What's Happening At City Council

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 roads, parks and open space, stormwater and sewer systems.

The General Fund portion is projecting a deficit of $15.2 million, due largely to a slowdown in residential and commercial property sales; uncertainty in the economy; whether the State will reimburse San Mateo County cities in full for Vehicle License Fees (VLF) due; and rising personnel and materials costs due to inflation.  

The City has a robust Reserve Fund that could be used to offset this deficit.  Council also directed staff earlier in the year to prepare a Financial Sustainability Plan to understand in detail where cost reductions could occur in future if needed.  Council and City staff take our duty to be good fiscal stewards very seriously as well as our commitment to be transparent with our community about how your tax dollars are being spent.

You can read the full Budget Report, Item #22, here.  Attachment #1, the City Manager’s Letter of Transmittal, is a great overview of all the City does.

Electrify San Mateo

On June 16th, staff reviewed 5 options for inclusion in the City’s long-term Sustainable Building Strategy.  Council voted to continue educational outreach to our community, promoting how much easier and more affordable it has become to convert residential appliances from gas to electric.  Peninsula Clean Energy also has a robust conversion program that helps residents through each step and provides robust rebates that can bring conversion in many cases to parity.  My husband and I just converted our gas water heater to an electric heat pump water heater.  I would be happy to share our experience with anyone.

Council also voted to have the City serve as a model by converting its buildings and operations to electric.  Options to require residents to replace gas appliances with electric ones or require additional emissions reporting by commercial landlords ahead of required State deadlines did not gain majority Council approval to move forward. Staff will return later this year with the final strategy for a Council vote.

You can read the full Agenda Report, Item # 41, here. 

Historic Resources Program

On June 2nd, City Council approved the development of a citywide Historic Resources Program.  This policy update will include the preparation of a citywide Historic Context Statement to provide a narrative about architectural and development trends that have shaped the City and share information about events that are significant to the City’s history. 

It also will develop an Historic Resources Ordinance to detail 1) how the City will treat the renovation or demolition of potentially historic buildings in San Mateo; and 2) how an historic district could be designated locally.  Council has directed staff to require a community minimum of 50% in any future local historic districts and owner consent before any buildings are deemed individually eligible.  There will be online and in-person opportunities throughout the summer and fall for San Mateans to share their views on this.

You can read the full Agenda Report here.

UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL ITEMS

City Council only holds 1 meeting each in July and August.  The next Council meeting is Monday, July 28th and the August meeting is Monday, August 18th.  

While the agenda items have not been finalized, there may be a staff presentation on August 18th on the state of Caltrain Train Noise and creating a Train Quiet Zone in San Mateo.  See the Community Update below for the latest on this and watch for updates on the City website here.  

Agendas are published 72 hours before a meeting and the public is encouraged to attend in person or via zoom and email public comments to citycouncil@cityofsanmateo.org.