Millbrae Council Taps the Brakes on Paid Parking Rollout

Millbrae’s plan to put meters on downtown Broadway hit a speed bump Nov. 10, as Mayor Stephen Rainaldi and Councilmember Sissy Riley pushed staff to slow a vendor contract targeted for January–February 2027. The item was informational, so no vote was taken. Instead, the council gave informal direction for merchant outreach and a sheriff enforcement review. The council also closed out two public works projects and advanced a $608,000 Monterey Street park concept, all on 3-0 votes.

---

• Paid parking slowdown: Council seeks merchant outreach and a sheriff enforcement review before any vendor contract
• Aviador Avenue Bridge shoring accepted 3-0: $432,393, about 30 days early; a roughly $4M replacement remains unfunded
• Monterey Street Linear Park concept approved 3-0: Dog areas and fitness court in a $608,000 package
• Public split on meters: A Broadway restaurant owner and two residents opposed them; one resident backed them

---

Paid Parking Plan Meets Council Resistance

The basics: The council adopted a parking management plan in February 2025. Ordinances adopted this summer created paid parking authority and a parking enterprise fund, a dedicated account for parking revenue and costs. Staff received three operator proposals in August.

Where things stand: Harry Burrows, project manager, HB Consulting, reported on the Oct. 22 open house: 129 attendees, 63 surveys and eight comment cards. Respondents preferred multi-space pay stations over other options by about 2 to 1. They raised concerns about app fees, readability, license plate privacy and residential permits. The working plan calls for about 750 paid spaces, free 20-minute green curb spaces and a no-repark rule. Burrows said nearly everything remains open: “Rates, enforcement days, hours, time limits, paid zones, permit fees, the operator contract itself, and a start date are all still— need to come back to the council for final decision.”

Staff priced three alternatives:
- Two added officers would cost the general fund roughly $300,000 a year.
- License plate readers would add about $120,000 one-time and $25,000 a year.
- A vendor-run paid system would cost about $500,000 a year in enforcement. Users would fund it, and staff modeled net revenue of $200,000 to $300,000.

A $50M garage borrowed over 30 years at 4.5% would cost about $3.1M a year. “So parking revenue alone wouldn’t cover the debt service,” Burrows said. Staff illustrated two ways to pay for it, a general obligation bond and a parcel tax, but recommended neither. The bond would cost roughly $300 to $375 per $1M of assessed home value; the parcel tax would cost about $400 per parcel.

City Manager Thomas C. Williams defended meters. “It’s proven for the last 100 years that parking meters turn parking spaces over,” he said. He added that the city already subsidizes enforcement from its general fund by $150,000 to $300,000. Williams also said residential permits are modeled at no charge.

The other side: Mayor Stephen Rainaldi read a written statement from absent Councilmember Bob Nguyen: “I oppose the paid parking program.” Rainaldi then questioned the schedule: “It almost feels as if we’re putting the cart before the horse by projecting a January to February 2027 timeline to approve a contract with a vendor and move forward.” Councilmember Sissy Riley pointed to holiday-season pushback and a lack of visible enforcement, then added, “I think I suggest to slow down.”

Vice Mayor Anders Fung asked whether contractor enforcement would be cheaper than city or sheriff staff. Burrows answered, “in terms of more bang for the buck for the city, I believe the answer is yes.”

Five public commenters weighed in:
- Leo Hoang, owner of Nam Bistro on Broadway, worried about senior regulars and delivery drivers. He also cited competition from a coming TNT supermarket with free parking.
- Marion Kong opposed meters on 11 blocks. She warned that enforcement would spill into neighborhoods.
- Rose Kong said free parking draws visitors from neighboring cities.
- Jean Wong backed meters. She said doing nothing is not acceptable and that she shops in San Mateo because downtown parking is hard to find.
- Vern Bruce asked for an estimate of the added sales tax a garage could generate.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The city attorney advised that the council could not act on an informational item. Rainaldi asked for outreach to merchants and a Public Safety Subcommittee meeting with the San Mateo County Sheriff on enforcement cadence. Williams agreed. Merchants gain time to be heard. The general fund, meanwhile, keeps carrying the current enforcement subsidy.

