Foster City may add a 3rd pump

It’s actually a fairly simple piece of visionary infrastructure. Foster City, a planned suburb that sprang from the fertile imagination of Oklahoma developer T. Jack Foster, required a reliable mechanism to handle stormwater runoff from heavy rains.

The answer: Utilize a planned lagoon system as a huge catch-basin for accumulated storm runoff. Then, as needed, two powerful pumps could discharge it into the Bay at critical periods.

Should the pair of pumps both fail, for whatever reason, or, if even one of them should malfunction at a key moment (heavy rainfall combined with a significant high tide in particular), serious flooding and the damage associated with it could ensue. That has yet to occur. Mercifully.

Still, as predictions of sea-level rise and an increase in the number of major storms persists, there has been a call to add a third pump to the town’s infrastructure portfolio for the sake of secure redundancy.

Such an addition, when combined with extensive work to raise the town’s levees, would be a marked protective upgrade for residents and businesses alike.

The most recent cost estimate for the additional pump and related improvements to the water control system is $2 million, according to city documents posted online.

Such an investment would seem prudent under the uncertain circumstances going forward.

ERIC JACOBSON HAS RETURNED: Eric Jacobson is back at El Camino High School in a limited capacity. The longtime teacher-coach-athletic director is handling public address announcing for the Colts’ basketball home games this winter.

This development is noteworthy because Jacobson has been out of action for awhile. Over time, he has had surgery to remove the lower portion of both of his legs due to a nagging medical condition that became too painful to endure. His most recent amputation was performed this past fall.

This month’s return to campus, albeit in a low-key, preliminary manner, has been a welcome circumstance for all involved.

SURPRISE NORTH BAY BART LINE: Not long ago, a Channel 7 weather savant was discussing unusually high tides anticipated to occur during the week. She warned that low-lying locations in the North Bay could be especially impacted (again) and noted that folks living and traveling there should exercise caution “if you are taking BART.” BART in the North Bay. Really? Someone please inform the transit system honchos.

E-BIKES ARE A GROWING HAZARD: Has anyone else noticed an increase in scofflaw e-bike riders in these precious parts? It just seems as though more and more of them are revving up their two-wheelers and blowing through local stop signs with dangerous impunity. It’s becoming a problem for pedestrians, bicyclists and operators of motor vehicles who cannot anticipate the speedy e-bikers at intersections. We’re heading for trouble.

THANKS FOR THE REMINDER: This weighty headline was spotted on an online Peninsula community website recently: “The Vietnam War era was a volatile period in American history.” No kidding. It most assuredly was that — and more. But thanks for reminding us.

HALL OF FAME EVENT SET JUNE 27: The 2024 iteration of the Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony (the event made its debut in 1989) will be held June 27 at the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City. Mark your calendar.

You can get in touch with John Horgan by email at  johnhorganmedia@gmail.com. His book, “Cradle of Champions — A Selected History of San Mateo County Sports,” is available via historysmc.org/online-store. All proceeds benefit the San Mateo County Historical Association based in Redwood City.