South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting – September 14, 2022

The South San Francisco City Council held a regular hybrid meeting on September 14, 2022, starting at 6:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations, public comments, a consent calendar, public hearings on two major development projects (121 E Grand Ave and 180 El Camino Real), and administrative business. Key actions included approvals of the consent calendar, Teamsters MOUs, AmeriCorps positions, and the CDBG CAPER, along with unanimous approval of both development projects and a 4-0 vote to override the Airport Land Use Commission's determination of inconsistency for the 180 El Camino project.

Proclamations & Recognitions

• September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: The council recognized the month with statistics: 47 children per day (17,293 per year) diagnosed with cancer in the U.S.; cancer is the #1 disease cause of death among children worldwide (100,000 children per year); only 6 drugs approved first-instance for children; over 95% of childhood cancer survivors have a significant health-related issue by age 45. The proclamation was presented to Jesus Pena, whose daughter Juliana died of neuroblastoma.
• September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: The council highlighted the new 988 crisis lifeline and the installation of two yellow benches (at Linden & Pine and Mission Road & Chestnut Ave) in partnership with Star Vista. The proclamation was accepted by Christina Anderson of Star Vista.
• September as National Hispanic Heritage Month: The council presented proclamations to retired police officer Don Ibarra (founder of the Spanish-speaking Citizens Academy) and Maria Barcelata Long (library employee, community volunteer). Councilmember Flores read the proclamation in English and Spanish.
• Certificate of Commendation to Building Maintenance Custodian Joaquin Valdez for his heroic actions on June 2, 2022, when he intentionally blocked a drunk driver on Westborough Boulevard, preventing a potential head-on collision. Valdez stated he would rather have the driver hit his truck than someone in a small car.
• Certificate of Commendation and Life Saving Award to Police Officer Miguel Wong for providing emergency first aid to a stabbing victim on June 11, 2022, on Antoinette Lane. Hospital staff stated that without Officer Wong's actions, the victim would have died.

Consent Calendar

• Item 6: Approved minutes from July 13, July 27, August 1, and August 4, 2022.
• Item 7: Accepted the Local Agency Biennial Notice for 2022.
• Item 8: Accepted completion of West Orange Avenue and Hillside Boulevard Pedestrian Crossing Improvements.
• Item 9: Approved a Reciprocal Agreement with the California Franchise Tax Board for tax data exchange.
• Item 10: Approved $75,018 in Older Americans Act grant funds from San Mateo County Aging & Adult Services Division and budget amendment #23.008.
• Item 11: Approved a License Agreement with San Mateo County Express Lanes JPA for facilities in the City’s right-of-way.
• Item 12: Accepted $105,000 from the Office of Traffic Safety for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) and budget amendment #23.013.
• Item 13: Adopted ordinance adding Chapter 10.74 to prohibit unlawful possession of used catalytic converters.
• Item 14: Accepted a $2,254 grant from San Mateo County’s 4Rs Grants Program for a garden project at Martin Elementary School and budget amendment #23.014.
• Item 15: Approved second amendment to Bridge Preventive Maintenance Program consulting agreement with Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. for up to $112,590, total budget $400,000.
• Item 16: Accepted a $483,000 DTSC Equitable Community Revitalization Grant for environmental remediation at 905 Linden Avenue and budget amendment #23.012.
• Item 17: Approved First Amendment to the Development Agreement with SSF PUC Housing Partners for the former PUC Opportunity Site (pulled for discussion on affordable housing; Bridge Housing confirmed 10% of affordable units will be set aside for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults).
• Item 18: Approved resolution to continue conducting City Council and advisory body meetings remotely due to health and safety concerns.

The consent calendar (items 6-18) was approved unanimously by roll call vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tom Carney (candidate for District 5) briefly introduced himself; the Mayor reminded him that campaigning is not allowed during public comment.
• John McBride and Lucia Lackmott (Oyster Cove Marina tenants) urged the council to enact a just cause eviction ordinance, citing the pending eviction of residents by Kilroy Realty (a $10 billion corporation). They noted that many residents are elderly, veterans, or low-income. Lackmott described the eviction as “gentrification on steroids” and asked for Kilroy to be held responsible.
• Alison Madden (consultant for Oyster Cove tenants) supported the request and noted an upcoming BCDC vote on emergency relocation to Oyster Point Marina. She described the eviction process as unfair and requested direct dialogue with Kilroy.
• Peter Lim (Avalon Drive resident) reported repeated car crashes and flipped vehicles on his street since 2017, despite requests to the Traffic Advisory Committee. He asked for traffic safety improvements.
• Albert Lustre (Nor Cal Carpenters Union Local 217) spoke in support of area labor standards (living wages, apprenticeships, local hire) to ensure new developments benefit the community.
• Pam Heyman (Warm Water Wellness Inc.) requested council support for reopening the Mickelson Warm Water Therapy Pool at Mills Hospital, noting 12 cities and the County of San Mateo have passed resolutions.

