City Manager’s Update
Brian Dossey, City Manager
Each New Year gives us time to pause and reflect on the past year, to chart a course for the upcoming year (along with those pesky New Year Resolutions we never seem to keep), and to embrace the changes that a new year brings. Your Town government is no different – staff and the City Council undergo the same period of reflection as well.
At the Council level, the most significant changes occur at the December City Council reorganization. During this annual event a new Mayor and Vice Mayor are appointed by the Council as a whole. Unlike some larger cities, Colma does not directly-elect a Mayor – your Mayor is appointed by her/his peers on the Council. Council Member John Irish Goodwin was appointed as the new Mayor and Council Member Diana Colvin was appointed as the Vice Mayor at our December 3, 2019 City Council reorganization.
The first part of this year will be very busy for the Council and staff. During the January – March 2020 meetings, Council will be considering adopting the 2019 Building Code, regulating the feeding of Birds and Wild Animals on Private Property, and considering adopting the new Housing Bills; the Council will also conduct a study session for the El Camino Real and Lawndale Blvd. Landscape Median improvements, conduct the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan workshop, and approve of our Annual Audit and Mid-Year Budget review; Lastly, the Council will be considering the adoption of a food ware ordinance further strengthening our sustainability efforts. Also, please plan on attending our February 12 meeting, for Mayor Goodwin will be delivering our annual “State of the Cities” address.
We hope to see you at our future City Council meetings, we have a lot of Town business to conduct and it would be great to hear your thoughts and comments on the issues the City Council must consider before they make their decision.
Along the lines of good news; Colma’s Town Hall was just awarded “Green Certified” by the Statewide Certification System, and the San Mateo County Green Business Program. Colma is the second city in San Mateo County to have their Town Hall Green Certified. Congratulations to our Sustainability committee for putting in the effort and demonstrating Colma’s commitment to climate change.
I hope everyone had a great Holiday Season and want to wish everyone a Safe, Happy and Healthy New Year!
2019 Sustainability Success: Colma Leads by Example
Brad Donohue, Public Works Director
2019 was an eventful year for our sustainability department with Colma achieving several important sustainability projects that include Town Hall achieving Green Certification by California’s Green Business Certification Program. Colma is 1 of only 2 jurisdictions in the County that are Certified Green and met environmental standards that conserve energy and water, minimize waste, prevent pollution and reduce our carbon footprint. Staff will be working with the Police Department and Community Center in 2020 to be Green Certified. Staff is also working with Colma businesses to help them achieve Green Business Certification and we anticipate the Acura Dealership will achieve certification in January. Staff is also meeting with other dealerships to encourage them to be Green Business Certified. Great news that Colma has met and exceeded California’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target thanks to energy efficiency improvements and Peninsula Clean Energy (County’s energy provider) that provides residents and businesses with energy from clean renewable energy sources like solar and wind! Lastly, staff is working with the County’s Office of Sustainability to implement a single use plastic ban ordinance to reduce the amount of plastic straws, plastic lids, plastic containers, etc. This program encourages the use of biodegradable products or reusables (like coffee cups) and reduces plastic pollution on our streets that flows to our creeks and eventually to the ocean. We welcome feedback on this program and more outreach will continue for consideration of ordinance in 2020.
Each year I like to take the time to mention to you the good work that our Public Works crew does in keeping our streets, landscaping and facilities in good working order. Their dedication to their jobs and the public is without wavier, they are always present in whatever need comes up! Please if you see Louis, Vicente or Ryan out and about in the community, please say thank you to them, they are the ones that keep everything working!
From the Public Works, Building and Panning Departments we want to wish you and your family a great and prosperous New Year!