The Blast City Manager Dennis' Weekly Update | September 11, 2024

San Mateo County’s Department of Emergency Management is encouraging families to prepare for disasters and emergencies during National Preparedness Month.

• San Mateo County residents can start by registering for SMC Alert, a warning system that contacts you when an emergency strikes, and knowing your zone, which helps with identifying evacuation zones and local dangers in your community.
• Other disaster preparedness steps include outlining a safety plan, making a go-bag and creating disaster supplies kits for service animals and pets.

New Committee Members Sworn In

Congratulations to our newest Committee members and Trustee who were sworn in to their new roles by City Clerk Padilla at tonight’s City Council meeting:

• Lailah Khalil, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability Committee term through 2026
• Paul Bouscal, Complete Streets Safety Committee term through 2028
• Anthony Walker, Open Space & Ecology Committee term through 2026
• Carol Zoltowski, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability Committee term through 2026
• Emily Wirowek, Complete Streets Safety Committee term through 2028
• Michael Goldman, San Mateo County Mosquito & Vector Control District Board of Trustee term through 2028
• Quita Highsmith, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability Committee term through 2026 was also appointed but could not be with us tonight

We look forward to all of their coming contributions and thank them for their desire to serve their community!

Get to Know Your Newest Commission/Committee Members

Brisbane is fortunate to have always been a town where volunteerism looms large. One of the vastly important and at times overlooked ways this volunteerism shines is through the quiet and dedicated work of our Commission and Committee members. Many have served numerous terms in their respective advisory bodies, and some are just now getting their feet wet serving their community in this way. Diane Glazman is the current Chair of the Public Art Advisory Committee, of which she was appointed in April 2023. Here's a little more about Diane:

Diane Glazman is an author, developmental editor, and arts educator. She has a BA in creative writing from Binghamton University, and an MFA in fiction from San Francisco State University. Writing under the name Marie Sinclair, she has published twelve books as of September of 2024. Two of her books have been nominated for Goodreads Reader Choice Awards, and a third was a finalist for the 2023 Lambda Literary Award in Gay Romance as well as a 2024 IPPY Gold Medalist for best romance ebook.

In addition to writing, Diane is also an accomplished developmental editor working with New York Times bestselling authors and national and international award winners and nominees. One of her clients is a two-time National Book Award finalist.

Prior to earning her MFA, she taught creative writing in the Brisbane School District for nearly a decade, working with both elementary and middle school students. While earning her MFA, she was an artist-in-residence with Recology, spending four months creating visual and text-based artwork from items brought to the public disposal area at the SF dump.

Some additional highlights from Diane's career include receiving writing residencies from Storyknife in Homer, Alaska, and Writing by Writers in Bend, Oregon; being mentored by accomplished novelists Meg Wolitzer and Susie Merrill; twice being named a finalist for the Nevada Arts Council's literary arts fellowship; and her time as a staff member for the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego.

Updates from the Sept. 5 City Council Meeting

At the September 5th Council meeting, the items regarding the Residential Zoning Updates were discussed at length and will be coming back on a future Council agenda. One of the areas discussed had to do with a previous resolution that was passed by the Council in 2019.

The City Council passed Resolution 2019-22, authorizing the execution and recording of a Declaration of Restrictions concerning properties the City of Brisbane owns in the Upper Area of the Brisbane Acres at their June 6, 2019 meeting. This restricts the use of City-owned properties within the Upper Area of the Brisbane Acres to habitat preservation and open space purposes.

The above was added to the FAQs on the City's website. Once has staff has compiled responses to the various questions posed by the Council as well as the public that evening, the items will be re-agendized.

Also at the meeting, Council authorized staff to publish the Public Art RFP to solicit prospective artists for the Alvarado to San Benito Stairway, as recommended by the Public Art Advisory Committee.

The City of Brisbane is now seeking proposals from experienced artists for a public art installation that will enhance and transform a new public outdoor stairway into a vibrant community landmark. This project offers several opportunities to integrate major artworks into the landscape and create stand-alone landmarks that can be experienced from multiple perspectives on the site. The City’s Public Art Advisory Committee invites proposals from artists working in a variety of media and artistic approaches, who will be responsible for the design and installation of the artwork. Examples of opportunities for artwork integration on the site include (but are not limited to) the following: artwork on the stair risers, handrails, lighting, sculptures, etc. The budget range for this project is $30,000-$80,000, which will be allocated to the artist selected.

