LiveWire – January 2021

Posted on January 4, 2021


City Manager’s Update

Brian Dossey, City Manager

As we reflect back on 2020, I think it’s fair to say Good Riddance!  Looking forward to 2021 there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel. With a promise of the new Corona Virus Vaccine distribution, we hope the future begins to brighten in April and May.  With that said, we must be diligent in January, February and March continuing to follow best practices regarding social distancing and wearing your mask as we give time for the vaccine to get distributed. I know it’s been a long haul these past 10 months, and we miss our friends and families, but we need to continue to be Colma Strong.

The month of December was particularly busy for the City Council, the most significant order of business occurs 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.

Every two years the Town holds City Council elections as well, with three seats up for election in Presidential election years, and two seats up for election at the mid-point of each Presidential cycle. This year saw the re-election of Council Members Raquel “Rae” Gonzalez, John Irish Goodwin, and Diana Colvin.  Council Member Colvin was appointed as the new Mayor and Council Member Fisicaro was appointed as the Vice Mayor at our December 9, 2020 City Council reorganization.

During the month of December the Council also adopted a Safe Storage of Firearms Ordinance and held a study session on the General Plan Update which will shape Colma’s future for the next twenty years.

The first part of this year will be very busy for the Council and staff.  During the January – March 2021 meetings, Council will be considering adopting Reach Codes which is an ordinance related to green building practices, consider the El Camino Real Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, consider and accept our Mid-Year Financial Report, and receive an update on the Town’s 2020-2022 Strategic Plan. Also, please plan on attending our January 27th meeting, for Mayor Colvin will be delivering our annual “State of the Cities” address.

We hope to see you on Zoom 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 was just awarded grant funding for Electric Charging stations at the Colma Police Station and Colma Community Center.  The grants were provided by Peninsula Clean Energy.  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!

 

Reasons to be Thankful

Brad Donohue, Director of Public Works

From my Department to those who reside and conduct business in the Town of Colma, we all hope you had a safe and relaxing Holiday season!

The beginning of the year is a great time of reflection giving thanks to those who put others ahead of themselves. 2020 was a life changing year with the pandemic. As we look back we could dwell on the negative, but I would rather talk about the positive. My Positive will be to elevate the unnoticed works that the Public Works crew has brought to us over the last year. The crew is led by Louis Gotelli and supported by Vicente Gonzalez and Ryan Rodriguez. During a time when most were instructed to shelter in place, this crew had to step beyond their fears of catching the COVID virus and maintain Town operations, such as roadway cleaning and traffic operations, trash pickup, facility cleaning operations and much more.  Even though they would also like to be in the security of their home, they understand their obligation to the Town and its many residents and businesses to keep everything up and running, if you see them in passing please give them a hello and thanks for a job well done, they so deserve it!

On another update: We have been working to improve accessibility and traffic safety on Mission Road, this project centered in on accessibility for all modes of transportation, upgrading sidewalks, bike paths, installing high visible cross walks, additional streetlights, speed reduction measures and vegetated stormwater treatment measures along the roadway in an effort to help beautify the neighborhood. The project is scheduled to be completed by late January, early February.

From me and the Public Works and Engineering Department in Colma, it is our wish and hope that you all have a safe and prosperous and healthy New Year!

View the rest of the January edition here: LiveWire

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