CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 20, 2026
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Regular Meeting of January 20, 2026 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. in the Council Chambers, 620 Foster City Boulevard, Foster City, San Mateo County, California, by Mayor/President Art Kiesel.
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 Stacy Jimenez, Suzy Niederhofer, Patrick Sullivan, Phoebe Venkat, and Mayor/President Art Kiesel.
ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT:
Stefan Chatwin, City/District Manager; Mary Wagner, Special Legal Counsel; Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City/District Manager; Diane Pitman, Administrative Services Director; Andrew Brozyna, Public Works Director; Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director ; Sofia Mangalam, Community Development Director; Cory Call, Police Chief; Nate Cruz, Finance Director; Rob Lasky, IT Manager ; Waqas Hassan, Assistant Finance Director; Shuli Chen , Video Technician; Katherine Estrada; Deputy City Clerk; and Priscilla Schaus, Communications Director/City Clerk/District Secretary.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES TO FOSTER CITY HIP HOUSING CALENDAR WINNERS.
Mayor Kiesel presented the Certificates to Olivia A., Joseph R., and Emerald S., and, HIP Housing Board Member LaTisa Brooks presented the HIP Housing 2026 Calendar.
PUBLIC
The following people addressed the City Council via email:
1. Karl Hoffmann, regarding the draft Parks Master Plan;
2. Chinh Vo, regarding the draft Parks Master Plan;
3. Shilpi Goel, regarding the Pacific Beach Coalition;
4. Valar Asai, regarding the Harbor Cove Apartment fire; and
5. Maryam Shariati, regarding affordable housing programs.
Mike Swire addressed the City Council via teleconference regarding a traffic accident in front of Costco.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Councilmember/Director Jimenez, seconded by Vice Mayor/Vice President Niederhofer, and carried unanimousl y, 5-0-0, approving the following items on the City/District Consent Calendar:
City/EMID Consent Calendar
1. City/EMID Regular Meeting Minutes of December 15, 2025;
2. City Ordinance No. 698, “ An Ordinance of the City of Foster City Amending Title 17, “Zoning” of the Foster City Municipal Code by Adding a New Chapter 17.15 “Single-Family and Two -Family Objective Design and Development Standards” and Finding the Amendments Within the Scope of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Prepared for the Foster City Housing and Safety Element Update (SCH Number 2022010509) – Rz2024-0005 (First Reading on December 15, 2025);”
3. City Ordinance No. 699, “ An Ordinance of the City of Foster City Amending Title 17, “Zoning” of the Foster City Municipal Code by Repealing and Replacing Chapters 17.50 “Accessory Buildings and Uses” and 17.54 “Yards”; and Amending Chapters 17.04 “Definitions”; 17.12 “R -1 Single-family Residence District”; 17.14 “R-2 Two-family Residence District”; 17.58 “Architectural Control and Supervision”; and 17.96 “Multifamily and Residential Mixed- Use Objective Design and Development Standards”; and Finding the Amen dments Within the Scope of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Prepared for the Foster City Housing and Safety Element Update (SCH Number 2022010509) (First Reading on December 15, 2025);”
4. City Resolution No. 2026- 001, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement with Pen Media for Video Technician Services from May 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028 for an Initial Contract Term of Three (3) Years, with the Option to Extend the Agreement for an Additional Four Years in Amounts Not to Exceed $40,000 Annually;”
5. City Resolution No. 2026- 002, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Approving a $50,000 Sponsorship Agreement with Senior Care Action Network (SCAN) Health Plan for Senior Lounge Furniture and Amenities at the New Foster City Community Center and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement; Record the Sponsorship Funds in Fund 116; Authorize the Transfer of $50,000 From Fund 116 to CIP Fund 301 and Designating These Funds as an Additional Funding Source for the Community Center Rebuild Project (CIP 301-678);”
6. City Resolution No. 2026- 003, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Approving the Plans and Specifications and Authorizing the Call for Bids for the Street Rehabilitation Project (2025-2026) (CIP 301-726); and Finding That the Project is Categorically Exempt Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Sections 15301 – Existing Facilities and 15061(B)(3);”
7. EMID Resolution No. 3830, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Authorizing (1) the Award of a Construction Contract to Patriot Environmental Services in the Amount of $162,227 for the Removal of the Underground Storage Tank That Fuels the Back -up Generator at Lift Station 29 as Part of the Emergency Generator Replacement Project (CIP 455- 705); (2) the Establishment of a Construction Contingency in the Amount of $32,000; and (3) Finding the Project Exempt from CEQA Under Section 15301(b)– Existing Facilities;”
8. EMID Resolution No. 3831, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Authorizing the President to Execute an Agreement with CD & Power in the Amount of $635,351.13 for the Purchase of Seven (7) Emergency Generator Systems, Automatic Transfer Switches and Associated Equipment for the Emergency Generator Replacements Project (CIP 455-705) and Finding the Project Exempt From the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Under Section 15301(b)-Existing Facilities”; and
9. EMID Resolution No. 3832, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Authorizing the Sole Source Purchase of Four (4) Flygt Pumps from Shape Inc. In the Amount of $243,820.94 for Lift Stations No.10 and No. 22 and Finding the Action Exempt f rom the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(b) & 15301(d).”
