The last three weeks have been filled with an unprecendented string of successes for the City of Dublin. Dublin’s recent roll started on Friday, June 17th with the announcement that we received the All American City Award from the prestigious National Civic League. I enjoyed watching our delegation’s performance and am very proud of the distinction of being designated one of the nation’s top 10 cities for 2011, and the only city in California to be recognized.
Early the following week, the Dublin City Council adopted its 2011-2012 Fiscal Year budget. For the first time in 3 years, the budget was adopted without any cuts to programs or services. Additionally, we did not have to use any funds from our Economic Uncertainty Reserve, meaning that we are structurally balanced. In fact, we are still moving forward with an ambitious capital agenda that includes funding for projects at Emerald Glen Park, Dolan Park, Kolb Park, the Alamo Canal Trail, Shannon Community Center, Civic Center, Maintenance Yard, Dublin Boulevard, Dougherty Road, St. Patrick’s Way, Golden Gate Way, and Amador Plaza Road. Studies will also be conducted for future phases of the Fallon Sports Park and Dublin Library.
On the business front, I’ve had the opportunity to attend 4 ribbon cutting events. On June 25th the Signature Development Corporation had a special event officially launching the Tralee residential opening. After years of thwarted development at Tralee with the residential foreclosure, Signature purchased the property and will be selling over 80 condos and leasing over 100 apartments. This is a great project for our City that will complement the surrounding commercial uses and help us realize the initial vision for the area of a vibrant mixed-use community. The businesses in the Tralee shopping center were very enthusiastic, and the atmoshpere at the grand opening was very festive.
Speaking of festive events, the grand opening of Sprout’s Farmers Market certainly qualifies as a festive occasion, where hundreds of people were in line prior to 7:00 a.m. in eager anticipation of the opening of the health-conscious supermarket. Sprout’s has received incredible reviews through it’s first week in operation and continues to be packed with customers. Later that day I also attended the ribbon cutting for Tucknott Electric, and the next morning was the very first customer to be trained at the new KoKo Fit Club in the Dublin Corners Shopping Center near Tomatina’s. The opening of KoKo Fit Club in the morning preceeded the ribbon cutting of the IGATE NEST incubator. Although located in Livermore, the incubator will serve as the first facility to be a part of the open campus movement to commercialize technology from both Lawrence Livermore and Sandia National Laboratories. Eventually we will also have incubator space in Dublin to connect with the labs, most likely near one of our BART stations.
Despite all of noteworthy accomplishments mentioned above, the highlight for many people in the last three weeks was the opening of the Dublin Heritage Park and Museums on Saturday, July 2nd. The project was almost a decade in the making with the partnership between the City, the Kolb family, and the Dublin Historical Preservation Association. It was very excting to tour the Kolb Family structures and learn so much about the region’s early history.. Kolb family members from all over the country came for the special occasion, while well over 1,000 Dublin residents attended the event commemorating Dublin’s history and celebrating our City’s newest recreational amenity. The Lions Club was there providing beer-battered bratwursts to highlight the Kolb family’s German heritage, and a great time was had by all.
To cap an amazing stretch, on July 7th the public announcement was made about Epicor Software moving its headquarters to Dublin. The $800 million software giant will be moving into 74,000 square feet of the Dublin Corporate Center at the intersection of Tassajara Road and Dublin Boulevard. This will create 300 additional high-paying jobs for the City and will help create momentum for other companies to locate in our City. The news of the Dublin relocation made the front of the Valley Times’ Business section.
And finally…..the circus is coming to town! That’s right…..Circus Vargas will be in Dublin. The big top is located across from the Hacienda Crossings Shopping Center next to I-580. After enjoying the Farmers’ Market 1st Thursday Wine and Concert Night on July 7th, I will be out enjoying the Circus on July 8th!
Tags: Tim's Travels by Tim Sbranti
Comments Off