What’s next: The subcommittee meeting is targeted for Nov. 19. The Nov. 24 council meeting was canceled, so parking returns no sooner than Dec. 8.

---

Monterey Street Park Concept Moves Forward

Why it matters: The project would give Marina Vista its first designated pet area. Park impact fees and grants would pay for it, not the general fund.

Where things stand: Recreation Director Hannah Moran said the council made Monterey Street Linear Park its top pet-area priority in February. The council then accepted a $35,000 National Fitness Campaign grant in April. The estimate breaks down this way:
- Pet park: $200,000, from park impact fees
- Additional improvements: $80,000, from park impact fees
- Fitness court: $328,000 in local funding, with more grants being sought

The concept includes a large dog area of about 200 by 40 feet and a small one of about 30 by 40 feet, plus 30 to 40 redwoods. BART accepted the plans with minor edits. Because of the BART tunnel, the pet area shifted north and the fitness court south. Coordination with Caltrans on redwoods near the tracks continues. Moran stressed that the vote did not set spending: “it’s not actually to approve the specific budget.”

The other side: Former Mayor Ann Schneider supported the park but raised several concerns:
- A memorial plaque
- Protecting the mural from graffiti
- Noise buffering
- Caltrain access
- Irrigation damage

She also proposed adding a bike repair stand. Williams said the ventilation structure on the site is BART-owned. He also committed to one change: “we will not use chain link, so that will be a design change.” Riley suggested marking parking spaces, and Moran said she would look into it.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The concept passed 3-0, on a motion by Rainaldi seconded by Riley (For: 3, Against: 0, Absent: 1, Nguyen). Rainaldi asked for more public engagement, and Williams said the city will re-engage the neighborhood.

What’s next: The project budget returns to the council for approval at a later meeting.

---

Aviador Bridge Shoring Done Early, Under Budget

Why it matters: The 1940s bridge over Highline Canal is a secondary emergency access route to Bayside Manor. A wet El Niño winter is forecast.

Where things stand: Fai Ali, Director of Engineering and Public Works, traced the bridge’s decline:
- Caltrans deemed it functionally obsolete in 2003.
- A 2023 review recommended replacement.
- A March 2026 review found major box culvert deterioration, which led to a May closure.

In July, the council approved $500,000 for interim shoring. The city received nine bids and awarded the contract for $324,445. Work ran from Aug. 31 to Oct. 7, and the bridge reopened Oct. 8. The total cost was $432,393, or $67,607 under budget, with no change orders. Williams noted that sediment and water tests came back clean.

Ali said the fix provides “temporary shoring that gives us about 2 to 5 years of life.” Riley asked, “So your $4 million proposed is rebuild a new one or just fix this one like new?” Ali replied, “It’ll be a full rebuild. New bridge.” Staff also told Riley the bridge has no historical designation.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The council accepted the project and authorized a notice of completion, 3-0 (For: 3, Against: 0, Absent: 1, Nguyen). Bayside Manor keeps its backup access for now. However, the clock is running on a roughly $4M replacement that has no secured grants.

What’s next: Staff continues design work and pursues grants for the replacement.

---

Minor Items

• La Mita slope accepted 3-0: The project removed hazardous eucalyptus, regraded the slope and replanted oaks for $383,462, about $16,500 under budget.
• Consent calendar passed 3-0: It included a new Environmental Program Coordinator 2 classification and a Taylor Middle School PTA Great Hall fee waiver.
• Agenda spat: Fung said his request for an ordinance amending Section 205.10 was skipped. Rainaldi said it will come within 60 days.
• Privacy code: Resident Amin Zerarian urged adding a privacy review to plan review, as neighboring cities do. Rainaldi promised an agenda slot.
• Proclamations: The council honored Veterans Day and Native American Heritage Month, recognizing the Ramaytush Ohlone. Greg Castro accepted.

---

Looking Ahead

The State of the City is Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Recreation Center Great Hall. Intermittent storm drain closures on Tioga Drive, Laurel Avenue and Green Hills Drive run through late November and Dec. 11. The council’s next meeting is Dec. 8.