Boost to city tax revenue, San Bruno

Tanforan sold, Google (YouTube) bought.

The Daily Journal/Austin Walsh, 8/24/15. "Tanforan, YouTube building sasles lifts revenue in San Bruno: Major: Property purchase show city is open for business."

San Bruno:  Shop

Cool tech employment

"The recent sale of two corporate landmarks in San Bruno has brought forth a boon for the city in tax revenue from the purchases. The Shops at Tanforan sold for $174.4 million to Australian investment fund QIC, according to a press release Monday, Aug. 17, and Google spent $88 million to purchase the YouTube headquarters in twin office buildings at 900 and 1000 Cherry Ave. earlier this month, according to the Silicon Valley Business Journal.

The sales generated about $68,400 combined in property transfer tax revenue for San Bruno, which splits the tax proceeds roughly in half with San Mateo County each time a property changes hands, according to San Mateo County Clerk Mark Church. 

.... In recent years, the city’s finances have begun to rebound thanks to a thriving local economy, as officials passed a $40 million budget in June. .... Tanforan is one of the city’s largest employers, and sources of revenue, contributing heavily to the $8.1 million officials have budgeted to receive in sales tax proceeds this fiscal year.There are 108 stores and services in the two-story shopping center, located at 1150 El Camino Real, between Highway 101 and Interstate 280.  ....  ... Despite the challenges associated with becoming a target of corporate investment, Mayor Ruane said there is an overall benefit for the city. “This is very good for San Bruno,” he said."   Read article.

Reference. City of San Bruno, California.  City-Data.com, population 42,443. Tanforan Shopping Center.  Google, Inc. (YouTube), San Bruno (Main Office), Careers.  Related. Google (YouTube), Find Law.  San Franciscol Business Times/Cory Weinberg, Reporter, 8/17/15. "San Bruno's Tanforan shopping mall sells to Australian investor."

Photographs. Tanforan Shopping Center from Forest City diversified Real Estate.  Google YouTube, San Bruno from their hiring Glass Door.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Bruno downtown revitalization is in process

The Daily Journal (San Mateo County), Heather Murtaugh, Staff, 1/8/12.  "Mayor optimistic about San Bruno's future." 

San Bruno proposed Caltrain station

"San Bruno’s future is bright with plans to build and grow in the coming year, Mayor Jim Ruane said at the State of the City Monday.

Tax revenue is up, development proposals are coming in, and the city is working on long-term plans for its water and sewer infrastructure, Ruane said yesterday during a San Bruno Chamber of Commerce luncheon held at Skyline College. Ruane outlined a number of projects now in the works upon finishing the Transit Corridor Plan — which is leading to new development ideas in and around downtown — to continuing to be involved at the state and national levels on talks about utility safety.  Simply put, Ruane described many reasons for his optimism.

Early in 2013, San Bruno will finish the vision for the San Bruno transit corridor, Ruane said. Work to create a plan to support downtown started in fall 2008 but was sidelined in 2010. Efforts to get the plan in place are moving forward again. Despite the interruption in planning, the goals remain to promote downtown as a destination while enhancing local character and economic vitality. The vision includes embracing the eclectic architecture of San Mateo Avenue, creating large mixed-use building to drive traffic into the area while supporting the community’s cultural diversity.  Part of the plan includes increasing the height limit up to seven stories. San Bruno currently has an overall height limit for buildings of 50 feet or three stories, whichever is more restrictive. The change will require voter approval, said Ruane. Getting moving on the plan has those interested in revitalizing the area coming forward."   Read article.

Reference -City of San Bruno,   City of San Bruno Community Development,  Economic Development,  Future downtown public process.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Financing city services reviews highest county salaries, part 2 of 2

Part 2 of the financing city services article is  comparative review of highest paid San Mateo county salaries.  Salaries are expressed monthly, so do the math x 12 for these annual salaries.  Does such a "highest paid" city to city comparison within a county mean much of anything?  I don't think so, because city size, conditions, relative general staff cost, etc. are not taken into consideration. 

Deserves the Red Herring award?

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, 2/8/12. "Financing City Services Task Force ponders sunset clause for sales tax increase; reviews county salaries." "How Pacifica salaries stack up to other San Mateo county cities."

Director of Administrative Services Ann Ritzma gave the task force members information about selected jobs in Pacifica and their rate of pay here and in other cities in San Mateo County. She provided data for City Manager, Finance Director/Administrative Services Director, police officer, fire captain, community development director/planning director, maintenance worker and public works director.

