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Holiday Luncheon and Employee Recognitions
It was fun earlier today to gather to celebrate the holidays and some special work anniversaries. We had 5, 10, 15 years and then jumped straight to a special 30 year one! Special thanks to our HR Dept. for coordinating this annual event for the employees, City Council, Commission, and Committee Members!
Swearing In Ceremony Thursday, December 14
After we swear in a new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, we will be recognizing Madison Davis for all of her leadership and service as Brisbane's Mayor this past year. We hope you will join us for this special evening.
If you're unable to join us in-person, you can join via Zoom Webinar at brisbaneca.org/cc-zoom. Meeting ID: 991 9362 8666 | Call-in Number: 1-669-900-9128. You can also view the livestream on Comcast Ch. 27 or via the City's YouTube channel, youtube.com/brisbaneca. For more information, please contact City Clerk Ingrid Padilla at ipadilla@brisbaneca.org or 415-508-2113.
Presidential Primary Election - March 5, 2024
We wanted to remind you of some things to do ahead of the Presidential Primary Election on Tuesday, March 5th.
- Please check your registration status and choose your language preference for your election materials at RegisterToVote.ca.gov.
- Call/text 650-312-5222 to have a voter registration application mailed to you.
- If you did not select a political party or selected No Party Preference (NPP) upon registering, you will receive a nonpartisan ballot for the election. It will not include candidates for U.S. President.
Learn more about your ballot options at smcvote.gov or contact the Registration & Elections Division at their multi-lingual toll-free number 1-888-762-8683 for more information.
Sunrise Room and Pool Window Decorations
Here’s a look at some of the beautiful new holiday creations from Miguel De La Rosa - above are the designs found at the Community Pool & Sunrise Room. And a reminder that this Thursday, December 14th from 5 - 7 p.m. is the Polar Bear Plunge Event at the Community Pool! All are welcome to join us for the event festivities, including: holiday-themed activities, hot cocoa, water volleyball, and swimming in the pool! Entrance fee required. And don't worry, the pool will be heated to its regular temperature; there will just be toy polar bears & decor in the mix! The event will require some additional set up by our staff, including an inflatable volleyball court for the water (come check it out!). A friendly reminder that the Pool will not be open for evening Adult Lap Swim that night (4 - 7 p.m.). Come be a part of the fun & see this wonderful holiday art in person!
Festival of Lights - Video Recap
As promised from last week's Blast, find below a video recap of the Festival of Lights edited by MCTV (who said they really enjoyed being a part of this year's event on Dec. 3)!
10% Discount Last-Minute Holiday Shopping on BETSY now until Friday
Get your last-minute holiday shopping done on BETSY with 10% off. Brisbane's Etsy shop, otherwise known as Betsy, is where you can find apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, and including youth and kids/toddlers sizes), stickers/pins, cups/mugs, tote bags, ornaments, and more, and in all different colors! The sale is running now until Friday, 12/15, at 11:59 p.m. Get your orders in today so they can arrive before the holidays!
North County Fire Authority Wants You to Celebrate the Holidays Safely
North County Fire Authority wants you to celebrate safely this holiday season. Always stay in the kitchen when cooking. Keep candles in a sturdy holder away from children, pets, and anything that can burn. Butt out cigarettes in large, deep ashtrays. And drink responsibly; alcohol is a factor in approximately one in five fatal fires during the holidays. Need more tips? Please visit: northcountyfire.org.
Wet Weather Returns This Weekend through Next Week
The National Weather Service has forecast more rain in the Bay Area this weekend. For the latest forecast updates, please visit weather.gov/bayarea. Sandbags are available in the parking lot at City Hall for Brisbane residents, 10 bag limit.
Cal OES is forecasting for there to be a 35% chance of a "historically strong" El Niño this winter that rivals 2015-16 and 1997-98. Note: a strong El Niño does not necessarily equate to strong El Niño impacts locally, but it does increase the odds. Cal OES is advising residents to check their insurance policies now for coverage types. The Department of Insurance is available to help answer any questions; visit insurance.ca.gov or call 1-800-927-4357.
