Town manager reports on Oct. 29 town halls, emergency‑alert gaps and a cycling‑event permit issue

Town Manager Jason Ledbetter reported to the Woodside Town Council on recent community engagement and public‑safety matters.

Ledbetter said the town held two town halls on Oct. 29: one to allow public engagement with Caltrans about a proposed four‑way stop at the Highway 35 and Highway 84 intersection, and a separate panel moderated by County Supervisor Ray Mueller that included the County Department of Emergency Management, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and the Woodside Fire Protection District to discuss emergency‑notification systems. "The town hall was held here in Independence Hall...the public showed up in person and via Zoom on this topic with over 100 public participants attending," Ledbetter said.

He said the town initiated the emergency‑system town hall after the I‑280 fire over Labor Day weekend when some community members who were signed up for alerts were not notified. Ledbetter described discussion points including training agencies on posting procedures and the need to provide a final posting when escalation has subsided.

Ledbetter also summarized outreach at Woodside Elementary on Nov. 5 and described responding to a reported near‑collision between an equestrian and an unpermitted group of cycling participants; after staff contacted organizers they "worked to take measures" the organizers said would bring safety and compliance and the resident who reported the incident was "very satisfied with this outcome," Ledbetter said. Staff told the council organizers were informed they must appear before the circulation committee for future permits.

Council had no public speakers on these items and moved on to other business.