Year in Review - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood City's Monthly ...

A Year Filled With Conflict, Challenges and Foust
(Continued from page 18)
affordable price so people can save to buy their
own house. It’s extremely expensive to live here.”
The units range in size from 800 to 1,300
square feet with costs ranging from $950 per
month to $1,300 for the largest three-bedroom
unit, said district spokeswoman Barbara Christensen.
Redwood City responded to rail analysis
Redwood City officials were not happy with the California
High-Speed Rail Authority’s plans to build the system
through the Peninsula on an above-grade system.
“We’re disappointed in the authority’s perspective
that other, more desirable configurations won’t
be considered,” Councilwoman Barbara Pierce
said in a written statement. Pierce sits on the City
Council’s ad hoc committee on high-speed rail.
Redwood Shores sewer leak
estimated at 48,000 gallons
The amount of raw sewage released by a broken
pipeline in Redwood Shores was estimated at
48,000 gallons, according to city officials.
Redwood City officials initially estimated 5,000
gallons were dispelled before crews capped and
fixed the broken line but always expected that number
would increase. The 5,000-gallon figure reported
to the state and county was based on amounts
measured two hours into the spill, using the estimate
of 300 gallons per minute being released with an
expected fix time of 20 to 30 minutes.
September 2010
Plane crashed in the Shores, three dead
Three people died, including the founder of
an East Palo Alto steel company, after a plane
crashed into a Redwood Shores lagoon seconds
after departing from the San Carlos Airport.
Rescue workers pulled the body of a woman in
her 40s from the water, found floating just outside the
aircraft, shortly after the arrival, said Redwood City
Fire Battalion Chief Dave Pucci. Although not yet
identified, Robert E. Borrmann, the 92-year-old
founder and president of R.E. Borrmann Steel Co.
in East Palo Alto, was said to be onboard along
with his pilot and the pilot’s girlfriend.
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New jail site up for discussion
Sheriff Greg Munks and those touting the need
for a new county jail floated a new locale by
Redwood City residents, a site away from the
downtown proposal that rankled opponents and
city leaders for years. However, the alternative
site on Chemical Way must still be purchased
by the county — an expensive caveat not
necessitated by the formerly preferred motor
pool site, which will add to the price tag, already
estimated at $150 million. That said, building the
facility out rather than up might reduce the cost.
“It could be a wash,” said Sheriff Greg Munks.
October 2010
City finalized general plan
The new proposed Redwood City general plan
received the green light from the Planning Commission.
Now, it was the City Council’s turn to sign off on
a document that culminates years of effort, input
and decisions on what the Redwood City of the
future should look like.
The City Council heard final comments on
the proposed plan and associated environmental
review documents before voting on the Planning
Commission’s earlier recommendations to certify
the final EIR and approve the document.
The general plan essentially spells out policies,
goals and programs for the long-term physical
development of the community. The city began
the process in 2004 but put an update on hold in
2006 while focusing on its Downtown Precise
Plan. When officials returned to it in 2008, they
opted for a complete overhaul instead of simply
an update of the existing 1990 general plan.
City ready to buy land for jail
Redwood City leaders said they wanted an alternative
site for a new county jail away from its recently
renovated downtown.
Now, the City Council is ready to put its money
where its mouth is, buying up four properties on
Chemical Way, which it hopes will house the longplanned
— and long debated — correctional facility that
will ease overcrowding and emphasize rehabilitative
programming while protecting downtown Redwood
City from a facility opponents argued would deter
visitors and business.
The Board of Supervisors then agreed to a jail
on the alternative site.
Redwood City paid $1.25M in police
run-over case
A beating victim run over by a Redwood City
police car when officers responded to the fight call
was paid $1.25 million by the city.
Francisco Huerta was beaten unconscious in
a fight outside a Denny’s restaurant two years
ago, and three police officers in separate vehicles
responded to the 911 call. When Officer Oscar Poveda
pulled into the parking lot, he ran over Huerta.
The officer said he didn’t see the 34-year-old
victim because of poor lighting outside the restaurant.
Huerta has a disfigured face, a permanently closed
eye and loss of hearing in his left ear.
November 2010
City manager resigned
Redwood City City Manager Peter Ingram, who
played a lead role in helping the city convince San
Mateo County to look elsewhere for a new jail
site, announced his resignation. Ingram, 55, will
leave the city effective Dec. 31.
City Council rang a ‘Bell’ for interim
city manager appointment
Redwood City officials looked in-house for an interim
city manager, naming Human Resources Director
Robert Bell to temporarily fill the spot following
the abrupt announcement of Peter Ingram’s departure.
The city announced Bell’s appointment two days
after the City Council called a special meeting to
discuss Ingram’s resignation and who should fill
in. Although Ingram was scheduled to resign at
the end of December, Bell took over Monday, Nov. 15.
Looking ahead!
Add the bayfront discussion and a new
city manager to the mix of a coming
election year — yes, four City Council
seats will be open in 2011 — and it’s
easy to see that next year may shape
up to be even more eventful than the
year almost ended.
But don’t think about 2011 now. By
the time this issue goes to press, the
annual Hometown Holidays parade
will have warmed the hearts of kids
and adults alike, giving Redwood City
the opportunity to come together,
even if for a short evening.
Enjoy the season, and work to make
the feeling of peace and good will
an everyday part of Redwood City
life no matter what storms, political
and otherwise, may try to shatter our
sense of community. Be assured that
The Spectrum Magazine will be right
there with you through it all, through
the years!
H appy H olidays
from The Spectrum!