A troubling pattern is beginning to emerge in San Mateo County that deserves discussion. The county government, through its purchase of property throughout our locality, has in recent months made unilateral decisions that all have the potential to reshape a city’s future, doing so without meaningful collaboration with the community that will have to live with the consequences.
Foster City spent decades thoughtfully planning and creating a General Plan that works for our residents. Our General Plan reflects years of public meetings, professional planning, environmental review and community input. The county, however, has decided to disregard all of this and relocate its Human Services department, which includes a large warehouse and training center, into the middle of Foster City’s business district. It is introducing uses that are inconsistent with our General Plan and undermines years of local planning.
This is the third time in recent history the county has decided to purchase property throughout San Mateo County with little meaningful engagement with the cities in which those properties are located. The acquisition of a hotel in Millbrae for county purposes was the first, with a rehabilitation detox center following in more recent months. Regardless of one’s opinion about those individual projects, they reflect a larger issue: The county increasingly acts as though municipal boundaries and locally adopted plans are obstacles rather than partnerships.
There is no doubt the county has the legal ability to purchase property, removing it essentially from all local control. It does not mean it is the ethical thing to do. What is missing is meaningful collaboration that begins with engaging city staff before properties are pursued. It means consulting elected officials. Most importantly, it means giving our residents and businesses who will be directly affected a chance to weigh in. Local governments often identify alternative locations that better serve both the county’s operational needs and the community’s long-term vision, and yet when we are not given the opportunity, there creates a rift that amounts to nothing short of bad governance.
Foster City is proud to be a collaborative partner with the county. We routinely work together on transportation, housing, emergency preparedness, public health and regional issues. That cooperative relationship has produced better outcomes for everyone.
The county should pause its plans for the Foster City property and engage in an open, transparent conversation with city leaders, planning professionals, businesses and residents. If the proposed use is truly the best fit, it should withstand that public discussion. If it is not, then better alternatives should be explored and, if nothing else, a presentation with plans, data and the goals of creating trusted partnerships needs to come before our residents with time to craft alternatives or build consensus. Â
The question is larger than a single building in Foster City. It is about whether incorporated cities still have a meaningful voice in shaping their own future. Our residents deserve that voice. Our General Plan deserves respect. And our county government should lead by partnering with its cities — not by acting as though local planning is optional.
Stacy Jimenez is a member of the Foster City Council. Views her own.
Thank you, Stacey, for raising an important issue that extends well beyond Foster City.
Your column highlights a fundamental principle of good governance: transparency, collaboration, and respect for local communities.
Whether the project involves Foster City, Belmont, San Mateo, or any other city, residents deserve meaningful engagement before significant county land-use decisions are made.
Collaboration with city leaders, professional staff, and the public should be the foundation of the process—not an afterthought.
Strong partnerships between the County and its cities foster better decisions, build public trust, and ultimately produce better outcomes for everyone.
Thank you for bringing attention to an issue that deserves a thoughtful countywide conversation.
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(1) comment
Thank you, Stacey, for raising an important issue that extends well beyond Foster City.
Your column highlights a fundamental principle of good governance: transparency, collaboration, and respect for local communities.
Whether the project involves Foster City, Belmont, San Mateo, or any other city, residents deserve meaningful engagement before significant county land-use decisions are made.
Collaboration with city leaders, professional staff, and the public should be the foundation of the process—not an afterthought.
Strong partnerships between the County and its cities foster better decisions, build public trust, and ultimately produce better outcomes for everyone.
Thank you for bringing attention to an issue that deserves a thoughtful countywide conversation.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.