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Spring Events & Activities
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Local News

Pandemic Art Wall Unveiling Event May 13

Unveiling of Interactive Art Installation in Downtown

Local artist and integrative healer Amie Tyler of The Integrated Spirit is bringing an interactive Pandemic Healing Art Wall to downtown San Mateo as an opportunity for the community to reflect and share their experiences over the past two years.

Join us for an unveiling ceremony at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 13 at the corner of B Street and Third Avenue to see the new installation, hear stories, and write in chalk on the pop-up art wall!

The pandemic has been an incredibly challenging time for all of us, and this interactive exhibit encourages us to reflect on our individual and collective experiences. The walls will have prompts for people to contemplate like “During the Pandemic: ‘I lost,’ and ‘I’m grateful for…’” Chalk will be available for anyone to write a message while the structure is in place for a month. Join us as we come together as a community.


Java with Josh Event May 13

Java with Josh & a Conversation About San Mateo

Join a virtual conversation about issues important to our community with State Sen. Josh Becker, San Mateo City Mayor Rick Bonilla and City Manager Drew Corbett this Friday, May 13 from 1-2 p.m.
Senator Becker is hosting district events this year to talk directly with folks who live in our communities. In continuing the tradition of his predecessor's "Java with Jerry," he’s calling these events "Java with Josh," and the next one will be focused on the City of San Mateo.
Out of an abundance of caution due to the recent coronavirus surge, this event will be hosted online. RSVP online for the meeting link and join the conversation! 

Housing Policies

Senate Bill 9

Learn About Senate Bill 9 – Split Lots & Duplexes

Interested in housing issues here in San Mateo? Join a virtual community workshop to learn about Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) and areas of the new state law where local jurisdictions have discretion. SB 9 mandates local agencies ministerially approve up to two main housing units (i.e. duplexes) and certain subdivisions (i.e. urban lot splits) in single-family zoned areas. Please join us on Tuesday, May 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. for an informational session and to share your thoughts on how you would like to see these types of development projects implemented in your community. Register for the meeting online.

Learn more about SB 9 and how you can get involved in our process to implement this law in the City of San Mateo on our web page.  


Housing Element Draft

We Must Plan for Future Housing – Get Involved!

Our Draft Housing Element is now available for public comment! Did you know we’re required to plan for future population growth and new housing in San Mateo? We’ve been collecting community input and now have a Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element that identifies how the City can accommodate more than 7,000 new homes over the next 8 years, while establishing goals, policies and programs to address our current and future housing needs.

Your input is vital to this process, and it’s not too late to get involved by attending an upcoming hearing or sending us your comments! The City Council will host a public hearing on Monday, May 23 at 5:30 p.m. Details on how to join will be posted to our Public Meeting Portal by May 20.

Public Library News

San Mateo Main Library

Libraries Go Fine-Free

Our San Mateo Public Library has joined its Peninsula Library System partners and other libraries across the United States in becoming fine-free! This means you will no longer be charged fees for the late return of most library items (although we still ask you to adhere to due dates to ensure that items are accessible to other members of the community) and existing fees on accounts will be waived. 

This policy, approved by the San Mateo City Council, is an effort to provide more equitable access to library materials, services, and resources to all members of the community by removing the social inequity that fines can cause.


Library Hours Extended

We love our San Mateo libraries and are excited to welcome you back for extended 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. 

Spring Activities & Events

Stride for Awareness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month – Join Stride for Awareness

San Mateo Police Activities League and Stride for Awareness present the Annual Run/Walk for Student Health and Mental Wellness throughout May!
For the continued health and safety of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the event is a Virtual Run/Walk Anywhere, Anytime, Any Distance! And it’s free! We challenge participants to Run/Walk to submit your distance in the results page as you complete them between May 1-31. Participants with 15 miles or more in total distance will be entered in a raffle to win prizes!

Registered participants receive a free T-Shirt while supplies last. T-shirt pick-up will be at the PAL Wellness Fair on Saturday, May 21 at the King Community Center, 725 Monte Diablo Ave., San Mateo.


Online Auction

San Mateo Police Activities League Fundraiser & Auction

There’s still time to join our Police Activities League’s annual Online Auction & Fundraiser – but hurry, it closes Thursday May 11 at 6 p.m.! Check out our one-of-kind packages at fantastic prices. All proceeds will benefit San Mateo PAL programs, so get your BID in for PAL kids! This fun event is open to everyone. 


Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

 Celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a diverse, deep heritage spanning thousands of years and have shaped the history of the United States. Every year in May, we recognize Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by celebrating the accomplishments, history and culture of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Check out the San Mateo County Libraries' web page for a list of free resources and exhibits to recognize Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month through books, film and museum tours! 

We’d also like to recognize Self-Help for the Elderly, a local nonprofit doing incredible work for our senior and Asian community members right here in San Mateo. Serving thousands of older adults across the Bay Area, their center in San Mateo Central Park offers a variety of enrichment activities, meal programs, and services.  


Baby squirrels

Spring & What to do if You Find Wildlife in Need

It’s spring and that means more wildlife is active in our community. If you find a wild animal that may appear orphaned, injured or in distress, please call Peninsula Humane Society at 650-340-7022 for guidance and assistance. If it’s safe to do so, you can also bring the animal directly to PHS at their Center for Compassion located at 1450 Rollins Road in Burlingame 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. If you find a wild animal in need of care after hours and it’s safe to transport, please bring the animal to After Hours Receiving at the Coyote Point shelter, located at 12 Airport Blvd in San Mateo. Do not give any food, water or medicine – that often does more harm than good. Do not attempt to remove fishing line or something that may be caught or tangled around the animal. For more information, please visit https://phs-spca.org/wildlife/found/

Sustainability & Transit Updates

Electric Vehicle Charger

New EV Chargers Downtown

We've expanded electric vehicle charging in Downtown San Mateo! We’ve installed 12 new electric vehicle level 2 chargers in the basement level of the Main Street Parking Garage. This infrastructure improvement is part of our ongoing efforts to make San Mateo more sustainable and help you reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. Download the PowerFlex App at the Apple App Store or Google Play to start charging!


Caltrain tracks downtown

Caltrain Rail Crossing – Temporary Closures Downtown

Caltrain is performing grade crossing cutover and installation work in San Mateo that will require the temporary closures of the railroad crossings at Second Avenue, Fifth Avenue, and Villa Terrace to vehicle and bicycle traffic. The temporary closures are taking place at the railroad crossings at Second Avenue, Fifth Avenue, and Villa Terrance from May 14 at 12:01 a.m. to May 15 at 8 a.m. For questions or comments about the project, call 650-399-9659 or email calmod@caltrain.com.


Sustainability Awardees

Sustainability Awards Celebration 

Registration is now open for Sustainable San Mateo County’s 23rd Annual Awards Celebration on Wednesday, May 11 from 6-7 p.m.

Four local sustainability heroes – including a City of San Mateo resident! – and one new sustainable building will be honored, along with the winners of Peninsula Clean Energy’s All-Electric Leader Awards. Admission to the Awards Celebration is free, but registration is required online. You can also help support the local nonprofit during their Virtual Auction now open through May 15.


SamTrans Looks to Improve Bus Service on El Camino 

SamTrans is seeking community input on its El Camino Real Bus Speed and Reliability Study (ECR Study). The study seeks to analyze the impact of slowdowns on bus service on El Camino Real and identify potential improvements to help achieve faster and more reliable service.

Join a virtual community meeting on Thursday, May 19 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. to learn more and provide comments. Join by Zoom in English, Spanish or Chinese.

The study is proposing potential improvements that would make routes that use El Camino Real, more efficient and reliable. Some of the draft improvements include bus stop balancing and relocation, bus bulbs, queue jumps and bus-only lanes.

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!

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