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City of Fremont Council Meeting | October 17, 2023

Tom Wong October 17, 2023 0

Transcript Good evening. Welcome to the October 17 city council meeting. I’d like to call the meeting to order, and I’d like to invite Councilmember Yang Xiao to lead us in the Pledge. I pledge an allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, the visible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Roll call, please. Thank you. Council Member Shao. I’m sorry I missed. Council member saw one. I apologize. Present. I was ready. Council Member Shao is here. Council Member Casson. Here. Council Member Campbell. Here. Council Member Kang. Here. Vice Mayor Cox. Here. Mayor May. Here. Thank you so much. And at this time, I’d like to share the announcements that there’s vacancies on our Boards and Commissions. And the City Clerk’s Office accepts applications for the boards and commissions throughout the year. And if you’re interested in learning more about those opportunities, please see our Boards, Commissions and Committees web page on our city’s website. Or if you have questions, feel free to dial call the City Clerk’s Office at 510-284-4060. Emails submitted to the City Clerk Office are compiled and distributed to the City Council and considered part of our City’s public records. And if there’s any other questions, if you’re coming here today to join us, I would like to announce this meeting will go up to 11:30 p.m.. And we’ll allow for 30 minutes of general public comment. And if there are additional speakers for oral communications after the initial 30 minutes, we’ll take those at the end of the evening if time remains. And I would like to now turn this meeting over to our City Manager, Karina Shackleford, to make any announcements and introduce her staff at this time. Thank you, Mayor May. With us this evening, there is our city attorney, Rafael Alvarado. Across from me is our city clerk. Susan Gothier, and our management analyst, Alberto Quintanilla. And we also have our Sergeant at. Arms, who’s always here with us, sergeant Kenneth Quok. Thank you. No announcements this evening. Thank you. And at this time, I’d also like to then move the Consent Calendar. And the consent calendar are items that will be passed with one council vote, and the staff recommendation will stand. Does any member of the Council wish to remove any item from the Consent calendar? Any speaker cards for any items? Thank you. Is there a motion from the Council to prove the items? Oh, thank you. Sorry. Okay. Thank you. So I see. Vice Mayor Teresa Cox and also Councilmember Saw one. Is that a motion in a second? Yes. I would like to move that we accept the entire consent calendar and we. Have a motion and by second by Council Member Saw One. Please vote. Thank you. And the consent calendar passes unanimously with the staff recommendation standing. And at this time, I’d like to share this evening, we have two ceremonial items. There is a proclamation for hispanic Heritage Month, which just ended a few days ago, but we would love to still celebrate it’s traditionally September 15 through October 15. And so I would love to welcome Patricia to join me. Patty. Sorry. Montenejano. So bienvenido. And I look forward to seeing you down there’s. It longer arms. Thank you so much for coming. So again, bienvenidio. I would like to share this for Hispanic Heritage Month. Whereas Hispanic Heritage Month started as Hispanic Heritage Week under former President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, and was expanded by former President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30 day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. And whereas Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens and residents whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and the Central and South America. And whereas the diverse heritage of the Hispanic community has had a significant role in the economy, culture, education, all fields and identity of the United States, and made contributions to the City of Fremont’s success. And whereas the City of Fremont recognizes the many contributions and accomplishments of the Hispanic community, as well as their deep commitment to family and community, enduring work ethic, and the perseverance to succeed and contribute to society. And Whereas, the City of Fremont encourages the recognition of the rich cultural heritage and ethnic diversity within greater Tri Cities area as part of the City of Fremont’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and cultural awareness programs, and Whereas, the Fremont City Council encourages all to promote and join in the appropriate celebration and observances throughout the City of Fremont. Now, therefore, the City Council of the City of Fremont hereby declares September 15 through October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month in appreciation of the achievements and contributions made