View as a webpage / Share

October 29, 2021

Fremont’s Diversity Highlighted in 2020 Census

The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 data reaffirmed the City of Fremont’s diverse community. The Census measured several demographics across our Districts, including total population, voter registration and turnout, languages spoken, household income, level of education, and more.

Highlights included:

• The City of Fremont’s population increased by almost 8% from 2010 to 2020, now at a total of 230,646 residents.
• The Asian American population grew 13%, while the Black and Hispanic/Latino populations remained steady.
• 62% of Fremont’s population spoke a non-English language at home.
• Over 57% of Fremont residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
• 47% of the population have a household income of $75,000-200,0000.

The City is leveraging this data in our redistricting process, which is taking place now through April 2022. Learn how you can share your thoughts and input for this once-in-a-decade opportunity to establish our City Districts.

Resilient Traffic Signals with Battery Backup Systems

When a traffic signal loses power during an electrical outage, the experience to the driver can include annoyance from the resulting traffic congestion, general confusion, or in the worst case, a traffic crash. Given the seemingly more frequent power disruption events throughout the year, the City works diligently to improve overall resilience to the City’s traffic signals by installing battery backup systems. A modern battery backup system provides the temporary power needed during power disruption events to allow for the continuous operation of a traffic signal for up to 6 to 8 hours, ultimately minimizing impact to the traffic flow in the City and ensuring intersection safety. When the power is restored, the traffic signal will automatically switchover back to line power and recharge the battery backup system.

Currently, 80 of the 195 traffic signals in the city are equipped with the battery backup system, and an additional 14 battery backup systems are scheduled to be installed in the upcoming year. More systems are planned to be installed as part of the City’s signal modernization program. Please remember, if a traffic signal is not functioning due to a power outage, drivers must treat it as a four-way stop. When it is your turn to cross the intersection, please proceed with caution.

Winter Storms, Flooding, and Monitoring Storm Drains

Fremont has a long history of flooding dating back to the 1950’s. The City has developed a storm response plan to be as prepared as possible. Over the years, we’ve effectively managed storms of all sizes. City staff is prepared and closely monitors all severe weather events as they unfold—adjusting staffing levels, emergency response, and public messaging accordingly. We need your help! Storm drains have limited capacity and flooding may occur in low lying areas. Since our Public Works crews may be delayed in responding to reports of flooding, based on the severity of the storm, residents can help by:

• Checking drainage systems and removing debris as necessary.
• Collecting and properly disposing of heavy leaf falls before the storm occurs.
• Removing leaves and debris from storm drain inlets with a rake or shovel.
• Using sandbags and plastic sheeting to protect flood-prone entrances to homes.
• Driving slowly and carefully, particularly where water has accumulated on roadways. Never drive into a large body of standing water.
• Staying tuned to local radio and television news sources for the latest weather information and the City’s website and social media accounts for Fremont specific updates.

Residents can also use the Fremont App to report flooding and provide photos. Fremont App is a CRM application that enables anyone to report a wide range of local, non-emergency issues directly to City departments; it's free to download on your smartphone or you can use it in your computer’s browser. Another option is to call the City's Maintenance Center at 510-979-5700 to report storm-related issues such as tree hazards, flooding, storm drains, etc.

Upcoming November 2 City Council Meeting

The following items appear on the Council agenda for the regularly scheduled Council meeting on Tuesday, November 2 at 7:00 pm:

• Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance of the City of Fremont Amending Fremont Municipal Code Title 18, (Planning and Zoning), Chapter 18.155 (Affordable Housing)
• Affordable Housing Funding Awards: Evaluation of Affordable Housing Proposals Received in Response to the 2021 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA); Request for Council to appropriate Funds and Authorize Execution of Agreements for Three Affordable Housing Projects with MidPen Housing, The Pacific Companies and Maracor Development, and Resource for Community Development and Making Findings of CEQA Exemption
• Fiscal Year 2020/21 Year-End Report: Presentation of Year-End Results for FY 2020/21 and Recommended Fund Balance Allocation
• Ceremonial items:
  • Lung Cancer Awareness Month
  • Bay Area Stands United Against Hate Week, November 14 – 20, 2021
  • Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month
  • Recognition of Native American Heritage Month and Honoring Andrew Galvan

To view the complete agenda, as well as learn how to attend the Council meeting, visit our website.

Catch up on October 26 City Council/FUSD Liaison Committee Meeting

Did you miss this week’s City Council/FUSD Liaison Committee Meeting? Catch up on the October 26, 2021 meeting agenda and webcast for an update on the “Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse” Program and  School Year 2021-2022 Joint Work Plan.

Small Business Seminar on ADA Compliance, November 3

The City of Fremont, in partnership with the Silicon Valley Economic Development Alliance, is hosting a virtual small business seminar on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance next Wednesday, November 3 at 3:00 pm. With changing regulations and businesses adapting to a new normal, in response to Covid, it’s more important than ever to learn how to comply with the ADA. In this seminar, local small businesses and ADA experts will offer their real-world perspectives to help you understanding what it means to be ADA compliant. This includes a discussion on how to be better prepared to serve customers with disabilities and what resources are available to businesses on this topic. Business owners will also have an opportunity to ask questions of the experts and chat directly with local jurisdictions in breakout sessions. 

Planned Road Closure for Thursday, November 4 - Diwali

The following partial road closures will take place on Thursday, November 4, from approximately 4:00 pm to 11:59 pm near Gurdwara Sahib (300 Gurdwara Road, Fremont)

• Gurdwara Road (between Grau Drive and Mission Boulevard) will be partially closed for the event
• No left turn will be allowed from Gurdwara Road onto Mission Boulevard.
• No left turn will be allowed from Mission Boulevard on to Gurdwara Road.

