South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting - January 10, 2024
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting - January 10, 2024
The South San Francisco City Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at the Library Parks & Recreation Building, Council Chambers, 901 Civic Campus Way. The meeting began at 6:30 PM. Key actions included approval of the consent calendar (with several items pulled for discussion), approval of an emergency rental assistance funding allocation, discussion of the draft Broadband Master Plan, authorization of an anti-displacement roadmap contract, and acquisition of a Below Market Rate (BMR) unit. Public comments focused on the preservation of the Municipal Services Building (MSB) for senior and community use.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of December 13, 2023: Approved.
- Reappointments to the Parking Place Commission and Traffic Safety Commission: Approved.
- CDBG Curb Ramp Replacement Project (FY 2022-23): Accepted construction improvements.
- Dell Marketing L.P. Agreement: Approved a professional services agreement for server hardware procurement and installation, not to exceed $253,394.
- Remnant Parcels Purchase: Approved resolution authorizing the City Manager to purchase six remnant parcels with delinquent taxes (APNs 091022010, 091022020, 091022030, 091025010, 091034080, 015031090) subject to the County of San Mateo Chapter 8 tax sale.
- Police Asset Forfeiture Funds: Approved $61,719.33 for less-lethal launchers and optics.
- Caltrans Climate Adaptation Planning Grant: Approved application for $600,000 (not to exceed $1,000,000) for the SSF Shoreline Protection and Connectivity Project.
- Project Read Grant Renewal: Approved filing for renewal of Community Development Block Grant funds through Daly City.
- San Bruno Community Foundation Grant: Approved acceptance of $6,000 for Project Read's Learning Wheels Family Literacy Program.
- Animal Licensing and Control Ordinance: Adopted on second reading, repealing and replacing Chapter 9.04 of the Municipal Code.
- Sewer Improvements Agreement with Southline Building 1 Owner, LLC: Approved agreement for construction and reimbursement for sewer improvements on Tanforan Avenue (as part of Southline Development Project).
Items 5, 7, and 12 were pulled for discussion but were ultimately approved as part of the consent calendar motion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Wendy Sinclair Smith: Spoke in renewed support of reopening and repurposing the Municipal Services Building (MSB) for senior services and physical activities (e.g., pickleball), noting its historical use as a community hub.
- Charlene Roosville: Longtime resident (45 years) expressed safety concerns about parking for the new Library Parks & Recreation Building, urged consideration of MSB as additional senior space, and mentioned using Project Read there.
- Cynthia Markopoulos: Cited population statistics (60,655 total; 15,074 seniors; 6,434 on east side, 8,640 on west side) and stated that per-senior spending on services was only 44.61 cents per year in 2023, arguing that the MSB must be preserved as a senior multi-use community center.
- Peggy DeRas: Questioned whether a developer (Swinnerton) had taken possession of the MSB. Council clarified Swinnerton is only using office space temporarily until repairs are complete.
- Nanette Cole: Asked the council to "rezone and save the MSB building" for seniors, citing the importance of consistent community space and questioning the need for a new fire station when Station 61 has training space; she suggested extending the existing station into the empty police station.
Discussion Items
- Item 5 - Remnant Parcels Purchase (Discussion): Councilmember Addiego expressed support for purchasing the delinquent parcels along Westborough Boulevard to maintain them, noting they were previously controlled by a private entity and became overgrown.
- Item 7 - Caltrans Climate Adaptation Grant (Discussion): Councilmember Addiego asked about the proposed I-380 to Oyster Point connection, noting past concern about a causeway (bay fill). Staff clarified this is a feasibility study that could double as sea level rise protection for Highway 101 and the water quality control plant. The councilmember stressed the need for private property owners to contribute to future efforts.
- Item 12 - Sewer Improvements Agreement (Discussion): Vice Mayor Flores questioned the $599,000 authorization limit, which is 50% above the $397,000 base agreement. Staff explained the higher limit provides flexibility for unforeseen conditions (underground utilities, railroad area) and noted any spending above $599,000 would require council approval. The resolution gives the City Manager authority to execute amendments up to $599,000.
- Item 11 - Broadband Master Plan (Study Session): Presented by IT Director Tony Barrera and consultant David Brevitz (Intrust). The plan aims to expand city-owned fiber network (currently 4.9 miles fiber, 19.2 miles conduit). Key recommendations: expand backbone, establish a technology enterprise fund, create a smart city steering committee, pursue public-private partnerships (P3), and promote the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) $30/month benefit. Councilmembers noted Westborough's poor internet, the need for competition, and the importance of free public Wi-Fi. No formal action; staff to incorporate feedback and return in February.
- Item 13 - Anti-Displacement Roadmap: Staff recommended HR&A Advisors for a 2-year project to develop a roadmap addressing residential and commercial displacement. The contract amount is not to exceed $387,600 ($200,000 from FY 2023-24 general plan maintenance reserve; $187,600 from FY 2024-25 commercial linkage fees). Council discussed the need for inclusive community engagement, and Councilmember Nicholas requested the community advisory committee charter be reviewed by the full council rather than just the mayor. The resolution was approved unanimously.
- Item 14 - Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP): The council approved a budget amendment appropriating $147,500 from the Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Fund (Fund 241) for FY 2023-24. The program has served 233 households to date (average rental assistance $3,300; maximum $4,500). 80% of clients are BIPOC, with 50% in District 5. The YMCA administers the program, and an increased administration fee (15% to 18%) was approved.
