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Continuing the Conversation – Council Review of Police Budget In response to the recent national events and following public input, the City Council on Monday, July 20, will host a study session on the Police Department’s budget, use of force policies, performance metrics, and the department’s relationship with other service partners. The virtual meeting is open to the public and begins at 5 p.m. with a comprehensive presentation followed by public comment. Meeting materials and information about how to join via Zoom will be available on the July 20 City Council Special Meeting Agenda on the City’s Public Meeting Portal. Thank you to everyone who joined our listening session this week on policing in San Mateo. As part of the Police Department’s Real Talk – San Mateo series, Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center facilitated a virtual community engagement session where City leaders heard from the public. You can watch the session on the Police Department’s YouTube channel. We also collected questions during the session and are working on preparing responses that will be posted on the Police Department’s Accountability web page.
We hope you continue to engage in our work to ensure San Mateo is a welcoming, diverse and inclusive community.
Council to Consider Asking Voters to Increase City's Hotel Tax The COVID-19 health crisis and resulting economic recession is continuing to have widespread effects across the nation and locally. San Mateo’s revenues are not keeping pace with the growing costs of providing services to the community, and the pandemic has exacerbated these challenges. San Mateo’s budget is anticipating a $7.8 million structural shortfall this fiscal year, and the City is taking extensive steps to address the immediate and ongoing deficit by implementing a fiscal sustainability plan. In addition to cutting costs, the City Council on Monday will consider placing a measure on the November 2020 ballot to increase the City’s hotel Transient Occupancy Tax from 12% to 14%.
If approved by voters, this measure would provide an additional $1 million in locally-controlled funding that would only be paid by hotel and short-term rental guests – it would not increase taxes for San Mateo residents. The additional funds would help provide City services such as maintaining streets, providing fire protection, maintaining quick responses to 911 emergencies, managing traffic congestion, and supporting parks and recreation amenities.
The City Council will discuss the proposed measure at the Monday, July 20 meeting that begins at 7 p.m. Meeting materials will be available on the City’s Public Meeting portal.
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Parking Enforcement ReturnsSan Mateo, we heard you. Many of our residents asked and we have adjusted our parking enforcement plans.
Starting Wednesday, July 15, enforcement of metered parking, Residential Parking Permit Program (RPPP) areas and street cleaning parking enforcement returned. However, we will not be enforcing two-hour parking limits in non-RPPP neighborhoods.
We understand the evolving health orders mean that many of our residents are home more than expected. We hope this easement of enforcement in non-RPPP neighborhoods with two-hour limits makes your work from home life or your stay at home efforts a little easier. We will continue to monitor our parking enforcement practices and adjust where and when necessary.
Please note payment at meters and all downtown parking garages and lots is required and enforced. Street sweeping has returned so you need to move your car as enforcement has restarted. If you park on the street in a residential parking permit program area longer than the posted time limit, please ensure your vehicle is displaying a 2020-2021 residential parking permit or visitor tag. You can apply for a free RPPP permit online.
Interested in Running for Office? While November is a ways away, the filing period to run for office in San Mateo County is now open through Aug. 7. There are two seats up for election on the San Mateo City Council Nov. 3, 2020 and those interested in running should contact the City Clerk to learn more and make an appointment to start the process.
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With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rising across California, a new statewide order requires we rollback reopening to protect public health. Effective July 13, 2020, ALL counties must close indoor operations in these sectors: - Indoor dining at restaurants (outdoor dining is still allowed)
- Wineries and tasting rooms
- Movie theaters
- Family entertainment centers (for example: bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages and arcades)
- Zoos and museums
- Cardrooms
- Bars, brewpubs, breweries, and pubs must close all operations both indoor and outdoor
San Mateo County is not currently on the state’s COVID-19 “watch list," but that could change. There are further restrictions in place in counties on the watch list including closure of gyms, personal care services like hair and nail salons, places of worship, offices for non-critical infrastructure sectors, and shopping malls.
The virus isn’t going away anytime soon. But we can all take meaningful steps to fight COVID-19 and protect our community. PLEASE make sure to wear face coverings and practice social distancing. Your actions today will affect our future!
