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What Issues Are Important to You?You know your neighborhoods best, that’s why it’s important to share your thoughts about what matters most to your community! Fill out this quick form and join the Represent San Mateo initiative as we transition to district elections for future City Council positions. Your input will help to create a new map that will split the City into districts, and instead of voting for all five council members, residents would vote for one member who resides in their district.
Why Does This Matter?
The City Council sets policies and allocates funding that impact a variety of issues important to the San Mateo community. This includes everything from housing and childcare programs, to parks and transportation improvements. District elections will directly impact how you elect future City Council members to make these decisions for your community!
What’s Next?The City Council will hold Public Hearing #2 on Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. to continue collecting feedback about Communities of Interest, and the number of districts that should be created. You can provide input about what criteria should be used to create the districts and how many council seats there would be. The Council will also consider whether we should continue our current system of having the mayor be a position that rotates amongst council members each year, or if there should be a new at-large mayor that would be directly elected by all voters. Did you miss Public Hearing #1? Find meeting materials and video recordings online. There will be five public hearings and the goal is to complete the process by Nov. 15, 2021.
How Can I Participate?Visit our District Elections web page for more information and to provide input today! Fill out your Communities of Interest form and mark your calendars to join an upcoming virtual hearing or in-person workshop. You can also email districtelections@cityofsanmateo.org.
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New 31st Avenue Crossing OpensOur 25th Avenue Grade Separation Project will finalize its road segments on Friday Aug. 27 when the new E. 31st Avenue between El Camino Real and S. Delaware Street opens to the public. The new east-west connection in our city connects our Hillsdale Shopping Center and Bay Meadows businesses to U.S. Hwy 101, our new Hillsdale Station to all roads, improves faster access for our emergency vehicles, and eases traffic flow.
Earlier this month, the improved E. 25th Avenue returned to full service, and earlier this year, the new E. 28th Avenue between El Camino Real and S. Delaware Street opened for all modes of east-west traffic. These milestones mark some of the final stages of the $205.9 Million effort to connect our residents to transit, improve intersection safety, and reduce train horn noise for San Mateo. Want to know more? Visit http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/25thgrade for full project history.
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Vote Today – Sept. 14 Recall Election UnderwayYou can vote today! All registered voters are being mailed an Official Ballot with a postage-paid return envelope for the September 14, 2021 California Gubernatorial Recall Election. Voting by mail is safe, secure and convenient! You can return your ballot in the mail, to a Ballot Drop Box or at any Vote Center in San Mateo County. Voters can use “Where’s my ballot?”, a new feature enabling voters to track their ballots from the moment they are mailed by our office to the time they are returned. Check the Sample Ballot & Voter Information Pamphlet or www.smcvote.org for more info.
If you haven’t received your ballot, contact the Registration & Elections Division at 650.312.5222 or registrar@smcacre.org. For in-person voting, voters may visit any one of 20 Vote Centers in San Mateo County. All Vote Centers will comply with County Health Department and CDC COVID-19 safety standards.
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Landscaping? Go Electric! We recently launched a new Electric Leaf Blower Rebate program! The program offers a rebate for residents and commercial landscapers and gardeners. Residents can receive a rebate up to 50% of the purchase price of an electric leaf blower, maximum $100 rebate, and commercial landscapers and gardeners can receive a rebate of up to 75% of the purchase price of an electric leaf blower, maximum $500 rebate. Please visit our web page for eligibility, terms and conditions and how to apply.
High School District Transitioning to By-Trustee Area Board ElectionsBoard members in the San Mateo Union High School District are currently elected in “at-large” elections, where all board members are elected by voters throughout the entire school district. On February 25, 2021, the Board adopted Resolution No. 20-21-12, in response to a letter threatening to sue the District under the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). SMUHSD intends to transition from at-large to by-trustee area Board elections, where each Board member must reside within the designated trustee area boundary, and is elected only by the voters in that trustee area. Voters would only vote for one seat on the school board. The school district is holding public hearings on the process and invites the public to join to submit feedback. Visit their website for more information.
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Firefighter’s Chili Cook Off SaturdayThe San Mateo Consolidated Firefighter’s Association Chili Cook Off is returning to spice up San Mateo’s Central Park this Saturday, Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Local firefighters are thrilled to return to hosting the beloved event that draws teams from across San Mateo County to compete for attendees’ taste buds and bragging rights for who can concoct the tastiest chili.
All proceeds of this heated competition and tasty fundraiser go to supporting the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Just $10 gets you in to this family-friendly event where you can taste as many of the chili entries as you want and get a bowl of your favorite. Attendees at this year’s event will be treated to live music and those 21 years and older can purchase adult beverages. Join San Mateo County firefighters in having fun and raising money for a great cause!
The San Mateo Firefighters’ Chili Cook Off is Saturday, Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fitzgerald Ball Field in Central Park, 50 E. Fifth Ave., San Mateo.
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Movies in the ParkJoin us every Friday in September! Meet up with friends and neighbors in your favorite park for a movie night under the stars! Admission is FREE! Bring a blanket, chair, and jacket – then sit back and enjoy the show! Food & drink sales will begin at 6 p.m. Activities start at 6 p.m. Movies start at dusk (approximately 7:30 p.m.)