by members of the Hispanic community to the City of Fremont. So, congratulations. And thank you, Patty, for coming to accept. Thank you. Thank you very much. Just push I just want to say thank you for everyone for having this such a great moment for me. It’s my last one. It’s my last one in person as I’m terming out as a Human Relations Commissioner. But I’m so glad to have been part of wonderful eight years of being part of such a great community. I may be off the commission, but I tend to dabble and get myself into lots of trouble here and there. So I’m not completely gone. But thank you very much for tonight. This means a great deal to me and my family and everybody else. Thank you so much. Madam mayor, I would like to make a point of privilege that our commissioner, Patty Matago, was honored by assemblymember Alex Lee, as well as Alameda county supervisor Alyssa Marquez at the recent Hispanic heritage month celebration. And she was our honoree for this last month. So I’d just like to recognize that before our City Council that Fremont was in the House. Which is glaciers and bienvenido. We were so much appreciative of the fact that yourself and so many others have represented our community and continue to be able to celebrate this. And I hope that people will join us. In the past, we have had in our city, besides this honoree, we also have had three Spanish immersion programs, and we’re so blessed to have that resource here in our city, as well as be able to celebrate DS de le Muertes and other holidays. And so we look forward to continuing this as well. As I know I would say soccer, but my son would correct me and tell me it’s football. Football. And so I know that with the World Cup and other things coming, there are so many opportunities, and of course, we look forward to your continued participation and that we welcome that in our community. So thank you. Muches gracias. Also this evening, I’d like to be able to honor Filipino American History Month. And so I’d like to invite our former trustee, current trustee for New Haven. Sure, I’m going to read this Magadang. So, whereas California is proud to be home to the largest Filipino American population in the nation, that contributes greatly to shaping, advancing, and enriching our community, and nearly 100,000 Filipinos live in Alameda County, representing 6% of its total population. And whereas Filipino Americans are the third largest Asian American group in the United States and the second largest Asian American group in the state of California, and whereas the Filipino American National Historical Society recognizes the year 1763 as the date of the first permanent Filipino settlement in USA, in St. Malto, Louisiana. Malo. Yeah. Okay. Sorry my eyes are not as great as it could be. Whereas in November of 2009, the United States Congress passed its resolution to officially recognize October as Filipino American History Month. And whereas Filipino men and women have made valuable contributions to all areas of life throughout the California state and the United States, including government, business, education, arts and sciences, medicine and healthcare, law enforcement, and the military. And whereas Filipino Americans have a long history of engaging in social justice movements across the nation, including, but not limited to, the United Farm Workers Movement and the Hawaii Sugar Plantation. And whereas the Filipino American communities have shared their rich culture and traditions with neighbors and friends, while setting examples as model citizens and public servants. Now, therefore, the City Council of the City of Fremont hereby proclaims October of 2023 as Filipino American History Month at the City of Fremont encourages all the members of the community to continually engage in efforts to learn, respect, and engage the history of the Filipino American community. And thank you for holding that wonderful event, and perhaps you can share a little bit about that. And I think this is an annual event that you’ve been doing, and so we look forward to sasalamapole. Thank you. Take a real quick picture. Okay. Thank you. See what thank you very much on behalf of the Filipino National Historical Society in the East Bay, which is Alameda and Contacasta counties. And I would like to thank you for this proclamation. But I also would like to introduce who’s with me. This is Victoria Santos. He is one of the national Board trustees for the Northern California area. We have over 40 chapters, 43 chapters all around United States and Edith and Dennis back there. So we are here as member of funds to accept proclamation. And what Mayor May Lily May was sharing was that on October 7, we had a Filipino Historical History Month celebration at Italyong Veracruz Middle School. It was a very successful day. We had the topics of standing on your shoulders, representation matters and legacy. And we had a very good turnout of people. We have almost 500 people attendees at that event....

