South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting - September 8, 2021
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South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting - September 8, 2021
The South San Francisco City Council met on September 8, 2021, in a hybrid in-person/virtual format. The meeting included proclamations, presentations, consent calendar approvals, and administrative business. The council also recessed for a joint special meeting with the successor agency and later held a closed session.
Presentations
- Proclamation recognizing September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Mayor Addiego presented the proclamation to Jesus Pena, whose daughter Juliana died of neuroblastoma. Pena noted that only 4% of federal cancer funding goes to childhood cancer and that children receive adult chemotherapies. He expressed support for increased awareness and research.
- Certificate recognizing Mater Dolorosa Catholic Parish’s 60th anniversary: Councilmember Nicolas presented the certificate to Father Roland de la Rosa, who thanked the city and affirmed the parish's partnership with the community.
- Proclamation recognizing September as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Councilmember Coleman read the proclamation, noting statistics: 248,530 new cases and 34,130 deaths expected nationally in 2021; 25,880 cases and 4,140 deaths in California; incidence 80% higher in non-Hispanic Black men; 5-year survival rate 100% if caught early, dropping to 30% if metastasized.
- Proclamation recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15–Oct 15): Councilmember Flores presented the proclamation to Martin Cruz Barrajas, artistic director of Ballet Folklorico Alma de Mexico, who accepted on behalf of the Latinx community.
- Presentation by Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and JobTrain on Small Business and Workforce Development Services: Amanda Anthony described free business classes in English and Spanish, a pop-up vendor event on September 25th, and networking opportunities. Julia Horiucci of JobTrain explained career training in culinary, construction, IT, and healthcare, serving 14 individuals in the first month with a goal of 100 in the first year. Both programs are located at 366 Grand Avenue.
Public Comments & Testimony
No public comments were made during the regular meeting. During the recessed joint special meeting of the City Council and Successor Agency, three public comments were submitted regarding the closed session item on Linden Avenue properties. Commenters advocated for the site to be used as a park, community garden, or community center, citing the East Side's lack of green space.
Council Comments/Requests
- Vice Mayor Nagales reminded residents to vote in the September 14 election, noted Westborough Boulevard construction traffic issues, and requested continued monitoring of the fiber optic project.
- Councilmember Nicolas encouraged COVID-19 vaccination and flu shots, and thanked Parks and Recreation for reopening the senior center.
- Councilmember Coleman echoed the voting reminder and suggested the city consider a future nonprofit center with affordable office space.
- Councilmember Flores reminded the community that unemployment benefits ending does not mean support ends; highlighted resources from Renaissance, YMCA, Skyline College food distributions, and CDBG-funded air purifiers.
- Mayor Addiego reflected on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, noted the cancellation of a local Lions/veterans barbecue due to Delta variant concerns, and adjourned the meeting in memory of South San Francisco resident Cesar Valadez.
Consent Calendar
Items 6–9 were approved unanimously by roll call (5-0). The consent calendar included:
- Approval of minutes from July 14 and July 26, 2021.
- Resolution determining continued emergency and need for emergency repairs for the Sign Hill Diamond Fire.
- Resolution accepting donations, grants, and stipends totaling $267,026 for Parks and Recreation Department programs (FY 2021-22), with a budget amendment.
- Ordinance making CEQA determinations and adopting a Zoning Text Amendment to prohibit research & development uses in the El Camino Real Corridor, modify freight truck/warehouse definitions, and update ADU performance standards per state law.
Discussion Items
- Item 10 (Resolution awarding construction contract to Golden Bay Construction, Inc.): Senior Engineer Angel Torres presented the 2021 Concrete and Green Infrastructure Project (Bid No. 2653) for ADA curb ramp improvements at 31 intersections, with a contract amount not to exceed $986,622 and a total budget authority of $1,231,622. Discussion included past tripping hazard complaints, design improvements, contingency (25%), and traffic/pedestrian impacts. Councilmember Flores requested coordination with All Souls School. The resolution was approved unanimously.
- Item 11 (Resolution amending Parks and Recreation Department position budget): Deputy Director Greg Mediati recommended adding five positions: a stationary engineer, recreation supervisor (child care), lead park maintenance worker, senior park maintenance worker, and entry-level park maintenance worker. Annual cost estimated at $360,000 general fund and $390,000 from Oyster Point CFD (once revenues sufficient). The positions aim to maintain new facilities (e.g., library, police station, parks) and support growing child care programs. The resolution was approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All votes were unanimous (5-0).
- The council approved the consent calendar, the construction contract for Golden Bay Construction, and the Parks and Recreation position budget amendments.
- The council recessed for a joint special meeting (successor agency) and then entered closed session to discuss two anticipated litigation items (Conference with Legal Counsel, one potential case each). No action was reported from closed session.
Meeting Transcript
Here. Councilmember Flores. Present. Councilmember Nicholas. Present. Vice Mayor Nogales. Here. Mayor Adiego. Here. And next item, Rosa. Moving on to Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor. Okay. So we'd like to invite uh Mita Baxter to the podium, and she'll begin us uh with the Pledge of Religions. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic, which is our stands. One day. Thank you. Moving on to agenda review mayor. Okay. Mr. Mayor, there are no um changes to the 6 o'clock agenda, but as you know, we will recess, go to the 601. I I took note. You you made it clear how we're so I don't mess up. Thank you, Mike. Moving on to announcements from staff. No announcements from staff, Mr. Mayor. Okay, thank you. Thank you. We'll now move on to presentations. Item number one proclamation recognizing September as childhood cancer awareness month. Okay. So I would like to uh present this and uh hey Seuss Pena, um, if you would join me at the podium, um I'd like to read it to you there. So um this is uh something we wanted to do for the entire community, a few of us uh gathered um this last uh a week ago Wednesday on the first, right when it was getting dark and the steps of City Hall to um celebrate the tradition, the much revered tradition of lighting of the tree on Sign Hill, but also adding the lighting of the um uh City Hall. So um there was a very enthusiastic group that was quite supportive of you and your family. And this is certainly for Juliana, but also for all the young people that have fought various childhood cancers. So I'd like to read this into the record. Um this is in recognition of September as childhood cancer awareness month, whereas childhood cancer occurs regularly, randomly, and spares no ethnic group, socioeconomic class with geographic region. Whereas each year more than 15,000 kids and young adults are diagnosed with cancer, which amounts to about 43 cases per day. Whereas the causes of most childhood cancers are unknown and not strongly linked to lifestyle or environmental risk factors, unlike many adult cancers. Whereas though the five-year survival rate for childhood cancers has reached 80 percent, nearly 2,000 children under age 19 pass away each year, making cancer the leading killer of children. Whereas children's cancer can be treated exactly like adult cancers, can't be treated exactly like adult cancers. Current treatments are toxic, affect the child's development, and can be decades old. Whereas to treat childhood cancer in the best way possible, we need to create specialized treatments just for kids. We need to understand how treatments affect kids long term so we can prevent late effects. Whereas childhood cancer has touched many in our South San Francisco community, among them Jesus Pena and Patricia Watson, who lost their 33-month-old daughter Juliana to neuroblastoma. Whereas, as the color gold is significant and symbolic because it represents childhood cancer, the tree on Sign Hill shines bright, as well as South San Francisco City Hall lit gold during the month of September in honor of Juliana and all the other families that have been affected by childhood cancer. Now there will be it resolved that the City Council of this city does hereby recognize September as childhood cancer awareness month, which is a time to recognize the children and families affected by childhood cancers and to emphasize the importance of supporting research on these devastating conditions. This is signed by all members of the council, and this is uh for you to keep. Thank you very much.
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