Recording in progress.

Good evening.

I'd like to call to order the regular meeting of the South San Francisco City Council for this Wednesday, September 24th, 2025.

Can I please have roll call?

Councilmember Coleman.

Here.

Council Murnigales.

Here.

Councilmember Nicholas.

Present.

Vice Mayor Diego.

Here.

And Mayor Flores.

Present.

I'd like to welcome up to the podium our Cultural Arts Commission, Lydia Pompozo, to come up to the podium and she will lead us on the pledge of allegiance.

If you are able to do so, please stand and place your right hand over your heart after Ms.

Pomposo's pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, in the visible, with liberty and justice for all.

Please be seated.

Thank you very much.

Next item.

Moving on to agenda review.

Okay, thank you.

Next item.

Does the council have any disclosures for the living act tonight?

Thank you.

Now we're moving on to council thoughts, comments on former.

Thank you, Madam City Clerk.

This has not been agendized by as personal privilege.

I am very honored to introduce this event for public and for us and everyone.

Yesterday evening and this morning, Mayor Pedro Gonzalez memory was uh lifted up in a public rosary uh last night and uh ceremony and this morning um at the funeral and burial services, in which members on this dais were able to join me in celebrating um and commemorating the the legacy um and the great loss that we have had here in our city um and thank you to the dais here for for joining in other elected and community members as well.

Um I also would like to specially welcome uh the Gonzalez family who is here.

Um our hearts, our deepest sympathy and condolences on behalf of this city and all those uh that served and were touched by his legacy.

Uh tonight I wanted to do something special, something memorable, as he was also a close friend and a mentor of mine as well.

Uh, to start this moment of recognition and memorium, I'm going to request that we all please uh take a one minute of silence to honor, to celebrate, to reflect the life, the work, and the passionate love that he had for his community and celebrate the mayor that he was to all of us, Mayor Gonzalez.

Please take a moment of silence.

Thank you.

Mayor Gonzalez uh meant a lot to many of us who knew him, who also served with him in some capacities.

And I'd like to start off this in memoriam, opening it up to my colleagues here on this day, to share their thoughts, to share their memories with the community, and to also be able to share their condolences to the Gonzalez family.

I will start with our mayor, who's our sorry, our council member who is traveling abroad, Councilmember Flor Nicholas, if you would like to start this in memorial tribute.

I met Pedro in the early um early 90s when we were at Osul's church before he was appointed to the council.

And upon the urging of the late Alice Bulis later, my husband and I showed up and spoke at the council meetings to requesting the council members to appoint Pedro to the council and be the first Latino to be part of it.

His son Sil was my children's youth leader for many years at Old Souls.

And later, for his last two reelection bids, I served as the treasurer of this campaign committee.

I am deeply saddened that I'm unable to come in person to condole with the Gonzalez family.

He is really truly an icon in South San Francisco.

Eld Sale Prudencia.

I can't remember the other.

It is truly a great loss for our city.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Councilmember Nicholas.

I'll go here to my right, Councilmember Mark Nogales.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I had a put my thoughts together because of how emotional I was getting, thinking of all the time I was able to spend with Pedro.

Um Pedro is more than a public servant.

He was a beloved friend, a mentor, and a true champion for our city.

Pedro dedicated decades of his life to South San Francisco.

As both mayor and council member, he worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all residents.

His accomplishments are many, from advocating for safer neighborhoods to supporting our schools and small businesses, to ensuring that our community always, always had a voice in a decision shaping its future.

His leadership helped guide South San Francisco through times of growth and change, and his steady hand left a legacy that will endure for generations.

But beyond his many contributions to our great city, Pedro will always remember for his kindness, his humility, and above all his love for his family.

His devotion as a husband, father, and a grandfather was always at the heart of who he was.

And that love radiated into the service to our community.

We honor Pedro, extraordinary service and the dentable mark he left in our city.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his beautiful wife Eldie and his wonderful family.

May his memory continue to inspire all of us to serve with the same dedication, compassion, and love for South San Francisco that he embodied throughout his life.

If I can just share a quick story.

And I just wanted to say thank you, Eldie and everyone for allowing us to share as much time as we can with him.

It's really truly a blessing.

So thank you very much.

Thank you, Councilmember Nogales.

Uh, Councilmember Coleman.

Sure.

Um, you know, I came on council, only in late 2020, so I didn't have the opportunity that my colleagues did to uh receive mentorship from Mayor Pedro Gonzalez.

But when I think about where we are today, Mayor Pedro Gonzalez no doubt had a hand in shaping so many of their services, the businesses and infrastructure that benefits our lives and will continue to impact generations to come.

And this morning when I attended the services, I met um and heard stories from so many people about how he was a uniter uh on the city council serving South San Francisco for for 13 years.

I learned that he was a butcher.

And when you think about uh politicians, you don't oftentimes see a butcher in these positions, but that's the beauty of American politics.

