Friday, October 31, 2008

Blogworthy Administrative Matters

The Nov. 3rd City Council meeting has been cancelled. The Council will meet next on Nov. 17th, at 7:30 pm in the Community Center. This meeting will be the last time the Council will be gathering in the lower portion of the Library, as the “new” City Council will be having it’s Open House Monday Dec. 1st, starting at 6:00 pm. Come and see for yourself the various types of improvements that have been made to the building (guided tours will be taking place). Enjoy some light refreshments as you tour around…and since you’ll already be there, might as well grab a seat in the Community Meeting Room where the Council Meeting will be taking place directly afterwards, starting at 7:30 pm.

Just as a friendly reminder, City Hall will be closed the day of the move back to 50 Park Place (Friday, 11/21) and Monday the 24th in order to allow for the movers to work as swiftly as possible and complete their job. Offices will be open Tuesday and Wednesday (11/25 – 11/26, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm), upon which City Hall will be closed the remainder of the week (11/27 – 11/28) for the Thanksgiving holiday.

But for now, please have a safe and Happy Halloween.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

We Will Miss Your Smiling Face, Angelina

For those of you who knew Angelina Ciucci, you know she was hard to miss. She instantly lit up every room she walked into with her brimming smile and cheery personality. Serving as a Fire Inspector, she was a huge asset not only to the Fire Department, but to the Brisbane community at large. It is with great sorrow that we inform you that last night, Angelina passed away after a valiant battle with her illness.

Angelina, you are a shining example to us all of what it means to be joyful no matter what the circumstances. Our thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies go out to your family during this time.

Hoping for More TREATS than Tricks this Halloween

In efforts to realize this, the Brisbane Police Dept. has reflective trick-or-treat bags for the community at the PD. They also suggest reflective clothing, as Friday evening is expected to be hazy, with a 70% chance of rain.

Some other tips to help make this night as safe as possible follow (because when it comes to participation, our city has no problem).
  • Children should stay in groups with at least one adult

  • Several people in the group should carry flashlights

  • Children should be careful not to run across the street...look both ways!

  • Don't accept candy or treats whose wrapper has been tampered with or opened

  • Stay away from tricks (pranks can be destructive and could be considered vandalism)...focus on treats!

The North County Fire Authority also has released a Media Advisory regarding Halloween Safety. Check it out here. With that, have a SAFE and Happy Halloween!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Recycle 1234...

56789?

Recycle 1234 was in town on Saturday morning, but if your old TV or computer is still waiting to get picked up, please contact the company at (510) 468-2642 today and a driver will be by to do so (a collection center has been set up nearby on Junipero Serra to get the job done). So if you haven't already done so, this is an opportunity to rid yourselves of the electronic devices you've been wanting to do away with...including cell phones!

Thank you for recycling and apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused over the weekend.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Seeking out Best Opportunities Takes Being OPEN

It's a pretty well-known fact that public transportation in and out of Brisbane is tough. The Caltrain station is located near 101 and, unlike most of the places in town, isn't easily accessible by way of a short stroll.

There may be a way to change that.

By participating in the FOCUS Program, led by four regional agencies - in partnership with congestion management agencies, transit providers, and local governments throughout the Bay Area, a transit network for the Baylands could one day be possible. The goals of the FOCUS Program - promoting transit usage and reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) - are consistent with the City's stated objectives to achieve a sustainable and environmentally responsible development on the Baylands.

What usually goes hand in hand with transit-oriented districts is planned housing. In 2007, a Priority Development Area (PDA) was designated encompassing the Schlage Lock site, Visitacion Valley, and Executive Park in San Francisco, all of which already had included planned housing as part of that region's development. In other words, participation in the FOCUS Program does not constitute the building of housing. Rather, it allows Brisbane eligibilty to receive discretionary funding available through the FOCUS program. This would especially be the case if a reduction in VMT and associated greenhouse gas emissions is probable (which would be the likely case if the train station was moved closer to central Brisbane).

To date, Planning Grants totaling $7.5 million were awarded to PDAs during the last fiscal year, and an additional $22 million is estimated to be available in the next 3-4 years. (If a PDA does not receive incentives in the first round, it will remain eligible for future rounds of funding, as available). On Monday night, the City Council voted to adopt Resolution #2208-38, allowing for staff to apply for inclusion in the existing PDA. More information about this next planning step was requested as well, as the Council keeps an open mind while seeking out the best opportunities for the Baylands and the City.

