Happy Earth Day, Brisbane!
Sustainability is part and parcel to what we do here, evidenced by Brisbane being the first recipient of a Gold-level Beacon Award in the State. At last night's City Council Meeting, there was further evidence of our city leaders doing what's right for the environment, when they adopted a resolution in support of SB 1173 (Gonzalez) Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. Senator Gonzalez’s bill, if adopted into law, would prohibit CalPERS and CalSTRS from investing in the top 200 fossil fuel companies, ranked by the potential carbon emissions content of their reported reserves. This item came before the Council as a recommendation of the Open Space and Ecology Committee with Committee Member Glenn Fieldman (and CalPERS member herself), presenting to City Council the merits of divestment and how divestment efforts have grown since the City’s previous consideration of this issue in 2014. Adoption of the resolution passed unanimously.
Ozzy the Organics Cart of SSF Scavenger wants to remind you that you can celebrate Earth Day every day by feeding Ozzy the Organics Cart correctly. He's starving for food scraps, yard trimmings, and food-soiled paper. Other items will spoil the party and can cause delays in service. Learn more about what you should and should not place in your carts, with these "Trash Talk" videos featuring Teresa Montgomery of SSF Scavenger, such as "Mailer Talk":
Habitat Restoration Day: this Saturday, April 23rd
Enjoy beautiful views of the mountain and participate in habitat restoration on the week of Earth Day. Lunch will be provided. Meet on the corner of Monarch & Mission Blue Drive.
Free Home Composting Workshop April 26th
Do you want to start composting at home? Join the County of San Mateo's Sustainability Academy for a no-cost two hour workshop. Learn the basics of starting your own backyard and worm composting systems! This workshop is for people who live or work in San Mateo County. SMC residents will receive a free compost or worm bin and discounts on accessories.
Open Seats on City Committees: Apply Now
The City of Brisbane is currently recruiting community members interested in serving on the Complete Street Safety Committee and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability Committee. The deadline to apply is 5pm on Wednesday May 25, 2022.
Apply now for the following Council Commission and Committee seats):
- Complete Streets Safety Committee (3 seats for terms until 2026)
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability (IDEA) Committee* (3 seats for one year terms until 2023 ) (*Note: Brisbane residents, as well as those who work but don't live in town, are welcome to apply for the IDEA Committee)
Please Celebrate Safely!
This past Monday, April 18, Brisbane Engine 81 arrived to the 400 block of San Benito at 5:40pm after a report of a downed power line. Firefighters secured the area so that no citizens came in contact with the downed power line until PG&E arrived at 6:09pm. Fortunately, there was no fire damage to the transformer or to the pole, but this incident, which was suspected to be caused by a mylar balloon becoming entangled with a power line, resulted in many residents experiencing power outages that evening.
During the pandemic, with more families opting to celebrate at home, these types of incidents have been occurring more frequently. Because mylar or metallic balloons conduct electricity, they were responsible for causing more than 600 power outages in 2021 across PG&E’s service area, a 27% rise from the year before. As a reminder, it is against the law in California to release balloons made of electrically-conductive material outdoors (Penal Code section 653.1). In accordance with the law, and for the safety of yourselves and others, use the following precautions when celebrating with metallic balloons:
- If you can, choose non-metallic (not mylar) for your celebration
- Secure helium-filled balloons by tying them to a heavy weight
- Be aware of and avoid overhead power lines when outdoors
And lastly, never attempt to retrieve a balloon – or any object – that becomes entangled in a power line. Instead, call 911 and then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to report the problem.
Funding Awarded for Improved Walkway!
After decades of kids navigating a dirt path between San Benito and Alvarado streets in the middle of town to get to school, and others braving the walk on winding, narrow streets without sidewalks, the City is set to construct a concrete stairway in the utility easement to make walking trips in Central Brisbane easier and safer. The third time must be a charm, because that’s the number of applications city staff made to the Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian grant program before finally being awarded funds by San Mateo County City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) last week.
The project was recommended for award by their Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). Support for the grant came from the Mothers of Brisbane, the Brisbane School District, the Brisbane Police Officers Association and the Complete Streets Safety Committee, all of whom provided letters of support for the project. Residents’ overwhelming positive responses to the Facebook and Nextdoor polls a couple of years ago also helped illuminate the community support and need for the project.
Staff and consultants will first need to complete the design. After the site is prepared, including relocation of a waterline, construction will commence - forecast to be next summer. The Public Art Advisory Committee has also discussed during their meetings the possibility of adding artistic elements to the new stairway. Stay updated with all of our public meetings and we look forward to the community having this improved walkway for use during the 2022-23 school year.
Closing Out National Poetry Month and Jazz Appreciation Month
Brisbane resident Cassandra Bousquet gave her first poetry reading last weekend at the Redwood City Public Library. She recited her poem, "Oceans Rising", which is available to read here. Congrats to Cassandra!
