Councilmember David Lim is proud to co-host a Town Hall Meeting on sustainability and water conversation in conjunction with the Sierra Club, Sustainable San Mateo County, and the Tuolumne River Trust. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at San Mateo City Hall from 7 to 9 PM.
Designed as a forum to share ideas on sustainability with everyone in the San Mateo community, the meeting will feature a night of prominent speakers on sustainability issues, as well as tables set up by non-profit organizations and local businesses committed to creating more sustainable communities.
Sierra Club Board Member Rafael Reyes and noted water conservation expert Peter Drekmeier will give talks on how to create more sustainable communities. Councilmember Lim will give updates on City efforts to reduce the City’s carbon footprint, and on City initiatives to provide financial incentives to homeowners to become more environmentally friendly.
The first 50 residents in attendance will receive a special complimentary gift from RethinkWaste. Additionally, door prizes and other surprises will be given out throughout the evening, including a compost bin that Councilmember Lim will personally set up at the home of the winner.
“I am excited and honored to partner with local non-profits and small business owners to help share ideas on sustainability with our neighbors,” said Councilmember Lim. “Reducing our carbon footprint is an important goal for the City of San Mateo, and this evening promises to be both educational and entertaining for everyone in attendance.”
Friday, July 16, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
New Development in San Mateo
Last night the City Council voted 5-0 to approve development of the land at the corners of Concar Drive and South Delaware Street adjacent to Highways 92 and 101. The land, currently occupied by the old Denny's and a bowling alley converted to the Telecenter appliance store, was long overdue for a face-lift.
In making my decision to approve the project, I wanted to thank the countless hours given to me by neighborhood groups, individual citizens, and City staff in providing me with information about this project. While I agree with residents that the new development will result in increased traffic in the area, I believe that any increase in traffic will be mitigated by Traffic Demand Management protocols put in place to regulate traffic from the development. Additionally, I believe the long-term benefits to our City in terms of increased use of transit-oriented growth, an increasing business base, and beautifying a section of our City that is falling into decay more than justify this project.
Thank you again to everyone who was involved in the process.
In making my decision to approve the project, I wanted to thank the countless hours given to me by neighborhood groups, individual citizens, and City staff in providing me with information about this project. While I agree with residents that the new development will result in increased traffic in the area, I believe that any increase in traffic will be mitigated by Traffic Demand Management protocols put in place to regulate traffic from the development. Additionally, I believe the long-term benefits to our City in terms of increased use of transit-oriented growth, an increasing business base, and beautifying a section of our City that is falling into decay more than justify this project.
Thank you again to everyone who was involved in the process.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Budget Review Process
This evening I completed reviewing the budget for every department in the City. As part of my commitment to you as your elected representative, I've spent the past month going over the budget line-item by line-item to make sure your tax dollars are used responsibly to keep our communities safe and to provide you with the best possible city services.
Tomorrow I will be meeting with City staff to go over my review and get their input on ways to keep our City in the best financial shape possible.
Last week, I sent a letter to many of you via email encouraging all San Mateo residents to review as much of the budget as they can and bring any ideas they have to the City Council meeting this coming Monday, June 21. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you have about the budget.
Tomorrow I will be meeting with City staff to go over my review and get their input on ways to keep our City in the best financial shape possible.
Last week, I sent a letter to many of you via email encouraging all San Mateo residents to review as much of the budget as they can and bring any ideas they have to the City Council meeting this coming Monday, June 21. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you have about the budget.
Summer Starts at the San Mateo County Fair
This weekend the family and I enjoyed ourselves at the San Mateo County Fair. With hundreds of exhibits, good food, music, and racing pigs, how could you not have fun?
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Up up and away on the Ferris Wheel!
New Hats!
Everybody wins a goldfish and a stuffed animal at the San Mateo County Fair!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Council considers updated budget
This article appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal, June 8, 2010
Council considers updated budget
June 08, 2010, 02:43 AM
By Bill Silverfarb Daily Journal staff
San Mateo faces a $5 million budget shortfall next year and will lean on its employees heavily to help bridge the gap.
To close the deficit, the city is seeking labor cost concessions to the tune of $2.2 million, City Manager Susan Loftus informed the City Council last night.
“A balanced budget depends on some labor concessions,” Loftus said. “Some labor groups have not voted yet.”
The city has already identified about $2.5 million in savings by not filling vacant positions and through other cost controls.
The city will also use unspent capital project funds, about $2 million, to supplement the 2010-11 fiscal operating budget.
The city’s general fund, which pays for public safety and other essential city services, is approximately $76.9 million, according to a staff report by Doris Koo, the city’s treasury and budget manager.
The overall total city and Redevelopment Agency budget is about $167 million.
The city’s major source of funding, property tax revenue, is projected to remain flat next year, although revenue from sales taxes, property transfer taxes and hotel taxes are expected to increase modestly.
Part of the modest increases to the sales and hotel taxes comes from the passage of measures L and M in November.
The city expects a budget shortfall of about $3 million for its fiscal year 2011-12 budget.
City employees are being asked to give up pay raises once again to close the deficit and the city has to also reallocate about $1.6 million to the worker’s compensation fund. The city is setting aside about $2 million to combat any future state takeaways or in case revenue unexpectedly declines. The city has lost 40 employees in the last year.
San Mateo will suspend facility improvements to save $1.8 million to the general fund. Another $1.9 million in street rehabilitation projects will also be suspended although the city may receive federal stimulus money to apply to road repairs.
This year, the city expects to decrease its full-time equivalent positions, including overtime and part-time, by 9.26.
