The 39th annual Festival of Lights on Sunday, December 7th was a beautiful celebration of all Winter holidays - Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, St. Lucia’s Day, and Winter Solstice traditions. Together, we embraced the season of giving by joining together and taking in all the offerings the evening had in store. Read on to see photos from this cherished event, one that arose from an idea shared by Jeri Sulley to City staff nearly 40 years ago, and all the hands that made it happen!
- 2025 Annual Festival of Lights Recap
- Dec. 4th City Council Meeting Highlights
- Council Reorg Meeting, Dec. 11th
- Habitat Restoration Day on Icehouse Hill, Dec. 13th
- Business Licenses Expire Dec. 31st, Renew Yours Today!
- Office Hours with Mayor Lentz, Dec. 17th
- Reminder to Provide Your Feedback on the Halloween Street Closures
- State's New Online Portal to Report Misconduct by Federal Agents
- Volunteers Needed for One Day 2026 Homeless Count in San Mateo County
2025 Annual Festival of Lights Recap
A heartfelt thank you to our Festival of Lights Subcommittee, Parks & Recreation staff, IDEA Committee member Masha Kohn and other City departments for collaborating on this year’s meaningful event. Gratitude also to Julie’s Deli for contributing to the cocoa and cider, Sheng Kee Bakery for the holiday cookies, Silverspot Nursery School for hosting wine and beer, Bright Rentals for the stage, and MoBowl Food Truck for serving up delicious, warm plates for event-goers.
We were thrilled to kick off the celebration in song with a performance by Brisbane’s own Leanne Borghesi, and to welcome remarks from our Mayor, Cliff Lentz, who also recognized this year’s Volunteer of the Year, Hermann Reiss. Our Youth Advisory Committee also brought great energy to the night - leading the wish tree, cocoa & cider support, and who could forget those adorable inflatable dancing trees! Shout out to this year's co-emcees Leanne and Jovi Bondoc, and the Parks & Rec Team for all their efforts overseeing the event, including getting up the Festival Tree! Brisbane Dance Workshop was GOLDEN with their flash mob number, the Lipman Middle School Orchestra put on a phenomenal performance, and Lion Sharon Boggs came provided sound coordination.
And if you'd like to get your Ugly Holiday Sweater by Christmas, snag one before they're gone! Purchase them on Betsy here. LaVerne was so excited to get hers last week!
We hope your Brisbane Holiday Stars are lit and if you don't have one yet, please reach out to the Brisbane Chamber of Commerce.
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Dec. 4th City Council Meeting Highlights
At their December 4, 2025 City Council meeting, the City Council:
- Received a presentation from staff and Verkada Cameras, and provided direction regarding the potential installation of a camera near the Community Park. Council directed staff to implement a 90-day free trial and to update the City Council on the results. Staff is also directed to engage the community during this trial phase to receive their feedback.
- Discussed the potential use of non-conformity code for properties adjacent to the Community Park. Council directed staff to send this item back to the Parkside II Ad Hoc Subcommittee for more analysis.
- Councilmember Davis requested the Council agendize the review of the Illegal Dumping ordinance and potential changes to its fee structure.
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City Council Reorg Meeting, Dec. 11th
At this meeting of December 11 , we will also be recognizing Community Development Director John Swiecki, who is retiring at the end of this year after nearly 21 years of service.
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Habitat Restoration Day on Icehouse Hill, Dec. 13th
Help restore Icehouse Hill! Join San Bruno Mountain Watch and the City of Brisbane Open Space and Ecology Committee for a hands-on habitat restoration event. We’ll be removing invasive broom from the grasslands while enjoying stunning views of San Bruno Mountain, Brisbane, and the San Francisco Bay from the top of the hill. Note: park & meet at 3280 Bayshore Blvd (intersection of Bayshore Blvd & Guadalupe Canyon Pkwy). We'll then cross Bayshore Boulevard via the crosswalk and traffic light to begin our hike up Icehouse Hill (a steep but paved trail). Special thanks to Brisbane Baylands for welcoming us onto Icehouse Hill!
