Happy 4th of July

You're a grand old flag, you're a high flying flag. And forever in peace may you wave. You're the emblem of the land I love. The home of the free and the brave ...

Enjoy a happy and safe 4th of July celebration in Foster City with food, parades, dog shows, music, and of course the spectacular fireworks show! Enjoy and Happy 4th!

Photo by Gordon Mak

A Year of Communications

In July 2015, the Communications Division was established in the City of Foster City. The vision of this division is to create a team of knowledgeable staff to enhance public engagement efforts, motivate and support Council, staff, and the public to engage, and to transform our community relations through genuine dialogue.

Since its inception, City communication has increased in size and in efforts, and has provided both improvements and innovation to how the City communicates. By creating a Public Engagement Team with members from every City department, the Communications Division is able to work collaboratively with all departments on projects and events, and collect insight from a range of voices.

I would like to share the many avenues through which the City shares information and engage in dialogue with the Foster City community.

This blog itself was launched in collaboration with the Communications Division on July 1, 2015. 

In October 2015, the Foster City Forum, an online place where citizens can get informed, offer feedback, and stay engaged was launched. This tool offers a variety of survey options so that the public can offer their responses to a broad range of City topics.

In February 2016, the first issue of the Foster City Current was released. With the many projects, events, and press releases, we wanted to create an easy and fun way to see the information that matters most to community members. This monthly e-newsletter includes highlights of what is happening in the City in the upcoming month.  The newsletter reaches nearly 9,000 subscribers each month.

Also in February, the City launched its official app, Foster City Access. With marketing assistance from the Communications Division, the app has nearly 600 downloads so far.

In April 2016, another monthly e-newsletter was launched, the Economic Development Business E-Newsletter. This publication is full of City news and tailors information for our business community in Foster City.

The City’s official YouTube account has been revived, and the Communications Division is dedicated to creating original video content, to help tell the story of the City of Foster City.

The Communications Division has also expanded and re-strategized the use of social media. More frequent and engaging content is being introduced on Facebook and Twitter, and the City is now on Instagram.

In the past month, the Communications Division created an account on Nextdoor, a social network for neighbors. As a Nextdoor agency the City can post information, and we soon hope to host a Q&A for residents.

This is quite a lot to accomplish in a year. I am very proud of what the Communications Division has accomplished, and the direction they are steering City Communications. I encourage you to find the best tool or channel for you, and know that we are always ready to listen and engage.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CityofFosterCity

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CityofFC

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityoffc

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CityofFosterCity

Nextdoor: https://nextdoor.com/agency-detail/ca/foster-city/city-of-foster-city

Foster City Forum: http://www.fostercity.org/ourcommunity/Foster-City-Forum.cfm

Foster City Access App: http://www.fostercity.org/ourcommunity/Foster-City-Access.cfm

Foster City Current E-Newsletter: http://www.fostercity.org/cityservices/enewsletter.cfm

Foster City Business E-Newsletter: http://www.fostercity.org/doingbusiness/Foster-City-Economic-Development-News.cfm

A Fiscally Responsible Approach to Maintaining Park Infrastructure

Foster City boasts 24 parks and over 200 acres of park and open space, which has a value of approximately $93 million.  Foster City has the luxury of being situated on San Francisco Bay Trail, a planned 500-mile walking and cycling path around the entire San Francisco Bay running through all nine Bay Area counties, 47 cities, and across the region’s seven toll bridges.  Foster City has invested in its parks infrastructure which has brought increased property values, enhanced quality of life, and social connection to our community.

The Parks and Recreation Department maintains a schedule of regular infrastructure maintenance related projects.  For example, play structures are scheduled for replacement every 15 years and courts are scheduled for resurfacing approximately every eight years.  This scheduling ensures the infrastructure in which the City has invested is properly maintained to provide for the excellent space the Parks and Recreation Department is committed to providing to this community.

In addition to regularly scheduled maintenance, the Parks and Recreation Department also works to evolve the Park System to reflect the social landscape.  Our parks provide the space where residents create community, finding opportunities to connect.  The Parks and Recreation Department will bring new park elements to the community over the years as landscape is converted to drought tolerant alternatives (as recently completed at Boat Park), play structures are replaced (as recently completed at Catamaran Park), and new recreational trends emerge (as the City plans for tennis courts resurfacing projects to include pickleball). 

