CITY OF FOSTER CITY/
ESTERO MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL/EMID BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Regular Meeting of September 8, 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; Mary Wagner, Special Legal Counsel; Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City/District Manager; Sofia Mangalam, Deputy City Manager; Thai-Chau Le, Interim Community Development Director; Nate Cruz, Finance Director; Andrew Brozyna, Public Works Director; Mark Lee, Police Captain; Eric Mackintosh, Deputy Fire Chief; Kevin Foiles, Emergency Services Manager; Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director; Rob Lasky, IT Manager; Nori Jabba, Housing and Sustainability Manager; Chuck Venook, Chief Building Official; Laura Galli, Engineering Manager; Francine Magno, Senior Civil Engineer; Yelena Cappello, Principal Management Analyst; Kevin Ortiz, Management Analyst; Sandy Loi, Office Assistant II; Alexis Garcia-Dawson, Deputy City Clerk; and Shuli Chen, Video Technician.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 2026 AS “SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH”
Vice Mayor Niederhofer presented the Proclamation Recognizing September 2026 as “Suicide Prevention Month” to Veer Chowdhary, San Mateo County Behavioral Health Commission Youth Action Board Member.
PUBLIC
The following people addressed the City Council via email:
1. Allison MacQueen Felder, regarding road and bicycle safety; and
2. Greg Fontana, regarding mountain lions in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Amber Carillo, representing the U.S Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Recovery, addressed the City Council in person regarding disaster assistance to those affected by the Sea Spray Lane fire.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Councilmember/Director Jimenez, seconded by Vice Mayor/Vice President Niederhofer, 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 17, 2026;
2. City/EMID Special Meeting Minutes of August 19, 2026;
3. City Resolution No. 2026-085, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Approving the Plans and Specifications and Authorizing the Call for Bids for CIP 301-707 Install Rear Security Gates Project; And Finding the Approval Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15061(B)(3);”
4. City Resolution No. 2026-086, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing Amendment No. One (1) in the Amount of $235,366 to Task Order No. IR-2026-01 With Interactive Resources, Inc. for Professional Architecture and Engineering Services for Phase 2 of the Renovate Elevators in City Buildings Project (CIP 301-708) for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $297,198 for Task Order No. IRI2026-01; An Increase of the Project Contingency From $9,000 to $32,500”; and
5. City Resolution No. 2026-087, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing the Police Department to Purchase a One-Year Maintenance Renewal from Intrado to Maintain the Existing Dispatch Customer Premise Equipment (CPE); And Authorizing Appropriation of $26,266.89 from the General Fund to Account 001-0630-421-4246.”
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE CONCESSION AGREEMENT WITH EDGEWATER
MARINE LLC FOR BOAT RENTAL SERVICES AND EXTENDING THE AGREEMENT THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2028. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-088.
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.
Michael Terner, owner of Edgewater Marine, LLC, addressed the City Council in person.
Motion by Councilmember Venkat, seconded by Vice Mayor Niederhofer, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2026-088, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing the Mayor to Execute the Second Amendment to the Concession Agreement with Edgewater Marine LLC for Boat Rental Services and Extending the Agreement Through September 30, 2028.”
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH SAN MATEO COUNTY REGARDING 1065 EAST HILLSDALE BOULEVARD. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2088.
Without objection from the City Council, Mayor Kiesel removed this item from the Consent Calendar at the request of Councilmember Venkat.
City Manager Chatwin presented the staff report.
Raymond Juballa addressed the City Council via teleconference.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Councilmember Venkat, seconded by Councilmember Sullivan, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2088, receiving and accepting the memorandum of understanding with San Mateo County regarding 1065 East Hillsdale Boulevard.
REPORTS
815 SEA SPRAY LANE STRUCTURE FIRE – RESPONSE, RECOVERY, AND EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION CONSIDERATIONS. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2089.
City Manager Chatwin presented the staff report.
The following people addressed the City Council via email:
1. Yasmin Bishop; and
2. Crystal Tilton, President and CEO of the Foster City Chamber of Commerce.
Kelley Salomaa addressed the City Council in person.
Meenakshi Tripathi addressed the City Council via teleconference.
Discussion ensued.
By Consensus of the City Council, Mayor Kiesel reopened public comment.
The following people addressed the City Council in person:
1. Bridget Michelsen;
2. Irene Shimizu;
3. Elvira Reznikov;
4. Azar Nohadani;
5. Kelley Salomaa;
6. Abdi Tabrizi; and
7. Sam Shimizu.
The following people addressed the City Council via teleconference:
1. Swathi Maddali;
2. Michael Freid; and
3. Meenakshi Tripathi.
Motion by Vice Mayor Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember Jimenez, and carried, 3-2-0, Councilmember Venkat and Councilmember Sullivan voted “no,” adopting Minute Order No. 2089, receiving and accepting the report on the 815 Sea Spray Lane Structure Fire – Response, Recovery, and Emergency Proclamation Considerations.