That's the beauty of South San Francisco that no matter where you come from, you can serve on a city council and serve your community very, very effectively.

Um I saw my former PE teacher from South City High.

He drove all the way down from Roanart Park to honor Mayor Pedro's legacy, and he no doubt touched the lives of countless residents in our community.

Um and he paved away as the first Latino to represent our city as well.

And uh he will very he'll very very much be missed, and I extend my deepest condolences to the Gonzalez family.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Coleman, Mr.

Vice Mayor Mark Adiego, who also served with Mayor Pedro Gonzalez.

So thank you, Mayor Flores.

Um so I have some wonderful memories of of Pedro and our time serving together.

I came back to South San Francisco the year I decided to run again for office.

It was 2005, and that would be Pedro's uh second campaign.

Um I didn't really know what I was up against because I had been out of town for a number of years.

And Pedro really did carry the mantle of the gentleman of the council, me a little less so.

But when we were campaigning, I recognized immediately um the energy and the passion, and and you know, I was much younger, but I had trouble keeping up with him.

So that evening, I didn't really know what the community might do on my behalf, but I knew that Pedro was you know a sure winner, uh, not just a winner.

I think when it was all totaled up, because the the election, the election included some state propositions that Governor Schwarzenegger wanted us to vote on.

So the turnout was tremendous.

Pedro received over 10,000 votes, highest ever.

And with district elections, no one will ever receive 10,000 votes again.

Um, and he was so humble about it.

I was more excited about the 10,000 votes for him than he was because he was just that kind of a man.

It didn't, it um it wasn't a big deal for him.

And and then serving with him, I learned a lot um the way he approached things, um, is still very different from myself, and over time I learned the advantages of being a little bit more like Pedro, as much as was humanly possible for myself.

But um, I think that you know, when I when I think of his life and the fact that you know he came here as a young man, and before he was done, he was mayor of his town.

It reminds me of the gentleman that sits to my left.

And those are tremendous um things that only happen in America, and they should be cheered and and and enjoyed.

And we're on a different track now as a country, but really we need to get in touch with what has made America great, and quite frankly, um Pedro is part of what made our little town so great.

I think that um, you know, we talked legacy, we talked politics and whatever, but I learned over the last two days, in kind of reacquainting myself with the family.

Didn't really know the grandchildren until now, and and um uh the daughters are just wonderful human beings.

Um Eldi is the queen of the family very definitely.

Sill, he's a little irreverent, but I love his sense of humor.

Um, that's Pedro's greatest legacy.

That gift that he leaves behind in all of you.

It's tremendous.

I will miss him.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Vice Mayor, Madam City Clerk, our elected city clerk.

Would you like to also share some thoughts?

I would um I again express my deepest condolences to all of you for the loss of a great man.

I have wonderful stories to share about Federal.

Um, in my 24 years here in the city, I met him at various capacities that I served, and I remember he was the person behind me running for school board, and he believed in me.

And he was always a person that encouraged you to go outside of what you thought you couldn't achieve.

And for that, I think he's a wonderful legacy that we will all miss.

He's a great human being.

And my deepest condolences to you all, and I know that his memories will live forever amongst all of us and amongst the community.

Thank you, Madam City Clerk.

Before I open it, uh to staff and other members of the community.

He was a trailblazer, he was a mentor and a beloved public servant who really shaped the soul of South San Francisco.

As some of you may or may not know in the audience, uh Pedro passed away this September 12th at the age of 92.

And while our hearts ache, they are also full, full of admiration for a man who led with conviction, with humility, con mucho, mucho amor.

Pedro Gonzalez was appointed uh to the city council in the year 2000, May 24th.

He was then elected by the people three times in November 2001, 2005, and also in 2009.

But like my colleague said, not just elected, but he was often the top vote getter, a testament to the trust and the respect that he earned from his communidad from every neighborhood from every background in every generation.

He served three times the city and led us as mayor, three.

Uh when violence shook our city in the early uh two thousands.

Pedro didn't hesitate.

He helped launch the neighborhood response team and a police substation in the old town area.

He championed the community coalition on safe neighborhoods, bringing together residents, law enforcement, and city leaders to restore safety and trust in our communidades.

We must take care of our people.

Pedro's stories is one of humble beginnings and and bold leadership, from managing a music store to as it was say uh uh said, serving on the council, but he never forget where he came from, and that's the beauty and the legacy and the inspiration and the lesson that he leaves us all.

He believed deeply in education and in the promise of future generations.

I'll never forget how he also encouraged me to run for school board back in 2017.

He said, You're the one.

And I said, I'm the one for what?

No, you're the one.

And also meeting him at his office, and telling him, No, I'm good.

I don't think I want jack in the box this early.

No, no, I'll I'll treat you to it.

He did it with all of us, and I'm so humbled, deeply deeply humbled because he saw something in me, and not just in me, and so many of us that he took to his office, and he was proud to see young Latinos stepping into leadership, stepping up into roles that prepared us and and were passionate about.

