The following playgrounds will open tomorrow: Paloma, Victoria, Trenton, and Alpine. More City playgrounds will open next week. Stay tuned for that information in the coming week.

As with all other activities we are engaging in during COVID-19, individuals will have to make their own decisions about what risks they feel comfortable taking. We all need to take personal responsibility by following the rules, being a good neighbor, and taking steps to protect ourselves and our families. Remember, your actions affect the health and well-being of our community. Learn more on the California Department of Public Health website at https://www.cdph.ca.gov.

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has established a $2 million grant program for small-scale residential rental property owners in the county who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The maximum grant amount is $6,000 and the amount of each grant will be based on demonstrated lost rental income during the period of April 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020 for a qualifying unit. As such, actual grant amounts will vary.

The launching of this Program is planned for October 14. The application landing page and link will be posted at SMCStrong.org. Applications will be available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Once launched, the application window will be open for two weeks. This is not a "first come, first served" program. All applications received during the application window will be reviewed and considered.

The application and any updates will be posted at https://www.smcstrong.org/ . For more information and a list of FAQs about the Program, visit the City's website.

Environmental and community based non-profit organizations are invited to apply for a $40,000 grant to help Peninsula Clean Energy spread the word on clean renewable electricity, electric vehicles, and other environmental programs. Applications must be received by October 30, 2020. Learn more and apply here.

Adults aged 18 and over can schedule a free COVID-19 test on Tuesdays through Saturdays at the San Mateo County Event Center. To see testing availability and make an appointment, visit Project Baseline. To visit an alternative testing site, click here to see a list of available locations, dates, and times.

Public Works staff sweep city streets every week. Street sweeping helps remove leaves and other debris that collect along the curb as well as prevent localized flooding during heavy rains. Street sweeping will continue to be performed every week until further notice.

Click here to view a map of your sweeping district and see which day your street is scheduled to be swept.

Please help us improve our ability to pick up leaves, debris, and storm drain pollutants by moving your cars off the street on the morning (or night before) sweeping occurs. Because many of us are working from home these days, we understand if that might not be possible. We also encourage everyone to consider adopting a storm drain near their home. Adopting a drain means pledging to keep it free of leaves and litter which keeps the San Francisco Bay cleaner.

Contact the Public Works Corporation Yard at 650-558-7670 for information on your sweeping day. Thank you for keeping Burlingame clean.

All registered voters were mailed their ballots this past weekend, with many residents receiving their ballots on Saturday! The City Clerk has received several questions from members of the public. Some of the most commonly asked questions are addressed below.

Sign up to track your ballot at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov. You will then be alerted to when your ballot is mailed to you, received by the Elections Office, and counted. It will even let you know if there is an issue with your ballot. If there is an issue, under the law, you are able to reach out to the County Elections Office to correct the issue and make sure your ballot counts.

In California, if the signature on your vote by mail ballot envelop doesn’t match your signature on file at the Elections Office or if you failed to sign your envelope, you are allowed to correct the issue by contacting the Elections Office. You have up until two days before the Elections Office certifies the election to cure this issue. The County will certify the election towards the end of November.

The Elections Office currently has scheduled pick-ups of our City’s drop boxes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. After the next couple of weeks, it will be picked up more frequently.

The Elections Office has already started processing ballots mail-in and drop box ballots. Processing ballots includes checking signatures, running ballots through their scanners, and storing your votes. On November 3 at 8:00 p.m., they will run a tally of all the stored votes. This tally will continue on Election Night until all the Voting Centers have returned their vote counts to the Elections Office. This process will continue until every last vote that was received on time is counted.

If you have additional questions or concerns about voting, please reach out to City Clerk Meaghan Hassel-Shearer at mhasselshearer@burlingame.org, or at 650-558-7203. Lastly, wear your "I Voted" sticker with pride to let the community know that your voice was heard and counted! Do you need a new sticker? Reach out to the City Clerk.