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Business Licenses Expire on Dec. 31st, Renew Yours Today!
Business Licenses are scheduled to expire at the end of the year. Any person engaging in business in the City must first apply and receive a business license from the City of Brisbane and pay the business license fee; any business having its location or mailing address in the City of Brisbane or any out-of-town business operating in the City is required to maintain an active business license with the City of Brisbane. It’s easier than ever to renew and pay online through our business license administrator and partner, HdL. Your renewal notices with account numbers and PINs will be emailed this month. Be on the lookout!
Once you have your renewal information, or if you need to apply for a new business license, please visit HdL’s business license portal: Brisbane.hdlgov.com. While you’re there, you can also verify or update any information about your business. If you need further assistance, please call HdL directly at (415) 240-4471.
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Office Hours with Mayor Lentz, Dec. 17th
Mayor Lentz has held an office or joint office hour session every month during his mayorship, and plans to have his final one of 2025 at the Brisbane Library on Wednesday, Dec. 17th from 6-7 PM. Join him at the front tables and bring your questions!
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Reminder to Provide Your Feedback on the Halloween Street Closures
We're asking everyone who experienced the first-ever planned road closures on Halloween to take the Spooktacular Streets Survey so we can see what worked well and what can be tweaked for next time! Hard copies of the survey can also be found at the Library, Sunrise Room, and City Hall. Please return all completed hardcopy surveys to Caroline at 25A Park Place or in the drop box found in the main lobby of City Hall. Note: next week, staff will be putting out doorhangers to all residences in and near the closure area to let them know about the survey, as we're endeavoring to hear everyone's valuable feedback and appreciate you taking the time to provide that to us.
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State's New Online Portal to Report Misconduct by Federal Agents
Attorney General Bonta and Governor Newsom last week announced a new online portal to assist members of the public in sharing information with the California Department of Justice regarding potentially unlawful activity by federal agents and officers across the state. Federal agents have broad authority to enforce federal laws, including federal immigration laws, but they must do so lawfully.
The portal, which allows Californians to submit video and photos, will help the California Department of Justice capture and create a record of potential unlawful conduct by federal agents, such as the use of excessive force, and inform potential actions the Department may take to protect the rights and safety of Californians.
Should you ever see a federal agent acting unlawfully, report it to the Attorney General's office at oag.ca.gov/ReportMisconduct.
Note: if ever you believe you are witnessing a crime in progress, you should call 911 or the Brisbane Police Department at 415-467-1212 and report it; the portal does not constitute formal reporting of a crime to a law enforcement agency and will not result in an immediate law enforcement response.
The City's IDEA Committee is also putting together a resource for community members to be able to respond proactively if they see anything happening. Look for it in the February STAR!
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Upcoming Soft Closure during the Holiday Season
With the level of business activity within City Hall fairly low during the holiday season, we'll be testing a soft closure during the last two weeks of December, where City Hall will be open by appointment only. Should you need to meet with a staff member during that time, please call the main City Hall line, 415-508-2100, to schedule an appointment.
While City Hall is operating under a soft closure with appointments only, public safety services remain available to the community. You may also view all of our available online services at brisbaneca.org/online-services.
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Volunteers Needed for 2026 One Day Homeless Count in San Mateo County
The County of San Mateo’s Human Services Agency, in partnership with local community organizations, is seeking volunteers for the 2026 One Day Homeless Count taking place Thursday, January 29, 2026. The One Day Count, required by federal law, provides vital data to help San Mateo County and its partners understand homelessness in the community and guide decisions about funding, programs, and long-term solutions that support people experiencing homelessness. Volunteers will be assigned to a designated area (census tract) and will walk or drive through their section to record observations using their personal smartphone. Free virtual training will be provided and is required to participate. Community members of all backgrounds are encouraged to join, especially those familiar with local neighborhoods or passionate about supporting efforts to end homelessness. Accommodations are available for volunteers with limited mobility, transportation, or technology access.
Sign up by using the 2026 One Day Count General Volunteer Registration Form. Questions? Please contact HSA_OneDayCount@smcgov.org.
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