Necessitamos tener una voz, he would say we need to have a voice.

I want to share with the family that as South San Francisco's second Latino mayor, Yo Camino in Susombros.

I walk on his shoulders.

If he wouldn't have done that, I would probably not be sitting at this dais.

Pedro opened doors that many of us now walk through.

He showed us that representation truly matters, and that leadership rooted in love can transform a city.

To his beloved wife, Eldie, to his children and grandchildren, and to all who knew and loved him, Les mandamos todo nuestro amor.

All of our deep, deep love.

His his kids, his grandkids, his great-grandkids as well.

Pedro's legacy lives on in every corner of South San Francisco.

As the announcements went out, I was getting calls and sympathies from former mayors and current electeds and Latinos at first also were elected throughout Redwood City and East Palo Alto during his time as mayor.

In every life he touched, in every call or comment or text message, or even social media post, he was a leader that inspired.

And within that, I had asked staff to put together a nice little tribute video.

But before we move to that, I want to mention what Pedro really stood for, but what he made us feel.

He made people seen, he made people feel heard, he made people feel valued.

It's not a coincidence that him and I both started in the parts and rec commission, and then were appointed the first year, like I was, and then were elected to this office as well.

And for that I say gracias, Pedro.

Thank you for your service.

Thank you for your love.

Thank you for inspiring so many of us, and thank you for showing us what it means to lead con proposito y con amor, with purpose and with love.

Discans en paz, señor Alcalde, rest in peace, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you.

I now would like to open it up if there's any um city staff.

I'll start off with um Madam City Manager Sharon Reynolds.

Thank you, Mayor Flores.

I do have just a little short story to tell about Pedro.

I met him in 1987, when, as you mentioned, he was the first Latino resident that was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Commission, and I was just a young coordinator in the park and recreation department at that time.

But I did have an opportunity to get to know Pedro and Eldi, and then later Prudencia, who was also a Parks and Recreation Commissioner.

And I just would point out that Don Pedro, as most of the community called him, uh, always advocated for the least advantaged members of the community, and he was way ahead of his time in that uh he advocated for keeping fees as affordable as possible and for materials to be in English and Spanish.

And I can tell you that 40 years ago that was not as standard of a practice as it is today.

And also just I want to thank him for the he really encouraged my professional development.

Stick with it, you know, stay with us, which which I really I might not be here today really either, had uh, you know, some of the folks not encouraged me.

Um, and then just one more thing I wanted to mention is that uh I especially remember in 2010, Pedro's leadership along with the rest of the council uh in creating what was called the community coalition for public safety, and this was following some really dark times when there was a shooting in Old Town, and I just would acknowledge uh his role in sort of healing the community at that time.

Um, and I just will always remember that, and certainly my condolences to the family.

Thank you, Madam City Manager.

Anyone else that would like to come up to the podium, please?

Valerie.

Thank you, Mayor Ellie.

Former mayor and council member Pedro Gonzalez, Don Pedro has been a great library and literacy supporter and is sorely missed.

Pedro, along with former mayor, council member, and state assemblyman Gene Mullen, were instrumental in the planning, implementation, and program support for the library's community learning center.

Over the years, Pedro wore many, many hats as part of our library literacy community, as a teacher, presenter, and facilitator in our classes, and as a team member and a volunteer for the annual Project Reader Trivia Challenge, and as a part of many community planning teams for CLC and Project Read programs and events.

He has been with us for many, many years with a warm greeting, a smile on his face, and an offer to help with anything to enrich and educate our community.

For many years, Eldie co-led our weekly English conversation class at Grand Avenue Library, and I think I remember Pedro doing some pop-ins to help and participate in those classes.

We're all so appreciative of knowing Pedro, of having his friendship and service throughout the years and miss him dearly.

And I also thank the family as well for letting us have moments of Pedro's time through so many years, the all the all the years for the most part that I've been with the library, he's just been such a wonderful person to know and to work with.

So thank you.

Thank you, Hallary.

I'd like to, I know there are two members of the community that asked me to speak.

I expressed my deepest condolences to the Gonzalez family.

I had known Pedro Gonzalez and Eldie for over 30 years, having met them right after they became involved in what was at that time called NERT, NERT, which is now CERT program.

This was after the Loma Prieta earthquake.

Subsequently, Pedro served as a South San Francisco City Council member and consequently as mayor during his multiple terms.

I would like the record to reflect that Pedro was a true citizen of our city.

He worked very hard on that.

Pedro was a strong supporter of Hotra, some of you will remember Hotra.

He was the historic old town homeowners and renters association.

Among other things, Pedro organized national night out at the former boys and girls club near Martin School as part of Hotra activity.

And he told me that it was very important that we do that so that this community does not get missed out.

And it's always included.

And I helped him.

And at one stage he said to me, if I'm unable to do this, Sonny, I would like to make sure that you and your friends continue with this.

And we kept that promise.

That was his legacy.

Last but not least, Pedro was a wonderful person who inspired a lot of us, including me in this community.