Disclaimer: the Public Art Advisory Committee may choose to recommend dividing the budget between multiple successful applicants. The deadline to submit a proposal is Friday, October 4, 2024. This artwork will become a permanent addition to the Brisbane public art collection so don’t miss the opportunity to write part of the Brisbane story! Visit brisbaneca.org/stairwayRFP for more information.

Remembering Virginia Kemp

On August 27th, Virginia Kemp, 63+ year proud, Brisbane resident passed away. Virginia was a remarkable artist, known for designing Brisbane’s original logo and for her role as Head Designer at Dakin Toys. After Brisbane incorporated in 1961, her husband, Charles Kemp, a Planning Commissioner, asked Virginia to create a logo for our city.

As highlighted in the book “Brisbane” by Dolores Gomez and Christy Thilmany, “The selected logo fully relates to Brisbane as well as San Francisco Bay, San Bruno Mountain, and of course, the Brisbane Stars that reflect the Brisbane spirit.”

Her vision remains a symbol of our community pride, gracing our buildings, flags, park signs, and work trucks. Thank you, Virginia, for your incredible talents and for sharing them with us. Your legacy will continue to shine brightly in our hearts and throughout our city.

San Bruno Mountain Watch: Plant Sale at Mission Blue Nursery, Sept. 14

Mission Blue Nursery will be selling beautiful native plants from San Bruno Mountain during its fall plant sale and open house! The majority of the inventory has been listed at sale and super sale prices to encourage affordability and welcome new native plant gardeners. Shrubs, succulents, wildflowers, trees, bunchgrasses, groundcovers, later bloomers, pollinator plants, drought-tolerant, habitat-friendly, and more, all local and native to the mountain!

Mission Blue Nursery will be open and selling native plants from 10 AM to 3 PM on Saturday, September 14 at 3435 Bayshore Blvd. For more information, visit mountainwatch.org.

Parents' Night Out, Sept. 14th

Urban Coyote Workshop - Recap

On September 3rd, the City hosted an Urban Coyote Workshop at City Hall. Invited speakers and experts in the field included Sarah Killingsworth of Project Coyote and Ashley Kinney, Wildlife Rehabilitation Manager of the Peninsula Humane Society. A total of 20 residents attended in-person with another 11 on Zoom. Participants were extremely engaged with Sarah and Ashley’s presentations, which have been housed along with additional resources on the City’s website at brisbaneca.org/coyotes. Missed the event or want to watch the workshop again? Find it below or on the City's YouTube page.

Brisbane City Council Candidates Forum, Sept. 18th

Have a question you'd like to ask the candidates? The League strongly encourages questions to be submitted in advance; that will help them run the forum smoothly. Send your question(s) to questions@lwvncsmc.org with "Brisbane City Council Forum" in the Subject line. You'll also have the opportunity to submit a question the night of the event.

National Voter Registration Day, Sept. 17

San Mateo County Supervisors today proclaimed Sept. 17 as National Voter Registration Day to encourage all eligible voters to register to vote or confirm their voter registration status.

National Voter Registration Day, now celebrating its 11th anniversary, presents an opportunity to create broad awareness in San Mateo County of voter registration opportunities, encourages individuals to register to vote who might not otherwise do so, and is a day to celebrate democracy and the rights and opportunities we all share as Americans. It takes only minutes to register to vote or to check your registration status.

November 5th Election

There will be a General Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 for the election of three (3) Council members for a term of four years each. Please see the 2024 Municipal Election page on the City's website for the latest election resources and information and check back regularly as information will continue to be added as it becomes available.

Note: The San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division is seeking more than 500 seasonal election workers for the upcoming Presidential General Election on Nov. 5, 2024. Positions include ballot retrieval specialist, vote center representative, and election warehouse technician. Those interested can apply via the following job link and, if passed through the initial screening, will receive a Zoom link for an upcoming hiring event. Learn more here.

New Schedules; Caltrain Electrification Celebration @ the Bayshore Station Sept. 22nd

Electrification will transform Caltrain into a faster, more efficient, and sustainable service. Electrification improvements will better address Peninsula commuters’ vision of increased service and improved travel times in an environmentally-friendly and reliable way. These service improvements are also expected to help accommodate increased system ridership through improved system operations. Learn more about Caltrain's Electricfication Project the changes that will be coming to Brisbane's Bayshore Station. We thank Brisbane resident Chris Florkowski for sending us this video she took of Caltrain's soft launch of their electric trains earlier this month.

