South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting – December 8, 2021

The South San Francisco City Council held a hybrid regular meeting on December 8, 2021, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included approval of a consent calendar, a presentation on the new Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team, a public hearing for a 480-unit residential development at 124 Airport Boulevard and 100 Produce Avenue, and approval of a contract amendment for the Harbor Master Spit Project. The council also heard public comments on multiple items and voted 4-1 to approve the major development project.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from October 13, 19, and 26, 2021.
• Approved acceptance of $8,800 from United Way Bay Area for the VITA program at Project Read (Budget Amendment 22.029).
• Approved acceptance of $35,000 from Silicon Valley Community Foundation for Project Read’s VITA and financial literacy programs (Budget Amendment 22.030).
• Approved renaming the Community Learning Center as the Gene Mullin Community Learning Center (Resolution adopted unanimously after discussion).
• Approved amendment to the City salary schedule effective January 1, 2022.
• Approved acceptance of $19,950 from San Mateo County for COVID-19 outreach (Budget Amendment 22.033).
• Approved acceptance of $60,000 in federal LSTA grant from California State Library for "Community Connections" outreach (Budget Amendment 22.032).
• Adopted the 2021 update to the San Mateo County Hazard Mitigation Plan and South San Francisco Annex.
• Extended the Christmas Eve holiday (December 23, 2021) from a half-day to a full day.
• Rejected all bids for the Irish Town Green Rehabilitation Project (PK1806).
• Awarded a construction contract to Golden Bay Construction for the South Airport & Belle Aire Public Access Improvement Project (CIP ST2004) in an amount not to exceed $617,781, with total contract authority of $741,337.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tom Carney (public comment on Item 10 – Irish Town Green) opposed the project, citing health concerns from 32 cell phone towers on the site and insufficient downtown parks.
• Leslie Fong (public comment on Item 14 – Mental Health Clinician) asked whether the single clinician would be on call 24/7; she was assured that hours would be consistent and not 24-hour.
• Public Hearing (Item 12): Seven speakers in person and five via Zoom commented.
  • Union representatives (Edward Evans, Juan Espinoza, William Cormier, Ryan Gabriel, David Mauro, Robert Woodle, James Ruy Gomez, Danny Campbell, Kyle Moregas) opposed the project as proposed, arguing that the developer (Hanover/PS Business Parks) refused to commit to using union carpenters, which would undermine local wages, benefits, and apprenticeship programs. They urged the council to reject or delay approval until a labor agreement was reached.
  • Carter Keller (CEO, GigaGen) supported the project, emphasizing the need for housing to attract and retain biotech workers and noting the project’s location near transit and downtown.
  • Leonora Ross (Housing Leadership Council) supported the project, citing the growing housing and affordability crisis in South San Francisco.

Discussion Items

• Item 4 – Renaming Community Learning Center: Councilmembers highlighted Gene Mullin’s contributions as a teacher, mayor, and state assemblymember who championed child care legislation. The resolution was approved unanimously.
• Item 7 – Community Connections Grant: Councilmember Flores requested details on metrics and outreach. Assistant Library Director Adam Elsholtz explained that $60,000 would fund 750 hours of community canvassing by promotoras, a resource desk at the Grand Avenue library, and a private meeting space for community organizations.
• Item 10 – Irish Town Green Bids Rejection: Councilmember Nicolas questioned the timeline for rebidding. Staff confirmed that a new bid in January would allow adequate time to meet CDBG deadlines and likely attract more competitive bids.
• Item 14 – Mental Health Clinician and Community Wellness & Crisis Response Team: Amy Ferguson (Management Fellow), Lt. Adam Plank, and licensed clinician Mika Celli presented the two-year pilot program, a co-response model with police and mental health clinicians embedded to handle 911 calls involving behavioral health, substance use, or homelessness. The clinician, Mika Celli, is a South San Francisco native and a licensed clinical social worker with experience in various treatment settings. The program becomes operational on December 9, 2021. Councilmembers welcomed the program and discussed safety protocols, data sharing with the Gardner Center, and the need for periodic progress reports.
• Item 12 – 480-Unit Development at 124 Airport Boulevard & 100 Produce Avenue: This was a continuation from a previous meeting. Senior Planner Tony Rossi recapped the site constraints and community benefits. The developer (Bradley Karvasic, PS Business Parks, and a representative from Hanover) reported on two action items from the prior meeting:
  1. All-Electric Conversion: After consultation with Peninsula Clean Energy, the project shifted from gas boilers to all-electric heat pumps, making it a 100% electric building (budget-neutral trade-off from LEED certification to GreenPoint Rated).
  2. Union Labor Negotiations: The developer met with the Carpenters Union but could not reach an agreement due to a $15–$20 million cost increase for requiring union carpentry subcontractors. The developer offered to maintain local hire commitments and use union concrete, but the union speakers urged rejection.
  • Councilmember Adiego expressed skepticism about all-electric policies until the grid is fully renewable, while Vice Mayor Nicolas and Mayor Nogales noted Peninsula Clean Energy’s progress toward 24/7 renewable energy.
  • Councilmember Coleman questioned the $15–$20 million differential, implying it reflected underpayment of non-union workers. He and others were frustrated that labor negotiations occurred late in the process.
  • City Attorney Sky Woodruff advised that state housing laws do not compel the council to rezone, but the Attorney General’s office might inquire. He noted the council had expressed a preferred land use scenario for this area.
  • After extensive debate, the council voted 4-1 on each of the three required resolutions (SCEA, zoning map amendment, and project approval), with Councilmember Coleman dissenting.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved as presented (including all pulled items).
• Item 12a – Sustainable Communities Environmental Assessment: Adopted 4-1 (Councilmember Coleman opposed).
• Item 12b – Zoning Map Amendment to Planned Development District: Approved 4-1 (Councilmember Coleman opposed).
• Item 12c – General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan Amendment, Design Review, TDM Plan, and Affordable Housing Agreement: Approved 4-1 (Councilmember Coleman opposed). The 480-unit development with 60 affordable units (15%) and $21.2 million in community benefits (including $14.2 million for affordable housing) was thus approved.
• Item 13 – First Amendment to Consulting Services Agreement with Wilsey Ham: Approved unanimously, increasing the contract by $500,000 to $961,655 for design services for the Harbor Master Spit Project.
• Closed Session: The council convened in closed session to discuss existing litigation, In re: National Prescription Opiate Litigation.