DATE: March 16, 2026
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director
Tiffany Oren, Recreation Manager
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION FOR PROCUREMENT OF OFFICE
FURNITURE FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER REBUILD
PROJECT (CIP 301-678)
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the purchase of office and workstation furniture in an amount not to exceed $121,818 for the Community Center Rebuild Project (CIP 301-678) from Insidesource.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Foster City Community Center Rebuild Project (CIP 301-678) requires the procurement of Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) to support full operation of the new facility upon opening. Staff collaborated with Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Inc. (Group 4) to evaluate space needs, select durable and high-quality furnishings, and secure competitive pricing through cooperative purchasing agreements and vendor quotations. On December 15, 2025, the City Council approved procurement of public and site furnishings totaling $1,046,772, within the Project’s overall FF&E budget of $1,190,000.
Selection of staff office and workstation furniture is now complete. Approval of this purchase will allow staff to finalize procurement, maintain the project schedule, and ensure a timely and fully functional opening of the new Community Center.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
The Community Center Rebuild Project requires a comprehensive FF&E package to ensure the new facility is functional, welcoming, and consistent with modern community facility standards. The Project’s FF&E budget includes public furnishings, program equipment, outdoor site amenities, and staff office furniture and workstations. The total approved FF&E budget for the Project is $1,190,000.
To support FF&E planning and selection, staff partnered with the project design team at Group 4. Beginning in early 2025, Parks and Recreation staff worked closely with Group 4 to develop a furnishings program designed for high-use municipal environments. This process included:
Reviewing product durability, safety standards, and ADA compliance Evaluating vendors for pricing, availability, and lead times Developing layouts for program rooms, lounges, workspaces, and gathering areas
Conducting value-engineering to maintain quality while remaining within budget Group 4 also conducted an independent analysis of vendor pricing, warranty coverage, material specifications, and freight costs to confirm best value. Where feasible, they obtained multiple quotes and utilized competitively awarded cooperative purchasing agreements, consistent with City Resolution No. 2025-25 and Purchasing Policy Section 3B.
On December 15, 2025, the City Council approved procurement of public and site furnishings totaling $1,046,772. These furnishings have been ordered and are scheduled for installation prior to the planned July 2026 facility opening.
Following Council approval of the public and site furnishings, staff continued working with Group 4 to finalize furniture selections for staff work areas, including:
First Floor: Private offices, shared office spaces, open workstations, and reception area
Second Floor: Shared office suite
In December 2025, staff evaluated office and workstation systems from KI, Herman Miller, and Allsteel at their San Francisco showrooms. After reviewing ergonomics, functionality, quality, and pricing, staff determined that Allsteel furniture provides the best overall value while meeting workspace needs within the remaining FF&E budget.
The estimated cost for staff office and workstation furniture is $121,818. Vendor quotes and a detailed furniture list are included in Attachment 2.
City Council approval at this time will allow staff to proceed with procurement in order to accommodate manufacturing and shipping lead times, coordinate with the construction schedule, and avoid delays to the Community Center’s planned opening CEQA
The approval of the Community Center furniture 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
The approved FF&E budget for the Community Center Rebuild Project is $1,190,000.
Public and site furnishings previously approved by City Council totaled $1,046,772, leaving sufficient funding available within the FF&E budget to purchase staff office furniture and workstations.
FF&E Budget Summary Amount
Total FF&E Budget $1,190,000
Public Furniture $632,404
Site Furniture $414,368
Total Approved to Date $1,046,772
Remaining FF&E Budget $143,228
Office Furniture Quote: $121,818
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Facilities and Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Office Furniture Quotes