Politics & Government

City Council Discusses 'Making San Marino Better'

The San Marino City Council and city officials are working through a list of how to make the City better, including more parking for Lacy Park, evaluating taxes and more. What do you support most on the list and what would you add?

Among the issues addressed by the San Marino City Council at their monthly meetings are items on the “Making San Marino Better List,” a list of suggestions by council members and city officials about pretty much anything that could improve the City, from emergency preparedness to cultural understanding. 

Officials create some of the suggestions on the list and others are ideas that residents have expressed to officials, who have then put them on the list.

Here is the current list of ways City officials want to make San Marino better, in order of priority. City Manager Matt Ballantyne helped explain some of the items and several of the items link to previous Patch coverage for more details.

Which items are you in favor of, which are you against and what suggestions do you have for making San Marino better? Tell us in the comments section below.

1.   HUNTINGTON LIBRARY ACTIVITY EVALUATION

Evaluate progress of the Huntington Library’s significant remodel and additions to the property.
Requested by: City Council
Progress: The Draft Environmental Impact Report is pending.


2.    CENTENNIAL PLANNING

Find out what's happening in San Marinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Plan for the San Marino Centennial in various ways.
Requested by: City Council
Progress: Centennial committees have been formed and are in various planning phases.



3.    TAIWAN SISTER CITY (RESEARCH)

Find out what's happening in San Marinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Look into establishing a sister city relationship between San Marino and a city in Taiwan that will aid cultural understanding.
Requested by:
Progress: San Marino and the have initiated a sister city relationship with Danshui, Taiwan and the City Council will further address the matter at its March 14 meeting.


4.    YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT DAY

Have a program and certain events that introduce or expose children to government.
Requested by: Council member
Progress: A more formal program is desired. Currently, elementary school students visit , City Manager Matt Ballantyne talks to kids about government and a child can win the prize of being mayor for a day.

5.    ENERGY AUDITS

Evaluate the use of energy in the City.
Requested by: Council member Eugene Sun
Progress: City Council has discussed replacing street light bulbs with LED lights and lighting options for the Stoneman School property.

6.    ASSESSMENT (TAXES) EVALUATION

Requested by: Vice Mayor Richard Sun
Report on where taxes paid by City residents, businesses and other entities go and how tax amounts are calculated
Progress: See a

7.    STONEMAN PURCHASE LEGISLATIVE CHANGE

The City wants to officially purchase the Stoneman School site, which would result in the receiving $1 million in addition to its current The City and SMUSD want to amend state legislation so the district can use the $1 million for operating costs, which is not allowed currently.
Requested by: City Council
Progress: Ongoing


8.    STORM DRAIN UPDATE

Create a schedule for replacing storm drains.
Requested by: Council member Dennis Kneier
Progress: Tentatively on May 9 Council meeting agenda.

9.    LACY PARK PARKING

Increase parking for Lacy Park.
Requested by: Council member Dennis Kneier
Progress: Still being evaluated; scheduled tentatively for April 26 Council meeting agenda.

10.    SOCCER FIELD AT STONEMAN

Discuss having an AYSO soccer field at the Stoneman School site.
Requested by: Council member Dennis Kneier
Progress: Still being evaluated, though Ballantyne said Stoneman does not appear to have a big enough field; scheduled tentatively for April 26 Council meeting agenda.

11.    ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AT CROWELL LIBRARY

Look into having the run on solar power.
Requested by: Vice Mayor
Progress: The project is expensive, said Ballantyne, and solar companies have said there is not adequate space on the library roof for solar panels. The project is tentatively on the May 9 Council meeting agenda.

12.    FLEUR DRIVE HISTORICAL DESIGNATION

Designate Fleur Drive in San Marino as a historic district.
See map of Fleur Drive attached to this article.
Requested by: Council member Dennis Kneier
Progress: Tentatively on the March 30 Council meeting agenda

13.   STARBUCKS SEATING EVALUATION

Expand seating at the .
Requested by: Council member Dennis Kneier
Progress: Tentatively on the April 11 Council meeting agenda.


14.    ESTABLISH GOALS FOR 7 MAJOR TOPICS

  • Succession Planning
  • Pension Reform: Increase the retirement age, make employees pay for a portion of their benefits package, etc. See Councilman Dennis Kneier discuss pension reform in the attached Patch video taken when Kneier was running for re-election in November.
  • City Hall Remodel: Remodel City Hall to make it more user-friendly and restore its character.
  • Emergency Preparedness: Educate public on emergency preparedness. Currently being done in
  • Stoneman School: upgrade the property
  • San Marino Center: upgrade the property
  • Budget: City Council adopts annual City budget in June.

Requested by: City Council
Progress: All seven items have ongoing progress except the Stoneman School and San Marino Center upgrades, which are on hold.

See the tentative dates each "Making San Marino Better" item will be addressed in a City Council meeting and who is responsible for each item in a City document of the list attached to this article.

Which of these 14 items do you think is most important? How would you make San Marino better? Tell us in the comments.


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