April also happens to be Jazz Appreciation Month, with the Brisbane Library hosting the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco on Saturday, April 30th as part of San Mateo County Libraries' Jazz in the Library program. This event will likely take place in the Library's courtyard. All are welcome!
Brisbane Chamber Mixer at Lyrical Opposition
Wednesday's Chamber Mixer took place along Visitacion, where the community officially welcomed Lyrical Opposition to town! Lyrical Opposition is a California 501(c)3, working to oppose injustice through lyrical arts, and whose artist collective spread messages of hope that inspire and empower communities towards social change. Cross Allan and Fego Navarro may be familiar faces and names, as they both shared films during this year’s Artists’ Evening of Sharing. Welcome to Brisbane, LO!
Last Weekend to Apply for our Summer Public Works Internship!
Are you on a civil engineering track, and want to gain some excellent real-world experience this summer working in our Public Works Dept.? Then get applying, as the application deadline for this position has been extended to this Monday, April 25th at 5pm!
Last Weekend to Apply for the Lions Club Scholarship - Applications Due Sunday, April 25th
The Brisbane Lions Club serves our community in many ways; one of the most important is in their support of the education. Through the efforts of the Club, scholarship awards are offered to Brisbane residents who are pursuing full-time higher education and vocational programs. Full-time status is either 12+ semester or 9+ quarter credits. You may receive a prorated partial scholarship if you are attending a full-time program for part of the 2022/2023 calendar year.
To receive a scholarship award, you must be considered a Brisbane resident and submit your application by this Sunday, April 25th, by 12am and sign up to participate in a 30 minute Zoom interview with their Scholarship Committee members during May 2022. Sign up for your interview by May 1, 2022.
Club Rec Summer Camp - Sign Up Today!
Summer planning? Registration opened on Monday for Club Rec Summer Camp, so sign up now if you're interested! This is a full-day camp (8am-5pm) for children entering 1st grade through those entering 6th grade. Each week will feature two swim days at none other than the Community Pool, a field trip, and a special Friday activity based on that week’s theme. Camp is held at the new Brisbane Elementary School Modular located at 500 San Bruno Avenue.
Spring/Summer Activity Guide
It's back, (in solely digital form), but you can print the pages you want, if needed! The Parks and Recreation Dept. is pleased to bring you the Spring/Summer 2022 Activity Guide so you can peruse all the upcoming programs and events taking place in town. The most current Activity Guide will be housed here on the Parks and Recreation landing page.
Hydrant Painting & Restoration - Sign Up by Next Thursday, April 28th
High Efficiency Toilet Grants (Includes FREE Installation) Still Available
Please reach out to Jessica Lee at (415) 508-2128 or jessicalee@brisbaneca.org if you have any questions about this unique program. These High Efficiency Toilets use less water per flush, conserve water, and will help you save on your water bill!
We Still Need to be Water-Wise, Brisbane!
Some neighboring water districts are moving into Stage 2 Drought restrictions; as of today, we're still in a Stage 1 Drought but this could change for us shortly as well. Whether you are a renter, homeowner, or business, the SFPUC, which is our water wholesaler, has tips and resources to help preserve this precious resource.
Immigrant Youth Scholarship - Applications Due May 1st
U.S. 101 Overnight Southbound Closure from S. Airport Blvd to San Bruno Ave. This Sunday, April 24th from 1am - 6am
As part of the San Mateo 101 Express Lanes Project, Caltrans is replacing overhead sign structures (that span the width of one side of the freeway, from the shoulder to the median) on U.S. 101. This work requires large flatbed trucks to deliver the sign structures and cranes to hoist them into place from the center of the freeway. Therefore, it will be necessary to close one direction of the freeway at a time for up to five hours.
Northbound lanes will be unaffected during the Southbound closure. Motorists will exit on S. Airport Blvd ramp in SSF, follow the detour signs to S. Airport Blvd, and then diverge at S. Airport Blvd/I-380 Intersection. This work was postponed due to high winds and has now been rescheduled to Sunday, April 24th from 1am - 6am.
U.S. 101 Northbound Closure from Millbrae Ave. to San Bruno Ave. on May 1st
The second closure is scheduled to occur from 1am - 6am on Sunday, May 1, 2022 and affect Northbound U.S. 101 from Millbrae Ave to San Bruno Ave. Southbound U.S. 101 traffic will be unaffected during this Northbound closure.
North County's New Economic Advancement Center (EAC)
Newly opened as of a few weeks ago, the Economic Advancement Center (EAC) is a service hub of resources and support for those looking to enhance a career path, start a business, or grow an idea. The goal of the Economic Advancement Center is to provide much-needed economic recovery tools to some of North County's most vulnerable residents and small businesses, offering support in both English and Spanish.
One of the EAC's partner organizations, JobTrain, specializes in preparing under-served individuals for successful, sustainable careers in high-demand and emerging fields. See below to learn more:
Another partner organization, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, is a small business development organization helping individuals achieve personal, financial, and social transformation through the power of small business.
The EAC is located at 366 Grand Avenue in South San Francisco. Visit them there Monday - Friday 10am-4pm, or call them at (650) 829-4652. You can also contact them via email.