At this time, the City is seeking to fill two vacant seats on the Traffic, Safety & Parking Commission. The Council will likely appoint each Commissioner to the full three-year term. Applicants should be aware that the Council will soon discuss the possibility of having the Commission meet twice a month. The application deadline has been extended to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2020 because one of the two incumbents has chosen not to reapply. Click here for more information about the Traffic, Safety and Parking Commission and to access the application and supplemental questionnaire. If you have any questions, please contact Ana Silva in the City Manager’s Office at 650-558-7204.

The City of Burlingame invites the community to nominate a Burlingame veteran or current member of the U.S. Armed Forces for special recognition this Veterans Day. Mayor Beach will present certificates of appreciation virtually to new nominees at the November 2 City Council meeting. If the service member is unable to participate in the virtual meeting, a family member or friend may accept the certificate on his or her behalf.

Please note that certificates of appreciation will be awarded to new honorees, not those previously recognized in prior years.

Please send an email with the following information to info@burlingame.org, and include "Veterans Day" in the subject line, no later than Monday, October 26.

Your information (nominator):

Service member information (nominee):

Brush up on your knowledge of Burlingame history by viewing Episode 5 of the Burlingame Before series produced by the Burlingame Historical Society.

Be sure to check in next month for a new video.

Imagine driving a car that doesn't require gas station fill-ups, smog checks, or changes in transmission fluid, and for the most part, is maintenance free. In addition, imagine that your car doesn't emit any pollution, can idle quietly, and can be refueled in the comfort of your home. Now imagine getting $1,000 back for purchasing such a car!

Peninsula Clean Energy is now offering a $1,000 rebate for the purchase of a new electric vehicle (EV) and $700 rebates for a new plug-in hybrid. Take advantage of the program until December 31, 2020. Test driving opportunities are also available here.

Join the Great California ShakeOut on October 15 by using the Earthquake Warning California MyShake app to receive a test earthquake warning. The California Institute of Technology and the California Geological Survey launched the nation’s first State Earthquake Early Warning System in October of 2019. The system uses ground motion sensors and sensors in smartphones to detect an earthquake before humans can feel it and issues a ShakeAlert® Message in real time so participants can take cover before shaking happens. An earthquake warning can provide additional life-saving seconds for people to Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Click here to learn more!

Thursdays, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Please continue to follow these important tips for shopping the Fresh Market:

For more information, visit burlingamechamber.org.

via Zoom. Register here.

Are you interested in building a rain garden in your yard but don’t know where to start? This free online workshop will cover the basics of rain gardens and take attendees through considerations, helpful tips, and “how to's” for the design, construction, and maintenance of a new rain garden. A lucky attendee will win a gift card to their choice of Home Depot, Hassett Ace Hardware, or Lyngso Garden Materials.

This workshop is brought to you by the City of Burlingame, the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency, and Flows to Bay the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program. Learn more and register today by clicking here.

Residents need to bring their own shovel and are eligible for two large garbage cans full of compost. Please contact the Parks Division office at 650-558-7330, or email gborba@burlingame.org to schedule a pick-up time.

As part of Burlingame’s General Plan Update that the City Council adopted in 2019, a vision emerged for the transformation of the North Rollins Road area into a dynamic, multigenerational, vibrant, and eclectic mixed-use neighborhood.

Over the next 12 months, the City, with input from the community, will be developing a specific plan to guide the incremental implementation of this vision. Please virtually attend this workshop to RE-CREATE the vision with us. Follow along on our project website for updates and share widely with your community.

via Zoom. Pre-registration required.

Governor Newsom’s announcement that California will phase out gas-powered vehicles by 2035 means this is a good time to consider buying an electric vehicle. And now, thanks to Peninsula Clean Energy, San Mateo County residents can get a $1,000 rebate on a new all-battery electric vehicle (EV) or a $700 rebate on a plug-in hybrid through December 31.

At this workshop, you’ll learn about the benefits of EVs, charging basics, government rebates, the pros and cons of buying versus leasing, and news about upcoming models. Local EV experts will provide real-time answers to questions via chat during the presentation. During the last 45 minutes, EV owners will invite attendees to breakout sessions to learn more about specific EV models.

This workshop is presented by the Citizens Environmental Council in partnership with Acterra. Admission is free, but pre-registration is required. For more information, visit http://www.burlingamecec.org.