South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting – October 13, 2021
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South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting – October 13, 2021
The South San Francisco City Council held a hybrid regular meeting on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, beginning at 6:00 PM. The meeting featured presentations on the 2020 Census data and the County’s supervisorial redistricting process, as well as a number of consent calendar items and two major administrative business items: the Orange Memorial Park Sports Field renovation construction management contract and the Baden Avenue affordable housing project. The Council also unanimously approved a letter requesting that the city be placed entirely within a single supervisorial district.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The Council unanimously approved the minutes from July 27, July 28, and August 25, 2021 meetings.
- Third Amendment to Raimi + Associates Agreement: Approved a $20,000 increase for a comprehensive benchmarking analysis of city-owned buildings’ energy, water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Milk Tea Lab Lease Extension: Authorized a five-year sublease extension (with an additional five-year option) for the commercial space at 630 El Camino Real.
- California State Library Grant: Accepted $30,250 from the California State Library to support Project Read through the Family Literacy Services program, with a corresponding budget amendment (22.020).
- MARA Plan Administrator Change: Approved changing the Medical After Retirement Account plan administrator to Educators Benefit Consultants, LLC d/b/a Aviben.
- Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance: Approved the Second Amendment and Restatement of the Joint Powers Agreement.
- Sign Hill Diamond Fire Emergency Repairs: Determined the continued existence of an emergency and authorized procurement for remediation work.
- Greenridge and Willow Gardens Recapitalization: Approved MidPen Housing Corporation’s recapitalization and renovation plans for these affordable housing communities, allowing residual receipt payments to be reinvested.
- Grand Jury Sea Level Rise Response: Authorized the City Manager to sign a response to the San Mateo County Grand Jury report titled “San Mateo County: California’s Ground Zero for Sea Level Rise.”
- Tenant Improvements at 366 Grand Avenue: Awarded a construction contract to O K Construction for tenant improvements in an amount not to exceed $210,550, with a total budget of $260,550.
Public Comments & Testimony
- During the public comment period for item #16 (Baden Avenue project), several speakers expressed strong support for the affordable housing development, particularly the 18 units set aside for individuals with developmental disabilities. Speakers included Jan Stokely (Executive Director of Housing Choices), Sean Strebbel (South San Francisco resident and Housing Choices board member), Benjamin McMahon (Center for Independent Individuals with Disabilities), Ken Chan (Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County), Edith Arias (parent of a child with developmental disabilities and former commissioner on the city’s Racial and Social Equity Commission), and Sheridan Nicolau (Bay Area Regional Manager, California State Council on Developmental Disabilities). All urged approval.
Discussion Items
- Presentation on 2020 Final Census Data: Shali Tilton of National Demographics Corporation (NDC) presented the official 2020 census data for South San Francisco, which showed a total population of 66,184. The ideal district population is 13,236, and the existing districts have a deviation of only 4.89%, well within the 10% threshold. The data breakdown by race and voting age population was provided. NDC will provide mapping tools including a new paintbrush tool called District R for public participation. The redistricting timeline includes mandated hearings on December 22, 2021, January 26, 2022, and February 23, 2022, with a final adoption deadline in April 2022.
- San Mateo County Supervisorial Redistricting Presentation: Justin Mates, Deputy County Manager, and Commissioner Hermes Monzon of the 2021 Supervisorial District Lines Advisory Commission presented the county’s redistricting process. The county must adopt final maps by December 15, 2021, due to the June 2022 election. The county’s ideal district population is about 153,000. South San Francisco is currently split between District 1 (Supervisor Pine) and District 5 (Supervisor Canepa). The commission has held outreach meetings and will consider maps in October. Public participation is encouraged via the website smcdistrictlines.org, surveys, social media (#SMCDistrictLines), and public comment at meetings.
- Council Comments/Requests: Vice Mayor Nagales reported that the South San Francisco Caltrain station project is 95% complete, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony anticipated in November. He also proposed exploring an increase to the city’s inclusionary housing requirement from 15% to 20% using a “carrot and stick” approach to encourage more affordable housing. Councilmember Nicolas announced that a flu vaccine clinic administered 200 shots and highlighted the Peninsula Clean Energy home upgrade program. Councilmember Coleman requested staff investigate why the local CalWater district does not participate in Flows to Bay’s rain barrel rebate supplemental program, potentially causing inequity for South San Francisco residents.
- Item #15 – Orange Memorial Park Sports Field Renovation Construction Management Contract: Philip Vitale, Deputy Director of Capital Projects, presented the staff recommendation to award a $377,690 construction management services contract to Swinerton Management & Consulting. The sports field project is at 95% design, with construction to begin after the adjacent stormwater project completes in spring 2022. The field is expected to open spring 2023. Council expressed support, with Vice Mayor Nagales emphasizing the need to honor the legacy of Bob Bryant by naming a field after him. The resolution was approved unanimously.
- Item #16 – Baden Avenue Affordable Housing Project: Julie Barnard, Acting Deputy Director of Economic Development and Housing, presented two related resolutions. The project involves 428 and 432 Baden Avenue and will create 36 units of 100% affordable housing, with 18 units designated for individuals with developmental disabilities. The first resolution (16A) approved a Third Amendment to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, changing the developer from Baden Development LLC to For the Future Housing, Inc. The second resolution (16B) approved a $4,050,000 loan from Commercial Linkage Fee Funds to For the Future Housing for acquisition. The loan is structured as a $2,000,000 short-term component (24 months, extendable to 48 months) and a $2,050,000 long-term component (55-year term with residual receipts). Council unanimously approved both resolutions.
Key Outcomes
- Census Redistricting: The Council received the 2020 census data and discussed the redistricting timeline. No vote was taken; the matter will return for further hearings in December.
