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Fiscal Sustainability Plan Aims to Address $7.8 million Deficit in City's BudgetThe global pandemic has had significant impacts to the economy and like most sectors, the City of San Mateo is experiencing financial challenges. We now face a $7.8 million deficit for fiscal year 2020-21 that’s expected to grow absent any action. This week, our City Council supported a plan to address this shortfall and move toward fiscal sustainability.
Maintaining the services our community relies upon and avoiding staff layoffs are key goals of the fiscal sustainability plan. In the short-term, this can primarily be achieved by reducing expenses. This will include working with our employee bargaining units to seek changes to their compensation, and eliminating certain vacant City jobs. We will also need to look at ways to increase our revenue, which could include asking residents if they’d support increasing the local hotel tax paid by visitors. You can learn more about the plan and watch the discussion from the May 11 Council meeting, which begins at minute 40, on our Public Meeting Portal.
It may be a long road to recovering from the impacts of COVID-19 and tough decisions are ahead. But we will continue to be good stewards of our budget while supporting the services and employees our community relies upon each and every day. Learn more about the City’s budget on our Finance Department web page.
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County Announces San Mateo Will Mirror State’s Early Stage 2 RegulationsWhile COVID-19 continues to spread and we must continue taking extraordinary precautions to protect our community, some local restrictions will be eased starting on Monday, May 18. The San Mateo County Health Officer announced he’ll issue an updated shelter in place order that aligns with the State’s Early Stage 2 in California’s Roadmap to Recovery.
The State’s Early Stage 2 allows for some additional businesses to reopen with modifications including some retail (for curbside pickup and delivery only,) office workplaces, car washes and pet grooming. It does not yet allow for dining at restaurants.
The County Health Officer is expected to issue the new rules that would go into effect Monday. In his announcement, Dr. Scott Morrow emphasized that we are still at risk from the virus and we all must do our part to protect against the spread of COVID-19. “I am encouraged that data about COVID-19 cases, hospital capacity, and other indicators show some stability so that San Mateo County can now enter the early stages of Phase 2. I want to remind everyone these modifications are not being made because it is safe to be out and about," Dr. Morrow said. "The public and open businesses need to fully do their part to minimize transmission of the virus.” Visit www.smcgov.org to review current orders and for the County’s latest updates. Please remember to continue our good work – wear face coverings when in most public spaces, maintain 6-feet of distance from others, and stay local (within 10 miles of your residence) when recreating. Our region has made tremendous sacrifices to flatten the curve and protect community health, and we want to continue to do so.
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New Online Portal for Building & Planning ServicesOur Community Development Department proudly announces the launch of a new online permit center! We can now accept, review, receive payments and issue planning entitlements and building permits securely online.
These new service enhancements will ensure our residents and customers continue to receive all development review services while we adhere to the Shelter in Place Orders. Once the Orders are lifted, the online permit center services will continue to help the City serve you better. Learn about what types of applications can be submitted online, and watch instructional videos at www.cityofsanmateo.org/onlinepermitcenter.
We are excited to offer these enhanced services that safely and efficiently keep our community moving forward! Visit our Community Development Department web page to learn more about our Building and Planning divisions.
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Going outside? Review the rules.While we want our community to get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors, please remember to recreate safely and follow the Health Order. We want to make sure you can stay safe when enjoying our beautiful outdoors. Remember – Coyote Point remains closed and there are restrictions in place at City Parks. Learn more on our City Parks FAQ page or the County’s Parks Department web page. You should stay home as much as possible and if you go outside to recreate, please follow these rules. Park Restrictions - Stay within 10 miles of your home to recreate
- Parking lots at City parks remain closed
- Playgrounds and restrooms are closed
- There are no organized sports or pick-up games allowed
When to Wear a Face Covering - Face coverings aren’t required while recreating, walking, running, or biking, unless you are likely to come within 6 feet of others - be sure to carry a face covering with you!
- Facing coverings are required when waiting in line, when inside an essential business or medical facility, and while riding public transit or rideshares
Go Slow and Stay 6 Feet Apart - Cycle with courtesy - slow down and be mindful of pedestrians
- Warn others of your presence when passing on the trails or streets
- Practice social distancing from others outside your household
- Do not congregate in groups
Central Park Music Series Will Return in 2021As safety and health remain our top priority, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the Central Park Music Series until next year. For the past 18 years, these popular summer events have been wonderfully received, bringing thousands of people together to celebrate community. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot plan for an event this year. We look forward to bringing the series back to San Mateo in 2021.
In the meantime, check out our Virtual Recreation site www.cityofsanmateo.org/virtualrec where we provide a number of activities you can do at home!
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Poplar Creek Golf Reopens with Safety Precautions We’re excited to welcome golfers back to the green, but please note there are additional safety precautions in place as we adhere to the County’s Health Order. The recently redesigned Par3 restaurant is open for takeout, and the snack shack has grab and go orders too. Additional rules are in place. To learn more and sign up for a tee time, visit www.poplarcreekgolf.com.
