| Welcome! What's in this issue? |
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Hello from San Bruno City Hall!
Thank
you for taking the time to review the City Manager’s electronic
newsletter. It shows me you care about San Bruno. There has
been a lot going on this past fall and winter and I thought I would
share some highlights with you.
Most of the City’s workers
are represented by labor unions whose contracts expired at the end of
the year. Last summer, the City initiated labor negotiations with each of the 6 labor units to work on new agreements.
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a new Council-adopted compensation policy, the negotiating teams came
together to develop these new agreements covering compensation and
other work matters. With one labor group decertifying, the City
ultimately reached agreement with three of the five remaining units –
the fire unit, the civilian mid-management unit and the miscellaneous
employees’ unit. Regrettably, the police unit negotiations have
stalled. |
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One outcome of these negotiations is that the City civilian staff will be shifting to a 36-hour (4-day) workweek;
this will be implemented on May 1 as a three-year pilot program.
Studies have shown that a 36-hour workweek can lead to improved
productivity, better work-life balance, enhanced job satisfaction, and
higher retention rates. This should put the City at an
unprecedented advantage in attracting and retaining high quality
employees. All of which should lead to enhanced public service for our
community. Time will tell.
As you read this, we are developing our fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 operating and capital budget.
The State of California has decided to eliminate 5% ($3 million) of the
City’s general revenues (Vehicle License Fees) for reasons difficult to
understand by us and therefore difficult to explain here. This
withholding is affecting each city in San Mateo County and will likely
more than double over the next 5 years (up to $7 million). The
City can ill afford to absorb this hit. You will have an
opportunity to share your thoughts on the City’s budget between now and
our budget adoption scheduled for June 23.
Since voters approved the half‑cent sales tax in 2019, Measure G has
invested about $22.4 million in community priorities, including roughly
$17 million for road repair and pavement upgrades, $1.5 million for the
new “Cleanup San Bruno” program
to combat litter and illegal dumping, and over $1 million to expand
wildfire prevention and provide needed public safety equipment.
The
Revenue Measure Oversight Committee supported staff’s recommended FY
2026‑27 Measure G spending plan. The plan continues the Cleanup San
Bruno initiative—a targeted effort to combat illegal dumping, improve
median maintenance, and support community outreach and education
programs like the upcoming Operation Clean Sweep event—and also
includes additional funding to augment budgeted public safety salary
increases resulting from new labor agreements. Other recommendations
include maintaining expanded wildfire prevention services and ongoing
operation of the City’s pothole repair truck.
The ability of
Measure G funding to support quality‑of‑life services cannot be
overstated. Voter approval of Measure G makes all of these services and
enhancements possible.
Thanks again to the voters last year who approved Measure Q,
a $110 million bond issue to pay for fire station replacements, streets
and roadwork, and stormwater improvements. The City plans to
issue a portion of these bonds this summer with work on some of these
efforts soon thereafter.
We are stepping up our efforts to better communicate with
you. As we begin looking ahead to spring, I want to thank you for the
many ways you continue to engage with the City; by sharing feedback,
attending events, and participating in civic life.
Over the past
several months, City Council and staff have been focused on listening
closely to our community and translating that input into concrete
actions. This newsletter highlights some of that work, from cleanup
efforts and new programs to long-range planning initiatives that will
shape San Bruno’s future. |
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hope you’ll take a few moments to read on, mark your calendar for
upcoming events, and stay connected with what’s happening in our city. |
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| COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES |
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March 21 - Origami Workshop
Join us at the San Bruno Library for a free, beginner-friendly origami workshop!- Saturday, March 21, 2026, 11 AM - 12:30 PM
- San Bruno Library Community Room (701 Angus Ave W, San Bruno, CA 94066)
- First come, first served
This program was funded with a generous grant from the San Bruno Community Foundation. |
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March 28 - Spring Egg Hunt
Join
us for a fun-filled morning with egg hunts, activities,
photos with the bunny, and more in City Park! Before the event, enjoy a
tasty pancake breakfast at the City Park concessions stand, hosted by
the San Bruno Lions Club.- Saturday, March 21, 2026, 9 AM - 12:00 PM
- San Bruno Recreation and Aquatic Center (251 City Park Way, San Bruno, CA 94066)
- Event will take place rain or shine
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March 28 - Narita Sister City Celebration at City Park
Join us at City Park Plaza in front of the Recreation and Aquatic Center for a taiko performance by Rome Hamner. This event is part of our Sister City relationship with Narita, Japan -- stop by to say hello to the delegation!- Saturday, March 28, 2026, 3 PM - 4:00 PM
- San Bruno Recreation and Aquatic Center (251 City Park Way, San Bruno, CA 94066)
- Event will move indoors to the Recreation and Aquatic Center in case of rain
- Complimentary ice cream provided by La Michoacanita Paleteria y Neveria
This program was funded with a generous grant from the San Bruno Community Foundation. |
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April 2 - First Thursdays Continue! Join us in Centennial Plaza
The
City of San Bruno is happy to partner with Xfinity and the San Bruno
Improvement Group to continue supporting 1st Thursdays at Centennial
Plaza.
These events spotlight local businesses, artists, and feature live music.
First Thursdays are supported by a generous grant from the San Bruno Community Foundation and contributions from Xfinity. |
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Call for Artists - Community Art Gallery Program The
City of San Bruno and Culture and Arts Commission are happy to announce
a call for artists to submit two-dimensional art for consideration to
be featured at the San Bruno Library. - Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 17, 6:00 PM.