Capital Improvement Projects come in many forms, most of which require multiple levels of City Council authorization.  As an example, the City was fortunate to receive community input on a recent project to convert lawn to drought tolerant alternatives and add picnic areas and bocce ball courts in Leo Ryan Park (CIP 655).  The City is excited to have achieved a conceptual design that meets the interests of park users that participate in activities located in this area of the park.

In the midst of the design stages of CIP 655, a new project, located on the same site emerged; the study to build a new Recreation Center will take place in the coming months.  And while the study to build a new Recreation Center and the associated delay in CIP 655, understandably brings disappointment to this invested segment of the community, the City is very excited to undergo a process to possibly add to our legacy and tradition of excellence to build a new Recreation Center which will take our community through the next 50 years.  There will be many opportunities for the public to provide input into the study to build a new Recreation Center.  The Recreation Center belongs to the residents of Foster City, so get ready and plan to participate in this dynamic moment of City history.

Home Town Pride

Foster City is a community to be proud of. A city rich with wonderful people and families, beautiful parks and waterways. A city that is safe, diverse and thriving. A city that is changing and making efforts to meet the challenges as well as the opportunities that change brings.

I am proud to serve as City Manager of Foster City! Proud of what I believe is one of the nicest cities in our state and nation. I state this with dignity and respect of other cities in our great state, but I believe Foster City is a special town.

We reached out to hear what you are saying about home town pride, and here are some of the responses and a quick video promoting home town pride.

So lets continue to nurture, care and demonstrate home town pride for Foster City. It is a good place to be!

Happy Mother's Day Moms!

I know my mother Lana reads my blog so... Happy Mother's Day, Mom (now I don't have to send a card)! Just kidding, a Mother's Day greeting will arrive via mail by Sunday, May 8th, Mother's Day.

 

Some say that a mother, more than any other, affect the moral and spiritual part of a child's character. In such, we recognize that mothers have such a  great influence on today's and future generations.

 

So enjoy this Mother's Day and celebrate with beautiful memories of your mother, or if you are blessed enough to still have your mother in your life, give her a call, write her a note, or send her your blog! 

Foster City Celebrates Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

What a great day today where we had employees of our city bring their daughters and sons to our place of work with the City of Foster City. A wonderful and cool opportunity to see a whole new side of parents and children as they explore a special day together.

I fondly recall bringing both my daughters to my workplace as well as going to work with my dad, which was really a thrill as he was a football and baseball coach so work was at a ballgame!

This morning I spent time with 11 great kids:
Natalie B.
Reese C.
Rayhaan D.
Gavino F.
Jake G.
Jax L.
Aiden C.
Kyle O.
Jack S.
Kurt S.
Lucia T.

And their parents:
Brandon B.
Frank F.
Garrett G.
Jennifer L.
Vivian M.
Tiffany O.
Kurt S.
Martin T.

We were reminded of the part we play as parents, guardians and role models, inspiring generations to come by sharing the work you love with the children you love. The children will dream about this day for years to come and look back upon it with fond memories.

The Boys of Summer

I know a lot of people who long to hear these 3 precious words... Let's Play Ball! (My wife would argue that they are "I Love You," but hey, it's baseball season and the boys of summer are back!)

The excitement of walking into the ballpark, embraced by the brilliant colors of the ball field, uniforms, flags; fans enjoying that hot dog, peanuts, soda or a cold beer and of course watching your beloved SF Giants (or your own favorite team).

Dreams and hopes are always high in April for every baseball fan, and the Giants seem posed for a pretty good year.

The 3 keys for a return to the World Series stage in 2016 are probably the mantra for any good team:

• Stay Healthy
• Everyone in the lineup and on the roster makes a contribution to becoming "Champions"
• Win the 1 run games. Have success in environments that you should find victory, go out and win the day!

I hope to see you at the ballpark. It is a great place to be seen. A group of Foster City employees, family and friends will be rooting for the Giants versus the Dodgers on June 12. Stop by and say hi and LET'S GO GIANTS!