And we follow his good example of being one cool, calm, collected, never angry, being able to overcome the bad, and continuing in our effort to achieve the best.

May the good Lord rest him in peace.

Thank you, Mr.

Coyle.

Mr.

Cesar Dominguez.

Good evening.

Mr.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council members and staff in my beautiful community.

Well, I say beautiful community because I walk back by side and Grand Avenue and enjoy.

My name is Cesar Dominguez, Orner of Procor Collection South San Francisco.

I've been since 1997 in this area.

I am the ambassador of South San Francisco Chambers of Commerce and the Vice President of South San Francisco Chambers of Commerce.

Well, my condolence, I've been with you, my mayor.

I used to call Don Pedro.

I met Don Pedro in 1998, when I developed my company.

Something that I would like to just run in my memory day by day in the past few weeks.

When I met him the first time that I was in the corner.

In the city council, I was in a conference center in South San Francisco when I was in the corner my first day into the meeter.

And he looked at me, he said, Your name is.

How life it is.

When he came to be a mayor, I put a little C in the his campaign.

And I recall when we did a beautiful campaign for him and the community, that we make it to be the winner, and it made a lot of difference in our community.

The first mayor, Nuestro Latino, and Senor Don Pedro Gonzalez.

Don Pedro para me is unsenor elegante, bueno, bondadoso.

Separia, my papa.

He was just look like my father.

And I told him, and I visited him like a year ago.

And I say, Don Pedro, you just look like my father.

Can I give you hug?

And he said yes, come here.

And he remembered me since that the first day that I walked into his house.

I asked him what's what is my name, Cesar Dominguez, and he recalled everything.

But anyways, my condolence for the family and uh be conduct for you.

Also, I would like to just release uh, I want to be quick.

Um sorry, my phone is a little dying just a moment.

I just want to release this also.

I want to take a moment to congratulate Ambassador Liria and receiving the proclamation of the Filipino American History of the Month on behalf of the Filipino American National Historical Society in San Mateo County.

And also I would like to invite you, my beautiful community.

It's going to be a very interesting for us that we continue to support those small communities and others and the family.

Remember that I supported microcompanies and media companies and large company.

Why I doing this, my son told the community two years ago that I was ready to retire me, and now I am the vice president of South San Francisco Chambers of Commerce.

Most likely that I want to return the floor one day, maybe clean it up and continue to the community.

And thank you so much.

Thank you.

In appreciation and recognition for all his years, 13 years on this city council.

So in his recognition and memory.

He was also a great mentor to him.

In particular, I want to thank staff for putting this tribute together with the assistance of Anjanette Lau and also the assistance of our assistant city manager Rich Lee, who contributed uh to this special tribute to Mayor Gonzalez with a special uh music rendering as well.

So let's all please uh turn our attention to the video screens.

Let's watch this and may his memory live and continue to shine bright here in South San Francisco.

To all of those who had a blessing and continue to be a blessing of Mayor Pedro Gonzalez.

This is to all of you with love from the city of South San Francisco.

Let's play the video.

Thank you again.

Thank you very much.

I'd like to open it up to the family.

You don't have to at all.

If you would like to come into the podium, just want to give you an opportunity, please don't feel obliged to come up.

It is okay not to, but just know that the love, the support of the community of the city, is with all of you.

So thank you again.

So please if you want to.

Okay, thank you very much, Mr.

Mayor, Mr.

Vice Mayor of City Council, and the city of South San Francisco, first mistake is never give the mayor's son the microphone.

My dad, one of his rules was uh if you ever give a public speech, he goes, uh, if you're gonna thank one person, don't thank them all because then you're gonna forget somebody else, and then you're all in trouble.

So um I want to thank the police department and everything you've done for my father.

It's just beautiful.

My mom thanks you, it's just my family, Prue and Sarah.

Um, one little story about my dad, and this kind of uh puts it all together.

He's always a very humble human being.

And I remember when he first became mayor, there was a conference in Monterey or something, and he called me up and he goes, Do you see what kind of hotel they put me up in?

Like, oh dad, you made it, and he was he wasn't happy.

He goes, We don't need to spend this money on a hotel for me.

He goes, I just need to sleep in a room in a bed, and uh yeah, I don't know if he told you that.

And I go, but that was his humbleness, you know, that was his humbleness.

And um, if he were to tell you something, you know, whatever you do, it's not for each individual person, it's for the city.

So you do it for the city.

My dad gave me a calendar once.

He goes, he goes, read this.

And and he he really abided by it.

He goes, leadership, obviously, we know leadership is not a position, it's an action, and that was my father.

He led by example.

But thank you very much.

God bless you.

Thank you very much once again, thank you.

And our deepest love to you and the family.

Thank you very much.

Good evening, Mayor Flores, Vice Mayor Diego and Council members.

Um, I'm very grateful that you've put this together.

It's very touching today's been overwhelming with how the city has honored my father, you know, first with the um with the police escort.

