Thursday, April 28, 2011

General Plan Workshops Scheduled

SUISUN CITY - Two public workshops will be held to gather input from residents regarding future land use and transportation. Your ideas, opinions and suggestions are invited to assist in the comprehensive update of the City General Plan.

Community Development Department staff also will provide information on the proposed schedule for the update.

Two public meetings were scheduled to gather input :
  • 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at the Suisun City Planning Commission meeting in the Suisun City Hall City Council Chamber >> map >>

  • 6 p.m., Thursday, May 12, 2011, at the Suisun City Library, 601 Pintail Ave., Suisun City >> map >>
Everyone is invited to attend and share ideas about the future development of Suisun City.

Please contact John Kearns, Associate Planner, at (707) 421-7335 or at jkearns@suisun.com with any questions regarding the workshops prior to the start time for each.

>> Download the meeting notice in .pdf format >>

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Mother's Day Artisan Fair


The Suisun City Historic Waterfront Business Improvement District is proud to present the Mother's Day Artisan Fair on the Suisun City Harbor Plaza ( map ) 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday May 8, 2011.

The BID press release:

Celebrate Mother's Day at the Suisun Waterfront! We have a GREAT day planned for your family!


Over 50 unique artisans will participate in the 2nd annual Mother's Day Artisan Fair on Sunday May 8th, 10 am - 3 pm, at Harbor Plaza, Main and Solano Streets, Suisun City. The event will also feature "The Amber Snider Band" live with special guests "The Pine Dogz" (Amber's Mom and Dad!) making it a true family celebration for Mother's Day!


Booths featuring quality hand-crafted wares will be set up in the park and along the beautiful waterfront. Bring Mom to browse the booths, meet the artists and find a special treasure she will love!


Our talented artists are gathering from all over northern CA and will be selling handcrafted jewelry, soaps, candles, sea kelp and colorful woven baskets, ceramics and pottery, quilts, quilted baby sets, woven scarves, original art and art prints, journals, painting on china, garden art, metal sculpture, photography, wood crafts, glass platters and bowls, seasonal plants and herbs, fabric totes and sachets, specialty olive oils and coffees, homemade fudge, Hawaiian items, hair bows, crochet items, and so much more!


Bay Area singer-songwriter Amber Snider and her "Amber Snider Band" will bring their unique brand of folk-rock, country and blues to the Historic Waterfront stage. Amber has recently released two new CD's, was featured on KRON-TV's Best of the Bay and has been called "Super talented!" by Rich Freedman - Vallejo Times Herald. "The Amber Snider Band" plays more than 100 headline shows a year.


"The Pine Dogz", Diana and Steve Wallis, play the kind of music you grew up with, sang along with and remembered special occasions by......music from the 50's through the 90's and their own unique songs too! You and Mom are going to enjoy the show!


Before or after the fair, stop for a delicious brunch or lunch at one of the fine Waterfront District restaurants! The setting is awesome and there are twelve independent restaurants to choose from.....something to please any mom!


Make special Mother's Day memories....... SEE YOU THERE!


For vendor and shopper information: (707) 399-7195 or www.suisunwaterfront.com.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Redevelopment Success Story

SUISUN CITY — Since January, City staff has told the story of Suisun City’s redevelopment success over and over from Sacramento to multiple local groups and all points in between.

As Gov. Jerry Brown tried to close the State’s gaping $26.6 billion budget shortfall, he proposed eliminating the nearly 400 local redevelopment agencies (also known as RDAs) across California, among a host of other moves.

While estimated to generate an unrealistic $1.7 billion next fiscal year for the State, the RDA proposal would create a budget hole of roughly 10% for Suisun City. It also would end the single most important tool the City has used to transform itself into high quality community in which to live, raise a family and visit.

While City leaders continue to work with State officials about alternate budget proposals (see “Gov. Brown vs. RDA”), it’s important to remember just how Suisun City became a redevelopment success story.

SUISUN CITY’S STORY

In 1987, the San Francisco Chronicle labeled Suisun City as the worst city in the Bay Area. At that point, the City was spending upwards of 70% of its entire police budget on the Crescent neighborhood, and the historic waterfront was charitably considered an industrial backwater with little to no public access.

Though the City Council had designated the waterfront as a redevelopment zone, the unflattering attention kicked the local effort into high gear. The historic waterfront would once again become an economic engine for Suisun City.

Using tools of redevelopment first created in the 1940s, Suisun City
  • Invested $65 million in blight elimination and infrastructure, including the entire Marina and Promenade
  • Replaced dilapidated housing units with modern homes
  • Created 326 affordable housing units
  • Preserved and refurbished the Train Station
  • Constructed the Nelson Community Center
  • Established the Lambrecht Sports Complex to replace Todd Park’s ball fields
  • Constructed the Civic Center
The results are seen across Suisun City:
  • The crime rate has dropped 60% since redevelopment started
  • Money created by the increased property values was provided to the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District to help refurbish or rebuild every school campus in Suisun City
  • New business ventures that return sales taxes to the community have launched and been sustained by loyal customers
  • The Suisun City Library was built thanks to a redevelopment loan that filled a financing gap
DEFENDING RDA

Redevelopment is the State’s best method of stimulating and expanding the economy and creating 300,000 construction jobs annually. For cities, like Suisun City, it’s the only way to expand the local economy, providing both goods and services to residents, and capturing sales and other taxes necessary to pay for core City services.

