Foster City Celebrates Economic, Environmental, Social Sustainability

Foster City is a sustainable city. 

It's so sustainable, in fact, that the city recently celebrated its commitment to economic, environmental and social sustainable with Sustainable Foster City Day to ensure the quality of life of its residents and business community.

The plan to designate a Sustainable Foster City Day was approved by the city council on Nov. 5, 2012, with the intent to “sustain and enhance the quality of life in Foster City,” using the three core tenets of Economic, Environmental, and Social Equity principles to achieve the Plan’s vision.

Elected officials, the Chamber of Commerce, and key businesses of Foster City gathered at the event on June 6 to recognize the city’s sustainability achievements and major initiatives.

Speakers included Foster City Mayor Pam Frisella, City Councilman Perez, Joanne Bohigian, President & CEO, Foster City Chamber of Commerce, and representatives from Visa, Sares Regis and the San Mateo-Foster City School District (SMFCSD).

Speakers discussed Foster City’s approach to sustainability and their relationships to the many efforts to meet the city’s environmental, social, and economic objectives.

“Congratulations to the City of Foster City and the Foster City Chamber of Commerce for making a strong commitment to sustainability in city planning, and for working to unite residents and the business community in efforts to create a strategic plan for sustainable economic development,” said Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo.

“These important steps will help us ensure a bright and resilient future for the Peninsula.”

The Sustainable Foster City plan includes 5 key tasks, which are to be implemented by the city.

These tasks include assessment and improvement of retail, business promotion, the “quality of life” campaign, implementation of a clean energy initiative, and also the creation of an economic dashboard.

“I commend Foster city on their efforts to integrate environmental sustainability with economic development. All of our citizens need a healthy environment to raise their families and a job to support them,” said Assemblymember Kevin Mullin, D-San Mateo.

Foster City was developed in 1960 and incorporated in 1971 and is part of San Mateo County. Foster City’s population is more than 30,000, and Forbes ranked Foster City No. 10 on their 2009 list of America's Top 25 Towns to Live Well.

Companies including Visa Inc., Gilead Sciences, and IBM, have offices in Foster City.

What do you love about living in Foster City? Tell us in the comments.