DATE: February 2, 2026
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
Marlene Subashini, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Kevin Ortiz, Management Analyst
Kevin Foiles, Emergency Services Manager
DEPARTMENT: City Manager, San Mateo Consolidated Fire
SUBJECT: FOSTER CITY 2026 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS BASE PLAN
ADOPTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution adopting the City of Foster City 2026 Emergency Operations Base Plan as the official emergency response and recovery framework for the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Emergency Operations Base Plan (EOP) is the City’s primary guiding document for coordinating preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities during emergencies and disasters. The current EOP was comprehensively reviewed and updated in 2025–2026 to reflect organizational changes, current best practices, and compliance with federal and State requirements. Adoption of the EOP will enhance the City’s ability to effectively manage emergencies, ensure continuity of government, and protect life, property, and the environment.
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution approving the 2026 EOP.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
The California Emergency Services Act (Government Code Section 8550 et seq.) requires every city to maintain a current emergency plan for the protection of life and property. Guidance from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) further requires local jurisdictions to maintain an all-hazards Emergency Operations Plan aligned with the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Foster City’s current EOP was adopted in 2007. Since that time, changes in City organization, personnel, technology, and emergency management standards warranted a comprehensive update to the EOP. The 2026 EOP was developed through a collaborative process involving the City Manager’s Office, City Departments, and the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department (SMC Fire).
The EOP establishes the City’s emergency management framework and provides guidance for:
Emergency management organization, authority, and succession Activation and operation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Departmental roles and responsibilities during emergencies Coordination with San Mateo County, Cal OES, FEMA, and regional partners Mutual aid and resource coordination
Continuity of government and recovery operations
The Plan follows an all-hazards, scalable approach applicable to incidents ranging from localized emergencies to major disasters.
Key Updates in the 2026 EOP
Organizational Updates: Revised emergency management structure reflecting current City leadership and departmental roles.
SEMS/NIMS Compliance: Full alignment with SEMS, NIMS, and Incident Command System (ICS) requirements.
Operational Enhancements: Updated EOC activation, staffing, coordination, and public information procedures.
Continuity and Recovery: Expanded guidance for continuity of government and recovery coordination.
Technology and Communications: Updated references to alerting systems, communications platforms, and information-sharing tools.
The Base Plan serves as the City’s formally adopted policy document. Supporting Incident Response Guides (IRGs) and annexes may be updated administratively to reflect operational changes.
California Environmental Quality Act
The proposed action is not a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2) and (b)(5), as it involves the adoption of a policy document and organizational procedures that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of the 2026 Emergency Operations Base Plan has no direct fiscal impact.
Implementation of the Plan will be carried out using existing staff resources and existing emergency preparedness and training budgets. Any future costs associated with emergency response, recovery, or mitigation activities would be addressed through established budget and disaster reimbursement processes.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Public Safety and Social Equity
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Draft Emergency Operations Base Plan (EOP)