2026 Storm Drain Master Plan and flood protection
Summary
A new license with the school district lets the city put a sandbag station at Fiesta Gardens International School in North Central — handy before winter storms hit flood-prone areas.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 6
- Last 30 days
- 5
Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Nov 2, 2026.
Impact analysis
Ongoing catch basin and pipe cleaning is paid for in part by the Community Flood and Storm Protection Fee; no new local funding comes with the state emergency declaration.
North Central residents and businesses facing storm-season flooding.
Private creek-front property owners face burdensome permitting requirements if they want to maintain their own creek segments.
Mentions & discussions (5)
City Council Special Meeting - Nov 2, 2026
A very strong El Niño could bring heavy rain, urban flooding, landslides, and King Tide coastal flooding this winter. The city is prepping its storm system and asking residents to stock sandbags and sign up for SMC Alert.
City Council Regular Meeting - Nov 2, 2026
A new license with the school district lets the city put a sandbag station at Fiesta Gardens International School in North Central — handy before winter storms hit flood-prone areas.
San Mateo Co. launches new radar system ahead of El Niño-fueled winter storms: Here's how it works
San Mateo County leaders are improving how weather information is collected and shared with the public as officials prepare for potentially severe winter storms fueled by El Niño conditions, king tides and climate change.
City Council Regular Meeting - Oct 5, 2026
The city adopted its first storm drain overhaul since 2004 — a $224 million program funded partly by the $4 million-a-year flood fee voters approved in 2023. About 128 San Mateo Village homes may come off the FEMA flood map, potentially ending mandatory flood insurance for those owners.
Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission Meeting - Jun 10, 2026
The city is setting aside $250,000 a year for small flooding fixes that don't score high on the big-plan priority list. One idea under study: systematically replacing undersized storm drain inlets, which could stretch that money across more locations.
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