CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF APRIL 20, 2026
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Regular Meeting of April 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 ; Benjamin Stock , City Attorney/District 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 ; Rob Lasky, IT Manager; Yelena Capello, Principal Management Analyst; Laura Galli, Engineering Manager; Francine Magno, Senior Civil Engineer; Ryan Marquez, Senior Civil Engineer; Vuong Phan, Police Seargent; Lyly Mai, Police Officer; Cathy Lau, Police Corporal; Kristina Muratori, Dispatch Supervisor; Veronica Gutierrez, Dispatcher; Shuli Chen, Video Technician; and Priscilla Schaus, Communications Director/City Clerk/District Secretary.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 2026 AS PARKINSON’S AWARENESS MONTH
Vice Mayor Niederhofer presented the proclamation recognizing April 2026 as Parkinson’s Awareness Month to Debbie Lucchesi, representing the Parkinson’s Foundation and Foster City Resident Paul Norton.
PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE WEEK OF APRIL 12 -18, 2026 AS “NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK”
Councilmember Jimenez presented the proclamation declaring the week of April 12- 18, 2026 as “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week” to Dispatch Supervisor Kristina Muratori and Dispatcher Veronica Gutierrez.
PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE WEEK OF APRIL 19 -25, 2026 AS “VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK”
Mayor Kiesel presented the proclamation declaring the week of April 19- 25, 2026 as “Volunteer Appreciation Week” to Police Chief Call on behalf of the Foster City Police Department volunteers.
PUBLIC
Ken Bauco , representing Infraday, addressed the City Council via email regarding Infraday California.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Vice Mayor/Vice President Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember/Director Venkat, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, approving the following items on the City/District Consent Calendar:
City/EMID Consent Calendar
1. City and Planning Commission Joint Special Meeting Minutes of February 24, 2026;
2. City/EMID Regular Meeting Minutes of March 16, 2026;
3. City/EMID Regular Meeting Minutes of April 6, 2026;
4. City/EMID Special Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2026;
5. City Resolution No. 2026- 033, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing Award of an Agreement with Moffatt & Nichol in the Amount of $130,007 for Professional Engineering Services for the Lagoon Dredge Survey, Approval of an Agreement Contingency in the Amount of $20,000, Authorizing the Mayor to execute the Agreement, and Finding the Project Exempt From CEQA Under Section 15306 - Information Collection;”
6. City Resolution No. 2026- 034, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Revising the Building/Fleet Maintenance Superintendent Job Description;”
7. EMID Resolution No. 3842, “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Revising the Building/Fleet Maintenance Superintendent Job Description”; and
8. EMID Resolution No. 3843, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Approving the Plans and Specifications, Authorizing the Call for Bids for Phase I of the Emergency Generator Replacement Project (CIP 455-705); And Finding the Project Exempt From CEQA Under Section 15301(B) – Existing Facilities.”
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,000 FROM THE GENERAL PLAN MAINTENANCE FUND (FUND 128) TO ACCOUNT 128 -0838-419-42-51; AUTHORIZING CONTRACT AMENDMENT NO. THREE (3) TO THE AGREEMENT WITH FEHR AND PEERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,278 FOR THE FOSTER CITY BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NO. 3; AND FINDING PROJECT EXEMPT FROM REVIEW
UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PURSUANT TO PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21000. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-035.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Kiesel removed this item from the Consent Calendar.
Yiming Luo addressed the City Council via teleconference.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Jimenez, seconded by Vice Mayor Niederhofer, and carried unanimously, 5- 0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2026- 035, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing An Appropriation in the Amount of $21,000 From the General Plan Maintenance Fund (Fund 128) to Account 128- 0838-419-42-51; Authorizing Contract Amendment No. Three (3) to the Agreement With Fehr and Peers in the Amount of $24,278 for the Foster City Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan; Authorizing the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 3; and Finding Project Exempt From Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21000.”
PUBLIC HEARING
REVISIONS TO THE CITY/DISTRICT MASTER FEES AND SERVICE CHARGES SCHEDULE FOR FY 2026 -2027 AND FY 2027- 2028 (NOT INCLUDING PARKS AND RECREATION FEES) . CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026- 036. EMID RESOLUTION NO. 3844.
Finance Director Cruz presented the staff report.
Mayor/President Kiesel opened a public hearing to hear and consider comments regarding revisions to the City/District Master Fees and Service Charges Schedule for FY 2026-2027 and FY 2027-2028 (not including Parks and Recreation Fees).