NEW BUSINESS
COUNCIL LIAISONS LIST DATED JANUARY 20, 2026. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2055.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Vice Ma yor Niederhofer , seconded by Councilmember Venkat, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2055, approving the Foster City Council Liaisons List Dated January 20, 2026.
REPORTS
FISCAL YEAR 2025 -26 1ST QUARTER FINANCIAL UPDATE . MINUTE ORDER NO. 2056.
Finance Director Cruz presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember/Director Sullivan , seconded by Councilmember/Director Venkat, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2056, receiving and accepting the report on the Fiscal Year 2025-26 1st Quarter Financial Update.
COMMUNITY CENTER REBUILD PROJECT (CIP 301 -678) GENERAL UPDATE.
MINUTE ORDER NO. 2057.
Parks and Recreation Director Schweigart presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Jimenez , seconded by Vice Mayor Niederhofer , and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2057, receiving and accepting the general update report on the Community Center Rebuild Project (CIP 301- 678) formally known as the Recreation Center Rebuild Project.
RESOLUTIONS FOR ADOPTION
RATIFY AND APPROVE THE AUDITED FISCAL YEAR 2024 -25 ANNUAL
COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT (ACFR) AND OTHER AUDIT COMPLIANCE REPORTS AND THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 -25 WARRANT REGISTERS IN THE FORM OF THAT ACFR. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-004. EMID RESOLUTION NO. 3833.
Finance Director Cruz presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Vice Mayor/Vice President Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember/Director Venkat, and carried unanimously, 5 -0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2026- 004, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Ratifying and Approving the Audited Fiscal Year 2024-25 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Other Audit Compliance Reports and the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Warrant Registers in the Form of That ACFR” and EMID Resolution No. 3833, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Ratifying and Approving the Audited Fiscal Year 2024- 25 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Other Audit Compliance Reports and the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Warrant Registers in the Form of That ACFR.”
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY/DISTRICT WARRANT OF DEMANDS. NO ACTION TAKEN.
City/District Warrants of Demands were Processed and Issued on December 5, 2025, December 16, 2025, and December 30, 2025, and ACH were processed on December 5, 2025.
CITY/DISTRICT MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCIL/BOARD STATEMENTS AND
REQUESTS, AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
City/District Manager Chatwin reminded the Council/Board and public that the annual Council Retreat will be held on Tuesday, February 10.
Councilmember/Director Sullivan stated he attended the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting on January 6. On January 14, he attended the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department Awards and Commendations Ceremony.
Councilmember/Director Venkat stated she attended a local Hannukah celebration on December 17 hosted by the PJCC along with the Peninsula Sinai Congregation, Wornick Jewish Day School, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, and Jewish Community Relations Council. She also attended the Youth Advisory Committee meeting on January 7, the Citizens Sustainability Advisory Committee meeting on January 14, and the Burlingame Chamber of Commerce meeting on January 15. On January 19, she attended a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Downtown San Mateo Caltrain station.
Vice Mayor/Vice President Niederhofer requested to agendize approving a letter to the City and County of San Francisco objecting t he final EIR of the SFO Recommended Airport Development Plan, and she received the support of Councilmember/Director Jimenez, Councilmember/Director Venkat and Mayor/President Kiesel. She expressed appreciation towards Councilmember/Director Jimenez and Councilmember/Director Venkat for their work organizing help for the displaced victims of the Harbor Cove Apartment fire in December.
Councilmember/Director Jimenez shared that Senator Becker will be hosting an E -bike Safety Town Hall on January 28 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. via Zoom. She stated she will also be a panelist at an E-bike Community Forum hosted by Assemblymember Pappan at Mills High School on January 31.
Mayor/President Kiesel stated he attended the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) meeting on January 15.
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor/President Kiesel recessed the meeting into Closed Session for:
1. Conference With Legal Counsel—existing Litigation
(Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (D) of Section 54956.9)
Jared Ryals, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Case No. ADJ17963380;
2. Conference With Legal Counsel—existing Litigation
(Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (D) of Section 54956.9)
Daniel Strambi, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Case No. ADJ12075922;
3. Conference With Legal Counsel—existing Litigation
(Paragraph (1) of Subdivision (D) of Section 54956.9)
Kojo Williams, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Case No. ADJ15543650; and
4. Report Out from Closed Session.
Meeting recessed into Closed Session at 7:40 p.m. and reconvened at 8:02 p.m.
Special Legal Counsel Wagner reported that no action was taken in Closed Session.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no objection from the City Council/EMID Board, Mayor/President Kiesel adjourned the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.