Lisa's District 1 Digest - November 2025

Lisa Nash
12 minutes ago
7 min read

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As we prepare our Thanksgiving tables and welcome family, I want to thank each of you for helping to make District 1, and all of San Mateo, the great place it is.

At our Thanksgiving table, we always start by each person saying one thing they are grateful for. I am grateful for you. The heart and spirit of any city is its people. San Mateo is blessed to have so many residents and businesses who care, who engage in our community. I hear from many of you about problems big and small, as well as your ideas for how to solve them. I hear about happy milestones and neighborhood happenings. Your involvement makes it so much easier to get those problems resolved or to spread great ideas. In helping to solve your problem or uplift an idea, we, together, are helping many other people who might have the same issue or could take advantage of your idea as well.

As always, please contact me directly at lisa@lisaforsanmateo.com with any questions or ways I can help. Or stop me as I walk around District 1 and let’s grab a coffee.

Please enjoy Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) with those you love. And consider donating to, or volunteering with, a local nonprofit this holiday season to help our neighbors in need. We are all in this together.

P.S. If you find these newsletters useful, please share them with your neighbors and friends and encourage them to sign up for their own copies here.

What's Happening at City Council

HILLSDALE REIMAGINED STUDY SESSION

Hillsdale Mall Redevelopment Application — Informational

City Council received an overview of the Hillsdale Mall Redevelopment – a 32-acre Mixed-Use Housing Development Project (PA-2025-052) to be constructed at the current Hillsdale Shopping Center site. This included a presentation from the applicant, HSC Property Owner, LLC. The City Council received public comments and provided early feedback and direction to the applicant and City staff.

Staff presented several high-priority discussion topics for Council to consider:

Project Timeline and Phasing
Regional Shopping Center Designation and Community-Serving Commercial Services
Pedestrian Connection to Hillsdale Caltrain Station
Off-Street Parking
Traffic and Circulation
Site and Architectural Design Standards
Environmental Review

Upcoming City Council Events

SAN MATEO CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 7PM

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Please join us on Monday, December 1 2025 as we celebrate Mayor Rob Newsom’s accomplishments this year and welcome in San Mateo’s new mayor and deputy mayor for 2026. The roles of mayor and deputy are rotational 1-year roles and the Council votes in the new mayor and deputy mayor based on an agreed-upon schedule.

Join us for this important ceremony, as well as a great party afterwards at City Hall, 330 W. 20th Avenue!

COUNCIL CHAMBERS CLOSED DECEMBER 2-MID JANUARY

To make Council Chambers more comfortable for our visitors, the audience seats and carpet will be replaced. The AV system also will be upgraded to be more stable and connective. All City meetings normally occurring in Council Chambers (including City Council meetings) during this time will occur at the San Mateo Public Library Main Branch, 53 W. 3rd Avenue, in the Oak Room. Come to a meeting and check it out!

Upcoming Study Sessions (5:30PM)*

City’s Economic Development Work Plan 12.15.25

Upcoming Regular Sessions (7:00PM)*

City Council Priority List FY 2025-2026 Progress Report 12.15.25

Wet Weather Update 12.15.25

SHOP SMALL TO WIN BIG THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Turn your support for San Mateo's small businesses into a prize-winning adventure! Shop between November 28-December 12, fill out the entry form, and enter to win prizes from local favorites.

Seize the opportunity to support your community and gain more in return!

Learn more here to enter the drawing, and meet some incredible San Mateo small businesses!

SAN MATEO ICE SKATING RINK RETURNS NOW THROUGH JANUARY 11TH

The largest outdoor skating rink in San Mateo County is now open at Central Park!

Experience the sheer joy of swirling and twirling on the glistening ice as you create unforgettable memories with family and friends. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or a beginner, this state-of-the-art rink offers a welcoming atmosphere, top-notch ice conditions, and a delightful ambiance to make your skating adventure truly magical. Ice skates are included with admission!

Check out https://onicerinks.com/ for more information and to buy tickets.

ENJOY WINTER WONDER WALK FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 5pm-8pm

Discover the wonderful variety of small businesses along 25th Avenue as you stroll from shop to shop, drinking hot cocoa and doing some holiday shopping. Another great way to support our San Mateo small businesses this holiday season!

FAMILY HOLIDAY FUN AT WINTER WONDERLAND, SAT. DECEMBER 6TH

Looking for something fun to do with your kids? Mark your calendar for the City’s annual Winter Wonderland on Saturday, December 6, 5pm-7pm, at the Central Park & Recreation Center. There will be enough children’s activities (and kids’ energy!) to power Santa’s sleigh to the North Pole and back. They’ll be ready for an early night’s sleep afterwards, a holiday gift for everyone:-)

VISIT OUR DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET FOR YOUR HOLIDAY PRODUCE

As you ready your holiday menus, don’t forget to stop by our Downtown Farmers Market every Sunday, 9am-2pm, in the parking lot of the former Draegers Market on 4th Avenue. Fresh berries, seasonal vegetables, cheeses and baked goods are just some of the delicious items you’ll find there. You want the freshest of the fresh…you’ll find it here!

