We have a new face in the Community Development Department, and that's Jake Whitney, who started earlier this month as an Associate Planner. Jake joins us from Southern California where he was most recently the Associate Planner for the City of Hermosa Beach in Los Angeles County. He has over four years of experience as a planner in local government and the private sector and it's safe to say, he's already fitting in seamlessly.
- Alvarado-San Benito Stairway Ribbon Cutting Recap
- Remembering Anja Miller
- Lagoon Plan Community Meeting, 4/30 @ the Library
- Latest News on the Baylands: Project Nears Final Entitlement Phase
- Digital Help Hub @ the Sunrise Room Starts 5/4
- 5/5 Office Hours with Councilmember Frank Kern at Altamar Clubhouse
- 5/6 Complete Streets Safety Committee Meeting at BES
- Take the 'Ride&Shine' 2026 Commuter Challenge & Pedal to Prizes!
- Flavors of the Peninsula Ends on 5/3
- CARE Power-Building and Engagement Learning Lab - Applications Open Now
- A Night in Little Reno, Fundraiser for the Chamber and Lions Club, 5/2
- Spring Into Safety: Is Your Child’s Car Seat Still the Right Fit?
- Save-the-Date: Ribbon-Cutting for Pool's New Electric Heat Pumps, 6/9
Alvarado-San Benito Stairway Ribbon Cutting Recap
We gathered Saturday morning to officially open the “dazzling” Alvarado-San Benito Stairway, which was once an informal dirt trail. This transformation was made possible through C/CAG funding, which enabled the City to reimagine the space as a formal stairway that prioritizes safety and long-term usability. City staff pursued Transportation Development Act grants, which are administered by C/CAG, in 2017, 2019, and again in 2021 for the project. After the third application in 2021, the City was successful in receiving funding support for construction. Former Councilmember Karen Cunningham was instrumental in this process.
This project also included critical water line improvements completed in advance, ensuring that the infrastructure beneath this site is as strong as the improvements above it. Sincere thanks to the Public Works team for their ongoing dedication to maintaining and enhancing our city’s infrastructure. Special thanks to Jerry Flanagan, Greg Morris, Karen Kinser, Tomas Santoyo, Randy Breault, Maz Bozorginia, and their teams for all their hard work below the surface and behind the scenes.
Thank you as well to the lead contractor, Mike Glynn Construction, and the entire project team for their collaboration, craftsmanship, and commitment to delivering a high-quality project.
We are grateful to our two talented artists who joined us for the ceremony, Angelina Duckett and McGrath Arts whose vision and creativity have transformed this space into a vibrant and meaningful public art experience.
Thank you to the Public Art Advisory Committee for their vision, guidance, and thoughtful artist selection, and the City Council for their leadership and endorsing the funding that made the public art component of this project possible.
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Remembering Anja Miller
Nearly 80 gathered on Sunday at Mission Blue Center to look back on the remarkable life lived of Anja Miller, a true pioneer in her day. The word of the day was "Sisu". Sisu is a Finnish concept representing extraordinary determination, resilience, and grit in the face of extreme adversity, often described as "guts" or "stoic, action-oriented courage". It is an inner strength that enables individuals to overcome impossible odds or maintain perseverance when they would otherwise give up. Those who knew Anja saw first-hand her high degree of Sisu. Ultimately, Brisbane is better because of Anja's leadership as the City’s first female mayor in 1974 and continued involvement in her community in the decades to come. Her service was livestreamed and can be played back here.
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Lagoon Plan Community Meeting, 4/30 @ the Library
Please join us for Community Meeting #2 for the Brisbane Lagoon Watershed Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan at the Library on Thursday, 4/30 at 5:30 PM. RSVP here if you haven't already! See the project page, brisbaneca.org/LagoonPlan, for more info.
Last Wednesday, the Open Space & Ecology Committee received an update from Robin Lee of Schaaf & Wheeler, which is the consulting firm leading the Brisbane Lagoon Watershed Sea Level Rise Adaption Plan.
Come and see the three alternatives intended to help protect the Lagoon from rising tides and increased precipitation. You'll also get to vote for your top choice(s) for the Brisbane Lagoon Art Contest. Refreshments will be provided at this meeting, so please do RSVP if you plan to attend! The meeting will also be livestreamed on the City's Facebook page.
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Latest News on the Baylands: Project Nears Final Entitlement Phase
Last Thursday, we published a press release announcing key milestones for the Baylands Specific Plan and the environmental review process. Please read the update and note the week of May 11th for the release of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and 2026 Draft Specific Plan, and the Planning Commission's first Public Hearing on the project, slated to take place on Thursday, June 25th. For the most current information on the project, please refer to brisbaneca.gov/Baylands. Please make sure you check our updated Baylands FAQs tomorrow!
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Digital Help Hub @ the Sunrise Room Starts 5/4
Brisbane Parks and Rec and the Library are partnering to bring the community an Age-Friendly offering: Digital Help Hub! They are pleased to offer additional one-on-one and small-group help for real-life tech tasks. Learn what you need, at your pace. Whether you're puzzled about sending email attachments or navigating your new smartphone, stop by the Sunrise Room in Brisbane to connect with our tech-savvy volunteers for personalized tech assistance. Mondays 2:30-4:30 PM from May 4 - June 14. No registration necessary. Note: the Tuesday evening option, from 5-7 PM!
