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We're Talking About Street Closures in DowntownWe closed portions of B Street to support outdoor dining during the pandemic and the City Council is now considering options for keeping them in place! Our Council will host a study session on Monday, May 17 to discuss longer-term options for keeping segments closed to vehicle traffic and open for businesses and events.
The upcoming meeting will include an evaluation of the results of community and business surveys about the street closures, as well as next steps if the Council decides to explore more permanent options for either seasonal or year-round closures.
The current closures will be in place until at least Sept. 30, 2021. The Council has also been supportive of keeping the parklet program throughout the City and has already approved the creation of a permanent program.
Continuing the street closure along B Street could allow businesses to continue offering outdoor dining and has the potential for the City to host festivals or even a farmers market in the future! Our current outdoor dining program has been very popular and is a great way for the community to continue supporting local businesses while visiting downtown.
You can submit comments about the program for Council’s consideration during the meeting or by email by 4 p.m. Monday, May 17 by emailing clerk@cityofsanmateo.org. The meeting agenda with more information about the closure will be posted to the City’s Public Meeting portal by May 14.
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San Mateo is Home to City Clerk of the Year Patrice OldsSan Mateo’s very own has been named a California Municipal Clerk of the year! City Clerk Patrice Olds was chosen by her peers as a shining example of a civil servant whose passion, dedication and experience represents the very best in her profession.
Patrice was honored by the City Clerks Association of California as a 2021 recipient of this prestigious award. A San Mateo resident, Patrice oversees the City Clerk’s Office and is responsible for managing City elections, Council meetings and official functions involving the mayor or council members. She supports the City’s goal of public transparency and providing access to public records and archives.
Over the past year, Patrice navigated the ever-changing challenges of the pandemic with a focus for enhancing civic engagement through technology. During the 2020 Presidential election she applied an equity lens as she thought strategically about how to help constituents participate in democracy. She has been a steadfast presence at City Hall throughout the pandemic and leads the City’s reopening safety committee. Patrice also carries the torch for several key relationships the City maintains, including with our Sister City Toyonaka, Japan, and the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army. Read more about Patrice’s accomplishments and contributions in the Mayor’s letter nominating Patrice Olds as City Clerk of the Year. Thank you Patrice Olds for all you do to support our community!
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Redistricting in San Mateo CountyDo you want to be part of a once-in-a-decade opportunity to help influence voting district boundaries in San Mateo County? Then consider applying to serve on the 2021 Supervisorial District Lines Advisory Commission! The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. June 4.
The County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants for the 11-member commission that will help study and make recommendations for the boundaries of the County’s five supervisorial districts based on the 2020 Census. Members will work with a professional demographer and county staff, and hold a series of public meetings on this important work.
The county is seeking diverse commissioners who represent San Mateo County and the League of Women Voters will review the applicants. Commissioner Qualifications:Commissioners must be residents of San Mateo County. Elected officials are not eligible to serve on the Commission. The selection process will prioritize applicants associated with good government, civil rights, civic engagement, and community groups or organizations that are active in the County, including those active in language minority communities, with the goal of forming a Commission with membership that is geographically diverse and consistent with the County’s emphasis on valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is anticipated that the Commission’s work will be completed by the end of 2021. However, applicants should be willing and able to serve longer if necessary
Learn more about the Supervisorial District Lines Advisory and how to apply. |
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Let's Talk About Our Future - Join a WorkshopWe’re returning to the community for feedback on our Strive San Mateo General Plan update. The General Plan will help guide decisions about housing, transportation, the environment, public safety, economic development and much more.
Imagining Scenarios for San Mateo's Future Virtual Workshop #3
Tuesday, May 18 from 6-8:30 pm
Join to explore the draft alternatives that have been developed to help guide San Mateo’s future. Participants will learn about the community input and work leading up to these draft plans, and how you can help improve them.
Please register online. The meeting link and materials will be emailed out in advance of the meeting. Traducción en español estará disponible.
