Hospital Retrofit Gets Underway

The Alameda Health System (AHS) Board of Trustees and the City of Alameda Health Care District Board of Directors announced on Tuesday that they have approved the funding for seismic retrofit work for Alameda Hospital. According to a jointly released press release, the $25 million project will assure that Alameda Hospital will meet state-mandated requirements that hospitals “retrofit, replace or remove acute-care services for buildings posing significant seismic risk.” 

The law required that California hospitals comply by Jan. 1, 2020, but the state’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development granted Alameda Hospital an extension to 2021. AHS and the city’s Health Care District entered into a joint powers agreement in November 2013. The following May, AHS took over operations at Alameda Hospital. The district retains ownership of Alameda Hospital’s real property and continues to oversee the parcel tax used for the hospital’s operation. 

Small Public Art Grants Pilot Program to Open in January

The City of Alameda Public Art Small Grants Pilot Program will kick off early next year with new funding opportunities for cultural events and physical art installations in Alameda. The program will provide small grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 to individual artists and arts organizations. All events and installations must be located within Alameda, in an accessible location, and free to the public.

Program guidelines and applications will be posted on the city’s website on Jan. 2, 2020. Applications will be due in late February, and grants will be eligible for use starting May 1, 2020.

A program overview and question-and-answer session will be held Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 2263 Santa Clara Ave., third floor.