Brisbane Farmers' Market: Thursdays in the Park, 3-7pm
There were a few less tents due to rain in the forecast, but Mtn. Fresh Produce, Hummus Heaven, Bun Bao, Roadside Rotisserie SF, and Jolly's Teas Cream were all there in the Park yesterday for Brisbane's weekly Farmers' Market. Also, a new fruit vendor will possibly be joining the market soon. Stay tuned.
4/14 Tele Town Hall Event Recording with Jackie Speier
Congresswoman Jackie Speier has been hosting these events throughout the pandemic, with last week's featuring Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota. They largely discussed COVID-19 and the BA.2 subvariant, with participants asking questions about masks, booster shots, and flights across the country. It was very informative and we encourage you to listen via the Congresswoman's website (click on the April 14, 2022 event) or Facebook page.
Expanded City Hall Hours
City Hall's public walk-in hours are now: M: 9-4, W: 1-7, Th: 9-4. Building and Planning staff is available on Wednesday's by appointment only. All City Hall staff remain accessible by phone and email; we highly encourage use of our Online Services to keep the community and staff healthy during this time. Masks are still required to be worn at City Hall until further notice. Disposable masks are available if you don't have one.
Curative has re-launched their mobile testing clinic at the Park, and will be here on Thursdays, from 10am-4pm. Sign up for appt. here. Walk-ups are accepted. To receive your results by phone, please call 888-702-9042.
You can find more County-wide testing sites at smcgov.org/testing. As a reminder, U.S. households are able to place additional orders for free, at-home COVID-19 rapid tests (4 tests per order) at: special.usps.com/testkits | covidtests.gov/es (Spanish) | covidtests.gov/zh (Chinese)
According to the County Health Department's data dashboards, Brisbane has had 637 confirmed historical cases. Brisbane resident Amrit Lall has been keeping track of the cases released per week, and let us know that Brisbane recorded 9 new COVID-19 cases this past week. We must continue keeping our guard up if we want to get through this pandemic, weary as we may be from it all. The highly contagious Omicron variant and its subvariant, BA.2, can evade safety measures. Vaccines are proven to be the greatest protection from the risks of severe illness or death from COVID-19.
A second Pfizer and Moderna booster dose is now available for people who received their first booster dose at least four months ago. Eligible Californians include people who received their first Pfizer or Moderna booster and are age 50 and up or individuals who are age 12 and up and moderately to severely immunocompromised. The CDC also recommends everyone who received a J&J booster receive a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 4 months after their first booster. Talk to your provider about receiving your second booster. You can also visit MyTurn.ca.gov or call 833-422-4255 to find a booster near you.
CA COVID-19 Rent Relief
The State’s Housing is Key program to assist renters and landlords with rent and utility payments came to a close March 31st, but the City’s Rental Assistance Program is still be available; the Brisbane City Council has made $100,000 in rental assistance available to those that need it. Contact the Community Resource Center of the YMCA at (650) 276-4101 or crc@ymcasf.org to get the application process started.
CA Mortgage Relief Program Portal Now Accepting Applications
MOB Shop is Coming May 6th & 7th
Sustainable San Mateo County’s 23rd Annual Awards Celebration, May 11th
SSMC will honor four local sustainability champions: Each Green Corner, Kalimah Salahuddin, Seamless Bay Area, and Robert Whitehair, along with the 2022 Green Building Award winner, the Marshall Medical Offices on Kaiser Permanente’s Redwood City campus. The All-Electric Leadership Awards, sponsored by Peninsula Clean Energy, will also be announced during the Awards Celebration. SSMC’s Third Annual Virtual Auction will kick off on Wednesday, May 4, and conclude on May 15. Admission to the Awards Celebration is free, but pre-registration is required.
Save the Date: BDW's "OH the Places", May 15th
IDEA Committee Meeting - Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - 6pm
City Council Meeting - Thursday, April 21, 2022 - 7:30pm
Did You Know?
Brisbane residents 70+ have an affordable transportation service that is available when they need it, any day - any time - via the Got Wheels! Senior Transportation Program from Peninsula Family Service!
Got Wheels! participants are issued a membership card, allowing them to schedule rides on-demand 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Each month, participants are able to take 6 one-way trips or 3 round trips for only $5.00 per one-way ride. Peninsula Family Service's mission statement is to "envision a community where opportunity, financial stability, and wellness are secured for all." Call (650) 403-4300, ex 4329, or visit the Got Wheels! Senior Transportation Program webpage on our site to learn more.
Quote of the week
Learn what the second and third crises are by listening to the late E.O. Wilson's very last lecture, "Ecosystems and the Harmony of Nature," presented on Half-Earth Day, 2021.
This concludes our update; we'll be sending out the next Blast on Friday, April 29th, in the afternoon. If this email was forwarded to you or you saw it on social media and would like to subscribe, sign up here. As always, please keep connected with us via our website and social media pages. Thanks for reading and staying engaged with us!