Colma Council Ends Mayor's Check Signing in Unanimous Finance Overhaul

Colma's City Council voted 5-0 on Oct. 30, 2026, to end check signing by the mayor or vice mayor. The council's oversight of town spending now shifts from signing before payment to reviewing a monthly report after the money goes out. The same resolutions let staff pay bills electronically, raise the city manager's budget-transfer authority and codify an employee mobile phone allowance. Earlier, the countywide transportation agency asked the council for feedback on a 2050 plan that lists five Colma projects.

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• Mayor and vice mayor check signing ends, replaced by electronic payments and monthly review, 5-0
• City manager's budget-transfer limit rises from $50,000 to the greater of $75,000 or 5% of a department's budget
• Mobile phone allowance codified with 14 conditions on security, public records and device costs
• Five Colma projects land in the draft 2050 Countywide Transportation Plan, from El Camino Real to Cerramonte Boulevard

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Council Trades the Check Pen for a Monthly Report

The basics: ACH, or automated clearinghouse, payments are electronic bank-to-bank transfers. An ERP system is the integrated financial software Colma is adopting.

Why it matters: The change ends a historic practice of walking documents to the police department for signing. Council review of each payment now happens after the money is spent, not before.

Where things stand: Administrative Services Director Nate Bassett presented the bank-authority changes tied to the new ERP system:

• The bank or an ERP partner would distribute checks.
• Printed mayor or vice mayor signatures and weekly council signing end.
• Bassett's position is added to transfer authority.
• ACH payments are allowed administratively with prior notice to the city manager.
• A new ACH section is added to the code.

Bassett cited mail delays of more than two weeks and a check lost in the mail earlier this year. Staff also pointed to less fraud risk.

Mayor Carrie Slaughter questioned why bills from vendors like PG&E and Comcast still go out by mail. "We're sending checks and not doing an ACH. I mean, that does seem a little outdated," said Slaughter. Bassett said Colma receives many separate invoices from those utilities.

"We're trying to remove redundancies within the process," said City Manager Daniel Barros.

The other side: One councilmember pushed back. The member recalled that the town eliminated its treasurer's position on a promise of checks and balances. The member also worried the council could not "call back" checks once released. Asked whether council or mayor review of checks would survive, Bassett answered: "In the proposed administrative code changes, it would be eliminated."

Barros countered that "the monthly check report that you will get as part of the agenda will still have every single one of those expenditures." Staff described a four-step internal review. A payment moves from the department head to the accounts payable clerk, then to the accounting manager or Bassett, and finally to the city manager or Bassett. "If there's any contracts over $75,000, you have to approve those individually," said Bassett.

A second councilmember backed the streamlining as "trust and verify," with the council keeping its ability to review.

Bigger transfer authority: "Right now, the city manager can transfer up to $50,000 in appropriations from one department to another," said Bassett. The new limit is the greater of $75,000 or 5% of a department's budget. Transfers are allowed only where another department has available budget, not as a bottom-line adjustment.

The budget rules also add "city manager or their designee." Staff must report changes, such as CalPERS health rate changes, within 30 days of notification. Corrections are due within 60 days, with a report by Sept. 30. Staff reported no calculated fiscal impact and listed a study session or a consultant as alternatives.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The resolutions passed 5-0 by roll call (For: Slaughter, Vice Mayor Helen Fisicaro, Councilmembers Joanne F. del Rosario, Thomas Walsh and Ken Gonzalez; Against: 0; Absent: 0). Vendors and staff gain faster payments and fewer lost checks. Councilmembers give up a pre-payment check on spending. Residents tracking town finances will rely on the monthly check report.

What's next: Staff said some cross-training will follow. Every expenditure will continue to appear in the monthly check report on council agendas.

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Employees Get a Phone Allowance Option

Where things stand: Bassett said "we added a mobile phone allowance during the FY 2026-27 budget process." The new Section 3.05.190 codifies that allowance with 14 conditions, lettered A through N:

• Employees pay the purchase cost of their phones.
• City calls and texts must route through an app, because of public records requests.
• Phones must be protected by a password or biometrics.
• Employees must report a lost phone or number change within 24 hours.
• Lost phones must be replaced within five business days.
• Town data must be deleted when an employee leaves.

The town will set a single reimbursement tier during budgeting.

The other side: A councilmember asked whether the town would lose a group-plan discount. Bassett said Colma is on the California-negotiated FirstNet plan. Non-first-responders on that plan cost about $5 more a month, and at least three town hall employees would switch.

"We're really creating the administrative policy to give employees the option," said Barros. He added that each employee's position will dictate which rules apply.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The allowance was part of the 5-0 vote. Staff expect few employees to switch, since many roles still need town-issued phones.

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Colma's Wish List Makes the 2050 Transportation Plan

Why it matters: The Countywide Transportation Plan sets priorities for two agencies: the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (CCAG) and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. It shapes grant criteria and feeds the regional Plan Bay Area list. Being on the list affects how competitive Colma is for funding.

Where things stand: Director of Planning and Public Works Brad Donohue introduced the presenter, noting CCAG has supported Colma projects with grant funding. "They've been a tremendous friend to Colma," he said.

Jeff, a program director at CCAG, said the plan "creates a vision for the future of transportation here in San Mateo County."

• Outreach: The first round included 23 roadshow presentations, six interviews with community-based organizations and a website.
• What residents asked for: Top themes were Highway 1 and El Camino Real improvements, safety, more frequent transit, gaps in the bike and pedestrian network, coastal access, Caltrain electrification, senior mobility, autonomous vehicles and e-bikes.
• Four draft goals: Reduce driving, enhance resilience and comfort, make streets safer, and make travel faster and more reliable.

The plan also proposes a unified equity definition across agencies. It is based on income, race, vehicle ownership and rental cost burden. The definition covers 49% of households countywide, up 21% from the prior definition.

How projects are listed: Projects over $250 million are listed individually. Smaller local projects fall under program categories. Colma's five listed projects are:

• El Camino Real multimodal improvements (Grand Boulevard initiative)
• Hillside Boulevard improvements, phase 2
• Cerramonte Boulevard bicycle and pedestrian improvements
• Colma Boulevard bicycle and pedestrian improvements
• Safety improvements at the Cerramonte Boulevard and I-280 northbound on-ramp intersection

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No action was taken. A councilmember said the list reflects the town's goals, adding that "now we just have to win the lotto." Being on the list brings technical assistance and grant support, but the town still needs to secure funding for each project. No other questions were asked.

What's next: Jeff said "we're looking for feedback on these 4 points." The draft plan is expected in early 2027, with the final plan in spring 2027.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar: Items 1 through 7 passed 5-0 without discussion.
• Community Center delay: The renovation will miss its Oct. 30 target by at least a week, possibly several. Crews are waiting on a fabricated countertop desk needed before glazing.
• Card-room watch: A councilmember said CCAG is tracking card-room issues in Sacramento. Indian casinos have appealed a judge's decision, and the timeline is short.
• Halloween traffic: Clark Avenue will be southbound-only during trick-or-treating in Sterling Park.
• Noche de Lotería: This free community event runs 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6.

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Looking Ahead

The council next meets Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. The Council of Cities will meet in Colma in December.