What a Day in the Park it was! Thank you to everyone who came out to walk the booths, cheer on the Derby racers, and even those that ran up San Bruno Mountain! There was definitely something for everyone that day, thanks to the careful planning of so many, especially the Parks and Recreation Dept. and Commissioners. We hope you enjoy this recap video from last weekend's biggest community festival of the year!
- Oct. 2nd City Council Meeting Highlights
- So We Live Near an Airport...
- Want to Sprinkle a Little Community Service into Your Life?
- Status Update on the Alvarado to San Benito Stairway Project
- Preparation is Key: Sign up for SMC Alert!
- November 4, 2025 is the Statewide Special Election
- Tree of Heaven Added to Brisbane’s Invasive Species List
- Upcoming P&R October Events: GrandFriends, Dive-In Movie Night, and Parents' Night Out!
- Lifeguard Certification Class, Nov. 6th-9th
- You're Invited to the Next Brisbane Chamber of Commerce Mixer Hosted by Lyrical Opposition!
Oct. 2nd City Council Meeting Highlights
At their October 2, 2025 City Council meeting, the City Council:
- Recognized Public Works Director Randy Breault for over 24 years of service to the City of Brisbane as the City’s Public Works Director and City Engineer. The City Council thanked Randy for his many years of leadership in overseeing critical city infrastructure projects, including the City’s water system and those of Guadalupe Valley Municipal Improvement District, and his work as the City’s Director of Emergency Services.
- Proclaimed October 5th through October 11, 2025, as Fire Prevention Week. Fire Safety Inspector Higgins received the proclamation on behalf of the North County Fire Authority and reminded residents of the need to continue to be vigilant in fire prevention by disposing of lithium-ion batteries responsibly.
- Received a presentation from Nancy Colman and Karen Latham of Brisbane Village Helping Hands, providing the Council with an update on the grassroots volunteer efforts provided to all residents of Brisbane, with a special focus on those ages 55 and older.
So We Live Near an Airport...
During City Council Meetings, under Mayor and Council Matters, the City Councilmembers report out on their Countywide assignments. Councilmember O'Connell serves as Vice Chair on the Airport Community Roundtable, and at the Oct. 2nd meeting explained why residents had recently experienced higher-than-normal aircraft noise.
Brisbane has the bonus and the curse of being close to the ultra-busy San Francisco International Airport (SFO). While it offers us convenient access to flights all over the world, it also subjects us to the noise that comes with that convenience.
Recently, there were many complaints to the City about disruptive flights at all times of the day and night. It was investigated and was determined that due to the weather in Oakland and San Jose, SFO flights had to go into REVERSE FLOW, causing planes to take off and land in unusual patterns.
This will also happen when our weather is stormy, foggy, or the winds are coming from the opposite direction; additional noise can be expected during these events. And it will be the case due to nearby airports' operations, as well.
WHAT TO DO?
SFO has a great website, noise.flysfo.com, that can help you understand the noise, see the flights that are causing the noise events at your home, and report them in real-time to SFO. From the website, go to Contact, then download either the Noise Report App or the WebTrak Noise Tracker.
Download the app or go online and you will have interactive, real-time flight maps, noise events, and lots of data and reports. You will be able to see all the planes in the sky approaching and departing, and the ability to report the loud ones directly to SFO, which will be included in their monthly reports of noise complaints.
And if you'd like to phone in a noise complaint to SFO, you can do so by dialing 650-821-4736.
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Want to Sprinkle a Little Community Service into Your Life?
Attend Volunteer Pathways 101 on Saturday, October 18th at City Hall and get a Certificate of Completion as part of the 2025 Cohort.
Also come for the ice cream social, raffle giveaway, and new connections. Sign up on the Eventbrite!
