South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting – May 14, 2025

The South San Francisco City Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 6:39 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included presentations, public comments, consent calendar items, a public hearing, and administrative business. Key topics included labor contract negotiations, a new park design, fire hazard zone adoption, affordable housing financing, and several construction and grant approvals.

Consent Calendar

• Items 6-17 were approved as a block after pulling Items 7, 12, 13, and 16 for separate discussion.
• Item 7 (Reappointments): Council discussed soliciting applicants for three Housing Authority seats (two incumbents plus one new vacancy). The recruitment will open to all, including incumbents, with encouragement for tenant applicants.
• Item 12 (Downtown Lighting): Approved a $623,860 contract with DC Electric Group for LED lighting upgrades, funded by a $1,263,372 Peninsula Clean Energy grant. The project will cover Spruce Ave to Airport Blvd and include Cypress & Pine Park improvements. Councilmember Flores noted this fulfills a long-standing goal.
• Item 13 (Junipero Serra Buffered Bike Lanes): Approved a $370,295.50 contract with Tri-Valley Contracting for plastic bollards and quick-build safety improvements, expected completion by fall 2025.
• Item 16 (Anti-Displacement Roadmap): Council voted to postpone approval of a $50,120 contract amendment with HR&A Advisors, citing insufficient community outreach to date. Staff was directed to return with a progress report before additional funding is considered.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Union Representatives (AFSCME, Teamsters, Sheet Metal Workers): Multiple speakers (Tom Trayer, Saul Morales, Josue Gonzalez, Tristan Kent, Anders Chippendale, Anthony Walters, Felipe Donaire, Anthony Ballant Vallinger) urged the Council to reach a fair labor agreement with city workers, emphasizing the high cost of living in the Bay Area and the need for livable wages. They expressed support for city staff who maintain public spaces.
• Sunshine Gardens Residents (Antonio Orozco, Christian Murdoch, Davillin Pel Rez): Advocating for a new community park on unused school district land (7.5 acres behind Sunshine Gardens Elementary). They requested Council prioritize the project and convene discussions with the school district, noting over 120 families support the effort.
• Tom Kearney: Criticized the condition of the Bay Trail (weeds, trash, abandoned boats) and downtown blight (alcohol/drug issues). He called for better maintenance and use of city funds. The City Manager clarified that most Bay Trail maintenance is the adjacent property owners’ responsibility, and a downtown business improvement district is being formed.
• Claudia Piñate: Urged that Housing Authority seats be open to community members, noting only one woman currently serves while over 75% of housing residents are women.
• Cynthia Markopoulis: Questioned city data on affordable housing costs and criticized the lack of notification about the meeting.

Discussion Items

• Item 18 – Tobacco Retailer Ordinance (Public Hearing): Second reading and adoption of an ordinance aligning South San Francisco’s tobacco permit rules with San Mateo County, including a ban on flavored tobacco. The County will handle enforcement. Approved unanimously.
• Item 19 – Linden Avenue Park Update: Presented final concept design for a park at Linden and Pine Avenue. Features include a plaza, flex lawn, play area, fitness zone, art columns, and parking. A restroom was highly requested; options discussed: a single-stall permanent restroom (~$750,000), a two-stall (~$1M), or a subscription restroom service (~$72,000/year). Council leaned toward a permanent restroom but asked for more cost details and research on the subscription model. Approved moving to schematic design.
• Item 20 – Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps: Adopted new CalFire maps designating only “moderate” zones in South San Francisco (no high or very high). The ordinance meeting state requirements (AB 211). Discussion included insurance impacts and vegetation management on San Bruno Mountain. Unanimously adopted.
• Item 21 – Affordable Housing Financing Plan (AHFP): Staff presented a biennial plan guiding $37.5 million for production (e.g., 1051 Mission Road, 522 Linden), preservation (anti-displacement), and protection (rental assistance). Council discussed establishing a revolving loan fund, with interest in a future study session. No formal vote; direction given to staff.
• Item 22 – 201 Baden Avenue: Approved two resolutions: (1) authorizing a third amendment to return the 0.3-acre parcel to the city and reimbursing Eden Housing $66,000 for pre-development costs; (2) rescinding a $1 million budget designation and a letter of intent to fund the now-canceled affordable housing project, freeing up $2.4 million in state grants for other projects.
• Item 23 – 1051 Mission Road Affordable Housing: Approved two resolutions: (1) increasing the city’s loan to BRIDGE Housing from $2M to $2.36M to leverage state funds for 158 affordable units; (2) supporting BRIDGE’s Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant application, which could bring $7.5 million for transportation improvements (bike lanes, bus bulb-outs, shuttle service). The project’s total cost is ~$114M; groundbreaking expected summer 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Labor Contract: Council heard strong public support for fair wages but took no formal action; negotiations continue.
• Linden Avenue Park: Concept approved; restroom decision deferred pending cost analysis.
• Fire Hazard Maps: Adopted with moderate zone designation only.
• Affordable Housing: Pipeline advanced with new financing plans for 1051 Mission Road and reallocation of Eden Housing funds.
• Infrastructure: Downtown lighting and bike lane projects awarded; stormwater, library, and other consent items approved.
• Closed Session: Items 24 (anticipated litigation), 25 (City Manager employment), and 26 (Oyster Point property negotiations) were noted but not discussed publicly.