The need for a multi-year budget plan to prepare for higher pension and other employee costs was discussed at the special meeting of the City Council on Tuesday night.
The council reviewed the spending plan for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 fiscal years but took no action. Adoption of the final, two-year budget, which includes expenditures of $163 million next year, will take place next month. Read more >> about Council discusses budget plan and parking prices
An enthusiastic City Council on Tuesday night gave City Manager John Russo the go-ahead to sign the deeds for 1,379 acres of Alameda Point, paving the way for the city to begin to address what many see as the Island’s biggest issue – reuse of the former Navy base.
Here’s the latest news on bills by your local legislators.
STATE SENATOR LONI HANCOCK
Passed committee
SB279, Would set rules making it easier for the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority to hold regional elections; approved by the governance and finance committee on April 17, 7-0, and referred to rules committee.
Five years ago, city leaders adopted a plan aimed at reducing Alameda’s carbon footprint. And community members formed a group, Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda, to help promote the plan’s emission reduction goals and gain the public’s help in reaching them. This Wednesday, April 24, the city and CASA are teaming up once more to celebrate their achievements at a Climate Protection Forum, where they will highlight the results of a Greenhouse Gas Emissions report, and spotlight local climate heroes. Read more >> about Alameda goes green: A timeline
Here’s a list of bills introduced by your state representatives since January, with a brief description of each and their status.
STATE SENATOR LONI HANCOCK
Scheduled for hearing
SB379, Would make it easier for charter early college high schools to allow students to spend more time attending community and state colleges; was scheduled for a hearing before the education committee on April 3. SB730, which would grant students at middle college high schools better access to community colleges and allow community colleges to strike partnerships deals with the schools; the bill is scheduled for a hearing before the education committee on April 10. Read more >> about BillWatch: Recent bills from your local legislators
Congresswoman Barbara Lee kicked off her new job as Alameda’s representative in the House on Monday by announcing plans to help constituents who are having issues with the federal government. Lee’s office will hold office hours at the Main Library from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Read more >> about Congresswoman Lee announces office hours in Alameda
Cheryl Taylor and her daughter Julia Ruderman, 6, attend an inaugural event at the main library on Monday. Photo by Michele Ellson.
The crowd attending Monday’s inauguration viewing event at the Main Library was smaller and more subdued than the standing-room-only one that turned out when President Barack Obama was first sworn into office four years ago, with a handful of local League of Women Voters stalwarts gathering in the early morning darkness in the library’s main meeting room and a few dozen more arriving as the sunlight filtered in. Read more >> about After four years, Alameda more low-key about Obama's inaugural
