| Welcome! What's in this issue? |
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Hello! Much has happened since our last newsletter, and I wanted to give you some insight focusing on: - Tanforan
- The City's budget
- Measure Q
More details follow, but I am sharing some thoughts upfront. |
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Tanforan is ahead of schedule. We
originally expected businesses to start closing at the end of this
calendar year but, last month, JC Penney announced its intent to close
in May. This is a clear reminder that Tanforan's transformation is well
underway. That said, I still see it as paving the way to better days
with the replacement of the aging mall with a modern, transit-oriented
village that balances life, work, shopping, and accessibility. The City's budget is under development. The
City’s annual budget this year will not be without its challenges. The
City Council has confirmed their top five strategic initiatives for the
next fiscal year starting July 1st. Some of them echo issues about
which many of you have already shared feedback. For example, the
out-of-order streetlights, addressing parking challenges in residential
neighborhoods, and a long-range plan for managing our properties
in a proactive and cost-efficient manner. Measure Q. Despite
some of these challenges, I viewed San Bruno's support for the new bond
measure as the green light to deliver on important capital improvement
projects. Over the next several years, Measure Q funds will
significantly expand our capital improvement budget. The plan for how
to use and prioritize these funds is still being developed, and a
proposal will go before the City Council on March 11. As always, thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm, and we hope to see you in the community. |
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| COUNCIL APPROVES BUDGET PROCESS AND NEW STRATEGIC INITIATIVES |
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On
January 24, 2025, the City Council held their Annual Strategic
Initiatives & Prioritization Retreat in preparation for developing
next year’s budget. During this session, staff presented the
financial forecast, potential concerns, Budget Principles, the Budget
Calendar, and a summary of newly proposed capital improvement projects
ranging from stormwater resiliency, parking improvements, new
streetlights, and security cameras.
During this session, the
Council reviewed 41 potential strategic initiatives, including
several proposed by the City Manager's Office, and after much
deliberation, ultimately selected five top priorities. These
following strategic initiatives were later approved by the Council on
February 11: - Implement a community engagement program,
- Perform strategic analysis of city-owned properties,
- Reassess the residential parking permit program,
- Mitigate illegal dumping and maintain street medians, and
- Complete the replacement of the regulated output streetlight system.
These
items will tentatively begin on July 1, when the new fiscal year
begins. However, many of them are already underway with initial
funding. Since December 2024 for example, we have been actively
replacing the inoperable streetlights impacting the Broadmoor and
Crestmoor neighborhoods. |
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These
initiatives will continue to be refined based on public and staff input
and the City Council's direction and feedback. The strategic analysis
of city-owned properties consists of the detailed evaluation of major
city-owned real estate assets to consider the ways that these
properties can expand the amenities available to residents, generate
valuable revenue for additional projects, or support the continued
prosperity and resiliency of San Bruno.
With that in mind, we
hope you will join us at City Council meetings to follow these
developments. Mark your calendars for the following dates:- 3/11/25 - review of the proposed Capital Improvement Plan, Measure Q spending plan, and Fiscal Year 2025 mid year budget amendments
- 4/22/25 - preview of the proposed operating budget
- 5/9/25 - final draft budget available for public viewing
- 6/10/25 - public hearing for City Manager's proposed budget
In
accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals
requiring special accommodations or modifications to participate in
this meeting are encouraged to contact the City Clerk’s Office at least
48 hours prior to the meeting by calling (650) 616-7061 or emailing
CityClerk@sanbruno.ca.gov. |
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| COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES |
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Ikebana Workshop
Discover the elegance of Ikebana,
the Japanese art of floral arrangement, at an upcoming workshop hosted
by the San Bruno Public Library on Friday, March 7 at 1 PM in the
Library's Community Room! Join Kyoko Lin, an expert with over 30 years
of experience who earned her instructor's certificate from the
Shin-Ikebono School in 2009, as she guides you through creating
beautiful, simple, and sophisticated Ikebana arrangements. Whether
you're new to this art form or looking to refine your skills, this
hands-on seminar will inspire your creativity and deepen your
appreciation for the graceful art of floral design. |
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Japanese Wagashi Virtual Cooking Class
The
San Bruno Public Library is pleased to present this special virtual
workshop on Friday, March 14 at 6 PM. Join Kimika Soko
Takechi and Larry Sokyo Tiscornia, esteemed instructors of the
traditional Japanese tea ceremony, for an engaging Zoom
workshop where you'll learn the art of making wagashi—delicious
Japanese sweets traditionally served during a tea ceremony. With
decades of experience and international recognition, Larry and Kimika
will guide you through the preparation of two classic wagashi: mushi
manju, soft steamed buns filled with sweet bean paste, and kinton
manju, beautifully crafted bean paste confections. Using simple, often
vegan ingredients, you'll create seasonal, edible works of art that are
perfect with tea or coffee. Easy-to-follow recipes will be provided,
allowing you to experience this Japanese culinary tradition from home.
Pre-registration is required. |
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San Bruno-Narita Sister City Community Welcome
On
Wednesday, March 26, the City of San Bruno will welcome a delegation
and students from Narita, Japan as part of the Sister City Exchange
Program. Join us at Centennial Plaza at 3 PM for performances from our
visiting students, the San Bruno Parkside School District, and taiko
drummers. This event rings in another year of collaboration and
cultural exchange between San Bruno and Narita. |
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| COUNCIL APPROVES RESOLUTION TO SELL CITYNET |
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On
January 28, the City Council approved a resolution authorizing the City
Manager to take necessary actions to sell CityNet Services to Comcast.
