San Mateo mayor previews ‘Investing now in a sustainable future’ in 2026 State of the City address

Mayor Adam Lorraine outlined a plan for long-term resilience and service delivery in San Mateo during the city’s 2026 State of the City address, framing the year ahead under the theme “Investing now in a sustainable future.”

The speech highlighted the citywide strategic plan adopted last September and said the administration will prioritize climate resilience, infrastructure, transportation and housing. Lorraine pointed to the ribbon-cutting for a new wastewater treatment plant — which he described as the centerpiece of a $1 billion clean-water program — as an example of long-term infrastructure investment.

Lorraine also listed recent policy and operational milestones: adoption of a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers paired with resident and landscaper rebate programs, updated reach codes to advance building electrification, a new my San Mateo customer-service platform, and staffing gains that reduced vacancies from 12% to 6.6%. He credited Peninsula Clean Energy for supporting projects such as a solar carport at the Beresford Recreation Center that the mayor said will offset the building’s annual energy use and save an estimated $450,000 over the project’s life.

On public safety and emergency preparedness, Lorraine cited a 16% drop in reported retail thefts in 2025 and described the police department’s expanded real-time information center and a drone-as-first-responder program that logged 981 flights last year. He closed by urging residents to engage with city processes — applying for boards and commissions, using the my San Mateo app and joining outreach around upcoming plans such as the storm drain master plan and sea-level rise adaptation work.

The address ended with a question-and-answer session in which city department leaders answered audience questions on transportation, development, public safety and other topics. The city said the video and responses will be posted online within one to two weeks.