CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 3, 2025
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Regular Meeting of March 3, 2025 of the City Council of the City of Foster City, sitting as said Council and as ex officio the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District (EMID), was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor/President Stacy Jimenez.
This meeting was held as a hybrid meeting.
ROLL CALL
The Communications Director/City Clerk/District Secretary called the roll:
PRESENT:
Councilmembers/ex officio EMID Directors Art Kiesel, Suzy Niederhofer, Patrick Sullivan, Phoebe Venkat, and Mayor/President Stacy Jimenez.
ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT:
Stefan Chatwin, City/District Manager; Benjamin Stock , City Attorney/District Legal Counsel ; Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City/District Manager; Andrew Brozyna, Public Works Director; Sofia Mangalam, Community Development Director; Cory Call, Police Chief; Nate Cruz , Finance Director ; Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director; Frank Fanara, Parks Manager; Rob Lasky, IT Manager; Laura Galli, Engineering Manager; Justin Lai, Senior Engineer; Katherine Estrada, Deputy City Clerk; Shuli Chen, Video Technician; and Priscilla Schaus, C ommunications Director /City Clerk/District Secretary.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Councilmember/Director Sullivan , seconded by Vice Mayor/Vice President Kiesel, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, approving the following items on the City/District Consent Calendar:
City/EMID Consent Calendar
1. City/EMID Regular Meeting Minutes of February 18, 2025; and
2. EMID Resolution No. 3793, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Authorizing (1) Award of an Agreement to Kayuga Solution, Inc. (Kayuga) in the Amount of $243,320 for Professional Assessment Services for the Water Main Condition Assessment Project (CIP 405 -723); (2) a Project Contingency in the Amount of $6,000 Authorizing the District Manager to Execute Contract Amendments up to the Contingency Amount; and (3) Finding the Project Exempt from CEQA Under Section 15301(b) (Class 1-Existing Facilities).”
NEW BUSINESS
STATUS OF CITY COUNCIL STANDING SUBCOMMITTEES . MINUTE ORDER NO. 2015.
Communications Director/City Clerk Schaus presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Niederhofer , seconded by Vice Mayor Kiesel , and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 201 5, and directing staff to disband the City Council S tanding Subcommittees (Land Use, Infrastructure/Facilities, Communications & Public Engagement, Transportation, and Economic Development/Sustainability).
AUDITED FISCAL YEAR 2023 -24 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT (ACFR) AND OTHER AUDIT COMPLIANCE REPORTS AND THE FISCAL YEAR 2023- 24 WARRANT REGISTERS IN THE FORM OF THAT ACFR. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2025-13. EMID RESOLUTION NO. 3794.
Finance Director Cruz presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember Venkat, and carried unanimously, 5- 0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2025- 13, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Ratifying and Approving the Audited Fiscal Year 2023- 24 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Other Audit Compliance Reports and the Fiscal Year 2023- 24 Warrant Registers in the Form of That ACFR,” and EMID Resolution No. 3794, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Ratifying and Approving the Audited Fiscal Year 2023- 24 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Other Audit Compliance Reports and the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Warrant Registers in the Form of That ACFR.”
2ND QUARTER FY 2024-2025 FINANCIAL UPDATE. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2016.
Finance Director Cruz presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Vice Mayor/Vice President Kiesel, seconded by Councilmember /Director Niederhofer, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2016, to receive and accept the 2nd Quarter FY 2024-2025 Financial Update.
FY 2025- 2026 ANNUAL BUDGET AND FIVE -YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2017.
Finance Director Cruz presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember/Director Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember /Director Sullivan, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2017, directing staff as follows:
1. Continue to maintain current service levels to the community while exploring opportunities to increase efficiency;
2. Continue to explore all possible revenue enhancing opportunities; and
3. Explore the use of General Obligation debt to fund capital costs.
RECESS. The meeting recessed at 8:03 p.m. and reconvened at 8:09 p.m.