- County Redistricting Request: The Council discussed and then unanimously approved sending a letter to the San Mateo County District Lines Advisory Commission requesting that South San Francisco be kept whole within a single supervisorial district. (This item was numbered 18 on the agenda and was considered after public comments.) The Council directed that the video of this deliberation also be submitted as public comment.
- Orange Memorial Park Contract: Approved unanimously (5-0) the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a construction management services agreement with Swinerton Management & Consulting for $377,690.
- Baden Avenue Affordable Housing: Both resolutions (16A and 16B) were approved unanimously (5-0 each), authorizing the assignment of the purchase and sale agreement to For the Future Housing and the $4,050,000 acquisition loan.
- Consent Calendar: All 10 items were approved en bloc unanimously.
- Council Comments: Staff was directed to look into the rain barrel rebate disparity and to explore adjusting the inclusionary housing policy to encourage higher affordable housing percentages.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:49 PM (inferred from the transcript's closing remarks) in memory of Giuseppina and Lando Baldocchi, Brendan Rios, Doug Butler, and Omar Ivan Carreño Rayon.
Meeting Transcript
Um this is the proclamation recognizing October as breast cancer awareness month, whereas October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of this disease. While we have seen an increase on mammography rules, mammography rates, and a decline in deaths, there is more we can do. Whereas individuals and communities still benefit from a reminder that breast cancer is not a solved problem. It's not gone, nor cured, and a condition not to ignore. Whereas the American Cancer Society estimates 281,550 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women, one percent of this will be men, and about 43,600 women will die from breast cancer in the United States in 2021. Whereas every woman is a risk for breast cancer, even if she has no family history or other risk factors for the disease. Whereas having affordable access to screening and early detection for all women is an essential component in the fight against breast cancer. Whereas during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we stand with our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends, and we recognize all who have joined their love who have lost their loved ones in fighting their bat this battle, as well as those advocates, researchers, and health care providers whose scare and hard work gives hope to those living with breast cancer. And whereas, by educating ourselves and supporting innovative research, we will improve the quality of life for all Americans affected by breast cancer, and one day defeat this terrible disease. Whereas the fight doesn't end on October 31st, taking the right steps to combat the disease includes screening tests for early detection and prevention, standing by survivors and their families, and supporting worthy organizations that provide quality treatment and cure, and those who are working tirelessly to find the cure. Now, therefore be it resolved that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco does hereby recognize October as breast cancer awareness month and encourage women to learn about their risk for breast cancer, talk to their health care providers about the recommended breast cancer screening, and be screened with clinical breast exams and mammography. Signed by the entire city council. Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you, Mayor. Moving on to item number two, proclamation recognizing October as National Italian Heritage Month. So the Vice Mayor and I decided to mix it up a little bit this evening, and he's going to be reading the proclamation regarding Italian Heritage Month because he is an aficionado of all things Italian. Especially food. And I actually uh in high school I took Italian, don't ask me to speak Italian, so better than me. So but I'm honored to read this uh recognition of October as National Italian and American Heritage Month. Whereas Italian American Heritage Month is celebrated every year in October to honor and recognize the centuries of achievements, successes, and valuable contributions of Italian immigrants and Italian Americans, and whereas from the early explorers to the 5.5 million working class immigrants who arrived in the United States around the beginning of the 20th century, Italian Americans have helped shape and developed our nation. And whereas currently there are over 26 million Americans of Italian descent residing in the United States, making Italian Americans the fifth largest ethnic group in our nation. Whereas bound by enduring values of faith and family, Italian Americans have flourished in all areas of our public and economic life while preserving their proud Italian traditions. And whereas upon arrival in the United States, the Italian-American community face racial, social, and religious discrimination, yet Italian Americans have preserved with uh preserv uh sorry, uh with hope and hard work to reach for the American dream and help build our great country, and whereas as proud service members have also defended the liberty and integrity of the United States since the Revolutionary War, and whereas all Americans take great pride in the accomplishments of individuals such as Enrico Fermi, who won the 1938 Nobel Prize in Physics, Paolo Solari, the celebrated architect, and baseball hero Joe DiMaggio. Whereas Italian Americans operate thriving businesses, teach our children, serve at all levels of government, and succeed in a mirror of occupations. Now, therefore be resolved that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco calls upon all Americans to learn more about the history of Italian Americans and honor the long history and the vast contributions of Italian Americans signed by the entire city council. Okay, thank you. Well done, Mr. Vice Mayor. Thank you, Mayor. Moving on to item number three is the 2020 final census data presentation for the city of South San Francisco. And joining us tonight will be Shali Tilton with NDC. Thank you, Mayor Adiago and Council members. It's my pleasure to be here representing National Demographics Corporation. We are the city's consultant to assist you in this redistricting process in and in the final selection of a redistricting map. I'm going to go ahead and share my screen if that's okay. So at that we knew at the time that the census data was outdated, but we were mandated to use that data. And of course, now we have the 2020 census data. That district four only looks funky because of the um areas that are unincorporated, the golf course areas in the area, just country club drive, but it's actually a uh a nice looking map as far as compactness goes. The timeline for redistricting is guided by the Fair Maps Act. The Fair Maps Act is new. It did not exist at the time when the city adopted its districts, but it follows much of the same principles that was used when the city created its districts. There are four mandated required hearings. One was already held in July, so you've completed that. You'll have your second one in December 22nd. Tonight, the purpose of tonight's uh meeting is to roll out the census data. Uh the census data was delayed. We should have had it back in May. Um, and we just actually got the final numbers in September. They actually came out September 20 uh 21st, technically, because it was just after midnight on September 20th. NDC went to work verifying the data and found significant significant errors with the methodology that was used by the state.
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