Sara McDowell, Councilmember, City of San Carlos

06/13/2026

What a crowd for last night's World Cup match at Wheeler Plaza! Thank you to the City's Parks and Recreation Department for organizing, the Parks and Recreation Foundation for selling beverages, and AYSO and San Carlos United for hosting fun activities. Learn more about watch parties and promotions hosted by San Carlos businesses online at cityofsancarlos.org/fanfest

05/18/2026

Another fun-filled Hometown Days event is in the books! Loved the exciting addition of the Charter Derby down Arroyo hill this year. A big thank you to our City staff and the army of volunteers who make this event so memorable for our community every year - truly something that makes San Carlos the City of Good Living.

05/13/2026

On Monday night the City Council voted to proceed with planning for an aquatic facility at Laureola Park, and today's Daily Journal does a good job summarizing the discussion. All of the public feedback was greatly appreciated. Staff will begin a master plan process that will analyze amenities for both the current footprint of the park and a potential new, larger footprint if the City can acquire the adjacent property currently owned by Sequoia Union High School District. The meeting is available at the following link, with the pool discussion beginning at the 3:50 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR04ZZZ-wZ0

05/08/2026

Time to weigh in on a potential pool and community center! This coming Monday staff will present 4 options to the City Council, and feedback is welcome via email, or in-person or remote participation during the meeting. Community outreach conducted during the Parks Master Plan process suggested that a new community center and aquatic facility were top priorities for the community. The consultant team and staff also identified a need for expanded community center space due to limitations in accommodating existing programs in current recreation facilities. Please review the slide on costs when weighing options, and keep in mind that the City may need to wait for funding to become available in order to move the plans forward. Review the staff report and meeting packet for more information at this link: https://www.cityofsancarlos.org/city_hall/public_meetings.php

05/06/2026

Yesterday I attended the San Mateo County kickoff for May Mental Health Month at Allcove in San Mateo. I was delighted to reconnect with mental health champions like San Mateo Vice Mayor Nicole Fernandez, Sylvia Tang from the Office of Diversity and Equity at San Mateo County Health, Taylor Mannion-Coutts, Director of Programs, Peninsula Su***de Prevention at the Felton Institute, and Jackie Almes, Program Manager at Allcove. The event featured an incredible panel, including a teen representative, speaking to mental health and su***de prevention in a high-stress environment like Silicon Valley. Many organizations that serve our community were featured as well. Allcove is a gem in our County, open to all young people ages 12-25 with mild to moderate needs looking for support - including mental health, physical health, peer support, substance use, family support and even education and career coaching. All free. Open to San Carlos youth, too. Go check it out: https://allcove.org/centers/san-mateo/
More info on May Mental Health Month here: https://www.smchealth.org/mental-health-month

05/04/2026

Yesterday's San Carlos Farmers Market was extra special - featuring a new layout to support the market vendors and our brick-and-mortar businesses, as well as a Small Business Open House at the Sereno Christie's Real Estate Office hosted by the San Carlos Women Business Owners. Be sure to check out this directory of women business owners in San Carlos and shop local! https://www.dilsweb.com/san-carlos

05/01/2026

We had a packed house yesterday at the Adult Community Center’s "Best in the West" celebration, recognizing the ACC's recent award as the Center of It All: Best Senior Center in California by the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) Aging Section. Congratulations to all of our hard-working staff who make our ACC an incredible place for our community, and a big thank you to the Friends of the ACC and all the volunteers who contribute their time and energy as well. The ACC is a true gem in our community!

04/17/2026

It was an incredible evening last night celebrating Vicci Mueller as San Carlan of the Year and Town as Business of the Year at the Community Foundation of San Carlos' gala. Mrs. Mueller's six decades of impact in San Carlos span her time as a beloved educator, a member of the Kiwanis Club, Chair of the Lions Club Student Speaker Contest, Chair of the Chickens Ball, and as a volunteer at Hometown Days, the Family Tree thrift store, and the City's Centennial committee. Last night Mrs. Mueller talked about how our school district and our community at large feel "like family" and I feel fortunate that my own children have benefitted from her genuine love and care during her days in the classroom.

Greg St. Claire accepted the Business of the Year award on behalf of his incredible team at Town, and it was moving to hear about his business philosophy of always giving back to our community, from donating to the San Carlos Education Foundation and investing in our public schools, to supporting the Ronald McDonald House, local youth sports programs, and the 49ers Foundation. I remember in the early days of the pandemic, Greg and his team showed up to a weekly food distribution at One Life Counseling Center with hundreds of meals, and he was there unloading them and giving them out to families in the drive-through. Greg's message last night was "life is not a spectator sport;" we all need to get involved in some way in our community.

We are so fortunate to have people like Vicci Mueller and Greg St. Claire in our community, and a huge thank you to the Community Foundation of San Carlos for recognizing them last night via these important awards. Our Community Foundation also supports many of the non-profits doing critical work in our community, like One Life Counseling Center, Each Green Corner, Caring Cupboard, the San Carlos Children's Theater and Villages of San Mateo County. Learn more about about how to support their work here: www.cfsancarlos.org.

03/26/2026

At yesterday's Redwood City Fire Department Badge Pinning Ceremony, Chief Baraka Carter emphasized that public service is not just an individual career, it is a family commitment. Those remarks are so true, especially for our public safety officials who work long hours away from their loved ones. It was moving to watch the spouses, kids, and even fathers participate in the badge pinning. I was delighted to congratulate Deputy Chief Shon Buford, who will be serving San Carlos, and thank his family for sharing him with our community. Learn more about Deputy Chief Buford here: https://www.redwoodcity.org/departments/fire-department/about-the-department/command-staff

03/25/2026

Do you love our San Carlos parks but have ideas for future improvements? Just 5 days left to share your thoughts on the San Carlos Parks Master Plan, which provides a 20-year roadmap for the future of parks and recreation in San Carlos.
Submit comments now through March 30, 2026 online: sancarlosparksmp.com

📢The Draft San Carlos Parks Master Plan is now available for public review!

After an extensive planning and community engagement process, the City of San Carlos is inviting residents to review the Draft Parks Master Plan and share feedback.

The plan provides a 20-year roadmap for the future of parks and recreation in San Carlos, shaped by input from more than 4,000 community members through surveys, pop-up events, workshops, and meetings throughout the planning process.

🗓 Public review period: Now through March 30, 2026

Submit comments online: sancarlosparksmp.com

Community feedback will help inform the final version of the plan before it is presented to City commissions and the City Council for adoption this spring.

Learn more and share your thoughts: sancarlosparksmp.com