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May 7, 2021

Fremont Minimum Wage Increase Effective July 1, 2021

Fremont’s minimum wage is scheduled to increase on July 1 for both large and small employers. Beginning July 1, large employers with 26 or more employees will be subject to a $15.25/hour minimum wage and small employers with 25 or fewer employees will increase to $15.00/hour.

To prevent inflation from eroding its value, the minimum wage for large employers will be adjusted beginning on July 1, 2021 by the local consumer price index, while small employers will increase to $15/hour. On July 1, 2022, the small employer minimum increases to the large employer level. From that point on, both large and small employers will be subject to the same minimum wage increase defined by the local consumer price index.

Fremont’s Minimum Wage Ordinance exempts non-profit corporations. For more information, visit our Minimum Wage webpage or contact the City Manager’s office by email.

City’s Capital Improvement Program and Fiscal Year 2021/22 Budget Hearings

In May, City staff will present to the City Council the proposed Five-Year Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2021/22 through 2025/26 and the Fiscal Year 2021/22 Proposed Operating Budget. The City’s proposed Capital Improvement Program will be presented to the Council at the regularly scheduled Council meeting on May 11 at 7:00 pm. The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is a five-year blueprint for maintaining and improving the City’s physical infrastructure, and it’s updated every two years. The City’s proposed operating budget for the next fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, will be presented to the Council at their regularly scheduled Council meeting on May 18 at 7:00 pm. The first public hearings to comment on both budgets will be on June 8, and the second hearing and adoption will be on June 15. Public hearings are part of the Council meeting which will begin at 7:00 pm. City Council agendas will be posted online in the Agenda Center.

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 6

To celebrate Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day on May 6, and the art, creativity, and resiliency of Fremont students, the City of Fremont Human Services Department, Youth and Family Services Division in partnership with Fremont Unified School District, hosted the fourth annual Children Mental Health Awareness Art Competition. In its second year as a virtual event, Fremont students of all ages submitted 281 entries on the theme of Coming Together Through Hope. A virtual exhibition of all the entries is posted along with a video of Mayor Lily Mei announcing the winners of this year’s exhibition.

This year’s competition would not have been possible without the volunteer support of Fremont student interns, Anjali (Gigi) Truong, who attends Stanford Online High School, and Rohin Puvvada, who attends Irvington High School. Both students worked tirelessly to help plan and coordinate the competition. Prizes for the winners were made possible through the support of My Good Brain and the Olive Hyde Art Guild.

Catch up on May 4 
Council Meeting

Did you miss this week’s City Council meeting? Catch up on the May 4, 2021 Council meeting agenda and webcast for updates on the following:

• Proclamation: Bike Month, May 2021
• Proclamation: Children's Mental Health Awareness Day
• Credit card convenience fee

Catch up on May 3 
City/FUSD Joint Meeting

Did you miss this week’s Joint Meeting with the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) Board and Fremont City Council? Catch up on the May 3, 2021 meeting agenda and webcast for updates on the following:

• School Resource Officer (SRO) Program Update
• Safe Routes to Schools Update

Community Conversations with Incoming Police Chief

Mayor Lily Mei and City Manager Mark Danaj announced a series of community conversations and listening sessions with Fremont residents, business owners/operators, and nonprofit organizations over the next several months with Incoming Police Chief Captain Sean Washington. The goal of the sessions is to provide community members an opportunity to ask questions, get to know our Incoming Police Chief, and share input on the topic of policing in Fremont in a small group setting. Captain Washington is expected to serve as the Fremont Police Department’s Acting Chief for several weeks this summer, and his official promotion will take place October 2, 2021.

'Unity Against Hate' Community Event on May 15

On Saturday May 15, at 11:00 am, join people across the country to take action against acts of hate on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and all other communities at Unity Against Hate, a national event planned at a single time coast to coast. Mayor Lily Mei and Incoming Police Chief Sean Washington will be guest speakers at the local Fremont event, which is being organized by Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA) Greater Fremont Chapter (APAPA-GFC) to take a stand against verbal and physical violence perpetrated on Asians. Unity Against Hate will be held at Veterans Memorial Park, corner of Walnut Avenue and Paseo Padre Parkway, near the Fremont Hall of Justice. Register online to get free face masks and a whistle.

Together, let’s end hate crimes and discrimination in the U.S.

City Council Releases Statement in Support of Humanitarian Efforts in India

The Fremont City Council recently released a statement in support of the humanitarian efforts in India due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases:

“The City of Fremont strongly supports and encourages increased humanitarian efforts to assist India. India is suffering from a devastating COVID-19 surge, putting immense pressure on their health care system. We encourage our public health agencies, federal government, and relevant business community to do their best to help to provide vaccines, ventilators, oxygen, and assistance with procuring vital equipment for hospitals. We stand in solidarity with the people in India in their fight against COVID-19.”

Urban Forest Management Plan

The City of Fremont wants to hear from you about the future of the urban forest in Fremont! You can help to develop a strategic plan to achieve a long-range vision for our community’s urban forest. The project will include several opportunities for you to participate. Visit  our project website for more details and to sign up to get involved.

Fremont City Attorney, Harvey Levine Announces Retirement from the City

On Monday, May 3, 2021, Fremont’s longtime City Attorney Harvey Levine officially announced his plans to retire from the City. He has been working with the City Council and City staff since early March on the transition. The City is preparing to honor Levine at the May 11th City Council meeting, which will begin at 7:00 pm. Appointed by the City Council in 1995, Levine served as legal counsel to the City Council and City staff for 26 years, during some of the City’s most rapid growth and change. With prior experience as the City Attorney of Pleasanton and Assistant City Attorney in San Jose, as well as a decade in private sector law, Levine was known as a strategic facilitator and negotiator for highly complex development and land use opportunities for the City, as well as a team player and creative problem solver for City staff. 

The City of Fremont has only had three City Attorneys since incorporation in 1956. Levine has served twenty-one Councilmembers and four Mayors. 

Additional Information:

Missed the Town Hall on April 29 hosted by Councilmember Teresa Cox? View the recording.

Vaccine Guidance and Resources and COVID-19 Testing in Alameda County

Facing financial hardship due to COVID-19? Sign up for a free phone-based navigation session.