San Carlos · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Carlos public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
$84 Million Sales Tax Criticism
The Council voted to send a half-cent general sales tax to voters on November 3, 2026. It would raise about $6 million a year for 14 years for general city purposes like streets, parks, and public safety. Supporters say it keeps local dollars local; opponents worry about the total tax rate nearing 10% and impacts on small businesses.
Community mediation services partnership
PCRC offers free-entry mediation for neighbor, landlord-tenant, and business disputes. The city already refers 30-40 residents a year; the question is whether to fund a formal partnership, possibly at $5,000.
Regional transportation grant applications
The city is chasing state and regional money for major projects: the Brittan-Laurel smart corridor link, a traffic signal operations plan, the East Side streetscape plan, and the big Holly Street/101 interchange rebuild with a pedestrian overcrossing.
Measure G spending plan accountability
A Zoom commenter challenged the Council over donations to the Yes on Measure G campaign and the lack of a detailed spending plan for the estimated $84 million, 14-year measure.
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.
$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.
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.
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.
Flock ALPR Camera Contract and Privacy
A resident urged the city not to renew its Flock license-plate camera contract when it expires in March 2027, citing privacy risks and data sharing with immigration authorities. Vice Mayor Rak asked for a full briefing before the renewal decision.
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.
2025 Sewer Rehabilitation Project Completion
The city's sewer repair program finished $1.18 million under budget — a win for ratepayers who fund sewer improvements. The work fixes the most serious pipe defects basin by basin.
Sidewalk Vending Regulation Update
State law (SB 635) limits how cities can regulate sidewalk vendors, so San Carlos must update its rules. A resident flagged a real safety problem: vendors on Eucalyptus Avenue during Halloween force pedestrians into the street.
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.
Protected Tree Ordinance Implementation
Multiple residents urged the city to protect a roughly 100-year-old valley oak slated for possible removal by a new property owner. A biologist confirmed an active red-tailed hawk nest in the tree, and the city has not yet issued a removal permit.
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.
Teamsters Labor Agreement
The Council met in closed session to discuss contract negotiations with Teamsters Local 856, which represents freight checkers, clerical employees and helpers. The outcome could eventually shape city labor costs and employee terms, but nothing reportable happened at this meeting.
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.
Library Makerspace Project
A new makerspace at the San Carlos Library, shaped by community input and backed by over $100,000 from the Friends of the Library, will be built in the coming months.
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.
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.
County Emergency Preparedness and Hazmat Funding
Council Member Dugan reported that San Carlos faces a 2.7% annual assessment increase (about $4,000/year for five years) to help fund a new county hazmat vehicle, and noted Engine 16 is deployed to Washington wildfires.
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.
BP I SPE, LLC vs. City of San Carlos
The Council discussed an existing lawsuit against the city in San Mateo County Superior Court. Details of the litigation strategy remain confidential.
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.
Structural Budget Deficits and Mid-Cycle Budget
San Mateo County says the state is shorting local governments on vehicle license fee backfill — a $119 million countywide gap this year, roughly $2.3 million hitting San Carlos. That's real money for parks, libraries, and public safety, and the state left it out of this year's budget entirely. County leaders are organizing cities, schools and nonprofits to fight back, with a press conference April 7.
Northeast Area Specific Plan Opposition
The east side's industrial land near Highway 101 is now slated for a 20-year transformation into a mixed-use district with housing at 75-90 units per acre, active ground-floor uses, and flood protections. Existing businesses can stay, and the council added protections to keep space for plumbers, cabinet makers, and other trades as redevelopment happens.
RHNA Cycle 7 Housing Mandates
Council Member Dugan reported that the state's next housing allocation cycle (2031-2039) is expected to be substantially larger than the current one, with homelessness and climate factors now counted — likely meaning more upzoning pressure on San Carlos.
Cal Water Rate Increases
Council Member McDowell flagged that water rates are rising again and pointed residents to the city's water conservation resources after a year of public engagement in the CPUC rate-setting process.
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.
Storm Drain Construction on Private Property
Resident and civil engineer Catheryne Nicholson says the city's storm drain project will saw-cut her 100-foot driveway and demolish her fence and gazebo without proper restoration, violating the city's own engineering standards. She calls it a taking and wants full panel replacement.
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.
Youth Advisory Council Turnover
Eight new student advisors appointed and sworn in for the coming terms, with four retiring members honored for their service.
Climate Plan Progress and 2045 Net-Zero Update
The city hired Blue Strike Environmental for up to $249,445 to update its Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plan, required under the 2045 General Plan EIR.
Potential Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Ban
The council launched a $30,000 pilot rebate program to help residents and landscapers switch to electric leaf blowers, which cause noise up to 100 decibels and harmful air pollution. Several speakers urged the council to eventually adopt a full ban like neighboring cities, and councilmembers flagged enforcement and effectiveness concerns for future review.
Technology Disruption Policy for Public Meetings
New state law requires cities to plan for tech outages during public meetings — if the stream goes down, the council must recess, try to fix it, and can only continue after an hour with formal findings.
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.
Police services annual report
Crime dropped in most categories in 2025, response times improved to about 4 minutes 7 seconds, and Council wants better data breakdowns and stronger partnerships with high-call-volume businesses.
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.
PCE rebrand to WestLight Energy
Peninsula Clean Energy is changing its name to WestLight Energy; your bill line item will change but nothing else. The Council approved the JPA amendment on consent.