CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 19, 2025
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Regular Meeting of May 19, 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; Eric Mackintosh, Deputy Fire Chief; Nori Jabba, Housing Coordinator; Katherine Estrada, Deputy City Clerk; Mark Strathdee, Video Technician; Bridget Michelsen, Video Technician; Connor Whorl, Video Technician; and Priscilla Schaus,
Communications Director/City Clerk/District Secretary.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATION BY THE SAN MATEO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY REGARDING US 101/SR 92 INTERCHANGE DIRECT CONNECTOR PROJECT.
Carolyn Mamaradlo, Project Manager, and Amy Linehan, Government and Community Relations Officer of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority presented the staff report.
Sean Schochet addressed the City Council via email.
Evan Adams addressed the City Council via teleconference.
The following people addressed the City Council in person:
1. Karen Cutler;
2. Giuliano Carlini; and
3. Mike Swire.
PUBLIC
Diego Ochoa, San Mateo-Foster City School District Superintendent, addressed the City Council via email regarding workforce housing.
Smita Bansal addressed the City Council in person regarding the mental health nonprofit On My Mind Foundation.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Councilmember/Director Sullivan, seconded by Councilmember/Director Venkat, 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 May 5, 2025;
2. City Resolution No. 2025-31, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City (1) Authorizing the Award of a Construction Contract to Spektren Engineering, Inc. in the Amount of $135,867 for the Construction of the Foster City Boulevard Median Modification Project (CIP 301- 635); (2) Establishing a Construction Contingency in the Amount of $20,000; and (3) Finding the Project Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15301(B) — Existing Facilities;”
3. City Resolution No. 2025-32, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Accepting the Work by G. Bortolotto & Company, Inc. for CIP 301- 716 Street Rehabilitation Project and Park Pathway Restoration Project (FY 23- 24) and Directing the City Clerk to File the Filing No tice of Completion for Project; (CEQA Status: Found to be Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15301(c)-Existing Facilities)”; and
4. EMID Resolution No. 3802, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Approving a Contingency and Budget Increase in the Amount of $75,000 for CIP 405- 660 Water Tanks and Facilities Improvement Project for a Total Contingency Amount of $715,0 00 (CEQA Status: Exempt from CEQA Under Section 15301(B)-Existing Facilities).”
Evan Adams addressed the City Council via email regarding “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City (1) Authorizing the Award of a Construction Contract to Spektren Engineering, Inc. in the Amount of $135,867 for the Construction of the Foster City Boulevard Median Modification Project (CIP 301- 635); (2) Establishing a Construction Contingency in the Amount of $20,000; and (3) Finding the Project Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15301(B) — Existing Facilities.”
ITEM PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
TASK ORDER PLWS- 2025-01 WITH PLACEWORKS IN THE AMOUNT OF $139,919
TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND DOCUMENTATION (INITIAL STUDY) FOR THE PROPOSED 800,000 SF OF BIOTECHNOLOGY OR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, LOCATED AT 1155, 1165, AND 1185 CHESS DRIVE (GILEAD CHESS HATCH MASTER PLAN); AUTHORIZE A 5 PERCENT CONTINGENCY IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,996 AND AUTHORIZ E THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO THE TASK ORDER UP TO THAT AMOUNT ; AND
FINDING THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE TASK ORDER EXEMPT UNDER CEQA PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(B)(3). CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2025-33.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Jimenez removed this item from the Consent Calendar at the request of Councilmember Sullivan.
Community Development Director Mangalam provided the staff report.
Evan Adams addressed the City Council via teleconference.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Venkat, seconded by Councilmember Sullivan, and carried unanimously, 5- 0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2025- 33, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing the Mayor to Execute Task Order PLWS - 2025-01 with Placeworks in the Amount of $139,919 to Provide Environmental Review and Documentation (Initial Study) for the Proposed 800,000 SF of Biotechnology or Research and Development, Located at 1155, 1165, and 1185 Chess Drive (Gilead Chess Hatch Master Plan); Authorizing a 5 Percent Contingency in the Amount of $6,996 and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Any Necessary Amendments to the Task Order Up to that Amount; and Finding the Authorization of the Task Order Exempt Under CEQA Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(B)(3).”
RESOLUTION FOR ADOPTION
APPOINTMENT OF ONE MEMBER TO A FULL FOUR- YEAR TERM FROM JUNE 1, 2025 THROUGH MAY 31, 2029 ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2025-34.
Communications Director/City Clerk Schaus presented the staff report.
The following applica nts seeking appointment to the Planning Commission were interviewed by the City Council:
1. Shankar Kenkre;
2. Barry Salberg; and
3. Cindy Wang.
Avi Hermosa Petel was not in attendance.
Motion by Councilmember Venkat, seconded by Councilmember Sullivan, and carried unanimously, 5- 0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2025- 34, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Appointing One Member to the Planning Commission to a Full Four-Year Term,” appointing Shankar Kenkre to a full four-year term from June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2029 on the Planning Commission.
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY/DISTRICT WARRANT OF DEMANDS. NO ACTION TAKEN.
City/District Warrants of Demands were Processed and Issued on April 30, 2025.
CITY/DISTRICT MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCIL/BOARD STATEMENTS AND
REQUESTS, AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
City/District Manager Chatwin reminded the Council/Board that City Hall will be closed on Monday, May 26 in celebration of the Memorial Day holiday. He stated the next Council of Cities meeting will be held in Burlingame on Friday, June 27.
Councilmember/Director Sullivan stated he attended the C ity/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG) Airport Land Use Committee’s San Carlos Airport Safety Zone 6/Childcare Work Group meeting on May 14. On May 16, he attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Edgewater Marine boathouse and the Council of Cities meeting in San Mateo.
Councilmember/Director Niederhofer stated she attended San Mateo County’s 169th anniversary celebration and the Joint Study Session of the Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Committee on May 15. On May 16, she attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Edgewater Marine boathouse and the Council of Cities meeting in San Mateo. On May 18, she attended the Peninsula Jewish Community Center’s (PJCC) Third Annual Spring Celebration.
Vice Mayor/Vice President Kiesel stated he attended the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) Board meeting on May 15, where they discussed a plan for a long-term reliable water supply strategy through 2050. On May 18, he attended the PJCC Third Annual Spring Celebration. He reported that the San Mateo County Libraries Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Governing Board meeting on May 19 was canceled due to the detection of a gas odor at the meeting location. He announced he will be meeting with the Planning division to discuss the gatekeeper process.
Mayor/President Jimenez stated that on May 8 she visited Audubon Elementary School and later attended the C/CAG Board meeting, where they discussed the San Mateo County Safe Routes to School program and a walk audit to encourage children to walk to school. On May 10, she attended the Foster City Chamber of Commerce 5k Fun Run. On May 19, she attended the C/CAG Congestion Management and Environmental Quality (CMEQ) Committee meeting and the San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council (CCPC) meeting. She stated she will be holding her monthly office hours on May 24 at 1:00 p.m. at Penelope’s Coffee and Tea.
Councilmember/Director Venkat stated on May 4-6 she attended the Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA) Energy Security Summit 2025. She participated in Bike- to- Wherever Day on May 15. On May 17, she attended the OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans) San Mateo Chapter Scholarship Award Ceremony , where a Foster City student was awarded a scholarship. She noted that May is Mental Health Month as well as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage month.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no objection from the City Council/EMID Board, Mayor/President Jimenez adjourned the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.