The Blast City Manager Dennis' Weekly Update | November 19, 2025

Join the staff at the PHS/SPCA for a fun and free event where you’ll make handmade toys for the dogs and cats in their care! This is a great opportunity for families, friends, and animal lovers of all ages to give back and help enrich the lives of shelter animals while they wait for their forever homes.

And lastly, if you want to take photos with your pup or kitty, where your $25 donation gives you access to an online gallery where you can view and download your photos, and where all proceeds benefit the shelter, come to Santa "Paws" on Saturday, November 29th!

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Got Wheels! Program Update

Got Wheels!, the affordable transportation program of Peninsula Family Service for residents 70+ in San Mateo County, provided us with this update earlier this week regarding their service levels starting this month:

We understand this adjustment to the program's service levels have greatly impacted Got Wheels! members. A reminder that the Sunrise Room as well as City Hall and the Library have Help at Home booklets, which is a mini-reference guide published by the San Mateo County Commission on Aging. It is designed to assist adults of all incomes to access resources and remain safely in their homes. The guide includes listings for adult day care centers, grocery and meal delivery services, medical equipment, home care services, and transportation. Spanish and Chinese versions are available at smchealth.org/helpathome. You can also request a free copy by calling (650) 802-7950.

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Fall/Winter Street Sweeping Taking Place Thursday, 11/20

Our annual Fall/Winter Street Sweeping program will be taking place on Thursday, November 20th where our street sweeping contractor will sweep the upper streets and sections of the Ridge. Residents don't need to take any action unless they choose to move their cars to provide better access for the sweeper. If cars remain parked, it's not a problem, as one of our landscaping contractors will do their best to clear leaves and debris from under the vehicles.

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Fall Mulch Giveaway Also Happening 11/20

Help prepare your gardens for the Winter months! Applying mulch during this time of the year can help to protect your gardens from winter weather, like chilly temperatures and heavy rain and wind. Mulch also breaks down over winter, benefitting both the soil and the creatures that live in it! For the first time ever, in partnership with South San Francisco Scavenger Co. , we're doing a Mulch Giveaway! Swing by for free mulch while supplies last, for Brisbane residents only.

Since this is a new offering, we, as well as SSF Scavenger Co., want to know what you think! Share your thoughts with Sustainability Fellow Dolores De La Cruz at sustainabilityfellow@brisbaneca.org.

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Fiber Optic Installation Near City Hall, 11/21 - 12/10

In order to accommodate fiber optic installation as part of C/CAG's Smart Corridor Northern Cities Expansion Project, street parking outside City Hall on Park Place, as well as a portion of the spaces within the City Hall parking lot will be coned off starting Friday, November 21st thru Wednesday, December 10th. Crews will work as expeditiously as possible to complete this portion of the Smart Corridor Project, which the Council approved in February 2024.

We thank you for your patience during this time. Should you have any questions, please call Public Works at (415) 508-2130.

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Street Beat: City Initiatives for Enhanced Pedestrian Safety

Welcome to the second edition of Street Beat! In this edition, we're highlighting the City’s commitment to pedestrian safety. We'll focus on the various key initiatives recently implemented and those planned for the near future, all aimed at increasing pedestrian safety throughout our vibrant community.

Current Pedestrian Safety Enhancements

• "See Me" Signs: New "See Me" flags have been strategically placed at key intersections on San Bruno and Visitacion. These signs are designed to alert drivers to the presence of pedestrians, especially during low-light conditions, encouraging increased caution.
• Daylighting Efforts: To enhance visibility for both drivers and pedestrians, daylighting/AB413 efforts have been implemented. This involves removing parking at corners to provide a clearer line of sight for vehicles approaching intersections and for pedestrians preparing to cross.
• Road Updates on Old County Road: As part of comprehensive road updates on Old County Road at the entrance of town, several pedestrian safety improvements have been made, such as: re-striping of crosswalks with high-visibility markings, inclusion of a bike lane, and red curbs for non-parking zones.
• Sidewalk Cut-Outs: At key intersections on Visitacion, sidewalk cut-outs have been installed. These provide a more direct and accessible path for pedestrians to cross, especially those using wheelchairs or strollers.