REPORTS
PARKS MASTER PLAN GENERAL PROJECT UPDATE. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2018.
Parks Manager Fanara presented the staff report and Peter Winch from Wallace Roberts & Todd (WRT) presented a PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Venkat, seconded by Councilmember Niederhofer, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2018, to receive and accept the Parks Master Plan General Project Update.
DAYLIGHTING LAW – ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 413 AND THE CITY’S IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2019.
Public Works Director Brozyna and Senior Civil Engineer Lai presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Mayor Jimenez , seconded by Councilmember Sulliva n, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2019, to receive and accept the Update on the Daylighting Law – Assembly Bill No. 413 and the City’s Implementation Plan.
ORDINANCE FOR INTRODUCTION
AMEND SECTION 2.36.200, “MEETINGS -ABSENTEEISM” OF CHAPTER 2.36, “CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEES” OF THE FOSTER CITY MUNICIPAL CODE TO
SPECIFY THE NUMBER OF ABSENCES FROM MEETINGS THAT WOULD CONSTITUTE A RESIGNATION.
City Attorney Stock presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Mayor Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember Venkat, and carried by roll call vote, 3-2-0, Councilmember Niederhofer and Councilmember Sullivan voted “no”, to introduce ordinance by title only, waive further reading, and pass ordinance to second reading, “An Ordinance of the City of Foster City Amending Section 2.36.200, “Meetings- Absenteeism” of Chapter 2.36, “Citizens Advisory Committees” of the Foster City Municipal Code to Specify the Number of Absences from Meetings that Would Constitute a Resignation” with exceptions for the Youth Advisory Committee, which will be exempt from attendance requirements, and the Audit Committee, where the absence from any two (2) consecutive meetings shall be deemed to constitute a resignation.
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY/DISTRICT WARRANT OF DEMANDS. NO ACTION TAKEN.
City/District Warrants of Demands were Processed and Issued on February 4, February 5, and February 13, 2025, and ACH were processed on February 5, 2025.
CITY/DISTRICT MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCIL/BOARD STATEMENTS AND
REQUESTS, AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
City/District Manager Chatwin reminded the City Council that there will be a study session on March 10 in the Emergency Operations Center to discuss a code of conduct.
Councilmember/Director Niederhofer stated that she attended the Emergency Services Council meeting and the Planning Commission meeting on February 20. On February 27, she attended the Elected Leaders Training 2025 hosted by Leadership Council San Mateo County, then later attended the Peninsula Clean Energy Board meeting.
Councilmember/Director Venkat reported that Commute.org has launched their CommuteStar app, which allows users to track and earn rewards for sustainable commutes. On February 25, s he visited Foster City Elementary School and their new sensory room for students to use to decompress. She wished a happy Women’s History Month and a happy Ramadan to those who celebrate.
Councilmember/Director Sullivan stated he attended the San Mateo Union H igh School District Board meeting on February 27. He encouraged the public to view the new mural at San Mateo County’s Navigation Center in Redwood City. He also reminded the public to vote in the San Mateo County March 4, 2025 Special Election.
Vice Mayor/Vice President Kiesel stated he attended the Rethink Waste (formerly SBWMA (South Bayside Waste Management)) Board meeting on February 27 where they approved expenditures for the Material Recovery Facility (MRF). On March 1, he attended the Foster City Little League Opening Day Ceremony.
Mayor/President Jimenez stated she attended the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) Congestion Management and Environmental Quality Committee (CMEQ) meeting on February 24. On February 27, she attended the Emperor of Japan’s 65th birthday reception hosted by the Japanese Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco. On February 28, she attended the Council of Cities meeting in Daly City. On March 1, she attended the Foster City Little League Opening Day Ceremony, and the San Mateo County Chapter of Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) Speak and Lead with Pride program as a guest judge.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no objection from the City Council/EMID Board, Mayor/President Jimenez adjourned the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.