CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2025
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Regular Meeting of September 15, 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; Andrew Brozyna, Public Works Director; Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director; Cory Call, Police Chief; Rob Lasky, IT Manager; Zaheed Danish, Public Works Maintenance Manager; Frank Fanara, Parks Manager; Kevin Ortiz, Management Analyst; Madeline Koval Dietzman, Recreation Coordinator; Katherine Estrada, Deputy City Clerk; Shuli Chen, Video Technician ; and Priscilla Schaus, Communications Director/City Clerk/District Secretary.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 2025 AS “DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.”
Councilmember Venkat presented the Proclamation Recognizing October 2025 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”
PUBLIC
Evan Adams addressed the City Council via email regarding the Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan.
RESOLUTIONS FOR ADOPTION
APPOINTMENT OF FIFTEEN MEMBERS TO THE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2025-73. TAKEN OUT OF AGENDA ORDER.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Jimenez took this item out of agenda order.
Recreation Coordinator Koval Dietzman presented the staff report and introduced the members of the Youth Advisory Committee.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Venkat, seconded by Councilmember Niederhofer, and carried unanimously, 5- 0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2025- 73, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Approving the Appointment of Fifteen Members to the Youth Advisory Committee.”
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Vice Mayor/Vice President Kiesel , 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 Special Meeting Minutes of August 25, 2025;
2. City/EMID Regular Meeting Minutes of September 2, 2025; and
3. City Resolution No. 2025-74, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Approving the After School Activity (ASA) Bus Program Funding Agreement Between the City of Foster City and the San Mateo Union High School District for a Contribution in the Amount of $22,208 to Fund the ASA Bus Program for the 2025-2026 School Year, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Funding Agreement, and Authorizing an Appropriation in an Amount Not -to-Exceed $22,208 to the Community Benefits Fund, Account No. 005- 0110-413-4251, to Fund the Contribution”.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
AMENDING SECTION 2.28.090 WITHIN CHAPTER 2.28, “PLANNING,” OF TITLE 2, “ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL” OF THE FOSTER CITY MUNICIPAL CODE TO
ADD DUTIES OF BOARD OF APPEALS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND
FINDING THE AMENDMENTS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINE SECTION 15061(B)(3) (FIRST READING ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2025). CITY ORDINANCE NO. 693.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Jimenez removed this item from the Consent Calendar at the request of Vice Mayor Kiesel.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember Venkat, and carried, 4- 1-0, Vice Mayor Kiesel voted “no,” adopting City Ordinance No. 693, “ An Ordinance of the City of Foster City Amending Section 2.28.090 within Chapter 2.28, “Planning,” of Title 2, “Administration and Personnel” of the Foster City Municipal Code to Add Duties of Board of Appeals to the Planning Commission and Finding the Amendments Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guideline Section 15061(B)(3) (First Reading on September 2, 2025).”
LETTER TO THE HONORABLE DONALD J. AYOOB OF THE SUPERIOR COURT IN
RESPONSE TO THE SAN MATEO COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY REPORT DATED JULY 8, 2025, ENTITLED "WILL THE NEXT ONE LEAVE YOU HIGH AND DRY? ”.
MINUTE ORDER NO. 2047.
Without objection from the EMID Board of Directors, President Jimenez removed this item from the Consent Calendar at the request of Director Sullivan.
Public Works Director Brozyna presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Director Venkat, seconded by Director Sullivan, and carried unanimously, 5-0- 0, adopting Minute Order No. 2047, approving the Letter to the Honorable Donald J.
Ayoob of the Superior Court in Response to the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury Report Dated July 8, 2025, Entitled "Will the Next One Leave You High and Dry?".
PUBLIC HEARINGS
FOSTER CITY MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 15, “BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION.” CITY ORDINANCE NO. 694.
Community Development Director Mangalam presented the staff report.
Mayor Jimenez opened a public hearing to hear and consider comments regarding Foster City Municipal Code Amendments to Title 15, “Building and Construction.”
