South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting - January 8, 2025

The South San Francisco City Council held a regular meeting on January 8, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included presentations, public comments, discussion on a proposed Business Improvement District, approval of automated license plate recognition cameras, a bridge design contract, and adoption of urgency and permanent ordinances to protect tenants of single-room occupancy (SRO) hotels and mobile home parks from displacement. The council also heard a report on the new police drone program and took a moment of silence for former President Jimmy Carter. All consent calendar items were approved, and several discussion items were voted on.

Presentations

• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula – CEO Jenny Obiaya presented the 2024 report to stakeholders. The organization has grown from serving 150 students in 2022 to a projected 500 students in 2025 in South San Francisco. They outlined plans for a new state-of-the-art K-8 clubhouse and high school center at the Orange Park site, with fundraising underway and a potential groundbreaking in fall 2025.
• HIP Housing Calendar Art – Alan Underwood presented the 2025 HIP Housing calendar and honored Ava Donze, a South San Francisco Unified School District student, for her winning calendar art entry. Ava shared her definition of “home” as “safe, good, and sometimes tasty because of the yummy dinners my parents make.”
• Police Drone Program – Lieutenant Chris Devin and Captain Ken Anderson presented the new public safety drone program. The police department has purchased three Mavic 3T drones, one Matrice 30T, and eight indoor DJI Avatas. Since receiving the drones about 1.5 months ago, they have flown five times. The program includes strict policies prohibiting random surveillance, weaponization, or violation of First Amendment rights.

Consent Calendar

• Items 4–10 were approved unanimously by roll call vote. These included: approval of minutes from December 10 and 11, 2024; a grant agreement for the Safe Routes to School 2025 project ($4,897,000 in grant funding plus $500,000 local match); a resolution updating the OES Form 130; acceptance of a $10,000 Genentech grant for the Lunar New Year Night Market; a second amendment to the Economic Advancement Center lease; acceptance of $2,601.54 for a vote center at the Main Library; and acceptance of a donation of 210 meals for public safety staff.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Cynthia Markopoulis – Commented on the Municipal Services Building (MSB), suggesting it be used for the Boys & Girls Club or for the mayor’s coffee event. She also urged the council not to increase City Manager Sharon Reynolds’ base salary ($350,000), comparing it to Riverside’s city manager salary ($330,319) for a much larger population.
• Denny Hart – Praised the MSB building and urged its use. He also raised concerns about the Engag SSF ticketing system, street cleaning enforcement on Lux/California/Linden, and requested removal of parking meters within the AB 413 no-parking zone at Lyndon and Grant.

Discussion Items

• Item 11 – Proposed Business Improvement District (BID) Study Session – Economic Development Manager Ernesto Lucero, along with consultants Nathan Olsh (Community Strong Strategies) and Kristen Lowell (KLI), presented a study session on forming a property-based improvement district (PBID) for downtown. Outreach included 75 businesses contacted, 352 survey responses from residents, business owners, and property owners. Key priorities: cleanliness, beautification, activation, and wayfinding. Budget options range from $200,000 to $300,000. The proposed boundary may expand to include Linden Avenue and South Airport Boulevard. Next steps: continue outreach, develop a management district plan by fall 2025, property owner petition drive in early 2026, and potential formation by summer 2026 with services starting in 2027. Council members expressed support, emphasizing that the district should preserve South San Francisco’s character.
• Item 12 – Flock Safety ALPR Camera Agreement – Police Chief Scott Campbell reported that the 40-camera ALPR program (12 new, 28 existing) has resulted in 147 arrests from 555 documented incidents since its launch in November 2022. The council approved a two-year agreement not to exceed $241,800 for installation and service. Nine of the 12 new cameras are already installed; three await Caltrans approval.
• Item 13 – Grand Avenue Bridges Project Consulting Agreement – Senior Engineer Lawrence Henriquez presented the award of a $701,254 consulting contract to Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. for preliminary engineering, environmental, and design services. The project is funded by a $592,000 Caltrans grant and $148,000 in local match from infrastructure reserves. The contract also includes a $63,750 contingency. The council approved the resolution.
• Item 14 – SRO Hotel Conversion Ordinances – Management Analyst Pierce Abrahamson introduced urgency and permanent ordinances to create a permit process for SRO hotel closures, conversions, or redevelopments. The city has approximately 223 SRO units, with two hotels currently listed for sale. Eligible tenants (residing ≥30 days in the past 6 months) would receive relocation benefits including a relocation counselor, cash payment for moving costs, six months’ rent, security deposit, and right of first refusal. Maximum estimated relocation cost per tenant is about $27,000. The urgency ordinance was adopted immediately; the permanent ordinance was introduced for second reading on January 22.
• Item 15 – Mobile Home Park Conversion Ordinances – Similar to the SRO ordinance, this item establishes a permit process for the city’s only remaining mobile home park (Treasure Island Mobile Home and RV Park). The park is currently in violation of state law for failing to maintain a valid operating permit. Tenants who rent both space and mobile home receive the same benefits as SRO tenants; tenants who own their mobile home have the option to receive payment for moving costs or the in-place appraisal value. The urgency ordinance was adopted immediately; the permanent ordinance was introduced.
• Item 16 – Mooring Regulations Amendments – Assistant City Manager Rich Lee presented amendments to Chapter 8.78 of the Municipal Code to address abandoned and derelict vessels in Oyster Point and other navigable waters. Video and images showed multiple sunken and anchored vessels. The amendments remove the definition of public nuisance, broaden enforcement authority to code enforcement officers, and add emergency exceptions. The city has executed two on-call salvage contracts and is ready to begin enforcement after the second reading. A $150,000 budget request for removal will be part of the mid-year budget review. The council approved the ordinance.

Key Outcomes

• All consent calendar items (4–10) passed unanimously.
• The Flock Safety ALPR agreement (Item 12) was approved unanimously.
• The Grand Avenue Bridges consulting agreement (Item 13) was approved unanimously.
• The SRO hotel urgency ordinance (Item 14a) and introduction of the permanent ordinance (Item 14b) were approved unanimously.
• The mobile home park urgency ordinance (Item 15a) and introduction of the permanent ordinance (Item 15b) were approved unanimously.
• The mooring regulations amendments (Item 16) were approved unanimously.
• Council adjourned in memory of John Prouty, Robi Huerta, Jessica Carraga, Emelda Santos, Virgilio Arlene Jr., Dani Hernanus, John Rubin, Margaret Burkhart, Gloria Galliotti, Marie Brusella, and Mike Valencia.
• The meeting moved to closed session for anticipated litigation (two potential cases) and a public employee performance evaluation for the City Manager.