Sunday, January 25, 2015

Improving our economy by painting utility poles


Smart looking utility box
Pacifica Tribune/Horace Hinshaw, Editor-in-chief, 1/20/15.  "This is the way I see it."

Oh yes, this will be a big improvement
....  "The City is in the infancy stage of working with PG&E to decorate utilities poles in the community. Last week the subject was on the agenda of the Economic Development Committee meeting; however, the PG&E representative wasn't able to attend, so the agenda item was tabled.

The idea is for Pacificans to submit art designs for poles to a selecting committee. Most likely the schools will be involved with children drawing a design.

I'm believing the purpose is to turn some unsightly utility poles into nice looking art work. It reminds me of years ago, when many cities painted fire hydrants. We'll hear more about this decorative program in the upcoming months."  Read article.

Note photographs:  decorating pole from Tom Hawthorn's blog, "Victoria, BC, Fernwood neighborhood"; utility box from Dullroar. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think its a terrible waste not having Horace working at city hall.

Anonymous said...

Sorry rugrats, but nothing says Hippie like artistically painted telephone poles. Where else but Pacifica would a city-sponsored Economic Development Committee come up with this? Stick a fork in this town already.

Anonymous said...

Maybe in Berkeley but at least they have an economic base!!

Anonymous said...

252 Yeah. Berkeley. With a UC Campus you know they have the smart hippies. Pacifica? Not so much.

Anonymous said...

very pretty idea. some of us like hippie dippy stuff.

Anonymous said...

Towns throughout San Mateo County have painted their utility boxes. Check out Downtown San Mateo association for just one of many examples: http://dsma.org/gallery/

Hope that Pacifica goes the route that they did with professional artists taking part in beautifying areas of the city and making it unique and special.

I LOVE PACIFICA! said...

This is not a bad idea, except shouldnt we be paying our Pacifica artists to do some public art? Utility poles and boxes, yes, been there done that in other towns, and here it's another attraction for the city to publicize through our wonderful chamber.

I forsee a map of all these festively painted locations. Or it could be on a public art map that includes murals. Just another reason to visit Pacifica, have a lunch here, and buy a trinket in Rockaway. Pacifica is a city of ART! City of ACTION!

I would like to shout out a big hug of support for Mary Ann at tonight's council meeting. She really cared about the fire victims as do everyone in Pacifica. Buy a cup of coffee for our heroic firefighters and police!

Anonymous said...

Yes, by all means, let's be pretty in our poverty. This idea was hatched by an Economic Development Committee? Awesome. Positively twirly!

Kathy Meeh said...

"I love to play game Pacifica", 1035, FYI:

Mary Ann's comments were about how efficient first responders were today, notifying neighborhoods, and containing the fires. She noted nearby city first responders joined, which is another reason to keep our own city fire and police departments.

Item 5, public hearing. The PG&E suggested painted telephone poll projects (possibly for school age children) was continued to a future meeting. (No hearing tonight).

Item 6, San Pedro Headlands land transfer to San Mateo County. Mary Ann cared about preserving the entire Headlands area, joined with Devil's Slide Park.

Something new. When Mayor Karen Ervin introduced the Consent Calendar (pass through agenda items), she asked if any member of the public would like to comment. Some people like to bitch about hidden items on the Consent Calendar, tonight no need. That's an improvement.

Anonymous said...

Tough to share "I Love Pacifica's" unbridled enthusiasm for just about anything when we still know squat about the unaccounted for 4 million. I know, picky, picky, picky.

Madd Queen said...

EDC painting power poles! What's next, beautification committee reaching out to businesses to relocate here. We've all fallen down the rabbit hole.

Anonymous said...

12:14

Is Karen still on her mission to rebuilt Palmetto Avenue?

Anonymous said...

Asking people in the audience if they want to comment on items on the consent calendar is like asking the condemned if they have any last words. It's melodramatic but meaningless. I do think Karen Ervin always means well.

Kathy Meeh said...

125, not really. A phone call in to a city councilmember in advance of the City Council meeting could move an item from the Consent Calendar to Consideration. But if an individual attending the public meeting wants to comment on a Consent Calendar item, they were reminded by the Mayor they may. That's a welcome invitation,-- all part of "loving Pacifica", right?

Anonymous said...

Depends what the item is, Kathy, and why it's on the consent agenda in the first place and who wants it there. Let's not forget the past, recent and distant, while we blow butterflies and ladybugs out of our ears!

Kathy Meeh said...

305, colorful, but not this issue. I can't remember prior when the public has been asked if they would like to speak on a Consent item. Again, that is an improvement. Hurray for Mayor Karen Ervin!

Some items that probably should be Consideration do appear on Consent. Those are easily changed to Consideration, but your conspiracy theory is of interest: "why it's on the consent agenda in the first place and who wants it there." Probably good to work on that nexus next year when Sue Digre becomes Mayor again.

Anonymous said...

That reminds me, Kathy, of my all time fav Consent Calendar item.... the option to buy that property on Pedro Point just last year. That was smooth. Part of this council's "Trails to An Economy" fiscal juggernaut. Oddly enough, that old trail-lovin' Digre voted against it and as I recall her reason was lack of public notice. Go figure! Who can forget that moment when O'Neill asked "This is a public meeting, right?" Democracy in action if not a model of open, transparent government. I heart Pacifica!

Anonymous said...

Does anyone think Ms Mary Ann could care less about what residents and the taxpayers think? She could care less.

Kathy Meeh said...

1/27, 439, let's put your comments of that Fall City Council Meeting in their actual context.

Yes its amazing Councilmember Sue Digre would want to delay the purchase option of the private David Colt property to complete the California trail through Pacifica, when potential grant funding for this transaction would become available first of the next month (as stated by then Mayor Mary Ann Nihart). Negotiations for the Colt property had been ongoing for years (as noted on the City Council Agenda in Closed Session).

There was a public comment that said the Colt property purchase option for the California trail should be discussed at a public meeting. Councilmember Mike O'Neill's comment to the city attorney which followed could be translated as: "Doesn't this confused speaker know he's at a public meeting?"

And so it goes...

Anonymous said...

237 Mary Ann cares about Mary Ann. She'll cry for a sad story or a uniform, probably a song or two, but personal ambition guides every decision. You better be useful! That's a politician.

Anonymous said...

Yo Meeh! Moving an item from the Consent Calendar to Items for Consideration in the same meeting might meet your standard for public notice but I suspect with you it's on a case by case basis, right? Same way with this council. Trust us, trust us, oh why won't you trust us?

Kathy Meeh said...

213, no, I think my comments were clear enough, and did not address any issues of what might determine City of Pacifica standards for Consent Calendar or Public Hearing/Consideration City Council Agenda items.

Why don't you make that inquiry of the City, and get back to us?