Without labor concessions, the number of full-time equivalent positions facing elimination could increase, according to Koo’s report.
2010 was the first time the city’s property tax revenue dropped since 1979 after the passage of Proposition 13.
The city has suffered miserably with the collapse in the housing market, having its property transfer tax dwindle from a high of $10 million to about $3.3 million. The revenue comes from the sale of homes.
Building permit fees the city collects are down 40 percent and planning fees are down 50 percent.
Councilman David Lim requested the council hold a special study session next week to take a deeper look at line items in the budget.
“Since our workers are making concessions, the council should look as closely as possible at the budget to find cost-savings,” he said.
His request, however, did not receive support from a council majority.
The city will continue a public hearing on the budget at its June 21 meeting.
Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail: silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.
Council considers updated budget
June 08, 2010, 02:43 AM
By Bill Silverfarb Daily Journal staff
San Mateo faces a $5 million budget shortfall next year and will lean on its employees heavily to help bridge the gap.
To close the deficit, the city is seeking labor cost concessions to the tune of $2.2 million, City Manager Susan Loftus informed the City Council last night.
“A balanced budget depends on some labor concessions,” Loftus said. “Some labor groups have not voted yet.”
The city has already identified about $2.5 million in savings by not filling vacant positions and through other cost controls.
The city will also use unspent capital project funds, about $2 million, to supplement the 2010-11 fiscal operating budget.
The city’s general fund, which pays for public safety and other essential city services, is approximately $76.9 million, according to a staff report by Doris Koo, the city’s treasury and budget manager.
The overall total city and Redevelopment Agency budget is about $167 million.
The city’s major source of funding, property tax revenue, is projected to remain flat next year, although revenue from sales taxes, property transfer taxes and hotel taxes are expected to increase modestly.
Part of the modest increases to the sales and hotel taxes comes from the passage of measures L and M in November.
The city expects a budget shortfall of about $3 million for its fiscal year 2011-12 budget.
City employees are being asked to give up pay raises once again to close the deficit and the city has to also reallocate about $1.6 million to the worker’s compensation fund. The city is setting aside about $2 million to combat any future state takeaways or in case revenue unexpectedly declines. The city has lost 40 employees in the last year.
San Mateo will suspend facility improvements to save $1.8 million to the general fund. Another $1.9 million in street rehabilitation projects will also be suspended although the city may receive federal stimulus money to apply to road repairs.
This year, the city expects to decrease its full-time equivalent positions, including overtime and part-time, by 9.26.
Without labor concessions, the number of full-time equivalent positions facing elimination could increase, according to Koo’s report.
2010 was the first time the city’s property tax revenue dropped since 1979 after the passage of Proposition 13.
The city has suffered miserably with the collapse in the housing market, having its property transfer tax dwindle from a high of $10 million to about $3.3 million. The revenue comes from the sale of homes.
Building permit fees the city collects are down 40 percent and planning fees are down 50 percent.
Councilman David Lim requested the council hold a special study session next week to take a deeper look at line items in the budget.
“Since our workers are making concessions, the council should look as closely as possible at the budget to find cost-savings,” he said.
His request, however, did not receive support from a council majority.
The city will continue a public hearing on the budget at its June 21 meeting.
Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail: silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.
Monday, May 24, 2010
San Mateo and Foster City to Share Fire Chief Dan Belville
The cities of San Mateo and Foster City San Mateo and Foster City
Fire Chief Dan Belville is highly qualified to assume the leadership of both departments and to assess the potential for additional opportunities for shared fire services. Fire Chief Belville has the full confidence and support of both City Managers. Fire Chief Belville will remain an employee of San Mateo and San Mateo will be reimbursed by Foster City Jim Hardy to represent both cities for full-service emergency response services.
The retirement in June of Foster City Fire Chief Tom Reaves presents an opportunity to pursue shared fire services between our communities, particularly with respect to the management and administrative support functions and programs of the respective fire departments. San Mateo and Foster City
The cities are committed to taking the time to fully analyze these shared fire service opportunities and evaluate their merits prior to making a decision. Decisions will ultimately be made based on what is most advantageous to the cities of San Mateo and Foster City
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Raising Awareness About Hepatitis B
This past Monday I attended the Jade Ribbon Youth Council's ribbon tying ceremony in downtown San Mateo to raise awareness about Hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B is a health issue that affects all of us, killing over one million people worldwide each year. And although anyone can be infected, people of Asian heritage are ten times more likely to contract liver cancer as a result of infection by "Hep B".
What is particularly tragic about this health concern is that there is a vaccine which will completely protect individuals from Hep B. Language, cultural, and economic barriers prevent many Asians from getting tested and inoculated, which is why the work of the Jade Ribbon Youth Council and the San Mateo Hep B Free Organization are so important.
Below are some photos from this week's event. Keep an eye out during the coming year for a free Hep B screening near you!
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Hepatitis B is a health issue that affects all of us, killing over one million people worldwide each year. And although anyone can be infected, people of Asian heritage are ten times more likely to contract liver cancer as a result of infection by "Hep B".
What is particularly tragic about this health concern is that there is a vaccine which will completely protect individuals from Hep B. Language, cultural, and economic barriers prevent many Asians from getting tested and inoculated, which is why the work of the Jade Ribbon Youth Council and the San Mateo Hep B Free Organization are so important.
Below are some photos from this week's event. Keep an eye out during the coming year for a free Hep B screening near you!
In downtown San Mateo to raise awareness about Hep B
Members of the Jade Ribbon Youth Council leading the flag salute at City Hall!
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