City Council Regular Meeting Minutes – 3/2/2026 Page 1
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Adam Loraine, Mayor
Nicole Fernandez, Deputy Mayor
Danielle Cwirko- Godycki
Lisa Diaz Nash
Rob Newsom Jr.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Regular Meeting Minutes
City Council
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www. cityofsanmateo. org
March 2, 2026
City Hall, Council Chambers 7: 00 PM
Regular Meeting
CALL TO ORDER at 7: 00 p. m.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Loraine, Deputy Mayor Fernandez, and Council Members Cwirko- Godycki, Diaz Nash, and Newsom.
AB 2449 Requests and Considerations for Meeting Participation by Teleconference due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances – there were no requests.
CEREMONIAL
1. Women' s History Month — Proclamation The City Council recognized March as Women' s History Month with a proclamation, which was presented to Aileen Cassinetto and Meghan Crowell with San Mateo County’ s Commission on the Status of Women.
CONSENT CALENDAR
The following items, 2 through 4, were considered to be routine by the City Council. After the titles of the items were read by the City Clerk, the public was invited to comment and there were no speakers.
Moved: Fernandez, Seconded: Newsom
Ayes: Fernandez, Newsom, Loraine, Cwirko- Godycki, and Diaz Nash Noes: None
2. 2026 City of San Mateo Legislative Platform — Approval Approve the 2026 City of San Mateo Legislative Platform.
3. Reclassification of Administrative Technician position to Housing Specialist II position — Approval Adopt a Resolution to re- classify one Administrative Technician position in the Community Development Department ( CDD), Housing Division to a Housing Specialist II position.
Enactment: Resolution No. 19 ( 2026)
4. Park and Recreation Commission Appointment Subcommittee — Appointment Recommendation Appoint Maya Rae Osinki to the Park and Recreation Commission as a Youth Commissioner for a full term from March 2, 2026, through March 2, 2027, and place Nathaniel Brice Wilson on a six- month eligibility list, should a vacancy occur.
Youth Commissioner Maya Rae Osinki was sworn in by City Clerk Martin McTaggart.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no requests to speak.
Docusign Envelope ID: D1D9DAE2- E49F- 837B- 820C- 2928EA311C14 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes – 3/2/2026 Page 2
PUBLIC HEARING
5. 668 E. 3rd Avenue, New Multi- Family Residential Development ( PA- 2025- 025) — Approval Elizabeth Gagliardi, Associate Planner, provided a presentation on the proposed Gateway Project. Applicant provided a presentation on the proposed development. The applicant, Prometheus Real Estate Group provided a presentation on the eight- story project, which includes 128 residential units ( 10 very low- income and 10 moderate- income below- market- rate units), and 73 below- grade parking spaces. The project utilizes State Density Bonus Law, including a waiver to exceed the six- story height limit of the General Plan for this site, requiring City Council approval.
Public comment: Darin Clark expressed support for project but advocated for strong labor standards. Ben Thai expressed concern about loss of retail and impact to small businesses.
The City Council adopted a resolution approving the project, with the added condition of approval, allowing the use of decorative tile at the building’ s entryway, subject to staff approval. Staff was also asked to assist affected commercial tenants, as needed, to identify other suitable business location within the City.
Moved: Cwirko- Godycki, Seconded: Fernandez
Ayes: Newsom, Loraine, Fernandez, Cwirko- Godycki, and Diaz Nash Noes: None
Motion passed 5- 0.
Enactment: Resolution No. 20 ( 2026)
Recess was taken at 8: 13 p. m. and resumed at 8: 17 p. m.
6. Reach Codes for the 2025 Code Cycle — Ordinance Introduction Andrea Chow, Sustainability Analyst and Taylor Taylor, Managing Research Consultant from Peninsula Clean Energy provided a presentation on amendments to San Mateo Municipal Code Chapter 23. 24 “ Energy Code.” Public Comment: Gerard Manning, Harry Moody, Terri Whitehair, Elaine Salinger, Brian Schmit, Robert Whitehair, Seema Patel, Daishel Leeds, Wendy Chou, Michelle Hudson, Natalie, Bruce Nagel, Emily expressed support for the proposed reach codes.
The City Council asked questions of staff regarding the proposed reach codes. Council approved the first reading of the ordinance, establishing new local “ reach codes” to advance the City’ s climate goals. The amendments included: Cooling upgrade requirements for single family homes, duplexes and townhomes, cooling upgrade requirements for non- residential buildings, FlexPath for single family homes, duplexes and townhomes ( for which, Council set a 1, 000- square- foot threshold for additions and alterations and a target score of 12), and electric- readiness requirements for single family homes, duplexes and townhomes. The City Council also adopted a resolution finding that the proposed reach codes are reasonably necessary due to local conditions.
Moved: Cwirko- Godycki, Seconded: Newsom
Ayes: Newsom, Loraine, Fernandez, Cwirko- Godycki, and Diaz Nash Noes: None
Motion passed 5- 0.
Enactment: Resolution No. 21 ( 2026)
Docusign Envelope ID: D1D9DAE2- E49F- 837B- 820C- 2928EA311C14 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes – 3/2/2026 Page 3
7. Operation of Leaf Blowers — Ordinance Introduction
Andrea Chow, Sustainability Analyst, provided a presentation on a proposed ordinance to amend San Mateo Municipal Code Chapter 10. 80 " Operation of Leaf Blowers" to prohibit the use of gas leaf blowers. Staff presented three options to update the leaf blower hours of operation.
Public comment: Carol Whelhelmy spoke in support of the proposed ordinance with recommendations for amendments. Gerard Manning, Nancy Gogan spoke in support of the ordinance.
Council asked questions of staff and discussed the options for hours of operation and opted to retain the City’ s current hours of operation that restrict leaf blower use on weekdays and Saturdays in residential zoning districts and in areas bordering residential zoning districts and prohibit leaf blower use on Sundays and specific holi days.
Council also added Juneteenth as a holiday that prohibits leaf blower use. The City Council approved the first reading of the ordinance.
Moved: Cwirko- Godycki, Seconded: Fernandez
Ayes: Newsom, Loraine, Fernandez, Cwirko- Godycki, and Diaz Nash Noes: None
Motion passed 5- 0.
NEW BUSINESS
8. Boards and Commissions — Establishment of Annual Appointment Subcommittees and Vacancy Process The City Council received a presentation from the City Clerk on the 2026 Boards and Commissions recruitment cycle. The City Clerk provided an overview of the prior year’ s recruitment efforts and requested Council direction on incumbent reappointments, subcommittee assignments, and outreach strategies.
Public Comment: there were no requests to speak.
Council asked questions of staff and directed that incumbent board members and commissioners must reapply and participate in interviews unless they have served for less than one year. Members with attendance issues will also be required to reapply. The Council expanded participation in the Sustainability & Infrastructure and Planning Commission Appointment Subcommittees to all five Council Members. Council supported allowing Council Members to join additional subcommittees, noting that Special Meeting noticing would be required if more than two attend. Council also requested staff review Youth Commission age requirements, recruitment partnerships with local high schools, and outreach strategies to encourage broad community participation in this year’ s recruitment cycle.
REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND COMMITTEE UPDATES
City Manager, City Attorney and Council Members reported on their various assignments and liaison roles and noted past and future events, along with updates.
ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 10: 24 p. m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Adam Loraine, Mayor Martin McTaggart, City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: D1D9DAE2- E49F- 837B- 820C- 2928EA311C14