I knew it was happening, but when it happened, I was truly overwhelmed.

And be it was emotional, and um, there are many of you who know him tonight, and you know, some of you kids even um maybe you were young and little, as um my dad either was serving the community in some way, but you know, the young the youth was very close to his heart as well because he was foreseeing what can they do for the community, how can I encourage those to grow up and want to be um significant, make a significant difference in the community, and then that spreads outward, right?

Um I think for me, a memory is when my father served on the council and I was on the parking wreck as a commissioner, and um, we did a lot of things together, you know.

You know, there was a lot of events where I just look forward because it was gonna be dad and I together, and we served um together, and and I'm not here anymore.

I live in a different city now, but you know, he was encouraged me to become a councilwoman.

Um, but because I'm no longer in South City, I'm not able to do that.

But just being here tonight and hearing his legacy and what he did, you know, it's like, what can I do in the city that I live in now?

So, you know, thank you very much for putting tonight together.

I am honored by those, all the words that have been spoken of him, and um what they're truly blessings and something to carry as heart and hearing his voice tonight really touched.

Thank you again.

God bless.

Yes, yes, thank you.

Thank you once again uh for the community and everyone uh coming together um in honoring and paying this tribute uh to Mayor Pedro Gonzalez.

I be uh remiss not to share um his true love.

Two true passions were also like Presidencia said, we're youth.

Uh he and the family have encouraged that any donations uh be made to uh friends of parts and rec, which is the nonprofit that supports our Parks and Rec uh activities and department, and also to the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula, another very important organization that he cared deeply about.

I remember him uh bringing me over when the the the Orange Clubhouse also uh opened up their their teen center, and he was very proud that day uh to bring me over there.

So I want to once again thank everyone in the community for for this moment for this precious moment, and and this is not the end.

We continue to celebrate him in all of our memories and the beautiful pictures that he leaves us with behind.

Great.

Thank you again.

Uh we will proceed, madam city clerk with uh continuation of our council meeting at this time.

Thank you, Mayor.

Moving on to announcements from staff.

Great.

Uh Marie, thank you.

Thank you.

That was very beautiful.

Um I'm Marie Patea.

I work at City Hall, and I have two announcements this evening.

The first is cities' offices will be closed on Monday, October 13th in observance of Indigenous People's Day, with the exception of public safety, water quality, and public works standby, and we were thankful to those crews for keeping us safe.

Second, Caesar already um alluded to this, but on behalf of Mary Prem and our Chamber of Commerce, the community is invited to the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Excellence Awards Gala.

It's taking place on Thursday, October 16th at 4 30 at our conference center, and tickets are available at www.ssf chamber.com.

Hope that you can join us to celebrate our deserving South City businesses and our wonderful people.

Thank you.

Thank you, Marie.

Good evening, Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation.

I'm here with two announcements.

Um the first is to invite community members to join us on October 18th from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

at Orange Park for annual Halloween extravaganza.

Uh this event um features a host of family activities, including two pumpkin patches.

One will be in the pool, which will be really fun.

Um, a trunk or treat games, uh food trucks, uh mobile animal adoptions with the Humane Society and other free activities.

And lastly, next slide, um, please join us for a special community event to preview concepts for the three new public art pieces for the future park at Linden Avenue and Pine Avenue.

Um this event will take place on Saturday, October 4th from 10 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

Um at the project location.

Um community members are invited to come and meet artists, share feedback, and ensure that the artwork reflects the community.

Thank you.

Thank you, Director Mediani.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you once again to the Gonzalez family for joining us this evening.

Thank you once again.

Okay.

Thank you.

Welcome, Director Sumner.

Good evening again, Mayor Eddie, Vice Mayor Adiego, Council Members Coleman, Nigales, and Nicholas.

Excuse me.

I'm Valerie Summer, Library Director, and I'm pleased to update you on library programs in October, celebrating Filipino American History Month.

On Saturday, October 11th at three o'clock in the second floor youth library here in this building.

We have a special Filipino bilingual story time featuring our own council member Flor Nicholas and local authors Lloyd and Alex Bautista.

Then on Tuesday, October 21st at 6 p.m.

Please join us at our monthly book club in the second floor community room to discuss The Sun of Good Fortune by Leslie Tenorio.

Then on Saturday, October 25th at 11 a.m.

at Grant Avenue Library.

Bring your kids and come watch a puppet show and learn how to make your own puppets with Filipino American puppeteer Ramon Abad.

We will also have special displays throughout the month, celebrating Filipino American History Month.

And then our keynote program is on next slide, please.

Is on Saturday, October 25th at 11 a.m.

and another showing at 2 p.m.

here in the council chambers.

We will present two special themes film screenings of the award-winning winning film Song of the Fireflies in Tagalog with English subtitles.

The film tells the inspiring story of a children's choir from a small town in the Philippines from a review.

A tender coming of age story, a tribute to music at Salvation, and a commentary on life under Philippine martial law, all woven through the real life rise of the children's choir in the early 1980s.

