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San Bruno staff urges "downtown improvement" package, council asks for an a la carte menu
Summary
City staff presented the 2019 streetscape plan and proposed a downtown improvement initiative including design work, lighting, wayfinding, public art and events; council members asked for lower-cost, "a la carte" options and clearer cost breakdowns before committing to a $4.3 million design phase.
City staff asked the City Council to clarify its intent for a downtown improvement initiative that would carry forward design and implementation elements of the 2019 downtown streetscape plan.
In a 20-minute presentation, planning staff described the plan's six goals—activation, greening, beautification, safety, wayfinding and identity—and showed street-section diagrams that propose in-ground street trees, new light standards spaced roughly 60 feet apart and added street furniture. Staff recommended renaming the initiative from "downtown beautification planning" to "downtown improvement" to reflect the broader scope.
Staff outlined a menu of actions: funding design and studies for tier 1 and 2 improvements (sidewalk replacement, street trees, lighting and stormwater work), a branding exercise ($125,000–$200,000), two public-art projects (including a Centennial Plaza mural already in progress) and a downtown events program that would require bollards and ongoing staffing. Staff estimated design-and-study work for tiers 1 and 2 at about $4,300,000, branding at $125,000–$200,000, and bollards for temporary closures at roughly $2,000,000; staff suggested a mix of general fund reserves and development impact fees as potential sources.
Councilmembers responded with detailed operational questions. Council member Hamilton and others sought clarification on the type of bollards proposed (permanent in-ground footings versus removable units), while Vice Mayor Alvarez and others pressed whether all light poles must be replaced or whether targeted infill or solar fixtures could reduce costs. Several councilmembers said they favored keeping the public-art elements and zoning adjustments on the table but asked staff to return with an "a la carte" menu identifying high-value, lower-cost options rather than a single large package.
A resident who spoke during public comment echoed the call for incremental and artistic interventions: "I love all the things that you're talking about. It would be wonderful to have the trees in the ground like they once were," the resident said, suggesting interim costs such as painted planters or mosaic treatments if full sidewalk replacement is unaffordable.
Next steps: staff said it would prepare a concise project summary and price-ordered options for council consideration and return items to the council for clearer direction at a future meeting. The council signaled support for zoning adjustments and the two public-art projects and asked that staff bring targeted cost breakdowns and a proposed phasing plan.
