Communication is key! Let us know what you think.

Bill Gates stated, “I’m a great believer that any tool that enhances communication has profound effects in terms of how people can learn from each other and how they can achieve the kind of freedom that they are interested in.”

 

This month, City staff has launched two brand new communications tools for the Foster City community, through which I hope we can learn from each other and freely communicate on items that are important to our community!

 

The first is Foster City Access, the official City app! With this app, community members can report non-emergency issues like potholes, street light issues, codes violations, park maintenance, and more. By adding location and pictures the community can help the City respond to reports quickly. You can track the status of your reports as well as those submitted by other community members. The app also houses information and links to the City calendar, news, and City services.

 

The free download of Foster City Access is available in the Apple App store and Android Google Play, and issues can be reported and tracked at http://www.seeclickfix.com/foster-city. Here is a video that explains the app featuring our Mayor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGRaDLfcHNw.

 

The second is a new e-newsletter, Foster City Current. We know that the City releases a lot of information. 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. When you subscribe, this monthly e-newsletter will come to your inbox with the highlights of what is happening in the City in the upcoming month.

 

Along with these tools, City staff is utilizing Foster City Forum to gain further feedback on the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan that is being updated for 2015. If you want to review the draft of the Safety Element, offer feedback, or learn about hazard mitigation, visit the Foster City Forum and join the conversation.

 

As the City Council and the City staff identify priorities for 2016, we realize that transparency and engagement are key to good governance. We hope that these tools will be as helpful to community members as they are for City staff and City Council.

The Foster City Police Department has released its Annual Crime Report and Traffic Report for 2015. I am happy to share that Foster City continues to maintain low rates of both crime and traffic injuries in 2015.

The number of traffic collisions decreased from 2014, and a very small amount of those collisions involved pedestrians or bicyclists. No collisions resulted in fatalities, and if injuries resulted, most were categorized as minor injuries.

Foster City Police Department worked in a number of ways to enhance the safety of motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Officers took part in a number of safety campaigns including Operation Click It or Ticket, Distracted Driving Month, and San Mateo County Saturation Traffic Enforcement Program (S.T.E.P.) among others. Police also conducted focused traffic patrol near schools and high traffic areas during commute times. The efforts made by the Foster City Police Department have resulted in Foster City continuing to maintain a trend of high traffic safety.

Foster City Police Department works tirelessly towards their mission of “Excellent Service, every call, every contact, every day.” FCPD works with a number of agencies and Task Forces to identify crime trends and deter these activities in Foster City. While there has been a steady increase in residential burglaries throughout the country, Foster City managed to hold this increase to a minimum in 2015. Despite these rises, there was a decrease in auto burglaries by 17% from 2014, and the total property crime rate in 2015 decreased by almost 7%.

Looking at the 2015 reports, I am pleased to say that Foster City Police Department is committed to providing the highest quality of policing by utilizing all available resources, crime prevention efforts, and maintaining a technologically progressive outlook. In fact, their efforts have been recognized year after year. In 2016, Foster City has again been included in a list of the 100 safest Cities in the United States, according to Location Inc., a national residential and commercial data tracking company.  In the another report, Foster City has been recognized as the 16th safest city in the State of California, according to BackgroundChecks.org, a site devoted to public safety and open government.

Foster City continues to be one of the safest neighborhoods thanks in large part to Foster City Police Department, City government, and residents working together to ensure Foster City is a safe place to live, work, and play in 2016 and beyond.

A New Year in Foster City

Looking Forward to a Brilliant 2016!

During this holiday season, we would like to celebrate our success, our outstanding City Council and staff, and our strong community who believe in excellent governance. The City Council, City staff, and our citizens have all contributed to fostering our city as a great place to live, work and play. As the year closes, we reflect on progress and achievements, such as breaking ground on a number of land developments, and increasing opportunities for civic engagement.

With the New Year fast approaching, the City Council and City of Foster City staff are looking forward with expectations of community engagement and dialogue that will reflect visions of managed growth, excellence, and sustainability.

