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Sustainability & Earth Month
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Sustainability & Earth Month

Earth Month

Water Conservation & Earth Month

April is Earth Month and an important time for us to recognize how we can reduce our impact on the environment. As California faces another year of drought, our City Council will also be declaring April Water Conservation Month.

There are a number of ways for you to get involved in caring for our planet and your community here in San Mateo! Watch a video from Mayor Rick Bonilla for tips on how to conserve water, and visit our Earth Month Web Page for:

  • Rebate programs

  • In-person events & activities

  • Online webinars

  • Free educational resources & reading lists

You can also calculate your water footprint and take the Wyland National pledge to conserve for a chance to win prizes.


Photo Contest

Join Our Photo Contest

What does being sustainable mean to you? Is it tending to a garden? Picking up litter? Teaching kids about water conservation? Show us how you support sustainability in San Mateo! Three winners will be chosen to receive prizes! Participation is easy:

  1. By 5 p.m. April 30, email photo and caption to sustainability@cityofsanmateo.org.
  2. Photos will be shared on our social media pages.
  3. Eligibility: Anyone who lives or works in San Mateo is encouraged to participate. Photos must be your own.

CalWater – Webinar on Potential Water Restrictions

In light of worsening drought conditions, Cal Water has requested that the California Public Utilities Commission authorize moving into Stage 2 of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan in the Bayshore and Bear Gulch service areas. If approved, Stage 2 requirements would become effective on April 15, 2022. Read CalWater’s press release for more info.

CalWater will host a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. to educate customers about Stage 2 restrictions, including outdoor watering limits and increased water waste penalties, and provide information on conservation programs and tools available to help customers reduce their water use. Watch the workshop online.

Local News

City Council at Groundbreaking Ceremony

Kiku Crossing & Affordable Housing in Downtown

Leaders from the City, County and nonprofit sector gathered recently for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of a new, entirely affordable housing community being built in downtown San Mateo near the Caltrain station. The City of San Mateo and nonprofit developer MidPen Housing are partnering to create Kiku Crossing, a 7-story apartment building that will offer 225 homes for those earning low incomes, and a new publicly-accessible parking garage.

Watch a video from the March 17, 2022 groundbreaking ceremony and learn more in our news release.


Diversity Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The City of San Mateo prides itself on being a vibrant, diverse community that is committed to equity and inclusivity. As part of our ongoing commitment to the community, the City Council will discuss whether to create a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan for City Operations during the Monday, April 4 Study Session beginning 5:30 p.m. The Council will also receive an update on the ongoing work of the City’s DEI Task Force. Visit the Public Meeting portal for information on how to join the upcoming study session.


Planning Commission

Planning Commission Opening

Are you interested in how decisions are made about housing, planning and development here in San Mateo? Do you want to help influence your community? Then consider applying for an opening on the City of San Mateo Planning Commission! The City Council is seeking diversely skilled residents to apply for a partial term that ends June 10, 2024. The deadline to apply is April 8, so learn more and apply soon on our Commission Vacancy web page.

The Planning Commission typically meets every other Tuesday evening and holds hearings on development requests. It also reviews important long-range policies like the General Plan and Housing Element, and serves as an advisory body to the City Council. More on the commission on our Planning Commission web page.


Spring Activities & Events

Children playing during Eggstravaganza

45th Eggstravaganza at Central Park

Celebrate 45 years of EGGS-cellence with egg hunts, photo opportunities, a community parade, and more on Saturday, April 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in our beautiful Central Park. Enjoy our premier spring-themed event from our Parks & Recreation team. Advanced reservations are required to participate in the egg hunt, so sign up soon! Visit our Eggstravaganza web page for more information and details.

Summer camps

Spring & Summer Activities

Registration for summer activities begins soon! We’re back this year with field trips, swim lessons, and plenty of enrichment camps. Sign your child up for one of our traditional full-day camps or refreshing swim lesson at one of our pools. View our 2022 Camps & Aquatics Booklet online.

Summer Camp Registration Opens:

  • Monday, April 4 at 9 a.m. for San Mateo Residents
  • Wednesday, April 6 at 9 a.m. for Non-Residents

Registration will be available online at www.sanmateorec.org.


Man playing Bingo

BINGO at the Senior Center

Enjoy Wednesday afternoons playing BINGO with your friends at the San Mateo Senior Center from 2-4 p.m. Doors open at 1:45 p.m. and cards are $1. Registration is required. Visit www.sanmateorec.org to learn more and sign up today. Senior Center is located at 2645 Alameda de las Pulgas. 

Public Library News

National Public Library Week

National Library Week April 3-9

We love our San Mateo Public Library system and the theme for National Library Week 2022 is “Connect with Your Library.” Libraries are places to get connected to technology, media, programs, ideas, and events – in addition to books. Most importantly, libraries also connect communities to each other.

Connect with us by visiting the library from April 3-9 and join in our celebration! Events feature poetry, music, a scavenger hunt, raffle, and library card design contest. Visit our National Library Week web page for more information. 


San Mateo Main Library

 How Do You Feel About Our Libraries?

Each year, the City of San Mateo Public Library conducts a Customer Satisfaction Survey to measure effectiveness in providing quality public service to the community. Please take a moment to complete this survey. Let us know how we have done this past year and how we may improve our services.  


Library Hours Extended

Beginning April 11, all three San Mateo libraries will be open for additional hours. The Main Library will be open until 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and there will be expanded morning and evening hours at both Marina and Hillsdale branches. Visit the library's website to learn about the upcoming new schedule. 

Stay Connected

Do you wish you'd known about that event you missed last weekend? Do you ever wonder how you can get involved in decision making in your community? Do you wonder what upcoming construction projects might impact our roads? Make sure to subscribe to our email lists or follow us on social media to learn about what's happening in your community!

Click to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Nextdoor. Visit our social media page for list of all our City accounts.

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