For Immediate Release: November 21, 2019

Contact: Jeff C. Moneda, City Manager, (650) 286-3288, jmoneda@fostercity.org

After many months of working with staff from the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), the City of Foster City has received the approval for the required permit from BCDC for construction of the Levee Protection Planning and Improvements Project (Levee Project).

On November 21, 2019, BCDC held a public hearing and considered a permit application for the Levee Project, which would construct shoreline protection structures and redevelop public access along the shoreline levee system. The project includes levee rehabilitation work with new shoreline protection, redevelopment and widening of the levee Bay Trail, providing public access amenities and access to the Bay, and construction of two bridges to increase tidal circulation to enhance the O’Neil Slough in the southern segment of the project site.

All 19 Commissioners present unanimously approved the City’s permit application. Since the initial project application, staff from both agencies have been working on finetuning the information included with the application to allow for formal presentation to the BCDC Board. Along with the applications, letters of support from Senator Jerry Hill, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, and Assemblyman Kevin Mullin were also submitted. “I am excited about the unanimous decision of BCDC approving this tremendous milestone for the Levee Project. We can now move onto the next phase of protecting the City from sea level rise 2050 and beyond.” said Mayor Sam Hindi. “We can’t thank our legislative officials enough for their support and efforts, as well as the work from our project team and staff. I trust that the same intensity and dedication will be carried forth in the next phase and throughout the duration of this project.”

In June 2018, Foster City residents had voted to approve the $90 million general obligation bond for the Levee Project. Since then, the City’s project team has prepared and submitted required regulatory permit applications. The remaining permit needed for the Levee Project is from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which is anticipated to be issued in late December 2019 or early January 2020. The Levee Project is currently designed to 95% completion.

For more information and project updates, please visit www.fostercity.org/leveeproject. Members of the public are also encouraged to contact the City Manager’s Office at (650) 286-3220 or manager@fostercity.org with any questions or comments.

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