April - City of San Carlos

City of San Carlos Community Newsletter | Apr - Jun 2015
Upcoming Events
Kiwanis Show
April 10, 11, 17 & 18; 7:00 p.m.
April 12 & 18; 2:00 p.m.
Central Middle School, 828 Chestnut St.
www.sancarloskiwanis.org
Fine Arts Association
Spring Gallery Show
April 17; 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Adult Community Center, 601 Chestnut St.
www.sancarlosfinearts.org
Step Up and Power Down
San Carlos – Earth Day Event
April 22; 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
San Carlos Youth Center, 1001 Chestnut St.
Arguello Park Volunteer Clean-up
Saturday, April 25; 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Arguello Park, 260 Wellington Drive
Volunteer Expo
Saturday, April 25; 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Adult Community Center, 601 Chestnut St.
For more info, call 802-4218
Black Mountain Open House
Saturday, April 25; 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
May - TBD
806 Alameda
www.cityofsancarlos.org/blackmountainbond
Bye Bye Birdie
May 1 - 10
San Carlos Children’s Theater
www.sancarloschildrenstheater.com
Hometown Days
May 15-17
Burton Park, 900 Chestnut St.
www.sancarloshometowndays.com
Pipeline Safety
Tabling events, April – August
Home Depot, 1125 Old County Road
www.cityofsancarlos.org/PipelineSafety.asp
Farmer’s Market – Hot Harvest Nights
Every Thursday from
May 1 – Sept 11; 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Laurel St. between Cherry St. and Olive St.
www.sancarloschamber.org
“Shape San Carlos”
Community Outreach
In September 2014, the City of San Carlos introduced “Shape San Carlos,” a new
online community engagement tool, to increase transparency and encourage the
community to actively participate in civic governance. Topics are introduced on
Shape San Carlos to gather resident input on projects and programs of interest
to the community.
In addition to the online engagement tool, the City hosted three “Shape San Carlos
Community Forums” on January 10, 13 and 15, 2015. The forums, part of a larger
community engagement effort, allowed residents to participate in shaping the city
through productive dialogue with neighbors and City staff.
The City also felt it important to reach out to a variety of organizations, service clubs,
foundations and associations in San Carlos. Community stakeholder groups were
invited to join the meetings, which were also publicized heavily on social media and
the City’s website.
In response to community input, City Council recently voted unanimously to create
a dog park next to City Hall. The community also showed an interest in exploring
the purchase of the Black Mountain properties through a bond measure, which the
Council has agreed to do. This outreach is just the beginning. City leaders and staff
will continue to work closely with
residents on an ongoing basis to
enhance the quality of life in the
City of Good Living.
Retail Happenings
Home Improvement Businesses: Orchard Supply Hardware & Lyngso Garden Materials
As San Carlos builds upon its reputation as a destination for home improvement
and construction related businesses, it proudly welcomes Orchard Supply Hardware
and Lyngso Garden Materials.
Orchard Supply Hardware is an American retailer of home improvement and gardening
products that will soon open at 3602 Industrial Road in San Carlos. Lyngso Garden
Materials has been providing Bay Area homeowners and contractors with a wonderful
variety of landscaping products for nearly 60 years, and will soon open its newest location
at 345 Shoreway in San Carlos. The City anticipates both stores opening by Summer 2015.
Project Updates
Adult Community Center
Renovation and Temporary
Relocation
Facility operations will temporarily
relocate to 1245 San Carlos Avenue
in June, while the ACC undergoes
renovation. For more information
about the project, please call the
ACC at 802-4384.
Landmark Hotel
The Environmental Impact Report and
development plans for a new 204room upscale extended stay hotel will
be reviewed by the City this Spring,
2015. The new hotel will be located
at the northeast corner of East San
Carlos Avenue and Industrial Road and
is anticipated to open in early 2017.
LED Streetlight Conversion
Last year, the City began an ambitious
project to convert all street lights in
San Carlos from traditional High Pressure Sodium bulbs to energy-efficient
Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures.
The City is proud to announce that all
1,465 street lights in San Carlos have
been converted – the LED fixtures will
save the City approximately $67,749
annually and reduce CO2 output by
128 tons.
San Carlos Transit Village
Construction is planned to begin this
Summer on the San Carlos Transit
Village. The Transit Village will be
built on 8.7 acres of underutilized
vacant land both north and south
of the San Carlos Caltrain station.
The development will provide 202
residential multi-family housing units
with 10% of those units being belowmarket rate housing. The Village
will also include a small amount of
commercial, office, and retail space.
The project will be one of the first
major mixed-use transit-oriented
developments adjacent to a Caltrain
station on the peninsula.
Wheeler Plaza
Construction is planned to begin
on Wheeler Plaza Fall of 2015.
The project includes a 250-space
public parking area, 109 housing
units, 9,855 square feet of commercial space and a downtown plaza
(urban park). The goal of the project
is to create much needed housing,
additional free parking and updated
commercial spaces. The Plaza will also
feature a public park and gathering
space within the downtown core and
within walking distance of the train
station.
