ALAMEDA

The city of Alameda is considering increasing its minimum wage and would like to hear from its citizens. The city will hold four workshops in the Rathskellar Room (basement) of the Elks Lodge at 2255 Santa Clara Ave. to discuss different scenarios for raising the minimum wage. The workshops will be from 6 to 8 p.m. July 17, 8 to 9:30 a.m. July 19, 2 to 4 p.m. July 19 and 6 to 8 p.m. July 19.

The minimum wage in Alameda now follows the state’s baseline requirements of $10.50 an hour for businesses with 25 or fewer employees and $11 an hour for those with more than 25 employees. The statewide minimum wage — including Alameda’s — will gradually reach $15 an hour by 2023 and will then increase annually with the cost of living.

Many Bay Area cities have passed local minimum wage regulations that go beyond state law to more quickly reach and exceed $15 per hour. In addition to these four workshops, you may also share your opinions by completing an online survey. The last day to complete the survey will be July 22.

If you are an Alameda resident or if you work in Alameda, please take the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/minwage1. If you own or manage a business in Alameda, take the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/minwage2. Surveys are available in Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese online at alamedaca.gov/wages. For more information, contact Development Manager Eric Fonstein at 510-747-6895 or at efonstein@alamedaca.gov.

— Sarah Henry, city of Alameda

First Presbyterian to host e-waste recycling fundraiser

The First Presbyterian Church of Alameda (FPCA) is hosting an e-waste recycling fundraiser from 9 to 4 p.m. July 28 at 2001 Santa Clara Ave. (at Chestnut Street).

Bring in your old computers, TV’s, cell phones., microwaves and small appliances. There is a recycling fee for some electronic items. Document shredding is also available at $10 per banker’s box. Church volunteers will also pick up items locally; call 510-908-4156 for pick-ups. Proceeds fund the church’s annual retreat in the Sonoma County redwoods. For more details call the FPCA office at 510-522-1477.

— Bruce Johnson, First Presbyterian Church

City’s Public Utilities Board approves 2019 fiscal budget

At its regular meeting recently, the city of Alameda’s Public Utilities Board approved Alameda Municipal Power’s (AMP) budget of about $63 million for fiscal year 2019.

AMP’s budget, based on a 1 percent overall rate increase, reflects the priorities set by the board through its adopted strategic plan, the annual planning workshop held in January 2018 and the annual budget workshop held in April 2018. AMP continues to provide rates that average 17 percent less than those of neighboring communities.

Major projects for fiscal 2019 include upgrades to substations, replacing breakers and preparing electrical infrastructure for new development projects. As a 131-year-old community-owned electric utility, AMP does not generate a profit on rates. AMP serves the community with a reliability record within the top fourth of all western U.S. utilities. AMP’s 2019 fiscal year began July 1 and runs through June 30, 2019. The fiscal 2019 budget materials are available at www.alamedamp.com.

— Kathleen Haley, Alameda Municipal Power

Berkeley professor to give talk on quantum computers

Social Science, a partnership of the Alameda Free Library and Wonderfest, is proud to present Dr. Norman Yao, an associate professor of physics at UC Berkeley, at 2 p.m. July 29 in the Main Library at 1550 Oak St.

In recent years, there has been a dramatic worldwide increase in scientific research toward — as well as financial investment in — the development of a quantum computer: a computational machine whose inner workings are governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. These tremendous efforts are motivated in part by the promise that quantum computers can perform tasks unthinkable for a classical computer. For example, to factor a 300-digit number on a 1 tetrahertz quantum computer would take about a second. The same task on a 1 tetrahertz classical computer would take nearly 150,000 years.

Yao will present a broad overview on the status of current efforts toward building a quantum computer. Then he will give a vision for the first types of algorithms and simulations that might naturally be performed on a near-term quantum computer. All are welcome to this free event, and no registration is necessary. More information on Yao and Wonderfest is at physics.berkeley.edu/people/faculty/norman-yao and www.wonderfest.org.

— Cosette Ratliff, Alameda Free Library

Marina plan includes innovative boat service methods

The plan for Alameda Marina, unanimously recommended by the Alameda Planning Board and City Council, includes a maritime commercial core with dry boat storage, a dockyard with three Service Ships, a boat hoist, and land area for a potential future boatyard. The board also recommended the developer create an request for quotation/information for a future boatyard operator.

Recognizing that Alameda Marina is a major part of the Island’s storied maritime history, plans to maintain a fully functional, working waterfront are at the heart of the redevelopment effort. The Master Plan proposal includes a ServiceShip at the core of a concept proposed for a modern, efficient Dockyard to serve Alameda’s boating community, in an effort to retain the traditional character and use of the property.

The uniquely designed ServiceShip – which saw use during the 2013 America’s Cup on the SF Bay – will serve as an “incubator” for maritime technicians and craftspeople, like Scott Koehler, Alameda Marina tenant and owner of Koehler Marine Specialties for 37 years (see video below), allowing co-op arrangements, apprenticeship programs and other synergies between various maritime-related service providers.

This direct access to the water could allow craftspeople to service boats quickly and more efficiently, while at the same time requiring half the laydown space of traditional boatyards. Having the ServiceShip dockside could provide traditionally under represented services, including engine installation, marine electronics, canvas repair and vessel maintenance in a dynamic in-water environment.

— Becca Perata, for Alameda Marina