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Community Interest
Civilian to Head Police League
The Redwood City Police Activities League will hire a civilian executive director
because the police department can no longer pay for an officer in the position.
The PAL board of directors approved the change and wants the new
director to start in July. The police department has funded an officer as the
executive director in the past but cannot continue because of significant
budget cuts throughout Redwood City.
The shift doesn’t mean the police are any less committed, said Police Chief
Louis Cobarruviaz.
“The Redwood City Police Department will continue to work hand-in-hand
with PAL,” Cobarruviaz said.
The decision to revise the staffing structure came after a needs assessment
involving nearly 50 members of the community, according to PAL.
The assessment also found PAL needs better outreach to improve the
community’s perception of the nonprofit, make better use of the PAL building
and clarify the police department’s relationship with PAL.
The changes are designed to help PAL maintain ongoing stability and
efficiency as a self-sustaining nonprofit that works with the city and
community, according to Chair Jim Gordon.
PAL is a nonprofit organization offering alternatives and prevention
programs to Redwood City youth. More than 4,000 children and teens are
served annually.
Interesting is applying for the position? Go to www.redwoodcitypal.com.
Saltworks Poll Supports the Process
Developers of the Saltworks site in Redwood City are touting a new poll
that they say shows overwhelming support for moving forward with the
environmental review process.
Of 500 voters randomly queried between April 18 and April 21, 68 percent
support the City Council continuing a full environmental and public review
of the 50-50 Balanced Plan, which calls for a mix of housing and retail on the
site, according to spokesman Pete Hillan.
The poll by firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and Associates asked
whether the voter supported or opposed three alternatives:
(1) Redwood City raises taxes to purchase the entire 1,400-acre Redwood
City Industrial Saltworks site and restore this land back to the way it looked
100 years ago.
(2) The City Council rejects any development at the Redwood City
Industrial Saltworks site and simply allows salt harvesting to continue at the site.
(3) The City Council conducts a full environmental review of the 50-50
Balanced Plan and then makes final decisions about development of this site
based upon public and community input.
In rounded figures, Hillan said the support showed 14 percent for
restoration, 17 percent for salt harvesting and 65 percent for the EIR process.
Hillan said those polled were asked their opinion on elements of the plan
but not given any information that would otherwise influence their answers.
Numerous cities and leaders have called on the Redwood City City Council
to abandon ongoing efforts to review the plan, arguing development will have
regional impacts.
John Bruno, DMB Redwood City Industrial Saltworks general manager,
said the poll shows strong support for the environmental review and called
avoiding review under the California Environmental Quality Act a poor choice.
“It certainly sets a very bad precedent because CEQA offers the public and
their elected officials the information needed to make important decisions
based upon careful technical and scientific studies,” Bruno said.
David Lewis, executive director of Save The Bay, a vocal Cargill opponent,
had not seen the poll but questioned the veracity of the outcome without more
specific information about the polling process.
Lewis called the poll announcement “desperate spinning to influence the
City Council” but said it was beside the point because a city does not need an
EIR to decide against building on a particular site.
Redwood City Mayor Jeff Ira has said the 50-50 plan will undoubtedly
change before the city is asked to accept it. As proposed now, the plan
calls for 12,000 housing units with the remainder of the land set aside for
restoration and open space.
Tryouts for Local Girls Basketball Club Announced
The Peninsula Division of the Cal Stars girls AAU basketball club is holding
summer tryouts 5–6:45 p.m. on June 14, June 21 and June 23 at the Red
Morton Community Center, 1120 Roosevelt Ave., Redwood City.
Interested players may attend one or all open tryout dates, which are open
to girls who are in fourth and fifth grades (2009–10 school year).
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact
Coach Diaz at coachsdiaz@gmail.com or 415-760-3779.
Redwood City Sunrise Lions Club Presents the Second
Annual Green Car Show
The Redwood City Sunrise Lions Club presents their second annual Green
Car Show on Saturday, June 5, in conjunction with the City of Redwood
City’s “World Environment Day” celebrations in downtown Redwood City’s
historic Courthouse Square area on Broadway between Middlefield and
Hamilton. The show opens at 10 a.m. and will feature some of the latest
consumer vehicles and services that support the greening of Redwood City.
“The migration to green transportation is a paradigm shift for the
community,” stated Lou Cobarruviaz, Redwood City Sunrise Lions Club
Green Car Show co-chair. “We are extending the definition of green this year
to include any mode of transportation with fuel economy of 35 or more miles
per gallon. In my opinion, by expanding the definition of green, the event will
provide a wider platform for educating the community.”
The event last year was well attended, with many visitors expressing
interest in green cars. This year even more interest is expected in electric
and hybrid cars, electric motorcycles, motor scooters and electric bicycles.
This year the event provides the opportunity for attendees to compare highmileage,
fossil-fuel vehicles to the electric and hybrid vehicles, get financing
information and learn about support services.
The Redwood City Sunrise Lions Club Green Car Show is the annual
fundraising event for the Redwood City Sunrise Lions. Last year’s show
raised funds to support the many charitable programs sponsored by the
club. Although best known for supporting vision care in the community, the
Redwood City Sunrise Lions Club also supports such activities as individuals
and families in need, other community-based nonprofit programs, veterans
programs, the Miss Redwood City/San Mateo County scholarship program,
toy drives and holiday meals.
The Redwood City Sunrise Lions Club meets every Wednesday at 7:15 a.m.
at Bob’s Courthouse Coffee Shop, 2198 Broadway.
Rotary Hands Out College Scholarships
The Redwood City Rotary Club announced the 2010 scholarship recipients,
awarding $14,250 to 10 promising young men and women to assist them in
completing their higher education.
All of the students are Redwood City residents from a variety of
backgrounds. Nine students will receive $1,500 college scholarships and one
student will receive a $750 community college scholarship. The awards were
based on a number of criteria including scholastic ability, community service,
responsibility toward education and financial need.
$1,500 scholarship recipients will attend four-year schools, including Harvard,
Northeastern, Cal State Humboldt, University of Portland, Notre Dame de Namur
and the University of California, Berkeley. They are:
Clarisa Ontiveros (Sequoia High School)
Sarah Ducker (Sequoia High School)
Jennifer Cabello-Chavez (Sequoia High School)
Victoria Tinoco (Sequoia High School)
Elizaveta Novikova (Carlmont High School)
Jessica Thatcher (Notre Dame High School)
Daniel Perez (Woodside High School)
William Roller (Bellarmine College Prep)
Whitney Olson (Woodside High School)
Ann Smith, who attends Redwood High School, received the $750 community
college scholarship and will study nursing at College of San Mateo.
These 10 recipients were selected from among 35 applicants by a
scholarship committee headed by Karen Krueger.
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