City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 4/6/2026 Page 1
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Adam Loraine, Mayor
Nicole Fernandez, Deputy Mayor
Danielle Cwirko- Godycki
Lisa Diaz Nash
Rob Newsom Jr.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Special Meeting Minutes
City Council
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www. cityofsanmateo. org
April 6, 2026
City Hall, Council Chambers 6: 00 PM
Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER at 6: 02 p. m.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Loraine; Deputy Mayor Fernandez; Council Members Cwirko- Godycki, Diaz Nash, and Newsom.
Requests and Considerations for Meeting Participation by Teleconference due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances: Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54953( b), Deputy Mayor Fernandez participated in this meeting via teleconference from the following location: 14757 28th Avenue NE, Shoreline, WA 98155
CLOSED SESSION
The public was provided with an opportunity to speak on agenda item s 1- 3; there were no requests to speak. Council convened to closed session at 6: 04 p. m.
1. Conference with Legal Counsel — Existing Litigation
Paragraph ( 1) of subdivision ( d) of Government Code Section 54956. 9 Name of the case: Victoria Varvel
2. Conference with Labor Negotiators ( Government Code Section 54957. 6) City designated representatives: Aracelia Esparza, Abby Veeser, Stacey Cue- IEDA Consultant: San Mateo Safety Management Association ( SMSMA)
3. Conference with Labor Negotiators ( Government Code Section 54957. 6) City designated representatives: Aracelia Esparza, Abby Veeser, and Stacey Cue- IEDA Consultant: Service Employees International Union ( SEIU)
Council reconvened to open session at 6: 36 p. m.
STUDY SESSION
4. Electronic Billboard Policy
Jennifer Chen, Economic Development Manager provided the presentation.
Public Comment: Laurie Watanuki spoke in opposition to maintaining the existing billboard on South Amphlett Boulevard, stated the billboard has negatively impacted neighborhood quality of life for decades and urged Council to remove the existing billboard and relocate any future signage away from residential areas. David Light supported removal of the existing Amphlett billboard. Kevin Simpson expressed general opposition to billboards, particularly electronic billboards due to visual and lighting impacts.
Council asked questions of staff and provided direction further explore implementing a pilot electronic billboard program, which would allow one existing billboard to be relocated from private property to City - Docusign Envelope ID: CE0FB096- 842E- 84A1- 82D5- 1F6659E7C26B City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 4/6/2026 Page 2
owned or City- controlled property. Council expressed the desire to minimize impacts to nearby residential areas, prioritize locations with the strongest revenue potential, such as the Highway 101 and 92 corridors, and incorporate City promotional messaging. Council also indicated that the review and approval mechanism should be a combination of Zoning Administrator design review and City Council approval of a lease agreement.
ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 7: 15 p. m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Adam Loraine, Mayor Martin McTaggart, City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: CE0FB096- 842E- 84A1- 82D5- 1F6659E7C26B