(LIVERMORE, CA.) – The Livermore City Council approves a $10,000 arts education grant and a $750,000 solar maintenance agreement as a resident advocates for the adoption of open-source software.
During the Feb. 9 council meeting, long-time member and volunteer at the Livermore Valley Opera, Jim Schmidt, asks the council to support the $10,000 grant application. Schmidt highlights the importance of this grant to support its commitment to introducing young people to opera.
The funding would be used to hire a coordinator to manage educational school visits, helping overcome the current logistical challenges they face, and streamline the process of sending professional singers into local classrooms.
Photo Credit: Livermore Valley Opera
Before voting unanimously to approve the grant to the Livermore Valley Opera, Mayor Marchand states that these types of programs, “enriches all of us.”
After Schmidt’s address, a frequent voice at the city council meetings and free software advocate, Joe Lee, returns to urge the council to switch to Libre Office instead of Microsoft Office. He explains this will eliminate vendor lock-in, AI slop generators, a remote kill switch, and license fees.
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
As per the consent calendar, the council approves a five-year, $750,000 solar maintenance agreement with Daystar Solar, which is expected to reduce energy costs substantially.
Following this approval, resident Alan Marling states, “I thank you for investing in Livermore’s future,” Marling continues, “And I would like to see even more solar and wind energy installations combined with artistic displays.”
Additionally, the Library Board of Trustees, Lainie Pascall, presents an update that illustrates incredible resident engagement with the Livermore Public Library.
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
Pascall explains, “In a city with 88,000 people, the library had over 1 million item checkouts,” she continues, “If you invest in a fantastic collection, you have a safe and welcoming physical space, and you put forward diverse and inclusive programming, the community will utilize those resources.”
Pascall also addresses the library’s continued commitment to the Freedom to Read Act.
Later in the meeting, the President-elect of the Rotarian Foundation Board, Marc Roberts, expresses his support for naming the Livermore Railroad Depot’s community room after community member and Livermore historian Alan Frank.
Frank’s contributions included a career at Livermore Lawrence National Laboratory, authoring three books on Livermore’s history, and service to groups like the symphony and Heritage Guild.
“It says if a municipal facility is to be named for an individual, they should have made exceptional contributions to the community,” Roberts concludes, “and that certainly is Alan Frank.”
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
The council members vote to support the motion to dedicate the community room to the memory of Alan Frank.
Speaking of people who give back to our community, beautification committee member Kat Weiss presents Ed Hugo and Andrew Wang with beautification awards that recognize residents' dedication and commitment to improving community spaces.
Livermore resident since 2014, Ed Hugo has spent the last 8 years volunteering to pick up trash along various paths in Livermore, where, by his estimation, he has picked up over one ton of trash.
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
Weiss notes seeing, “Mr. Ed Hugo, cheerily walking the public roads, picking up garbage, and offering passers-by a blessed day.”
When introducing Andy Wang’s award, Weiss states that he has played a crucial part in alleviating the issue of illegal dumping by publicizing various resources that citizens can use.
Weiss says, “Every day he works to keep Livemore and the Bay Area safe and welcoming through his solo volunteer efforts,” and concludes, “Andy says small actions can create lasting change.”
Photo Credit: YouTube / City of Livermore
The council thanks these citizens for their help as Mayor Marchand notes the importance of their contributions, "As Gandhi said, what you do may be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it,” he continues, “if everybody steps up and just makes a small effort, it can make a tremendous difference in our community.”
If you would like to add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at mollyscheid7@gmail.com or leave a comment below.
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