Patrice Olds
From: Andrew Reback
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 1:15 PM
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Cc: Clerk; PR Commission Mailbox; Andrew Reback
Subject: Resident input for City Council Special Meeting 2/20/24 Agenda Item 1 Central Park Council members and city staff -
I write as a 11-year resident and homeowner of North Central San Mateo. I used to have two little kids (they're still here, they're just bigger now). We've heard about and anticipated the Central Park playground upgrade for nearly as long as we've lived here.
You've heard me say this in last year's priorities setting meeting at CSM and in various conversations with council members, but my 8 year old son continues to ask - "what's the deal with San Mateo," "how come the parks are nicer in Burlingame, they even have a new rec center" "why are our pools so bad and how come they're never open?" and of course "I thought they were going to make a new Central Park (playground)." These are the questions of an eight year old, but also reflect my questions and concerns.
Parks Director Joanne's update is extremely troubling, not because of anything she can directly control, but because of her enumerated funding concerns. We've had moderate new development in the city, we've seen funding in lieu of fees, and yet, and yet - we just always seem to be short on what we need to get things done for the benefit of our city's residents.
Various council members and staff have heard me lament how it feels like San Mateo is falling ever behind - in our downtown vibrancy, in business development, in our parks and recs amenities - relative to our neighbors in Burlingame, Millbrae, Foster City, San Carlos, Belmont, Redwood City. San Mateo is feeling ever less like a city of choice relative to our neighboring cities. If we can't properly fund Director Joanne's needs and asks (as proxy for the needs for 110k city residents) through existing city revenues, then please for the love of everything, advance a bond measure to get us the updated parks and rec facilities we expect and need. We have an increasing population, we're soon to have more dense development, but we're not delivering on the amenities we need. We've got great police, fire, a world class library, and storm/sewer projects funded.
But when my kids go swimming, or play soccer, or occasionally go to a playground - beyond the city's borders I Andrew Reback
805 Highland Avenue
San Mateo
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