CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 18, 2025
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Regular Meeting of August 18, 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; Sofia Mangalam, Community Development Director; Diane Pitman, Administrative Services Director; Nate Cruz, Finance Director; Cory Call, Police Chief ; Eric Mackintosh, Deputy Fire Chief; Andrew Brozyna, Public Works Director; Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director; Rob Lasky, IT Manager; Thai-Chau Le, Planning Manager; Nori Jabba, Housing and Sustainability Manager; Frank Schoening, Public Works
Superintendent; Zaheed Danish, Public Works Maintenance Manager; Laura Galli, Engineering Manager; Francine Magno, Senior Civil Engineer; Marcel Stevenson, Code Enforcement Officer; Kevin McGill, Assistant Planner; Katherine Estrada, Deputy City Clerk; Shuli Chen, Video Technician ; and Priscilla Schaus, Communications Director/City Clerk/District Secretary.
PUBLIC
Yiming Luo addressed the City Council via email regarding City Council agendas.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Councilmember/Director Sullivan , seconded by Councilmember/Director Niederhofer, 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 August 4, 2025;
2. City/EMID Special Meeting Minutes of August 11, 2025;
3. City Resolution No. 2025-66, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Expressing Support for the San Mateo Foster City School District’s “Safe Routes to School: Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon (RRFB) Installation for High- priority Uncontrolled Sidewalks” Project; Authorizing Submittal of an Application for the Cycle 3 San Mateo County Transportation Authority for Measure A Alternative Congestion Relief and Measure W Transportation Demand Management Program Funding; and Finding the Applic ations for grant funding Exempt From Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15061(B)(3)”; and
4. EMID Resolution No. 3815, “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Approving the Revised Sewer System Management Plan as Required by the State Water Resources Control Board Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems; and Finding the Approval Exempt from Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15061(B)(3) and 15301.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
VARIOUS TEXT AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 17, “ZONING” OF THE FOSTER CITY MUNICIPAL CODE – CHAPTER 17.78 - ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS TO ENSURE
COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAWS RELATED TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
AND FINDING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS EXEMPT UNDER CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) GUIDELINE SECTION 15061(B)(3),
COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION AND PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21080.17 – RZ2025-0004.
Assistant Planner McGill presented the staff report.
Mayor Jimenez opened a public hearing to hear and consider comments regarding Various Text Amendments to Title 17, “Zoning” of the Foster City Municipal Code – Chapter 17.78 - Accessory Dwelling Units to Ensure Compliance with State Laws Related to Accessory Dwelling Units and Finding the Proposed Amendments Exempt Under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guideline Section 15061(B)(3), Common Sense Exemption and Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 – Rz2025-0004.
James M. Lloyd, representing California Housing Defense Fund (CalHDF), addressed the City Council via email.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Jimenez closed the public hearing.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Mayor Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember Venkat , and carried unanimously by roll call vote, 5- 0-0, to introduce and read by title only, waive further reading, and pass to second reading, “An Ordinance of the City of Foster City Making Various Text Amendments to Title 17, “Zoning” of the Foster City Municipal Code – Chapter 17.78 - Accessory Dwelling Units to Ensure Compliance with State Laws Related to Accessory Dwelling Units and Finding t he Proposed Amendments Exempt Under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guideline Section 15061(B)(3), Common Sense Exemption and Public Resources Code Section 21080.17 – Rz2025-0004” and include the additional definition for State Exempt Accessory Dwelling Units.
NEW BUSINESS
APPOINTMENTS OF TWO RESIDENT MEMBERS AND ONE SMALL BUSINESS MEMBER TO FULL TERMS FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 TO AUGUST 31, 2028 ON THE CITIZENS SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2038.
Communications Director/City Clerk Schaus presented the staff report.
The following Resident Applicants seeking appointment to the Citizens Sustainability Advisory Committee were interviewed by the City Council:
1. Katherine Beglinger;
2. John Estalilla;
3. Ronald Haupt; and
4. Jonathan Sam.
Small Business Applicant Shilpi Goel was interviewed by the City Council.
Discussion ensued.