Discussion Items

• Teamsters Mid-Management and Confidential MOUs (Items 22 & 22a): Human Resources Director Leah Lockhart presented the successor agreements (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024) covering ~35 employees. Key economic terms: 6% COLA adjustment effective upon council approval, 4% in July 2023; market equity adjustments up to 3% for classifications below the 60th percentile; compaction adjustments for three water quality plant classifications (up to 18%); increased education reimbursement from $2,000 to $5,000; $500 professional development stipend for confidential unit; addition of Juneteenth as a holiday; expanded disability insurance to include paid family leave; binding arbitration for grievances. Total additional cost for FY 2022-23 is $423,000 (budget amendment #23.011). The council approved unanimously.
• AmeriCorps Members for Library Literacy (Items 23 & 23a): Literacy Program Manager Karla Molina Bourdon reported that the California State Library awarded the South San Francisco Public Library two half-time AmeriCorps members for one year to support Project Read and the Gene Mullin Community Learning Center. The city’s matching cost is $2,000 per position. Approved unanimously.
• CDBG CAPER (Item 19): Management Analyst Heather Ruiz presented the Program Year 2021-22 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). The city received approximately $690,000 in CDBG funding, $300,000 in CDBG-CV funding, and $14,000 in HOME funding. Services reached 684 individuals/households. Key accomplishments: housing rehab (23 households), public service grants (emergency shelter, senior services, foster youth, developmental disabilities, youth mentoring, abuse counseling), a breezeway ADA improvement at 356 Grand Ave, and a breezeway safety project between 321-329 Grand Ave. CDBG-CV funds: small business relief loans to 11 businesses (retaining 11 low-income employees), 400 refurbished laptops provided, free internet for one year to 83 residents, and 131 air purifiers distributed. The council approved the CAPER after a public hearing (no public comment) unanimously.
• 121 E Grand Avenue Project (Item 20): The council considered entitlements for a 17-story office/R&D building with community-serving commercial uses, totaling ~940,000 sq ft on a 3.2-acre site across from the Caltrain station. The project required a General Plan Amendment, Zoning Ordinance Amendment, Use Permit, Design Review, TDM Program, Parcel Map, and Mitigated Negative Declaration (State Clearinghouse #2022060734). Key features: 294 ft height, FAR 7.44, 1,300 parking spaces (valet-assisted stacker), TDM with 47.5% mode split, all-electric building targeting LEED Gold, and public plazas. Community benefits: $10 million for transportation improvements (council discretion), $12.9 million upfront CFD funding, $7.25 million for sustainability, and ~$50 million in development impact fees. The project was unanimously recommended by the Planning Commission (7-0). Council discussion included concerns about parking ratios, traffic queue on the US 101 off-ramp, and skyline impact. The applicant (Phase Three Real Estate Partners) presented the design, emphasizing public open space, connectivity to Caltrain, and a welcoming gateway. The council approved all three resolutions (20A, 20B, 20C) unanimously.
• 180 El Camino Real Project (Item 21): The council considered entitlements for a mixed-use development including 183 residential units (15% affordable), three office/R&D buildings (~750,000 sq ft), and associated parking on an 11-acre site. The project required a Use Permit, Design Review, Tentative Parcel Map, TDM Plan, Addendum to the 2009 EIR, and an Overrule of the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) determination of inconsistency for noise policies. Key features: 1.65 parking spaces per 1,000 sq ft, TDM with 40% mode split, LEED Gold target, and a solar array on the parking garage. Community benefits: $2.4 million for off-site median improvements on El Camino Real and a community facility. Development impact fees total ~$45 million. The project is within the noise contour for SFO; the ALUC found it inconsistent, but the council overruled with specific findings. Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval. Council discussion focused on parking adequacy (especially for Safeway, which has ~200 spaces), construction phasing (life science first, then residential), and the ALUC override. The residential building is not all-electric; the applicant noted they are considering all-electric for a future project. The council voted 5-0 to approve the environmental addendum (21A), 4-0-1 (Flores abstained) to override the ALUC decision (21B), and 5-0 to approve the entitlements (21C).

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approvals on all items voted: Consent calendar, Teamsters MOUs, AmeriCorps, CDBG CAPER, 121 E Grand project (all three resolutions), 180 El Camino environmental and entitlement resolutions.
• ALUC Override (21B): Passed 4-0 (one abstention) – Mayor Nagales, Vice Mayor Nicolas, Councilmembers Coleman and Addiego in favor.
• Council directed staff to look into Avalon Drive traffic safety improvements, form an age-friendly city task force (with Vice Mayor Nicolas and Mayor Nagales volunteering), and explore a labor peace policy with a no-strike clause for the Oyster Point hotel development agreement.
• Memorial adjournments were noted for former Colma Mayor Ray Gonzalez, George Wong (father of Francis Wong), Carlos Ramillo, Yolanda Alde, Harvey J. Golumbek, Nandina Bartoli, and Doris Crociani.
• Public comments on Oyster Cove Marina evictions prompted city manager Mike Futrell to note ongoing meetings with Kilroy Realty and case management efforts.
• Councilmember Addiego reported progress at BCDC regarding temporary live-aboard enforcement relief for Oyster Cove residents (vote scheduled for September 15, 2022).