A shuttle will be operating between Gurdwara Sahib and a parking area at 7^th Street in Union City during hours of the event. Please note the consumption or possession of alcohol, meat, or tobacco is not permitted at the site, and head scarves are required on Gurdwara premises. Contact Gurdwara Sahib for additional event information.

Additional Info

Community events are currently allowed by the State and the County. The City of Fremont and the Fremont Police Department would like to remind everyone to practice mask wearing, social distancing, and other health protocols when possible and when required.  Adherence to any State and Regional Health Order in effect on the day of the events will be required. For latest information, please visit the Alameda County’s COVID-19 webpage.

Attend Tree Planting Event at Sabercat Creek Trail on November 6

On Saturday, November 6, the City of Fremont will be partnering with Tri-City Urban Forestry Alliance (TUFA), Microsoft, Greenkeepers USA, and the Arbor Day Foundation as a joint grant-funded community planting event to plant 80 trees at Sabercat Creek Trail in Fremont. Made possible by an Arbor Day Grant, funded by a Microsoft donation and a Proposition 68 funded CalFire Urban & Community Forestry Program Grant, 80 trees will be planted by approximately 80 volunteers to focus on preservation and growth of the City’s Urban Forest.

Check in for event participants starts at 8:00 am and runs until 9:30 am. Anyone who wants to attend and observe should arrive at 9:30 am. There will be a brief introduction between 10:30 am and 11:00 am.

Open Garden Days Family-Friendly, All Ages Welcome

Join Rangers Sandy and Laurie for a tour of the pollinator garden at the Nature Learning Center for Open Garden Days from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on select Wednesdays (November 3, 10, 17; December 1, 8, 15) and Saturdays (October 30, November 20, December 4) this fall. This event is weather permitting. Walk around the garden and if you're  lucky, you’ll see monarch butterflies and hummingbirds. There's a lot to learn about helping monarchs, native plants,  beneficial bugs, and keeping our water clean. For more information contact Barbara Silva, Program Manager by email.

The Nature Learning Center is located within Central Park at 40224 Paseo Padre Pkwy. (Drive to the end of the Aqua Adventure Parking lot, the Center is on the left.)

Fremont's Youth Basketball League Returns

The City of Fremont’s Youth Basketball League is back for 2021! Open to both girls and boys, this basketball league will teach fundamentals, teamwork, and positivity while having fun! Games are set to begin on the first Saturday in December, with games being one hour in duration each week. Coached by experienced basketball staff, participants are set up for basketball success while learning more about the game. There will be nine weeks of game days for participants.

COVID-19 Corner

Alameda County to Ease Masking Requirements for Fully Vaccinated People in Limited Indoor Settings. The newly issued Health Officer Order goes into effect on November 1.

On October 22, 2021, the CDC expanded recommendations for booster doses to include people vaccinated with any of the three US-authorized COVID-19 vaccines, the same day the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup announced their recommendations. Older adults and younger people with underlying conditions or certain other risk factors who received either Pfizer or Moderna more than 6 months ago can now get vaccine booster doses, and anyone who received Johnson & Johnson at least two months ago can also receive a booster. Alameda County strongly encourages boosters for anyone aged 65+ or with underlying health or inequity factors. Mixing and matching of boosters is now permitted by health officials, meaning recipients may choose a different COVID-19 vaccine than their original series as a booster. The County encourages all eligible yet unvaccinated individuals to get vaccinated as soon as possible to stay healthy and limit spreading COVID-19 to others, especially older adults, as families and friends come together with loved ones over the holidays. The CDC and Alameda County also recommend flu vaccine for everyone over 6 months of age noting people may receive flu vaccine and COVID vaccine during the same visit.

The California Health and Human Services Agency and California Department of Public Health recently reaffirmed the state’s approach to preventing COVID-19 in schools by continuing the state’s successful masking requirements in K-12 settings.
California will maintain the universal indoor mask mandate in K-12 schools and will continue to monitor conditions through the winter. Recent studies from the 2021-2022 school year confirm that schools with universal masking requirements are less likely to experience outbreaks. California will continue to assess conditions on an ongoing basis to determine
whether to update mask requirements or recommendations.

As we approach Halloween and Día de Los Muertos, here are some guidance/helpful tips to help reduce and prevent the risk of COVID-19 as we gather for holidays and observances. Get fully vaccinated and avoid crowded places, especially indoors, where risk is greater. Keep gatherings small and outdoors. If indoors, improve airflow by opening windows and doors if it is safe to do so. Incorporate a face mask that covers your nose and mouth snugly with your costume. A costume mask is NOT a substitute for a face mask that protects against COVID-19. By taking steps to prevent this disease, we show consideration for our neighbors, friends, and people who are at higher risk like older adults who may be immunocompromised as well as children who are not yet eligible for vaccination.

Helpful Resources

• Free COVID-19 Testing Drive-Thru at Central Park in October.
• Alameda County Water District (ACWD) COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
• Vaccine Guidance and Resources and COVID-19 Testing in Alameda County

In Case You Missed It:

Mayor Lily Mei presented a Virtual State of the City Address on Thursday, October 21, 2021. View the webcast, speech, and slides.

Schedule a Tour of the Downtown Event Center on Tuesdays from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The Downtown Event Center and Plaza are located at 3500 Capitol Ave.