South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting - October 27, 2021

The South San Francisco City Council held a hybrid in-person/virtual regular meeting on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, beginning at 6:00 PM. The meeting included presentations, legislative business, and administrative actions. Key agenda items were the receipt of the Helen Putnam Award for environmental conservation at Sign Hill Park, a presentation on the Reimagine SamTrans project, an ordinance to implement SB 1383 organic waste reduction, and the approval of a purchase and sale agreement for a city-owned property at 367 Marina Boulevard for hotel development.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: Approved minutes from September 8, 2021, and September 14, 2021 (Item 3).
• Traffic Safety Grant: Approved resolution accepting $125,000 from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) and amending the Police Department budget (Item 4).
• Library Grant: Approved resolution accepting $5,200 from Pacific Library Partnership for activity kits for adults with special needs and developmental disabilities, with a budget amendment (Item 5).
• Remote Meetings Extension: Approved resolution to continue conducting City Council and advisory body meetings remotely due to health and safety concerns (Item 8).
• Items 6 and 7 were pulled for separate discussion (see below).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public provided oral testimony during the meeting. Written public comments were noted as submitted and included in the meeting record.

Discussion Items

• Presentation of Helen Putnam Award: Seth Miller (Peninsula Division Regional Manager, League of California Cities) presented the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in Planning and Environmental Quality to the City of South San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department for environmental conservation programs at Sign Hill Park. The award was given at the League's annual conference in Sacramento.
• Reimagine SamTrans Project: SamTrans staff (Jessica Epstein and Jonathan Stecky) presented the recommended network for bus service changes affecting South San Francisco. Key proposals included extending Route 292 to Millbrae Transit Station, streamlining Route 130 to Oyster Point with increased weekend frequency, shortening Route 141, and consolidating school routes 37 and 39. Councilmembers expressed concerns about equity, service reductions to Old Town (Routes 130 and 141), and the omission of a direct Route 126 from BART to Oyster Point. Council directed staff to prepare a comment letter to SamTrans recommending a direct route to Oyster Point (possibly via Route 126), improved connections to Caltrain, and preservation of service frequency in dense neighborhoods. The public comment period closes November 8, 2021, and the SamTrans Board meeting is November 3, 2021.
• Sign Hill Diamond Fire Emergency Repairs (Item 6): Greg Mediati (Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation) confirmed this is the last resolution for continued emergency repairs. Approximately 1,500 fire-killed trees were removed, and soil stability measures were implemented. The hill performed well during the recent storm.
• Response to Civil Grand Jury Report (Item 7): Councilmember Nicholas suggested including the city's Community Safety and Equity Advisory Board (established by the Commission on Social and Racial Equity) in the response letter to the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report on racial and identity profiling. Staff agreed to amend the letter.
• SB 1383 Organic Waste Reduction (Item 9): Marissa Garren (Management Analyst I) presented the ordinance to amend Municipal Code chapters 8.16 and 8.28, adding Chapter 8.27 for mandatory organic waste disposal reduction. The city will adopt a Memorandum of Understanding with San Mateo County for an Edible Food Recovery Program and a Recovered Organic Waste Product Procurement Policy. South San Francisco Scavengers' anaerobic digester provides renewable natural gas, helping meet the 75% organic waste reduction target. The city has 156 tier one and 24 tier two edible food generators. Enforcement begins January 1, 2024, with penalties of $100-$500. Councilmembers emphasized outreach to schools and local businesses.
• Hotel Development at 367 Marina Boulevard (Item 10): Ernesto Lucero (Economic Development Coordinator) presented a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Ensemble Investments, LLC for the disposition of 4.7 acres at 367 Marina Boulevard for $1,000,000. The site, a former landfill, will be developed into a 340-room hotel with 12 stories, including public amenities (restaurant, roof access, bay trail connection). The city will provide a 50% Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rebate for 15 years, capped at $44,530,000, with a “home run” clause for shared success. Estimated total economic benefit to the city over 25 years is $157,593,000 (including property tax, CFD tax, impact fees, and TOT). The hotel is expected to open in 2027.

Key Outcomes

• Item 6 and 7 (Consent Calendar Pulled): Approved unanimously after discussion. Direction to include Community Safety and Equity Advisory Board in the grand jury response letter.
• Item 9 (Ordinance and Resolutions):
  • Ordinance amending Chapters 8.16 and 8.28 and adding Chapter 8.27 (Mandatory Organic Waste Disposal Reduction) – Passed unanimously.
  • Resolution approving Memorandum of Understanding with San Mateo County for Edible Food Recovery Program – Passed unanimously.
  • Resolution approving Recovered Organic Waste Product Procurement Policy – Passed unanimously.
• Item 10 (Hotel Development): Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Purchase and Sale Agreement with Ensemble Investments, LLC – Passed unanimously (5-0).
• Direction to Staff: Prepare and send a comment letter to SamTrans regarding the Reimagine project, focusing on restoring a direct route to Oyster Point (Route 126 or similar), maintaining service frequency in Old Town, and improving connections to Caltrain and BART.