So please join us and thank you.

Thank you, Director.

Lots of great events and activities happening uh in the coming weeks.

Appreciate that.

That concludes our announcement.

Next item, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

Moving on to presentations, is item number one.

Certificates honoring the South San Francisco High School baseball coach Matt Chokowitz and softball coach Dana Donenworth on their 2025 season and Daniel Flores athletic director.

And I want to thank all the youth for being patient.

Uh your item is now up.

I've asked my colleague, Councilmember Mark Nagales to do this proclamation and recognition.

And a proud South San Francisco graduate.

Should I also say a Hall of Famer?

I was gonna mention that before.

I don't want to take your thunder.

All right, go for it.

Mr.

Mayor, I am really, really honored uh to recognize our South San Francisco High School baseball and softball programs for their historic and inspiring seasons.

Uh the baseball program has reached new heights over the past two years, setting a school record with 22 wins in 2024, and then breaking that again in 2025 with 23 wins.

The Warriors also captured back-to-back PLL championships in 2024 and 2025.

This year, the team made history once again with its first ever appearance in the CCS finals, showcasing the dedication, talent, and resilience of our student athletes and coaches.

The SOPA program also made us mark with the breakthrough season of its own, earning the program's first CCS playoff game victory, and advancing all the way to his first CCS championship.

So both the softball and the baseball team made it the CCS championships.

The growth and success of this team has been feeling not only by the players and the coaches' hard work, but also the addition of the on campus field, which has provided a true home for the program to flourish.

Together, these accomplishments are a source of pride for the entire South San Francisco community.

Both teams have shown what can be achieved through teamwork, hard work, and a commitment to excellence, and they have inspired future generations of warriors to dream big.

So congratulations once again to the players, coaches, the families, and the supporters of both programs who made history and made your community proud.

As the mayor knows every time we go to South San Francisco, I like to point out the Bob Bryant Hall of Fame because there's a council member who happens to be that Hall of Fame.

So it is my uh great pleasure to recognize uh South San Francisco baseball coach Matt Sokowich, uh South San Francisco softball coach Dana Dunworth and Athletic Director Daniel Flores.

If you can come up to the podium and accept the accommodation, thank you.

So we're gonna introduce your picture of the comment.

Thank you, mayor, and council members.

Um, you know, things like this don't happen without the support of the families and producing great kids, and it's really important that you know they're doing a fantastic job, and supporting the coaches uh is absolutely fantastic.

And it's uh really an honor to be back.

This is my second stint.

Um, I know uh Mayor Flores, you were on the school board when we were going through COVID.

I was the athletic director at the time, and we got through that and and um we really bounced back well, and I'm happy to say that all the kids are doing well and um our participation numbers are up, so um, that was a hard time to deal with, but we all got through it, and and and thank you for your support and recognition.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Thank you again.

Thank you to all of us and the entire team.

Please.

Yeah, I just wanted to also say thank you to the city council for taking the time to recognize the softball program.

Uh, want to thank Athletic Director Flores for always advocating uh for the softball program, the baseball program, and the rest of the athletic programs out South City.

Um, I definitely want to call out uh my two coaches, Coach Scott and Coach Vic.

Um I absolutely could not have done what I do without their help and support.

And all of these ladies, their development both on the field and off the field is very much supported by by both of them.

So a big thank you to them.

And I think all of this recognition really goes to all of the ladies standing at the back.

Um, your commitment to this program uh to being a student athlete, really working hard in class, but then after school on the softball field is the reason why we had so much success this past season playing for each other and that teamwork uh really shown uh this past season and the success on the field was was the result.

Um you've definitely raised the bar for South City softball and put us back on the map.

So I'm excited to see what we can do next.

Um, but this is all your guys' hard work.

So congratulations and uh thank you to the city council for making this recognition possible.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Next item, please.

Congratulations and thank you again.

We're very proud of you here in South San Francisco.

Thank you.

Moving on to item number two is a proclamation celebrating fire prevention week, October 5th through the 11th, 2025.

Thank you.

And I've asked Councilmember Coleman to do this presentation.

All right.

Thank you so much.

It is my honor to recognize Fire Prevention Week in the city of South San Francisco covering the week of October 5th to 11th.

Our city is very committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in our city.

And I'm very much honored to provide this proclamation to represent us from fire department.

And our fire department here in South City is very special.

I believe it's the only fire department in this in San Mateo County that also has paramedics and EMS services.

And a lot of what our fire department does is not just fight fires.

And of course, they do that very well here in South City, but also providing mutual aid services to fighting fires all throughout California and sometimes in neighboring states.

But a lot of their work also includes fire prevention services, right?

Making sure that we don't have these fires in the first place, especially as times are changing, and more and more people are having uh batteries in their homes.

Uh they're now driving electrical vehicles, right?

These batteries can have large battery fires.

