CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 5, 2025
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Regular Meeting of May 5, 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, and Mayor/President Stacy Jimenez.
ABSENT: Councilmember/ex officio EMID Director Phoebe Venkat.
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; Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director; Diane Pitman, Administrative Services Director; Waqas Hassan, Assistant Finance Director; Eric Mackintosh, Deputy Fire Chief; Rob Lasky, IT Manager; Nori Jabba, Housing Coordinator ; Kevin Ortiz, Management Analyst; William Sandri, Police Captain; Michael Green, Police Lieutenant ; Vuong Phan, Police Sergeant; Devon Butler, Police Corporal; Joyce Unga, Police Officer; Bethany Johnston, Police Officer; Nathan Ten, Police Officer; Salvador Solano, Public Works Maintenance Worker I; Kat herine Estrada, Deputy City Clerk; Shuli Chen, Video Technician; and Priscilla Schaus, Communications Director/City Clerk/District Secretary.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
PROCLAMATION HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF DENNIS KAY.
Vice Mayor Kiesel presented the Proclamation Honoring the Life and Service of Dennis Kay to his family.
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY AS NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH.
Councilmember Niederhofer presented the Proclamation Recognizing May as National Tennis Month to Derrick Chua, representing the Foster City Tennis Club.
PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE WEEK OF MAY 11 -17, 2025 AS "NATIONAL POLICE WEEK" AND MAY 15, 2025 AS "PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL DAY.
Mayor Jimenez presented the Proclamation Declaring the Week of May 11- 17, 2025 as “National Police Week” and May 15, 2025 as “Peace Officers’ Memorial Day” to Lieutenant Michael Greene.
PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE WEEK OF MAY 18 -24, 2025 AS "NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK".
Councilmember Sullivan presented the Proclamation Declaring the Week of May 18- 24, 2025 as “National Public Works Week” to Maintenance Worker Salvador Solano.
PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION TO THE ROBORISE ROBOTICS TEAM.
Mayor Jimenez presented the Certificates of Recognition to members of the RoboRise Robotics Team.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Vice Mayor/Vice President Kiesel, seconded by Councilmember/Director Niederhofer, and carried, 4-0-0, Councilmember/Director Venkat absent, approving the following items on the City/District Consent Calendar:
City/EMID Consent Calendar
1. City/EMID Regular Meeting Minutes of April 21, 2025;
2. City Ordinance No. 690, “An Ordinance Amending Chapter 17.90, “Below Market Rate Inclusionary Housing Program,” within Title 17, “Zoning,” Section 17.90.020, “Definitions,” and to Add New Sections 17.90.130, “Just Cause Evictions” and
17.90.140, “Tenant Relocation Assistance” ; and 17.90.150, “Registry of Below Market Rate Units,” to Implement Housing Element Program H -C-3-B, Anti - Displacement Strategy and Program H -G-2-E, Rental Registry, and Finding Ordinance Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guideline Section 15061(B)(3) (First Reading on April 21, 2025);”
3. City Ordinance No. 691, “An Ordinance of the City of Foster City Amending Section
3.04.080, “Formal Bid Procedures for Purchases of Supplies, Services and Equipment”; Section 3.04.110, “Authorized Purchasing Alternatives for Supplies, Services and Equipment”; Section 3.04.140, “Purchase of Professional Services”; and Section 3.04.170 “Public Projects -Definitions” of Chapter 3.04, “Purchasing System,” within Title 3, of the Foster City Municipal Code to Make Administrative Revisions to the City’s Purchasing System (First Reading on April 21, 2025);”
4. City Resolution No. 2025-26, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Directing That the LGBTQIA+ Progress Pride Flag Be Flown from June 1, 2025 Through June 30, 2025 in Recognition of Pride Month Pursuant to the City Hall Flag Display Policy;”
5. City Resolution No. 2025-27, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Adopting the Street Rehabilitation Project (2025- 2026) for Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 to be Funded by SB 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017; and Finding this Resolution to be Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guideline Section 15061(B)(3) and 15061(C);”
6. City Resolution No. 2025-28, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Designating the City Manager and Public Works Director, on Behalf of the City, as the Authorized Agents to Engage With the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Regarding Grants Applied for by the City of Foster and Finding the Designation Exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(B)(3);”
7. EMID Resolution No. 3799, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Designating the District Manager and Public Works Director, on Behalf of the Estero Municipal Improvement District, as the Authorized Agents to Engage With the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Regarding Grants Applied for by the Estero Municipal Improvement District and Finding the Designation Exempt From California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(B)(3);”
8. City Resolution No. 2025-29, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Approving the Compensation and Benefits Plan for the City of Foster City Management Employees, Effective May 1, 2025”; and
9. EMID Resolution No. 3800, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Approving the Compensation and Benefits Plan for the Estero Municipal Improvement District Management Employees, Effective May 1, 2025.”
