San Bruno council adopts FY26–27 priorities and budget principles; funds and studies for street sweeping, downtown beautification and safety pilots proposed

San Bruno — The City Council unanimously adopted its fiscal year 2026–27 priorities and budget principles at the Feb. 10 meeting, endorsing a slate of initiatives staff and council members discussed in detail before the vote.

Brian Adam, assistant to the city manager, presented six priority initiatives that will guide the upcoming budget cycle: Building Better in San Bruno (long‑range economic development, including a potential ballot measure); a street‑sweeping program review (a comprehensive operational analysis with an initial study budget up to $500,000); downtown beautification guided by the 2019 streetscape plan (staff noted prior investments of about $4 million and outlined smaller projects such as lighting, Paseo improvements and signage); Safe San Bruno combined with a crime‑prevention lighting pilot (roughly $600,000 proposed to fund additional traffic and crime‑prevention staffing, equipment and training); a senior center remodel (base interior estimate cited at about $1.8 million with add‑alternates for roof and HVAC); and a software/ERP overhaul already budgeted in part through the capital improvement program.

Council members asked for clarity on goals and costs before committing to implementation budgets. On street sweeping, members said the study should focus on specific questions—whether the city can increase efficacy and fairness (for example, addressing parking problems that make sweeping ineffective on some blocks) and propose implementable options such as hot‑spot interventions, targeted enforcement or adjustments to sweeping schedules. City Manager Matt McIntyre said staff will develop a consultant scope of work and return with a recommended RFP and budget detail.

Regarding downtown beautification, the council directed staff to review the 2019 streetscape plan, report what has been completed (roughly $4 million in prior work) and return with a prioritized list of smaller, affordable projects (lighting improvements, Paseo upgrades or a marquee message sign) rather than assuming a full $20 million implementation.

Council also discussed the Safe San Bruno proposal and asked to revisit the item with the police chief in a future study session to address legal and operational constraints (for example, state rules limiting automated speed‑camera tickets to a small set of pilot cities). The council approved the overall priorities and budget principles by motion and vote.

Motion and vote: Council Member Hamilton moved to adopt the budget principles and priorities as presented, with Vice Mayor Alvarez seconding; the motion passed unanimously (5–0).

What happens next: Staff will prepare scopes, cost breakdowns and draft RFPs or ordinance language as appropriate and return to the council for budget adoption and implementation steps.