Happy National Diversity Month!
National Diversity Month was initiated in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity of the world around us. It is a time to recognize and understand our differences, while honoring the common essence of humanity. We did that today in the workplace with what brings us all together - food. And it was a hit! Our first-ever City of Brisbane staff international potluck drew over 34 dishes with representation from 20 different countries!
And let's not forget the dessert table:
Check out more photos on the City of Brisbane's Flickr account. There was a lot of care put into the home-cooked dishes, and our hearts and stomachs are full from all of it!
Celebrate Earth Month with Us!
Help remove invasive plants and encourage an increased abundance of native wildflowers in celebration of Earth Month. This year's Habitat Restoration Event is right around the corner, on Saturday, April 20th! It's the same day as Spring Thing, but our restoration event is in the morning. You'll feel good afterwards, knowing you helped protect endangered butterflies like the Mission Blue and Callippe Silverspot!
Millions of people across the U.S. stopped last Monday to watch the solar eclipse; now it's time to recycle those eclipse glasses so that others around the world can do the same.
Drop them in the collection bin found in the lobby of City Hall (50 Park Place). Brisbane resident Heidi Levison has also been collecting solar eclipse glasses, so you can continue to drop them off with her until next Wednesday the 24th, or bring them to City Hall. Open Space and Ecology Committee (OSEC) Member Erin Becker will be bringing all of them to her workplace (at NASA!), which is currently collecting solar eclipse glasses for redistribution through Astronomers Without Borders. Thank you for dropping off your glasses by next Wednesday, April 24th!
Also on April 24th, you'll not want to miss the Dark Skies Night Hike with OSEC from Firth Park to the water tank on Beatrice/Alexander Rd. You'll be high up, above homes, and therefore get a taste of the city's current lighting landscape.
Learn with OSEC about the benefits of minimizing outdoor light and reducing light trespass. Here is a news story CBS produced a few weeks ago, featuring OSEC Member Barbara Ebel.
And then on Thursday, April 25th, we're teaming up with SSF Scavenger to again offer a compost giveaway for residents! The pickup location will be different from last year; see the map below.
Public Works will be relocating some of the compost to the Community Garden for garden users. Be sure to have your own shovels and containers ready on Thursday afternoon. We'll be sure to do a post on our socials when the compost has been dropped off in their respective locations!
Lastly, city staff will be hosting a virtual Brisbane Building Efficiency Program (BBEP) Beyond Requirements Info Session on Thursday, April 25th at 2 PM. Owners and/or administrator of buildings subject to Brisbane's Building Efficiency Program are encouraged to attend.
A Great Way to Get Involved & Serve Your Community: Apply to Serve on a City Committee or Board of Trustees
The City of Brisbane is currently recruiting community members interested in serving on the Open Space and Ecology Committee, the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accountability Committee, and the San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District. The deadline to apply is 5 PM on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, and the applications are available at brisbaneca.org/open-seats or by contacting the City Clerk at (415) 508-2113 or at cityclerk@brisbaneca.org.
Apply now for the following Committee and Trustee seats:
- Open Space & Ecology Committee (1 seat)
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability (IDEA) Committee* (3 seats)
- San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District (1 seat)
(*Note: Brisbane residents, as well as those who work but don't live in town, are welcome to apply for the IDEA Committee)
Now Hiring: Summer 2024 Lifeguards
Youth Leaders in Active Transportation Award
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is soliciting proposals for the Youth Leaders in Active Transportation Award for their 14th Annual Bike Summit - an opportunity for youth and kids to showcase their work/projects/proposals for creating a sustainable future. Last date to apply is April 26th. Read more here.
PG&E Maintenance Work Via Helicopter Finishing Up April 18
PG&E's contractor has been working to replace insulators on two of their towers on San Bruno Mountain since Monday, 4/15, and will be finishing up by tomorrow, Thursday, 4/18. They've been utilizing a similar-looking Bell 407 helicopter during this work as shown above, with their flight times being 8 AM - 4 PM on those four days. Nearby PG&E customers were also been notified via phone.
Caltrain Electric Train Tour & 160th Anniversary Celebration in San Carlos, May 11th
Be among the first to board Caltrain’s new, modern electric trains as they unveil the future of their service. Explore the spacious interiors, learn about the exciting new features, and get a glimpse of what Caltrain will be like in 2024. This is the last of three planned tours, scheduled to take place at their San Carlos station. Caltrain will also be celebrating 160 years of passenger rail on the corridor with special commemorative items.
On the weekend of April 20-21, crews will begin testing Caltrain’s new electric trains between San Francisco and Millbrae. Morning and late night Caltrain service will be affected on these weekends. Learn more about the service changes.
Residents may hear additional noise during testing hours, including grade crossing activations and train horns. Testing means that new electric overhead wires are energized, with the new electric trains much quieter than the former diesel trains. Learn more at caltrain.com/safety.
Caltrain Pass Forward Program
Commute.org is partnering with Caltrain on its Pass Forward Program for 2024, where they receive from Caltrain an allocation of free Go Passes to distribute to eligible recipients. Commute.org will be distributing its allocation of passes directly as well as in partnership with community-based organizations that serve essential workers and residents that meet the program requirements:
- Make less than $70,000/year
- Work or live in San Mateo County
- Use the card to get to work, job training, or job searching
- Use the pass at least twice a week
Your Feedback Needed by San Mateo County Transportation Authority
If you travel between San Mateo County and our neighboring counties, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) would like your feedback! The San Mateo County TA is developing the Regional Transit Connections Plan which will provide guidance for a new grant program.