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5/5 Office Hours with Councilmember Frank Kern at Altamar Clubhouse
Join Councilmember Kern for his first Office Hour meeting on Cinco de Mayo! Bring your questions and concerns; he looks forward to hearing them all.
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5/6 Complete Streets Safety Committee Meeting at BES
Lately, the Complete Streets Safety Committee has been holding their monthly meetings in various locations in town, with a desire to hear from as many residents as possible since they’ve had some weighty topics on their agendas, such as Visitacion Ave. Improvements. Now, they’ve arranged to have their May meeting take place at BES, since a main topic of discussion on that evening’s agenda involves a school travel fellowship grant to address safety and encourage biking/walking to BES.
To assist with parents being able to attend, arrangements have been made with Parks and Recreation to provide childcare at the modular; sign up at: brisbaneca.gov/childcare or by scanning the QR code above. There will also be a light dinner for participants from Melissa’s Taqueria. We hope you can join us on Wednesday, May 6th at BES!
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Take the 'Ride&Shine' 2026 Commuter Challenge & Pedal to Prizes!
Have you pledged yet? Hundreds of San Mateo County commuters have already joined the Ride&Shine 2026 Commuter Challenge! Take the pledge to commute sustainably before May 31 and you could win an Apple Watch, $250 Sports Basement Gift Card, and more!
It’s free, easy, and rewarding. Get started: commute.org/challenge2026.
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Flavors of the Peninsula Ends on 5/3
There are four restaurants in Brisbane participating in Flavors of the Peninsula - 7 Mile House, Brisbane Lunch Truck, Chandlery, and Genesis K+D Marina Marketplace.
Flavors of the Peninsula ends on Sunday, 5/3. So, get out and check into the participating restaurants and support local businesses!
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CARE Power-Building and Engagement Learning Lab - Applications Open Now
Applications are now open for the MTC CARE Power-Building and Engagement (Pb+E) Learning Lab - a 6-month peer learning and professional development opportunity for Bay Area community-based organization staff. Applications are due by 11:59 PM PST on Sunday, May 31, 2026. The Learning Lab is a cohort program that aims to deepen your organization's knowledge of land use, transportation, housing and climate policy, while strengthening power-building and leadership development skills. You'll work on a real project, receive technical assistance, and learn alongside peer organizations doing similar work.
Program Benefits
- $20,000 stipend per organization
- Up to 20 organizations will be selected
- Four in-person sessions + four virtual sessions
- Up to three hours of technical assistance
- Peer learning and project implementation support
Who Can Apply? Community-based organizations that are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or fiscally sponsored; serve the nine-county Bay Area; work with underserved communities; and have experience in power-building/leadership development or land use, housing, transportation, and/or climate issues.
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A Night in Little Reno, Fundraiser for the Chamber and Lions Club, 5/2
Calling all fun-seekers! The Brisbane Chamber of Commerce and Brisbane Lions Club are throwing a bash you won't want to miss: A Night in Little Reno! Did you know in the 1930s, bus drivers nicknamed our city "Little Reno" thanks to our lively gambling scene? Join us on Saturday, May 2nd at 6 PM at the Mission Blue Center (475 Mission Blue Drive) for a night that pays homage to Brisbane's wild past! Guests will enjoy games, music, dancing, heavy appetizers, and craft cocktails. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce & their Scholarship Program and the Brisbane Lions Club Scholarship Program. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older. Purchase tickets at brisbanechamber.org/littlereno
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Spring Into Safety: Is Your Child’s Car Seat Still the Right Fit?
As a reminder, the County's Human Services Agency has launched a Strong Families, Safe Futures campaign to raise awareness to make sure your child’s car seat still fits and is installed correctly.
- Children grow quickly – make sure your car seat matches their current height and weight.
- Proper fit and installation are key to keeping kids safe on the road.
- See Car Seat Safety Simplified! for easy, at-a-glance guidance for each stage, from newborns to seat belt use, plus tips for proper fit in English, Spanish, Chinese and Tagalog.
- The Sheriff’s Office offers free Car Seat Inspections upon request. Appointments can be scheduled online or by calling 650-257-3400, ext. 5.
North County Fire Authority also wants to remind residents to practice seat belt safety and to buckle up. Every. Single. Time.
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Save-the-Date: Ribbon-Cutting for Pool's New Electric Heat Pumps, 6/9
Join us for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating Brisbane's Community Pool being the first municipal pool in the state of California to electrify its existing, primary heating system! This replacement is equivalent to removing 42 gas-powered vehicles off the roadway each year, reducing operational costs by approximately $15,000 per year!
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This concludes my City Manager's Weekly Update; if it was forwarded to you or you saw it on social media and would like to subscribe, sign up here (under CivicAlerts). Find all of our subscription lists at brisbaneca.gov/NotifyMe, latest news at brisbaneca.gov/news, and upcoming meetings, Council Subcommittee meetings, and events at brisbaneca.gov/meetings. Thanks for reading and staying engaged!