The City Council held a regular hybrid meeting on October 12, 2022, beginning at 6:00 PM. The meeting opened with a moment of silence for public works employee Ben Valdez, who passed away unexpectedly on October 11. The council then proceeded through proclamations, presentations, public comments, consent calendar, administrative business, and a public hearing to adopt major planning documents. The meeting was adjourned in memory of Ben Valdez and several other community members.
Let me do this. Uh colleagues, uh before we get started, um I wanted to share some news of of some sad news um of the sudden passing of one of our public works employee um while working yesterday and that was Mr. Ben Valdez, who joined the city in the August of twenty twenty one, and he was one of our newest uh maintenance workers. Um was born and raised in South San Francisco and was proud to be working for the city he grew up and currently resided in. Uh and talking with several employees of the city that knew Ben well, um they said that Ben had a passion for dancing, collecting vinyl records and history, specifically San Francisco and South San Francisco history, and was involved in the several car clubs. Um I wanted to um say to this family that our hearts go out uh to them and the city will be flying flags at half stance once the funeral arrangements have been made. In addition, we'll be adjourning tonight's meeting in his memory, and I wanted to to say that because I know that there are people watching and members of the public. So I wanted to convey on behalf of the city entire city council and the entire South San Francisco family are um that we uh pray for his family. Um so uh before we get started, I would like to just do a uh a moment of silence for for Ben. Let's go ahead and call to order this regular city council meeting of October twelfth, two thousand twenty-two. Can I get a roll call, please? Councilmember Adiego. Here. Councilmember Coleman. Here. Councilmember Flores. Present. One nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all the time. Oh, I'm sorry, agenda review. No changes, Mr. Thank you. Now we can go to announcements from staff. Yes, Mayor. I would like to invite the public to attend the City Council candidates forum that will be moderated by the League of Women Voters next week on Wednesday, October 19 from six PM to seven thirty PM there at the municipal services building in the Keynesian Council chamber. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Are there any other announcements? I see Mr. Yunjin Kim stepping up. Good evening, Mayor and members of the council, Vice Mayor. I just want to announce the uh October 15th fall cleanup event this Saturday for South San Francisco residents. Please bring your unwanted items, appliances, mattresses, garbage, those type of things, but no hazardous waste and uh no construction debris. If you have any questions, please give us a call at 8778550. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Kim. Anything else, Mr. St. Major? Thank you very much. All right, moving on. Moving on to presentation, Mayor proclamation recognizing October as National Italian American Heritage Month. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I've asked Councilmember Mark Adiego to present this proclamation. Um thank you, Mayor Nigales. I appreciate the opportunity to celebrate my Italian heritage. I must confess I um come from a region of Italy that um is not always in favor of Calabria, the South is um sometimes looked down upon by other Italians. But here I am, a man of Calabaresi descent celebrating the entire Italian heritage. Um I'll begin with, whereas Italian American Heritage Month is celebrated every year in October to honor and recognize the centuries of achievement, achievements, successes, and valuable contributions of Italian immigrants and Italian Americans.