As the City worked to make this service high quality and fiscally
sustainable, staff ultimately recommended this sale for two reasons:- To redirect funds and staff for other critical services and capital improvements
- To potentially provide residents with improved internet service
This
transition from CityNet to Comcast will take place over several months
as Comcast establishes an interconnection with city systems and
migrates customers area by area. In the overwhelming majority of cases,
CityNet customers will only need to get a new television box from
Comcast, and they will be able to continue using their devices and
enjoying their favorite channels and internet service as they do today. |
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| SAN BRUNO BUDGET WORK RECEIVES RECOGNITION |
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San
Bruno was recently recognized by the Government Finance Officers
Association (GFOA) and the California Society of Municipal Finance
Officers (CSMFO). San Bruno’s budget work was acknowledged with the
GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and CSMFO’s Operating Budget Meritorious Award for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
These organizations consider hundreds of applicants, and it was a great
honor to have San Bruno recognized on both fronts! Judges, in the case
of GFOA, review an applicant’s budget book to see how well it serves as
a policy document, financial plan, operational guide, and
communications device, i.e. how well we communicate the why, what, and
how of San Bruno’s day-to-day and long-term business.
Aside from
this recognition, the City’s financial audit has also recently been
presented to the City Council for review. The City performs the
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) to ensure internal
processes comply with industry standards and regulations. The report is
prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(GAAP) in the United States of America for state and local governments
as promulgated by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The
report’s key purpose is to give an insight into the City’s financial
situation; staff’s ability to prepare it in a timely manner is also a
sign that internal processes are functioning properly. Importantly, an
independent auditor is also tapped to validate City financial
statements, fund balances, and processes to affirm that the content of
the report is accurate.
Beyond that, the report is a financial
deep dive into the information one can normally find in the City’s
budget book. Whereas fund information might be shown in the aggregate
in the budget book, this annual report provides line by line breakdowns
of each fund position and where revenues are coming from and what
services or work drive government expenses. It also provides historical
data on tax and bond revenues, as well as the City’s debt. The report is accessible on the City website. |
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| TANFORAN UPDATE: DECEMBER 2024 OPEN HOUSES, SURVEYS & MALL CLOSURE |
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JC Penny Closure As
many San Bruno shoppers are aware, JC Penney recently announced its
plans to close its Tanforan location this May. The pending closure of
one of the mall’s anchor tenants brings even greater challenges to the
mall’s operations as a retail-only entity.
It is precisely this
uncertainty in the retail landscape that precipitated the San Bruno
City Council to embark upon a study of its re-use and the ultimate
adoption of the 2021 Reimagining Tanforan Land Use Fact Sheet which
articulated a vision for redevelopment that is reflected in the
development proposal. Our Community Priorities Progress Report issued
in 2023 reaffirmed community support for that vision, and continuing
dialogue with residents has helped inform the project plans submitted
this past fall by the property’s owner, Alexandria Real Estate
Equities, Inc. (ARE).
As the property owner evaluates how the
May closure of JC Penny will impact its operations and short-term plans
for the mall, the City remains focused on its role in processing the
pending Project Application for this once-in-a-generation development
opportunity. |
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Project Application Status and Tanforan For San Bruno UpdatesFollowing
ARE's formal Project Application submittal last October, the City
Council and Planning Commission jointly held a Study Session in
November 2024 to review the current plan and identify key areas for
study as staff process the application.
In December, the City of
San Bruno then hosted over 100 community members at the Tanforan Public
Engagement Center for two Open House events. These meetings continued
the Tanforan For San Bruno community engagement process launched in the
fall of 2022 and served as an important milestone in the ongoing public
dialogue about Tanforan’s future.
Attendees were able to learn
about the developer’s Project Application, ask the development team
questions, and provide feedback around two important project elements:
the retail village and spaces for community gathering.
Nearly
180 members of our community also participated in digital versions of
these feedback opportunities on www.TanforanForSanBruno.com. Thank you
to all those that contributed input online and in-person. |
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| Next Steps On
March 18, the City Council and Planning Commission will jointly host a
second Study Session to review the project and receive an update on
progress. The project’s Environmental Impact Report is expected to be
published this fall, with a formal Council hearing expected to take
place in November 2025. More updates will be shared as they become
available.
The City appreciates the community’s continued
interest and involvement in this important development process. The
project represents a unique opportunity to ensure the Tanforan of the
future evolves to meet the ever-changing needs of the San Bruno
community. Please continue to stay connected by visiting the
www.TanforanForSanBruno.com website. If you have any questions, please
do not hesitate to contact tanforan@sanbruno.ca.gov. |
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| SAN BRUNO-NARITA SISTER CITIES UPDATE |
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The
Sister City Program between San Bruno and Narita celebrates its 35th
anniversary this year. The City of Narita, City of San Bruno, and the
San Bruno Park School District have been steadily planning to make sure
their visit in March goes without a hitch.
Please join us on
Wednesday, March 26, to welcome the students and delegates from Narita
to San Bruno. Festivities will be held at Centennial Plaza with a
performance from a Bay Area taiko troupe. Parkside Intermediate
School students will also be brushing up on their Japanese to help
students feel welcome -- and to prepare for their own journey across
the Pacific in July!
Consider watching this video detailing the
origins of this program and the very first delegation between Narita
and the City with a Heart. |
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 | | Informational video on the San Bruno-Narita Sister City program. |
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| Consider exploring some of these topics from San Mateo County and the community. |
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Sign up for emergency alert notifications through SMC Alert, smcalert.info.
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Riechel
Reports - Events
- City
of San Bruno CA