City of Fremont Council Meeting | September 19, 2023

Tom Wong September 19, 2023 0

Transcript Meeting, and I’d like to ask Councilmember Yang Xiao to lead us in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. May I have a roll call, please? Council member Sullivan. Present. Council Member Shao? Present. Council Member Cassin? Here. Council Member Campbell. Council Member Kang? Here. Vice Mayor Cox? Here. Mayor May? Here. And at this time, I’d like to share that there are vacancies on our Boards and commissions, and our City Clerk’s Office accepts applications throughout the year. And if you’re interested in looking at the Boards and commissions, please look it on our web page at fremont dot gov. Or please contact the city clerk’s office at 510-264-4060. Members of the public participating in this night’s evening, if you’re doing it so electronically with Zoom, please press the Raise Hand icon. Or if you’re calling in by, dialing star Nine. And I will make announcement before each section of the agenda, and if not noted on the Zoom screen, please kindly state your name. And if you’re representing an organization, please state the name of the organization that you represent. Emails submitted to City Clerk’s Office are compiled and distributed to the Council and staff and published in the City’s Agenda Center on Fremont Gov, and will be placed on file and considered part of the public record. I would like to announce that the meeting will go up to 11:30 p.m. This evening, if needed, and we will allow for 30 minutes of general public comment, and if there are additional speakers for oral communications after the initial 30 minutes, we will take the additional speakers at the end of the meeting. If time remains, I will now turn the meeting over to our City Manager, Karina Shackleford, to make any announcements and to introduce herself and her staff at this time. Welcome. All right. Thank you. Mayor May, good evening to you and to members of the Council. Thank you for the opportunity to introduce my colleagues. Raphael Alvarado, our city attorney. Across from me is Susan Gothier, our City clerk. And next to her is Alberto Quintanilla, our former assistant city clerk, now management analyst, but still helping us with the clerking duties. Thank you, Alberto. There is an item that I’d like to share this evening and just want to make the public aware that the city’s Homeless Response Plan vendor has completed an initial assessment and data analysis, and staff are working with the consultants to schedule next steps, which would include stakeholder interviews and focus groups, which will occur in the fall and winter. And also the isherwood and Washington underpass, which is future Bart parking. They’re scheduled for enhanced cleaning activities at the end of September, early October, so be on the lookout for that. Thank you. Thank you. And at this time, I’d like to have the consent calendar be reviewed the consent calendar item are agenda items that will be passed with one council vote and the staff recommendation will stand. Members of the public wishing to comment on an item on the consent calendar may do so by submitting a card if you’re in the audience or if you’re on zoom by pressing the Raise hand icon, or if you’re dialing in via phone by pressing soar, nine does the City Clerk I know, I see we won. Public speaker on the consent calendar items two J. Two J. Okay. Are there any members of the Council which wish to address some item on the consent calendar? Council member saw one? Yes. I’ll be recusing on item 2D, which is a centerville, railroad corridor, safety improvements that is adjacent to my office. Okay, thank you so much. 2d, which is the centerville, and two J, which is the ACTC project funding agreements. Okay. May I get a motion, please? Vice Mayor Cox? Yes. I would like to move that we accept the I’m sorry, your mic is off. I would like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda, except for two J, and then noted that our Council member someone, is disqualified for himself on 2D. Yes. Okay, may I have a second? Seconded. Okay. Seconded by Council Member Kang. Please vote. Can everybody please vote? I think it cleared again, so that’s why cassin council Member thank you. Please note, the consent calendar passes unanimously with the exception of item two J, which will be addressed separately. And 2D for the recusal of council Member saw one. Thank you so much. And at this time, I would like to proceed to the ceremonial item. And this evening, we have a proclamation for American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month. Thank you. So I’ve joined. Thank. I believe accepting the proclamation this evening will be musa tariq, who is the policy coordinator with the council on american islamic relationship for san francisco bay area office, accompanied by nasir iran from the saleem food pantry and salam food pantry and also salma ume from the muslim support network. So if you’d like to join me up here, I’d love to share this. Assalamu alaikum. And so this is a proclamation on behalf of American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month. It’s usually in August, but please note that our council is usually in recess in August. Whereas enriched by unparalleled diversity of its residents, the City of Fremont takes great pride in supporting individual religious freedom and is strengthened by many varied religious, political, culture and contributions of its diverse population, including those that practice Islam. And Whereas, over 90,000 Muslims live in Alameda County and made significant contributions to the well being of the City of Fremont, the State of California, and the United States. And Whereas, Fremont has a thriving Muslim community with full time Islamic schools, organizations and mosques that have been providing religious and community service for decades and have answered the call for help during the COVID-19 pandemic. And Whereas, the Islamic Society of East Bay has established their COVID-19 care program that provides financial aid, groceries, supplies and serves dinners at the Abode homeless shelter and delivers food to all vulnerable community members in partnership with Support Life Foundation for COVID-19 vaccine clinics that provided 6200 vaccines. And Whereas, the Islamic Center of Fremont and its volunteers have served hundred meals a day and continued to its monthly grocery bag delivery program for underprivileged of the Tri Valley area and in partnership with the Salam Food Pantry to