The City's Blog has Moved

With the launch of the City's new website in early October (www.brisbaneca.org), we've set up a blog within the site.  So now you stay up-to-date on what's going on in Brisbane by logging onto www.brisbaneca.org/blog.  New posts are added throughout the week.  If you would like to be added to the weekly e-mail blast which tells you what all the new posts and calendar items are, then e-mail Caroline at ccheng@ci.brisbane.ca.us.

Enjoy!

Home Improvement Tax Incentives & Rebates

One of the topics of discussion at this past Wednesdays's Open Space and Ecology Committee meeting was how individuals who may be doing improvements or remodels at their homes can take advantage of the tax incentives and rebates that are readily available.  The Energy Efficiency Subcommittee wanted to provide public information on how the energy efficiency of a home can be improved.  Here are some resources that can help you to reduce your home's energy usage, and how you can qualify for the available tax incentives and rebates.

• www.pge.com/rebates has the latest rebate information, catalogs, and guidance for your next energy efficiency upgrade
• If you're ready to apply for a rebate, you can apply online through eRebates at www.pge.com/erebates.  With PG&E's eRebates, you can also check the status of your rebate application.
• Existing homeowners are eligible for tax credits up to a maximum of $1,500 for making energy-efficient home improvements.  Refer to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) matrix.
• The Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP) gives consumers and businesses the information they need to take advantage of the federal income tax incentives passed by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), and extended through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

In addition to tax incentives and rebates, PG&E offers a wide range of ways to save energy, money, and help the environment.  PG&E's SmartEnergy Analyzer can help you understand where your energy goes, pinpoint problem areas, and start you on the path to an energy-efficient home.  Click here to access the SmartEnergy Analyzer for businesses.

Learn more about these programs, tools, and offers at http://www.pge.com/, or contact PG&E's Smarter Energy Line at 1-800-933-9555 or e-mail smarter-energy@pge.com.

Fire Station Update - Modular Trailers On Order

The digging that is going on outside of the Brisbane Fire Station may have caught your eye. Workers are installing the interim water, sewer and gas lines for modular trailers that were ordered yesterday by the City. It will be 1 month on October 16th since severe mold was discovered at Station 81, resulting in the Brisbane firefighters traveling between Station 93 in Daly City (464 Martin St.) where they spend nights, and Station 81 in Brisbane (3445 Bayshore) where they are stationed in a staging trailer during the day. This staging trailer, however, is meant solely for such purposes and not equipped with showers, bathrooms, or sleeping quarters. The mobiles that were ordered yesterday, so that the firefighters can remain in Brisbane around the clock, will be equipped with such, as well as a kitchen for them to once again cook together as a crew. The mobiles are scheduled to arrive October 20th and all of the final connections are targeted for completion by the end of the month, with the firefighters back in Brisbane 24/7 by November 1, 2010.

"The Tempest" Being Performed in Brisbane

The Brisbane Women's Club proudly presents The San Francisco Shakespeare's Festival performance of "The Tempest" on Sunday, October 24th at 2:00pm. The event will take place once again at the Mission Blue Center in Brisbane. Click here to view the complete flyer.

"The Tempest" has been regarded as the pinnacle of Shakespeare’s dramatic output, widely believed to be his final and most autobiographical play. The story captures the essence of the human condition with its compelling and timeless themes. Forgiveness versus revenge, good versus evil, freedom versus captivity, and youthful impetuousness contrasted with aged wisdom are just some of the ideas that Shakespeare illuminates with his powerful and poetic storytelling skills. It's a true delight that the Fall 2010 tour of The Tempest will soon be here in Brisbane!

The production is professionally directed and suitable for elementary students through adults. Five highly-skilled actors in costume, with set, props, and recorded music will be performing a 55-minute production of "The Tempest" in just a couple short weeks here in Brisbane. There is NO ADMISSION CHARGE for the performance, so if you haven't already done so -- mark your calendar now -- we wouldn't want you to miss out on this once-a-year event!

BrisbaneCA.org Has Gone LIVE!

