Daly City · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Daly City public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2026 Recreation Events and Community Programming
The city's final event of the year returns December 5, 4 to 7 p.m. at Serramonte Center, with an inflatable winter wonderland and real snow.
Pickleball court shortage at Gellert Park
Pickleball is booming — up to 35 players crowd Gellert Park's two dedicated courts while tennis players and pickleballers clash over shared courts with no posted rules. The Commission directed staff to pilot updated rules and signage and will gather community input November 24; a full $295,000 Westlake court resurfacing remains unfunded.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Roof Replacement Phase II Completion
The second phase of the treatment plant roof replacement is done and staff asked the board to formally sign off. The project ran about $86,000 over the original budget due to unexpected change orders, but stayed within the later approved total.
John Daly/Skyline pedestrian connection completed
The city is moving forward with a new pedestrian path near Thornton State Beach after getting a bargain bid that came in 45% below expectations. Bay Area Lightworks will complete the work for $612,955.
St. George Orthodox Church expansion at 1617 Southgate Avenue
A growing congregation wants to replace its old two-story rear wing with a three-story addition for storage, meeting rooms, and visiting clergy quarters. The Commission unanimously endorsed it; the City Council makes the final call on October 26.
Possible relocation of Daly City Partnership services
A resident warned the council about a plan to move the Daly City Partnership — which feeds and houses mostly Daly City clients — from its accessible current site to a less accessible Pepper Street location, asking for a committee and a pause on the move.
Political signs on public property
Resident Sylvia Alvarez Lynch asked the mayor to lead an ordinance penalizing posting political signs on public property with $300-$500 fines, noting SFPUC helped relocate improperly posted signs.
HUD Action Plan amendment shifting $500K to housing rehab
Daly City will distribute about $1.5 million in federal CDBG and HOME money — down 3–8% from last year — to housing rehab, public services, small business support, and the early learning center.
Evergreen/Winchester/Templeton Sewer Replacement
A construction contract for storm drain pipe repairs was on the agenda — infrastructure work aimed at preventing flooding and drainage failures.
Calls for accountability from censured Council Member DiGiovanni
Nearly a year after being censured, Councilmember DiGiovanni still hasn't completed required training or apologized, and new staff complaints keep coming in. The council voted 4-1 to formally declare her noncompliant, keeping her committee assignments and privileges suspended. Residents packed chambers on both sides of the issue.
$4.5 million Proposition 64 grant
The city was set to accept $4.5 million from the state Board of State and Community Corrections for public health and safety programs.
Domestic Violence Awareness speaker series event
The commission is planning a free evening event with survivor speakers, support-organization panels (CORA, Alice, possibly Shalom Bayit), and legal/prevention updates from the DA and police. Open questions include venue, security, trauma-informed design, childcare, and language interpretation.
Women's Commission Strategic Planning and Retreat Follow-up
The commission was scheduled to present initial findings and recommendations from its study of the status of women in Daly City. This work could shape future city programs and policies affecting women residents.
Safe Routes to School project contract amendment
The city is redesigning pedestrian and bike safety improvements near three schools, but the proposed amendment would drop the lane reduction after residents worried about traffic congestion. The council tabled it until September for more community input.
Mixed-use library facilities concept
Trustee Tronco floated the idea of housing atop a new or renovated library building. Director Anderson noted the city has no plans for a new facility and funding would be the key factor.
Boards and Commissions Overhaul
A new ordinance would standardize how all city boards and commissions work — $50 per meeting, attendance rules, and a clear process for removing members who miss three meetings or 20% of meetings — after quorum problems sidelined a commission.
Library access during winter break and as community cooling spaces
A resident asked the board to keep libraries open during winter school break and to open the John Daly Library and community center as cooling zones during next year's Top of the Hill event. She framed libraries as essential third spaces for seniors and kids.
Mussel Rock Landfill Planned Retreat Plan
The council approved another Tetra Tech contract amendment to finish the landfill retreat management plan required by the Coastal Commission — after one member raised concerns about the firm's recent $57 million false-claims settlement.
Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety
Fire Chief Nick Gracia warned the council and public that lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes, scooters, phones, and EVs pose a growing fire hazard — including toxic 'thermal runaway' fires — and urged residents to use UL-certified chargers and recycle damaged batteries properly.
Commercial Cannabis Equity Regulations
The city is changing one word in its cannabis equity rules — from requiring applicants to meet ALL eligibility criteria to meeting ANY — to match state guidance and widen access for those affected by past cannabis enforcement.
City Hall Roof Replacement
City Hall's nearly 30-year-old roof is leaking — including over sensitive police electronics — so the council approved an $871,000 replacement contract with a 30-year warranty. Part of the cost comes from delaying the City Hall parking lot expansion to next fiscal year.
Council Censure Accountability
During public comment, Recreation Commissioner Fernando Montanes pressed the council to refer the censure of Councilmember DiGiovanni to the District Attorney and Fair Political Practices Commission, arguing six months is too long to wait given the roughly $100,000 spent on investigations.
Employee ownership as business succession strategy
With over half of small business owners 55 or older and few finding buyers, Project Equity proposes converting businesses to worker co-ops, employee ownership trusts, or ESOPs to save local jobs and keep wealth in the community. The commission may bring a fuller workshop to Daly City businesses if email outreach shows interest.
Top of the Hill Festival RFP Process and Transparency
The City is promoting this year's festival with ads on TV, YouTube, bus stops, and airports, aiming well beyond last year's ~20,000 attendees. The festival now extends to the newly opened Grocery Outlet, and the car show raises money for Jefferson High School robotics.