Caltrain is expecting all diesel trains to be replaced with electric trains by the weekend of September 21 - 22 and is planning large celebration events from 2-6 PM in Palo Alto on Saturday the 21st and in San Mateo on Sunday the 22nd where transit will be free all weekend. Brisbane's event will take place from 1 - 1:30 PM at the Bayshore Caltrain Station on Sunday, September 22nd, with the train leaving for San Mateo at 1:34 PM. Visit caltrain.com/launchparty for more information. Check out the new schedules for Caltrain (weekday | weekend), effective 9/21, and the Brisbane-Bayshore Caltrain commuter shuttle, new schedule eff. 9/23.

Beyond Freeway Expansion: Exploring Sustainable Alternatives, Sept. 16

Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC) is hosting its next two big events for the public to learn about sustainability in the County. First, they will be unveiling their Sustainability Dashboard, a powerful new tool to track how cities across San Mateo are becoming more sustainable and to see which cities are leading the way. Second, they will hold an online webinar to review the benefits and impacts of different freeway projects and to discuss sustainable and equitable transportation solutions for our region.

Beyond Freeway Expansion: Exploring Sustainable Alternatives, Sept. 16, 6 – 7:15 PM | on Zoom - This event will shed light on the benefits and impact of different freeway projects and why freeway expansion often fails to reduce traffic, discourages public transit use and exacerbates air pollution, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged communities. Engage with local community leaders and advocates to discuss sustainable and equitable transportation solutions for our region. Register here.

Fly the Sustainable Skies of SFO - Zoom Webinar Oct. 10th

Learn what airports are doing about climate change on Zoom on Thursday, October 10 at 7 PM. Presented by the Citizens Environmental Council (CEC) and cosponsored by 350 Silicon Valley, Acterra, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Peninsula Clean Energy, and Sustainable San Mateo County. Erin Cooke, SFO’s Sustainability and Resilience Director, and Courtney Carroux, the airport’s Net Zero Lead, will describe steps SFO is taking to reach its net zero carbon goal by 2030, how it’s helping stakeholders reach their goals and how passengers can travel more sustainably. Admission is free, but you must pre-register.

Power Your Home with the Sun! Bay Area SunShares Now Open

Bay Area SunShares provides a discount on turnkey solar installations and home battery storage. Any resident in the Bay Area’s 9 counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, SanFrancisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma) can sign up for the SunShares discount at bayareasunshares.org now until November 15th, 2024. SunShares is administered by the Business Council on Climate Change.

Star City San Bruno Mtn. Half Marathon & 5k, Oct. 5th

The 6th Annual Star City San Bruno Mt Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 5th, the same day as Brisbane's Community Day in the Park. Back by popular demand, there will also be a 5k Fun Run. Proceeds go to support the El Camino Cross Country Team, the Brisbane Lions Club, and San Bruno Mountain Watch!

The 5k is a great opportunity for individuals and families to stay active or for race fans to experience an exhilarating run. Visit brisbaneca.org/starcityrace to get all the details and register!

School Board Candidates Forum, Oct. 7th

The School Board Candidates Forum is happening on October 7th at 6 PM at Panorama School (25 Bellevue Ave., Daly City). There is ample parking in the playground and the District will also be streaming it live from a link that will be posted prominently on their website, brisbanesd.org.

Brisbane School District Seeks Interest in Transitional Kindergarten (TK)

The Brisbane School District is reaching out to gauge interest in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) for young children in Brisbane School District. All 4-year-olds qualify for TK in every public school district in California. If you have a child who may be eligible for TK, please take a moment to fill out the TK Interest Form. Your input is invaluable as the Brisbane School District plans for the upcoming school year. Thank you for helping shape the future of our community’s young learners!

Fall Activity Guide Registration Now Open!

Resident Registration opened Tuesday, August 20th (including Fall Swim Lessons). Non-Resident Registration opened this past Tuesday, September 2nd. Don't miss all the new offerings such as a Sound Baths event at the Sunrise Room on 10/7.

Art Reception with Kevin Fryer at City Hall, Sept. 18th

Register for Coastal Cleanup Day, Sept. 21st

Join the City of Brisbane's Open Space and Ecology Committee and Parks and Recreation for our annual Coastal Cleanup Day event sponsored by the South San Francisco Scavenger Company! This year's event will coincide with the statewide event on Saturday, September 21, from 9 AM to 12 PM; meet at the northeast corner of the parking lots at the Brisbane Marina.

Supplies will be available, but in the spirit of reducing waste, please consider bringing your own reusable gloves, buckets and water bottles. Tees and a free lunch will be provided to all volunteers!