To protect this tool, Suisun City joined with local businesses, chambers of commerce, economic development commissions, residents, the League of California Cities and California Redevelopment Association to oppose Gov. Brown’s proposal to eliminate RDA. The Redevelopment Association and League went further to develop and support an alternative to keep Redevelopment intact while providing nearly $1 billion to schools, which indirectly assists the State budget.

The effort has paid off so far. Several reform proposals are moving forward to address public accountability and other concerns, but most importantly Gov. Brown’s proposal to eliminate redevelopment FAILED by one vote in the State Assembly.

We will continue to work with legislators on solutions that allow the State to meet its obligations, supports local economic development and helps other local agencies meet their goals.

To stay updated on our efforts, follow us on Twitter.

READ MORE
Published in Suisun City Discovery Newsletter - April 2011

Friday, April 22, 2011

Urban Water Management Plan Meetings Set

SUISUN CITY - Two public meetings will be held to introduce the Suisun-Solano Water Authority (SSWA) Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP). Your ideas, opinions and suggestions are invited to assist us in updating the Plan, which addresses water supply and conservation for our city.

Two public meetings were scheduled to gather input and adopt the Plan:

  • 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 25, 2011 is a public meeting to gather concerns or new ideas from residents.
  • 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 14, 2011, is the Public Hearing before the SSWA Board, which will consider adoption of the Plan

Meetings will be held at the Suisun City Council Chambers at 701 Civic Center Blvd., Suisun City, CA.

Please come to hear and participate in these presentations regarding the management of present and future water supplies. Water reliability, future demands, water conservation targets and drought strategies will be discussed.

This State mandated plan is a five-year update for long-term water resource planning to ensure adequate water for the City of Suisun City and outlying areas served by the SSWA. Please join us to discuss these important water supply topics.

Feel free to notify project manager Frank Morris at 707-455-4026 or fmorris@sidwater.org if you have any specific ideas or concerns.

>> Download the meeting notice in .pdf format >>

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Cordelia Road to Close for Railroad Work

SUISUN CITY, Calif. - Cordelia Road at the railroad crossing west of School Street will be closed from Noon, Thursday April 14 through 2 p.m. Friday April 15 for railroad work.

Union Pacific Railroad notified the City that track work in required in the vicinity of a track upgrade installed last year. The work will require regrading a portion of the track area, including removal of some of the road surface adjacent to the track.

Public Works crews will be on hand for the closure, and to install new road surface asphalt when the railroad work is completed.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area, and use an alternate route. To get around the work zone

  • Westbound: Take Main Street north to Highway 12 west then turn left on Pennsylvania Avenue to Cordelia Road
  • Eastbound: Turn left from Cordelia at Cordelia Road, turn right on Highway 12 and use the Main Street / Civic Center Drive exit to access Lotz Way and Main Street.

>> Click for a map of the area with alternate routes >>

The Suisun City Public Works Department regrets any inconvenience, but is committed to working with partner agencies, such as Union Pacific Railroad, to ensure safe and secure public thoroughfare. The Cordelia Road crossing will be reopened as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.

Learn more about the Public Works Department.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Engineering Firm Sought for Water Treatment Plant Project

SUISUN CITY, Calif. - The Suisun Solano Water Authority is looking for proposals from qualified engineering firms to prepare a condition assessment and rehabilitation plan for the Cement Hill Water Treatment Plant.

It will build on previous work by providing a complete facilities assessment and present a plan for the rehabilitation of the plant through future capital projects. The plant consists of two water treatment lines built in 1973 and 1992, respectively.

The facility has a treatment capacity of 8.5 million gallons per day, and delivers water to the City of Suisun City and residents of unincorporated areas nearby. SSWA is a joint powers authority formed by Suisun City and the Solano Irrigation District to supply drinking water to their customers.

The project involves a comprehensive assessment of all plant equipment and capabilities. Interested firms should respond by May 18.

For full details on the project and how to submit a response, go to www.Suisun.com/PublicWorks/Projects.html.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Public Invited to Comment on Grizzly Island Trail

SUISUN CITY, Calif. - The public is invited to share its input on the Grizzly Island Trail project, which would create a pedestrian/bicycle trail from Grizzly Island Road to Marina Boulevard on the south side of State Route 12.

Any comments must be received by 6 p.m. Monday April 11, 2011. A hearing before the City Council will be scheduled for later in the month during which additional public comment can be offered.

This .9-mile concrete trail, will

  • Eliminate or minimize the need for students who attend Crescent Elementary School and Crystal Middle School to cross Highway 12 to reach a sidewalk or bike path.
  • Eliminate or minimize the need for Suisun City residents and visitors to cross Highway 12 when bicycling or walking to destinations on the south side of Highway 12, and to reduce the incidence of illegal/unsafe crossings of Grizzly Island Road and Marina Boulevard. These destinations include the Lawler Ranch neighborhood, the Lawler Ranch Commercial Area, the Waterfront District, and the multi-modal transit station, as well as the Solano County Offices and Downtown Fairfield.
  • Augment and complement the existing natural educational programs administered by the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District and the Suisun Resource Conservation District.
  • Provide a visual and recreational buffer between the Highway 12 corridor and the adjacent Suisun Marsh habitat to encourage viewing of wildlife and the marsh area.
The total project cost is about $2 million with grant funding secured through the Solano Transportation Authority and the state Safe Routes to School Program. The project has a construction deadline of June 2012.

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See the designs and learn how to share your thoughts with the City >>