serve the economically disadvantaged community. And Whereas. Founded in 2016, the Fremont based American Muslim Community Foundation is an innovative and award winning national community foundation that is committed to its social needs, racial justice, and health equity initiatives by distributing more than 8 million to over 400 nonprofits, then creating donor advised funds, giving circles, distributing grants, and its building endowments. Now, Therefore, the City Council of the City of Fremont hereby honors and recognizes the month of September 2023 as American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month in the City of Fremont and acknowledge the rich history and contributions of the Muslim community. So I just wanted to say welcome. I know that over the years I’ve had the opportunity to welcome many of your organizations. And I know our council joins me in sharing our warmest appreciations for the outreach that you’ve provided, whether it’s for our small businesses, for the vaccines, for the health and wellness and public safety within our communities, and certainly in these times that have been trying. I think that we are very pleased and honored to be able to partner on awareness of hate and also to be able to spread more hope and love with one another. So I’d love to present this to you’re. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and assalamu alaikum, my dear brothers and sisters, I am deeply honored to stand before you today as we accept this proclamation from our esteemed Mayor May recognizing American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month. This proclamation not only celebrates the rich cultural tapestry of our diverse community, but also highlights the importance of unity and understanding among our fellow citizens. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Mayor May and the City Council for their unwavering support and for acknowledging the contributions of American Muslims in our great city. I also want to take this moment to express my gratitude to all the dedicated individuals who made our organization Muslim Support Network, possible. We are committed to serving the elderly Muslim population in our city, and this proclamation is a testament to impact of our work. Every fourth Monday of the month, we invite our elders to the Age Well Center and set up some activities to help them heal from their physical and mental health issues, relax, and connect with other members of our society. We have also helped the elders in our community with difficulties overcoming the language barrier. I would like to especially thank the Fremont City Human Services Department for their continued support for past 18 years. May this American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month be a time of reflection, unity and appreciation for the diversity that makes our city great. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor, city Council members and assalamualaikum. This is California’s 8th year designated as the Muslim American Appreciation and Awareness Month. We truly appreciate the City of Fremont honoring this month on behalf of Slam Food Pantry, which is a local, nonprofit, volunteer based and community funded food pantry established in 2016, serving families and individuals facing food insecurity in Fremont, Hayward and Union City. Over the past six years, we’ve created a network with other nonprofit organizations, restaurants and local businesses to support our cause. I’m thankful for our energetic volunteers some of them are here, who are predominantly high school volunteers and our adult volunteers supporting us through the past years. Since the pantry opened in 2016 of April, we’ve not missed one single distribution day, even during the pandemic. As American Muslims and integral fabric of the local community, we look after our neighbors who are veterans, disabled, homebound, and unable to get to groceries, and neighbors who are facing challenges at the end of the month to get groceries on the tables. We carry our Islamic values and human values and love serving them throughout the month. We are inculcating the same values in our children to be responsible and caring. Slum Food Pantry and its volunteers are humbled to receive the recognition during the American Muslim Appreciation Awareness Month. This pro commission signifies the daily role American Muslims play in their communities where they live and raise their children as caring citizens. We truly appreciate the recognition. Thank you all. Everybody. I wasn’t anticipating making a public comment today, but that’s okay. I’m Musa Tariq, the policy coordinator at the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of Care, the Council on American Islamic Relations. And I just wanted to say thank you to everybody, particularly in the Muslim community, for showing up today for this proclamation. Out of all the City Council meetings I’ve been to for the Muslim Appreciation Awareness Proclamations, this has one of the largest turnouts, and that’s not very surprising considering the robust Muslim community in Fremont. And we have members of our staff that also are residents of Fremont, including our Executive Director, Zara Bilu. So I just wanted to say thank you for all the people showing up today and mobilizing for your community and for all your great efforts. Thank you so much. To who are you talking to? Tells Theory to go home. Thank you to all who have joined us this evening. At this time, I’d like to go on to public actually public communications, and that’s for items that are not agendized this evening. So if you are interested in addressing an item that’s not agendized this evening, if you’re in the audience, please submit a speaker card. Or if you’re a member of the public on Zoom, please do so by raising the raise hand icon, or if dialing in by pressing Star nine. And again, if not noted on Zoom screen, please state your name when speaking on behalf of an organization and state the name of the organization you are representing. Do we have speakers? We have three cards so far. Joe Rose, followed by Kelly abrupt. Welcome. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor May and council members. My name is Joe Rose, and I’m executive director for Nami Alameda County South. That’s the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and we’re having our annual walk here in Fremont. Although we serve all of Alameda County, we’re really grateful for the city of Fremont to be a hub for our walk at Lake Elizabeth....