No public testimony was received.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Jimenez closed the public hearing.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Niederhofer , seconded by Councilmember Sullivan, and carried, 4-1-0, Vice Mayor Kiesel voted “no,” to adopt City Ordinance No. 694, “ An Ordinance of the City of Foster City Repealing and Replacing Sections 15.02.120, “Means of Appeals” Adopting by Reference and Amending Section 113 of the California Building Code;15.04.110, “Board of Appeals” Adopting by Reference and Amending Section R112 of the California Residential Code; 15.06.080, “Means of Appeals” Adopting by Reference and Amending Section 112 of the California Existing Building Code; 15.08.080, “Board of Appeals” Adopting by Reference and Amending Section 107.0 of the California Mechanical Code; 15.16.070, “Board of Appeals” Adopting by Reference and Amending Section 107.0 of the California Plumbing Code; and Adopting a New Section 15.20.190, “Board of Appeals” within Title 15, “Building and Construction” of the Foster City Municipal Code Adopting by Reference and Amending Section 89.108.8 of the California Electrical Code to Designate the Planning Commission as the Board of Appeals to Hear and Decide Appeals of Decisions Made by the Building Official; and Finding the Amendments Exempt From the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guideline Section 15061(B)(3) (First Reading on September 2, 2025).”
REPORTS
PARKS SYSTEM MASTER PLAN GENERAL PROJECT UPDATE. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2048.
Parks Manager Fanara presented the staff report, and Peter Winch and Madison Merrill from Wallace Roberts & Todd (WRT) presented a PowerPoint presentation.
Sharon Staley addressed the City Council via teleconference.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Niederhofer , seconded by Vice Mayor Kiesel , and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2048, receiving and accepting the status update on the Parks System Master Plan (PSMP).
RESOLUTIONS FOR ADOPTION
ADD NEW JOB DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR AND
AUTHORIZING A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION TO HIRE A TEMPORARY
PRINCIPAL BUILDING INSPECTOR AND APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE AMENDED PAY PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2025-
75. EMID RESOLUTION NO. 3820.
Administrative Services Director Pitman presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember /Director Venkat, seconded by Councilmember/Director Sullivan, and carried unanimously, 5- 0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2025- 75, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Adding New Job Description of Principal Building Inspector and Authorizing a Supplemental Appropriation to Hire a Temporary Principal Building Inspector and Approving and Adopting the Amended Pay Plan for Fiscal Year 2025- 2026” and EMID Resolution No. 3820, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Adding New Job Description of Principal Building Inspector and Authorizing a Supplemental Appropriation to Hire a Temporary Principal Building Inspector and Approving and Adopting the Amended Pay Plan for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.”
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY/DISTRICT WARRANT OF DEMANDS. NO ACTION TAKEN.
City/District Warrants of Demands were Processed and Issued on August 15, 2025, and August 28, 2025.
CITY/DISTRICT MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCIL/BOARD STATEMENTS AND
REQUESTS, AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
Councilmember/Director Venkat stated she attended the Foster City American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Opening Day Ceremony on September 6. As part of the San Mateo-Foster City School District Board, she attended the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Meadow Heights Elementary School’s new Multipurpose Building on September 3.
Councilmember/Director Niederhofer stated she attended the Gilead Sciences Groundbreaking Ceremony for their Lakeside Drive project on September 3 . On September 6, she attended the AYSO Opening Day Ceremony. On September 10, she attended the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department Badge Pinning Ceremony.
Councilmember/Director Sullivan stated he attended the AYSO Opening Day Ceremony on September 6. On September 9, he attended the Parks and Recreation Committee special meeting. On September 10, he attended the San Mateo Union High School District Board meeting. On September 11 , he attended the Traffic Review Committee special meeting.
Vice Mayor/Vice President Kiesel stated he attended the San Mateo County Library Joint Powers Authority Governing Board meeting on September 15, where they approved their budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. He stated he will be attending the Rethink Waste Board meeting and Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) Board meeting on September 18.
Mayor/President Jimenez shared that the Community Bike Ride will be on September 21 starting at 10:30 a.m. at Boothbay Park. On September 11, she attended the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremonies at Fire Station #28 in Foster City and Fire Station #21 in Downtown San Mateo; then she attended the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG) Board meeting, where they had a presentation from Joint Venture Silicon Valley on regional trends and issues. On September 15, she attended the San Mateo County Child Care Partnership Council (CCPC) meeting and shared there will be a Child Care Town Hall hosted by San Mateo County Supervisors Speier and Gauthier on September 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the San Mateo Main Library.
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Jimenez recessed the meeting into Closed Session for:
1. Conference with Legal Counsel—Existing Litigation
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of case: Foster City Marina Center LLC v. City of Foster City, et al. (San Mateo Superior Court Case No. 22 CIV 03526);
2. Conference with Legal Counsel—Existing Litigation
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of case: City of Foster City v. Elizabeth Karnazes, et al. (San Mateo Superior Court Case No. 24 CIV 06967); and
3. Report Out from Closed Session.
Meeting recessed into Closed Session at 8:37 p.m. and reconvened at 9:24 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no objection from the City Council/EMID Board, Mayor/President Jimenez adjourned the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:24 p.m.