South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting - November 8, 2023

The South San Francisco City Council held its regular meeting on November 8, 2023, at 6:30 PM in the new Library Parks & Recreation Building Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, presentations, a consent calendar, and two administrative business items. The council approved routine items, discussed the Training Tower Maintenance Project, and approved amendments for the Smart Corridor project and the Eden Housing senior affordable housing development at 201 Baden Avenue.

Presentations

• Ruby Bridges Day Proclamation: The council proclaimed November 14, 2023, as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Students from Martin Elementary School read the proclamation.
• Native American Heritage Month Proclamation: Recognized November as Native American Heritage Month. Amanda, a city employee and descendant of the Iroquois Confederacy, accepted the proclamation and spoke about cultural acceptance and the importance of acknowledging indigenous history.
• Small Business Saturday Proclamation: Celebrated Small Business Saturday (November 25, 2023). Carlos Reyes Jr. from Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center accepted the proclamation.
• Medal of Valor Presentation: Sergeant Chris Devan and Officer Matt Zander received the Medal of Valor for rescuing two passengers from a vehicle fire. Officer Zander dragged a semi-conscious victim away and both officers freed a trapped victim despite intense heat and flames.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Frank McCauley, President of the South San Francisco Sister Cities Association, reported on a recent trip to the sister city Kishiwara, Japan, and presented a gift from the mayor of Kishiwara to Mayor Nicolas.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from October 23, 25, and November 1, 2023.
• Adopted resolution amending the City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook.
• Accepted $9,465.62 in DOJ grant funding for soft armor vests for the Police Department (Budget Amendment 24.017).
• Approved Program Guidelines for the Small Business Post-Pandemic Recovery Grant Program.
• Awarded construction contracts for the Training Tower Maintenance Project to Burke Construction ($397,489) and Draeger, Inc. ($507,433) with a 20% contingency, total budget $1,085,906 (Item 9 was pulled for discussion but later approved).
• Awarded a construction contract to Raposo Engineering Inc. for the Karyl Matsumoto Plaza Project ($540,523.10, total budget $621,601.57, Budget Amendment 24.018).
• Awarded an emergency storm drain repair contract to EPS Inc. dba Express Plumbing ($250,000).

Discussion Items

• Item 9 – Training Tower Maintenance Project: Councilmember Addiego questioned why the contract was awarded without competitive bidding. Staff and Fire Chief Magayanes explained that the tower has specialized components and that Burke Construction is the certified installer for Fire Facilities, the original provider. The council discussed the unique nature of the burn tower and confirmed that the facility generates revenue through cellular site leases and training contracts. A motion to approve was made and seconded; approved unanimously.
• Item 12 – Smart Corridor South San Francisco Expansion Project: CCAG representatives presented the project, which installs fiber, cameras, dynamic message signs, and a traffic management center. City staff requested contract amendments: $80,000 for Kimley-Horn, $180,000 for Zoon Engineering, and $500,000 contingency increase for Econolite Systems, all within the existing $8.5 million budget funded by CCAG. Councilmembers questioned Caltrans control of signals during incidents, data privacy (no personal identifiable information collected), and lessons learned from recent Redwood City freeway closures. The project is expected to be completed by May 2024. Approved unanimously.
• Item 13 – Second Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement with Eden Housing for 201 Baden Avenue: Nell Selander, Economic & Community Development Director, explained that Eden Housing was unable to acquire the adjacent KFC/Taco Bell site and will instead build a 68-unit all-affordable senior housing project on the former city-owned parcel. The project targets 30%–50% Area Median Income (AMI). The city will convert the sale to a ground lease, negotiated in good faith as per an errata sheet. Councilmembers highlighted the high cost of affordable housing (total development cost $48 million) and the value of keeping public land in public hands. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar items approved with one motion (unanimous).
• Item 9 (Training Tower Maintenance) approved unanimously after discussion.
• Item 12 (Smart Corridor contract amendments) approved unanimously.
• Item 13 (Eden Housing Second Amendment) approved unanimously, including direction to negotiate a ground lease.
• The council adjourned in memory of Larry Casey Jr. and Andrés Bonia Codal.