The City of Foster City will focus on promoting economic development by creating meaningful relationships with local businesses and nurturing growth that will be consistent with community values and will maintain a healthy balance of residential neighborhoods, business areas, and open spaces in the city. 

Civic engagement and transparency are crucial to good governance, and increasing opportunities for both will assist the City of Foster City in serving the community in the best way.  The City staff has introduced Foster City Forum, the online place where citizens of Foster City can join the conversation about City projects and plans. City staff has also developed an e-newsletter to be introduced in the New Year, as an easy and fun way to stay up to date with City happenings.

Foster City will also see planning and improvements aimed to improve services and maintain a sustainable and safe city. The Levee Improvement Project will continue to move forward in improving the structure of the levee to mitigate risk and sustain property integrity. The Wastewater Treatment Plant will be updated with advanced infrastructure that will allow for it to serve the community more effectively, for years to come.

The City Council and City staff look forward to these and other important initiatives in the New Year to continue to make Foster City the best place to live, work, and play.

On behalf of our City staff, I extend the best and warm wishes for a great 2016!

Holiday Wishes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTuMPnXRlUE 

Thanksgiving 2016

As your friends and family gather around your beautiful Thanksgiving dinner table, take time to reflect upon all the wonderful time you have spent together. Count your blessings as you have and celebrate the gift of love and companionship. Share happy thoughts, optimistic plans and dreams with your family.

The tradition of Thanksgiving dinner reminds us to appreciate the finer things in life. As stated by W. T. Purkiser, "Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of Thanksgiving."

Let your enthusiasm, passion and energy bring great cheer to your Thanksgiving dinner. Prepare a great Thanksgiving toast while enjoying family, football, friends and time spent together. Make this a Thanksgiving to remember!

Foster City Forum—Join the Conversation We’re Listening

Foster City is a great place to live, work and play—and that’s largely thanks to all the residents who help give this community its charm.  Our citizens are our greatest asset, and we are therefore always striving to find more ways to involve them in our decision-making process. This year it’s been a top priority, and in fact, it was included in my most recent goals and objectives that were submitted to Council.

 So, I’m happy to report that earlier this month we launched the Foster City Forum, an online forum that makes it easier for the public to give feedback on all sorts of city topics and projects. The input that’s collected on this forum will help guide city staff and policymakers, allowing them to make more informed decisions. What’s more, residents can read what other citizens are saying, so it ensures transparency, encourages community dialogue, and builds consensus.

We realize that transparency and civic engagement are essential for good governance, and this forum is a key tool that will help us achieve our mission. We also realize that today, you’re probably doing just about everything online: banking, booking that next trip, catching up with friends, reading this blog—and the list goes on. Communicating with your local government in a meaningful way shouldn’t be an exception, so we’re pleased to provide you with this new digital opportunity to be civically engaged.

We invite you to visit the forum and weigh in on our current topic: What is your favorite activity to do in Foster City? In addition to giving us your two cents, you can read what other locals are saying. If you see a statement you agree with, you can click a button to show your support. At the end of every month, we’ll see which statement has earned the most support and award the author with a free meal, courtesy of one of our great local restaurants.

 
Also, once you’re at the forum, you can subscribe to receive alerts every time we post a new topic, so that you’re sure to always stay in the loop. I encourage you to take a few minutes and join the online community conversation—your opinion is important to us, and we want to learn more about you. We look forward to hearing from you!

Happy Veterans Day

The eleventh day of November is a special day. In 1919, the day became known in the U.S. as Armistice Day. It was meant to recognize those who served in World War I, during which an armistice to end fighting went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. Today in the United States, the day is called Veterans Day. In some parts of the world, it is called Remembrance Day. It is a day to honor all of those who have served in the military.

The day draws the Nation's attention to the sacrifices made by its war heroes. A day where we can express our collective pride and thanks to the armed forces.

For me personally, I am so appreciative for the selfless acts of valor, bravery, dedication, commitment and ultimate sacrifice of those who have protected and served our great country. Let us give thanks to those past and present.

Happy Veterans Days!