Limited Visitations Allowed at Long-term Care Facilities The San Mateo County Health Officer issued an updated local Health Order allowing for limited outdoor visits and necessary indoor visits at long-term care facilities. The new order enables facilities to allow outdoor visits - under certain conditions and with safety measures in place - by family members, friends, and those making legal decisions on behalf of residents of nursing homes and other congregate care facilities. The order also provides for indoor visitation for compassionate care, for urgent health, legal, or other issues, including end of life.
New Emergency Immigrant Relief Fund Do you or someone you know need financial assistance but were unable to receive state or federal help due to immigration status? The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has created a new San Mateo County Immigrant Relief Fund to help residents who are economically impacted by COVID-19 and are not eligible for state or federal assistance due to their immigration status. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved providing $2 million toward the fund and the County will partner with the nonprofit organizations Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County and Mission Asset Fund to coordinate and administer the funding. The relief fund has been seeded with $5 million from local developer and philanthropist John A. Sobrato, plus $1.7 million from additional private donors. The County’s $2 million contribution comes from Measure K, the voter-approved, countywide half-cent sales tax extension. |
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July is Parks and Recreation Month!
We know you love our parks and recreation programs as much as we do, so join us and the National Parks and Recreation Association to celebrate the work of parks and recreation professionals!
Follow @smparksandrec on Facebook or Instagram for updates and fun! From maintaining parks, running events and organizing programs, we are here for you. Please help keep our parks open and your community safe by following health rules. As you’re enjoying our parks, please remember to wear a face covering when near others, keep physical distance of at least 6 feet, and only recreate with those from your own household. Visit our Parks FAQ web page for updated information regarding amenities and programs. |
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New Virtual Summer Fair Missing the San Mateo County Fair this year? Join the library’s inaugural virtual Summer Fair for teens and adults! From July 6 to 31, submit your creative work in book craft, baked goods design and decorating, edible art, floral arts, flash fiction, Lego creations, needlework, pet costumes, photography, poetry, arts & crafts, or San Mateo-themed short story.
Categories will be judged and winners will receive prizes! Open to residents of San Mateo and Hillsborough. See our website for more information.
Share Your Signs of Hope Our community has been incredible lifting each other up and sharing messages of positivity. We've received an incredible batch of photo submissions for our Signs of Hope Campaign, and we'd love to see yours, too! We're collecting and posting pictures that represent the kind, caring, and supportive community that surrounds us here in our city. Thank you notes, window paintings, neighbors helping neighbors. Look around you and send us a picture of anything that symbolizes the resilience of our community and amazing city. Email your picture(s) to: socialmedia@cityofsanmateo.org. We know life in San Mateo is quite different than what we’re all used to right now, but our community is strong when we come together and support each other. Check out some of the Signs of Hope below, and on our Facebook Page! |
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High Speed Rail – Share Your Input An environmental report on the potential impacts of the proposal to bring California High-Speed Rail along the Peninsula is now available and your input is wanted. The public comment period is open through Aug. 24 for the HSR Authority’s Draft Environmental Impact Report for the State’s bullet train section between San Jose and San Francisco. The project section proposes to share the Caltrain tracks along the Peninsula to provide modernized, high-speed rail service from the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco to the San Jose Diridon Station.
There are two proposed alternatives that would enable high speed rail trains to share the Caltrain tracks. Both options require right-of-way acquisition, and would impact areas of the City of San Mateo.
Public Comment:
The San Mateo City Council will also host a study session to review and provide feedback on the draft environmental impact report on Aug. 17, 2020.
Questions? Email California High-Speed Rail Authority at info@hsr.ca.gov or call (916) 324-1541.
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If you or someone you know needs assistance, please call 2-1-1 or contact Samaritan House at (650) 347-3648.
You can also visit our Resources for Those in Need web page for more information about programs and services in the area.
Childcare Provider Rental AssistanceThe City of San Mateo has partnered with Samaritan House to provide up to $120,000 in direct rental assistance for in-home childcare providers economically impacted by COVID-19. Funds are distributed on a rolling basis until the funds are depleted. Financial assistance applications are available in English and Spanish.
Start the application process online. Applicants can use the site to upload documents, check the status of their application, and communication with the Samaritan House’s Case Management Team. Childcare providers are encouraged to call Samaritan House with questions at (650) 347-3648. |
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