Please help them learn more about how you travel between San Mateo County and Alameda, San Francisco and Santa Clara Counties. This feedback will be used to help the TA prioritize which transit projects to fund.
The survey open until the end of April and is also available in Spanish and Chinese.
2024 Summer Resident Registration NOW OPEN!
The Activity Guide is a great way to learn all about the upcoming events, classes, and programs brought to you by the Brisbane Parks & Recreation Department. They work hand-in-hand with the Parks & Recreation Commission on all related programs and policies.
It's Lions Scholarship Season!
Head to the Brisbane Lion's Scholarship Program webpage for all the details needed to apply. Such as, to receive a scholarship award, you must be a high school graduate or have a GED, be considered a Brisbane resident, enrolled in a full-time higher education or vocational program, submit a completed application, and sign up to participate in a 30-minute Zoom interview with Lions Scholarship Committee members in May 2024. Completed applications are due by midnight of April 30, 2024.
Join the Tuesday Evening Pickleball League!
The sign-up's are coming in...don't miss out on this new offering. The Tuesday evening Pickleball League gets underway Tuesday, April 23rd at 6 PM.
North County Fire Authority's Wildfire Awareness Event, May 11th
Next Play Gym Offering, April 20th
Play Gym is a great way to meet other parents of Brisbane's youngest residents. The Community Center is transformed into a safe and lively indoor gym so that the kids are well-entertained while the adults get to socialize. If you haven't checked it out yet, consider doing so when the next event is offered on Saturday, April 20th from 9:30 AM - 11 AM at the Community Center!
The special edition MoB Play Gym with music & dance class was such a success on April 13th that they are going to do it again on this Saturday, April 20th, and Saturday, May 4th. On these dates, from 9:30 - 10:30 AM, enjoy open playtime where your little ones can explore and have fun with toys and friends. Then, there will be a music and dance class with Viky Mojica from 10:30 - 11 AM. This engaging session is designed to foster a love for rhythm and movement in children ages 6 months to 5 years old.
Come join the fun and create lasting memories with your little one at MoB Play Gym!
The Return of Spring Thing, April 20th
Taking place this April 20th for the first time since 2019, Spring Thing is the Brisbane School District's biggest fundraiser of the year and includes a fun evening with dinner, drinks, music, and a silent auction. Support the school district by securing your tickets.
Brisbane Parks and Rec is intentionally holding their next Parents Night Out on the evening of Spring Thing. Registration for Parents Night Out is always first come, first served. If capacity is reached, Parks and Rec staff we will assess the waitlist and see if they are able to safely accommodate more families.
Please, parents and guardians, celebrate responsibly and note that children are expected to be picked up no later than 10 PM or the late pick-up policy will be applied; parents/guardians may have additional fees assessed. Also note that our staff are mandated by the State of California to report any suspicions of endangerment to a child, and they will not release any child to a parent/guardian who is observed to be impaired or unable to safely transport the child back home.
Fixit Clinic at the SSF Main Library, April 20th
Staff are working with the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability to bring a Fixit Clinic to the Brisbane Library. In the meantime, there will be one taking place at the SSF Main Library on April 20th from 11 AM - 2 PM (901 Civic Campus Way, in the Makerspace, 2nd floor).
This might be a great opportunity for Brisbane residents to see what a clinic like this is all about. Volunteer Fixit Coaches who generously share their time, tools, and expertise to consult with you on the disassembly, troubleshooting, and repair of items will be available. So bring your broken, non-functioning things -- electronic gadgets, appliances, computers, toys, sewing machines, bicycles, fabric items, etc.-- for assessment, disassembly, and possible repair! (Hopefully you’ll be inspired to become a Fixit Coach yourself.)
Brisbane Farmers' Market: Thursdays in the Park, 3-7 PM
- Mountain Fresh
- Villanueva Fruits
- James Healey Confections
- Mango Blossom Apiary
- California Bakeshop
- Hummus Heaven
- Medina Berry Farms
- Amelia's Mexipino Cuisine
- Pasta Rey Artisanal Foods
- Roadside Rotisserie
Our Communications crew was out at the market last Thursday with our top-selling item on Betsy, the 1961 Brisbane hat!
Upcoming Public Meetings
Archived Meeting Videos
Public Art Advisory Committee Meeting - Monday, April 15, 2024 - 4:30 PM
Did You Know?
You don't need to present a card to hop on a Commute. org commuter shuttle. They implemented this during Covid to encourage greater ridership. Until further notice, please take the opportunity to ride the Brisbane-Bayshore shuttle to Caltrain or Brisbane-Crocker Park shuttle to BART!
And when you do, you might as well join the 2024 Commuter Challenge, going on now until the end of May. Pledge to use a sustainable commute to work or college for the chance to win $250!
Quote of the week
This concludes our update; we'll be sending out the next Blast on Wednesday, April 24th. If this email was forwarded to you or you saw it on social media and would like to subscribe, sign up here. As always, please keep connected with us via our website & social media pages. Thanks for reading and staying engaged with us!