Small Business Engagement Day and commission vacancy
The third annual engagement day, now set for Thursday, November 12, invites all 7,000+ registered businesses to raise concerns directly with commissioners — last year it helped save nearly a dozen tenants from eviction. The five-member commission also has one vacancy the City Council will fill, requiring a licensed Daly City business owner.
Affordable housing local preference
The council moved forward on giving preference in affordable units to households that live or work in Daly City, responding to population decline and residents being priced out to Tracy and Stockton.
Callan Boulevard Water Main Replacement
The old water main above Serramonte has leaked repeatedly and sits in hard-to-reach hillside terrain with tree roots threatening it. The $1.35 million replacement adds 2,170 feet of new 12-inch pipe and improves water reliability and fire flows for big chunks of the city.
Zoning Ordinance Updates (Ordinance No. 1494)
A bundle of code fixes: clearer building-height measurement, longer permit lifespans, fewer permits for condos, and stricter front-yard paving rules. It makes it easier and faster for projects — from ADUs to condo buildings — to actually get built in Daly City.
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (No. 1493)
Ordinance No. 1493 would amend the city's inclusionary housing rules in Chapter 17.47 — the requirements that tie new development to affordable housing. This affects what gets built, how much affordable housing is produced, and ultimately housing costs in Daly City.
San Francisco Proposition G — Great Highway access
A San Francisco resident asked Daly City leaders to support Prop G, which would reopen the Great Highway to cars on weekdays — a route many peninsula commuters use.
Temporary License — Vacant Mission and Hillside Property
The city manager was to be authorized to sign a temporary license agreement with Daly City Mitsubishi for the vacant city property at Mission and Hillside — a short-term use of public land.
Mission Street Corridor Improvement District Strategy
The city is pivoting from a property-based district to a BID where Mission Street businesses would assess themselves to pay for cleanups, events, marketing, and beautification. A council vote could happen by December, and a business-led board would decide how funds are spent.
Status of Women in Daly City Report
Draft data shows Daly City households earn about 78 cents on the county's median dollar, with lower educational attainment, and a population that is nearly 50% foreign-born with 59% speaking a non-English language at home. Commissioners want to understand and address these gaps through policy recommendations.
Lincoln Community Center as a gathering space
A resident asked whether the Lincoln Community Center could open as a neighborhood gathering and meeting space to boost civic engagement.
Westlake Park Public-Private Partnership with The Olympic Club
Speakers slammed a proposed deal in which the Olympic Club would spend $10 million on Doelger Senior Center improvements in exchange for guaranteed weekly access — warning it would mean synthetic turf, fencing, and exclusive use of a public park. The council stressed no decision has been made and town halls are scheduled.
Safe routes to libraries
A resident asked the city to think about safe walking and biking routes to libraries, not just schools. Staff agreed to check with the City Manager's office or Public Works about the grant-funded Safe Routes to School program.
Chromebook access at library branches
The library's laptop loaner fleet had shrunk to about 20 working units across four branches. New grants will bring in 22 replacement Chromebooks, roughly doubling access for patrons who don't have a computer at home.
State and county park pass lending
A trustee tested the state park pass checkout and found it simple and reliable. The library has added San Mateo County park passes too — a free way for families to access parks without entrance fees.
Library mobile app visibility
The Daly City Library app has existed since 2024, but even trustees didn't know about it. The board wants to boost promotion, and asked for a future presentation on the Libby e-book app.
Declining library usage
Ten years of data show visits and physical checkouts down from pre-pandemic levels, with Serramonte hit especially hard by construction closures and parking issues; e-book use keeps climbing. The board wants comparisons to other Bay Area libraries.
GIS local history program
After looking into Oakland's community archive model, staff concluded Daly City can't replicate it — it's run by a third-party archivist. Instead, they suggested a GIS mapping project of historically significant local places via a grant, and trustees said go for it.
Fire chief appointment
Daly City introduced its ninth fire chief, Nicholas Escracia — a hometown product with 25 years on the department, picked from a 30-candidate national search.
Proposed billiards hall at 6232 Mission Street
A vacant retail building on Mission Street could become a family-friendly billiards hall with 21 pool tables, snacks, and bottled beer. Commissioners and speakers framed it as giving Daly City teens and families a safe recreational option, with conditions on hours, security, and no loitering.
ADU Regulation Repeal — Zone Change ZC-04-26-17042
The city wants to scrap its local ADU rules to align with state law, but Sacramento hasn't finished reviewing the changes, so the item was tabled.
Cormorant Project Groundbreaking Near Cow Palace
A groundbreaking for the Cormorant project near the Cow Palace is set for Tuesday, September 15 at 11 a.m. Commissioner Mann, who will speak at the event, praised the developer's community involvement and invited board members to attend.
Account Clerk III Promotional Hiring List
The board received eligibility lists for five job classifications, including roles tied to the sewer, water, fire, and building-permit operations residents rely on. These lists are the pool of qualified candidates the city can hire from.
Legacy Business Recognition Program
The third annual celebration honored five long-standing businesses like Classic Bowl and Hilltop Beauty School, and commissioners want to broaden next year's honorees — possibly including the city's DJ companies.
Business License Renewals and Tax Deadlines
Every Daly City business owes its license tax by October 1, calculated on prior-year gross income — not net profit. IRS extensions don't help; late filers face accruing penalties. Commissioners are being enlisted to remind businesses in their networks.
Small Business Entrepreneurship Resources
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center offers free classes — from choosing an LLC vs. sole proprietorship to marketing and branding, some in Spanish — plus a Capital Summit at the Cow Palace on July 28 connecting businesses with funders.
Research & Report Subcommittee findings
The Research & Report Subcommittee was scheduled to share initial findings and recommendations from its work.