San Bruno Patch's Candidate Questions

By Marty Medina

The San Bruno Patch questioned all of the candidates and then posted their responses.

Q#1 What background characteristics will make you a good Councilman?

I grew up in a family of three brothers and three sisters in Salinas, California. I saw my parents work hard each day to provide a roof over our head and food on the table. Their work ethic and sacrifice is something I will always remember with pride and reverence. Money was tight and I learned to value and stretch each dollar. We didn't have the best things, but we had the best times. My family gave me core values of respect, compassion, and hard work. And now as a father my focus is on the future. I think about it everyday. Future development can provide financial benefits, but we must always remember how it impacts our current residents.

I am optimistic and focused to make San Bruno better for everyone.

Q#2 What accomplishments give you the background to be a good Councilman?

I volunteered and coached San Bruno Bronco and Pony baseball for nine years. I worked as a San Bruno Public Works Inspector for over ten years. I saw the good and the bad; the excellence and the waste. The best part of my job was helping people in our community. After the PG&E explosion I was assigned to coordinate all PG&E construction and the rebuilding of the Crestmoor neighborhood. I attended UC Berkeley Extension after work and on weekends and obtained a Certificate in Construction Management in 2013. This year I volunteered with San Bruno Park School District Parents Working Group and helped our community raise over $25,000.

Working and volunteering in San Bruno has allowed me to show leadership, initiative, care, and concern.

Q#3 What is the TOP problem that you as a Councilman will work on to fix and WHY?

Our infrastructure is the top problem. Our water, sewer, storm, streets, sidewalks, cable/internet system, and city buildings need maintenance and replacement. There are fifty-six projects in the 2015-2020 Capital Improvement Program yet $192 million is unfunded. Our water rates are the second highest in the region and two more Council-approved, ten percent increases are coming. Our streets are ranked among the worst in the region. San Bruno Cable needs $10 million to upgrade their system.

Failing to maintain and upgrade our infrastructure will lead to more expensive repairs in the future.

#4 What will you do as Councilman to improve San Bruno's infrastructure?

The solution is not unsustainable rate increases approved each year by the council. The solution involves innovative change. Changing the costly, ineffective and wasteful policies, procedures, materials, and methods. For example, at the July 14, 2015, City Council Study Session on Pavement Management System, staff reported successfully completing construction at nearly half the cost of contracted work. We need to investigate the cost-savings of having our own crews work on infrastructure projects. When our qualified and trusted crews perform the work there is less need for costly project management and inspection. We also need our engineering staff to design more projects instead of relying too heavily on expensive consultants. We need to partner with neighboring cities to share expensive construction equipment and resources.

Q#5 What will you do as Councilman to increase funding and support of the San Bruno schools?

Although school funding is the responsibility of the County, State and Federal Government, I am committed to partnering with our schools, sharing resources and expanding fundraising efforts. The San Bruno Community Foundation (SBCF) was created by the City Council to oversee the $70 Million in PG&E restitution funds. I will formally request the Council and Foundation to establish a SBCF grant program for all San Bruno residents. This program would allow each resident to obtain a modest grant for a Foundation-approved organization of their choice. Schools would be one of the approved organizations. I will also request the Council and SBCF to hire a professional grant writer to apply for grants on behalf of all schools and foundation-approved organizations.

Q#6 What do you expect to accomplish in your First 100 Days As Councilman?

1) I will request a study session to "Improve our Downtown Now". We need to convert the roped-off, do-not-enter, dry-fountain space into a real downtown park. This will allow families to shop downtown and have a place to relax, watch their children play, enjoy an outdoor lunch on benches next to chess tables. Installing a small stage will allow a venue for musicians, poetry, and performances. Our downtown needs to be spruced up with drought-tolerant plants, new murals, and additional scheduled cleaning. My downtown plan is on my website, MedinaforSanBruno2015.com

2) I will pursue holding a downtown festival and will contact our various community organizations for their input and collaboration. Reviving our downtown festival is an opportunity for our community to celebrate our unique diversity through cultural performances, music, and art.

3) I will ask the council to proceed with transforming our swimming pool into a first class, year-round swim center. The swim center has preliminary costs ranging from $8-10 million. We need to start the planning now. It is time for leadership and vision. A new library has preliminary costs ranging from $37-47 Million.

4) I will lead the effort to establish a San Bruno Volunteer Program. This program will focus on helping seniors and allow other residents to transform water-consuming lawns into drought-resistant landscaping. It will also clean up neighborhoods, beautify schools and parks, assist community training, tutoring, and fundraising efforts.

Q#7 What has been the BIGGEST mistake the current Council has made that needs fixing and WHY?

The council has failed to efficiently maintain the City's infrastructure. In July 2011, San Bruno was sued by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and paid over $910,000 in fines and fees for failing to maintain the sewer system, click here . Failing to comply with a Cease and Desist order triggered an accelerated and costly repair program.

I appreciate the work and effort of the incumbents and thank them for their service. Irene O'Connell has been on the council since 1995. Twenty years is a long time to manage our infrastructure. Michael Salazar has been on the council since 2009. Based on the City's website, both incumbents have Council Standing Committee Assignments in Utilities. They had their opportunity. It is time for a candidate with construction experience and knowledge to lead the rebuilding of our infrastructure. We can do better.

Vote for Marty Medina, San Bruno City Council, 2015.

Q#8 Please list how voters can contact you including your web page if you have one and list when you will be holding a "Meet and Greet" event, if scheduled.

My website is at http://www.medinaforsanbruno2015.com/ or on Facebook, "Marty Medina for San Bruno City Council 2015". I can be reached at sanbrunotruth@gmail.com or by phone (650) 580-3445. I will be holding, "Meet and Greet" downtown chats at "Never too Latte" during Saturday and Sunday mornings (see website for hours). Please stop by and let's talk about what is important to you. I want to hear your ideas and questions.

Thank you for the opportunity to answer these questions.

Sincerely,

Marty Medina"