NEWS

Many of you have noticed that the Central Park Great Lawn has been fenced off as part of the Central Park Playground Project.  While the Playground is under construction, all Central Park events will occur on Central Park’s East Lawns alongside 5th and Laurel Avenues (aka where Geoffrey the Giraffe is). The Playground Project is expected to take up to 2 years to complete.  While this seems a very long time, this is because of the complexity of the project and the need to ensu

2025-2026 Budget After two public hearings, City Council approved the 2025-2026 Budget.  The FY 2025-26 Citywide budget (for all funds) totals $333.5 million, which includes an operating budget of $272.0 million and a capital budget of $61.5 million. The General Fund budget (including transfers) is proposed at $187.5 million.  Council also approved a 2-25-2026 capital budget of $61.5 million to continue to make critical infrastructure repairs and upgrades to items such as roa

Energy Performance Reach Codes for New Construction - Effective May 1, 2025 On Jan. 21, 2025, the San Mateo City Council adopted reach codes for new construction requiring energy performance compliance margins for new buildings. This reach code helps meet the City's Climate Action Plan goals by requiring more sustainable design than the State code and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings. On April 10, 2025, the California Energy Commission approved the City's

Upcoming Study Sessions (5:30pm) City Council/Boards/Commissions Code of Conduct Review 5.10, 2pm, San Mateo Senior Center (one-time meeting) Historic Policy Study Session, 6.2 Regular Meetings (7pm) Climate Action Plan Progress Report 5.19 Citywide Transportation Review 6.2 FY2025/2026 Budget Adoption 6.16 Electrify San Mateo: Sustainable Building Strategy 6.16 You always can read about upcoming or past City Council meetings at https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/3971/Agendas-Min

Mother’s Day Treat yourself or the moms in your life this Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11th! As an added incentive to celebrate Mother’s Day in Downtown San Mateo, the Downtown San Mateo Association (DSMA) and Lion’s Den Shave Parlor are hosting the following: Live music from Makule, Noon-2pm, on B Street Floral Selfie wall starting at Noon in front of 3 Bees Coffee The first 100 moms to stop by the selfie wall will get flowers, thanks to the generosity of Edmond’s Plaza Florist

Four new developments under consideration by City staff are of special interest to D1 residents. I will share updates in future D1 Digests, but please sign up at the project websites for the latest information. Hillsdale Reimagined Project The Hillsdale Reimagined project (discussed in my February D1 Digest) continues to be reviewed by staff and a Neighborhood Zoom Meeting was held on April 29. This is a multi-decade project, but your input now is important to ensure the pr