Foster City Council District 1 · Nov 3, 2026

Phoebe Shin Venkat

Candidate for City Council District 1

3 candidates · 2 seats9 sourced positions

Phoebe Shin Venkat is running for Foster City Council District 1 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Art Kiesel.

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed; early vote centers open · Mon, Oct 5, 2026

Today

Art Kiesel and Phoebe Shin Venkat, both sitting councilmembers, are running against each other for the District 1 seat. San Mateo Daily Journal

Phoebe Shin Venkat's current council term runs through December 2028. San Mateo County LAFCo

Where Phoebe Shin Venkat stands: positions on the record

School speed limits1 sourced position

Seconded the motion to introduce an ordinance setting 15 mph speed limits on certain streets near schools (passed 4-1, November 2025).
Council voteFoster City Council minutes, Nov. 3, 2025 · Nov 3, 2025

E-bikes1 sourced position

Voted no on a joint letter with the City of San Mateo to the school district on e-bike education safety for students (passed 3-2, October 2025).
Council voteFoster City Council minutes, Oct. 20, 2025 · Oct 20, 2025

Climate programs1 sourced position

Voted no on the Residential Battery Storage Rebate Program (passed 3-2, August 2026).
Council voteFoster City Council minutes, Aug. 17, 2026 · Aug 17, 2026

Golf course lease1 sourced position

Seconded the motion approving the tenth amendment to the V.B. Golf LLC lease with the city (passed 4-1, May 2026).
Council voteFoster City Council minutes, May 18, 2026 · May 18, 2026

Board of Appeals1 sourced position

Seconded the motion adopting Ordinance 693, which gives the Planning Commission the duties of Board of Appeals (passed 4-1, September 2025).
Council voteFoster City Council minutes, Sept. 15, 2025 · Sep 15, 2025

State housing mandates1 sourced position

as reported by the San Mateo Daily Journal
Told the Daily Journal she sees the state's housing mandates as an opportunity to pair with the city's economic development plans.
“I want to get us out of the victim mode of ‘the state is coming down on us,’ and turn it into an opportunity to combine forces with our economic development plans that are yet to unfold”
Own statementSan Mateo Daily Journal

City budget1 sourced position

as reported by the San Mateo Daily Journal; not a direct quote
Daily Journal reports she is focused on building up the city's tourism sector, which she acknowledges will cost money up front.
Own statementSan Mateo Daily Journal

Street design1 sourced position

as reported by the San Mateo Daily Journal; not a direct quote
Daily Journal reports she has been a strong advocate for improving bike and pedestrian infrastructure, hoping transit investments shift in that direction rather than toward highway widening.
Own statementSan Mateo Daily Journal

County Human Services Agency site1 sourced position

as reported by the San Mateo Daily Journal
Told the Daily Journal the county, city and council all need to communicate better about the county's plan to relocate its Human Services Agency to a site in the city.
“Always tell the truth, and if you don’t know something, say you don’t know”
Own statementSan Mateo Daily Journal

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