San Carlos · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Carlos public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Downtown Parklet Program Extension and 700 Block of Laurel
Longtime residents are pushing the city to reopen the 700 block of Laurel Street to cars, arguing the pandemic-era pedestrian plaza is hurting nearby businesses and that other Bay Area cities reopened years ago.
Parks Master Plan and trail expansions
San Carlos now has a 20-year roadmap for its parks — about $90 million in wish-list improvements including an aquatic center at Laureola, a pump track at Arguello, more pickleball, and inclusive playgrounds. Nothing is funded yet, so the real test comes at budget time.
$46 Million Street Repair Investment
Councilmembers McDowell and Rak praised the public works team as paving crews work across town — a $44 million, five-year investment in smoother streets and safer sidewalks. Some residents, like those on El Sereno Drive, feel their streets have been overlooked.
Affordable housing at Cherry Street Commons and new proposals
Cherry Street Commons is nearly done and expects its first residents in December, with more housing proposed at 626 Walnut Street, 1562 El Camino Real, and the F Street apartments. The city is partnering with nonprofits and developers to serve seniors, lower-income families, and residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Restricting oversize vehicle parking on city streets
Roughly 15-20 RVs park long-term on east-side commercial streets, drawing complaints from businesses about parking, trash, and safety. The council wants a citywide RV parking ban with exceptions, higher fines than the current $50 citation, and a fix for the $3,500 tow release fee.
Tobacco Retailer Permit Zoning Update
The city wants smoke shops to get the required San Mateo County health permit before opening, and is adding that requirement to the zoning code so it's flagged early. Enforcement has been a problem — Sergeant Baker said most local smoke shops lack permits and have racked up hundreds of thousands in unpaid fines.
Winter Storm and Flood Preparedness
With a strong El Niño expected, the Council agreed to a public presentation on the city's storm preparations, including a joint appearance with OneShoreline.
Harrington Park Project Costs and Bid Process
The city awarded a $6.2 million contract to rebuild Harrington Park — the first chunk of the downtown streetscape plan. Residents pushed back on cost escalation, a sole bid, and the vehicle closure of the 700 block of Laurel Street, which blocks people with mobility issues from reaching downtown shops.
Youth Sports Field Use Fee Reductions
San Carlos charges youth sports leagues the highest per-player fees on the Peninsula, and the proposed new $43 second-season fee drew sharp pushback from softball and Little League leaders. The council kept existing fees in place, removed the new fee, and ordered a deeper study with the leagues before September 1.
Formula Business Ordinance Review
San Carlos is the only city in San Mateo County that restricts chain stores downtown, requiring a costly conditional use permit for businesses with 15+ locations. The council wants data and outreach before deciding whether to keep, loosen, or repeal the rule — with pressure to move faster than June 2027.
Neighborhood Traffic Speeding on San Carlos Avenue
Resident Sarah Haller reported drivers going 40-60 mph in the 25 mph zone near the Adult Community Center. The Vice Mayor asked the police chief to follow up with her directly.
Regulation of E-Bikes and Electric Conveyances
Council heard a study session on unsafe e-bike and scooter riding, especially among kids downtown and on El Camino. No ordinance was adopted — the council is waiting on a state pilot program and the new county ordinance, and wants more parent education and school district partnership.
MHA Supportive Housing at F Street and El Camino Real
The Mental Health Association of San Mateo County wants to build a four-story, 20-unit permanent supportive housing building for single adults experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness. The council is enthusiastic and the formal application is expected at the end of August under SB 35 streamlining.
Childcare Grant Program Rules Update
San Carlos is spending childcare impact fees on grants to local providers, with this round adding 80-87 new spaces. The council debated capping awards per owner versus per location and how much policy to make on the fly.
Crestview Drive Pilot Improvements — Los Vientos Intersection
Edgewood Park neighbors are split on how to fix the dangerous Crestview/Edmond intersection — one supports the city's safety work, another opposes the proposed roundabout and wants a simple stop sign at Edmond Drive instead.
Municipal Election
San Carlos has officially announced its upcoming general municipal election and ballot measures. Residents need to check their voter registration to make sure they're ready to pick local leaders and vote on city policies.