Off-Leash Dog Exercise
Areas Relocated
The off-leash dog exercise areas
have been relocated from Burton
and Highlands parks to City Hall Park
(corner of San Carlos Avenue and Elm
Street). Park hours are dawn to dusk.
Residents are provided with dog waste
bags and all off-leash rules apply.
Fencing around City Hall Park will be
erected within the next few months.
Special thanks to the Responsible Dog
Owners of San Carlos for making this
new location possible.
Manager’s
Corner
Jeff Maltbie, City Manager
As a community, San Carlans know how lucky we are in the City of Good
Living, with all of its benefits and amenities. We at the City strive to do our
best to support this high standard of living by providing the community with
services that enrich and improve the lives of every resident. With this in
mind, we are also committed to fostering an ongoing conversation with
San Carlos residents about ways to build on our successes.
To accomplish this goal, the City launched an outreach program to learn
more about what we could do to improve the quality of life in our
community. In January 2015, the City reached out to the community
and over 1,000 residents provided feedback on many potential projects
and programs they would like to see in the future. Through the “Shape
San Carlos” online forum and three community meetings, City staff and
San Carlos residents engaged in a productive dialogue about how to
improve our city.
Through the discussions online and at the community meetings, the City has
become aware of resident’s interest in an opportunity to protect some of
the last remaining undeveloped open space in San Carlos. By acquiring the
Black Mountain property on Alameda De Las Pulgas, which is currently for
sale, we would be able to preserve this natural setting in the center of
town. The approximately 24-acre property offers hiking trails, trees,
a natural spring water source, beautiful views of San Carlos and more.
Access to our pristine parks and open space is part
of what makes our area such a special place to
live, and the City Council is looking seriously at
this opportunity.
Black Mountain:
Undeveloped Open Space in
the Heart of San Carlos
An opportunity has arisen for the City to acquire property off
Alameda De Las Pulgas, which would enable San Carlos to preserve
one of the largest remaining undeveloped local residential areas.
Located in the hills of San Carlos, the approximately 24-acre property
was originally the home and estate of the founder of Black Mountain Spring
Water, and the original spring on the property is still actively flowing.
This natural treasure boasts an array of local wildlife and offers
beautiful views of San Carlos and the potential for tranquil walking paths
and trails that are easily accessible to residents.
The City has received positive feedback from
the public about purchasing the property, which
would preserve outdoor open space in the heart of
our community and permanently protect some of the
last remaining open space within the urbanized city
boundaries for generations to come.
Because additional funding would be needed to purchase the
property, the City Council is considering placing a bond measure on a
future ballot. No binding decisions have been made and the City will gather
more community input on the proposal before making any final decisions.
If you’d like to learn more
about the potential protection
of Black Mountain open space,
please contact Tara Peterson,
Assistant to the City Manager,
at (650) 802-4230.
More details about potential Black Mountain
preservation efforts are provided in this newsletter,
and we’d like to hear your thoughts as well.
More information can also be
found on the City’s website here:
www.cityofsancarlos.org/
blackmountainbond
Black Mountain Open House
Saturday, April 25
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Laurel Street Park to be Renamed
“Frank D. Harrington Park”
On January 26, the City Council unanimously voted to rename
Laurel Street Park in honor of the late Frank D. Harrington,
a longtime resident and community volunteer.
Frank served San Carlos for more than 45 years in a variety of
capacities, from Reserve Deputy Sheriff to Reserve San Carlos Police
Officer, to most recently as a Community Service Officer. Frank would
never accept payment for his services, and in 2010, the City Council
issued a Proclamation in his name for his many years of dedication,
loyalty and commitment to San Carlos.
“Frank was the face of Laurel Street and was part of the fabric of
the San Carlos community,” said Mayor Ron Collins.
“He will be missed very much.”
On numerous occasions Mr. Harrington put himself in harm’s way
for the protection of the San Carlos community. He dedicated himself to
spreading good will, assisting residents and augmenting the Police
Department with his friendly and helpful nature, and was known city-wide
for his kind and humanistic approach to problem solving. The park will be
renamed at a dedication ceremony later in the Spring.
Pipeline Safety
San Carlos has partnered with Pacific Gas and Electric and
USA North 811 to implement a Pipeline Safety Public
Awareness Program to provide information about all underground utilities in
San Carlos and actions the community can take to enhance digging safety.
The program reminds citizens and contractors alike to call 811 at least two
working days before planting a tree, installing sprinklers, building a fence,
or anything that involves digging, excavating, drilling, trenching or grading.
Throughout 2015, the program will provide more safe-digging information
for the community through mailings, free workshops, and more. Get more
info at www.cityofsancarlos.org/PipelineSafety.asp
Green Happenings
San Carlos is proud to join a
growing number of Bay Area
cities participating in the
Peninsula Sunshares
program – a countywide
program aimed at providing
free solar education to residents,
and streamlined, discounted solar installation
for owners of single-family homes.
In response to the continuing drought, on February 9, 2015,
the San Carlos City Council declared a drought emergency, with
enforcement effective May 15, 2015. Nonessential water uses
are not allowed under the Drought Emergency and provisions of
Ordinance 1479.