Uh, that's not a good thing, and it really is a matter of education and prevention to keeping all of our communities safe.

So it's my honor uh to provide this proclamation to Ian Hardage, our fire marshal here in South San Francisco.

Let's give him a hand.

Mayor, council members, thank you very much for taking the time to recognize Pirate Prevention Week.

It's one of the longest-running uh fire safe or safety um initiatives in the nation.

As batteries become more and more part of our everyday life, they're finding their way deeper and deeper into our homes, and those have the potential of causing damage.

We will be providing information to over 2700 of our elementary students this year and providing presentations to over 900 of those students to better prepare them to identify the hazards of batteries, notify their parents, and be safe.

So thank you for supporting our initiatives.

Thank you for uh giving us uh a moment of recognition and an opportunity to uh present to you.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Thank you to the entire department.

Next item, please.

Item number three is a proclamation recognizing October as domestic violence awareness month.

Thank you.

Tonight we recognize the month of October 2025 as domestic violence awareness month.

It is really a time to honor survivors, to remember those that we've lost and recommit ourselves to ending intimate partner violence in all of its forms.

Uh the numbers are really staggering, and we here on council get reports from our police, from our fire about relationship abuse, about um unfortunate happenings happening between um male and female and other types of relationships.

More than one in three women, one in four men and one, one and two transgender individuals will experience physical or sexual violence or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

These are not just statistics, they represent real people in our community, people who often suffer in silence behind closed doors and without the support that they need.

We also know that certain groups, in particular right now, undocumented individuals, transgender people, and those living with disabilities face even a greater risk and barriers to safety.

That's why the work of organizations like community overcoming relationship abuse based here in San Mateo County, or better known as CORA, is so vital and important.

Last year alone, CORA responded, just hear this, to over 10,000 requests for help through their 24-hour crisis hotline and law enforcement referrals.

They provided over a million dollars in direct financial assistance, covering everything from rent and security deposits to emergency needs like car repairs and storage.

They shelter 121 adults and children and provided long-term housing to support to over a hundred and forty individuals.

And perhaps more most importantly, they offer therapy and legal services to help survivors heal and rebuild.

This is the kind of work that changes lives and that we are proud to recognize here in this city.

And it is the kind of work that reminds us that healing is indeed possible, that safety is a right, not a privilege, and that no one should have to face abuse alone.

As a city, we're very proud to stand with CORA and all those working to end domestic violence.

We thank them for their tireless advocacy, and we recognize that our role is not just to issue proclamations, but to ensure that our policy, that our partnerships and our public awareness efforts reflect this commitment.

And it is in that light.

It's a free event, open to the community.

It will be in English and Spanish.

The workshop will discuss health relationships and CORAS programs and free services.

So let this proclamation be a call to action.

Let's raise our voices, support survivors, let them know that resources exist and that they are not alone.

And let's work together to build a South San Francisco where everyone can live free from fear and full of hope.

Accepting this proclamation, and I like to ask Celeste Mercado, Crisis Support Services Manager with Cora to come up to the podium to accept this proclamation.

Let's give them a warm welcome as well.

Are they here?

Um I want to say thank you on behalf of Cora.

Um we are a nonprofit agency on the Canada San Mateo that offers uh free and confidential services to all of the victims and survivors of domestic violence.

I want to thank the council, specifically the city of South San Francisco.

The city has been such a great partnership with Cora from our law enforcement to some of the businesses here in the South South San Francisco and keeping our survivors safe, especially those who are fleeting an abusive relationship.

Um we have a range of free services from legal to mental health services to prevention, and we are also increasing our access, opening different satellite offices throughout our county, um, from East Pal to the coastside and making our way up here to North County.

So once again, thank you so much for the support.

If you know anybody that needs any type of support in our county, please give them our hotline number.

It's 24 hours seven days a week.

Um please write it down.

It's 1800, 300, 1080.

Again, we are uh 24 hours seven days a week.

Um we are bilingual in English and Spanish, but we also use language line for anybody else that might need the support.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Next agenda item, please.

Item number four is a proclamation recognizing October as Filipino American History Month.

And I've asked uh councilwoman uh uh uh Nicolas to do the presentation.

I will be handing out the certificate, but she will be introducing the item.

Thank you very much, Mayor.

As a Filipino American, I'm very aware and ready to many stories of the Filipino diaspora in America, being in the fourth wave of Filipino immigrants.

I look up to those who came before me and grateful for the experiences and accomplishments they have uh done.

It is my honor to present the proclamation recognizing October as Filipino American History Month.

This year's theme is From Quotas to communities, Filipino American Migration and Movement, which commemorates two pivotal milestones in our shared history.

The 90th anniversary of the 1935 Filipino Repatriation Act and the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Immigration and Naturalization Act.

These two legislative moments mark significant turning points in Filipino migration to the United States, shaping our communities through both exclusionary policies and transformative opportunities that flu fueled our growth, resistance, and community building.

