San Mateo County Announces Candidate Seminars for 2026 Granada District Election

San Mateo County officials have finalized the 2026 election calendar and candidate filing schedules for the Granada Community Services District, triggering formal preparations for local governance transitions. The regional administration is launching candidate seminars to guide prospective public servants through local electoral protocols.

ELECTION MAP. From Coastside Buzz with links to the Granada Community Services District (GCSD) and San Mateo County Election Pages.

Click, Learn, Think, Act, Vote and Run for Office!

REGISTER! for Candidate Filing Seminars Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Location: 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402 or Online via Microsoft Teams

Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2026 Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Location: 40 Tower Road, San Mateo, CA 94402 or Online via Microsoft Teams

Make an Appointment to Declare Your Candidacy. San Mateo County Election Calendar: Filing Dates Monday, July 13th to Friday, August 7th, 2026 Forms cannot be mailed to you.

2026 Granada Community Services District (GCSD) (Scroll down to see Buzz Map)

All GCSD Directors are at-large. GCSD is not districted as it such a small district that every director represents the whole community.

At-Large: Matt Allen – Director (Term ends 2026)

At-Large: Barbara Dye – Director (Term ends 2026)

At-Large: Jen Randle – Director (Term ends 2026)

Wanda Bowles – Director (Term ends 2028) Nancy Marsh – Director (Term ends 2028)

Granada Community Services District (GCSD) Map

More on the Granada Community Park on Coastside Buzz

More on GCSD on Coastside Buzz

Granada Community Services District

Regular Board Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in the District’s meeting room.

Watch remotely. Comments and questions by email.

Granada Community Services District (GCSD) Agendas and Zoom Links

Granada Community Services District (GCSD) PCTV Videos

The District is responsible for parks, recreation, garbage and recycling services in the unincorporated areas of El Granada, Princeton, Princeton-by-the-Sea, Clipper Ridge, and Miramar.

GCSD Regular Board Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm in the District’s meeting room, and are normally shown on Pacific Coast TV (PCT) (Cable channel 27) at 6:00 am on Wednesday and at 11:00 am Saturday following the meeting (but check the schedule as show times can vary).

Mission Statement To protect public health and safety, preserve our environment, and maintain fiscal soundness by providing high quality service for wastewater, solid waste collection, recycling, and serving the community’s needs for parks and recreation, through responsible operations and management.

The Granada Sanitary District was formed in 1958 under the California Sanitary District Act of 1923. In October of 2014, the District was reorganized as the Granada Community Services District under California Government Code 61000 et seq. The District is responsible for parks, recreation, garbage and recycling services in the unincorporated areas of El Granada, Princeton, Princeton-by-the-Sea, Clipper Ridge, and Miramar. The District is also responsible for the sewage collection system and disposal for approximately 2,500 residences and businesses in these same unincorporated areas as well as the northern portion of the City of Half Moon Bay. Garbage and recycling services are provided by Recology of the Coast under a franchise agreement with the Granada Community Services District.

The District office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is located on the third floor of 504 Avenue Alhambra, El Granada. To contact the District please call (650) 726-7093. Regular board meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30pm.

The GCSD board from left: Wanda Bowles, Barbara Dye, Jen Randle, Nancy Marsh, Matt Allen; Hope Atmore, Assistant General Manager.

2026 Board of Directors

Board members serve four year terms, and are elected on a staggered two year basis in even numbered years. Board members receive $190 per meeting as compensation for their service on the board.

Barbara Dye Position: President Term: 2022-2026 Email Address: bdye@granada.ca.gov

Wanda Bowles Position: Vice President Term: 2024-2028 Email Address: wbowles@granada.ca.gov

Matt Allen Position: Director Term: 2025 – 2026 Email Address: mallen@granada.ca.gov

Nancy Marsh Position: Director Term: 2024-2028 Email Address: nmarsh@granada.ca.gov

Jen Randle Position: Director Term: 2022-2026 Email Address: jrandle@granada.ca.gov

Staff General Manager: Chuck Duffy, Dudek & Associates Assistant General Manager: Hope Atmore Legal Counsel: William Parkin, Wittwer Parkin LLP District Engineer: John Rayner, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants Administrative Assistant: Nora Mayen

Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside

The Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) is a Joint Powers Authority created by an agreement between the Granada Sanitary District, the Montara Sanitary District, and the City of Half Moon Bay in 1976. The agreement called for the creation of the Authority to build and operate a commonly owned sewer treatment plant for the benefit of all three agencies. All sewage generated by the three agencies is pumped and piped to the treatment plant for treatment and eventual disposal. For more information on SAM, please visit their website at samcleanswater.org.

