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 March 10, 2023
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 Photo Credit: Alameda County Water District
Winter Storm Updates
The National Weather Service recorded a 24-hour total of 1.69 inches of rain in Fremont over the past day! Expect lighter rains than previously forecasted, now through the weekend. A Flood Watch remains in effect. Fast moving waters are being observed at Alameda Creek at Niles (now at Moderate Flood Stage), resulting in the closure of Niles Canyon Road by Caltrans.
City departments continue working together to ensure the safety of our community. Park Maintenance crews have cleared several downed trees blocking streets and sidewalks, and a hazardous tree in powerlines, as well as are monitoring Agua Fria Creek in the area of Rancho Higuera Historical Park and taking actions as necessary. Our Human Services staff is conducting direct outreach to identify and assist potentially eligible applicants for FEMA Individual Assistance, who suffered damage to non-traditional housing.
The following local road closures are in effect:
- CLOSED – Niles Canyon Road (State Hwy. 84) between Old Canyon Rd. (approx. 0.25 miles east of Mission Blvd.) and Sunol, due to flooding.
- CLOSED – Morrison Canyon Road -- Continued closure planned for duration of the rainy season, or until further notice.
- RESIDENTS ONLY – Mill Creek Road is closed to general public.
- OPEN – Sullivan Underpass (between Niles Blvd. & Mission Blvd.). Future temporary closures are possible in the event of future storms, later this season.
For additional flood and storm preparation information and resources, including who to call for services in Fremont during a storm, visit our website.
 Fremont Restaurant Week
Fremont Restaurant Week is just around the corner! This is your chance to enjoy 10 days of exclusive menu offerings from restaurants all over the city. Check out the preview of the special items and deals you can enjoy during this inaugural event – whatever your craving, look no further than Fremont Restaurant Week happening March 17-26! Visit the official webpage for more details and be sure to sign up for updates. Fremont Restaurant Week is brought to you in partnership with the Fremont Chamber of Commerce and Yelp East Bay.
Pictured above from left to right: Salmon Salad Bowl (El Patio); Blueberry Milk Tea (Mr. Sun Tea); Acai bowl and smoothie (Vitality Bowls); Veggie Biryani (Hyderabad Dum Biryani); Pineapple Express Kettle Sour (Jack’s Brewing)
On March 7, 2023, the Fremont City Council adopted amendments to the Title 6 Animal Ordinance. The revised ordinance goes into effect on April 6, 2023. The amendments to Title 6 largely align with public interest in reducing impediments to urban beekeepers by reducing the City’s oversight and enforcement role. The most significant elements of the newly proposed language are summarized as follows:
- Eliminate the requirement that beekeepers obtain a permit from the City of Fremont;
- Eliminate the limit on the number of beehives that an individual may maintain;
- Allow beehives on multi-family balconies or patios;
- Reduce restrictions surrounding bee-hive placement so long as 5 feet of distance from adjacent property lines is maintained;
- Simplify and/or eliminate beekeeping procedural language; and
- Reduce City staff’s role in enforcement and compliance.
To learn about changes to the Animal Ordinance, visit the Tri-City Animal Shelter’s website. The Fremont Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) will be updated to reflect these changes on April 6, 2023.
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 Catch up on March 7 Council Meeting
Did you miss this week’s March 7 City Council meeting? Catch up on the meeting agenda and webcast on our website for these items and much more:
- Extend Agreement Between the City and the Alameda County Fire Department for Regional Emergency Communications Center and Fire Dispatch Services
- Fiscal Year 2022/23 Mid-Year Budget Report
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 Upcoming March 14 Council Meeting
At next week’s City Council meeting on March 14, 2023, which begins at 7:00 pm, the Council will hear a presentation by City staff on the Preparation of the City’s Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2023/24 through 2027/28.
Visit our website to view the complete meeting agenda, as well as how to attend the Council meeting online or in person.
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The Fremont Housing Navigation Center (FHNC) recently celebrated its second year of operation, in which the Center provided encouragement and housing for 83 unhoused, local individuals. With the assistance of Bay Area Community Services, the Center was also able to assist 46 residents find stable housing, and 22 residents with obtaining employment upon exiting the program.
Additionally, the FHNC came in under budget at $2.01 million and was fully funded via several state and county funding sources, including State Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) and Alameda County Social Service Agency Funding.
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Friendly reminder! If you’re planning to visit Mission Peak soon to see the snow, please remember the snow is viewable from more than one entrance. We encourage you to use the designated staging area at Ohlone College to start your scenic hike. A parking permit is not needed for Ohlone College (900 spaces) although a parking fee may be imposed; Stanford Avenue staging area entrance (40 spaces); and Antelope and Vineyard Avenue (150 spaces). There is an alternate entrance to Mission Peak off of Pine Street.
Parking is restricted in the Mission Peak Parking Permit Zone and a valid parking permit is required on weekends (from Saturday at 12:01 am through Sunday at 11:59 pm) and holidays, including observance dates.
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 Spring into STEAM Event on March 29
The City of Fremont Community Services Department invites you to the Spring into STEAM event on Wednesday, March 29, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Downtown Event Center, 3500 Capitol Ave. Join us for a FREE, family-friendly evening with fun STEAM activities, giveaways, FUSD's 5th Grade Science Fair Winner Showcase, food trucks, music, and more. Spring into STEAM is a Seagate-sponsored event hosted by City of Fremont, endorsing educational programs that will lead to careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.
