CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 17, 2026
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Regular Meeting of August 17, 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 Deputy City Clerk/Deputy 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; Denise Bazzano, Assistant 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; Nate Cruz, Finance Director; Andrew Brozyna, Public Works Director; Cory Call, Police Chief; Eric Mackintosh, Deputy Fire Chief; Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director; Rob Lasky, IT Manager; Nori Jabba, Housing and Sustainability Manager; Vanessa Brannon, Senior Management Analyst; Kevin Foiles, Emergency Services Manager; Alexis GarciaDawson, Deputy City Clerk; Shuli Chen, Video Technician; and Priscilla Schaus, Communications Director/City Clerk/District Secretary.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
PROCLAMATION DECLARING SEPTEMBER 2026 AS "NATIONAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH"
Mayor Kiesel presented the Proclamation Declaring September 2026 as “National Emergency Preparedness Month” to Kevin Foiles, Emergency Services Manager of the Office of Emergency Services of the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department and members of CERT.
PUBLIC
The following people addressed the City Council via email:
1. Tom Lease, regarding a Medical Equipment Closet;
2. Ryota Yoda, regarding the 815 Sea Spray Lane structure fire;
3. America Rios, regarding the 815 Sea Spray Lane structure fire;
4. Yiming Luo, regarding the 815 Sea Spray Lane structure fire;
5. Rev. Michael Cronin, regarding the 815 Sea Spray Lane structure fire; and
6. Allison MacQueen Felder, regarding road and bicycle safety.
The following people addressed the City Council in person:
1. Kelly Saloma, regarding the 815 Sea Spray Lane structure fire;
2. Yvonne Ryzak, regarding storm preparation;
3. Kenny Huo, regarding the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program; and
4. Michael Crocker, regarding road and bicycle safety.
The following people addressed the City Council via teleconference:
1. Raymond Juballa, regarding the 815 Sea Spray Lane structure fire;
2. Alexis Lewis, regarding the 815 Sea Spray Lane structure fire;
3. Yiming Luo, regarding the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and road safety;
4. Rick Sakuda, regarding the 815 Sea Spray Lane structure fire;
5. Mike Swire, regarding road and bicycle safety;
6. Giuliano Carlini, regarding a bicycle and vehicle collision;
7. Michael Fried, regarding the 815 Sea Spray Lane structure fire; and
8. Fred de Sauvage, regarding traffic and bicycle safety.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Councilmember/Director Sullivan, seconded by Councilmember/Director Jimenez 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 August 3, 2026;
2. City/EMID Regular Meeting Minutes of August 10, 2026; and
3. City Resolution No. 2026-081, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing the Joint Use Agreement Between the San Mateo-Foster City School District from September 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030.”
ITEM REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
SECOND AMENDMENT WITH MARTINELLI ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,958.37 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $59,295.33 FOR
THE COMMUNITY CENTER DONOR WALL DESIGN AGREEMENT, AND APPROVING A 10% CONTINGENCY OF $5,929.53. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-082.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Kiesel removed this item from the Consent Calendar at the request of Councilmember Venkat.
Parks and Recreation Director Schweigart presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Venkat, seconded by Vice Mayor Niederhofer, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2026-082, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing a Second Amendment With Martinelli Environmental Graphics in the Amount of $13,958.37 for a Total Contract Amount of $59,295.33 for the Community Center Donor Wall Design Agreement, and Approving a 10% Contingency of $5,929.53 With Authorization Given to the City Manager to Approve and Execute Change Orders or Amendments up to Contingency Amount.”
RESOLUTIONS FOR ADOPTION
RESIDENTIAL BATTERY STORAGE REBATE PROGRAM FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF CLIMATE ACTION PLAN (CAP) PROGRAM E-W.2.1.1
PROVIDE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR SOLAR PV AND BATTERY STORAGE INSTALLATIONS. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-083.
Senior Management Analyst Brannon presented the staff report.
Yiming Luo addressed the City Council via email and teleconference.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Vice Mayor Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember Jimenez, and carried, 3-2-0, Councilmember Venkat and Councilmember Sullivan voted “no,” adopting City Resolution No. 2026-083, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Approving the Foster City Residential Battery Storage Rebate Program for the Implementation of Climate Action Plan (CAP) Program E-W.2.1.1 Provide Financial Incentives for Solar PV and Battery Storage Installations.”
NEW JOB DESCRIPTION OF ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, UPDATING
JOB DESCRIPTION OF ASSOCIATE ENGINEER, AND APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE AMENDED PAY PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 TO INCLUDE THE NEW SALARY RANGE FOR THE ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-084. EMID RESOLUTION NO. 3865.
Administrative Services Director Pitman presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Sullivan, seconded by Councilmember Venkat, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2026-084, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Approving the New Job Description of Assistant Public Works Director, Updating Job Description of Associate Engineer, and Approving and Adopting the Amended Pay Plan for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 to Include the New Salary Range for the Assistant Public Works Director” and EMID Resolution No. 3865, “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Approving the New Job Description of Assistant Public Works Director, Updating Job Description of Associate Engineer, and Approving and Adopting the Amended Pay Plan for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 to Include the New Salary Range for the Assistant Public Works Director” with amendments to revise the text of the resolutions changing “Associate Civil Engineer” to “Associate Engineer.”
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY/DISTRICT WARRANT OF DEMANDS. NO ACTION TAKEN.
City/District Warrant of Demands were Processed and Issued on July 30, 2026.
CITY/DISTRICT MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCIL/BOARD STATEMENTS AND
REQUESTS, AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
City/District Manager Chatwin provided an update to the City Council/EMID Board regarding the 815 Sea Spray Lane Structure Fire. He reported that, following consultation with Cal OES (California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services), County officials, and local emergency-management experts, the City determined that neither a local emergency declaration nor a request for a state of emergency was warranted at this time.
Staff is instead prioritizing a joint preliminary damage assessment to support potential Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster assistance and will continue coordinating with governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community partners to assist residents affected by the fire with available recovery resources Councilmember/Director Jimenez stated she attended the City’s Summer Days event, and thanked City staff for their organizing the event. She praised the community for working together to help those affected by the 815 Sea Spray Lane structure fire.
Vice Mayor/Vice President Niederhofer stated she attended the SFO Airport/Community Roundtable meeting on August 5. She requested staff to explore temporary actions they could take to ensure greater traffic and pedestrian safety in school zones prior to the adoption of the Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan.
Councilmember/Director Venkat stated she attended the Citizens Sustainability Advisory Committee meeting on August 12. She requested to agendize a presentation for the September 8 Regular City Council meeting on the City’s decision regarding a local emergency declaration and received the support of Councilmember/Director Sullivan and Councilmember/Director Jimenez.
Councilmember/Director Sullivan stated he attended the Park and Recreation Committee meeting on August 4, where they discussed preparations for the Summer Days event. On August 13, he attended the San Mateo Union High School District board meeting. He praised the students in the district for organizing efforts to support those affected by the fire.
Mayor/President Kiesel shared that donations for the victims of the 815 Sea Spray Lane structure fire can be directed to the Samaritan House or the American Red Cross.
Mayor/President Kiesel shared that donations for the victims of the fire can be directed to the Samaritan House or the American Red Cross.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no objection from the City Council/EMID Board, Mayor/President Kiesel adjourned the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m.