This workshop will be identical to the two previous workshops held on Thursday, April 15th and Saturday, April 17th.
Share Your Thoughts Online
Take the Draft Alternatives online survey to let us know if we are considering an appropriate range of alternatives and whether there are other ideas to consider for San Mateo's future. Tell your friends and family too! This online activity ends on May 31, 2021.
Background & More Information
Visit strivesanmateo.org to learn more about the General Plan 2040 update process and sign up for the Strive email list.
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Accessory Dwelling Units – How to Build in San MateoWe’re looking at updating our current regulations on how to build accessory dwelling units or ADUs and need your input! Join an upcoming virtual workshop to learn about recent changes to state legislation, how it impacts you and share your thoughts on how you would like to see this type of development in your community.
Community Workshops:
- Wednesday, May 26 from 6-7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, May 29 from 10-11:30 a.m.
Visit our ADU/JADU web page to learn more. Meeting links will be posted to this web page soon!
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Objective Design Standards for Multi-Family BuildingsWe’re creating objective design standards for new multi-family development projects and need your input! Join the upcoming virtual workshop to learn about recent changes to state legislation, how it impacts the city and share your thoughts on what makes a good design for multi-family buildings.
Community Workshop: Tuesday, June 1 at 6 p.m.
Visit our Objective Design Standards web page to learn more. Registration information will be posted to this web page soon!
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Where to Get Vaccinated in San MateoHave you received your COVID-19 vaccine? There are multiple opportunities for you to get a vaccine for free in the City of San Mateo!
Community Clinic May 8This Saturday, May 8 beginning at 10 a.m., the County is hosting a community vaccine clinic at the San Mateo High School small gym, 506 N. Delaware St. The event is open to San Mateo County residents age 16 years and older.
This Saturday will be the Pfizer vaccine and the event will last until supply runs out.
Walk ups are welcome. Appointments are not required, but are encouraged and can be made through the State’s MyTurn system at https://myturn.ca.gov/ or by calling 1-833-422-4255. All are welcome, regardless of immigration status! These community-based clinics are targeted to the North Central and Shoreview neighborhoods.
Drive-Thru Vaccine Clinics at Event Center
The County is also hosting regular drive-thru mass vaccination clinics twice a week at the San Mateo County Event Center. Appointments are not required, but can be made up to 4 days in advance through MyTurn. Visit the County’s COVID-19 vaccination web page for more information.
NEW: County Vaccine Clinic Locator Web Page & MyTurnCheck out this new web page showing all vaccine clinic locations operated by County Health. All San Mateo County Health’s vaccination events are now on the state’s vaccine scheduling site MyTurn!
You can also receive a vaccine through local health care providers and pharmacies. Visit the County's vaccine web page for more information.
Updated Guidance on Wearing Masks Next week, the County of San Mateo plans to align with new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that relaxes rules on wearing face coverings outdoors for fully vaccinated people. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has also recently updated state guidelines for face coverings. Face coverings will continue to be required in indoor settings outside of one’s home. However, the new guidelines will no longer require fully vaccinated people to wear masks outdoors except when attending crowded events. Those who are unvaccinated must continue to wear face coverings outdoors if social distancing cannot be maintained. The current County guidelines remain in effect. Visit www.smchealth.org/coronavirus to check for updates next week.
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Millions of Dollars Available in Rental Assistance for Tenants & LandlordsDid you miss paying or receiving rent because of the pandemic? Are you a renter having trouble paying your residential utility bills? Applications are now open for the statewide COVID-19 Rent Relief program.
San Mateo County has nearly $47 million available for local assistance! Eligible renters and landlords can receive financial assistance for unpaid rent. Check eligibility and apply for immediate relief at www.HousingIsKey.com or call 833-430-2122. If you’re a renter, visit this web page. If you’re a landlord, visit this web page.