For more information and to view the full list of nonessential
water uses and subsequent penalties, please visit:
www.cityofsancarlos.org/depts/cm/water_conservation
To report water wasting please call: (650) 802-4420.
Vote Solar, a nonprofit organization focused on solar legislation
and consumer education, will provide educational materials,
host informational workshops and consult residents on
solar projects. Registration will open in April 2015,
with solar installations beginning in the Fall.
PACE Financing for Green Improvements
San Carlos property owners now have several options to help
finance energy efficient and water conserving improvements. The
Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) joins Open PACE and
CaliforniaFIRST as programs to assist with energy efficient upgrades.
For more information visit:
www.heroprogram.com
www.cacommunities.org/open-pace-program
www.californiafirst.org
Disaster Preparedness
It’s Time for Us to Step Up and Power Down
If our community is hit by a significant earthquake, there is a good chance that
fire and police services will be inundated by calls, causing lengthy response
times. How you and your family are able to cope under such circumstances will
greatly depend on what you do now to prepare.
Maybe you’ve already taken steps to power down, like switching to energy
efficient light bulbs, or maybe you haven’t yet started to reduce the energy
waste in your home – either way, you can join the City of San Carlos and
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to take our homes to the next level.
Fortunately, getting ready now is simple. The website Ready.gov posts easy to
read materials such as; “Preparing for Emergencies Now: Information to Get
Ready,”and is home to a large collection of disaster preparedness resources.
San Carlos, Step Up and Power Down will help you complete energy
efficient actions customized for your household and help you learn how to
optimize your home’s energy use.
Each of us has a responsibility to ourselves and our families to
think ahead, assess risks, and be proactive.
Join your neighbors as we kick off Step Up and Power Down! Go to our
homepage now to learn more: www.cityofsancarlos.org. The next steps to a
more energy efficient future are waiting for you there!
City of San Carlos
600 Elm Street, San Carlos, CA 94070
www.cityofsancarlos.org
(650) 802-4100
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City Council Mission Statement
The City of San Carlos provides high quality services and facilities in a fiscally sustainable,
responsive and friendly manner to foster a safe and healthy community.
Elected Officials (650) Area Code
Mayor Ron Collins [email protected]
802-4161
Vice Mayor Cameron Johnson
[email protected]
802-4162
Councilmember Bob Grassilli [email protected]
802-4160
Councilmember Matt Grocott
[email protected]
802-4163
Councilmember Mark Olbert
[email protected] 868-3367
City Treasurer Michael Galvin [email protected]
483-3001
City Hall Contacts
City Government Meetings
City Council
Meets the second and fourth Monday* of the month
at 7 p.m. at City Hall and is televised live on Comcast
Channel 27. The meeting is also streamed through
www.cityofsancarlos.org and replayed on Comcast
Channel 27 Thursday, Friday, Saturday and
Sunday at 7 p.m.
April 13 and 27
May 11 and 26 (Tuesday)
June 8 and 22
Planning Commission
City Manager Jeff Maltbie
[email protected] 802-4228
Administrative Services Director
Rebecca Mendenhall
[email protected]
802-4128
Assistant to City Manager 802-4230
(Editor, Good Living) Tara Peterson [email protected]
Meets the first and third Monday* of the month at
7 p.m. at City Hall and is televised live on Comcast
Channel 27. The meeting is also streamed through
www.cityofsancarlos.org and replayed on Comcast
Channel 27 Thursday, Friday, Saturday and
Sunday at 2 p.m.
City Attorney Greg Rubens
[email protected]
593-3117
April 6 and 20
May 4 and 18
June 1 and 15
Community Relations Director/City Clerk
Crystal Mui [email protected]
802-4219
* Unless otherwise noted
Community Development Director Al Savay
[email protected]
802-4263
San Carlos Fire Chief Jim Skinner
[email protected]
780-7400
Parks & Recreation Director
Christine Boland
[email protected]
802-4286
Planning Department – General line 802-4263
Police Captain Gregory Rothaus [email protected]
802-4227
Police Business/Non-Emergency line
802-4277
Public Works Director Jay Walter
[email protected]
802-4203
Public Works Department – General line 802-4200
Building Department – General line 802-4261
Social Media
Like us on Facebook:
facebook.com/cityofsancarlos
Follow us on Twitter:
@CityofSanCarlos and @SanCarlosCM Follow us on Instagram:
@CityofSanCarlos
Engage us on Shape San Carlos:
www.cityofsancarlos.org/shapesancarlos.asp
Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission
Meets the first Wednesday of every
even numbered month at 7 p.m., City Hall.
Transportation & Circulation Commission
Meets the third Tuesday of the month,
7 p.m., City Hall.
Economic Development Advisory Commission
Meets the fourth Tuesday of the month,
4 p.m., City Hall.
Residential Design Review Committee
Meets the first and third Monday
of the month, 5:30 p.m., City Hall.
City Hall Closures
City Hall will be closed on the following days:
May 25 – Memorial Day
Hotlines
Drought Hotline
802-4420
Reporting Abandoned Vehicles
802-4236
Reporting Graffiti 802-4235
Sports Field Condition 594-2626
Updates from the City on PG&E’s Natural Gas Pipeline 147
802-4455