San Bruno City Council candidates respond to city issues

Interviews were held this week to help the Daily Journal determine endorsements. To allow each candidate a forum to express their opinions on the issues discussed, candidates were given the same questions and asked to answer each in around 50 words. Answers are arranged alphabetically by the candidate’s last name.

What is the biggest challenge facing the city?

Ken Ibarra: San Bruno needs to continue moving forward. We’re experiencing the return of projects that had stalled with the recession. With their revival, we need to accommodate them with timely reviews and approvals. The completion of the new Caltrain station/grade separation needs to be promoted along with the Transit Corridors Plan.

Andrew Mason: We need leadership to ensure that the PG&E San Bruno pipeline settlement funds will be properly allocated to ensure infrastructure and automation upgrades are made toward the city’s aging utility related water and sewer infrastructure systems. In addition, these upgrades must ultimately realize lowered costs to residents.

Marty Medina: San Bruno turns 100 next year with millions of dollars of repairs are needed in our sidewalks, streets, sewer and water systems. The council has repeatedly increased water and sewer rates but we cannot spend ourselves out of this problem. It’s unsustainable. We have to revamp our maintenance and construction programs.

Rico Medina: Our greatest challenge is also our greatest opportunity. We need to use the $70 million settlement [from PG&E] to move our community forward and invest in our future. We cannot let the past define our future but rather it must propel us forward.

While downtown has an interesting mix of businesses, what else could be done to bring new life there?

Ken Ibarra: We need everyday services and more entertainment or family uses. Residents clamor for a bakery, stationary store and even a post office. The park can eventually be used as a central activity and entertainment center. A shuttle service from Bayhill should be considered to give thousands of workers more options.

Andrew Mason: We need to create spaces in the city that could be altered to bring in people for live music/theater performances. For instance, the park on the corner of Jenevein and San Mateo avenues could be opened for the public. Currently, it is roped off and is unavailable for public access.

Marty Medina: We could provide incentives to attract new businesses and eliminate vacant storefronts. We should improve the lighting, cleanliness, vibrancy and showcase downtown’s diverse restaurants and businesses with our cable company. We could install tot-lot play equipment and provide live music at the park and a shuttle bus.

Rico Medina: With completion of the grade separation, we need to move forward on the transit corridor plan so the train depot and surrounding area can become a downtown destination with a combination of residential and commercial use, along with improvements to the nearby areas.

What fee, tax or ordinance would you like to see repealed?

Ken Ibarra: Ordinance 1284 needs to be repealed at least within the Transit Corridors Plan area. The TCP can only be effective when underutilized properties are allowed to build above 50 feet tall. Creating a vibrant downtown and city center depends on higher densities and taller buildings designed with sensitivity to the surroundings.

Andrew Mason: The recent increases in utilities fees, namely water for residential users, pose a strain on the residential population, many of whom are retired or on a fixed income. City Council leadership needs to vote against any additional fee increases, and continue to upgrade utility related infrastructure systems.

Marty Medina: On one side of town your car gets a ticket on street sweeping day; on the other side nothing. Also, currently a property owner pays $354 for an encroachment permit to repair their sidewalk. The fee needs to be reduced to cover actual expenses.

Rico Medina: Recently I voted no on a recommendation to increase the water and sewer rates. Since the increase took effect July 1, I have heard nothing but frustration and concern from residents. We must revisit this and look at other options.

Do you think the city is making the right decisions when it comes to new development?

Ken Ibarra: I am proud of what we have planned and approved, and we can do more to attract businesses and promote amenities. The TCP sets the framework and will attract interest, however we need to be sensitive to our residents and plan intelligently for circulation, communication and connectivity throughout the city.

Andrew Mason: We should focus on science and technology related development, such as biotechnology, clean energy- and biofuels-based laboratory type spaces. In addition, city leaders must align the current Caltrain infrastructure project to effectively revitalize the downtown area, bringing in new businesses and a sense of civic-oriented community involvement.

Marty Medina: I look forward to the Transit Corridors Plan’s implementation, however, I prefer home and condo ownership instead of rental properties. San Bruno is a wonderful place to live. If something’s built, people will come. However, we must always remember the impact to existing neighborhoods.

Rico Medina: The city is restricted by voter-approved height limits. I would like to see a pilot project with commercial and residential use in the area of the new train station at San Mateo and San Bruno avenues to require voter approval. Once this was successful, future projects would be more feasible.

People complain about the quality of the city’s streets and sidewalks. Is the city responding well enough?

Ken Ibarra: Repair of our streets and sidewalks is a priority. As a subcommittee member for these improvements, I am focused on assuring adequate funding and timely repairs to improve safety and effective circulation. We must have a detailed plan and schedule that our residents can understand so they can anticipate improvements.

Andrew Mason: We should focus efforts on developing an organized software generated tracking system to track and prioritize maintenance-related requests from residents. This will help us evaluate how we are responding to residents’ needs and identify areas of growth in terms of providing better service to our residential customer base.

Marty Medina: No. The backlog of necessary repairs continues to grow each year and we fall a little more behind. As a street ages, there is a point where the maintenance costs drastically increases into full reconstruction costs. We need to be innovative and modify our street and sidewalk repair programs.

Rico Medina: The condition of streets and sidewalks makes a big impression in terms of physical appearance and this issue is of critical importance to our citizens. We need to ensure that our resources are distributed equitably from city limit to city limit in an inclusive approach going forward.

Bios:

Ken Ibarra

Age: 55

Education: B.S. Architecture, Cal Poly State University — San Luis Obispo

Experience: Licensed architect (private practice since 1984); councilman since 1996; San Bruno Lions club member; San Bruno Chamber of Commerce member

Family: Living with partner, two daughters

Residence: 36 years in San Bruno

Andrew Mason

Age: 37

Education: M.B.A., Golden Gate University; B.S. biological sciences, California State University Hayward; clinical trial data management certificate, San Francisco State University

Experience: 15 years in pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry in the areas of manufacturing, research and development, process development, project management and validation engineering

Family: Married, one child

Residence: San Bruno resident, San Francisco Bay Area native

Marty Medina

Age: 47

Education: Construction Management Certificate, U.C. Berkeley Extension

Experience: San Bruno Public Works inspector 2002-2012; Rebuild Crestmoor inspector 2009-2012; Construction inspector, Alameda County Water District, 2012-present; San Bruno Bronco and Pony Baseball coach and manager, 2001-2010

Family: Engaged, one child

Residence: 10 years in San Bruno

Rico Medina

Age: 48

Education: College of San Mateo and San Francisco State University

Experience: San Bruno City Council; former chair and member, San Bruno Parks and Recreation Commission and Crime Prevention Committee

Family: Single

Residence: San Bruno born and raised