San Mateo council approves consent calendar and adopts FY 2025–26 CDBG action plan

At a San Mateo City Council meeting, the council unanimously approved the consent calendar and adopted the City CDBG annual action plan for fiscal year 2025'5—. The roll call on the consent motion recorded all five council members as voting yes. The CDBG action to adopt the annual action plan and submit it to HUD also passed on a 5-0 roll call.

Why it matters: The consent calendar bundled routine administrative items for single-vote approval, and the CDBG action commits federal funds and local carryover to programs that serve low- and moderate-income residents. Actions approved include funding for public services, minor home repair, economic development support and public facilities improvements across San Mateo.

What the council approved under the consent calendar (items noted on the meeting agenda): - Item 5: City council meeting minutes approval (no comment in meeting record). - Item 6: LGBTQIA+ progress pride flag display at City Hall adoption. - Item 7: Final parcel map approval for 29 Bay 3 Way and 20 Second Desabla Road. - Item 8: Metropolitan Transportation Commission transit-oriented communities policy grant adoption. - Item 9: Fleet maintenance services agreement. - Item 10: Wastewater Treatment Plant digester second coating project agreement. - Item 11: East San Mateo sanitary sewer lift station rehabilitation project amendment. - Item 12: On-call professional consultant services agreement amendment. - Item 13: 2025 annual investment policy approval. - Item 14: Citywide curb painting, AB 413 red zones/markings/delineators and striping services amendment (contract to support AB 413 daylighting compliance). - Item 15: 2000 South Delaware affordable housing development agreements. - Item 16: Investment advisory services agreement.

Notable public comment tied to consent items: Allison McQueen urged prioritizing daylighting work required under AB 413 around schools "first this summer before school begins in mid August" so students start the year with improved curb visibility and red curbing near schools. The speaker asked the city to coordinate messaging with school districts and PTAs so the safety improvements are reinforced at the beginning of the school year.

CDBG Annual Action Plan: The Council adopted the FY 2025'6 Annual Action Plan and authorized staff to submit the final plan and execute the funding agreement with HUD. Staff reported the final funding package reflects the entitlement plus program income and carryover, for a total program amount of approximately $1,045,581 to allocate across administration, public services, minor home repair, economic development, public facilities and street/sidewalk improvements in target neighborhoods. Organizations named in staff presentation to receive awards include Project Sentinel (fair housing), Rebuilding Together Peninsula (minor home repair), Renaissance and UPWARDS (economic development), HIP Housing and CORA (public facilities), and multiple city public-works projects targeted at priority neighborhoods.

What happens next: Staff will finalize the action plan to reflect the exact entitlement amount and submit it to HUD. Funded nonprofit recipients will proceed under the year-long contract cycle; street and sidewalk projects will be delivered by City Public Works in priority neighborhoods.

Speakers (attributions limited to meeting participants): Mayor Robert Newsom Jr.; Council members Fernandez, Verkogodicki, Diaz Nash, Deputy Mayor Lorraine; Allison McQueen (public commenter); Jennifer Mora and Rachel Horst (Housing staff); and others delivering routine consent reports or appearing in public comment.

Topics: ["municipal finance","public services","federal grants","street safety","LGBTQIA+ flag"]