Auto Insurance
- Damaged vehicles as a result of flood or fallen trees are generally covered under the “Comprehensive” or “Other than Collision” portion of the auto policy.
- Check your auto insurance declaration page to see if this optional coverage is available to you.
Homeowners Insurance
- Policies generally exclude damages caused by mudflow, mudslide, debris flow, landslide, or other similar events.
- In certain cases there may be possible coverage depending on the facts and cause of the loss. It is important to read your particular policy to understand what is covered.
Adopt-a-Storm-Drain Program
The Adopt-a-Storm-Drain program is going strong, where residents who have "adopted" the storm drain(s) nearest their property are receiving a free landscape rake as a thank you for keeping their newly-adopted storm drains clear of fallen leaves and debris.
We're Hiring in the City of Stars
Take the Age-Friendly Community Survey In-Person at an Upcoming City or Library Event
Be a part of the change...in this case, making sure your city is poised to meet your needs as you grow older! You likely have heard that the City of Brisbane was designated as an Age-Friendly City in June of this year, with the next step being a community-wide AARP survey for residents 45 and older. City and Library staff met to discuss the survey being completed in conjunction with planned Library events.
The survey takes about 15-20 minutes to complete and you can start it at brisbaneca.org/aarp. Hard copies of the survey are available at City Hall, the Sunrise Room, and the Library (where completed ones can also be dropped off). The survey will be open through the end of 2023. For more information on how to get involved, contact Nicole Houghton at 415-508-2144 or nhoughton@brisbaneca.org.
Order Your Holiday Stars Through the Chamber
We've been hearing from more residents interested in getting a wood-frame star. The Brisbane Chamber oversees this much-cherished program in town. Did you know that Golden State Lumber donates the lumber, Brisbane Hardware donates the hardware, Lyon Medical Construction donates their time to pick up the lumber, and Starmaker Bob Wilson donates his time to craft the stars? If you'd like to be a part of this wonderful holiday tradition and hang a Brisbane star from your home or business, please consider making a donation to the Chamber, where the funds will go directly towards supporting their Scholarship Program! See the graphic for the suggested donation, based on star size. Email Madison Davis to place your order!
Check Out Parks & Rec's Winter Activity Guide!
The Winter Activity Guide is now available! Check out all the offerings from Brisbane's Parks & Recreation Department. Resident registration is now open, with Non-resident registration opening Tuesday, December 19.
The MoB's Holiday Sweet Treat Swap is Dec. 16
Start Putting Aside your Gently Used Clothes for MoB Shop, Jan. 26 - 27
Annual Holiday Food & Gift Distribution - How to Register or Donate!
Could you or someone you know use a little extra support this holiday season? There's still time to register for this year's Holiday Food and Gift Distribution, with the deadline being the day of the event, Tuesday, December 19.
Brisbane residents can register in-person at the YMCA Community Resource Center located at 1486 Huntington Ave #100, South San Francisco Monday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.; Tuesday/Thursday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Registration can also be completed online Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. by emailing crc@ymcasf.org or calling (650) 276-4104 ext. 4. Make sure you bring your ID's, proof of your address, and a birth certificate/or school registration or ID card of minors in the household. The day-of the event will be Tuesday, December 19 from 3 - 5 p.m. at Brisbane City Hall.
If you'd like to DONATE non-perishable food or new, unwrapped toys, you can do so now until December 15 by dropping them in the cart found in the lobby of City Hall (50 Park Place) or in the bin located in the Police Department's lobby (147 Valley Drive).
Calling all Brisbane Artists!
If you are interested in showcasing your talent at this year's Artists' Evening of Sharing event, taking place on February 3rd at Mission Blue Center, make sure you contact Beth by December 29 at beth@bethgrossman.com & visit brisbaneca.org/AES2024 for more information.
