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I opened last night’s Council meeting with this. We’re going to do something a little different tonight. We’ll be having the Boy Scouts of Troop 321 lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. But first I want to share something else. Philosophers and historians describe peace as an ideal whose existence we deduce from the […]

Ben Fuller, President of the Greater East San Carlos Neighborhood Association (GESC), recently published a post on NextDoor about the changes the Council made to no parking hours along Holly Street between Old County and the 101. Because NextDoor, by design, isn’t broadly accessible, and the issue may be of interest to most of San

Here are responses I received from staff regarding the questions I raised prior to the meeting. The corresponding questions are shown in italics. Since we’re being asked to approve several (modest) increases to the budget it’d be appropriate for staff to comment, in general, on where we stand vis a vis the overall budget. Are

You can find the agenda these questions and suggestions refer to at http://www.epackets.net/sirepub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1864&doctype=AGENDA. I’ve noted the agenda item number in parentheses. (8f, 10d) Since we’re being asked to approve several (modest) increases to the budget it’d be appropriate for staff to comment, in general, on where we stand vis a vis the overall budget. Are

Greg Rubens, the City’s general counsel, sent me the following email in reply to my questions about referendums. Mark. Thank you for posing these questions in advance of the meeting. I’m taking today off sort of, to help my inlaws. A couple of basic points that would answer some if your questions. A referendum must

I typically spend several hours prepping with staff for each of our Council meetings. That way I don’t have to get all of my questions answered during the meeting itself. You can imagine how long those would be if I didn’t! Not to mention how much longer they’d be if every Council member started asking

Questions I emailed to Greg Rubens, our City Attorney, regarding a potential referendum to overturn a Council decision about the Transit Village. Greg, Given interest in certain parts of the community in a referendum to overturn a Council decision on the Transit Village, I want to ensure everyone understands what’s involved with that, the scope

An odd but all too common email that we received as a result of our gas pipeline experience prompted me to write about conspiracy thinking. You can find the page here. I hope you’ll take the time to read it.

At the June 10, 2013 Council meeting we’ll be discussing a proposal from a group of sister cities about revamping the board which oversees the South Bay Waste Management Authority (SBWMA). The Authority is a joint powers authority (JPA) which operates the Transfer Station located just north of San Carlos Airport and which oversees the

An important part of a city council’s responsibility is identifying, evaluating and pursuing (when appropriate) strategic goals for its community. In the past in San Carlos these have included things like revitalizing Laurel Street and building the library. These kinds of projects are big enough that they often get completed beyond the term of the