This story was originally printed in the Daily Post on May 19. If you want to stay up to date with local news, pick up the Post in the mornings at 1,000 Mid-Peninsula locations.
By Emily Mibach
Daily Post Staff Writer
A new survey shows that San Carlos residents’ faith in the city’s upkeep of creeks, storm drains and sewers dropped sharply after the three creeks in the city flooded earlier this year.
Due to the New Year’s storms, areas throughout the city, particularly along El Camino Real, Old County Road and Industrial Road, were flooded. Residents were advised to stay off the roads due to the high waters on the roads.
When asked during a recent survey if they were satisfied with the city’s up keep of creeks, storm drains and sewers, 64% said yes – 36% said no – this is a 25% percentage point change from when survey respondents were asked in 2021 about the city’s upkeep of those facilities, according to consultant True North Research, who conducted both surveys for the city.
True North Research surveyed 721 residents from April 5 to April 17. The surveys were done either online or over the phone.
The survey respondents also asked residents what are the top ways to improve the town. The number two top change that respondents said was to improve and maintain the city’s infrastructure, such as storm drains and sewers.
However, the city is not the main entity in charge of the three creeks that flow throughout town – Pulgas, Cordilleras and Belmont. Public Works Director Steven Machida said at a Jan. 9 council meeting that the city works with other municipalities on creek maintenance. San Carlos has to work with Belmont, Redwood City, and the county’s new One Shoreline agency on the creeks.
Machida said at the January council meeting that the city helps homeowners along the creeks do a “creek cleanup” in late summer, and revisit the cleanup sites in the late fall or early winter to prepare for any winter storms.
However, with the New Year’s storms, the city, like the rest of the Peninsula, was faced with an unusual situation. The storm pounded on for several days, giving the creeks and the city’s 45 miles of storm drains little relief.
Machida likened it to when a bathtub is already at the top and then one tries to add in another bucket of water – causing the water to flow onto the floor.