CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 3, 2026
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Regular Meeting of August 3, 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; Sofia Mangalam, Deputy City Manager; Diane Pitman, Administrative Services Director; Thai-Chau Le, Interim Community Development Director; Waqas Hassan, Assistant Finance Director; Andrew Brozyna, Public Works Director; William Sandri, Police Captain; Laura Galli, Engineering Manager; Francine Magno, Senior Civil Engineer; Claire McWilliams, Assistant Engineer; Yelena Cappello, Principal Management Analyst; Rob Lasky, IT Manager; Alexis Garcia-Dawson, Deputy City Clerk; Shuli Chen, Video Technician; and Priscilla Schaus, Communications Director/City Clerk/District Secretary.
PUBLIC
Evan Adams addressed the City Council via email regarding the property described as 1065 E. Hillsdale Boulevard, and the City Hall fountains.
Mary Cravalho, representing the San Mateo County Veterans Commission, addressed the City Council in person, regarding the Forum for Veterans and First Responders event hosted by the San Mateo County Veterans Services Office on September 10.
A commentor named “Call-In User _1” provided public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Councilmember/Director Jimenez, seconded by Councilmember/Director Sullivan and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, approving the following items on the City/District Consent Calendar:
City/EMID Consent Calendar
1. City/EMID Regular Meeting Minutes of July 20, 2026;
2. City Resolution No. 2026- 079, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing an Appropriation of $1,432 From the Vehicle Replacement Fund (501) to Account No. 501-0560-431-4384, Authorizing the Purchase of Two (2) Motorcycles from Long Beach BMW Motorcycles for a Total Amount of $91,432; Authorizing a Carryover of $90,000 From FY 2025- 2026 to FY 2026- 2027; And Finding the Purchase Exempt From Review Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 15061(B)(3);”
3. City Resolution No. 2026- 080, “ A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Approving a Construction Contingency Increase for the Street Rehabilitation Project (2025-2026) (CIP 301-726) in the Amount of $175,000;”
4. EMID Resolution No. 3863, “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Accepting the Work by Performance Mechanical, Inc. For the Lift Station 59 Effluent Line Improvements Project (CIP 455- 695) and Directing the District Secretary to File the Notice of Completion”; and
5. EMID Resolution No. 3864, “ A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Authorizing (1) the Award of a Construction Contract to Telstar Instruments in the Amount of $2,289,544.50 for the Construction of the Emergency Generator Replacement (Phas e I) Project (CIP 455-705); (2) the Establishment of a Construction Contingency in the Amount of $572,000; (3) the Award of a Task Order With Consor PMCM, Inc., for Construction Management, Inspection, and Material Testing Services in the Amount Of $ 400,920; (4) the Establishment of a Construction Management Contingency in the Amount of $81,000 And; (5) Finding the Project Exempt From CEQA Under Section 15301(B).”
Yiming Luo addressed the City Council via email regarding item 5.3, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Approving a Construction Contingency Increase for the Street Rehabilitation Project (2025-2026) (CIP 301-726) in the Amount of $175,000.”
PUBLIC HEARINGS
FOSTER CITY DRAFT BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2086.
Public Works Director Brozyna and Senior Civil Engineer Magno introduced Angelica Rocha, representing Fehr & Peers, who presented the report.
Mayor Kiesel opened a public hearing to hear and consider comments regarding the Foster City Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
The following people addressed the City Council via email:
1. Shawn Mooney; and
2. Evan Adams.
Fred de Sauvage addressed the City Council in person.
The following people addressed the City Council via teleconference:
1. Pablo; and
2. Mike Swire.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Kiesel closed the public hearing.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Vice Mayor Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember Jimenez, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2086, receiving and accepting the report, and providing the following policy direction:
1. Consider and incorporate the following factors into the development and preliminary design of each project identified in the plan, and evaluate the potential impacts of each proposed improvement:
a. Driving routes and Parking – Evaluate alternative driving routes and parking options during and outside of school hours to minimize the potential loss of existing parking spaces;
b. Circulation – Evaluate future circulation requirements resulting from planned redevelopment and anticipated increases in occupancy from projects such as the potential IBM expansion, the County’s purchase of the property on 1065 E. Hillsdale Blvd., and the Edgewater Place Shops; c. Travel Lanes – Evaluate alternatives to the proposed loss of travel lanes, including the potential reduction of speed limits, to address traffic and safety concerns;
d. Traffic and Vehicle trips – Evaluate potential impacts to traffic flow and consider a more stratified approach to evaluating traffic impacts, including the use of EIR monitoring measures to track traffic patterns and volumes; e. Cut-through Traffic – Evaluate how certain improvements may influence travel patterns, including the potential for traffic diversion or increased cut - through traffic on adjacent streets such as Crane; and
f. Safety – Prioritize the safety of children and pedestrians in the planning, design, and implementation of every project.
2. Condense the project timeline, if feasible, to avoid missing available grant funding.
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY/DISTRICT WARRANT OF DEMANDS. NO ACTION TAKEN.
City/District Warrants of Demands were Processed and Issued on July 16, 2026.
CITY/DISTRICT MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCIL/BOARD STATEMENTS AND
REQUESTS, AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
City/District Manager Chatwin reminded the Council that there will be a Special M eeting on August 10 at 5:30 p.m. to consider applications for nonprofit agency funding for fiscal year 2026-2027. He also provided an update on the structure fire on Sea Spray Lane and shared that San Mateo Consolidated Fire Chief Turturici will be holding a briefing regarding the incident.
Councilmember/Director Venkat thanked City staff, the Peninsula Jewish Community Center (PJCC), American Red Cross, Foster City Police Department, and local businesses that have helped those affected by the fire.
Councilmember/Director Sullivan thanked the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department and the PJC C for their help responding to the fire and providing aid to the victims . He stated he attended the Council of Cities meeting hosted by the City of San Mateo at the San Mateo Wastewater Treatment Plant on July 24, and the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting on July 30. He thanked PG&E for working to restore power during a recent outage in the neighborhood.
Councilmember/Director Jimenez thanked first responders, the Police Department, Fire Department, City staff, and neighboring agencies f or their work and aid to help those affected by the fire.
Vice Mayor/Vice President Niederhofer thanked all the Fire Department units and Public Works staff that spent the night dealing with the fire. She stated she attended the Council of Cities meeting on July 24 , and the Emergency Services Council meeting on July 30.
On August 1, she attended a backpack giveaway hosted by the Samaritan House at the San Mateo County National Preparedness Day event at the County Event Center. On August 3, she attended the Foster City -Inagi City Sister City Home Stay Program event at the Foster City Public Library. She reminded residents that National Night Out is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on August 4 at Leo J. Ryan Park.
Mayor/President Kiesel reminded the public that there are two more Summer Concert events left before Summer Days begins on August 14. He thanked the Police Department for their help with reuniting a lost dog with its owner. He stated he attended th e Foster City-Inagi City Sister City Home Stay Program event on August 3 and shared the proclamation he received from Inagi City Mayor Katsuhiro Takahashi.
CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Kiesel recessed the meeting into Closed Session for:
1. Threat to Public Services or Facilities
Consultation with: (Cory Call, Chief of Police, Caitlin Smith and Pasha Sternberg, Polsinelli PC);
2. Conference With Legal Counsel —Anticipated Litigation Initiation of Litigation Pursuant to Paragraph (4) of Subdivision (D) of Section 54956.9: (Two Potential Cases); and
3. Report out from Closed Session.
Meeting recessed into Closed Session at 8:09 p.m. and reconvened at 8:52 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 8:52 p.m.