This web copy of City Council Newsletter October 2023 is sourced out directly from the City Council PDF and placed here for easy access across all devices. Enjoy!
Updates and information on programs and projects at the City of San Carlos. October 13, 2023
From the Office of City Manager Jeff Maltbie, jmaltbie@cityofsancarlos.org
City Manager
Civics Academy is Back
Last week, dozens of committed San Carlos community members attended the first of six Civics Academy sessions to become more involved and informed citizens. After an introduction to local governance and a presentation about civic engagement and the “anatomy of an agenda”, five brave participants competed in a quiz on the dais.
Yesterday, the San Carlos Bureau of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s office discussed de-escalation techniques and put some of their powerful tools on display, including a flock camera and a bomb-defusing robot. This outdoor demonstration was followed by a tabletop earthquake and disaster preparation exercise led by Chief Dave Pucci of the San Carlos/Redwood City Fire Department.
Four Thursday sessions remain and will cover the topics of budgeting, traffic, planning, and events preparation. Participants will attend the November 13 City Council Meeting to receive their graduation certificates.
San Carlos Multifamily EV Charging Incentive
We are pleased to introduce the launch of the San Carlos Multifamily Electric Vehicle Charging Incentive in partnership with Peninsula Clean Energy’s EV Ready Program. The EV Ready Program offers no-cost technical assistance and rebates to help install electric vehicle charging stations at multifamily and commercial properties across San Mateo County.
The City of San Carlos now offers an additional 50% match on any paid incentives through the EV Ready Program, or up to 100% of the total project cost, for EV chargers installed in apartments and condos in San Carlos! Multifamily buildings in San Carlos that participate in the EV Ready Program will automatically qualify for this additional incentive.
To learn more visit www.cityofsancarlos.org/evcharge.
Administrative Services
Human Resources Division
Open Recruitments
Full-time Positions
- Senior Accountant – Recruitment closes on October 20
Part-time Positions
- Recreation Leader I & II (Youth Development) – Recruitment open until filled
- Recreation Leader II (Athletics) – Recruitment open until filled
Recruitments in Progress
Full-time Positions
- Senior Administrative Clerk (Public Works) – Second interviews were held on October 6
- Systems Analyst (Information Technology) – First interviews to be held on October 12
New Hires
- Legal Secretary (City Attorney’s Office) – New hire will start October 16
Upcoming Recruitments
- Senior Planner – Advance Planning (Community Development)
- Senior Engineer (Public Works)
Fire
Fire Academy Update
The San Carlos/Redwood City fire recruits are doing very well in the academy. The six recruits completed their first manipulative test last week which required them to pull hose, throw ladders and many other skills. All recruits are performing above the class average on written examinations as well as physical fitness. One of our recruits currently has scored 100% on all exams! We will continue to provide progress updates and we look forward to having the new recruits on our engines in December.
Fire Prevention Open House Tomorrow!
The San Carlos/Redwood City fire department is hosting a Fire Prevention.
Open House on Saturday, October 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Fire Station 9, at 755 Marshall Street in Redwood City. All ages are invited to check out the fire rigs, try on real firefighting gear, watch a fire extinguisher demonstration, and take photos with the firefighters. Please see the flyer at the end of this newsletter. You won’t want to miss this exciting opportunity to visit with some amazing first responders!
Community Development
Development Update
Two new life science/research and development buildings proposed by the Sobrato Family Foundation at 841 Old County Road were approved by the City Council at its October 9 meeting. The development includes one four-story building and one six-story building with a central landscaped courtyard that will be available to the public. The development will also provide public parking in the evening, seven public parking spaces during the day, a publicly accessible café at the corner of Commercial Street and Old County Road, new sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting, and street trees along all property frontages. In addition, the developer will be contributing community benefit funds to the City. The total community benefits to be provided are valued at $7,690,000.
Parks and Recreation
Centennial Committee
In 2025, we’ll celebrate our City’s centennial!
Would you like to provide input on how the City of San Carlos should commemorate its 100th anniversary? Consider applying for a seat on the City Centennial Advisory Committee!
The City Council is looking for a business owner/operator and a diverse group of residents and community members to fill a total of six seats on the City Centennial Advisory Committee. These members will collaborate with appointed representatives from City Commissions and non-profit organizations to develop the overall vision and mission for a 100th anniversary celebration that is reflective of the San Carlos community. To learn more and apply, visit www.cityofsancarlos.org/centennial.
Adult Community Center Athletics
San Carlos Parks and Recreation is excited to bring back Glow Pickleball! This event will include black lights, music, and pickleball on Friday, November 3, at the San Carlos Youth Center. We encourage participants to wear white, fluorescent, or brightly colored clothes. Sign up here.
Community Events
Thousands of celebrants from the Bay Area and beyond braved a heat wave to attend the 31st annual San Carlos Art & Wine Faire on October 7 and 8! Event attendees strolled three blocks of art, finding unique purchases from local juried artists, as some of the Peninsula’s favorite bands played on two downtown stages. Our partner sponsor, the Parks and Recreation Foundation of San Carlos, sold wine, beer, and canned cocktails with proceeds benefiting San Carlos parks and programs, and a variety of food vendors provided meals and snacks! This event couldn’t have been possible without the efforts of over 150 incredible volunteers, who collectively worked more than 300 hours to make this year’s Faire a success. Keep an eye on our website for photos from this year’s event and updates as we begin to plan for the 2024 Faire on October 12 and 13!