Future Pedestrian Safety Initiatives

The City's commitment to pedestrian safety is ongoing. We are already planning and identifying further improvements to ensure safe crossings in all areas of Brisbane. Upcoming initiatives include:

• Re-striping of Crosswalks at Key San Bruno Intersections: Building on previous successes, the re-striping of crosswalks will be extended to other key intersections on San Bruno.
• Identification of Other Traffic Calming Efforts: The Public Works Department is actively identifying and planning for additional traffic-calming efforts. These will focus on high-traffic residential areas to ensure safe crossings and reduce vehicle speeds.

Your Role in Pedestrian Safety

Brisbane citizens are our eyes and ears on the ground. We encourage everyone to report any areas of concern regarding pedestrian safety. If you notice crosswalks that may need maintenance, trees or shrubs that need trimming, or intersections you feel are at high pedestrian safety risk, you can easily submit a service request using the My Brisbane app or by visiting the following link: brisbaneca.org/contact.

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Limited-Time $3,000 Rebate for Heat Pump Water Heaters

Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) is offering an exciting boost to its heat pump water heater rebate! For installations completed between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025, the rebate has increased from $2,500 to $3,000.

This is a great time to upgrade. When stacked with other state and federal incentives, households can save up to $6,800. Here's what you can get:

• $3,000 rebate from PCE on a heat pump water heater
• $2,000 in available federal credits
• Up to $1,800 from TECH CA
• 0% financing available for qualified customers

This offer, and the federal tax credit, expire December 31, so act fast!

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Managing Ground Squirrels to Protect Public Health & Infrastructure

Ground squirrels are a familiar sight along the trails at the Brisbane Marina. While they may look harmless, their presence creates serious public health and infrastructure concerns. These rodents can carry diseases such as plague and leptospirosis, posing risks to both people and pets. Their burrowing habits undermine sidewalks, irrigation systems, and other infrastructure, causing safety hazards and tens of thousands of dollars in damage each year.

To address the growing ground squirrel population, the City has hired a licensed pest management company that specializes in humane and effective control methods. Their work will focus on high-activity areas, with an emphasis on public safety and the protection of native species.

If you observe ground squirrel activity or damage in public spaces, please report it to City Hall through My Brisbane (via the app or brisbaneca.org/contact).

Note: Feeding ground squirrels is illegal in Brisbane (BMC 6.08.120). When one feeds wildlife, it leads to a population boom, making it harder to control their numbers & increasing the risk of disease and property damage. Please help keep our public spaces safe by never feeding squirrels or other wildlife.

Additional resources:

• smcmvcd.org/ground-squirrels
• ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/ground-squirrel

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Trash Talk: It's Game Time!

Between football watch parties, holiday feasts, and online shopping sprees, this season can fill a stadium full of waste. But don’t worry - the Trash Talk Team has your playbook for a clean, green victory.

Tailgate and Turkey Day Planning

Hosting a football party or family feast? Field your best team:

• Skip disposable plates, cups, utensils, napkins and tablecloths - reach for reusables.
• Have storage containers and soup stock recipes ready for your leftovers.
• Keep your kitchen pail and green cart handy during meal prep and cleanup.

Pro Play: Plan ahead to avoid making or buying too much food.

Black Friday Box Blitz

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may bring great deals, but they also bring a pile of boxes. Before your recycling cart gets sacked:

• Flatten all boxes
• Remove any foam or plastic wrap (those go in the garbage).
• Bundle extras neatly beside your blue cart if it’s full.

Extra Point: Reuse boxes for storage and gift wrap. Pro Play: Shop locally and completely avoid the shipping boxes.

Thank you for reducing waste and recycling right this season and every season. Your efforts put us all on the winning team! Now test your Trash Talk knowledge with SSF Scavenger Co.'s latest crossword puzzle:

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Holiday Toy, Food, and Coat Drives Happening Now thru Mid-December at City Hall!

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A reminder that next week's Farmers' Market will shift to Wednesday, Nov. 26th due to Thanksgiving. Be sure to visit the vendors then between 2-6 PM! There will likely be plenty of Thanksgiving treats and goodies.