The highest paid city manager is Hillsborough/$27,462 per month, followed by Daly City/$27,318, South San Francisco/$26,172, Belmont/$25,561, San Mateo/$24,975, Redwood City/$24,902, Menlo Park/$24,655, Foster City/$23,551, Brisbane/$23,185, Burlingame/$23,100, San Carlos/$22,642, San Bruno/$22,412, Colma/$21,945, Pacifica/$21,288, Half Moon Bay/$20,973, Millbrae/$20,271 and Atherton/$19,561.

The highest paid director of administrative services in the county is Redwood City/$22,566, Hillsborough/$21,760, South San Francisco/$21,700, San Mateo/$20,703, Daly City/$20,686, Menlo Park/$20,607, Atherton/$19,951, San Carlos/$19,773, Millbrae/$19,700, Foster City/$19,268, Brisbane/$19,120, Burlingame/$18,879, Pacifica/$18,836, Belmont/$18,245, San Bruno/$18,157.

The highest paid police officer is in Redwood City earning $16,040 per month, followed by Colma/$14,899, Atherton/$14,794, . Menlo Park/$14,731, San Mateo/$14,551, Belmont/$14,214, South San Francisco/$13,892, Hillsborough/$13,852, Foster City/$13,651, San Bruno/$13,531, Pacifica/$12,689, Daly City/$12,568, Brisbane/$12,515, Burlingame/$12,468, Millbrae/$11,920.

The highest paid fire captain is in South San Francisco earning $16,512 per month, followed by Redwood City/$16,484, Foster City/$15,745, San Mateo/$15,672, San Bruno/$15,525, Menlo Park/$14,455, Daly City/$14,059, Pacifica/$13,958, Brisbane/$13,402, Millbrae/$12,699 and San Carlos/$12,196.

The highest paid community development director/planning director is in Redwood City/$22,243, Daly City/$20,490, Hillsborough/$20,498, Menlo Park/$19,978, Millbrae/$19,700, Foster City/$19,571, San Carlos/$19,410, Pacifica/$19,386, Atherton/$19,002, Brisbane/$18,566, San Bruno/$18,157, Burlingame/$18,115, Belmont/$17,967, Half Moon Bay/$15,468.

The highest paid maintenance worker is in Colma/$10,093, South San Francisco/$8,429, San Carlos/$8,110, Foster City/$8,068, San Mateo/$7,844, Brisbane/$7,723, Daly City/$7,647, Redwood City/$7,577, Atherton/$7,488, Belmont/$7,359, Menlo Park/$7,254, Pacifica/$7,234, San Bruno/$6,845, Millbrae/$6,567.

The highest paid public works director is in Hillsborough/$22,921, Redwood City/$22,245, South San Francisco/$21,377, San Carlos/$21,304, San Mateo/$20,703, Daly City/$20,490, Menlo Park/$20,450, Atherton/$20,352, Millbrae/$19,700, Brisbane/$19,612, Pacifica/$19,577, Foster City/$19,571, San Bruno/$19,225, Belmont/$18,769."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Bruno Disaster Relief

 

Office of Congresswoman Jackie Speier

San Bruno Disaster Relief

FOR EVACUATED RESIDENTS: Shelter, food, crisis counseling
 

Red Cross Shelter at San Bruno Recreation Center

Veterans Memorial Recreation Center

251 City Park Way (at Crystal Springs Road)
San Bruno, CA 94066

(650) 616-7180
 

Secondary Shelter:
Receiving Center at Church of the Highlands
1900 Monterey Dr., San Bruno

(650) 873-4095

FIND A LOVED ONE, LET PEOPLE KNOW YOU'RE OK
San Bruno Emergency Hotline, (650) 616-7180
The city of San Bruno is asking residents who were evacuated to let Red Cross officials know they're safe by calling this number.

www.Safeandwell.org

This is a Red Cross website. 

HOMEOWNER’S INSURANCE

Please call your homeowner’s insurance agency or the California Department of Insurance 1-800-927-4357

 

SCHOOLS:
All San Bruno Park School District schools will be closed Friday. Capuchino High School in San Bruno, which announced earlier that it would open, will also be closed. For further questions please call (650) 624-3100

 

PETS:
Tanforan PETCO, (650) 589-3757
1150 El Camino Real, San Bruno
Owners can drop off small animals from 9am to 9pm

 

SPCA

12 Airport Boulevard
San Mateo, CA 94401
Phone 650.340.7022
Fax 650.348.7891

 

HOW TO HELP:

Red Cross
Best way to help is by giving money online at the Red Cross' website at http://www.redcross.org/

1-888-4-HELP-BAY (1-888-443-5722)

Blood
1-888-393-GIVE (4483)
Type O will be needed. People urged to wait until next week to donate

 

Phone: 650.342.0300

     Fax: 650.375.8270     

www.speier.house.gov

San Bruno - road/train bridge construction

San Mateo County Times/Bay City News Service, 8/17/12.  "San Bruno:  Elevated Caltrain tracks take shape above downtown."