City of Fremont Council Meeting | September 12, 2023

Tom Wong September 12, 2023 0

Transcript Meeting to order, and I’d like to ask Councilmember Campbell to please lead us in the pledge to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one. Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and. Justice law may I ask for a roll call, please? Council member. Soar Present. Council Member Shao? Present. Council Member Cassin? Council Member Campbell? Present. Council Member Kang? Present. Vice Mayor Cox? Present. Mayor May? Here. So, at this time, I’d like to share. There are vacancies on our Boards and Commissions, and the City Clerk’s Office accepts applications throughout the year. If you’re interested in learning about those, please go to our website at the Committee’s Commission’s webpage at fremont dot gov. Or feel free to contact our City Clerk’s Office at 510-284-4060. Members of the public wishing to participate this evening via electronic meeting may do so and speak under Public Comment by clicking on the Raise Hand icon, or if dialing in by dialing Star Nine. I will make an announcement before each section of the agenda, and if not noted on the zoom screen, please kindly state your name. Or if you’re representing an organization, please state the organization that you’re representing. So, in addition, please note that emails submitted to City Clerk’s Office are compiled and distributed to the City Council and staff and published in the City’s Agenda Center on Fremont Gov, and are placed on file and considered part of the public record. I’d like to announce that this meeting will go up until 1130 this evening, if needed, and we’ll allow for 30 minutes of general public comment, and if there are additional speakers for oral communications after the initial 30 minutes, we will take those additional speakers at the end of the meeting. If time remains, I will now turn the meeting over to our City Manager, Karina Shackleford, to introduce her staff at this time and to make any announcements. All right. Thank you, Mayor May. Joining me this evening is city attorney Raphael Alvarado, our city clerk, Susan Gothier, and our management analyst, Alberto Quintanilla. As far as announcements are concerned, I’d just like to soar that on August 11, the City announced a notice of funding availability for the creation of affordable housing in Fremont. There is approximately $30 million in funding available for new construction of affordable rental developments or sustainable rehabilitation of existing market rate developments for the purpose of creating new affordable rental housing for extremely low, very low or low income households. To learn more, visit the City’s website. And the deadline to submit proposals is October 31. That’s it for announcements. Thank you very much. Thank you. At this time, I’d like to note for the Clerk, please, that our Council Member Cassin has arrived, and then also that the Consent Calendar is next on our agenda. And the Consent calendar are items that will be passed with one council vote and staff recommendation will stand. Are members of the Public wishing to speak on the consent calendar may do so by pressing the Raise Hand icon or if dialing in by dialing Star Nine. Does the City Clerk’s Office have any speakers on any of the items on the consent calendar in person? We have one card for two h, and we have somebody who’s raised their hand on Zoom. So let’s check that one. Suresh. Which item do you want to speak on? I could not get the agenda. No, I was to only speak during the open session. I was unable to see the agenda on the website, but I’ll maybe figure that out later. What’s going on for oral communications? We’ll note that. Yeah. Okay. And then, Council Member Cox, did you want to pull in an item or did you want to okay, so I. Would like to move that we move everything on the consent agenda except for two h. Second. Okay. Moved by Council Member Cox, seconded by Council Member Kang. Please vote, and the consent calendar carries unanimously. Thank you. And then this evening, I’m also next will be our ceremonial items. And the person is not here yet. Okay. Why don’t we should we skip that until it’s available? They are available. We’ll continue with next are public communications, oral communications, and I believe we have at least one speaker for that. And those are for the items that are not listed on the agenda this evening. And any person desiring to speak on. Those matters may do so under oral. Communications of the Public Communications Section. And communications received again via email will be placed on file, considered part of the public record. Members of the public wishing to do so at this time may do so by clicking on Raise Hand icon if you’re using Zoom as an app, or by dialing in by dialing Star Nine. And again, if not noted on the Zoom screen, please kindly state your name. And when speaking on behalf of an organization, state the name of the organization you are representing. Thank you so much. Do we have speakers for we’re going. To call on Kelly Abrew first for oral communications. Okay. Welcome, Kelly. In Castor Valley. They have something called the Hayward area Recreation District, and they do parks. And they also have something that’s kind of like a city council. So yesterday they had a State