Update News: 3

Costs for grade separation jump

Fremont City Council approved two cost increases for the massive Washington Grade Separation project Tuesday, citing unexpected delays over multiple years and under-estimates of construction and management costs.

Last April, council authorized staff to execute a relocation agreement for $287,008 with a 15 percent contingency, for a total not to exceed $330,059.

The contract was originally estimated at $4,201,764, and it was believed at the time that work on the project would begin within six months. It was also estimated that work would take 34 months to complete, for a total contract duration of 40 months. The city approved a $4.6-million increase for S & C Engineers Tuesday, making it an $8.8-million contract.

The contract was originally estimated at $4,201,764, and it was believed at the time that work on the project would begin within six months. It was also estimated that work would take 34 months to complete, for a total contract duration of 40 months. The city approved a $4.6-million increase for S & C Engineers Tuesday, making it an $8.8-million contract.

The overall construction cost estimate at the beginning of the major project was $33.5 million.

As a result, S & C's contract duration increased from a 40-month total to 73 months, and total construction costs doubled Ð to $66.7 million.
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Mayor asks managers to explore charter city feasibility

Mayor Bob Wasserman asked the city manager and city attorney to probe the feasibility of becoming a charter city during Tuesday's Fremont City Council meeting.

The city last proposed becoming a charter city in 1997, a plan later rejected by voters.

"In the last few months it's come up again," Wasserman said Tuesday. "I'm curious to see now if there's anything different than there was 10 years ago."

A charter city can provide for any form of government. A charter city is also not bound by California state laws or election codes, meaning a charter city can hold elections when it sees fit and operate under its own rules and procedures.

In 1998, Fremont voters rejected Measure P, which would have allowed the city to oversee the operations of its administrative departments including compensation, tenure and retirement of school board members.

Councilman Steve Cho was supportive of Wasserman's request, as long as the city did not undertake a study to begin the charter process.

"We went out 10 or 11 years ago, spent a lot of time and money to look at the feasibility of being a charter city, and it didn't pass with the voters," Cho said. "I think we should take the charter from 10 years ago as a basis, and look at what's changed in the last 10 years."

Fremont City Manager Fred Diaz said he would present a feasibility report to the council in May.
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Council mulls contribution for orchestra

Fremont City Council Tuesday debated granting $15,000 to the Fremont Symphony Orchestra, and was concerned that other groups may come forward asking for money the city contends it does not have.

Treadway wrote that fund-raising events, considered the primary sources for the symphony, have fallen short of meeting the budget for two years.

As a result, the board has taken out loans from local banks, borrowing up to the symphony's endowment of $45,000

This fundraiser will be aimed at paying back bank loans already taken out, and returning to fiscal solvency.

Treadway said that instead of a May 10 Pops Concert, the symphony will hold a "Save Our Symphony" fundraiser.

He noted in the letter that the $15,000 requested from the city would be a one-time grant, used to help the symphony meet current financial obligations and keep a minimum staff in place during a restructuring period.

Vice Mayor Bill Harrison suggested the city give the symphony the money in the form of a loan rather than a grant.

Councilman Bob Wieckowski said he did not believe additional groups would come forward if it were explained that this funding would be a one-time donation for a group that had been in Fremont for more than 40 years.

Last June, the council approved a one-time donation to the Fourth of July parade in the amount of $15,000.

At that time, Councilman Steve Cho argued that because the parade was once a city-run event, the city should be able to help out with funding.

Mayor Wasserman said he liked the idea of loaning the symphony the money. He added other event organizers or representatives could try to convince the council that their own events are special as well.

City Manager Diaz is expected to return to a future council meeting with funding options.