City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 11/03/2025 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
November 3, 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. Reach Codes for Cooling Upgrades and Planned Home Renovations, 2025 Code Cycle — Informational Andrea Chow, Sustainability Analyst, Blake Herrschaft, Senior Programs Engineer with Peninsula Clean Energy and Taylor Taylor with TRC gave the presentation.
Public Comment: Robert Whitehair, Natalie Dias and Michelle Hudson gave a presentation in support of reach codes. Wendy Chou expressed support for the proposed REACH codes, emphasizing the environmental, health, and cost benefits of building electrification and collaboration with local clean energy organizations. Brian Schmidt supported all four REACH code options and urges leadership on clean energy. Michael Reagan suggested updating construction cost estimates to $ 600–$ 800 per square foot. Dashiell Leeds supported heat pump upgrades for efficiency and sustainability. John McKenna urged adoption of flexible, voluntary building codes like those in other cities. Bruce Naegel stressed addressing health and infrastructure issues alongside climate change. Hannah Young expressed appreciation for San Mateo’ s climate leadership and supports expanding energy- efficient, electric- based building measures to reduce emissions and improve sustainability.
Mike Swire urged adoption of the position put forward by the San Mateo Climate Action Team.
Council reviewed four options for new reach codes and directed staff to prepare an ordinance for future consideration. The options supported by the Council include: ( 1) cooling upgrade requirements for single - family homes, duplexes, and townhomes, ( 2) cooling upgrade requirements for non- residential buildings, ( 3) the FlexPath program for large home renovations, which allows homeowners to choose from a menu of energy- saving or electrification measures to achieve a target score of 12 points for projects of 1, 000 square feet or greater, and ( 4) electric- readiness requirements for single- family homes, duplexes, and townhomes. A proposed ordinance will be introduced at a future meeting, and the Council requested the topic return for review in one year after additional data has been collected.
Docusign Envelope ID: 8F6E4599- 9CB2- 4B31- BC99- 8102D64070D9 City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 11/03/2025 Page 2 ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 7: 00 p. m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Rob Newsom, Jr., Mayor Chantal Eaton, Deputy City Clerk Docusign Envelope ID: 8F6E4599- 9CB2- 4B31- BC99- 8102D64070D9