Having trouble filling out the application? The nonprofit Samaritan House can help eligible renters who earn less than 80% of the area median income in San Mateo. |
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Good News! Libraries ReopenedAll three San Mateo Public Library locations are now open to the public for browsing, holds pickup, and limited computer use. In-person reference will be available on the First, Second and Third floors. Other services include magazine checkout and Wi-Fi. The Friends of the Library bookstore is open too.
Face coverings are required at all times and social distancing guidelines still apply. We encourage you to limit your stay to 60 minutes to ensure that everyone can enjoy the library. Hours are and full details are on our website. We look forward to seeing you!
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Sustainability Awards & AuctionSustainable San Mateo County (SSMC) invites you to register for its Virtual Auction and Awards Celebration at https://sustainablesanmateo.org/2021Celebration. The Awards Celebration is Friday, May 14 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The virtual auction is already live and concludes at 8 p.m. that evening. Admission to both events is free, but pre-registration is required here.
SSMC will honor four local sustainability champions at the Awards Celebration, including our very own San Mateo Deputy Mayor Rick Bonilla who is being honored for his advocacy and commitment to the environment! SSMC is a nonprofit dedicated to making San Mateo County more sustainable.
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North Central Kids EventJoin us for a fun and safe event for North Central Neighborhood families and friends! Our San Mateo Public Library is hosting a special craft and book giveaway for kids on Saturday, May 15.
Drive through the King Center parking lot to pick up fun, family-friendly, age-appropriate crafts and a free book from the San Mateo Library. Registration is required so sign up online today to reserve your spot.
Please read our Library Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.
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Wildfires, Climate Change, and Population Wildfires have become a yearly challenge in California. Join a free virtual event Tuesday, May 18 at 6 p.m. to learn more about the connections between wildfires, climate change, and population growth in California. U.S. Geological Survey research scientist and UCLA adjunct professor, Dr. Jon Keeley, studies climate change impacts on future fire regimes and has published widely on Mediterranean climate ecosystems. His talk will be followed by Q&A. Registration required, sign up online.
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Expressive Arts & Mental Health Awareness MonthIn May, we honor and celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month and the theme, #HopeForChange.” In partnership with the County, the San Mateo County Pride Center and CORA are proud to put on Healing Hope with Expressive Arts. This virtual event on Friday, May 21 from 6-8 p.m. will feature a guided expressive arts activity and group facilitation by the Pride Center clinical program coordinator, Men Chun Wong, and CORA’s LGBTQ+ Clinical Coordinator, Jenna Robinson. If you may be in need of art supplies, please indicate this need when registering as the Pride Center has a limited supply of art materials to provide. Due to limited capacity, please be sure to register early! Bring your colored pencils, paper, paints, and an open mind as we #HopeForChange. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/HealingHope2021.
Disclosure: Topics and facilitated discussions within this space may bring up feelings of discomfort. Thus, we will have a crisis support facilitator and break out room available during the event for those who may need support. If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, Star Vista has a 24-hour crisis hotline for San Mateo County residents. Visit https://sanmateopride.org/programs/crisis-intervention/ for more information.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact azisa.todd@sanmateopride.org
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Run/Walk for Mental Health Awareness MonthStride for Awareness and San Mateo PAL are once again partnering on a Run/Walk Challenge to help spread awareness about the importance of mental health and wellness. This year it's a FREE event, and you can run, walk, bike hike, anytime, anywhere, and any distance.
Click Here to register, FREE, and receive a FREE T-Shirt to wear during your Run/Walk to show our support for health and mental wellness! Want to show your support? Get outside, get active, wear your t-shirt and post a picture to social media with the hashtag #SMPALSFARUNWALK
May is Mental Health Awareness month and enjoying the outdoors benefits your health and mental wellness! This 2021 Run/Walk Challenge continues our tradition of coming together for a common cause: healthy mind, body and community!
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Participate in Bike Month with Commute.orgSpring is upon us and it’s a great time to ride a bike! Anyone who lives or works in San Mateo County and logs their bicycle trips to wherever (work, exercise, errands, etc.) on Commute.org’s STAR platform will be automatically entered into weekly raffle drawings. This promotion runs May 1 through May 31, and four lucky winners will be randomly picked each week to win the following prizes: bike tire pump & accessories, handlebar bag, bike tool pouch, or bike lights & water bottle.
