At its Feb. 11, 2020 meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance regulating the use of disposable food service ware by restaurants — including private schools and vendors at farmers’ markets — in unincorporated San Mateo County. Disposable plastic straws may be provided only upon request to consumers with medical needs. In addition, healthcare facilities may distribute disposable non-compostable straws with or without request by a patient at the discretion of the healthcare facility staff based on the physical or medical needs of the patient. The adoption of the ordinance will take place at the Feb. 25, 2020, meeting. LEARN MORE

To address emissions from vehicles, the County of San Mateo continues to identify innovative approaches to adopting electric vehicle use. With funding support from Peninsula Clean Energy and the County's Office of Sustainability, the Parks Department and Sheriff's Office are now piloting clean modes of transportation. Parks has replaced diesel engine trucks with six electric bikes to be used for moving around the coastside parks. The Sheriff's Office will be integrating a hybrid patrol vehicle and a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle into their fleet. This pilot is also part of a larger plan to eventually phase out the County's use of diesel fuel by 2033. LEARN MORE

At its annual talent management conference, CPS HR Consulting awarded its $20K Talent Management Grant to the County of San Mateo's Human Resource Department to support efforts in establishing an internal coaching program, which strives to enhance employee engagement and commitment, improve performance and accelerate talent development. The County's HR Department was also recognized at the 2020 City Managers/League of Cities Conference and received the Cal-ICMA Talent Action Award. The Cal-ICMA Talent Action program recognizes agencies for their comprehensive work in three talent management categories including attraction and recruitment, retention and development and improving workplace culture. LEARN MORE

In both 1880 and 2010, the U.S. Census found that one-third of residents in San Mateo County were born in another country. Today, San Mateo County continues to be among the most diverse in both California and the United States. That diversity is heard in the over 100 languages that are spoken across the county. Historically immigrants have been under counted in the census. This not only means they are left out of our official story, but that their needs and interests are not considered when we make policy and program decisions. San Mateo County, the State of California and the U.S. Census are all making a concerted effort to reach out to immigrant communities to make sure they are counted in the 2020 Census. LEARN MORE

The San Mateo County Jobs for Youth program is now accepting applications for their internship program. Young adults between the ages of 18 to 21 years old who are curious about working for the County of San Mateo are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a Jobs for Youth member. Summer interns are placed in one of several County departments and receive supervision as well as valuable mentoring from government leaders. Internships start in June or July, run eight to 10 weeks and pay $17.51 per hour with no benefits. LEARN MORE