REPORTS
AUDIT COMMITTEE'S 2024 YEAR END REPORT, REVIEW OF MISSION STATEMENT, AND GOALS FOR 2025. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2026.
Assistant Finance Director Hassan introduced Audit Committee Chair Falgoon Desai and Committee member Vijay Dodd who presented the report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember Sullivan , and carried, 4-0-0, Councilmember Venkat absent , approving Minute Order No. 2026, receiving and accepting the Audit Committee’s 2024 Year End Report, Review of Mission Statement, and Goals for 2025.
RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTION
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR FOSTER CITY/EMID ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2025-30. EMID RESOLUTION NO. 3801.
City Attorney/District Legal Counsel Stock presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember /Director Niederhofer, and the maker amending the motion, seconded by Vice Mayor/Vice President Kiesel , and carried, 3-0-1, Councilmember/Director Sullivan abstained and Councilmember/Director Venkat absent, adopting City Resolution No. 2025- 30, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Adopting a Code of Conduct for Foster City Elected and Appointed Officials ” and EMID Resolution No. 3801, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Adopting a Code of Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials” with the following amendments to the Code of Conduct:
1. An addition under “Meeting Decorum,” stating Councilmember /Directors should arrive to meetings prepared, having read staff reports and attachments, and requesting in advance any necessary and available information from staff . If a Councilmember/Director has questions on agenda item s, the member should contact staff prior to the meeting to allow staff the time to research and respond for the meeting; and
2. An addition under “Reporting,” stating that suspected violations of the Brown Act should be reported to the City/District Manager or City/District Attorney.
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY/DISTRICT WARRANT OF DEMANDS. NO ACTION TAKEN.
City/District Warrants of Demands were Processed and Issued on April 4, 2025, April 16, 2025, and ACH were processed on April 4, 2025.
CITY/DISTRICT MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCIL/BOARD STATEMENTS AND
REQUESTS, AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
City/District Manager Chatwin stated that City Hall will be closed on Thursday, May 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to allow staff to attend the funeral service of a member of the Foster City Police Department . Notice of the closure will be posted on the affected facilities and on social media. He reminded the Council/Board that there is a Budget Study Session scheduled for May 22.
Councilmember/Director Sullivan stated he attended the San Mateo Union High School District Board meeting on April 24, where they received a presentation from StarVista, an organization that provides mental health resources for the students. He also shared that the Burlingame Highschool Robotics Team, the Iron Panthers, won first place at the World Championship in Texas. On May 2 -4, he attended the Chamb er San Mateo County Progress Seminar.
Councilmember/Director Niederhofer , in honor of Public Service Recognition Week , thanked staff for their work to keep the City running.
Councilmember/Director Kiesel stated he attended the Rethink Waste Board meeting on April 24.
Mayor/President Jimenez stated she attended the Peninsula Clean Energy Board meeting on April 24. On April 28, she hosted a Meet the Mayor visit with students from Kids Connection Elementary School, and also attended the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG) Congestion Management and Environmental Quality Committee meeting. On April 29, she attended the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Board meeting. She reminded the community that the Foster City Chamber of Commerce is hosting a 5k Fun Run on May 10 starting at 8 a.m., followed by a Mother’s Day Weekend Market at Bayside Towers.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no objection from the City Council/EMID Board, Mayor/President Jimenez adjourned the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.