and labor relations. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and will be awarded a Doctorate in Organization Leadership from the University of San Francisco in December of this year.

City Council Accepts Resignation of City Manager Peter Ingram

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The City Council of Redwood City has accepted the resignation of City Manager Peter Ingram effective December 31, 2010. Mr. Ingram has worked for the City since 1992 and has served as City Manager since June of 2008.

The City Council wishes to express its appreciation for Mr. Ingram’s service to the City of Redwood City. As City Manager, Mr. Ingram has been instrumental in developing and delivering the City’s strategic plan and general plan and making recommendations to resolve the City’s financial deficits. Prior to his role as City Manager, Mr. Ingram served as the Community Development Director and Public Work Services Director. In these roles Mr. Ingram led staff through a variety of major initiatives such as the revitalization of the City’s downtown and the recycled water project.

Mr. Ingram wishes to express his appreciation to the City Council and staff for their dedication and commitment to the community of Redwood City.

The City Council will meet in the near future to appoint an interim city manager and discuss the process for recruiting for the next city manager.

City Council Certifies Environmental Impact Report, Approves New General Plan

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At its meeting of October 11th, 2010, the City Council of Redwood City gave final approval to the City’s new General Plan, and also certified the Plan’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR). This is a remarkable milestone for Redwood City as it implements this years-in-the-making Plan which establishes the key goals, policies, and programs for the long-term physical development of the community.

Over the last several years, Redwood City has gathered a great deal of community input, comment, and opinion on the New General Plan through a series of public workshops, Planning Commission sessions, and City Council meetings. The result is a General Plan which is a highly evolved and flexible blueprint for the community, written to reflect that significant community input received, as well as Planning Commission and City Council direction.

The General Plan creates a framework for maintaining the qualities that distinguish Redwood City, while establishing a solid foundation for anticipating and responding to changing conditions over the next twenty-plus years.

“Redwood City’s new General Plan is an investment in the City’s future” said Peter Ingram, City Manager. “It enables thoughtful, sustainable change in our community, as a living document containing flexible, adjustable tools. It’s a foundation for future discussions, deliberations, and decisions involving the future of our community.”

Throughout the extensive community input process, Redwood City received hundreds of ideas and comments. Often referred to as a “blueprint for the future,” the General Plan is a document that establishes policies, goals, and programs for the long-term physical development of the community — how the City will look, how development will occur, and what the community wants the City to be for future generations.

The New General Plan, as well as a timeline and documentation leading to its approval, is online at www.redwoodcity.org/generalplan .

Saltworks Project Planning Meeting

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On Tuesday, August 17, at 7 pm, an overview of the environmental review process for the proposed Saltworks Project will be presented at the Redwood City Planning Commission meeting, and then on August 23 at 7 pm, the City Council of Redwood City will host the same presentation.

These are informational meetings, and are not intended to take public comment regarding the Saltworks Project EIR (those meetings are coming up this fall and winter).

Also on August 23, in addition to the environmental review process presentation the Council will consider amendments to contracts with consultants that will sustain the environmental review and public meetings/information process (with costs to be reimbursed by the developer).

During both meetings City staff and City consultants will explain the proposed environmental review process and outline the opportunities for public involvement and participation. In brief, the presentations will explain that the remainder of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 will be utilized for a detailed Scoping Process for the Saltworks Project EIR. “Scoping” refers to the CEQA process whereby the lead agency (in this case the City of Redwood City) invites the public, including other local, state, and federal agencies to share their views regarding what project-related information and analyses they feel should be included in the EIR.

Please plan on attending one or both of these important meetings so you can learn about the upcoming environmental review process, and how you can be involved.

City Council of Redwood City Budget Meeting

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The City Council of Redwood City will be holding the third of three public study sessions concerning the City’s budget on:

Wednesday, June 30

NOTE: SPECIAL START TIME OF 6 PM (council meetings normally begin at 7 pm)

City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City

The purpose of this meeting is for the members of the City Council to take further public comment on the recommended budget for fiscal years 2010/12, and engage in deliberation and discussion toward finalizing the budget. At the conclusion of public comment and deliberations, the Council will give staff direction to prepare a final budget, for adoption at its meeting of July 12.

The meeting is starting early in order to allow ample time for community members to speak about the elements of the recommended budget and provide the Council with their thoughts, opinions, and suggestions. The proposed budget is available online at www.redwoodcity.org/budget .

The recommended budget includes reductions in expenditures totaling about $6.4 million, made through a combination of programmatic cuts and staff reductions. More information on the scope of the necessary reductions is available in the June 8 news release on the recommended budget, located online (www.redwoodcity.org/manager/news/2010/pr_mgr_budget2.html).

The Redwood City community is invited and encouraged to attend this important Council meeting, and can also view the meeting online (www.redwoodcity.org/government/council/meetings.html), or on Comcast channel 27 or Astound Broadband channel 26.

Questions about this meeting may be directed to the City Clerk’s office at 650-780-7220.