South San Francisco · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in South San Francisco public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Hybrid meeting access
A memo on hybrid meetings could make it easier for residents and commissioners to participate without attending in person.
Fire Station 63 Site and Hetch Hetchy Concerns
A resident questioned whether the city checked with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission before building Fire Station 63 next to Hetch Hetchy water lines, citing past project oversights. The related Westborough Boulevard acceptance moved forward with a corrected Planning Commission date of October 15.
Brown Act compliance training for committee members
The committee got a refresher on California's open-meeting law: no group emails or reply-alls, no reacting to each other's social media posts about committee business, and strict rules for remote participation. Violations can void decisions and bring penalties.
Electric vehicle fire response capability
A $205,000 federal grant buys a 'Cold Cut Cobra' system that pierces EV battery packs with water mist — cutting firefighting water use from up to 15,000 gallons to about 200 and keeping firefighters out of toxic smoke.
Community feedback survey at city events
Commissioners will start asking residents a short set of open-ended questions at events like Juneteenth and National Night Out — about belonging, safety, and what services the city is missing. A new ad hoc committee will run the campaign and analyze trends, with results posted publicly.
Equity lens for city communications
The commission's ad hoc committee is working with the city's communications manager to figure out how to get city information to residents who aren't reached by social media — possibly through trusted community liaisons.
Police LGBTQ Liaison Program
South San Francisco's police department runs one of only two accredited LGBTQ liaison programs in California. The program supports both the community and LGBTQ employees inside the department, and a formal transition-support policy is being developed with HR.
Annual Military Equipment Report (AB 481)
State law requires the police department to report publicly on its military-style equipment — drones, less-lethal launchers, patrol rifles, and an armored rescue vehicle. Drones were used on every major incident in 2025, and the drone-as-first-responder program is expanding. All flight data is posted on a public transparency portal.
Fire department portable radio replacement
Firefighters' radios are more than ten years old and breaking down; the council approved buying 75 new Bendix King radios for up to $350,000, though two members balked at the price.
Video archive retention and ADA accessibility
The city keeps meeting videos online back to 2009, but new state law requires closed captioning. The council confirmed no videos will be deleted, and staff will get cost estimates for making older videos accessible.
Meeting Minutes Transparency
A speaker argued the city stopped summarizing public comment topics in meeting minutes in 2020 and questioned the legal basis, asking the city attorney to revisit the practice at the upcoming handbook discussion.
Drone First Responder site at Westborough Preschool
An anonymous $157,573.79 donation through the 100 Club of San Mateo County will enhance the police drone program, which has already helped catch an armed robbery crew and locate a gun at a hotel fight.
Tobacco Grant Program funding
A $157,722 state grant will fund overtime for compliance checks, retailer education, and school outreach on flavored tobacco and vaping through 2028 — building on the city's early flavored tobacco ban.
Signalized Intersection Battery Backup Citywide Project
The city planned to hire W. Bradley Electric for up to $1.25 million to install battery backups at traffic signals citywide, so signals keep working during power outages. That's a safety upgrade for drivers and pedestrians at major intersections.
Police Shooting
Another police shooting in South San Francisco? That's two in three weeks, and people are understandably asking what's going on with public safety and how the police are doing their jobs.