Motion by Councilmember Sullivan, seconded by Councilmember Venkat, and carried, 4- 1-0, Vice Mayor Niederhofer voted “no,” directing staff to draft a letter, to be signed by the Mayor, to the Governor of California requesting a proclamation of a State of Emergency.
RECESS. The meeting recessed at 9:25 p.m. and reconvened at 9:30 p.m.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT MASTER PLAN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT (CIP 455-652) - CLEAN WATER PROGRAM - UPDATE FOR QUARTER 2 – APRIL THROUGH JUNE 2026. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2090.
Public Works Director Brozyna and Senior Civil Engineer Magno presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Director Sullivan, seconded by Director Jimenez, and carried unanimously, 5- 0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2090, receiving and accepting the report on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Master Plan Improvements Project (CIP 455-652) - Clean Water Program - Update for Quarter 2 – April Through June 2026.
NEW BUSINESS
VOTING DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE FOR LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES 2026 ANNUAL CONFERENCE. MINUTE ORDER NO. 2091.
Deputy City Clerk Garcia-Dawson presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Vice Mayor Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember Jimenez, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting Minute Order No. 2091, appointing Mayor Kiesel as Voting Delegate, Vice Mayor Niederhofer as First Alternate, and Councilmember Sullivan as Second Alternate for the League of California Cities 2026 Annual Conference.
RESOLUTIONS FOR ADOPTION
CONTRACT AMENDMENT NO. 4 WITH 4LEAF, INC. FOR ON-CALL BUILDING SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 INCREASING THE TOTAL AGREEMENT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,025,000 AND SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS OF $388,081. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-089.
Interim Community Development Director Le presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Vice Mayor Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember Sullivan, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2026-089, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Authorizing the Mayor to Execute Amendment No. 4 to the Existing Agreement with 4LEAF, Inc. (4LEAF) for Professional On-Call Building Services in the Amount of $150,000, Increasing the Total Agreement Amount Not to Exceed $1,025,000 and Approving a Supplemental Appropriation of $388,081 for Building Division Professional Services (Account No. 001-0820-424-4251), Funded from the General Fund Reserves, and Finding the Request Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15061(B)(3).” CARRYOVER OF VARIOUS UNSPENT FY 2025-26 BUDGET LINE ITEMS AS SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS TO THE FY 2026-27 BUDGET. CITY RESOLUTION NO. 2026-090. EMID RESOLUTION NO. 3866.
Finance Director Cruz presented the staff report.
Discussion ensued.
Motion by Vice Mayor/Vice President Niederhofer, seconded by Councilmember/Director Jimenez, and carried unanimously, 5-0-0, adopting City Resolution No. 2026-090, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Foster City Approving the Carryover of Various Unspent Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Line Items as Supplemental Appropriations to the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget” and EMID Resolution No. 3866, “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District Approving the Carryover of Various Unspent Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Line Items as Supplemental Appropriations to the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget.”
COMMUNICATIONS
CITY/DISTRICT WARRANT OF DEMANDS. NO ACTION TAKEN.
City/District Warrants ACH were Processed on August 5, 2026, and Warrants of Demands were Processed and Issued on August 13, 2026.
CITY/DISTRICT MANAGER REPORTS, COUNCIL/BOARD STATEMENTS AND
REQUESTS, AND COUNCIL LIAISON REPORTS
City/District Manager Chatwin expressed appreciation to the City Council and staff for their work and dedication serving the public.
Councilmember/Director Venkat stated she attended the Summer Days event held August 14-16. She visited Hillsdale High School on August 21, where they have organized a Community Closet and Peace Pantry to help local families and students in need. On August 27, she received a proclamation recognizing the City as a partner of the San Mateo-Foster City Education Foundation. On August 29, she attended the 60th anniversary celebration of Island United Church, and the Commute.org Strategic Planning Committee meeting on September 2. She requested to agendize a discussion regarding revising the lease agreement with V.B. Golf. The request received the support of Councilmember/Director Sullivan but failed to receive the support of a second Councilmember/Director in order to be agendized.
Councilmember/Director Sullivan stated he attended the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG) Airport Land Use Committee meeting and the San Mateo Union High School District Board meeting on August 27. He attended the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting on September 1.
Councilmember/Director Jimenez shared that the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Firefighters’ Association will host their Annual Chili-Cook Off at Central Park in San Mateo on September 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vice Mayor/Vice President Niederhofer stated she attended the Planning Commission meetings on August 20 and September 3.
Mayor/President Kiesel stated he attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Gilead Science’s new biologics facility on August 27, and the ribbon cutting ceremony for their new research center on September 8. He attended the ribbon cutting ceremonies for Pilates Soleil Studio on August 23 and Sumo’s Family Jiu Jitsu on September 5 at Edgewater Place Shopping Center.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no objection from the City Council/EMID Board, Mayor/President Kiesel adjourned the meeting. Meeting adjourned at 10:11 p.m.