South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting - June 25, 2025

The South San Francisco City Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 6:30 PM in the Library Parks & Recreation Building Council Chambers, 901 Civic Campus Way. Mayor Eddie Flores presided, with Vice Mayor Mark Addiego and Councilmembers James Coleman, Mark Nagales, and Buenaflor Nicolas present. The council approved consent items, held a public hearing on Genentech's acquisition of public streets, and adopted the FY 2025-26 budget, CIP, and related resolutions.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the June 11, 2025 meeting minutes.
• Accepted the Training Tower Maintenance Project (pf1704) as complete.
• Approved a $13,787,957 transfer from the Sewer Capacity Charge Fund (730) to the Sewer Enterprise Fund (710) and Budget Amendment 25.057.
• Approved a three-year, $650,000 consulting services agreement with Daryl D. Jones, Inc. for telecommunications engineering and police IT administration.
• Approved sixth amendments with JobTrain, Inc. (not to exceed $75,835) and Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center (not to exceed $184,165).
• Conditionally committed $2,366,828 from the Commercial Linkage Fee Fund to the Rotary Gardens affordable housing project at 500 and 522 Linden Avenue.
• Approved Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Redwood Public Law, LLP. All consent items passed by roll call with five "yes" votes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Eric Calmer (JobTrain, North San Mateo County Regional Director) thanked the city, citing client success stories.
• Annie Lo (South City resident, South City Coalition Group) questioned the Women of the Year selection process, alleging vote-count and late-nomination discrepancies; requested an explanation.
• Corey David criticized city spending and a possible parcel tax, warning residents would oppose it.
• Asha (Westborough resident) said the Women of the Year decision was a mistake and asked council to tell the truth.
• Lola Castro and Lorraine, speaking as youth activists, asked the council to pass a resolution and sign a letter regarding federal administration actions, and to build coalitions with neighboring cities.
• Cynthia Markopoulos accused the city of disrespecting the Citizens Coalition and questioned process integrity.
• Timothy Russell (Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center Regional Director) thanked the city; noted 51 of 118 North County events were in South San Francisco, and 68% of grants/loans went to SSF residents/businesses.

Council Comments & Reports

• Vice Mayor Addiego and Councilmember Nicolas reported on the BIO International Convention in Boston, with 20+ meetings with European/Asian companies.
• Councilmember Coleman reported on SB 390 advocacy in Sacramento, the San Mateo County Pride Parade, and Dolores Huerta's 95th birthday event.
• Councilmember Nagales reported on Congressman Kevin Mullen's town hall and asked for a letter for the family of Benito Del Rosso Jr.
• Mayor Flores reported sending a League of California Cities letter urging approval of vehicle license fee revenue.

Discussion Items

Genentech Public Hearing (Rights-of-Way, Rezoning, and Master Plan Amendments):

• Staff (Billy Gross, Principal Planner) and Genentech (Sophie Martin, Real Estate Strategy Director) presented the proposal to vacate and sell DNA Way, Cabot Road, and Point San Bruno Boulevard to Genentech for $25,000,000; rezone private parcels into the Genentech Master Plan District; amend the General Plan and Genentech 2020 Master Plan; and find the 2025 Addendum appropriate under CEQA.
• 2024 traffic counts showed about 95% of trips on DNA Way start or end within the campus; approximately 97-98% are Genentech-related, leaving only 70-105 of 3,500 daily trips non-Genentech.
• Purchase price details: $20 million for the 1.34-acre orange section at $14.8 million per acre, based on a city-commissioned land valuation; $5 million for the green, blue, and pink sections at a roadway valuation. Future redevelopment of blue/pink sections would require additional fair-market payments with a $14.8 million-per-acre minimum.
• Public access to Wind Harp Park and Bay Trail would be preserved; emergency vehicle access maintained; no increase in Genentech's approximately 9 million square foot development cap.
• Public comments included strong support from South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce CEO Mary Prem; opposition from Cynthia Markopoulos and Fionola; questions from Annie Lo about public benefits, valuation, access, and environmental review; and a historical concern from Corey David about selling city assets. The city received 40 eComments.
• The council voted unanimously 5-0 to approve resolutions 8A-8E, including the vacation, purchase and sale agreement, zoning map amendment, and master plan/general plan amendments.

FY 2025-26 Conference Center Authority Budget (Item 9):

• Approved unanimously. Conference Center CEO Jim McGuire reported $5,558,813 projected revenue, $3,544,693 expenditures, $423,000 capital request, $125,815 net income, 123 events, over 28,000 attendees, and over 2,300 tracked hotel room nights. Reserve balance exceeds $4.4 million.

FY 2025-26 Operating Budget and Gann Appropriation Limit (Item 11):

• Approved unanimously. Finance Director Karen Chang reported citywide proposed revenues of $277.9 million and expenditures of $302.9 million, a $12 million general fund deficit to be bridged with unassigned fund balance, and a projected $8.7 million deficit after expected state VLF revenue of about $3.3 million. The five-year projection showed $87.3 million in cumulative deficits.

Capital Improvement Program (Item 13):

• Approved unanimously. Total CIP of $233 million, including $24.03 million in new appropriations; 184 active projects (10 new); no general fund contribution.

Oyster Point Marina West Basin Access Improvements Fee Waiver (Item 14):

• Approved unanimously. The city waived approximately $90,606 in permit, plan review, inspection, and encroachment fees for the San Mateo County Harbor District project. Commissioner Bill Zemke spoke in support and noted a current stop work order being resolved.

Items 10 and 12 (Conference Center interim funding and 90-day interim spending authority) were skipped without separate action.

Key Outcomes

• All consent calendar items and items 9, 11, 13, and 14 passed unanimously (5-0).
• The Genentech entitlements package (8A-8E) passed unanimously (5-0), authorizing the $25,000,000 sale and related amendments.
• Staff will return at a future meeting with preliminary options for use of the $25 million payment.
• After the public meeting, the council adjourned to closed session for labor negotiations with employee organizations.