Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. Potential for heavy rainfall. High 57F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..
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Becoming cloudy with occasional rain late. Low around 50F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Regarding the article “Better flood prep sought” in the July 19 edition of the Daily Journal. I attended Monday night’s City Council meeting. The flood preparation discussion began with members of the Shoreview Parkside Neighborhood Association. This well-organized group requested the City Council to take action on the numerous issues created by the New year’s Eve flooding. Twenty residents then weighed in with comments, suggestions and criticisms related to the City Council’s inertia on these matters during the last seven months.
The common question to the council was “What are you waiting for?” Mayor Amourence Lee is supporting a ballot measure for a stormwater fee this November, though she admitted this idea is financially inadequate and unpopular.
I also attended the meeting at the San Mateo Library Tuesday night, hosted by Public Works Director Azalea Mitch. She shared a slide presentation by Schaaf & Wheeler, the civil engineering company who assessed the flooding issues. Among other failures, the S&W report revealed that three main culverts, 16th Avenue/Leslie Creek, 19th Avenue Creek and Laurel Creek are too small to handle another 100-year storm, and these neighborhoods will flood again, despite dredging the Marine Lagoon, because the culverts are too small to allow rapid passage of water to the lagoon. These culverts run under Highway 101 and are managed by Caltrans.
The S&W report also indicated that during the New Year’s Eve storm, the five pumps were never all functioning simultaneously, the pump alert system failed, and many of the culverts and creeks were full of garbage. The mayor’s plans do not address the threat of more flooding this winter. The city needs to act now. What are they waiting for?
A ballot measure might be useful for long term maintenance but action is needed within the next 4 months to address the pumps and other critical items to prevent this level of flooding again. I hope we see our City Council address and deliver some immediate relief at their next meeting.
If the 19th & 16th ave culverts under bayshore are clogged, how about DEMANDING caltrans fix the issue NOW of face consequences of failure to act (law suits claiming damages from last years damage and all future damages from clogged culverts). Or, sue them now to fix the issues.
Monday night City Council meeting can be viewed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcOF1ybtbFM
Outstanding meeting with many excellent speakers. Regarding the proposed ballot measure of $8/month fee added to property taxes, (which Mayor Lee admits is unpopular), I think it would be particularly egregious for senior citizens on fixed income and low-income residents. One suggestion would be to exempt from the assessment those people, and perhaps those with incomes less than $100K/year.
We must start taking better care of our seniors (and low-income people). Many are struggling to stay in their homes because of inflation and more taxes (bonds, etc.) being cleverly added to property taxes. Several states (like So. Dakota) exempt residents over age 65 from property taxes, etc. Good idea! And seniors should be exempt from this assessment.
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(3) comments
A ballot measure might be useful for long term maintenance but action is needed within the next 4 months to address the pumps and other critical items to prevent this level of flooding again. I hope we see our City Council address and deliver some immediate relief at their next meeting.
If the 19th & 16th ave culverts under bayshore are clogged, how about DEMANDING caltrans fix the issue NOW of face consequences of failure to act (law suits claiming damages from last years damage and all future damages from clogged culverts). Or, sue them now to fix the issues.
Monday night City Council meeting can be viewed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcOF1ybtbFM
Outstanding meeting with many excellent speakers. Regarding the proposed ballot measure of $8/month fee added to property taxes, (which Mayor Lee admits is unpopular), I think it would be particularly egregious for senior citizens on fixed income and low-income residents. One suggestion would be to exempt from the assessment those people, and perhaps those with incomes less than $100K/year.
We must start taking better care of our seniors (and low-income people). Many are struggling to stay in their homes because of inflation and more taxes (bonds, etc.) being cleverly added to property taxes. Several states (like So. Dakota) exempt residents over age 65 from property taxes, etc. Good idea! And seniors should be exempt from this assessment.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.