SAN MATEANS SEND CARE PACKAGES TO OUR ADOPTED 101ST AIRBORNE

In honor of Veterans Day, San Mateans recently gathered at San Mateo’s local Elks Lodge to put together care packages and write letters to service members of the 101st Airborne, San Mateo’s adopted unit. We are so grateful for their commitment and service.

Special thanks to San Mateo City Clerk Martin McTaggart, Council Member Danielle Cwirko-Godycki and Elks Lodge Member Mitch Speigle for putting this amazing event together. Thanks to our entire City Council for turning out, as well as Assembly Member Diane Papan and Supervisors Noelia Corzo and Lisa Gauthier. We are hoping to turn this into an annual event. Please let me know at lisa@lisaforsanmateo.com if you’d like to help out!

2025 BAYWOOD WINNERS CELEBRATED AT CITY COUNCIL

SAN MATEO UNITED HOME MAINTENANCE AWARDS CEREMONY

Chris and Kate Jaffe of Parrott Drive, BNA's 2025 Home Maintenance Award winners, were celebrated, along with winners from other neighborhoods, at the October 20th City Council meeting. The award, organized by the umbrella San Mateo United neighborhood association, calls out neighbors across San Mateo who are great examples of taking pride in your home and your neighborhood. Thank you, Chris and Kate (3rd and 2nd from right above), for showing such love to their home and landscaping. I encourage other D1 neighborhood associations to participate next year to spotlight all the wonderful homes in our District. Please contact me for details at lisa@lisaforsanmateo.com.

Community Updates

RENEW YOUR RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT BY DECEMBER 31

Residential Parking Permit Program (RPPP) permit renewals began on Nov. 3. Residents must live within a permit area to be eligible for a permit.

Submit an application online using a computer, smartphone or tablet. Permits will be mailed to applicants.

There will be a 30-day grace period starting Jan. 1, 2026, to allow residents to obtain a new permit.

Those who do not have an email address and/or internet access, or who prefer assistance, can apply in-person at the Public Works Department Counter at City Hall, 330 W. 20th Ave., San Mateo.

To apply and for more information, visit our Residential Parking Permit page. www.cityofsanmateo.org/RPPP

TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES FOR UPPER PARROTT DRIVE?

I recently connected residents concerned about speeding vehicles on upper Parrott Drive with our Public Works Department. Staff conducted a test on Parrott Drive between Yale Drive and Alameda de las Pulgas and determined that average speeds were above the minimum required to install traffic calming devices. Neighbors fronting this section of Parrott Drive, you should have received a City survey in the mail asking whether you are in favor of installing devices to slow down traffic. If a majority of mailed residents respond, and 67% of those are in favor, Public Works will work with the neighbors to design and install traffic calming devices in 2026.

It is important that you return the survey whatever your opinion is so that City staff can do what the neighborhood wants. I am happy to have been of service here, but the real kudos go to the neighbors who organized petitions and followed through with the City!

READ OUR CITY MANAGER’S LATEST SAN MATEO NEWS

This informative semi-annual publication by City Manager Alex Khojikian was sent to all San Mateo residences earlier this month. It’s a great overview of City trends, program impacts and what’s on the horizon. You can read it here.

Community Coffees

JOIN US AT THE NOVEMBER COMMUNITY COFFEE

Thanks to everybody who stopped by my October Community Coffee at 3 Bees Coffee, including Holly and Julie. They gave me information on an abandoned car near Borel Square. I have followed up with the San Mateo Police Department to see if it can be towed. San Mateo gets better when we work together!

Please join me this Sunday, November 30, 11am-12:30pm, at 3 Bees for my October Community Coffee. We’ll be talking about Hillsdale Reimagined and questions you have, in addition to any individual topics you want to discuss.

Lisa Diaz Nash

District 1 City Council Member

Lisa’s District 1 Digest is a regular eNewsletter giving neighbors of District 1 the latest news about what’s going on in San Mateo and District 1. As your District 1 City Council Member, I want to do my best to give you “news you can use” and make sure I understand what’s on your mind about San Mateo.

San Mateo is made up of five districts, each with a representative on City Council. You can see the boundaries of District 1, our district, in this map.

Please feel free to contact me on any San Mateo issue at lisa@lisaforsanmateo.com.You also regularly will find me walking all over District 1 and Downtown San Mateo, so please stop me and say hello!