CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 2, 2026
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Regular Meeting of March 2, 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 ; Benjamin Stock , City Attorney/District Legal Counsel ; Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City/District Manager; Nate Cruz, Finance Director; Andrew Brozyna, Public Works Director; Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director; Sofia Mangalam, Community Development Director; Cory Call, Police Chief ; Rob Lasky, IT Manager ; Eric Macintosh, Deputy Fire Chief; Yelena Capello, Principal Management Analyst; Thai - Chau Le, Planning Manager; Helen Telfer, Senior Planner; Chris Dolberg, Senior Systems Analyst; Maddy Di etzman, Recreation Coordinator; Shuli Chen , Video Technician; and Priscilla Schaus , Communications Director/City Clerk/District Secretary.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
PROCLAMATIONS HONORING DR. BRIAN LEE AND DR. JONATHON LEE ON THEIR RETIREMENT.
Vice Mayor Niederhofer presented the Proclamation Honoring Dr. Brian Lee and the Proclamation Honoring Dr. Jonathon Lee on their Retirement to Dr. Brian and Dr .
Jonathon Lee.
PUBLIC
Evan Adams addressed the City Council via email regarding video streaming for Council meetings.
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 February 10, 2026;
2. City/EMID Regular Meeting Minutes of February 17, 2026;
3. City Resolution No. 2026- 014, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing an Appropriation in the Amount of $45,000 From the Construction and Demolition Fund (129) to Account No. 12- 0932-431-42-51; Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Memorandum of Unders tanding (MOU) With the County of San Mateo for the San Mateo County Compost for Climate Solutions Program (MOUs) From March 3, 2026 Through December 31, 2026; Authorizing the City Manager to Continue Participation in the Program Through Execution of Future MOUs in an Amount Not to Exceed $75,000 Annually Through December 31, 2029; And Finding the MOU Exempt From Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(B)(3)”;
4. City Resolution No. 2026- 015, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing the Appropriation of Funding in the Amount of $675,000 From the Workers Compensation Fund (Fund 510) to Account No. 510-1230-415- 42-62 to Pay for Claim Settlements and Invoices; Approv e Transfer of $100,000 From the General Fund (Fund 001) to Fund 510”; and
5. EMID Resolution No. 3836, “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Authorizing the Appropriation of Funding in the Amount of $675,000 From the Workers Compensation Fund (Fund 510) to Account No. 510- 1230-415-42-62 to Pay for Claim Settleme nts and Invoices; Approve Transfer of $100,000 From the General Fund (Fund 001) to Fund 510”.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
CORRECTION TO THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED APPROPRIATION FROM THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT FUND (501) TO ACCOUNT NO. 501 -0560-431-4384, REDUCING THE AMOUNT FROM $87,179 TO $84,687 ($2,492 DECREASE);
RESCINDING THE AWARD FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE EXPLORER ST (WHITE)
VEHICLE FROM TOWNE FORD AND AWARDING TO SERRAMONTE FORD AND CORRECTING THE BID AMOUNT FROM $58,233 TO $55,741; AND FINDING THE
PURCHASE EXEMPT FROM REVIEW UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) 15061(B)(3). CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-016.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Kiesel removed this item from the Consent Calendar at the request of Councilmember Sullivan.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Sullivan, seconded by Councilmember Jimenez , and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2026- 016, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing a Correction to the Previously Approved Appropriation from the Vehicle Replacement Fund (501) to Account No. 501- 0560-431- 4384, Reducing the Amount From $87,179 to $84,687 ($2,492 Decrease); Rescinding the Award for the P urchase of the Explorer St (White) Vehicle From Towne Ford and Awarding to Serramonte Ford and Correcting the Bid Amount From $58,233 to $55,741; And Finding the Purchase Exempt From Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 15061(B)(3).”
DISBANDMENT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE . CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026 -017. EMID RESOLUTION NO. 3837.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Kiesel removed this item from the Consent Calendar.
Gary Epstein addressed the City Council in person.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Jimenez, seconded by Vice Mayor Niederhofer, and carried, 4-1-0, Mayor/President Kiesel voted “no”, adopting City Resolution No. 2026- 017, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing the Disbandment of Audit Committee” and EMID Resolution No. 3837, “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Authorizing the Disbandment of Audit Committee.”
APPOINT ONE MEMBER TO A PARTIAL TERM FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2027 ON THE CITIZENS SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2064.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Kiesel removed this item from the Consent Calendar at the request of Councilmember Venkat.
Akshay Lal, the Citizens Sustainability Advisory appointee, addressed the City Council in person.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Venkat, seconded by Councilmember Sullivan , and carried, unanimously 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2064, “Appointing Akshay Lal to a Partial Term from September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2027 on the Citizens Sustainability Advisory Committee.”
REPORTS
YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S 2025 YEAR END REPORT, REVIEW OF MISSION STATEMENT, AND GOALS FOR 2026. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2065.
Youth Advisory Committee Chair Isha Misra and Co-Chair Raneem Motalib presented the report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Vice Mayor Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember Venkat , and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2065, receiving and accepting the Youth Advisory Committee’s 2025 Year End Report, Review of Mission Statement, and Goals for 2026.
GENERAL PLAN AND HOUSING ELEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT FOR 2025. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2066.
Community Development Director Mangalam and Senior Planner Telfer presented the report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Sullivan, seconded by Councilmember Jimenez, and carried unanimously, 5- 0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 206 6, receiving and accepting the General Plan and Housing Element Annual 2025 Progress Report.
CITY/DISTRICT MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCIL/BOARD STATEMENTS AND
REQUESTS, AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
City/District Manager Chatwin stated that Parks and Recreation Director Schweigart invites the City Council to take a tour of the Community Center and see the progression of the project. City Council is also invited to meet the Police Chief and tour the Police Station.
Councilmember/Director Venkat stated the San Mateo- Foster City School District Workforce Housing Leadership subcommittee is leaning towards using an empty school in San Mateo as their workforce housing site. She also stated that Commute.org is looking for new submissions for their community partner program from San Mateo County non- profits to help engage underrepresented communities and increase awareness of commuter benefits.
Councilmember/Director Sullivan thanked Public Works Director Brozyna and Engineering Manager Galli for the tour of the Wastewater Treatment Plant on February
23. On February 24, he attended the Planning Commission meeting. He requested a proclamation for Public Service Recognition Week, and Councilmember/Director Jimenez and Councilmember/Director Venkat supported the item.
Councilmember/Director Jimenez stated she attended a school visitation at Beach Park Elementary on February 24.
Vice Mayor/Vice President Niederhofer stated she attended the P lanning Commission meeting on February 19 . On February 27, she and Mayor/President Kiesel gave Congressman Mullen’s staff a tour of the City to highlight projects the City can potentially receive funding on.
Mayor/President Kiesel stated he attended the S outh Bayside Waste Management Authority (RethinkWaste) meeting on February 26 where they discussed the ongoing negotiations with the garbage truck drivers, the improvement of the education center, and increasing public awareness on the Shoreway Center’s services.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no objection from the City Council/EMID Board, Mayor/President Kiesel adjourned the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 9:36 p.m.