City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 6/1/2026 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
June 1, 2026
City Hall, Council Chambers 5:30 PM
Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER at 5:30 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Loraine; Deputy Mayor Fernandez; 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.
CLOSED SESSION
The Mayor opened public comment on the Closed Session items. There were no requests to speak.
1. Conference with Labor Negotiators (Government Code Section 54957.6) City designated representatives: Aracelia Esparza, Abby Veeser, and Stacey Cue- IEDA Consultant Employee organization: Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
2. Conference with Labor Negotiators (Government Code Section 54957.6) City designated representatives: Aracelia Esparza, Abby Veeser, Stacey Cue- IEDA Consultant Employee organization: San Mateo Safety Management Association (SMSMA)
The City Council convened to closed session at 5:32 p.m. and returned to open sesstion at 5:51 p.m. No reportable action was announced in open session.
NEW BUSINESS
3. Climate Action Plan — Annual Progress Report
Sustainability Analyst Andrea Chow presented the 2025 Climate Action Plan Annual Progress Report, highlighting accomplishments in building electrification, renewable energy, municipal facilities, clean transportation, sustainable transportation, and other sustainability initiatives. Staff also provided updates on the Electrify San Mateo Sustainable Building Strategy, REACH codes, the Beresford Park solar carport project, municipal fleet electrification, and the upcoming prohibition on gas-powered leaf blowers.
Public Comment: Mike Swire supported the City’s climate efforts but urged more explicit tracking of greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled, particularly transportation-related emissions, to measure whether the Climate Action Plan is achieving its intended outcomes. Dow-Jane Pei, Program and Operations Manager with Build Up San Mateo County, commended the City’s progress and encouraged coordination with the San Mateo County Early Childhood Climate Action Plan to improve climate resilience for young children, families, and childcare providers.
The Council discussed opportunities to expand solar installations at City facilities and parking areas; increased community outreach regarding the transition to electric leaf blowers and available rebates; continued work on the City’s sea level rise adaptation plan; community education regarding electrification and sustainability programs; and measurement of greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled.
Staff confirmed that a comprehensive 2025 greenhouse gas emissions inventory will be presented with the Docusign Envelope ID: 518E5B58-BC72-8C60-807F-24768B8DAC6B City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 6/1/2026 Page 2
next annual report. The Council also discussed increased adoption of residential battery storage systems and continued opportunities to promote sustainability programs and rebates to residents. No action was taken.
4. Equitable Access to Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure — Study Session Sustainability Analyst Andrea Chow presented an informational report on strategies, partnerships, and programs to expand equitable access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The report addressed curbside charging, outreach to multifamily property owners, public and workplace charging, partnerships with Peninsula Clean Energy and regional agencies, and the EV Ready Program. Staff reported that publicly available charging ports in San Mateo increased from 174 in 2023 to 329 in 2025, in addition to 70 charging ports at City-owned facilities.
Public Comment: Kevin Simpson supported expanding EV charging access and described challenges he experienced as a renter and EV owner, including the cost of installing home charging, difficulty navigating incentive programs, and reliability and usability issues with some public charging stations. He encouraged the City and its partners to improve access, clarity, and reliability and to expand charging opportunities, including at the Kiku Crossing garage. Mike Swire supported expanding equitable charging access and encouraged pay-as-you-go charging options at multifamily properties, after-hours public access to school district and other institutional chargers, continued consideration of curbside charging, and greater attention to e-bike charging and education as part of the City’s broader equity strategy.
The Council discussed geographic gaps in charging access, including opportunities at City-owned facilities; the cost and feasibility of installing additional chargers; charging requirements for new multifamily development; maintenance and reporting of nonfunctioning public chargers; potential partnerships with private developments and employers to expand after-hours charging access; and continued outreach to multifamily property owners through Peninsula Clean Energy’s EV Ready Program. Council Members encouraged continued collaboration and research to improve charging access for residents who lack convenient home charging options. No action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT – The meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Adam Loraine, Mayor Martin McTaggart, City Clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: 518E5B58-BC72-8C60-807F-24768B8DAC6B