Pedestrian Safety at Arundel Elementary
Resident Grace Harvey warned that a school gate closure will funnel more families onto Phelps and Arundel Roads, which already have missing sidewalks and dangerous drop-off traffic — right before school starts. She wants safety fixes before the fall.
Caltrain Funding Crisis
Caltrain says it faces a $75 million annual deficit and, without new funding, could cut to hourly weekday trains, end weekend service, and close a third of stations by FY 2028 — a big deal for a town whose station just doubled its service. A five-county regional ballot measure is the hoped-for fix.
626 Walnut Street Affordable Housing Development
Council Member Dugan raised concerns that the MidPen Housing project on Walnut Street would eliminate ground-floor retail and that streamlined, council-exempt developments get too little public visibility. The council set a May 26 presentation and wants a new early-notification policy.
Sheriff's Services Contract and Overtime Priorities
After four police chiefs in roughly as many years under the Sheriff's contract, Vice Mayor Rak proposed — and the council created — a subcommittee to build stronger ties between the community, the council, and the Sheriff's Department. Rak and Layton will serve, with the focus on community connections and level of service, not oversight.
Community and/or aquatic center site selection
After hours of testimony, the Council picked Options 3 and 4 (Laureola-based concepts) for further study and will keep negotiating with the high school district over land. Operating costs run about $1 million a year with roughly 50% cost recovery.
Crestview-Hallmark Emergency Access Gate
The narrow gate between San Carlos and Belmont leaves only nine inches of clearance on each side of a fire engine — a serious wildfire evacuation risk. The two cities will split a $45,000 project to widen it to 20 feet, with Belmont building and maintaining it.
New City Manager Hiring
Jeff Maltbie retired after 25 years with the city, and Nil Blackburn takes over as interim city manager on January 16 with a 5% raise while the permanent search proceeds.
PG&E utility notification and permit backlog
PG&E spent nearly a year refusing to mail notices of its work, leaving about 86 city permits unissued and residents waiting months for solar and electrical hookups. A new compromise creates tiered notification rules, and the council wants the backlog cleared within 30 to 60 days.
Downtown Revitalization Construction Support
Harrington Park construction starts April 6, with the bigger Centennial Plaza project in 2027. The new Downtown Prosperity Team laid out a communications blitz and a project list to keep businesses alive — coffee chats, parking permits, alley improvements, a possible shuttle and entertainment zone. Councilmembers offered to walk the beat themselves and asked for more parking enforcement money.
El Sereno Drive Street Safety
Four residents described a 12-foot-wide cul-de-sac street with a blind curve that's about to lose its only passing pullout to an approved SB 9 lot split. They want the hedge and brick pillars removed, the street repaved, and a red-curfed no-parking zone for emergency access. Vice Mayor Rak asked staff to brief the council.
El Camino Real Multimodal Redesign
SamTrans wants to reshape El Camino Real with three design options — transit, pedestrian, or bike priority. Council leaned bike-first but demanded safer crossings at Cherry, Oak, Holly, and San Carlos Avenue without wrecking the city's smooth traffic flow.
Downtown Specific Plan adoption
The council formally adopted the Downtown Specific Plan and wrote it into the zoning code, locking in the long-term vision for downtown land use, design, mobility, and public space. Future development and public projects downtown must now be consistent with the plan.
Mayoral Appointment
San Carlos has a brand new mayor, Pranita Venkatesh! She just stepped up to lead the city council and bring some fresh energy to local government.
Mayor Inauguration
San Carlos has a brand new mayor, Pranita Venkatesh, stepping up to lead the local government. This leadership change means a fresh set of priorities for the city council and potential shifts in local policy.
Mayor Swearing-in
San Carlos just swore in its new mayor, Pranita Venkatesh, marking a historic first for the local Fijian diaspora. It's a huge cultural milestone for the community and sets the stage for fresh leadership in city hall.
Police Department Dissolution
San Carlos just scrapped its 85-year-old police department, completely changing how neighborhood safety works. You'll likely see a totally new approach to local law enforcement starting now.