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 Joanne F. del Rosario was appointed as the new Mayor and Council Member John Irish Goodwin was appointed as the Vice Mayor at our December 13, 2022 City Council reorganization.
The first part of this year will be very busy for the Council and staff. During the January – March 2023 meetings, Council will consider approving our Annual Audit, Mid-Year Budget Review and Capital Improvement Program update, consider approving the new Building Code as well as a Fireworks Ordinance, and lastly, conduct the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan workshop. Also, please plan on attending our January 25th meeting for Mayor del Rosario will be delivering our annual “State of the Cities” address.
The Town is in the process of adopting the sixth cycle of the Town’s Housing Element. Once adopted, the Town will send the Housing element to the State for final approval. The Housing element identifies future housing sites throughout the Town for the next eight years. For more information on the Town’s Housing Element, please visit our website at https://www.colma.ca.gov/documents/housing-element-draft-august-2022/
I am excited to share some good news. The Town was awarded over $4.6 million in grant funding this past year for infrastructure and roadway improvement projects along El Camino Real and Serramonte Blvd, park improvements at Sterling Park, a Townwide Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan, and finally a rideshare program providing transportation to seniors and populations in need to the doctors office, grocery store, pharmacy, etc. Please watch for these improvements and services in 2023.
I hope everyone had a great Holiday Season and want to wish everyone a safe, Happy and Healthy New Year!
Public Works Department Update
Brad Donohue, Public Works Director
2022 was an active year for the Public Works and Engineering Department. In the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan, one of the goals was to establish a sense of community in the Mission Road residential and business neighborhood. City Council wanted to create a neighborhood and business district that promoted economic viability, elements of beautification and safe paths of travel for bicyclists, pedestrians and vehicles that travel through the Mission Road neighborhood. In 2021 a substantial part of the improvements in the Mission area were completed. In 2022 City Council approved the last few improvements to the area which included vehicle speed reduction measures that will be installed early 2023, along with a high visible crosswalk to provide safe access for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the roadway. The other improvement will be enhancing the landscaping and rest areas along the Holy Cross Cemetery frontage. The Department also completed the roadway resurfacing project on F Street, (west side of El Camino Real and the rehabilitation of the F Street Retaining Wall.
We do have a GREAT Public Works Maintenance team. The team is led by Supervisor Louis Gotelli, Vicente Gonzalez, and Ryan Rodriguez. I can honestly say they make my job easier, their dedication to the Colma community is unprecedented! We are truly blessed to have this crew; without their dedication, Colma would not be what it is today without the great efforts that are brought forth by the Public Works Maintenance Department. If you see them, please give them a thumbs up for a job well done!
From the Public Works and Engineering Department to you, we wish you a safe and prosperous New Year.
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