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Caltrain's Hillsdale Station Closes May 16 Saturday, May 16 marks the start of a six-month closure of Caltrain's Hillsdale Station, moving all train service to Belmont Station for the interim. The new station is scheduled to open in November 2020 slightly north of its current location. Caltrain ambassadors will be on site at both the Hillsdale and Belmont stations next week as riders transition to the temporary change.
Also note, Caltrain will offer a Shuttle that stops in San Mateo at: - Bay Meadows: on South Delaware Street before East 28th Avenue.
- Hillsdale Caltrain Station: on the EAST side of the closed station at Pacific Boulevard.
Visit www.Caltrain.com/HillsdaleTempClosure for all of the details on the temporary station closure and shuttle schedule.
Notice Caution Tape on Some Walk Signal Buttons Downtown? Adding another layer of safety to getting outside, our Public Works Department has made it possible for pedestrians to lessen the need to press the push button at 28 intersections around town. This is in addition to the 24 locations in Downtown San Mateo with this feature. When you see caution tape across the ‘walk’ buttons there is no need to push the button to get the walk signal. When the light goes green, the walk symbol will automatically light up, allowing pedestrians to cross the intersection safely.
Drivers may experience longer wait times at these intersections due to the extended walk symbol. We thank our neighbors for their continued patience and cooperation in helping everyone do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. |
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May is Mental Health Awareness MonthNow more than ever, we all need to be paying close attention to our health and our mental well-being is a critical part of that. Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.
The CDC Offers Some Helpful Tips on Ways to cope with stress: Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting. Take care of your body. Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy. Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
San Mateo County Health offers information about mental health and well-being services, and the County Office of Community Affairs has a list of some important resources and materials that we hope our community can use to get through this difficult time. The Child Mind Institute has also launched www.childmind.org/coronavirus with digital offerings to help all families navigate this situation and offer extra support for children who need specialized care. The San Mateo County chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Illness provides information, support and advocacy.
Do you or someone you know need help? Call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990, or text TalkWithUs to 66746 Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224
Help & Resources for SeniorsAre you an older adult? Do you need assistance, food or someone to chat with? There’s help! Call (650) 780-7542 Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to talk with someone who can help you stay healthy, well and connected. Peninsula Family Service and the Peninsula Health Care District offer this free service to adults 60+ years. It’s available in multiple languages. Please share this information with those in your community too! You can always find more resources by calling 2-1-1 or visiting: the County's Resources web page or www.cityofsanmateo.org/coronavirus |
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Older adults who are sheltering in place, unable to access meals, and ineligible for other nutrition programs, can receive free meals delivered to their homes. San Mateo County is participating in the State’s Great Plates Delivered program, set up to support adults at high-risk from COVID-19 by arranging for restaurants and other food providers to deliver food to homes across San Mateo County.
Residents who qualify are encouraged to call (800) 675-8437 and speak to multi-lingual county staff to apply for meal delivery services. To qualify, San Mateo residents need to meet the following: Individuals 65 and older, or 60-64 and at high-risk as defined by the Centers for Disease Control, including those who are medically documented as COVID-19 positive, COVID-19 exposed, or living with an underlying health condition; Live alone or with one other program-eligible adult; Are not receiving assistance from other state or federal nutrition assistance programs; Earn no more than 600% of the federal poverty limit, which is $74,940 or $101,460 for a household of two; Are unable to prepare or obtain meals.
The Great Plates Delivered program provides three restaurant meals a day, five days per week. Delivery is arranged by the food provider and requires that delivery workers be pre-vetted by background checks and other screening tools. Call (800) 675-8437 to apply.
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Free Virtual Dance and Fitness Classes in MOVE-IT-MAY!Parks & Recreation is offering FREE Virtual Dance & Fitness classes starting next week on Monday, May 11 through Saturday, May 30! From Zumba, Tai Chi, Yoga to Line Dancing, sweat and have fun during the month of May! Go online to cityofsanmateo.org/virtualclasses and check out all the classes that are being offered.
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Share Your Signs of Hope Our community has been incredible lifting each other up and sharing messages of positivity as we all cope with sheltering in place. We've received an incredible batch of photo submissions for our Signs of Hope Campaign, and we'd love to see yours, too!
We're collecting and posting pictures that represent the kind, caring, and supportive community that surrounds us here in our city. Thank you notes, window paintings, neighbors helping neighbors. Look around you and send us a picture of anything that symbolizes the resilience of our community and amazing city. Email your picture(s) to: socialmedia@cityofsanmateo.org.
We know life in San Mateo is quite different than what we’re all used to right now, but our community is strong when we come together and support each other. Check out some of the Signs of Hope below, and on our Facebook Page. Stay tuned for more as we continue to share the inspirational messages and signs of hope surrounding San Mateo!
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