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 Happy Halloween, Belmont!
Thank you to our incredible staff and community for making our Belmont Boo Bash such a spooktacular success. We had record-high attendance, and it was wonderful to see everyone come together to kick off the Halloween fun.
As you head out trick-or-treating tonight, please remember to stay safe:
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Slow down and watch for increased foot traffic in residential neighborhoods
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Plan a safe and sober ride ahead of time
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Use flashlights or glow sticks to help drivers see you
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Walk on sidewalks whenever possible
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Look both ways before crossing the street
We hope you have a frightfully fun and safe Halloween night, and we look forward to seeing you again at next year’s Boo Bash!
Understanding Changes to Local Land Use — A Community Update
In response to growing community engagement and interest in how new housing and development projects are reviewed, this week’s City Council and Planning Commission Study Session offered a clear look at the State laws that have reshaped local land use authority. Over the past five years, the Legislature has enacted numerous housing measures that change how cities plan, review, and approve projects.
While these laws aim to address California’s housing shortage, they have also narrowed the City’s traditional land-use discretion. Projects that once required public hearings and detailed design review may now qualify for streamlined or ministerial approval, which limits both the City’s ability to request modifications and the community’s formal review opportunities.
The Study Session traced how these changes accumulated, explained what they mean for Belmont’s entitlement and review processes, and identified the limited tools that remain to preserve neighborhood character, infrastructure capacity, and design quality.
If you missed the discussion, please watch the presentation and review the materials to better understand these shifts and how they affect local planning. We encourage continued engagement as your questions and perspective help shape how the City responds and adapts.
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2026 Poet Laureate Application
The City is now accepting 2026 Poet Laureate applications. The Poet Laureate must be a Belmont resident recognized for their poetry and literary contributions who embraces opportunities to make poetry more accessible to the public. They must be willing to serve as an ambassador for the City of Belmont and participate in public events such as readings, workshops, and school presentations. The Poet Laureate contributes to a minimum of three community events annually, works to encourage poetry in schools, opens one City Council meeting with a poem annually, and must write at least one commemorative poem about Belmont during their tenure. The Poet Laureate is selected by a committee of City staff, Belmont Library, and literary experts and will serve a 3-year term. This application is for the Poet Laureate term from January 2026 to December 2029. Applications are due by November 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. Questions may be directed to parksrec@belmont.gov or (650) 595-7441.
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Minimum Wage Increase Reminder
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, Belmont's minimum wage will increase to $18.95 per hour. All registered businesses have been emailed this information, and Belmont-based brick-and-mortar businesses should receive a mailer with the posting notice by the week's end. Additional information is available at www.belmont.gov/minwage.
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Community Art Events
The Twin Pines Arts Center will be hosting new and exciting free art community events at the Twin Pines Manor. The first event, a Music and Open Mic Night, kicked off last weekend and showcased the talent of Bagwell and Troy Blues America, followed by a full lineup of open mic participants performing both renditions of classic songs as well as their original work. It was a great night of music, fun, and good vibes! Stay tuned for more events coming soon.
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Public Meetings
Planning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, Nov. 4
7 p.m.
Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, Nov.5
7 p.m.
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Find Your Future Here
The City of Belmont is hiring! Explore opportunities to join Team Belmont by clicking below.
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Mark Your Calendar
Veterans Day Ceremony
Join us on Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. at the Veterans’ Memorial in Twin Pines Park for our annual Veterans Day Ceremony, featuring guest speaker Mike Garoutte, a Captain in the Air Force who served during the Vietnam Conflict. With over 4,000 hours of flight time, Mike flew cargo planes, including C-123s and C-141s. Mike served in these roles both in active duty and reserve service. Enjoy performances by local artists, including Poet Laureate Monica Korde and musician Nate Walker. This event is open to the public, and we invite everyone to come and show their appreciation for the sacrifices made by our veterans.
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Register for the Belmont Civics Academy Day
Join us on Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Belmont City Hall for a one-day, behind-the-scenes look at how the City of Belmont operates! The Belmont Civics Academy is your chance to learn about city departments, programs, and services directly from the people who make it all happen. You’ll discover how decisions are made, meet city leaders and staff from every department, and gain a deeper understanding of how Belmont serves the community every day. Please register to attend at https://bit.ly/BelmontCivicsDay.
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Infrastructure Insider
Winter Storm Resources
With winter storms around the corner, now’s the time to prepare before bad weather hits. Keeping gutters clear, properly disposing of leaves and debris, and securing sandbags early can make a big difference in protecting your property from flooding. To help residents during the rainy season, our Public Works Department has set up three convenient Do-It-Yourself sandbag filling stations located at the rear parking lot of Belmont City Hall (One Twin Pines Lane), Belmont Corp Yard (110 Sem Lane), and the parking lot of the Barrett Community Center on Ralston Avenue. Stations are open 24/7 and stocked with sand, bags, and shovels for residents to fill their own sandbags. Each household may take up to 10 sandbags. Find more storm resources at www.belmont.gov/storms.
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Public Works Highlights
Our Public Works Operations staff had a productive week! Crews cleaned traffic signs, addressed streetlight outages, refreshed over 800 feet of red curb paint, updated more than 2,400 feet of yellow centerline striping, and replaced over 3 tons of asphalt on the roadway.
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In Our Community
Belmont Library November Events
Have you considered going electric?
Modern, all-electric appliances remove the main sources of harmful indoor emissions, creating a safer space for you and your family. It’s time to break up with gas. Take action in your home, one appliance at a time, with efficient, high-performing models. Learn more about going all electric from the San Mateo County Sustainability Department at www.LetsGoElectric.org.
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