Speaking of being OPEN, the Pool will continue to be operating its Adult Lap Swim morning session (6:30 am - 9:30 am) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. In addition, it will be open an extra hour on Tuesdays and Thursday. See below for the rest of this week's hours:

Adult Lap Swim
Monday: 6:30am-9:30am, 11:30am-1:30pm, 4:00-7:00pm
Wednesday and Friday: 6:30-9:30am, 11:30am-1:30pm, 5:15-7:00pm
Tuesday and Thursday: 11:30am-1:30pm, 4:00-8:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10:30am-1:00pm

Recreation Swim
Monday-Friday: 4:00-7:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10:30am-1:00pm

Friday, October 17, 2008

Free Events Taking Place on Saturday

Autumn has arrived, and tomorrow, the Community Flu Shot Clinic will have as well. The clinic will be held at the Sunrise Room, located at the corner of Visitacion & San Francisco Ave. The clinic is FREE to all Brisbane residents, courtesy of Seton Health Services Foundation Brisbane Community Fund. So come by the Sunrise Room between 9:30 am - 12:30 pm tomorrow morning and help minimize the risk of contracting influenza this season!

Then afterwards, you'll want to stop by the Fire Dept., Station 81 (3445 Bayshore Blvd.), as it's Fire Service Day at all North County Fire Authority (NFCA) fire stations. Starting at 10:00 am and going until 2:00 pm, members of the Brisbane Fire Dept. will be hosting an OPEN HOUSE to warmly welcome community members of all ages. Along with personal tours of Station 81, there will be live demonstrations of the special gear and equipment used by our firefighters to tackle the blazes, along with a plethora of information so that you can hear the latest on emergency preparedness and how you can help prevent home fire hazards.

Hope to see you at these two very important events taking place in our City of Stars this weekend!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Have you not Heard??

Exciting things are happening in Brisbane!

First off, starting TOMORROW, Live at Mission Blue will be kicking off its 5th straight season with a mens a capella group, Clerestory (pronounced "clear story"). All concerts start at 8:00 pm with tickets able to be purchased either through the web or by contacting info@liveatmissionblue.com. Check out this article, published in the San Francisco Classical Voice, touting not only Mission Blue Center as being one of the best venues for hearing chamber music in the Bay Area, but how fortunate we are here in Brisbane to experience the grandeur of local and internationally renown artists showcasing their masterpieces in our small community.

Adding to the excitement is the thought that in just one week from now, acclaimed author, professor, and radio host of KQED's Forum, Michael Krasny, will be the honored guest at the next Starlight Reading Series. The event takes place next Friday, Oct. 17th beginning at 7:00 pm, also at Mission Blue Center. Get your tickets NOW as they are sure to go quick.

The Fire Dept. is gearing up for their annual Open House, scheduled to take place next Saturday, Oct. 18th from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Come to Brisbane's Station 81 located at 3445 Bayshore Blvd. for a tour of the station, live firefighter and fire extinguisher demonstrations, a display of specialized equipment, plus activities for all ages! It's Fire Service Day, so allow the firefighters to show you, the citizens of Brisbane, just what services are afforded to you!

And if all that wasn't exciting enough already, starting on Mon. Oct. 20th, the Brisbane/Crocker Park shuttles, serving the Balboa Park BART station in the morning and and Balboa Park BART and Bayshore Caltrain station in the afternoon, will increase to three vehicles. The two 35-passenger heavy-duty Gillig Phantoms will soon be replaced by three mid-sized 30-passenger shuttles operating on unleaded fuel. The ride should be much smoother and the seating more comfortable. Click here to download the new schedule. If you'd like a shuttle pass, just stop by City Hall and we'll see that you get set up with one!

Friday, October 03, 2008

Attending to the Things that Matter

Every first weekend in October, the white tarps go up and the booths set out for what is known as a Day in the Park. It is here that community members can expect to enjoy great music, food, games, arts & crafts, and even dancing as they become informed about the various community groups and volunteer opportunities available through them. This is one of the most popular events to take place in town during the year, so even though the weather outlook is calling for a 60% chance of rain, we're still calling the community to come out and enjoy a Day in the Park, which will be happening starting at 10:00 AM, rain or shine. The only thing that may have to be postponed would be the Brisbane Derby...but if the weather permits, be sure to see the cars and their talented young drivers coming down San Francisco Ave. (@ Plumas St.) around 8:30 AM.

More experienced drivers, on the other hand, may have noticed the portable message signs at the north and south ends of Bayshore, alerting them of the upcoming Bayshore North-South Bikeway project set to begin on Monday, 10/6. Workers will be mobilizing their operations and equipment along Bayshore on Monday, and starting the actual grinding the following day. Expect some traffic control to be taking place, as grinding will be taking place the first week, and paving the second. The goal behind the project is to make Brisbane into a place where pedestrians and bicyclists can safely access all parts of town. So even though the strip of Bayshore between Valley and the southern city limits wil be under construction for about 1 month between the hours of 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, the result will be a solution that adds to Brisbane's high standards when it comes to safety and being an interconnected community.

And speaking of safety...National Fire Prevention Week starts this Sunday, Oct. 5th, and goes through Saturday, Oct. 11th. Established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, it's a good time to consider how you could make your home safe from fire hazards, most often caused by cooking, heating, electrical, and smoking materials. Visit www.firepreventionweek.org to learn more about this year's theme, "Prevent Home Fires" and become better informed on the things that could make the difference between saving your life, that of your loved ones, and the place that you call home.