Minute Order No. 2038 was adopted as follows:
1. Motion by Mayor Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember Niederhofer, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, appointing Small Business Member Shilpi Goel to a new full term from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2028; and
2. Motion by Councilmember Sullivan, seconded by Councilmember Venkat , and carried unanimously, 5- 0-0, appointing Resident Members Katherine Beglinger and John Estalilla to new full terms from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2028; and
3. By Consensus of the City Council, policy direction was provided to reduce the membership size of the Citizens Sustainability Advisory Committee to seven at - large members, with a strong preference to have at least one of the seven members be a Youth Member and to bring the item back to City Council for final approval through an amended policy statement at a later date.
PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED MODIFICATION TO PREVIOUSLY
APPROVED GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AMENDMENT AND SPECIFIC
DEVELOPMENT PLAN/USE PERMIT FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D) LIFE SCIENCES OFFICE USE LOCATED AT 388 VINTAGE PARK DRIVE – APN 094- 901-270 – W-SW 388 OWNER IX, L.P. STEELWAVE CDS, LLC . NO ACTION REQUIRED.
Planning Manager Le and Community Development Director Mangalam presented the staff report.
Applicants Ben Yu and Peter Banzhaf , representing SteelWave and Helios Real Estate Partners, presented to the City Council.
No public testimony was received.
Discussion ensued.
No action was taken.
RECESS. The meeting recessed at 9:03 p.m. and reconvened at 9:07 p.m.
APPEAL OF TANDOORI PIZZA RESTAURANT PURSUANT TO SECTION 1.04.110 OF
THE FOSTER CITY MUNICIPAL CODE FOR WAIVING PENALTY FEES RELATED TO A STOP WORK ORDER NOTICE FOR TENANT IMPROVEMENT WORK AT 1031 E.
HILLSDALE BLVD, UNIT B. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2039.
Code Enforcement Officer Stevenson and Planning Manager Le presented the staff report. Communications Director/City Clerk Schaus stated that the appellant would have 5 minutes to present their statement.
The appellant Amritpal Singh addressed the City Council.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Mayor Jimenez, seconded by Vice Mayor Kiesel, and carried unanimously, 4- 1-0, Councilmember Sullivan voted “no,” adopting Minute Order No. 2039, denying the appeal and directing the appellant to pay the full amount of penalty fees.
REPORTS
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT MASTER PLAN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT (CIP 455-652) - CLEAN WATER PROGRAM - UPDATE FOR QUARTER 2 – APRIL THROUGH JUNE 2025. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2040.
Public Works Director Brozyna introduced David Umezaki, representing EKI Environment and Water, Inc., who presented the report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Director Venkat, seconded by Director Sullivan, and carried unanimously, 5-0- 0, adopting Minute Order No. 20 40, receiving and accepting the Quarter 2 progress update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Master Plan Improvements Project (CIP 455-652) – Clean Water Program (CWP).
RECREATION CENTER REBUILD PROJECT (CIP 301 -678) GENERAL UPDATE.
MINUTE ORDER NO. 2041.
Parks and Recreation Director Schweigart 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. 2041, receiving and accepting the update report on the Recreation Center Rebuild Project.
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY/DISTRICT WARRANT OF DEMANDS. NO ACTION TAKEN.
City/District Warrants of Demands were Processed and Issued on July 31, 2025.
CITY/DISTRICT MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCIL/BOARD STATEMENTS AND
REQUESTS, AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
City/District Manager Chatwin stated the ne xt City Council Regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 2 due to the Labor Day holiday.
Councilmember/Director Venkat stated she attended the Summer Days event held from August 15 -17. On August 13, she attended the Citizens Sustainability Advisory Committee meeting . On August 14, she attended a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce.
Councilmember/Director Niederhofer stated she attended the SFO Airport Roundtable meeting on August 6, where they discussed air taxis. She attended the Joint Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Committee Study Session on August 14.
Councilmember/Director Sullivan stated he attended the San Mateo Union High School District board meeting on August 14 and attended the Summer Days event.
Vice Mayor/Vice President Kiesel stated he attended the Summer Days event. He stated they welcomed the delegation from Foster City’s Sister City, Inagi City, on August 4.
Mayor/President Jimenez stated she welcomed the Inagi City Mayor on August 4 as part of the Sister City program. She attended the Summer Days event and thanked staff for organizing the event. She encouraged the public visit the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan webpage to participate and provide feedback on the Plan.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no objection from the City Council/EMID Board, Mayor/President Jimenez adjourned the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 10:08 p.m.