Regatta Day, Sept. 21st

Last year’s Coastal Cleanup Day was on the same day as the Sierra Point Yacht Club’s Regatta Day – and having the two together ended up being a hit! So they’re both happening again. Please save the date, Saturday, September 21st, from noon to 5 PM. Coastal Cleanup Volunteers will get a free lunch ticket redeemable at Regatta Day!

The Next Music Class & Play Gym is Sept. 28th

Come join the fun and create lasting memories with your little ones and neighbors at MoB Music Classes and Play Gym! This season includes a total of five exciting sessions: four music classes and one play gym session.

Music Classes with Viky Mojica: Experience the joy of music and movement with our engaging music classes led by the talented Viky Mojica. She has an extensive background as a music teacher and storyteller, and has recently completed her preschool teaching certificate at CCSF. Classes are for children ages 0 to 5 and are from 10 AM to 10:45 AM on the following dates: Sept 28th, Nov 2nd, Dec. 14th.

Play Gym Session: Mark your calendars for October 12th from 9:30 to 11 AM for our play gym session. Enjoy open playtime where you and your little ones can explore, play with toys, and make new friends.

Loneliness to Light Gathering, Oct. 1st

Save the Date for the Loneliness to Light Gathering at the San Mateo Regional Operations Center (ROC) in Redwood City (501 Winslow St). Join to hear from experts and community organizations offering examples on how to reduce isolation and loneliness in San Mateo County. Register here!

Register for Adult Oil Painting Class with Michael Rodman - Classes Start Oct. 3rd

Join Michael Rodman at Mission Blue Center every Thursday at 6 PM starting October 3rd. This six-week class is designed for beginner & intermediate painters who want to improve their skills and move to the next level. Register at brisbaneca.org/paint.

Brisbane Farmers' Market: Thursdays in the Park, 3-7 PM

CalFresh benefits will be redeemable at every Farmers' Market. We thank Steve Schmidt, the market manager, and his daughter Ashley, who you may see physically each week at the market, for making this happen.

• 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

Every week until November, Mothers of Brisbane founding members, Jessica Aloft and DeeDee Porter, will be tabling, offering non-partisan election information such as directing residents to resources so they can ensure they are registered to vote and their ballots ready in time for the November 5th U.S. Presidential Election.

Updated Flu & COVID-19 Vaccines 2024 Now Available

Updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available, along with RSV vaccines. Walk-ins are being accepted, but pharmacies are recommending you to make an appointment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), patients ages six months and older should receive the updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines, ideally in September or October, to restore and enhance protection against the most prevalent virus variants currently circulating. Getting a flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time is recommended if patients are eligible and the timing for each vaccine is right. Schedule your vaccination appointment with CVS, Safeway, Walgreens, and many other pharmacies.

COVID-19 vaccines continue to be the best defense against severe illness and death. The U.S. FDA approved the latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine on August 22, 2024. Visit vaccines.gov for more information about how you can protect against respiratory illnesses such as the flu, RSV, and COVID-19.

Bird Flu Update

Today, the City of Brisbane received information from San Mateo County Health regarding H5N1, also known as “bird flu.” The disease is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows, with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers. H5N1 is not considered a food safety concern. Commercial milk supply remains safe due to State and Federal regulations and industry practice. On August 30, 2024, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced that cows at three California dairies located in the Central Valley tested positive for H5N1. To date, there have not been any confirmed human infections of H5N1 in California, and the current risk to the public remains low.

• Avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry and other domesticated birds. Handling sick or dead animals safely requires personal protective equipment (PPE) and training.
• Do not drink unpasteurized (raw) milk or eat raw milk products like raw cheese. Pasteurized milk and cheese are safe to drink or eat.
• Properly cooking poultry, eggs, and beef kills bacteria and viruses, including H5N1.
• People who have job-related or recreational exposure to infected animals, such as wild birds, poultry and dairy cows or products from infected animals, are at greater risk of being exposed to H5N1.

Call your doctor if you feel sick after contact with poultry or livestock or after consuming unpasteurized dairy products. Symptoms of H5N1 bird flu can include cough, sore throat, fever and red or watery eyes. For more information, visit the CDC's site.

Upcoming Meetings

Archived City Meetings

City Council Meeting - Thursday, September 5, 7:30 PM

Did You Know?

The San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District has no-cost tick-bite prevention kits available now for County residents. If you spend time outdoors in natural areas, we encourage you to have a kit delivered to your house. The prevention kits include a variety of resources to help protect you from tick bites and the diseases they can transmit. Request your kit here.

This concludes my City Manager's Weekly Update; the next Blast will go out on Wednesday, September 19th. 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.