City's Accomplishments, New Initiatives Discussed During Annual 'State of the City'

The following is a news release from the city of Redwood City:

During this year’s State of the City Address, with a theme of ‘We are Redwood City’ Mayor Jeff Gee and Vice Mayor Rosanne Foust recognized with pride the community’s contribution to a successful year and highlight priorities for the coming year.

“We are Redwood City together. Take pride in our successes. Whether you live, work, or visit, you are a part of what makes our community and City great,” said Jeff Gee, mayor of Redwood City, “Redwood City is doing great things!”

Following a successful year, the Mayor and Vice Mayor highlighted the community benefit of new developments in the downtown to support new community investment like hiring police officers and fire fighters, expanding human services programs, addressing affordability and investing in parks and library programs through a program called Community Benefits. The City is using fees generated from Downtown development to support these community priorities.

The State of the City Address also focused on Redwood City’s strategic initiatives with focus given to addressing affordable housing and the recent actions by the City Council to expand affordable housing funding and programs to address affordability within Redwood City, including a new partnership with Habitat for Humanity to create new affordable homes in the Downtown and working with Tri-County Apartment Association and local property owners to minimize excessive rent increases.

Other priority items included: Safe homes and neighborhoods with the return of Engine 9 to full service, improved Stambaugh Pedestrian over-crossing with video surveillance cameras and increased lighting and implemented Project Safe to support Sequoia Station; new investment in parks, youth and senior services, libraries and human services with the recent approval of increased funding for human services programs, recent Jardin de Ninos Park renovation and completed first phase of Red Morton playground replacements; Safe Streets and the recent launch of a safe streets video to help educate and bring awareness to this important community priority; and continued focus on economic development and attracting and retaining business with the recent Box Inc. 10-year lease, Google purchase of six Pacific Shores Buildings and Shutterfly staying in Redwood City.

“We have engaged residents, we have involved volunteers, we are communicating differently, we are celebrating our diversity and we have an exciting year ahead,” said Rosanne Foust, Redwood City vice mayor. “We are Redwood City and proud to call Redwood City home. Celebrate with us in the year ahead.”

Future priorities were also discussed including: new and restored parking in the Downtown, Stanford in Redwood City phase 1, adoption of Partnership RWC, developing a Broadway Streetcar/Downtown Transportation Study and El Camino Corridor Plan, launching a new City website and IT master plan, introducing a Residential Household Hazardous Waste Collection pilot program, the evaluation of a shared fire station with San Carlos, renovating Linden Park and replacing Red Morton Synthetic Turf and Tennis Court.

If residents missed the State of the City, State of the City speech and the videos can be accessed by visiting the City of Redwood City’s website at www.redwoodcity.org.

(Image courtesy city of Redwood City on Facebook)