March 4, 2009 > Union City Council Union City Council February 24, 2009 Presentation of certificates to the winners and honorable mention recipients of the 2009 Union City Recycling Art Contest which was open to the City's school children. Proclamation recognizing the 2008 Employee of the Year recipients: Erick Lising, Public Works Maintenance/Leisure Services/Transit; Leticia Najera, General Government; Gloria Lopez-Vaughan, Public Safety. Adopt Resolution requesting to accept and appropriate FY 2008/09 grant funds from the California Department of Conservation totalling $18,966 to the Public Works Parks Beverage Container Recycling and Litter Abatement Program (City Project No. 02-05). Adopt Resolution accepting and appropriating $1,200 of grant funding from Target Stores to fund the purchase of materials for the Union City Police Department's "9-1-1 for Kids" Program presented in Newhaven Unified School District elementary schools. Adopt Resolution accepting and appropriating $9,000 of grant funding from the Alameda County Health Department for the Union City Police Department to fund Tobacco Education Programs for youths and retailers and enforce tobacco laws. Mayor Mark Green - Yes Vice Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci - Yes Manny Fernandez - Yes Jim Navarro - Yes Richard Valle - Yes City Manager Reports Update on the Climate Protection task Force and Forthcoming Climate Action Workshop. Discussion of charter cities vs. general law cities - postponed due to City Attorney's absence. Redevelopment Agency Discussion on Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition Architecture for Station District. Public Comment Cathy Keesee expressed concern over the Masonic Homes of California's Flatlands Project and asked the Council to seek alternatives to residential development, particularly on Site A which could be the location for an "event center." Elizabeth Ames praised the Hillside Area Plan, pointed to the presence of the Calaveras and Hayward Faults, the devastation in the immediate vicinity when an earthquake strikes and "the financial burden to the tax payers" in the aftermath. Generally, residential development is a net drain on City resources; Ms Ames would like to see the flatlands used to cultivate fruit for harvest by families. The City's allocation of Measure WW funding could be used to great effect. Ms Ames intends to organize opposition.