Brisbane Community Blood Drive December 20
Vitalant is having a Brisbane Community blood drive at their office in Brisbane (located at 400 Valley Dr.) on Wednesday, December 20 from 1 - 4:45 p.m. Make an appointment here.
Holiday Service Information from South San Francisco Scavenge
Share Feedback on the Future of Bike and Scooter share in San Mateo County
Wish you could rent a scooter or bike to get around more easily? C/CAG is launching a new bike/scooter share pilot program in San Mateo County and wants to hear from you. Take their survey to share your thoughts on locations of future stations & program cost. The survey will close on February 5, 2024.
County Seeks Volunteers for One Day Homeless Count Jan. 25
The Human Services Agency from San Mateo County is recruiting volunteers for the 2024 One Day Homeless Count on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. The commitment involves participating in a training session and the count. On the day of the count, volunteers are assigned a region of the county to conduct an observational count of the unsheltered population. Learn more and register.
Give Kids a Fighting Chance, One Round at a Time - Donate Today to Fire in the Ring
The Fire in the Ring Boxing Club is a non-profit youth organization dedicated to providing a positive outlet for the youth of Brisbane and San Francisco. Kids 6-17 box for free! Check it out at 180 Industrial Way in Brisbane. Please consider making a contribution this holiday season. Fill out the donation form on the City’s website.
Brisbane Farmers' Market: Thursdays in the Park, UPDATED HOURS 2-6 P.M.
- Mountain Fresh
- Villanueva Fruits
- Old-Fashioned Kettle Corn
- California Bakeshop
- California's Crêpe
- Hummus Heaven
- James Healey Confections
- Medina Berry Farms
- Amelia's Mexipino Cuisine
- Pasta Rey Artisanal Foods
- Roadside Rotisserie
- The Daisy Refillery
- Cousins Maine Lobster (returning tomorrow, 12/14)
Community Health Updates
The amount of respiratory illness (fever plus cough or sore throat) causing people to seek healthcare is elevated or increasing across most areas of the country. Along with elevated RSV activity, there is also a new COVID-19 variant, JN.1, which the CDC projects comprises an estimated 15–29% of infections in the United States as of December 8, 2023. Your best defense is to get the new bivalent vaccine which protects against JN.1, wear a mask, and continue to observe social distancing if deemed appropriate.
Order another round of FREE at-home COVID-19 tests this fall on covid.gov/tests via USPS. If you did not order tests this fall, you may place two orders for a total of 8 tests. Need help placing an online order? Call 1-800-232-0233.
County Health is recommending that everyone who is eligible get the seasonal flu vaccine and the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines are available from health care providers and local pharmacies. Use MyTurn to find a location near you. Residents without health coverage who need flu or COVID-19 vaccines should contact County Health at SMCHealth_IZ@smcgov.org or call 650-573-2877 for more information.
Masks are optional at all City facilities. City Hall's Public Walk-In Hours are M, Tu, Th: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., W: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., and F: 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. View our online services to get city business taken care of from the comfort of home.
San Mateo County and statewide data regarding cases, deaths, positivity, and hospitalizations:
Upcoming Public Meetings
Archived Meeting Videos
Complete Streets Safety Committee Meeting - Wednesday, December 6, 6:30 p.m.
Did You Know?
Earlier this week, we received a note from Glenn Fieldman, one of our Open Space and Ecology Committee Members. She wanted to make sure residents were aware that utilities and Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs such as Peninsula Clean Energy are finding that when it comes to ridding your home of fossil fuels and going electric, "required service upgrades are often the exception, rather than the rule". Please read this article for more information. If you'd like to dig more deeply, Peninsula Clean Energy has Design Guidelines for Home Electrification which is also linked in the article.
Quote of the week
This concludes our update; we'll be sending out the next Blast on Wednesday, December 20, in the afternoon. 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 and social media pages. Thanks for reading and staying engaged with us!