Title
Adoption of Resolution Commending Lena Tam for Eight Years of Service to the City of Alameda as Councilmember. (City Manager)
Body
CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. ____
COMMENDING LENA TAM FOR EIGHT YEARS OF SERVICE TO
THE CITY OF ALAMEDA AS COUNCILMEMBER
WHEREAS, Lena Tam began her service with the City of Alameda in 2002 when she was appointed to the Health Care District Board of Directors as a founding board member, later serving as President of the Board; and under her leadership, the Health Care District Board of Directors were able to move Alameda Hospital into a sustainable, financially sound, and successful hospital; and
WHEREAS, Lena Tam was elected to the City Council on November 7, 2006, served as Vice Mayor from December 2006 to December 2008, was re-elected on November 2, 2010 and served until December 16, 2014; and
WHEREAS, as a Councilmember, Lena Tam was Alameda's representative with the League of California Cities, where she was elected to the Executive Board of the East Bay Division, and served as President of the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus of the League, and sat on the Environmental Quality Policy Committee and Water Task Force of the League; and
WHEREAS, Lena Tam served as Alameda's representative on the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, an organization that promotes solid waste source reduction and recycling among County residents, and served on the Energy Council that seeks funding to develop and implement programs and policies that reduce energy demand and create climate resilient communities; and
WHEREAS, during her first term, Councilmember Tam provided support and guidance for the building of the new Alameda Free Library, the renovation of the award-winning historic Alameda Theater, the building of the award-winning Shinsei Gardens housing complex, as well as the building of the Ruby Bridges Elementary School and Park; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, Lena Tam, along with Mayor Marie Gilmore, urged City Council to prioritize the building of the new recreation center for the Boys and Girls Club and to allocate Measure WW funds for this project; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, at the referral of Lena Tam, the Sunshine Community Task Force was created and was instrumental in adopting the Sunshine Ordinance on November 1, 2011, which promotes openness in government allowing meetings, records, votes, and other official actions to be accessible to the public; and providing sufficient advanced notice of meetings; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, Lena Tam was influential in the creation and adoption of the resolution declaring freedom for domestic violence as a fundamental human right; and
WHEREAS, prior to Lena Tam's service to the City of Alameda, she served and chaired the Alameda County Planning Commission, promoting sustainable land use practices through the Transportation Planning Element and adopted the County's Housing Element; and
WHEREAS, as a long-time resident of Alameda, Lena Tam has served as the president of the Alameda League of Women Voters, chair of the East Bay Asian Voter Education Consortium, and on the executive board of the National Women's Political Caucus and Save the Bay; and
WHEREAS, in 2005 Lena Tam was recognized by the California State Legislature as "Woman of the Year" for the 16th Assembly District.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Alameda does hereby express its sincere appreciation for Lena Tam's many years of service to the Alameda community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Alameda does hereby congratulate Lena Tam on her many accomplishments as a member of the Health Care District Board of Directors and the City Council and wishes her the very best in her future endeavors.
* * * * *
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in a regular meeting assembled on the 16th day of December, 2014, by the following vote to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of said City this 17th day of December, 2014.
________________________
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM City of Alameda
______________________
Janet C. Kern, City Attorney