Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in East Palo Alto public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
3 issues in taxes budget with medium priority
November 2026 General Municipal Election
Two city council seats — held by Ruben Abrica and Martha Barragan — expire in December 2026, and this resolution sets the election to fill them. The city will pay San Mateo County roughly $52,000 to $62,400 to run the vote, already covered in the budget.
City vacancies and SEIU staffing concerns
Vacancy rate is down to 4.8%, but SEIU says maintenance worker, public works secretary, and building inspector positions have sat empty, stretching workloads.
BMR monitoring fee debate
Below-market-rate homeowners pay $129 a month — about $1,548 a year — for monitoring of their units. Councilmember Dinan called the fee excessive for low-income owners; others defended it as the price of enforcing deed restrictions that has recovered units sold improperly. The fee is now frozen until the EPA CAN DO contract expires in October.