Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Belmont public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
3 issues in public safety
El Niño Winter Storm Preparedness
NOAA forecasts a greater than 90% chance of a very strong El Niño this winter, bringing flooding, landslide, and drainage risks. The council's emergency proclamation lets the city formalize heightened readiness, and residents can pitch in by adopting storm drains and grabbing sandbags.
ALPR Data Sharing — Grand Jury Response
The grand jury examined police license plate readers; Belmont's response notes it already stopped sharing data with private university security and limited sharing to 17 county law enforcement agencies, with contract compliance language planned at 2027 renewal.
Ralston Student Pedestrian Safety
A Carlmont High School senior led a 15-student bike ride and reported that Belmont's major arterials — Ralston, Alameda, Old County, El Camino — feel unsafe to bike, keeping students in cars and worsening school-zone congestion.