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September 13, 2014 | Issue #151
    



City Receives Helen Putnam Award for Excellence

 

The League of California Cities selected the City of Vallejo as a 2014 Helen Putnam Award winner and honored the City during the Opening General Session of the League's Annual Conference & Expo. Vallejo received the Helen Putnam Award for Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics, and Community Involvement for the City's Participatory Budgeting (PB) Program.

 

The category honors those cities that have gone above and beyond to provide new and risk-taking programs and policies which promote community involvement in public decision-making and successful efforts that encourage diversity among civic programs and policies that promote public trust in city government.

 

PB enables taxpayers to work with government to help make budget decisions, while exposing taxpayers to a unique and innovative method of managing public budgets and more closely engaging people in their government. PB offers an invaluable opportunity to rebuild trust after the strain of the bankruptcy and build productive partnerships between residents and City staff working toward a common goal of improving the City's quality of life.

 

The application for the award was drafted based on the City's first cycle of PB that began in October 2012 and culminated in May 2013 with the selection of 12 projects. During Cycle 1, significant outreach efforts were made to engage demographic groups that typically do not participate in civic activities, with success demonstrated in bringing out youth, Vallejo's four major ethnic groups, populations from a range of income levels, and foreign-born residents.

 

PB has also created a new forum for productive exchange between citizens and government, delivering deep and substantive feedback about community needs and priorities not typically offered through other means. PB has empowered residents, whether they have little civic background or are seasoned in governmental process, improving their civic knowledge, training them as facilitators and public speakers, and positioning them to assume leadership roles in the community.

 

PB helps to restore trust and services, advances accountable and transparent partnerships, and positions Vallejo as setting innovative government practices. PB is now in its second cycle with the citywide vote on a new ballot of projects that will take place from September 27 to October 6. It is pure coincidence that the City received this award just before the announcement of the ballot and prior to the start of the vote.



Participatory Budgeting Cycle 2 Ballot Announced

 

The City of Vallejo officially announced the Participatory Budgeting Cycle 2 ballot this week. The vote will kick-off on the Waterfront Green Saturday, September 27 at noon.

 

From September 25 to October 6, all Vallejo residents over the age of 16, including those living in the unincorporated areas, will have the opportunity to vote on how to spend $2.4 million to improve Vallejo.  

 

Featuring 25 project proposals, the ballots composition addresses at-risk populations, economic development, arts and community, transportation, safety, parks and recreation, natural and historical resources, education, and workforce development.

 

The project proposals are the outcome of an 8-month process that engaged hundreds of Vallejo residents. In February and March, Vallejo residents and stakeholders proposed 645 ideas through an online process, as well as at 10 Budget Assemblies. More than 100 volunteer Budget Delegates started researching, evaluating and screening ideas in April, culminating in the submission of their final project proposals on September 3.

 

Residents will have the opportunity to learn more about projects and vote at the following locations:

 

Waterfront Green Under the Tent Saturday

September 27, 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Solano Middle School Gym

1025 Corcoran Avenue, Tuesday, September 30, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Hogan Middle School Gym

850 Rosewood Avenue, Thursday, October 2, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Norman King Community Center

545 Magazine Street, Sunday, October 5, 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Vallejo City Hall

555 Santa Clara Street

Every Weekday, Monday, September 29 thru Monday, October 6 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

 

In addition, satellite voting locations will offer residents a chance to vote at supermarkets, places of worship, and community centers throughout Vallejo.

 

Volunteer Poll Workers and Outreach Street Team Members are needed as the Vote approaches. Interested individuals and organizations can register to volunteer as Cycle 2 poll workers or join the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Network by clicking here. For further information, contact Alyssa Alford, Administrative Analyst I, 707-648-4577.

AT&T Grand Opening

 

Mobile network provider AT&T held a grand re-opening event to display its renovations and updates to their "new store" concept design. The scheme is aimed to create a more interactive and engaging store environment for customers. Everything about the store is designed for ultimate flexibility.

 

The store layout will highlight AT&T's products and services, devices and accessories across three unique "zones" for customer service: the Connected Experience Zone, the Community Zone and the Explore Zone. 

 

The Connected Experience Zone offers customers a glimpse of how products can be used in everyday life. The Community Zone allows customers to shop and play in an open and interactive space, with apps, accessories and devices on display to provide examples of how they can work together. The Explore Zone with "explore walls" showcases AT&T's diverse device line-up and accessories complemented by digital monitors with public information.

 

The new store hours will be Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The store is located at 976 Admiral Callaghan Lane, Suite D.


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In This Issue
Helen Putnam Award for Excellence
PB Cycle 2 Ballot Announced
AT&T Grand Opening
30th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day
Input & Suggestions




30th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day

 

California's largest volunteer event, California Coastal Cleanup Day, will celebrate its 30th year of action at more than 875 locations statewide, with 57 locations to help cleanup just in Solano County.

 

Estimates show that up to 80 percent of the trash along the California coast comes from inland or land-based regions. As the population of California grows, it becomes increasingly important to clean up trash at its source to protect the health and beauty of both the interior of the state as well as our coastline.

 

Vallejo will feature 15 cleanup sites where volunteers can clean trash and debris from creeks, lakes, marshes and shorelines. Last year, 611 Vallejo volunteers picked up more than 32,000 pounds of trash and recyclables.

 

Volunteers under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian to sign a waiver before participating. All cleanup supplies will be provided but volunteers should wear sunscreen, sturdy shoes, a hat and work gloves. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring a bucket and a reusable water bottle. During check-in at each cleanup location, volunteers will be given trash bags, latex gloves and a data card to tally collected items.

 

Interested volunteers can register with the Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Control District at 707-645-8258 or by emailing [email protected]

 

The 30th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day will take place on Saturday, September 20 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Volunteers can show up that morning at 42 Harbor Way to be assigned a cleanup area. For additional information, please contact Marianne Butler at 707-301-5778. 

 

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