PROCLAMATION OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY BY THE CITY
MANAGER OF THE CITY OF FOSTER CITY RELATED TO RANSOMWARE ATTACK
WHEREAS, Government Code section 8630 and section 2.40.070 (A) of the Municipal Code empower the Director of Emergency Services to proclaim the existence of a local emergency when the City of Foster City (“City”) is affected or likely to be affected by an emergency, as that term is defined in Section 2.40.020 and the City Council is not in session; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Emergency Services is identified in the Municipal Code as the City Manager; and
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2026, the City’s network was attacked by an external actor in the form of a ransomeware attack; and
WHEREAS, this attack caused network access to unavailable, which significantly interferes with City staff’s ability to conduct business and provide services and the network is expected to be down for a few days; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager, acting as Director of Emergency Services, did find that conditions of disaster to persons and property within this City were met due to the significant disruption to City services, including emergency services; and WHEREAS, in response to these developments, the City Manager in his capacity as the City’s Director of Emergency Services proclaimed the existence of a local emergency on March 19, 2026 at approximately 9:00 A.M.; and WHEREAS, these conditions and the needed response are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City, requiring the use of outside contractors to conduct emergency repair pursuant to Foster City Municipal Code Chapters 2.40, 3.04 and without giving notice for bids to let the contract, pursuant to Public Contract Code 22050; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is not in session and cannot immediately be called into session; and
WHEREAS, this Proclamation shall be subject to confirmation by the City Council within seven days of execution; and
WHEREAS, the City will provide written notification of this Proclamation and other necessary documents to the appropriate departments within San Mateo County and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services pursuant to Government Code 8607.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED that a local emergency now exists throughout said City.
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the existence of said local emergency the powers functions and duties of the emergency organization of this City shall be those prescribed by state law, by ordinances, and resolutions of this City, and that this emergency proclamation shall expire on March 26, 2026, unless ratified and extended by the City Council of the City of Foster City.
Dated: March 19, 2026 _______________
Stefan Chatwin, City Manager