"A $147 million project to raise the Caltrain tracks 18 feet above three busy intersections in downtown San Bruno is about halfway completed, transit officials announced.

Raise the train tracks 18 feet, then lower the road four feet *

The San Bruno Grade Separation Project, which broke ground in November 2010, will elevate nearly a mile of Caltrain tracks above San Bruno, allowing multiple daily trains to pass safely above traffic and pedestrians on newly constructed bridges passing over intersections at San Bruno, San Mateo and Angus avenues.

....  The northern end of the project is adjacent to Interstate Highway 380, while the bridges are being constructed over San Bruno Avenue -- which connects to U.S. Highway 101 -- and San Mateo Avenue, which is one of the main surface streets that leads into to downtown San Bruno.  In addition, the new overhead tracks pass above BART's tracks to San Francisco International Airport. "   Read Article,  includes 7 construction pictures captions.

Reference -  Caltrain, "San Bruno grade separation project nears Half-way mark."   

* Note:  photograph from the San Mateo County Times article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Preserve the charm, modernize and develop the city, San Bruno

San Mateo County Times/Aaron Kinney, 10/14/14.  "San Bruno puts ambitious downtown vision on the ballot." 

Oh the charm! Pacifica has some
charming areas kind of like this too.

Measure N, a City Council-backed ballot measure, would overhaul development rules from the 1970s to reinvigorate San Bruno's sleepy downtown by encouraging new housing and commercial projects. The changes would be consistent with the city's Transit Corridor Specific Plan, adopted in 2013.

The measure would relax building height restrictions, increase the allowable density on 42 residential parcels and allow for aboveground multistory parking garages. The new rules would enable the construction of as many as 1,610 housing units within walking distance of the city's new elevated Caltrain station. Maximum building heights of 50 feet would be increased by 40 feet near the Caltrain station, 20 feet on El Camino Real, 15 feet on San Bruno and Huntington avenues, and 5 feet on San Mateo Avenue. Proponents claim the changes would invigorate the city without disrupting San Bruno's small-town charm.  Read more.

Related Fix Pacifica reprint -  The Daily Journal (San Mateo), Angela Swartz,  6/26/14. "San Bruno looking at new height limits:  allowing buildings up to 90 feet could help the downtown grow."

Reference - City of San Bruno, CA,  Wikipedia/San Bruno, CA.     Note photograph by Info USA from from City-data.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Bruno - Past Mayor Robert "Bob" Marshall, Sr. dies 5/8/12

Robert “Bob” Marshall Sr., who served as mayor of San Bruno from April 1980 to November 1991, died Tuesday, May 8, 2012. He was 77. 

"50 year Lions celebration", San Bruno Patch 3/1/12

....He was a former district governor for District 4-C4 for the Lions Club, former president of the San Bruno Lions Club, a life member of the San Bruno Chamber of Commerce, a founding member of the Peninsula Bank of Commerce and a former president of the North County Board of Realtors.  From San Mateo County Daily Journal/Heather Murtagh, 5/10/12.  "Former San Bruno mayor Robert Marshall dies."  Read Article.

...."Marshall acquired the nickname "Mr. San Bruno" because of his lifetime as a local real estate agent and 12 years on the City Council, as well as involvement in various local organizations. He also developed a reputation as a generous person who couldn't stand to see others go without, but did so quietly, family and friends said. From San Mateo County Times/Joshua Melvin, 5/10/12.  "Longtime San Bruno Mayor Bob Marshall dies."  Read Article.

Related article -  San Bruno Patch, 5/9/12.

