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San Bruno council agrees to ad hoc downtown engagement committee focused on merchant survey
Summary
After debate about scope and staff roles, the council agreed to form a two‑council‑member ad hoc to develop a targeted merchant/property‑owner survey and return recommendations by the end of the calendar year, with staff noting a citywide Godbe Research survey is launching soon.
The San Bruno City Council agreed Sept. 9 to form a short‑term ad hoc committee to develop targeted outreach for downtown merchants and property owners, focusing primarily on creating a survey instrument and returning community‑backed recommendations to the council.
Vice Mayor Marty Medina introduced the proposal, describing five preliminary goals that included relationship‑building with downtown businesses, encouraging facade improvements, gathering feedback through surveys and meetings, assisting with Centennial Plaza activation, and returning practical recommendations. Council Member Salazar and others pushed back on the initial scope as too broad, warning it could duplicate staff responsibilities and lack a clear deliverable.
In response, Vice Mayor Marty Medina and other members narrowed the subcommittee's focus: the body will concentrate on designing a merchant/property‑owner survey and related outreach, coordinate with staff, and return findings in time to inform the city’s January strategic initiatives. "I think establishing the relationships is an important thing," the vice mayor said as he described planned merchant outreach and a timeline.
City staff told the council they are already drafting a broader citywide survey with Godbe Research to be launched in the coming weeks; the subcommittee's targeted merchant survey is meant to complement that work. Community Services Director Travis Carlin also said the San Bruno Improvement Group and Comcast have pledged funding to activate Centennial Plaza (he cited a $10,000 grant from the Improvement Group and additional sponsorship commitments) and that staff will return with a more detailed agenda item.
Public commenter Steven Seymour, who has been working to organize downtown events, said many merchants still feel unengaged and supported the idea of focused outreach to merchants and property owners.
Council members voiced concurrence with the narrowed charge and the mayor said he would make appointments for the subcommittee (appointments require council approval). The council described the subcommittee as a limited, focused vehicle for collecting merchant input rather than an executive body to implement projects.
Next steps: the mayor will appoint members for council approval; the subcommittee will work with staff to develop survey wording and outreach logistics and is expected to provide recommendations to council before the January strategic session.