Movie & Park Lineup
Friday, Sept. 3 – Onward (PG) at Beresford Park Friday, Sept. 10 – Raya and the Last Dragon (PG) at Dr. MLK Park Friday, Sept. 17 – The Boss Baby: Family Business (PG) at Shoreview Park Friday, Sept. 24 – Cruella (PG-13) at Central Park
Visit our Movies in the Park web page for details and more information!
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Bayfront Cleanup – Happening in September!Looking for an outdoor project that gives back to the planet this summer? Our annual shoreline cleanup continues its tradition of bringing neighbors together – this time with social distancing – to clean up debris littering our San Francisco Bay shoreline. This year, like last year, you can cleanup any shoreline. Registration is open for the event on Saturday, Sept. 18 at: www.cityofsanmateo.org/bayfrontcleanup
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Storytime in the Park - More Days in September!Join us Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays starting Sept. 14 at 10:30 a.m. for more days of storytime in the park! Stop by for early literacy fun for the whole family! Check the library web page for locations by date as every week alternates between Central Park and Beresford Park. Registration is not required. Masks and social distancing is not required, but encouraged.
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Fitness Challenge FundraiserSelf-Help for the Elderly is hosting a virtual event to connect friends and family with a reason to exercise and keep healthy. Sign up today for the #WalkRunRide2Moon for weekly challenges and prizes! Event runs Aug. 21 through Sept. 21.
Your participation supports Self-Help for the Elderly's variety of programs to respond to emergency circumstances, enabling us to care for the seniors' health and safety.
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Do You Visit Our Libraries?Our San Mateo Public Library needs your feedback! What hours and days of operation best fit your lifestyle and schedule? Your input is valuable so please take our quick survey. It’s focused on the normal (pre-pandemic) operational hours at the City's three libraries including the Main, Hillsdale and Marina branches. Your input will help as we continue to more fully reopen our beloved libraries and provide you the best service possible!
Passport Services Resume at LibraryDo you need to apply for a passport? Our passport services reopen on Sept. 7 at the Main Library. Appointments are required and are currently available during select hours in September. Visit our web page for more information on passport services and click here to make an appointment online.
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Get a Copy of Your Digital Vaccine RecordDid you know the state of California has provided an online portal to display your electronic vaccination record? The vaccine records website is a trusted source to verify a resident's vaccination status and it is more secure than a paper document that can be lost or forged. Speaking of which, if you lost your original paper vaccine card and need a new one, you can print the digital record from the website!
How to Get VaccinatedStill need to get vaccinated? Head over to https://myturn.ca.gov/ to check for walk-in sites near you and to book your FREE vaccine.
Take County Survey about Interest in Receiving BoostersFederal agencies are developing plans for a 3rd or booster dose of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for individuals eight months after their second dose, beginning as early as September 20, 2021. While this plan is still awaiting FDA approval, San Mateo County is already preparing for mass vaccination clinics and would like your thoughts on how to do this best. Please help San Mateo County plan for booster doses with this 2-minute survey by clicking here.
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Rental Assistance for Tenants & LandlordsThe State recently extended eviction protections for those who have been unable to pay rent due to COVID-19 until Sept. 30, 2021. But tenants will still be responsible for paying back rent and eligible renters can receive help paying back rent owed. Qualifying renters and landlords can now apply for 100% of rent or utilities owed! Visit the Housing is Key website or call 833-430-2122 for more information. Tenants who need help filling out the application can call Samaritan House at 650-347-3648.
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Changes to ADU Housing Ordinance Heads to Council We’re working on updating our regulations for building new Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) to better align with state laws. On Sept. 7, the City Council will consider proposed updates to the City’s current ADU Ordinance based on community input, recent survey results, and recommendations from the Planning Commission. The meeting agenda and draft recommendations will be available on our Public Meeting Portal by Sept. 3.
An ADU is a secondary residential housing unit known by many different names, including "in-law unit," "casita," or "guesthouse." ADUs can be built as a detached structure, attached to a single-family home, or be a conversion of an existing space within a home or structure. The updated regulations will include maximum height and building size, parking requirements, and design standards. Recent changes to state ADU laws aim to streamline the review process as construction of new ADUs are considered an important strategy for addressing regional housing needs. Visit our ADU web page for more information.
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Next Steps for General PlanOn Monday, August 16, 2021, the City Council approved the three Land Use and Circulation Alternatives for the General Plan Update and directed staff to proceed with a comparative evaluation of the Alternatives. The comparative evaluation will consider things like Environmental sustainability, traffic and circulation impacts, impacts on utilities and public services, public health, the City’s fiscal health, potential community benefits, and compliance with applicable state laws/regulations.
The evaluation is anticipated to take approximately six months to complete. In winter 2022, the City will present the results of the alternatives evaluation to the community and decision-makers to choose a preferred land use and circulation scenario for each study area after considering the relative benefits, trade-offs, and potential impacts of each alternative. For more information about the General Plan Update, please visit https://www.strivesanmateo.org.
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Housing is Key – Tell Your Housing StoryDo you have a housing story you’d like to share? Let’s Talk Housing – an outreach effort of all the cities and towns in San Mateo County – is collecting stories from community members about their experiences with housing in San Mateo County.
Videos will be developed from material submitted, then posted online and possibly shown at future community or Council meetings to put a face to existing housing needs. Content submitted can be written, audio or video.
If interested, submit your story by messaging the Let’s Talk Housing Facebook page or emailing stories@letstalkhousing.org. You will also need to submit a release along with your story and agree to be contacted for follow up questions.
Learn more about the Housing Element Update on our web page. |
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