If you haven't already seen it, jump over to http://www.brisbaneca.org/ to check out the City's newly-designed website!  C.J. MacDonald, a Brisbane resident, was the site's web developer and worked long and hard to get the site looking like it does.  And, you can tell how much he CARES about the community as you navigate through some of the site's new features, including an "I Want To..." drop-down menu, rotating photos displaying the unique and picturesque scenery of Brisbane, and actual Vimeo videos which have been embedded onto the webpages themselves, for easy access to City Council and other public meetings, as well as previously-held community workshops in the Baylands section. The Sustainability and Economic Development pages are completely new sections of the website which we foresee growing in content as time goes by.  Also, news items like these Blog posts will be incorporated under the Lastest News and Star section on the homepage, thereby constantly being updated and "rolling".  C.J. is working on a mechanism to be able to push news items out to the community as they're added onto the homepage...but until then, we'll continue to send out timely information from the City out through Blogger as usual.

Photos taken be staff will be incorporated onto Flickr - enjoy this set from last weekend's Derby & Day in the Park Festival!

A reminder that City Hall will be closed on Monday, October 11th in observance of Columbus Day.  With that, have a great weekend!

Brisbane Firefighters Update

The firefighters continue to stay at Station 93 in Daly City during the evening hours - returning to Brisbane during normal working hours - as analysis for a more long-term solution is done in response to the severe mold discovered a few weeks ago at the Brisbane Fire Station.  But this back-and-forth scenario will only be for a little while longer.  On Monday night, the City Council approved the rental of a triple-wide trailer which is to be installed by the end of October at the current location of the Brisbane Fire Station (Station 81 is currently located at 3445 Bayshore Blvd).  But to give you an idea of the route the Brisbane Firefighters take from Daly City to Brisbane, see the map below:

They basically take a left at Carter Dr., and another at Guadalupe Canyon Parkway before hanging a right onto Bayshore Blvd. and entering Brisbane.  The total driving distance from Station 93 to Brisbane City Hall is 2.1 miles.

We are glad that our Firefighters will be able to return to Brisbane by the end of the month - the premiere goal of the City Council and staff, and the Firefighters themselves are most definitely looking forward to spending their nights back in town!

Also approved at this past Monday's Council meeting was the launch of the City's new website.  We'll make another announcement here when all the final tweaks have been made.  In the meantime, here's a little teaser for you...

Expect the new website to be available for surfing either later today or early tomorrow!

Don't Forget "Day in the Park" Festival Tomorrow!



We're all set and ready to go for the Brisbane Derby and "Day in the Park" Festival tomorrow!

The festivities begin early tomorrow, but for some, they've been waiting a whole year for this day to come again.  Come to San Francisco & Plumas tomorrow at 8am to get a nice spot along San Francisco Ave. and watch cars be raced down the hill.  This has been a Brisbane tradition since the 1930s - only, the racers were a little bigger in size...(that's because the Brisbane Derby used to be sponsored by the the Volunteer Fire Department!)


Brisbane Derby, circa 1940

While the races are still going on and trophies are awarded to each of the competing age groups, the Community Park will be buzzing with community groups (Women's Club, Mothers of Brisbane, Lion's Club, Eagle's Club, Brisbane Youth Sports Association) telling about the various efforts they've invested in, and City Departments and Committees (Parks & Recreation, Police, Open Space & Ecology Committee) providing useful resources to the community.  There will also be a Public Safety booth to provide residents with critical information in case an emergency should ever take place in Brisbane.  So come and arm yourself with great information, while enjoying some tasty BBQ, corn on the cob, and cotton candy while you're at it!  Oh, and let's not forget baked goods and ice cream.  The event goes until about 5:00pm.

Also, this coming Monday, the City Council will be convening at 7:30pm at City Hall - 50 Park Place.  Come and join for the dedication of the bird signs on Tunnel Ave. Bridge, recognizing Teresa Maturo for her service on the Planning Commission, and swearing in John Swiecki as the new Community Development Director.  After a break for refreshments, the City's new website will be unveiled.  Come and hear what the Council has to say, and share your own thoughts and ideas!  To see what else the City Council will be going over that night, please click here to view the night's full agenda.  And always remember that if you can't make it to a Council meeting, or don't have Comcast, then you can view the City Council meetings on your computer by visiting the live streaming page.