South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting - April 14, 2021

The South San Francisco City Council held a regular meeting via teleconference on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 6:00 PM, presided over by Mayor Mark Addiego. All council members were present. The meeting featured presentations on anti-Asian racism, a business centennial recognition, and approval of funding for an economic mobility hub, alongside a discussion of a councilmember's late-night phone call to a commissioner.

Presentations

• Anti-Asian Racism & Violence: Daniel Yanow (President, SSF CTA) and Catrina Ellis (Human Rights Chair) presented a statement from the South San Francisco Classroom Teachers Association condemning the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. Ellis cited historical acts of discrimination (e.g., Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese internment) and recent local incidents (e.g., murder of Bichar Ratanapakti, attack on 88-year-old Yi Oi Huang). She called for concrete actions including AAPI-curated training, hiring more staff of color, and urging the City Council to pursue low-income housing and study eliminating single-family zoning. Councilmembers expressed strong support.
• Santini & Roccucci 100th Anniversary: Mayor Addiego read a proclamation honoring the clothing and shoe store founded February 2, 1921. Family member Rachel Ungaretti Young spoke via telephone, thanking the Council for the recognition.
• Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 11-17): The Mayor read a proclamation noting that in 2020, city dispatchers handled 103,757 calls (including 25,817 911 calls). Communications Supervisors Elizabeth Keenan and Gina Winter accepted the proclamation and thanked the Council.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ray Buenaventura (Daly City Councilmember, San Mateo County API Caucus founding member) commended the Council for inviting the CTA presentation and urged continued efforts to stop AAPI hate crimes. He noted that the County Board of Supervisors had recently passed a similar resolution.

Consent Calendar

• Items 4 (minutes), 5 (MTC funding application for El Camino Real Grand Boulevard Initiative Phase III and East of 101 Transit Expansion), 6 (acceptance of $5,000 from Quality Counts and $17,000 from Learning Hubs), 7 (emergency repairs for Sign Hill Diamond Fire), 8 (acceptance of $4,000 from AARP and $300 from Women's Club), and 9 (polymers purchase amendment) were approved.
• Items 5 and 8 were pulled for discussion. Councilmember Flores asked about bus cutouts for the East of 101 project; staff confirmed flexibility if funding is awarded. Vice Mayor Nagales asked about the AARP chapter dissolving; Deputy Director Mediati clarified tax preparation services continue through the national AARP group.

Discussion Items

• Resolution of Intention to Issue Tax-Exempt Obligations (Item 10): Deputy Finance Director Jason Wong presented a resolution to allow reimbursement of up to $110 million in capital costs from future tax-exempt bond proceeds, without obligating debt issuance. Public comment by Trustee Richardson raised concerns about the amount; Finance Director Janet Salisbury emphasized it provides flexibility. The resolution passed unanimously.
• Economic Mobility Resource Hub (Item 11): Economic Development Coordinator Ernesto Lucero proposed appropriating $2 million for two years of operations, approving contracts with JobTrain ($403,916 for Year 1) and Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center ($467,000 for Year 1), and accepting a $10,000 contribution from Lane Partners. JobTrain CEO Barry Hathaway and Renaissance CEO Sharon Miller described their programs: JobTrain will provide workforce development and rapid employment; Renaissance will offer small business training and co-working space. Councilmembers praised the initiative. The resolution passed unanimously.

Council Comments & Requests

• Councilmember Nicolas: Reported that police officers helped a transient mother; partnered with Chamber and Citique for mental health education in May; and continued disseminating anti-hate flyers. She requested the meeting be adjourned in memory of Bienvenido Acosta.
• Councilmember Coleman: Requested staff collect data on all police stops to identify racial disparities, and explore reforms like deprioritizing low-level traffic stops. City Manager Futrell agreed to provide updates during budget discussions.
• Councilmember Flores: Thanked all involved in vaccination clinics (over 1,100 vaccinated); expressed grief over the killing of Daunte Wright and systemic racism; called for reimagining policing.
• Vice Mayor Nagales: Requested adjournment in memory of former Assemblymember Gene Mullen, his former teacher who sparked his interest in public service; asked for a study session on the future of outdoor dining (parklets) and downtown streetscape. City Manager Futrell committed to providing background.
• Mayor Addiego: Noted vaccination clinic wait times and need for seating; shared the story of two COVID deaths in a local family (Hilberto and Tomas Dominguez); discussed scuttled boats at the cove and planned response with BCDC.

Key Outcomes

• Councilmember Coleman's Late-Night Call to Commissioner: Mayor Addiego reported that on April 5, Councilmember Coleman called a Parks and Recreation Commissioner at approximately 10:30 PM, after the Council’s 4-1 vote rejecting all incumbents. The commissioner felt pressured to resign and contacted staff, who reported it to the City Manager. Coleman denied pressuring, stating he called only to explain his vote and look forward to working together, but acknowledged the late hour. The Mayor requested an apology. Coleman agreed to personally apologize to the commissioner.
• Resolutions for tax-exempt obligation intent and economic mobility hub both passed unanimously.
• Consent calendar items (except those pulled for discussion) approved.
• Closed session held regarding real property negotiations for 366 Grand Avenue and Oyster Point property; no reportable actions.