- Learn more about the City’s Volunteer Initiatives
- Connect with City Volunteers serving on the City’s Commissions & Committees
- Meet + Greet Brisbane’s Mayor and City Manager
- Find out more about upcoming projects and City events
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Status Update on the Alvarado to San Benito Stairway Project
It's still a few months out until you'll see the artwork of Angelina Duckett and McGrath Arts adorning along what will be an improved Central Brisbane alleyway/stairway from Alvarado Street at the lower end to San Benito Road at the upper end. The unimproved steep property located in a residential neighborhood was identified by the City as a priority to install a stairway with a handrail and lighting. Angelina Ducket is responsible for creating a mosaic on the risers of the stairway. McGrath Arts is designing lighting, handrails, and stairway landing panels that are artistic in nature. See a few images of their work taking shape below!
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Preparation is Key: Sign up for SMC Alert!
Preparation is key for an effective, quick evacuation should you ever need to. Sign up now for SMC Alert! San Mateo County's emergency alert system will send text messages and phone calls to keep you informed in the event of a wildfire or other emergency in your area. Several City staff have also been trained to send alerts to our residents should the need arise.
Note: When you register, it’s important to add addresses. When you enter an address such as your home, work, or child's school, the address is geocoded within the mapping system. This mapping system allows emergency alert senders to focus the alert to a specific neighborhood, city or region. If you don't include at least one address, you may miss an important alert or receive alerts from other parts of the county that don’t apply to you.
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November 4, 2025 is the Statewide Special Election
Two San Mateo County Vote Centers are now open for the Nov. 4, 2025, statewide special election:
- 40 Tower Road in San Mateo
- 555 County Center in Redwood City
The Brisbane City Hall Drop Box located at 50 Park Place is now available for you to drop your voted ballot. Additionally, 45 other ballot drop boxes are available throughout San Mateo County. Ballots were mailed out Friday, October 3rd; you should be receiving yours soon if not already. Please check or update your voter registration at registertovote.ca.gov. To find more information, including Vote Center and Drop Box locations, visit smcvote.gov.
Note: Vote Centers will be closed for Indigenous Peoples’ Day / Columbus Day, Monday, October 13, 2025.
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Tree of Heaven Added to Brisbane’s Invasive Species List
The City of Brisbane has added the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) to its Invasive Species List. This decision follows growing concerns from residents and San Mateo County Parks about the plant’s rapid spread from private properties onto public lands.
Known for its fast growth and aggressive root system, Tree of Heaven can damage infrastructure, outcompete native plants, and pose a fire risk. Due to its increasing impact, the City Manager has amended Regulation 15.44.120 under fire code authority to include it.
This update allows the City to take proactive steps in managing and removing the species, especially in high-risk areas. Property owners may be contacted if Tree of Heaven is identified on their property, and we encourage everyone to help prevent its spread.
If you have questions about removal or would like to learn how to identify and manage Tree of Heaven, please reach out to the Sustainability team (mebrown@brisbaneca.org or sustainabilityfellow@brisbaneca.org).
Together, we can protect our local ecosystem - one tree at a time!
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Upcoming P&R October Events: GrandFriends, Dive-In Movie Night, and Parents' Night Out!
They were just getting started with Day in the Park. Here are 3 upcoming Parks and Recreation events to round out the month of October!
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Lifeguard Certification Class, Nov. 6th-9th
Yes, it's 4 consecutive days of classes and 20 hours of required online coursework prior to day 1, but it's what's required to become a lifeguard at the Community Pool! Sign up now on ActiveNet.
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You're Invited to the Next Brisbane Chamber of Commerce Mixer Hosted by Lyrical Opposition!
Each month, the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce coordinates a mixer, hosted by a different local business. The next mixer is scheduled for October 15th, hosted by Lyrical Opposition, at 132 Visitacion.
This event is an excellent opportunity to network with fellow professionals and build connections within the Brisbane business community. To reserve your spot, please email madison@brisbanechamber.org.
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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. Find all of our subscription lists at brisbaneca.org/subscribe, latest news at brisbaneca.org/news, and upcoming meetings, Council Subcommittee meetings, and events at brisbaneca.org/meetings. As always, feel free to let me know your thoughts on the Blast. Thanks for reading and staying engaged!