For even more chances to win prizes, pledge to ride during May with Commute.org’s partner, the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition. For those who collect the popular Bike to Work Day totes, you can pick one up during Bike to your Library Day on May 22, Bike to Your Farmers Market Day (dates and location vary), or by visiting REI in San Carlos. Get your bag while supplies last! Visit commute.org for more details.
Don’t forget to document your rides! Take some pictures while you’re out with your bicycle and share them with Commute.org on social media by mentioning @smcountycommute and using the hashtag #BTWD. Happy riding! |
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Storm System Funding on Council Agenda May 17 Public Works staff will bring a Draft Storm Systems Funding Analysis to City Council on Monday, May 17. Staff will provide an overview of the City’s storm drain system, a brief summary of the funding needs, and options for creating a new stormwater utility. A large portion of the analysis is dedicated to dredging the Marina Lagoon.
The overview covers four primary cost elements: - Operating Costs: 1) General storm drain system management and operations 2) Stormwater compliance with the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit (MRP)
- Capital Costs: 1) Marina Lagoon dredging 2) Other capital needs
The Funding Analysis is broken into three sections: 1) Evaluation of Projected Financial Needs; 2) Evaluation of Potential Funding Sources; and 3) Preliminary Rate Structure and Recommendations. The overall approach is to build a hypothetical stormwater utility (or enterprise fund), make reasonable financial projections, estimate user rates and provide a roadmap forward for future possible implementation.
The upcoming Council meeting follows presentations made to our Sustainability & Infrastructure Commission. A staff report and info on how to join the study session that begins 5:30 p.m., Monday May 17 will be posted to our Public Meeting Portal by Friday.
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Highway 101/Peninsula Avenue Interchange Project – Public Comment Closes May 24, 2021We’re looking to improve the Highway 101/Peninsula Avenue interchange! Caltrans is seeking comments on the scope and content of a planned Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) for the proposed U.S. Highway 101/Peninsula Avenue Interchange Project. To learn more about the project, visit www.cityofsanmateo.org/Peninsula.
The deadline to submit comments is May 24, 2021. Send your feedback to:
Caltrans District 4
Attn: Tanvi Gupta
P.O. Box 23660 MS 8B
Oakland, CA 94623-0660
or via email to Tanvi.Gupta@dot.ca.gov
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NEW: Park by License Plate, Pay by Credit Card in DowntownWe have new parking meters in downtown and you can now pay by credit card, cash or coin! Our community has been asking for updated parking meters so you can now pay by credit card throughout downtown.
TAKE NOTE: At the new pay stations, you will be required to enter your license plate number instead of a parking space number. Here’s a Tip: Snap a picture of your license on your phone for easy access. Or write it down and tuck it behind your driver’s license. Visit our web page for more details about our downtown parking pay station.
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What to Know About Active Public Works ProjectsYou can stay on top of all of the projects that this busy department is working on by bookmarking: www.cityofsanmateo.org/PublicWorksProjects.
Are you seeing new signs in our project zones lately? We’re aiming to provide information even to residents outside of our notification areas. Typically, Public Works and its contractors issue notifications of upcoming construction work to properties within one block of a project zone. To also ensure that residents outside of the notification area, but still in the neighborhood of the project, know what’s happening on their local streets we have begun to place informational signs on the street.
Want to learn about the project at that site? Just scan the QR code with your smartphone camera, or enter the website on the sign in your browser. Once you’re informed, you can help share the project details to any of your neighbors. Thank you for sharing our news and being curious about your neighborhood!
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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.
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? Apply now for the new San Mateo County Immigrant Relief Fund, which can help residents who are economically impacted by COVID-19 and not eligible for state or federal assistance due to their immigration status. Learn more and apply online on the Mission Asset Fund website or by contacting Legal Aid.
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