San Mateo County may pay $13M for treatment facility, Pride Center: Supervisors to also study e-bikes, move forward to increase county’s sales tax, consider charter amendments at upcoming meeting 

A controversial treatment facility, referred to as the Palm Recovery Center, operated by nonprofit Horizon Services, proposed to close a gap in needed services in the county was under consideration to be housed near downtown San Mateo on El Camino Real. 

After tensions arose over its location by nearby residents, the county chose to solve the problem by looking elsewhere — but County Executive Mike Callagy emphasized no deal with Horizon has been confirmed yet. 

“I have zero commitment from them on this, but if they want to look at this as an option, they could,” Callagy said. 

The proposed site purchase, at 818-826 Mahler Road, was the former location of the county’s 14-bed Sobering Center operated by since-closed nonprofit StarVista. It was flagged as being an ideal location for a similar-utilized facility. 

The closure of the sobering center in May 2024 created “significant strain on law enforcement, hospitals and community members seeking safe stabilization,” a staff report read. With the property purchase, the sobering station could be reopened within months, it said.

In addition to the sobering center, the Palm Recovery Center would include a withdrawal management and detox space, and residential treatment beds, according to the staff report.

The property is approximately 94,711 square feet, and contains three buildings totaling 34,478 square feet. 

In addition to potentially housing the Palm Recovery Center, the property would be an appropriate facility “for nonprofit operations at a reduced rental amount so nonprofit organizations could stabilize their budgets” and the Pride Center, so it can do the same. 

The Pride Center lost its previous lease and currently does not have office space, after StarVista’s closure. In August 2025, the Pride Center had to move out of its former home at 1021 S. El Camino Real and currently focuses on virtual services and events at satellite locations throughout the county. 

Sales tax proposal

Before the property purchase, supervisors may also agree to sponsor legislation that would increase the local sales tax by up to 0.5%. It would not approve the increase, but allow for future legislation to place a proposal on ballots for voter approval. 

Under the proposed legislation, some areas of San Mateo County could see a combined sales tax rate as high as 10%. 

If ultimately approved by voters, the tax “could provide a revenue solution to provide local funding and ensure continued support for essential services, including childcare, after-school care, early childhood education, food assistance, healthcare support, tenant assistance, senior programs and other general governmental services,” a staff report said. 

E-bike ordinance

A study session is also scheduled during the meeting to be conducted at approximately 1 p.m. to discuss a draft ordinance related to electric micromobility devices. 

San Mateo County leaders, like many throughout California, are trying to find the best way to approach the growing epidemic of illegal electric transportation devices that are putting lives at risk. 

Supervisors Jackie Speier and Ray Mueller held a town hall in February and proposed an ordinance to outline enforcements in March, but bike advocates have largely been opposed and there’s only so much the county can regulate. 

The proposed ordinance specifies the ban of illegal motorcycles on public streets or places. Illegal motorcycles are defined as an electrically powered motor vehicle that resembles a bicycle or motorcycle that does not fall into the legal classifications of e-bikes or cannot be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles. 

Whether electric-micromobility devices, including electric bicycles, electric skateboards, motorized bicycles or motorized scooters, can be used on sidewalks will be up for debate. 

Charter review

Supervisors are also slated to receive a report from the 2026 San Mateo County Charter Review Committee which will propose six amendments to be considered for adoption. 

One amendment proposed is to establish an independent redistricting commission that would work to approve supervisor district boundaries after every 10-year census. Another proposed to extend the vacancy appointment window for elected offices from 30 days to 60 days with a required public meeting.

Amendments also proposed include requiring the Board of Supervisors to review regularly its governance processes and practices, create a human rights and equity commission to ensure fair, accessible and equitable governance is structurally embedded in county systems. The review committee also recommended supervisors making “resilience to extreme weather” a county priority.

At the meeting Tuesday, supervisors will decide if the county should proceed in calling an election in November to consider the amendments to the county’’s charter. 

The lengthy board meeting is slated for 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 5.