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Weekend Weather Makes Parks Unsafe
Outdoor Reminders for Your Safety
 Twin Pines Park and all Belmont open space will be closed through the weekend. Staff will assess the sites on Monday.
With all this unpleasant weather since the beginning of the year, here are some very important reminders for our parks and open spaces:
- Please stay off of wet trails in the Belmont open space. Once trails are dry, please continue to stay off our two closed sections: Chapparal Trail between John Brooks and Elevator and Rambler Trail between John Brooks and Finch.
- The rains stopping do not indicate that the parks are safe, please abide by trail closure signs as dangerous conditions could still be present even under clear, blue skies. Do not cross barriers.
- All grass athletic fields will remain closed for the foreseeable future. The Sports Complex North Field will remain open, unless otherwise stated. Call the Field Status Hotline (650-592-7557) or check here for updates.
- Please avoid visiting City parks during active rain and wind. Once the storms have passed, use extreme caution as grounds will remain saturated and there will still be a threat of downed trees.
Your safety is our priority. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
New Contest Inspires Local Creative Talents
Young Essay and Poetry Writers Celebrated
 Amidst the storms that have dominated our lives since late December, we put out a call to all Belmont schools asking for creative kids to enter a writing contest.
This contest was specific to an American icon who has inspired millions, and continues to, all around the world; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
To mark what we now celebrate as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January, we asked local youth to tell us -- by way of an original essay or poem -- what they thought of "Where Does Change Begin?" It was a writing prompt created by our Parks and Recreation staff and our very own Poet Laureate Monica Korde.
Staff received almost 20 submissions to the contest, making the judges job very difficult. Joining Monica on the judge's panel was our Mayor Julia Mates, Vice-Mayor Davina Hurt and local poet Lois Fried.
In each category, a winner was selected and invited to read their winning entry at the last City Council meeting in February. We were so happy to see these talented youth representing Belmont Oaks Academy, Central Elementary School, Ralston Middle School and Carlmont High School.
Congratulations to winners in our 3rd-5th Grade category: Stella Lee from Belmont Oaks Academy and Carissa Yu from Central Elementary School; in our 6th-8th Grade category winners were Seri Sumetanon and Hannah Yu both from Ralston Middle school; in our High School category, the winner was Carlmont High School's Zane Tanabe.
Above, the winners are pictured with Monica (on the left), and our City Council.
You can read the winning entries on the contest webpage, click the link below. Details about next year's contest writing prompt will be announced in January.
Peninsula Restaurant Week Returns
Local Restaurants: Sign Up Now!
Peninsula Restaurant Week is back, May 19-27. All types of eateries/drinkeries/cafes/etc. are encouraged to sign up to gain valuable exposure for your business, attract new patrons, and show your support for the community and other local restaurants.
Learn more about this FREE opportunity:
"How to Participate" Webinar
Thursday, March 16
10 a.m.
Live on Zoom
Event presented by The San Francisco Peninsula in partnership with Peninsula Foodist and The Six Fifty, with 24 sponsoring agencies.
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Chamber Starts a New Tradition
Popular Belmont Pub Goes a Little Green
The Chamber San Mateo's invites all to its first-ever "Off the Clock" event on Wednesday, March 15 at Belmont's ECR Pub.
The Chamber will hold a ribbon-cutting event at 5 p.m., followed by a special St. Patty's Day trivia game. Be sure to wear your favorite green attire!
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
5-7 p.m.
ECR Pub
864 El Camino Real
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Storm Recovery Help
County Center Closes March 14
San Mateo County is hosting a Disaster Recovery Center for individuals impacted by the early winter storms.
The center is at the Event Center in San Mateo through March 14, and will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day, including Saturdays, Sundays, and President’s Day.
Services including FEMA disaster relief registration, DMV assistance, and crisis counseling will be available to name only a few of the many federal, state and local services that will be available.
The San Mateo Event Center is located at 1346 Saratoga Drive in San Mateo.
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Disaster Resources for Residents / Businesses
Deadline Coming Up
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide state of emergency on Jan. 4, 2023, related to a series of atmospheric river systems bringing high winds, substantial precipitation, and river and urban flooding.
The Declaration authorized the mobilization of the California National Guard and directed Caltrans to request immediate assistance through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program. The Governor also activated the State Operations Center to its highest level.
Federal assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs for individuals and business owners. Funding for emergency work is also available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain nonprofits.
Residents and business owners can begin applying for FEMA assistance at: www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362).
Deadline to apply is March 16, 2023.
For help with SBA disaster loan applications, residents and business owners can contact their local Small Business Center or call 800-659-2955. The SBA will also be opening Local Assistance Centers in all primary counties.