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 Youth Climate Action Summit
The Youth Climate Action Summit is a gathering dedicated to celebrating the past success and future plans of youth and youth-centered climate action across the San Francisco Bay Area. Join us at the Summit, which will be held on Sunday, March 19 at the Downtown Events Center, 3500 Capitol Ave. in Fremont.
Hear from City and regional leadership, student leaders, and innovative environmental tech companies on climate actions in Fremont and beyond. Booths from venture-backed environmental startups, high school green teams, and youth-led nonprofits making waves across the country.
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 Tri-City Students Can Win $500 for Videos about Water
The Alameda County Water District’s 4th annual WaterClips Student Video Contest invites students to make a 30-second video about the benefits of installing a water-efficient garden. Winners will be awarded scholarships totaling over $1,500. Students in grades 6-12 in Fremont, Newark, or Union City, but hurry as the deadline to submit entries is March 31. Teachers who sponsor winning videos can also win!
For more information about the WaterClips Student Video Contest, visit ACWD's webpage or send them an email.
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Attend an upcoming organic gardening webinar on Thursday, March 16, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. This free webinar will cover the benefits of building a healthy garden from the ground up; how to grow healthy plants with a water-wise approach; pruning tips; garden maintenance to reduce pest problems, along with a Q&A. The webinar is part of a series of free monthly classes about organic gardening and non-toxic pest control, offered throughout the 2023 growing season by the Clean Water Program Alameda County, of which the City is a member agency, in association with Our Water Our World.
With the end of California’s COVID-19 State of Emergency, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) revises their masking framework effective April 3.
- The updated guidance will move CDPH COVID-19 mask guidance for high-risk settings from strict requirements to recommendations, as population immunity and clinical outcomes have improved.
- The guidance will remove masking requirements in health care settings, long-term care facilities, correctional facilities and homeless, emergency and warming/cooling centers.
- Individual facilities may set their own requirements.
- The updated guidance is unchanged for general community settings and continues to use a framework based on the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels.
- Current CalOSHA rules, including mask rules for workplaces are not changing. Employers subject to the CalOSHA non-emergency COVID-19 standards must follow requirements for employees to mask for 10 days if exposed or exiting isolation.
- Regardless of the COVID-19 community levels, CDPH recommends:
- Wearing a mask around others if you have respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, runny nose, and/or sore throat),
- Wearing a mask in indoor areas of public transportation (such as in airplanes, trains, buses, ferries) and transportation hubs (such as airports, stations, and seaports).
- When choosing to wear a mask, ensure your mask provides the best fit and filtration (respirators like N95, KN95 and KN94 are best).
- If you’ve had a significant exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, wear a mask for 10 days.
Effective March 13 by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), a COVID-19 positive person may end isolation after five days if they feel well, have improving symptoms, and are fever-free for 24 hours, with less emphasis on testing negative.
- This change aligns with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations and takes effect on Monday, March 13.
- This change removes the guidance to test negative in order to leave isolation before Day 10.
- If an individual is well with no symptoms, or symptoms are mild or improving, and is fever free for 24 hours, isolation may end after 5 days.
- After ending isolation, persons should mask around others until 10 days have passed since illness onset but may remove their mask sooner than Day 10 with two sequential negative tests one day apart.
The COVID-19 local health emergency was lifted February 28, aligning with the end of the California emergency declaration.
- The remaining local COVID-19 health orders were also rescinded:
- Isolation, quarantine in corrections, long term care testing, lab reporting.
- Seasonal flu vaccine or mask requirement for healthcare workers remains in
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California Emergency Declaration ended Feb 28:
- Remaining State emergency regulatory waivers ended.
- State health orders (e.g., masking in health care) remain in effect as of today.
- The reduction of state resources and staffing will continue through end of the state’s fiscal year.
- Federal Disaster Declaration and Public Health Emergency to end May 11:
- Medi-Cal re-enrollment procedures to resume April 1.
- Medi-Cal COVID uninsured program to end May 31.
- FDA Emergency Use Authorizations end date TBD (not May 11).
- Free vaccine and medications will continue until federal supply runs out.
- Alameda County anticipates ongoing safety net access to vaccines and tests for uninsured.
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City of Fremont COVID-19 emergency legislation, proclamations, and orders not previously terminated, and which are tied to the state and/or county emergency orders, have expired as of February 28, 2023.
Emergencies are ending but COVID-19 will remain in our lives.
- The greatest risk of disease is for older adults and people with serious health conditions.
- As new variants emerge, the Health Care Services Agency (HCSA) will continue monitoring and reporting virus trends.
- Medical knowledge of short and long-term impacts of COVID-19 will expand, while treatments and vaccination strategies will continue to evolve.
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 In Case You Missed It ...
- How do you make use of or visualize information and data? Take our GIS Survey and help us develop a 5-year Strategic Plan to guide and improve GIS services and products.
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Rescheduled: Closure of Northbound I-680 in Sunol/Pleasanton between Sunol Boulevard and Bernal Avenue is now March 17-20, weather permitting.
- Federal & State Disaster Assistance: Deadline to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is Thursday, March 16, 2023. Residents who suffered uninsured losses due to storms which occurred from December 27, 2022 to January 31, 2022 may apply online or in-person. To apply in person, visit the Oakland Disaster Recovery Center at 7001 Oakport St. in Oakland (open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except Sundays, until March 16, 2023).
Help the City of Fremont turn your thoughts into actions!
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