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San Mateo reviews wet‑weather preparations: sandbags, catch basins, Marina Lagoon study
Summary
City staff gave an informational update on rain forecasts, sandbag stations and catch basin cleaning, camera monitoring, a spot‑dredging plan for the Marina Lagoon and a feasibility study with the Army Corps. No formal actions or votes were taken.
Catherine, a Public Works staff member filling in for Director Matt Fabry, told the San Mateo City Council that this meeting was "an informational update only," and outlined immediate steps the city is taking ahead of rain forecast for the week.
The update said the National Weather Service forecast calls for about a half inch of rain Monday and up to 1.5 inches Tuesday for San Mateo, with a flood watch in effect through Wednesday; staff urged residents to prepare emergency kits and to report downed trees and power lines.
The city described several near‑term and short‑term preparedness actions. Staff said they have inspected and cleaned roughly 4,300 catch basins so far this wet season (the agenda report listed 4,100), completed final maintenance on a fifth pump engine (noting a minor oil leak), and established a new sandbag station in North Central at Turnbull Preschool. "Out of the thousand sandbags, 350 have been used," Catherine said, and staff reported many stations have been refilled multiple times this season; Anchor Road, staff said, has been refilled three times.
Staff outlined an alternatives analysis for Marina Lagoon pumping below 95 feet and described a spot‑dredging plan focused on the Nineteenth Avenue and Sixteenth Avenue channels. That sediment sampling and analysis plan has been submitted to the DMMO for review; staff said dredging could start this summer "contingent on their approval." The sampling submittal and regulatory review remain outstanding.
The city also described camera monitoring and community programs. Staff said nine camera locations have been identified; six cameras are installed and viewable by city staff to monitor sites such as the Marina Lagoon pump station and trash racks. The city is updating its adopt‑a‑drain outreach to prioritize drains that receive heavy leaf litter in neighborhoods with mature street trees, and is preparing materials so residents can "adopt" drains where needed.
Staff said they have authorization to study the feasibility of a broader flood risk reduction project and that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contacted the city to request a letter of intent and fact sheet; staff said they submitted materials on Jan. 23 and are pursuing federal support for a feasibility study.
Public commenters raised materials and volunteer issues. A resident asked about replacing corrugated metal pipe and warned against introducing more plastic into the bay: "Plastic, I don't know if we want that going into the bay because everything that tore up and wrecked the metal pipes is gonna tear the plastic pipes up too," the resident said. Mike (Public Works staff) answered during the Q&A that modern storm drain replacements are often PVC or HDPE and that those materials have not shown the same corrosion issues as corrugated metal.
Council members asked follow‑up questions about access to sandbag sites, longer‑term sandbag caches or prefilled bags for seniors, volunteer prefill events with scouts and students, and whether the pace of catch basin cleaning will continue next year. Staff said they coordinate with the Office of Emergency Services and regional partners, that sandbag station access was secured after outreach to the school district, and that some sandbag sites are short‑term due to planned construction. Staff also described looking into prefilled sandbag caches and volunteer filling events as possible supplemental measures.
No motions or formal votes were taken; the item was informational and staff asked the council if it had any further questions. Council members offered directions and suggestions—such as exploring volunteer or prefilled sandbag options and providing data on drains currently adopted by residents—but provided no formal direction recorded as a vote.
The council recessed after the update and public comment and reconvened later; staff said they will report back on feasibility study progress, DMMO review of the sediment plan, and any updates to sandbag station availability.
