San Bruno CA: UPDATE: O'Connell For San Bruno Council Q's and A's

The below ran previously and Irene O’Connell’s service on County Board’s section has been updated.

Current San Bruno City Councilwoman Irene O’Connell is seeking your vote in the upcoming November 3rd 2015 election for another term.

In an effort to allow you as a San Bruno voter to better understand Irene’s background and goals, I have asked her the following 7 questions and have printed her answers for your consideration.

In November the decision is yours.

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Q1. What background characteristics will make you a good Councilwoman?

A1. Characteristics of a good, affective Councilwoman include:

· Embrace the spirit of public service

· Integrity

· Tenacity

· Visionary

· A good listener

· Hardworking

· Lead by example

· Flexibility

· Resiliency

· Communicate and commit to a vision for the future of the city

Q2. What accomplishments give you the background to be a good Councilwoman?

A2. Education:

· Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees/ taught all academic subjects in elementary and middle schools

City of San Bruno:

· Born and raised in San Bruno/raised three children in San Bruno

· Served the City of San Bruno as Vice Mayor for five years

· Served the City of San Bruno as Councilwoman for fifteen years

· Initiated the Culture and Arts Commission with a separate and independent funding source

· Founded and Chair of the San Bruno Library Foundation

· Founded and Chair of the San Bruno Beautification Task Force

o Initiated and direct Operation Clean Sweep

o Initiated and manage Beautification Awards

o Initiated installation of plants in planters on San Mateo Ave.

o Initiated and completed planting 100 trees for San Bruno residents to commemorate the City’s100th anniversary. The trees were delivered and planted free of charge to residents. Coordinated with Capuchino High School and San Bruno Rotary to have the last, 100th tree, planted at the school with a commemorative plaque.

· City’s 100th Anniversary participation

o Initiated concept for tiles decorated by residents for display at the City’s pool

o Initiated idea for naming of Centennial Plaza

o Initiated idea for time capsule

· Serve on numerous Council sub-committees

· Served as board member and volunteer on several community organizations including Art-Rise and Carlton Corners

County-wide Agencies Service:

· Served as Chair and Vice Chair of the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency BAWSCA) for four years. This is a three county, twenty-six member board. Board member for twelve years.

· City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG)

o Former Chair and Vice Chair, Congestion Management and Environment Quality Advisory Committee

· Colma Creek Advisory Board. I’ve been on this board for 7 years now. It includes elected officials from SSF, Colma, Pacifica, Daly City, and San Bruno. We have four citizen advisory folks as well. The people are from each city that the Colma Creek runs through.

o Legislative Advisory Committee

· Advanced Life Support-Joint Powers Board

§ Current Chair for eight years

§ Vice Chair for six years

§ Member for eighteen years

Q3. What is the top problem that you as a Councilwoman will work on to fix and why?

A3. We are coming out of a long and difficult recession, during which the Council had to make very hard choices. We were successful in taking care of our employees while not diminishing the level of service the people of San Bruno have come to rely on and expect. We learned a lot about ourselves and how we do business. We now have the opportunity to apply those lessons to making the City even better. New technology, new revenues, and new development make this the time to do so. We are turning the page on an exciting chapter in the history of San Bruno.

Q4. What will you do as a Councilwoman to improve San Bruno’s infrastructure?

A4. One of my goals for the city, when I first ran for office, was to generate Master Plans for each part of our very crucial and vital infrastructure - our streets and roads, our water, waste water, and storm drains - and to have the financial means to implement those plans. We HAVE made a great deal of progress - unseen and unnoticed, for the most part. But, as with all aging systems, there is a lot more to do.

Staff is always looking for ways to do a better, more efficient job and to ensure that any work that is contracted out is completed to the highest standards.

Q5. What will you do as a Councilwoman to increase funding and support of San Bruno schools?

A5. The City of San Bruno looks forward to a partnership with the new leadership of the school district. The city of San Bruno already supports the school district to a great extent – both directly and indirectly – including but not limited to:

§ Library after-school homework program

§ After school programs

§ Sports field maintenance

§ Lower or no fees for use of city facilities

§ Cable internet connection

§ Filming of meetings

Q6. What do you expect to accomplish in your First 100 days as Councilwoman?

A6. After the election, the New Year will be upon us providing a time of reflection and resolution. The new Council will review its mid-year financial situation, cinema site construction projects, progress on the Crestmoor neighborhood rebuild, and so forth. Prudently, the new Council will evaluate where it is in relationship to where it wants the City to be.

Q7. What has been the biggest mistake the current Council has made that needs fixing and why?

A7. Our biggest mistake was believing that our utility company, P. G. & E., was taking care of their infrastructure and that all of our residents were safe. We also believed that the California Public Utility Commission “had our back” and were watching out for us. Unfortunately, we were horribly wrong. We will not make that mistake again. We will remain vigilant and keep insisting that both entities do their jobs.

Out of this tragedy, the City demonstrated to the world that it can pull itself up by the bootstraps in the worst of crises and overcome adversity. The tenacity of the Mayor and Council to seek compensation from PG&E resulted in a $70 million restitution settlement to benefit the entire City of San Bruno which is now being managed by the San Bruno Community Foundation, created by the Council.

/s/ Irene O’Connell

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Robert Riechel

For San Bruno Patch

Photo Credit: San Bruno Patch Archives

Source Credit: Councilwoman Irene O’Connell

http://SanBrunoPatch.com

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