San Mateo staff brief council on wet‑weather readiness, lagoon dredging plan and sandbag access

Catherine, a city public works staff member filling in for Director Matt Fabry, told the San Mateo City Council on Feb. 5 that the presentation was "an informational update only" and outlined the city's work to prepare for an incoming storm system and the current wet season.

The update said a flood watch was in effect through Wednesday, with the heaviest rain forecast for Tuesday — about 0.5 inch on Monday and roughly 1.5 inches expected on Tuesday for San Mateo. Catherine urged residents to prepare emergency kits and to report downed trees to Public Works and downed power lines to PG&E.

The report summarized immediate, short‑ and mid‑term actions the city has taken since the August 2023 program update. City crews have cleaned about 4,300 catch basins so far — an increase from the 4,100 figure listed in the staff slide deck — are maintaining pump station wet wells and trash racks, and completed final maintenance on an engine used for pumping. The city said it established a fourth sandbag station in the North Central neighborhood at Turnbull Preschool; of the roughly 1,000…