DATE: September 15, 2025
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
FROM: Kevin Ortiz, Management Analyst
DEPARTMENT: City Manager
SUBJECT: FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE SAN MATEO UNION HIGH
SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY (ASA)
BUS PROGRAM FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached resolution approving a funding agreement between the City of Foster City (“City”) and San Mateo Union High School District (“District”) for a contribution in the amount of $22,208 to the After School Activity (ASA) Bus Program for the 2025-2026 School Year and authorize the City Manager to execute the funding agreement. Furthermore, it is recommended that the City Council authorize an appropriation in an amount not-to-exceed $22,208 to the City Manager Department Community Benefits Program Fund – Contractual, Professional, and Specialized Services Budget (Account No. 005-0110-413-4251) to fund the contribution.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The District has requested a contribution from the City for the continuation of their ASA Bus Program for the 2025-2026 School Year. The total cost of the program is $44,416, with the City providing 50% of the funding in the amount of $22,208, if approved by the City Council. The ASA Bus Program will transport students who stay after school to participate in sports programs, extracurricular activities, or wish to use the library from San Mateo High School to various stops in Foster City.
To continue to support the ASA Bus Program for the 2025-2026 School Year and ensure a safe and sustainable mode of transportation for students throughout the Foster City community, it is recommended that the City Council approve the attached resolution.
BACKGROUND
During the school year, the last bus to leave San Mateo High School is at 3:55 p.m., making it challenging for any Foster City students who engage in after school extracurricular activities to take regular afternoon bus service. In response, the District began an ASA Bus Program, which operates bus service to Foster City four (4) days a week during athletic seasons (Fall and Spring) and departs from the bus stop on East Poplar Avenue at San Mateo High School at 6:30 p.m. The ASA buses run limited stops, including the following locations within Foster City:
Metro Blvd. & Vintage Park Dr. (at bus stop)
E. Hillsdale Blvd. & Shell Blvd. (at Foster City Library) Brewer Island School
Gull Park
Beach Park Blvd. & Tarpon Street
Marlin Ave. & Foster City Blvd. (at shopping center)
Halsey Blvd. & Beach Park Blvd. (SW Corner)
Edgewater Blvd. & Beach Park Blvd. (on Edgewater, south of Beach Park) Pitcairn Dr. & Santa Catalina Lane
The City Council has historically approved funding contributions which are 50% of the total operating costs to fund the District’s ASA Bus Program. Most recently, the Council approved funding in the amount of $21,231 in FY 2024-2025 for the 2024-2025 School Year. Prior to that, the City Council approved the following funding contributions to help fund the ASA Bus Program in previous fiscal years:
$21,667.50 in FY 2023-2024 (50% of the total operating costs) $20,196 in FY 2022-2023 (50% of the total operating costs) $13,000 in FY 2018-2019 (40% of the total operating costs) $13,800 in FY 2017-2018 (50% of the total operating costs, pilot year of the ASA Bus Program)
ANALYSIS
On August 14, 2025, the District submitted a funding request to the City for continuation of the ASA Bus Program for the current, 2025-2026 School Year. The request is for a contribution in the amount of $22,208, which would be 50% of the total operating costs ($44,416) of the ASA Bus Program. The projected total days of service for the 2025- 2026 School Year is 128 days, with bus service on four (4) days of the week, excluding Fridays and Minimum Days (Attachment 3).
ASA Program bus passes can be purchased during the 2025-2026 School Year at a cost of $336 for the Fall and $368 for the Spring. Students who already ride the school bus and have purchased an Annual Round Trip Pass, an Annual One-Way PM Pass, or a Calendar Monthly Bus Pass will be able to ride the ASA bus at no additional cost. In other words, they will not be required to purchase an additional ASA bus pass to use the ASA bus.
According to the District, the overall estimated operational cost of all Foster City home to school routes is $600,000. The District collects roughly $300,000 from bus pass sales. The District covers the remaining costs associated with the free/reduced rides for students. Foster City contributes approximately $22,000 for the ASA bus program each year.
If approved, the City's one-time contribution would be $22,208 and would assist in the continuation of the ASA Bus Program to further provide safe transportation for Foster City students participating in after school activities at San Mateo High School. The management and operation of the ASA Bus Program will be the responsibility of the District. The funding agreement with the District provides that the District will indemnify the City from any injury or property loss related to the program (Attachment 2). The District Board of Trustees intends to schedule the formal adoption of the funding agreement at a future Board meeting.
California Environmental Quality Act
The approval of the 2025-2026 ASA Bus Program funding and the Funding Agreement is not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21000, et seq. and the CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code Regs. §§ 15000 et. seq.), including without limitation, Public Resources Code section 21065 and California Code of Regulations 15378 as this is not a “project” that may cause a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the ASA Bus Program is available in the City Manager Department Community Benefits Program Fund. Since the funding request from the District was received after the City’s Final Budget for FY 2025-2026 was adopted, a budget appropriation is required. Specifically, an amount not-to-exceed $22,208 will be appropriated to Account No. 005-0110-413-4251 (Contractual, Professional, and Specialized Services Budget) for the contribution to the ASA Bus Program in FY 2025- 2026.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Innovation
Public Safety and Social Equity
Sustainability
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Funding Agreement
Attachment 3 – ASA Bus Program Projected Cost for 2025-2026 School Year