of the Parks presentation and update by the Recreation and Park District. And the City of Fremont has something similar. It has the EBRPD City Liaison Committee that is supposed to meet three times a year. Three times a year. Now, it met twice in 2016 and 2017 and 2018 and 2021. But in 2019, it met just once, just once in 2020, just once in 2022, and it met on April 27 of 2023. That’s once. So it sounds a couple of years of once and a couple of years of twice that averages out to what? One and a half supposed to be three. And if you ask, well, what are the issues? Well, maybe you should turn on look at the Sacramento Bee. They covered the story. The big news, the destruction of the pole at Mission Peak. How about Cron? Four Bay Area news. How about San Francisco Chronicle? How about the San Jose Mercury? I could give you a whole list of articles about what’s going on in the park over there. You would think that the politicians would be interested. Even the city politicians seem to have an interest in Mission Peak when it’s time to restrict parking, when it’s time to cut park hours, when it’s time to limit how many restrooms we build and build. Thank you. The next speaker is suresh. Hi, can you hear me? Yes. Ten days ago, the Mission Peaker pole at the summit of Mission Peak was sliced in half and tossed 200ft down the side of the mountain. The City council has been eerily silent on this act of vandalism, but the council has had many, many long and lively debates regarding access to Mission Peak. Back in November 2021, a council member made the following statement about the pole imagine if we had that right on Mission Boulevard. You don’t have to climb the peak. Well, it seems that phase one of Operation Mission Peaker has been successfully executed. We are now waiting to find out when and where the pole will be reinstalled on Mission Boulevard so that, as the council members suggested, in 2021, you don’t have to climb the peak. You could just take the photo right there and then invite them for the experience. Thank you. There’s no additional speakers. Thank you very much. I know this is not agenda’s item, but I know that our city staff has been working in concert with the East Bay Regional Parks who owns Mission Peak, and so I just wanted to leave it at that. And they will be sharing an update as they work in concert. Certainly all of us as community members are sad whenever there is vandalism of any facilities in our city, be it park or other city facilities. And this is certainly one that’s well loved and well recognized in our community. And so thank you for all the care from the community members who have spent time recreating in our city, and thank you for the continued interest in working in partnership with East Bay Regional Parks. At this time. I will also then turn it back to see if there’s the recipient, I think has arrived for this evening’s ceremonial. That’s what I was going to say. Thank you and I’ll be coming down, but I just wanted to say that this evening we’re sharing a proclamation for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which is the month of September 2023. Thank you. I’ll be right download you. Thank you so much. And this is for Childhood Cancer Awareness. Month in September 2023. Whereas according to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, childhood Cancer is the leading cause of disease for children in the United States. Whereas, according to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, approximately one of every six children is not expected to live past five years of age. And whereas the American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 9910 children United States under 15 years of age will be diagnosed. With cancer in 2023. And whereas the potential years of life lost to childhood cancer and the potential years of life saved by treatment extend all exceed all other cancers with exception of breast cancer. And whereas most children cannot be treated at a local hospital, and families must face the disruption of relocating to receive treatment at a regional cancer center. And whereas the result of major treatment advances in recent decades, more than 85% of children with cancer now survive five years or more. And whereas the survival rate of children with cancer has significantly increased since the mid 1970s when the five year survival rate was approximately 58% and whereas survival rates vary depending on the type of cancer and other factors and whereas due to children’s bodies still growing and cancer treatments largely geared toward use on adults, children are more likely to experience long term side effects from treatments. Now, therefore, the City Council of the City of Fremont hereby proclaims September 2023 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and encourages individual businesses and organizations throughout the City to participate in activities and events that promote awareness of childhood cancer and support families affected by this devastating disease. Not just during September, but throughout the year, the City of Fremont celebrates the progress of all related organizations in aiding children battling childhood cancer while simultaneously renewing its commitment to that cause. And so, I have here tonight, Ms. Metta, if you would come and share some words....