San Carlos

San Carlos is a city of 32,000 midway down the San Francisco Peninsula — a tight-knit, family-favored community proudly nicknamed the City of Good Living, with a walkable downtown and a general aviation airport. Incorporated 1925, governed by a five-member Council.

CivicCause organizes issues, meetings, elections, and public activity around San Carlos so you can see what is happening locally and how it connects to broader county decisions.

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Daily Summary

2026-07-24

San Carlos City Council has an upcoming meeting on 2026-06-22

The San Carlos City Council held both a regular and a special meeting on June 22, 2026. These meetings represent recent city-level civic activity, although specific agenda details or decisions from these sessions are not provided in the available data.

Separately, San Carlos is advancing several key issues including a November 2026 sales tax measure aimed at addressing a significant unfunded infrastructure backlog covering roads, storm drains, and parks. The city is also preparing to adopt the Northeast Area Specific Plan, a major land use framework for about 145 acres near Highway 101 and Old County Road. Other ongoing priorities include climate resilience planning and efforts to implement the Downtown Specific Plan to enhance urban design and pedestrian experience. Residents following local governance should watch for updates on these initiatives and any future City Council meetings where these topics may be discussed or decided.

Meeting: San Carlos City Council • San Carlos City Council - Regular Meeting Meeting: San Carlos City Council • San Carlos City Council - Special Meeting

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Climate Resilience & Natural Hazard Planning

active

Created by CivicCause

San Carlos is actively engaging residents in planning for the full spectrum of natural hazards facing the Peninsula — a process that has become more urgent as climate-driven storms, sea level rise, and wildfire risk intensify simultaneousl…

Downtown Revitalization — From Plan to Pavement

active

Created by CivicCause

San Carlos finalized its Downtown Specific Plan in January 2026 and is now racing to turn vision into reality. The Downtown Specific Plan, adopted by second reading on January 26, 2026 and effective February 25, 2026, prioritizes enhancing…

The November Sales Tax Measure — Fixing an Unfunded Infrastructure Backlog

active

Created by CivicCause

San Carlos is heading toward a fiscal decision point that will define its infrastructure capacity for years to come. The city is moving toward a November 2026 ballot measure for a 0.5-cent sales tax to address a growing unfunded infrastruc…

The Northeast Area Specific Plan — San Carlos's Biggest Bet

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Created by CivicCause

San Carlos is on the verge of adopting the most significant land use document in the city's recent history. The City Council will hold a public hearing on June 8, 2026 to consider adopting the Northeast Area Specific Plan — a framework gov…

Sheriff's Office Aftermath — Rebuilding Accountability & Trust

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Created by CivicCause

San Mateo County is still working through the fallout of one of the most dramatic law enforcement governance crises in the Bay Area in recent memory. In May 2025, an independent investigation found evidence of conflicts of interest, misuse…