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Need Help Feeding Your Pets?
Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA’s Pet Food Bank is Open
Striving to keep pets and their families together, Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA created a Pet Food Bank to assist pet owners with food and other supplies for their pets.
Low-income county residents or those suffering financial hardship can register to receive pet food and litter from the food bank. Income verification is not necessary, but advance registration for the Pet Food Bank is required.
The Pet Food Bank occurs on the second Friday of each month and is 100% donor funded.
To receive pet food, applicants must:
- Be a resident of San Mateo County and experiencing financial hardship.
- Agree to use the food bank for personal companion animals in need.
- Understand that food is donated to Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA and the same brand or type of pet food cannot be guaranteed each month.
- Enroll no more than four pets per household.
Please email Brian@PHS-SPCA.org for questions.
If you would like to donate unopened pet food
to the food bank, please call Brian Probst at 650-988-5280.
To register for the food bank and receive monthly provisions, click the button below.
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Highway 101 Express Lanes Program
Applications are Open
The new San Mateo 101 Express Lanes Community Transportation Benefits Program helps cover transportation costs for qualifying individuals in San Mateo County. The transportation benefits program is a first of its kind transportation equity program in the U.S., sponsored and funded by the San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Authority.
Participants can choose from one of two transportation benefit options: either a $100 transit credit on a Clipper Card or a $100 toll credit on a FasTrak® toll transponder.
To qualify for the transportation benefits under this program, a participant must meet these three qualifications:
- A resident of San Mateo County
- Age 18 or older
- Earning an individual income at or below $78,300 (for 2022)
Eligible participants can enroll in the Community Transportation Benefits Program at the eight County of San Mateo Core Service Agencies, which are listed on the program website.
Visit the Community Transportation Benefits Program website by clicking on the link below.
Have questions? Email the program at info@smcexpresslanes.org or leave a voicemail at 650-523-0831.
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Meeting Agendas
City Council:
March 14, 2023, 7 p.m.
March 28, 2023, 7 p.m.
Parks and Recreation Commission
April 5, 2023, 7 p.m.
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Belmont
State of the City Address
Planning and Building Our Future Together
Friday, March 31, 2023
9 - 10 a.m. via Zoom
Good Morning San Mateo County program is our platform for sharing ideas, information, and inspiration. Business and community leaders come together to engage and learn from each other to go out and make a difference in their community.
For more information, email maggie@chambersmc.org.
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Women History Month Celebration:
Women in Music: Folk, Rock, Soul, and Blues
Belmont Library hosts a fun and informative live music program about the impact of women on music in America.
From their musical contributions to their struggle for equal pay and recognition, Kirsten Thien (pictured here) covers the early innovators and pioneers, as well as contemporary stars of today and sharing some of her personal journey as a professional touring and recording musician.
Part concert, part history, part folklore, Kirsten is accompanied by Erik Boyd on bass and guitar for this enjoyable program.
Saturday, March 11
2-3 P.M.
Free Event
Belmont Library
1110 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont
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Scam Prevention & Awareness Seminar
Join Cassie Villar with Adult Protective Services for an in-person discussion about scams that target older and dependent adults.
This seminar will examine the ins and outs of senior and dependent adult scams, as well as explaining the most common scams. It will also offer real-world advice on preventing and reporting scams. Event is free.
Wednesday, March 15
10:30 a.m.
RSVP to 650-595-7444
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The Hideout Gets Messy
Splatter Art Night
Join The Hideout for a night of paint throwing and designing your own messy masterpiece. The program will focus on using different objects to create unique splatter patterns! Food will be provided.
Friday, March 24
5 - 7:30 p.m.
Barrett Community Center - Room E
1835 Belburn Dr., Belmont
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Egg Adventure Hunt
Join us at our annual Egg Adventure Hunt on Saturday, April 8 in Twin Pines Park. The hunt begins at 10 a.m. SHARP, but be sure to arrive by 9:30 a.m.
13,000 eggs will be hidden throughout the park for ages 3-10.
Don’t forget to bring your own basket and be sure to stick around after the hunt to enjoy some refreshments, take family photos with our bunnies, and visit with our summer camp contractors.
Saturday, April 8
10 a.m. SHARP
Twin Pines Park
1 Twin Pines Lane, Belmont
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Virtual Book Club
There's an App for That
San Mateo County Libraries is taking book clubs to the next level in partnership with Fable, a new virtual book club app for iOS and Android.
The app is perfect for book clubbers on-the-go. You can use Fable to join a virtual book club or start your own and there are no meetings or video calls required. Anyone in a book club can write a post or question at any time, or comment on other people's posts. It's as easy as texting or commenting online—but just for your fellow book club members!
