On the Ballot: Measure K
Belmont City Council placed Measure K, a locally-controlled "hotel tax," on the ballot for voter consideration on Nov. 8, 2022. Measure K proposes a two percentage point adjustment to the transient occupancy tax, or "hotel tax" rate which guests pay when staying at hotels or lodging facilities in Belmont for less than 30 days.
Visit www.belmont.gov/MeasureK for more details.
Belmont Library Celebrates Diwali
Events on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022
Visit the Belmont Library in Sunday to join in the celebration of Diwali with two special events. Everyone is welcome.
2 p.m.
The Alaya Project
The Alaya Project is the essential bridge between the intricate Carnatic style of Indian classical music and contemporary jazz and funk. Enjoy Indian percussionist and drummer, Rohan Krishnamurthy, the soulful Ragas and melodies of Prasant Radhakrishnan on saxophone, and the harmonic bedrock of Colin Hogan embodies the permanence of a changing soundscape. Event details.
3 p.m.
Bharatanatyam, the Indian Classical Dance
Pagrav Dance Studio will be bringing us the fun and joy of Bharatanatyam, the Indian Classical Dance. Come join us at San Mateo County Libraries to watch this enjoyable performance by artistic director Purvi Jejurkar. Monica Korde, Belmont Poet Laureate, will read poems, and there will be a poetry and dance duet. Event Details.
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A Fond Farewell
Public Goodbye Events for Representative Speier
As most of our residents already know, Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s time in Congress is coming to a close at the end of this year. To thank her constituents for their trust and support over almost 15 years in Congress and almost 40 years in elected office, she will hold a farewell town hall tour. Three are scheduled close to home:
Burlingame Town Hall, Oct. 27, 6-7:30 p.m.
Half Moon Bay Town Hall, Oct. 29, 2-3:30 p.m.
South San Francisco Town Hall, Nov. 10, 6-7:30 p.m.
Trunk or Treat Returns
Throw on a costume and head over to the Barrett Community Center basketball court on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., for some Halloween fun!
Our annual Trunk or Treat event is back this year with spooky decorated cars, Halloween music, and of course loads of candy!
This event is free and open to all ages! More information can be found here.
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Trick or Treat at City Hall
Join us 3-6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022
We're counting the days until our first-ever City Hall Halloween -- open to all ages -- and doggies, too. Come in costume (or not) and enjoy the one-of-a-kind, friendly, fun haunted hallways of City Hall.
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Mental Health Symposium Returns
Evening of Nov. 16, 2022
What should you expect from the Belmont Police Department during a response to a mental health crisis? Join the conversation at our second annual Community Mental Health Symposium.
Click on the image below to add this event to your calendar.
 Holiday Craft Faire Returns
We are pleased to announce that the annual Holiday Craft Faire will return this year on Saturday, November 19th, from 10am - 4pm. Over 50 local artists will showcase their unique and amazing hand-made crafts. Vendors will be spread out through the Twin Pines Senior and Community Center, the Twin Pines Lodge, and the Twin Pines Manor.
There is no entry fee for this event and it is open to all ages! More information.
Belmont Community Learning Center Celebrates Diwali
This week the children at the Belmont Community Learning Center celebrated Diwali.
Parent volunteers planned craft activities including painting diyas, they prepared Indian snacks, and read a book for each classroom explaining what Diwali is and why it’s celebrated.
Thank you to our volunteers! Happy Diwali!
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THANK YOU, BELMONT!
High School Fair - A Big Hit
 Thank you to everyone who joined us on Wednesday night for Belmont’s first ever High School Fair! We had 11 local public and private high schools attend, providing middle schoolers and their families the opportunity to network, ask questions, and gain insight on what each school has to offer. We also had the VOICES, Youth Advisory Committee, and San Mateo County Youth Commission attend to provide information on how youth can get more involved in their local communities. We are already looking forward to offering this event again next year!
Movie Night Success
This past Friday Parks & Recreation hosted the last Movies in the Park of 2022 with a spooky showing of "Hocus Pocus" at Barrett Park.
Over 200 people from the community attended, making it one of the best turnouts to date.
Shoutout to the Footsteps Interact Club for working hard to provide concessions for attendees to enjoy during the movie.
It was so much fun hosting the movies at different Belmont parks this year and we look forward to exploring new locations for 2023. See you outdoor next summer.
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SAVE THE DATE: Nov. 17, 2022
Alameda Corridor Project Community Workshop #2
 Expect to hear more about the second community meeting on the Alameda de las Pulgas Corridor Project.
Public Works and its project partners welcome all to hear a summary of the public input so far and the latest design plans.
Nov. 17, 2022
6 p.m.
Carlmont High School
(Student Union)
Project Webpage
Smooth Road Ahead
Ralston Avenue Pavement Repairs Planned
Our Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments are collaborating to remedy the "natural speed bumps" in the #1 lane of east bound Ralston Avenue west of Alameda De Las Pulgas.
Two trees in the median have been slated for removal due to their poor health, and substantial contribution to the asphalt failure on Ralston Avenue. A certified arborist inspected and confirmed that these Stone Pine trees are at an increased risk of failure due to successive root pruning events, significant mechanical wounds, and poor general health.
The failing asphalt is caused by the shallow root growth of previously pruned roots in the median of Ralston Avenue, which have the potential to negatively impact travelers of that stretch of roadway.