Submitted by Jim Alex

Posted by Kathy Meeh

STOP THE GARBAGE RATE HIKE

By Lionel Emde

Pacificans have until Monday, May 23, to send in their protests against the Recology garbage rate hike. The forms have to be in the city clerk’s hands by the close of the public hearing on that evening. Please copy and share these forms with friends and neighbors. Here’s the link to the form:

Download garbage rate protest letter

This is the first time that locals have been given the legal process of written protest against a garbage rate hike. A complete lack of long-term oversight and a backroom process in signing the new contract with Recology have resulted in Pacifica’s paying the highest rates for garbage collection in San Mateo County. (Source: San Bruno City Council agenda report rate survey 5-10-11)

Other cities have this strange habit of caring about their citizens, negotiating contracts that better hold costs, such as solid waste collection, in check, but in the wackydoodle world of Pacifica, anything goes! Compare the proposed new Recology rates for Pacifica, San Bruno, and Millbrae:

Per month          Pacifica    San Bruno    Millbrae

20-gallon cart   $21.86       $18.44          $16.87

32-gallon cart   $34.24       $23.78          $27.00

“Citizens are sitting ducks for every trick and scam governments can think up. We are going bankrupt – food and gas are difficult to pay for and you add more fees (and) taxes? No.” (San Bruno resident Wm. Walker’s protest quoted in the San Mateo County Times, 5-10-11) 

Mr. Walker really should come through the looking glass into Pacifica and see how much commercial accounts will pay here versus San Bruno:

Commercial Can/ Cart Solid Waste Pickup Pacifica San Bruno

      32-gallon cart                                                   $39.01    $30.23

      64-gallon cart                                                   $78.02    $60.46

      96-gallon cart                                                   $117.03  $90.69

And check out proposed debris box price differences between the same two cities; local contractors would do well to look elsewhere:

Pacifica (14 yard container) San Bruno (16 yard container)

Two days     $495.56              $419.98

Five days     $619.73               $419.98

Pacifica (20 yard container) San Bruno (20 yard container)

Two days    $638.44                  $461.19

Five days    $784.72                   $461.19

Of course, we’re told that the lack of commercial activity in Pacifica is why residential rates are so high. Who then are our rate-oppressed business people subsidizing? Get your protest forms here, folks. This is just beginning

*Blogmaster's note: I also received the following from Leo Leon. I figured it would be appropriate to include it here -

Hello to all,

I do not agree with and oppose the 8% hike to our Recology service. We are paying more than most now and with this increase will have the highest rates. We also need and must insist on yearly audits of Recology's books. In this week's San Mateo County Times (May 11) a news article on Recology reported that Millbrae just approved an increase of 1.65% and that their Recology contract  calls for increases based on the CPI (it's tied to inflation). Millbrae has the right idea, I can understand that kind of rationale for an increase. Millbrae has had their contract with recology since 1998 (13yrs). Our rate structure needs to be addressed and our rate process needs to be revised. The only way to do that is to PROTEST the increase and force a change. Please take a minute and read the attached article. There is also a protest form attached (please use it). I am not in favor of paying too much for any service. And I definitely want a yearly accounting of Recology's books as part of our service contract.

http://pacifica.patch.com/articles/opinion-stop-the-garbage-rate-hike

Sincerely, Leo Leon

Changing times, San Bruno ballot initiative will raise downtown building limits to 90 feet

The Daily Journal (San Mateo County), Angela Swartz, 6/26/14.  "San Bruno looking at new height limits:  allowing buildings up to 90 feet could help the downtown grow."

San Bruno downtown

"In an effort to revamp its downtown, San Bruno officials are considering putting a measure on the November ballot to modify its ordinance that limits building heights, potentially raising them from 50 to 90 feet. 

Established in 1977 as a result of a voter initiative, Ordinance 1284 was intended to preserve the existing character of San Bruno by requiring voter approval for high-rise developments, increased density in existing neighborhoods and projects encroaching upon scenic corridors and open spaces. Permits and approvals can’t be issued to allow construction of building taller than 50 feet or that exceed three stories unless approved by a majority of voters at a regular or special election.

The discussion on building heights started in 2012 when the city concluded a strategic vision process with a transit corridor plan, said City Manager Connie Jackson. The transit corridor plan outlines a number of different areas in the transit corridor, including along El Camino Real, San Bruno Avenue and San Mateo Avenue. In the plan, proposed building heights range from three to seven stories in some areas.“The plan is critical to the city’s achievement to transform those key areas of our city into the future,” she said.

....  “There was a strong interest to make sure there was thoughtful integration of new development areas with existing residential neighborhoods,” she said. “Keeping the character and quality and to make sure taller, more densely populated buildings didn’t create a negative impact for neighbors.”   Read more.

Reference -  City of San Bruno.  City-data.com:  population 42,165 (2012), household income $72,185 (2011), per capita $33,339 (2011).  Note photograph:  San Bruno downtown from a County of San Mateo Newsroom article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh