January Edition II, 2019

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In This Edition

City News
Engage in Your Community
Sustainability Tips
Community Corner

City News

State of the City - Building on the Strength of Community

Join Mayor Diane Papan as she delivers the 2019 State of the City address on Thursday, January 24. During this interactive presentation, the mayor will share her thoughts on the current state of San Mateo, the strengths of our community, and her vision for 2019. Light hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation begins 7 p.m. in the Oak Room of the Main Library, 55 W. Third Ave. Seats are limited so please RSVP online.
On February 1, the Chamber of Commerce will host a similar presentation with tickets for purchase.

New Fire Department Now in Your Service

The San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department officially commenced operations on January 13, 2019. This new agency – which merged the San Mateo, Belmont and Foster City fire departments – will continue to provide integrated and comprehensive emergency response services to all three communities in a more cost-effective way, while maintaining and improving the existing level of fire suppression and medical services. A commencement celebration for the public is scheduled 9 a.m. Saturday, February 2 at the College of San Mateo. All of the fire stations in the City of San Mateo will remain open and the new department will be handling all fire-related inspection needs. Learn more on the department’s new website at www.smcfire.org.

Help Expand Child Care Opportunities in San Mateo

We are making a substantial investment in future generations by offering $2.1 million toward efforts to increase the availability of child care in San Mateo. One of the most challenging problems families face is having access to high-quality, affordable child care and the City is leveraging developer fees to expand the number of spaces for children. Applications for financial assistance are now being accepted! Applicants may include nonprofits, home businesses, schools and anyone with a proposal to increase the number of licensed child care spaces in San Mateo. We are proud to be the first in San Mateo County to offer this type of funding and encourage interested parties to review our Notice of Funding Availability. The deadline to apply is February 21, 2019.

Engage in Your Community

Show Your Volunteer Spirit

It’s a new year and a great time to think about giving back! There are many volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and we want to help connect you to your community. Check out our Volunteer Source web page for more opportunities and details on how to get involved.Here are two of the latest positions:

The Parks and Recreation Department’s Jr. Warrior Basketball League is looking for high school-age students to serve as scoreboard operators or stats keepers for the season, which runs Saturdays in February and March.
Do you have facilitation experience? Are you interested in helping lead community conversations about housing? The Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center is looking for volunteers to help facilitate dialogues throughout San Mateo County beginning around March.

Coffee With a Cop Returns

Join San Mateo’s finest for a cup of joe and a casual chat Wednesday, January 30^th at Kingston Café. The Police Department encourages all members of the community to “steal” away a few minutes of their busy day and come down to get to know their officers. Got a question? Ask away! These casual conversations are meant to strengthen bonds between our law enforcement and the community. We hope to see you there from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 19 N. Kingston St. Can’t make it? The department is aiming for one event a quarter so stay tuned for the next event!

Sustainability Tips

Get Rewarded for Carpooling

Did you know vehicle trips are one of the largest contributors to our greenhouse gas emissions? You can help reduce your carbon footprint by considering alternate modes of transportation. The Commute.org Carpool 2.0 program rewards all forms of carpooling, from matching with your coworkers to using carpool apps to find commute partners. By carpooling, commuters can save time, money, and support the environment. To participate, carpoolers need to track their trips through an approved app in order to earn rewards. You could receive up to $100 in e-gift cards and get to choose from over 70 retailers and charities! Check out Commute.org to get started.

Be Water Wise This Winter

Did you know that your sewer fees are calculated from your water use between the months of November and March? It’s done this way is to achieve the most accurate calculation of indoor water use, which reflects what goes into the sewer, while not including outdoor water use, which does not go directly into the sewer system. This means that the more you continue to conserve water during the winter months, not only will you save on water charge but you’ll also see savings on your sewer bill. Find out more about how your sewer bills are calculated and check out some easy conservation tips.

Community Corner

(Events Hosted by Partners in the Community)

Cinderella Comes to San Mateo

Are you ready to have a ball? The San Mateo Performing Arts Center presents Cinderella. Join the San Mateo High School Drama program for the Roger and Hammerstein classic running February 1-10. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center at 600 N. Delaware St. Buy tickets and learn more online.

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