Don’t miss three spooky events this October! On October 20, younger ghouls and goblins are invited to brave the Youth Advisory Council’s haunted house, as the Youth Center is transformed into a maze full of tricks and treats alike! From 6:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., ghastly guests can play games, make crafts, enjoy a free Mister Softee, and join a showing of Disney’s Coco in the Youth Center gym!
Families with young children can enjoy a safe and fun trick-or-treating experience downtown on October 27, as Laurel Street transforms for the annual Goblin Walk! From 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., participating businesses along Laurel Street and parts of San Carlos Avenue will hand out candy to costumed kids aged seven and under and their families. 450 trick or treaters will receive special Goblin Walk candy bags from roving volunteers!
Throughout the month of October, don’t miss some of the scariest (or silliest!) Halloween decorations in town! Experienced decorators are already submitting their homes for judging, which scare enthusiasts can find on a map online. Is your home or business one of the spookiest in San Carlos? Enter now (if you dare) before the October 23 deadline! Thank you to this year’s contest sponsor, local realtor Hillary Anderson!
Youth Programs
On Friday, September 29, the San Carlos Youth Center celebrated back to school with a summer themed dance. 360 youth in grades 6 through 8 enjoyed a night filled with dancing, pizza, face paint, games, and a Youth Advisory Council led coat check.
Calling all Youth Ages 12 to 17! Lend a hand to help your community! Join the Youth Advisory Council on Saturday, October 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for a Laurel Street clean up. Meet at Harrington Park on Laurel Street (the park across the street from Bank of America) at 9:00 a.m. We will provide gloves, pickers, and buckets. All you need to do is show up! Your time, effort, and presence will make a difference in your community. Register today!
Police
San Carlos Art & Wine Faire
Members of the San Carlos Police Bureau participated in the San Carlos Art and Wine Faire this past weekend. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to chat and share your support. We had a great time getting to meet all of you. We are proud of our community for respecting and maintaining public safety, and the Sheriff’s Office is honored to be a part of such a wonderful event each year.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is a time to acknowledge domestic violence survivors, raise awareness, and be a voice for its victims. Domestic violence is
prevalent in every community and happens in all ages, races, and income levels.
Individuals seeking assistance can contact CORA, an agency in San Mateo County dedicated to helping those affected by intimate partner abuse. CORA provides counseling, supportive housing, and legal services. CORA also has a 24-hour crisis hotline where individuals can ask questions, get information, create a safety plan or find out how to help a friend in need. CORA is here to provide safety, support, and healing.
For more information, please visit https://www.corasupport.org/.
Public Works
Please note that the schedule and construction activities for projects listed below are subject to change.
HAWK Signal at Belmont Ave and El Camino Real
WB Electric, Inc. has completed the installation of the new HAWK Signal at Belmont Avenue and El Camino Real and removed the existing pedestrian beacon for recycling. The new beacon system was energized and activated last week and is now fully functional.
Staff will perform a final walkthrough with the contractor to address any remaining items before closing out the project. Please watch for pedestrians that may be crossing. For instructions on using the new beacon system, please visit the project page on the City’s website.
Caltrans Cordilleras Creek Bridge Replacement Project
The Caltrans Cordilleras Creek Bridge Replacement Project will replace the existing culvert with a single span bridge over Cordilleras Creek at Highway 101, between the Cities of San Carlos and Redwood City. This approach allows Caltrans to replace the bridge in one season, instead of over three years, reducing the effects on traffic, increasing safety of travelers and construction workers, and minimizing environmental impacts.
The southbound section of the bridge was completed during the weekend of September 29 through October 2.
Caltrans will now close the northbound lanes of Highway 101 this weekend, October 13 through October 16. The closure will begin at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13, and will remain in effect until 5:00 a.m. on Monday, October 16.
During the closure, vehicle traffic will be detoured around the work area and through Redwood City and San Carlos along Whipple Avenue, Industrial Road, and Holly Street. Additionally, the bike lane/walk path on the east side of the freeway from Skyway Road in San Carlos to East Bayshore/Whipple in Redwood City will be closed during this weekend bridge construction.
Caltrans will continue to provide updates for the project on their website.
We recommend that you avoid this area this weekend and use alternate routes identified in the above Caltrans Project website.
Fire Station 16 Replacement Project
With the building framing finished, weatherproofing of the building exterior continues as well as the installation of the windows. This work will continue over the next two weeks. The next step will be to insulate the interior walls. Staff will continue to provide updates for the project on the City website.
2023 Annual Storm Drain Improvement Project
JMB Construction, Inc. continues work on the construction on the 2023 Annual Storm Drain Improvement Project at three of the four sites including 1000 Drake Court, 1005 Drake Court, and 3017 Brittan Avenue. The work on El Camino Real will begin once the Caltrans encroachment permit has been issued.
The contractor is currently drilling for the soldier pile wall at 1000 Drake Court and forming the walls for the concrete channel and weir structures at 3017 Brittan Ave. Hydroseeding work is still needed at 1005 Drake Court.
The tentative completion date is November 1, in preparation for the winter weather.
Please be mindful of any temporary traffic control the contractor may post to assist with circulation.
Staff will continue to provide updates for the project on the City website.
Read more blogs at San Carlos Life Blog
See more events at the Main Calendar