The tentative plan is to have the two trees removed in early November and have the asphalt repairs completed prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday. The Parks Department will be planting four large native trees in a more suitable location in Belmont, either in a city park or open space to make up for the removals.
If you have any questions, please contact pworks@belmont.gov
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Food Waste Compliance Check
Expect County Inspectors in Your Neighborhood
On Oct. 30 & 31, 2022, Belmont business and residents may see San Mateo County Office of Sustainability compliance officers checking their garbage and recycle bins for food scraps and yard waste. Please be courteous to them, they are not snooping through your old bills, rather, they are ensuring that recyclables are in the blue bin, only landfill waste is in the black bin (no organics PLEASE – no coffee grounds, no banana peels, etc), and that all organics are in the green bins only.
Why? In an effort to reduce organic waste and comply with new state laws, we have joined with San Mateo County’s 22 other jurisdictions to create one countywide edible food recovery program to help all affected businesses, organizations, homeowners and residents of Belmont meet their new mandatory requirements.
California Senate Bill 1383 is a first-of-its-kind climate protection action law that was approved in January 2022 and was created to reduce organic waste disposal and rescue at least 20 percent of disposed edible food for human consumption.
Read more here.
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Winter Storm Preparation
Seasonal Water Release 2022
Water Dog Lake Dam Gates to Open Nov. 1
Our Public Works maintenance staff will open the gates at water dog lake spillway on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022
The Department of Water Resources Division of Dams required the spillway gates to remain in the fully open position through April 1, 2023.
Water releases allow the rainwater to be released in a measured way due to rain events and are necessary during the rainy season to reduce possible flooding from the lake. Residents may notice higher than normal water levels in Belmont Creek during the first 24 hours once the gate is open.
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Help us Reduce Storm Risks
Limit the impacts of flooding
Your help in limiting our city's flood risk during winter storms is vital. Be proactive in preparing now for the winter season to help reduce the impacts of flooding.
Here are some tips on ways you can help minimize property damage:
Clear Leaves From Storm Drains
The changing of seasons from autumn to winter comes littering of tree leaves. We sweep residential streets every other week to remove leaves and debris.
Fallen leaves can make their way down to storm drains, where they gather and block inlets, and create localized flooding. Here are some ways you can help reduce the impact of localized flooding by following these simple steps:
• Move your vehicle from the street the night before your scheduled sweeping day.
• Do not blow yard debris into the roadway or gutter.
• Do not sweep leaves into piles taller than one foot.
• Place branches in the compost bin.
• Trim trees and vegetation back behind the curb, and be sure there is a vertical clearance of 14" over the roadway so the sweeper can clean to the gutter.
If you see a storm drain blocked/covered with leaves, or localized flooding is occurring due to blockage, rake the leaves away (if you are able) and notify Public Works at 650-595-7425.
Clean Property Valley Gutters
Valley gutters lie within a drainage easement, which are established on property plats to provide designated areas for surface run-off from private or public land to culverts and pipes, which empty into San Francisco Bay.
Over time, if they are neglected, storm water exiting broken or blocked gutters could erode these areas, causing instability, creating potential mudslides.
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Sandbags Filling Stations Open
Available at Three Locations
With heavy rains, storm drain lines may get inundated with water and cause minor flooding. Our Public Works maintenance crew set up three do-it-yourself sandbag filling locations to accommodate residents during the rainy season.
If you need sandbags to help redirect rainwater, or live in areas that regularly experience some flooding, you are strongly encouraged to pick up sandbags to prepare for possible flooding.
Residents may obtain up to 10 bags per Belmont address. Sandbag locations are supplied with sand, bags, and shovels for residents to fill their own bags 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Find the sandbag stations at the following locations:
City Hall - One Twin Pines Lane in rear parking lot
Belmont Corporation Yard - 110 Sem Lane
Barret Community Center (Ralston Avenue-side Parking Lot)
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UPCOMING ROAD IMPROVEMENTS
Projects on the Schedule Next Week
Our Streets Division has two projects coming up next week that could impact your regular commute. Both projects will take only a few days to complete, we thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Vine Street near Spring Lane
Tuesday Oct. 25, 2022 and Wednesday Oct. 26, 2022
Time Range: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The team will be replacing failed asphalt on Vine Street near Spring Lane and will close one lane during work.
Work Zone: North bound Vine Street just south of Spring Lane
Lane Closure: The north bound lane of Vine Street will be closed just south of Spring Lane during work. Traffic flow will be permitted in both directions at all times during work and controlled by staff on site
Special Notes: Work is taking place on a hill and curve in the road so there will be flaggers at both ends of the work site to safely control traffic flow.
Old County Road at Ralston Avenue
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The team will work on striping the lanes and legends on Old County Road at Ralston Avenue and will close individual lanes temporarily during work.
Work Zone: North Bound Old County Road from 1075 Old County Road to Ralston Avenue.
Lane Closures: All three lanes of north bound Old County Road traffic will be closed at separate times to complete striping and legend work. Only one lane will be closed at a time during work. Traffic flow will be permitted in all directions at all times during work and controlled by staff on site.
Employers: Minimum Wage Updates
New Rules Effective in the New Year
Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, all employers of employees who perform at least two (2) hours of work per week within the geographical boundary of Belmont must pay those employees minimum wages of not less than $16.75 per hour.
More information available at www.belmont.gov/minwage
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Did you know?
The City of Belmont's Planning Commission meets every first and third Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers, One Twin Pines Lane, Belmont. Sign up to receive meeting notifications and agendas.
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