San Mateo County Libraries is hosting a virtual Fable book club for "Self-Portrait With Ghost" by Meng Jin, including a virtual event with the author on March 22.
Sign up to join the club and for your chance to get a free Fable eBook of "Self-Portrait With Ghost."
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Camp SOAR Scholarships Now Available
We are so excited to announce we were accepted for the San Mateo County 2023 Summer Enrichment Grant and will be offering scholarships of up to $330 per week of Camp SOAR this summer.
Applicants must be Belmont residents.
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Shamrock Scavenger Hunt (Ages 9-14)
Lucky the Leprechaun's pot of gold has gone missing at Barrett Community Center, and he needs your help finding it! Join us on St. Patrick's Day for a scavenger hunt filled with minute to win it games, trivia, puzzles and prizes!
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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.
Residential Electrification Guidelines
Peninsula Clean Energy has published guidelines for how to electrify homes that have 100 amps of electrical capacity.
Most homes in the service territory have 100 amp service. Avoiding panel and service upgrades can significantly reduce the costs of electrification however, the methods for doing so are not widely practiced.
Developed with input from experienced practitioners, the guidelines outline innovative methods to avoid costly service upgrades while ensuring a “no compromises” home experience.
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Electric Home Upgrade Rebates & Zero Percent Loan
Program Details
Peninsula Clean Energy is providing homeowners in San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos interest-free financing and new rebates to install electric water heaters and heating and A/C equipment.
Zero Percent Loan program
This new program will provide interest-free financing of as much as $10,000 per home for projects that include installation of electric heat pump equipment, including water heaters and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) units.
The loans will range from two to 10 years and be repaid on monthly electric bills. They do not require a credit check but do require the customer to have a zero past-due balance on their previous three PG&E billing statements.
New rebates for HVAC equipment
Residents can get a $3,500 rebate for installing an electric heat pump HVAC system. If an electrical panel upgrade is required, they may get up to $1,500 to assist with that cost.
Expanded rebate for heat pump water heaters
Heat pump water heater rebates are increased to $3,000. If an electrical panel upgrade is required, they may get up to $1,500 to assist with that cost.
You may also qualify for a BayREN rebate of $1,000 (requires working with a BayREN contractor).
Residents who participate in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) programs qualify for an added $1,000 rebate.
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Mark Your Calendars
Shred Event in April
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MARCH STORM PREPARATION
Our maintenance staff in Parks and Recreation and Public Works spent the week clearing all storm hot spots, including creek inlets, throughout the City.
Our team worked hard to thoroughly clean locations like Bay Court that have caused issues in the past. Debris removal has taken place in the Carlmont Drive area, requiring heavier equipment than typical, and resulting in about 100+ yards of debris removed.
Preventative maintenance work has taken place at both Harbor and Ralston storm pump stations. All sandbags stations have been replenished and will continue to be monitored.
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UPCOMING ROAD IMPROVEMENTS
Public Works has rescheduled its vegetation overgrowth work to Tuesday, March 14 and Wednesday, March 15.
The work zone is eastbound Ralston Avenue between Christian Drive and Ralston Ranch Road.
Expect the following lane closures:
- #2 lane of east bound Ralston Avenue from Christian Drive to Ralston Ranch Road
- Left turn lane of west bound Ralston Avenue at Christian Drive
The SamTrans Route # 62 bust stop just west of the work zone that will be accessible during work and the route should not be adversely affected. Bicycle traffic will share the lane through the controlled traffic plan.
Work begins at 9 a.m. and concludes around 3 p.m. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
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Adopt a Drain
One Small Step Toward Flooding Prevention
All storm drains in Belmont go directly to Belmont Creek and into San Francisco Bay.
In order to keep them flowing properly and to minimize localized flooding during rain events, protecting our waterways and keeping them clear is key to water pollution prevention and flooding prevention.
Sign up today to Adopt-A-Drain in Belmont.
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HIP Housing Is In Our Community
Register Today
Human Investment Project Housing (HIP Housing) is a non-profit organization based in San Mateo County that specializes in affordable and creative housing solutions.
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Each year, HIP Housing helps 1,400 people find housing or keep their homes through its Home Sharing, Self Sufficiency, and Property Development Programs.
To apply, please complete its HIP Housing Volunteer application.
For more information, contact Laura Fanucchi lfanucchi@hiphousing.org or (650) 348 6660.
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This newsletter is a collaboration between departments of the City of Belmont, California.
Have questions or need to make contact? Email us at communications@belmont.gov.
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