The Granada Community Services District (GCSD), formerly the Granada Sanitary District, gained park and recreational jurisdiction on October 1, 2014, for the unincorporated areas of El Granada, Miramar and Princeton (i.e. the “GCSD Community”) by a positive vote of 60% of the voters in the District. This reorganization allows the district to provide parks and recreation services in addition to the sewer, solid waste and recycling services it currently provides to over 2,500 residences and businesses in the District as well as the northern portion of the City of Half Moon Bay. Solid waste and recycling services are provided by Recology of the Coast under a franchise agreement with GCSD.

The parks and recreation function is funded by utilizing a portion of GCSD’s share of San Mateo County property tax revenues, not from sewer charges. GCSD’s goal is to provide parks and recreation services that benefit the GCSD community, with a commitment to robust neighborhood outreach on new projects.

Granada Parks Advisory Committee (PAC) The PAC was formed by the Granada Community Service Board to ensure community involvement in all phases of park planning, design and development. Seven voting members are appointed by the Board to serve two-year terms. Members receive no compensation – they are neighbors volunteering to support and benefit our community. The PAC makes recommendations regarding parks and recreation to the GCSD Board of Directors. PAC meetings are held at the GCSD office at least once each quarter and are open to the public and televised. The PAC meeting schedule and meeting minutes may be found here.

GCSD owns the undeveloped “Burnham Strip” property along Obispo Street between Coronado Street and Avenue Alhambra in El Granada, which may be developed as an El Granada gateway park.

Additional potential park areas are a small GCSD-owned parcel on Capistrano Road in Princeton and the road medians in El Granada. GCSD and SMC completed a Permit Agreement in February 2018 which allows the District to make improvements to the El Granada Medians. GCSD may implement landscaping, seating, and active and passive recreational improvements on these properties, following an open and transparent community outreach process and all required permit and environmental review processes.

El Granada in 1972. Look at that big triangle of land that is now completely eroded!

History of the Granada Community Services District

The utility infrastructure of the San Mateo mid-coast evolved significantly from its mid-century origins. Established in 1958 under the California Sanitary District Act of 1923, the Granada Sanitary District initially focused on wastewater infrastructure. Rapid regional expansion necessitated broader regional coordination, leading to the 1976 Joint Powers Authority agreement.

This legislative pact created the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside, uniting the Granada Sanitary District, Montara Sanitary District, and Half Moon Bay to manage consolidated processing infrastructure. A structural shift occurred in 2014 when 60% of voters approved a formal district reorganization. This transformation updated the entity into a comprehensive community services district with expanded parks and recreation powers.

FAQs

When are the candidate filing seminars held for the 2026 election?

The candidate filing seminars are scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, 2026, and Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Both educational sessions run from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 40 Tower Road in San Mateo, with remote access available via Microsoft Teams.

What are the open declaration dates for the Granada Community Services District board?

The official candidate filing period opens on Monday, July 13, 2026, and closes on Friday, August 7, 2026. Prospective candidate documentation must be secured directly from the elections office, as application forms cannot be distributed by mail.

How is the Granada Community Services District Board of Directors structured?

The governing body consists of five directors elected on an at-large basis to represent the entire collective population rather than individual geographic wards. Board members serve staggered four-year terms, with cycles turning every two years during even-numbered electoral periods.

What areas fall under the jurisdiction of the Granada Community Services District?

The district administers public parks, recreation, solid waste management, and recycling programs across the unincorporated coastal enclaves of El Granada, Princeton, Princeton-by-the-Sea, Clipper Ridge, and Miramar. It additionally manages sewage systems for 2,500 clients, including parts of northern Half Moon Bay.