Mountain View, California — Winners of the 2008 Mayor’s Awards were honored by Mayor Tom Means at a reception and ceremony at in the City Hall Rotunda yesterday, on November 17, 2008. The Mayor’s Award Program recognizes physical projects and social programs which have made a significant contribution to the City.
This year’s winners were selected from a large number of nominations submitted by community members. The twelve-member jury included representatives from local businesses, schools, City commissions, neighborhood associations, the community at large, and architecture firms. Mayor Tom Means noted “It was an honor to see the extraordinary programs that our community has developed. All winners and nominees should be proud of their projects and programs—they exhibit the best of Mountain View.”
Winners of the Social Program category are recognized for their contributions to the City in the areas of education, youth development, human services, tolerance and inclusivity. This year’s winners are:
Mountain View Reads Program – Social Contribution: The Mountain View Reads Together program strengthens social capital and civic engagement by encouraging Mountain View resident to read one book at the same time. In just two years, the program has involved over 1,000 people living and/or working in Mountain View. Each year a book is chosen based on the possibilities for interaction among people all ages, backgrounds, and cultures. Every Mountain View resident has the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities.
Freestyle Academy of Communications and Technology Program – Educational Contribution: Freestyle Academy engages students in their junior and senior years with an interdisciplinary, project-based curriculum emphasizing industry standard technologies and twenty-first century skills. The program engages students with a career-themed academy emphasizing personalized learning, interdisciplinary studies, and twenty-first century skills; and served to improve written, oral, and visual communication skills through project-based curriculum.
Reading Partners at Mariano Castro Elementary School Program – Educational Contribution: Reading Partners is a community-based organization located at Mariano Castro Elementary School that provides trained volunteer tutors for students struggling with their reading. Volunteers work one-on-one with students in the Reading Center for 45 minutes per week throughout the school year. Together, they work on skills such as phonics, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and fluency.
AVID Program – Mountain View High School – Youth Development Contribution: Advancement Via Individual Determination or AVID is an educational program students enroll in the Ninth Grade and work with the same teacher for all four years at Mountain View High School. Within the AVID class, students learn organizational skills, critical thinking, and engagement in Socratic questioning, participation in rigorous academics, study skills, and collaboration in their development of reading, math, and written language.
One Dollar for Life Program – Youth Development Contribution: One Dollar for Life effort is part of world-wide effort to help those in need in the developing world. This local project was founded by students and teachers in the Mountain View-Los Altos School District, which asks every high school student to give one dollar to the effort and then uses those funds to build schools and other infrastructure projects in the developing world.
Day Worker Center – Human Services Contribution: The Day Worker Center was acknowledged for humanitarian assistance for workers that provides an environment that is safe and accountable. The non-profit Center ensures fair wages for labor and decent working conditions for those seeking work when they find employment through the Day Worker Center.
Mountain View-Los Altos High School District’s Post-Senior and Adult Students with Developmental Disabilities Programs – Tolerance, Inclusivity and Involvement Contribution: This honor is for two interrelated program services—the “Post-Senior Program” which provides for special education students 18-22 years of age have enrolled in the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District’s Post-Senior program to receive small group instruction outside of a traditional classroom to prepare for employment opportunities; and the “Adult Students with Developmental Disabilities Program,” which assists students who are 22 years or older to become self-reliant and productive community members by providing quality instruction in vocational and independent living skills.
Winners of the Physical Projects category are recognized for high quality architectural design, landscape and site plan design, environmental enhancements, or significant remodeling efforts. These projects may be residential or commercial properties, parks or other community spaces. This year’s winners are:
645 Ellis Street (Specialty’s Café & Bakery and Peet’s Coffee & Tea) Renault & Handley Industrial & Commercial Real Estate — Architectural Design: The combination of a winning retail concept for Specialty’s pilot store for a new licensing arrangement with Peet’s Coffee & Tea, this dramatic yet highly functional architecture, makes 5,336 s.f. development at 645 Ellis Street a lively destination and focal point in the Mountain View Triangle Business Park. The architectural design utilized the arc of the property line on Fairchild Drive to create a curving glass wall, allowing the “action” going on inside to be clearly seen from the street, as well as providing for an abundance of natural light within the space. Additionally, the triangular lot configuration supported the provision for a south-facing exterior patio running the length of the building that comfortably provides seating for outdoor dining.
Devonshire Park – Landscape and Site Plan Design: This ¾-acre mini-park in the Evandale neighborhood features play structures, swing sets, picnic tables with benches, a lawn area, pathways and other amenities. The park was designed with input from the community and to retain the mature trees already on the property. The new neighborhood park brought increased open space and open area for playing sports, as well as a playground at a safe distance from the street.
Sierra Vista Park – Landscape and Site Plan Design: This 0.8-acre mini-park on Sierra Vista Avenue featured play structures, swing sets, picnic table, a large lawn area, pathways and other community amenities. The City worked with Regis Homes on the development of this neighborhood park. The process included several community design meetings to ensure the park met the needs of the area.
Google Solar Panel Installation – Environmental Enhancement: The Google solar project was the first corporate installation of on-site solar power of its kind. It demonstrated how solar power can be implemented practically and smoothly within the private sector. This project had tremendous environmental benefits and serves as a compelling and highly visible example of what organizations can do to provide clean, on-site renewable energy. The 9,212 solar panels installed on 197,000 s.f. of rooftops and solar carports produce a peak output of 1.6 megawatts of electricity, about 30% of the peak electrical demand for the buildings included in the project. This reduces Google’s carbon footprint by approximately 3.6 million pounds of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to about 4.3 million car miles.
Moffett Laundromat – Environmental Enhancement: Moffett Laundromat located at 400-B Moffett Boulevard is the first and only coin operated Laundromat, certified as a Green Business in Santa Clara County. The Laundromat became a green business by running more efficiently and environmentally friendly while maintaining revenue. The business owners are committed to educating customers and other businesses on energy savings and advantages of becoming a Green Business.
2440 West El Camino Real, 2nd and 3rd Floors – Silicon Valley Community Foundation – Commercial, Industrial or Residential Remodel: Silicon Valley Community Foundation enhanced space on the 2nd and 3rd Floors of their office facility in an environmentally sound manner. The renovation provided a community meeting space and office environment that supports a staff of over 110. The project included six new conference rooms for staff and public use and the use of environmentally friendly products throughout.
For Further Information — Should you have further questions or inquiries concerning this program, please contact Kimberly S. Thomas, Assistant to the City Manager at (650) 903-6210 or by E-mail at: kimberly.thomas@mountainview.gov Additional information about the City of Mountain View is available online at: www.mountainview.gov
*Editors Note: Digital pictures available by request.