- Selected artists will be notified by June 1, 2026, and they will receive a $250 stipend.
- Artists are welcome to apply as individuals or in a group.
- Up to 3 finalists will be chosen, and their art will be exhibited for four months each in the San Bruno Library reading room
- Preference is given to local artists.
You can learn more about requirements and access an application at SanBruno.ca.gov/Art |
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April 25 - Celebrate the Day of the Child!
Stay tuned for more information or subscribe to our social media accounts at SanBruno.ca.gov/Social for updates. |
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May 2 - Join Operation Clean Sweep!
As
part of the "Clean Up San Bruno" Initiative, the reactivated
Beautification Task Force is bringing back Operation Clean Sweep. - When: Saturday, May 2nd, 9 AM - 12 PM
- What: Cleaning up San Bruno one piece of litter at a time!
- Where: San Bruno City Park (251 City Park Way, San Bruno, CA 94066)
Light
refreshments will be provided. Everything else you need to -- think
gloves, trash bags, etc. -- will be provided courtesy of Recology. |
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| CLEAN UP SAN BRUNO INITIATIVE UPDATE |
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 | | San Bruno's public service announcement for the 2026 "Clean Up San Bruno" Initiative |
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The City Council’s Cleanup San Bruno strategic initiative is already delivering meaningful progress across the community.
Recent accomplishments include:- Expanded public engagement, helping staff better understand problem areas and resident concerns
- A new Memorandum of Understanding with Caltrans, allowing City staff to proactively clean up illegal dumping along highway ramps within San Bruno
- Reactivating the City’s “Clean Sweep” community cleanup event, in partnership with Recology
These
efforts reflect Council’s commitment to maintaining clean, safe, and
welcoming public spaces. More information about Clean Sweep dates and
opportunities to participate will be shared later this year. |
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| DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFICATION STATUS UPDATE |
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The
Downtown Beautification Project—an initiative to strengthen the
long-term appeal and vitality of our downtown—began this past fall and
is now nearing completion. Improvements include irrigation repairs,
refreshed planters along San Mateo Avenue, landscaping renovations at
Posy Park, and median upgrades that will benefit local businesses and
the community.
Marina Landscaping worked through the winter to
keep the project on schedule and on budget. All irrigation repairs are
complete, and each planter has been refreshed with new soil and plant
material. As a reminder, new plantings need time to establish and
mature, and the plants were chosen for their adaptability to local
conditions, long-term maintenance and water needs, and appearance
when fully grown.
At Posy Park, landscaping updates were paired
with new benches, seating, trash receptacles, and planters which will
improve comfort and create a more welcoming space for residents and
visitors. In addition, seven trees were planted in-ground along
Jenevein Avenue and at the corner of San Mateo Avenue and El Camino
Real. Along Jenevein, these trees replaced existing planters; along San
Mateo, they replaced trees that had been struggling. |
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Separate
from the park upgrades, repairs to the Posy Fountain are also
underway. Work includes repairs to the water delivery piping,
installation of a new waterproofing membrane, new tiling at each
waterfall, and stainless-steel weirs to strengthen the waterfall
effect. The fountain has also been repainted for a clean, cohesive
finish. |
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Additionally,
as part of a call for artists and evaluation process by the Culture and
Arts Commission, the City has selected Maxwell Emcays to construct the
sculpture "Pulse of Connection" at Posy Park. The City has also begun
the process of restoring the mosaic mural. Stay tuned for more on that!
Overall, the updates already look great and will continue to enhance downtown as the landscaping matures. |
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| JOIN THE CITY SERVICES ACADEMY! |
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The
City is happen to announcement the start of City Services Academy,
a six week program to firsthand insight into key
operations.
Participants will connect directly with staff,
ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of how services and
decisions come together to support the San Bruno community.
Register by April 5 to make sure you get a spot!
Details: - Sessions
will be held on Wednesdays from April 8 to May 13 from 6 PM - 8 PM at
the Recreation and Aquatic Center (251 City Park Way, San Bruno, CA
94066)
- This program is open to San Bruno residents
- Registration is free of charge
- Light refreshments and snacks will be provided to participants
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| CITY STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND BUDGET |
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The City Council met on January 30th to develop several strategic initiatives for next year. These include:- Long-Range Economic Development Planning to support sustainable growth and local businesses
- Senior Center Remodel to modernize and improve facilities for older adults
- Citywide Software and Technology Overhaul to improve efficiency, service delivery, and internal systems
- Street Sweeping Program Review to evaluate service levels and effectiveness
- Traffic and Public Safety Initiative focused on using technology to make our streets safer
- Future Downtown Beautification Projects, with specific projects to be developed through additional planning and input
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These
initiatives are a clear signal that the City's budget development for
next year is underway, and there are significant challenges ahead
related to changing state revenues, our obligations, and more.
Consider
joining us at the City Council's regular meetings in the next few
months to hear about the budget, your City Council's strategic
initiatives, and more. - March 24 - Discussion of future downtown beautification plans
- April 14 - Discussion of the street sweeping program and a traffic safety + crime prevention pilot program
Be sure to check out SanBruno.ca.gov/Agenda for more details and to subscribe for updates. |
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| Consider exploring some of these topics from San Mateo County and the community. |
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Riechel
Reports - City
of San Bruno CA Events and of Interest to San Bruno Residents
