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San Carlos council adopts downtown specific plan ordinances, forms subcommittee to improve sheriff ties
Summary
Council approved the consent calendar — including ordinances adopting the downtown specific plan (Ordinance Nos. 1632 and 1633) — and voted to create a short‑term subcommittee to strengthen connections with the sheriff's department. The sheriff contract was discussed; staff said it expires June 2030.
The San Carlos City Council on Jan. 26 approved its consent calendar, including two ordinances that adopt the city’s downtown specific plan, and formed a new subcommittee to focus on the city’s relationship with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
Councilmember Dugan moved to approve consent calendar items A–J and to adopt Ordinance Nos. 1632 and 1633, which the staff described as amendments to the San Carlos Municipal Code to codify and adopt the downtown specific plan. The motion passed on roll call; councilmembers present voted yes and the mayor called the motion passed. Vice Mayor publicly recused from item 9(f) because she lives near one of the parks referenced in that item; the recusal was noted before the vote.
During the appointments item, Interim City Manager Niall Blackburn told the council the packet lists roughly 31 regional agencies and ad hoc committees the council serves on, which together amount to roughly 156 meetings per year across the council. "Some of these associations meet monthly, some meet quarterly," Blackburn said as he summarized the attachments and proposed changes.
Vice Mayor proposed creating a short‑term subcommittee to build stronger connections between the council, the community and county sheriff personnel — citing frequent turnover among sheriff leadership assigned to San Carlos. "I feel like we don't have a great connection between the council and the community and the sheriff's department," the Vice Mayor said, urging a subcommittee to discuss retention and community engagement.
Council discussed the limits of its authority under the county contract. Greg explained the existing contract allows an annual review of the "level of service" but does not control operational methods; he said the contract expires in June 2030 and that staff and the sheriff can negotiate amendments in the interim. "The contract does not prohibit us from asking for things in the meantime and asking for amendments," Greg said, while clarifying the city lacks authority over how the sheriff provides law enforcement services.
Councilmember Dugan moved to approve the appointments list and create a community‑sheriff subcommittee, nominating Councilmembers Rack and Laden to serve; the motion passed on roll call.
No changes to the sheriff contract were adopted that evening; staff indicated contract language and budgetary items can be addressed during future reviews and negotiations.
