Mayor· 2024-2026
Elmer Martínez Saballos
Redwood City
About
Elmer Martínez Saballos centered his campaign primarily on community safety as he entered the city council race for District 4, ultimately leading to his historical election as the city's youngest mayor.
Campaign promises (1)
- public-safetyElmer Martínez Saballos focused his city council campaign on community safety.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 22
- Total speaking time
- 7:26:47
- Avg per meeting
- 20:19
- Segments
- 5965
Want every word Saballos has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Saballos said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
Automated license plate reader surveillance program
No direct cost tonight, but future camera contracts, fines clauses and possible independent audits could carry significant price tags.
Redwood Shores Sea Level Rise Protection Project
Adds $950,000, bringing the agreement total to $3,664,310.
Redwood City ferry terminal project
Roughly $6 million a year in projected operating shortfalls, plus $80 million for ferries, with tickets costing taxpayers an estimated $31 per trip.
November 2026 rent control and just cause eviction ballot measure
A consultant estimated $4-$10 million a year in city administration costs plus $300,000-$700,000 startup, to be covered by landlord fees of roughly $338-$445 per unit per year — but the ordinance bars using the general fund, creating a funding puzzle.
Objective Design Standards for housing
No direct cost to residents; the standards aim to speed housing approvals and reduce legal risk for the city.
Potable Water Conservation and Non-Functional Turf Ban
State penalties can reach $1,000 per day, but the city emphasizes education first; property owners may face turf removal or purple-pipe connection costs.
Stanford Medicine Cancer Center plan amendments
Stanford pays no property tax as a nonprofit, so community benefits stand in for lost tax revenue; a prior agreement totaled $15 million.
Reimagine Dumbarton busway and trail
Design work is grant-funded ($5 million from MTC); construction funding is not yet secured and could come from regional measures including the 2028 Measure A renewal.
Winter 2026-27 El Niño Storm Readiness
Preparedness is within existing resources; no new funding was requested.
Countywide Transportation Plan Priority Projects
Projects total hundreds of millions; inclusion doesn't fund them, but positions the city for state, federal and Measure A local-match dollars.
Downtown Area Plan expansion
The expansion needs a new budget, coming back to council later this year.
Firefighter labor agreement through 2029
Firefighter contract terms could affect future city labor costs.
Southgate Street Closure and Loraine Duncan Park
Speakers cited over $40,000 on title research and $20,000 on a traffic consultant.
Downtown Parking Program and Meter Rate Increases
The parking program runs about a $1.4 million annual deficit; rate increases are meant to shrink it.
Central El Camino Real Complete Streets plan
Corridor-wide effort estimated at up to $1 billion, with construction possibly starting 2030 or later.
Mobile and sidewalk vending rules
New permit fees of roughly $700 for food trucks (plus county health permits of $439-$1,804) would land on vendors; $30,000 is budgeted for outreach.
Broadway paving and curb ramps
$2.55 million from the city's capital budget, up to $2.8 million with contingency.
Veterans Memorial/Senior Center demolition
$545,300 contract, up to $654,360 with change orders.
Federal Changes to Section 106 Historic Preservation Review
Connect Bay Area Transit Initiative (November 2026 Ballot)
No direct city budget impact, but shoppers would pay a higher regional sales tax.
Decisions during term (75)
Recorded while Saballos was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Consent Calendar (Items 7.A–7.L)
Introduce ordinance amending the Zoning Code to establish Objective Design Standards (8.A)
Consent Calendar (Items 7.A–7.H)
Response to Grand Jury Report on ALPR Cameras (8.A)
Introduction of Water System Regulations Ordinance (8.B)
Countywide Transportation Plan Priority Projects (8.C)
Consent Calendar (Items 7.A, 7.B, 7.C, 7.E, 7.F, 7.H, 7.I)
Motion to continue Item 7.D (Central El Camino Real Plan) to next meeting
Item 7.D — Resolution of local support for the Central El Camino Real Plan (Reso 16439)
Item 7.G — Amendment No. 1 with Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC for Greater Downtown Area Plan expansion
8.A — Introduce street vending ordinance (Municipal Code Chapters 20 and 28)
Consent Calendar (Items 7.A-7.M)
Downtown Parking Program update and meter rate increases (8.A)
Position on Connect Bay Area Transit Initiative (8.B)
Consent Calendar (items 7C, 7D, 7F, 7G, 7H, 7K, 7L)
7A — Neutral position on SB 1164 (Cervantes)
7B — Spinas Park Restroom Building Project acceptance
7E — 14 on-call engineering and building services agreements
7I — All-way stops at 14 Centennial intersections
7J — BKF Engineers amendment for Corporation Yard project
Voting record (28)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
continue item 7D to the next meeting
Consent Calendar (Items 7.A, 7.B, 7.C, 7.E, 7.F, 7.H, 7.I)
Motion to continue Item 7.D (Central El Camino Real Plan) to next meeting
Item 7.D — Resolution of local support for the Central El Camino Real Plan (Reso 16439)
Item 7.G — Amendment No. 1 with Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC for Greater Downtown Area Plan expansion
8.A — Introduce street vending ordinance (Municipal Code Chapters 20 and 28)
Consent Calendar (Items 7.A-7.M)
Downtown Parking Program update and meter rate increases (8.A)
Position on Connect Bay Area Transit Initiative (8.B)
8A — Redwood Shores Sea Level Rise Protection Project direction
Item 7B: Redwood Shores Landscape Maintenance District 1995-1 assessments
8A: 705 Veterans housing substitution, Spring Street vacation and $10.75M sale
9A: Continued use of BCC applicant pool
9B: Oppose the November rent control ballot measure
Cited up to $11 million in annual program costs and effects on affordable housing development.