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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.

Part of the San Mateo County network. View county hub.
San Carlos civic mark
Daily Summary
2026-06-08

San Carlos Agenda Highlights Receive a Presentation from Caltrain on their Budget Process, Including…

Upcoming published agendas for San Carlos City Council include Receive a Presentation from Caltrain on their Budget Process, Including their No External Funding Scenario. This summary is based on published agenda items and meeting materials, not confirmed meeting outcomes.

The council also has a regular meeting listed for June 8. Residents can review the meeting page and agenda materials to track what the council is scheduled to consider next.

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

Top Issues in San Carlos

All tracked issues

Priority issue threads currently being tracked across meetings, agencies, and public records.

Climate Resilience & Natural Hazard Planning
active
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
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
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
active
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
active
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…

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Upcoming Civic Activity

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Upcoming meetings

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Recent meetings with summaries

Meeting archive
San Carlos City Council - Regular Meeting
6/8/2026 • 07:00 PM
San Carlos City Council
RecentSummary availableAgenda + causes
Meeting agenda overview The agenda for San Carlos City Council - Regular Meeting on 2026-06-08 listed Consideration of Adopting a Resolution Certifying the Environmental Impact Report for the Northeast Area Specific... …
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
6/9/2026 • 9:00 AM
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
RecentSummary availableAgenda + causes
What's Scheduled San Mateo County Board of Supervisors's 2026-06-09 agenda is scheduled to cover 26-436 Acting as the Governing Board of County Service Area No. 8, conduct a public hearing: A) Open public hearing B)...,…

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CivicCause budget overview

San Carlos Budget Overview

View full budget

San Carlos' adopted two-year budget raises General Fund spending while using reserves that remain above policy minimums.

General Fund spending · FY2025-26 to FY2026-27
$66.9M adopted$69.8M adopted year two+$2.8M