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Committee supports commemorative plaque for David Skoolie but raises site and habitat concerns
Summary
Brisbane committee endorsed preparing a recommendation for a commemorative plaque for longtime San Bruno Mountain advocate David Skoolie, debated potential locations (favoring accessible Buckeye Canyon over private-road access points) and asked staff to consult Skoolie and Parks & Recreation for design, cost and permitting details.
The Brisbane Open Space and Ecology Committee on Jan. 28 reviewed a preliminary staff report recommending a commemorative bronze plaque honoring David Skoolie for his decades of advocacy for San Bruno Mountain and provided guidance on locations, design and next steps.
Staff outlined a concept featuring a custom portrait relief and about 100 words of text, with illustrative vendor costs noted (an example of a similar plaque was cited at roughly $2,800 plus tax and freight). Staff estimated fabrication at approximately $3,000 and city staff, labor and installation around $2,000; members were told a larger design or expanded artwork could increase total costs to as much as $10,000. Staff also told the committee that a vendor cannot give a firm quote until final text and artwork are submitted and that the project would go to the Parks & Recreation Commission for design review and final approval.
Committee members expressed support for recognizing Skoolie while debating where to place the plaque. Several members recommended locating the memorial at an accessible public trailhead tied to many of Skoolie’s walks—Buckeye Canyon was discussed as a preferred, accessible, public trailhead tied to his educational work—rather than a narrow private-road access near Paul and Margaret avenues that several members said crosses private property and traverses fragile habitat. Members urged staff to confirm land ownership and permits, consult Skoolie about preferred sites, and submit the committee’s rationale and preferred location(s) to Parks & Recreation Commission when staff seek design approval.
Members also discussed long-term maintenance and site safety considerations (rock mounting, longevity in wet conditions) and said the committee could include a vision tying the memorial to future Corey Road trail revitalization efforts. Staff agreed to circulate a draft recommendation for committee review before forwarding it to Parks & Recreation.
