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.
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.
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.
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.
Engagement Subcommittee November 5th event
The commission's Engagement Subcommittee was set to update plans for a community event on November 5th.
Sewing machine kits now checkout-able
Thanks to an Empowering Access grant, sewing machine kits (machine, book, tools, thread) launched at all four branches for three-week checkout — a "library of things" expansion, with ukuleles possibly next.
Serramonte outdoor holds locker
The city council allocated money June 8 for an outdoor holds locker at the Serramonte library — think Amazon-style pickup, available even when the building is closed. Public works and the library system are working on the concrete foundation and power/data hookups.
Edgewood Park illegal dumping and deterioration
Neighbors described mattresses, furniture, and appliances dumped at Edgewood Park, cars parked in fire lanes, and a playground slide boarded up for over a year. The mayor pointed to the iHelp reporting tool, the illegal dumping task force, and a $15,000 camera grant program.
Magical Bridge Playground groundbreaking
The inclusive playground at Hillside Park breaks ground Thursday, but some residents told the council they felt outreach about parking impacts fell short; the city manager detailed a year of outreach and a second parking phase.
Youth Commissioner Seat Recruitment
The city created a youth commissioner seat and alternate to give teens a voice on the Recreation Commission, but finding a 13–17 year old who can commit for two years is the challenge. Commissioners debated targeting older teens versus younger ones, and whether stipends could help.
Hip Hop Day 2026 Sponsorship
The free, all-ages Hip Hop Day festival is set for August 22, and Commissioner Ortiz is searching for sponsors and donations to keep food and admission free for everyone.
Build a Dream Scholarship Funding
FoggyCon raised about $6,000 toward the Build a Dream Scholarship program, which has already given out $15,000 in more than 50 scholarships this year. Events like this keep the scholarship fund going for youth, teens, and seniors.
Library usage and summer programming
April was busy — over 20,000 visits and 42 programs. Summer learning is launching with reading logs, free books, and a $1,000 scholarship drawing, plus a fix-it clinic, TikTok film night, and homebuyer workshop on the calendar.
Community-driven giving survey results
Residents told the library what they want funded, and trustees winnowed the list: lending tools (gardening and basic DIY), tech/AI workshops, and in-house listening stations rose to the top. Furnishings got passed over, and library staff will make the final pick.
Commission Goals and Fundraising Strategies
Commissioners brainstormed ways to secure corporate sponsorships and outside funding to support local recreation programs. They also talked about filling the vacant fifth seat on the commission.