- Item 15 - BMR Unit Acquisition: The council approved purchasing the BMR unit at 2230 Gellert Boulevard, Unit 3105 (listed at $122,234) using commercial linkage fee funds (Fund 823, balance $18.1 million) to prevent loss of the affordable unit. The resale price may be adjusted (e.g., to be affordable to 120% AMI or as rental) with staff to bring recommendations back.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (5-0) by roll call, including items 5, 7, and 12.
- Emergency Rental Assistance Funding: Approved unanimously (5-0), including budget amendment 24.027 for $147,500.
- Anti-Displacement Roadmap Agreement: Approved unanimously (5-0) to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with HR&A Advisors, Inc. for up to $387,600.
- BMR Unit Acquisition: Approved unanimously (5-0) to acquire the unit at 2230 Gellert Blvd, Unit 3105.
- Broadband Master Plan: No action required; staff to revise plan and return in February.
Closed Session
- The council moved to closed session to discuss real property negotiation for properties at 226-230, 232-238, and 240-246 Grand Ave with negotiating party Giffra Enterprises (price and terms). No reportable action was announced.
Meeting Transcript
Monitoring it currently, so we'll continue to do that every so often just to make sure they they sync better. Do we need to reach out to CalCras and District Four? Um a lot of this can be done without their formal approval. So what are we looking at in terms of the timeline? Um we continuously do it. Okay, I got you. Okay. And the level of violence, you know, that that Oakland has experienced and other communities around the cannabis business is becoming a greater concern to me than the last time we spoke about this as a council. And so I'm going to ask that when we have our retreat, which I think is the end of this month, that we revisit that that question. I've actually by going online have seen that there's a good amount of uh violence that's uh surrounds uh these operations, primarily the retail operations. And I don't wish to see anything similar happen in South San Francisco. Um if you go online, you can bump into in November the 13th in Santa Cruz. There was a pre-dawn robbery and a shootout in a vehicle chase. Um in Union City in July, there was an attempted robbery, and the suspects ended up sho shooting the security guard in the in Southern California in November. A security guard was shot and killed during a robbery in Inglewood, the same thing. In Palm Springs, there was a drive-by shooting. The level of violence is is kind of shocking because you know it's not just the suspects that arrive there to do the criminal act, but the people that run those businesses are quite often armed. So you have two sides with weapons. So I think it's something that um I've kind of lost my taste for the idea of retail cannabis, I'll be honest with you. So I was hoping maybe we could revisit that at the retreat before we move further down the road of doing all that research, because I I've lost my um interest in adding that to the dynamic in South San Francisco. And also um today I was noticing um that of course the weather results in nobody using the two parklets that are left. But I think it's maybe something we should talk about. I understand that the parking uh place commission is going to have it on their agenda shortly, trying to make a decision between are we going to charge maybe for those spots? Because we've never collected any money for them, and we do lose a significant amount of revenue over the years' time. Um, or should we just you know move away from having them at all? So I I don't know what they'll going to be doing about that, but I'm hoping that we can uh maybe discuss that at the retreat also. And uh I wanted to thank um again uh councilwoman for your complete obituary report. It was kind of shocking, but this is what seems to happen around the holidays. Um and and I I lost uh two uh very good friends that I wanted to mention Mario Gonzalez just a little bit more because he was a friend for over 40 years when I was first involved in government, Mario Gonzalez and Juan Diaz, who's uh been passed away for some time, uh, came to City Hall, and they were interested in setting up a sister city relationship in Mexico. And Mario Gonzalez uh was also from Jalisco, but from uh the town of Cañatas, which is relatively close to Totonico, and he was the gentleman that first made the overture to see if they would be interested in a sister city relationship. So he very much was you know the initial push to to do that. And and um when some of us couldn't get down there on a regular basis, Mario, because that was you know his his first home, so he was down there on a regular basis, and he would always take a side trip to Atoltenoko to find out what was happening, update the people on changes in our government, and then bring back the information on who was serving as mayor. And so he was kind of like a quasi-unofficial ambassador diplomat for South City, and he really he really enjoyed doing that. Um and I'm gonna miss having him as my my resource for all things Atoltonelco. Um and then uh Joan Francisconi was uh the wife of Ron Francisconi is a long retired um South San Francisco Fire Department um captain, I believe, was his rank, and been retired for over 20 years. And the family moved to Sunshine Gardens in the very beginning, like so many of us when they got married, they moved into Sunshine Gardens in 1962 and and um have resided there all that time. And um they just have one of the um uh nicest homes in the neighborhood. They won an award, the beautification award one year, and they were very proud of uh everything with their family and their home and just a real solid family. So we will miss Joan. And that completes my report. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, and happy new year, felice año nuevo to everyone. Um I I think it's very appropriate that we do recognize our law enforcement uh this week for for everything that has happened. Many of you um, many of us I should say, you know, we're we're at home with our relatives with our loved ones during the holidays, and um our law enforcement, our fire teams are out there really keeping us safe and really responding to the numerous events. I I feel like this past two weeks has been uh really an uptake of a lot of events, and and of course, this council gets reports on every activity that happens in that. And if I could tell you the uh from emergencies that uh are happening right during the holidays to police um criminal activities that are happening also and mental health calls and hotel service calls, hidden runs that are happening. Um and just to share, um I had a first kind of uh front row seat uh Christmas Eve. Uh many of us are with our loved ones celebrating, you know, thinking about what movies we're gonna watch, what uh games we're gonna play in our living rooms or or what what last meal or leftovers we're gonna do. As I was driving back from the East Bay from uh having uh my my family uh Christmas Eve uh with my mom in my car, I I was witness to a hit and run, actually, um a uh an auto versus pedestrian uh a block from my house, right here in Old Town.
openpublica.com