No public testimony was received.
Without objection from the City Council/Board of Directors Mayor/President Kiesel closed the public hearing.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember/Director Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember/Director Venkat, and carried unanimously, 5- 0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2026- 036, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Amending the Master Fees and Service Charges Schedule for FY 2026- 2027 and FY 2027-2028” and EMID Resolution No. 3844, “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Amending the Master Fees and Service Charges Schedule for FY 2026-2027 and FY 2027-2028.”
REPORTS
REAL ESTATE MARKET ANALYSIS. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2072.
Community Development Director Mangalam and Ken Hira, representing Kosmont Companies, presented the report.
The following people addressed the City Council via teleconference:
1. Yiming Luo;
2. Crystal Tilton; and
3. Evan Adams.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Jimenez, seconded by Vice Mayor Niederhofer , and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2072, receiving and accepting the report and directing staff to:
1. Examine trends such as ghost kitchens, food halls, and office- to-housing conversions;
2. Identify strategies to retain and support existing businesses;
3. Assess impacts of current noise ordinance on restaurants/cafés and evaluate feasibility of extending hours to support businesses;
4. Identify city policies that may create barriers to businesses;
5. Analyze City-owned and other opportunity sites, including Golf course, Sea Cloud II, state -owned parcel and vacant buildings/parcels that could benefit from redevelopment;
6. Explore ideal location for downtown core and possibility to establish a local high school;
7. Study the effect of redevelopment of Hillsdale mall on Foster City; and
8. Include Beach Park Plaza shopping center in the analysis of the shopping centers.
PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED WASTEWATER RATES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025 WITH ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS EACH JULY 1 THOUGH JULY 1, 2029. NO ACTION TAKEN.
Public Works Director Brozyna and Principal Management Analyst Capello presented the staff report.
No action was taken.
PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED WATER RATES EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025 WITH ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS EACH JULY 1 THROUGH JULY 1, 2029. NO ACTION TAKEN.
Public Works Director Brozyna and Principal Management Analyst Capello presented the staff report.
No action was taken.
RESOLUTIONS FOR ADOPTION
COMMITMENT TO ENFORCEMENT OF STATE LAW AND CITY POLICIES IN
RESPONSE TO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THOSE LAWS AND POLICIES. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-037.
City Attorney Stock presented the staff report.
The following people addressed the City Council via email:
1. Nancy Goodban;
2. Taylor Kwan;
3. Maxwell Kwan;
4. Janet Kwan;
5. Linda Adler;
6. Seona Srivastava; and
7. Noelia Corzo, San Mateo County Supervisor of District 2.
Jim Lawrence addressed the City Council in person.
The following people addressed the City Council via teleconference:
1. Sara Matlin;
2. Yiming Luo; and
3. Kalimah Salahuddin.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Sullivan, seconded by Councilmember Venkat , and carried unanimously, 5- 0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2026- 037, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City’s Commitment to Enforcement of State Law and City Policies in Response to Federal Immigration Enforcement Actions That Do Not Comply With Those Laws and Policies.”
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY/DISTRICT WARRANT OF DEMANDS. NO ACTION TAKEN.
City/District Warrants of Demands were Processed and Issued on February 26, 2026, and ACH were processed on March 5, 2026.
CITY/DISTRICT MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCIL/BOARD STATEMENTS AND
REQUESTS, AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
Vice Mayor/Vice President Niederhofer stated she attended the Planning Commission meeting on April 16. She thanked Pacific Beach Coalition for organizing their Earth Day Cleanup event on April 18.
Councilmember/Director Sullivan stated he attended the Chamber San Mateo County Progress Seminar on April 17-19.
Councilmember/Director Venkat stated she attended the Commute.org Board meeting on April 16 and the Citizens Sustainability Advisory Committee meeting on April 8. She shared that they will be tabling for Earth Day at the Off the Grid event on Wednesday, April 22.
Mayor/President Kiesel stated he addressed the residents of Atria at Foster Square regarding local, state, and federal issues on April 13 . On April 17 -19, he attended the Chamber San Mateo County Progress Seminar.
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Kiesel recessed the meeting into Closed Session for:
1. Conference with Labor Negotiators
Agency designated representative: (Mayor)
Unrepresented employee: (City Manager); and
2. Report Out of Closed Session.
Meeting recessed into Closed Session at 8:45 and reconvened at 10:38 p.m.
City Attorney/District Legal Counsel Stock 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 10:38 p.m.