City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 4/21/2025 Page 1
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Rob Newsom Jr., Mayor
Adam Loraine, Deputy Mayor
Nicole Fernandez
Danielle Cwirko- Godycki
Lisa Diaz Nash
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Special Meeting Minutes
City Council
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www. cityofsanmateo. org
April 21, 2025
City Hall Council Chambers 5: 30 PM
Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER at 5: 30 p. m.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Newsom, Deputy Mayor Loraine, Council Members: Fernandez, Cwirko- Godycki, and Diaz Nash AB 2449 Requests and Considerations for Meeting Participation by Teleconference due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances – there were no requests.
STUDY SESSION
1. General Fund 2025- 26 Operating Budget – Preview
Karen Huang, Finance Director, gave a presentation on the General Fund 2024- 25 operating budget preview.
Public Comment: Mason Fong offered suggestions for enhancing the City’ s financial strategies. He recommended exploring the potential for generating revenue by selling water from the Water Treatment Plant to Cal Water. He also expressed concern about the City’ s 25% reserve policy, suggesting it could be adjusted to 15% to free up funds for other priorities. Mr. Fong advocated for renovating the Third Avenue Garage sooner rather than delaying the project, noting that construction costs will likely increase over time. He referenced Sunnyvale as a city with policies worth considering and encouraged the City to prioritize projects that have the potential to generate revenue.
Council asked questions and made comments.
Staff to come back with information, bring something back in June for Community Budget.
2. 2025- 30 Capital Improvement Program Plan Preview
Matt Fabry, Public Works Director, and Joanne Magrini, Park and Recreation Director, gave the presentation on the 2025- 30 Capital Improvement Plan.
Public Comment: Mason Fong suggested a framework for prioritizing City projects. First, he recommended evaluating projects based on the long- term cost of deferred maintenance and their potential to generate revenue for the City. Second, he proposed exploring opportunities to recapture use tax revenue— for example, by making it a conditional use to redirect sales tax funds from the County to the City to support construction efforts. Third, he encouraged the City to consider a thought exercise of using reserves to help fund currently unfunded projects.
Council asked questions and made comments.
Docusign Envelope ID: E4B8EA48- CAB1- 49AC- 831F- 05099B067B90 City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 4/21/2025 Page 2 ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 6: 52 p. m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Rob Newsom, Jr., Mayor Martin McTaggart, City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: E4B8EA48- CAB1- 49AC- 831F- 05099B067B90