Thank you, Mayor, for for this uh presenting uh this proclamation to our founding member of the Filipino American National Historical Society, or fans, San Mateo County chapter.

Lydia Pomposo is a fans inaugural treasurer and community and commissioner of cultural arts.

Thank you, mayor.

Thank you, Councilmember Nicholas.

May I please have our also who is also our Cultural Arts Commission received.

Let's give her a warm welcome.

Thank you so much.

Good evening.

Mayor Flores, Vice Mayor A Diego, and Council members.

As a descendant of Manongs and Manangs, a title given to early Filipino immigrants, it is my extreme pleasure to receive the Filipino American History Month Proclamation.

I am accepting this on behalf of the latest chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society, F-A-N-H-S, San Mateo County, chapter number 44.

Our organization's goal is to continue educating our community, especially our young Filipino Americans, about the history and rich cultural heritage of Filipinos in the United States and the significance of this year's theme from quotas to communities, Filipino American Migration and Movement, as mentioned by Councilmember Nicolas.

We invite you to get involved with fans and chronicle our stories.

Join us.

For more information, email FANHS.com.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Appreciate that very much.

Next agenda item, please.

Moving on to Council Comments Request.

Excellent.

We will start off with.

Why don't we do again remote?

Councilwoman Nicholas, you want to kick us off?

Sure.

Thank you, Mayor.

I'm currently in Japan with our South San Francisco Sister Cities Committee, headed by Frank McCaulay.

We attended the U.S.

Japan Sister City Summit and visited our Japanese sister city Kishiwa.

During the summit, I have learned a lot about the history of the U.S.

Japan sisters, cities, sister cityhood.

And this year, we are celebrating or the US Japan City Sisterhood is celebrating the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Japan.

Many different cities discussed how their partnership with their sister city has resulted in economic gains for both.

Something that I would like to discuss further with our team when I get back.

I also learned a lot about the Japanese culture and way of life, how they try to minimize the disparity in economic status of their citizens, and how each one in their community look out for each other as they believe in harmony and cooperation to lift each other up.

Some things that I noticed that I don't know how to implement or follow something similar, is that you know, in here, they have a very wide sidewalks, and that's where the bicyclist and pedestrians share.

And they really are very disciplined.

So I think it's a little safer, more safe than what we have, you know, the bicycling bicycle lanes.

There's also one thing that I think if implemented, but I really don't know how to implement this, that they only allow your car purchase if you can show uh an evidence that you have a parking space for it.

That is something also that you know uh maybe hard to implement, but it's really interesting to find out.

It is unfortunate that while I was away, uh, we have gained three angels.

Uh we had honored our former mayor and council member uh Pedro Gonzalez.

And so I would like to I join also in memory of him, this uh council meeting, and two other people.

One is my dear friend Gus Shihadei.

Gus and I bonded over informed consent forms for the clinical trials that he had participated in.

When he found out what my day job is, he asked for advice, and we used to talk for hours about the clinical trial procedures he underwent.

He was always very positive and confined in me.

Some I mean it's life's regrets and lessons learned.

He was very spiritual.

I usually call him on Thursdays before lunch.

Uh but unfortunately I was so busy before I left for Japan that I was unable to talk with him the Thursday before we left.

I will miss my gentle friend immensely.

And another person is Christian Tito, and I think uh the mayor will remember him.

He is a six, he was a 16-year-old former also student who lost his battle with acute myeloid leukemia earlier this year.

Mayor Flores and I attended one of the fundraisers at Osos for Christians' medical expenses.

He passed while undergoing treatments prior to a plan bone marrow transplant.

May all their memories be a blessing to all of us.

Thank you, Mayor.

Arigato Gosimus.

Uh, and it is uh 11 a.m., is that right?

And Thursday.

Yes.

Yes.

Uh it's almost 11 41 right now.

Okay, almost noon.

You're getting ready for lunch.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Uh, Councilmember Coleman.

Yes, thank you.

Um, and I'm just thinking about the times I've been to Japan, which is three times I'm going again this year, uh, because I just love the country so much and the culture, and there's an incredible amount of uh social trust that they have there.

Another thing about the biking is you know, if they have kids who are five, six-year-old and they bike themselves to school.

Because there's it's so safe there, and they rarely lock their bikes because no one's going to steal it.

And here we have to lock your bike and the wheels, right?

Or else, you know, as I've learned in high school, if you lock your bike and you don't lock the wheel, you could lose your wheel.

And so uh we we have a lot to work on here here in the United States, and and also, you know, I would be remiss if I were to mention that the public transit in Japan is incredible, and you don't have to check the schedules of the trains because you know the trains are gonna be there every two or three minutes.

Very efficient, yes.

And we need to do that here, and hopefully uh we can move towards making our public transit systems more robust, more frequent, and not go the other way, which we might if we don't pass a certain ballot measure uh next year.

Uh so on to my items.

Uh, there's a you know, many uh impactful events uh celebrating many lives uh that were lost in South San Francisco that I was able to attend.

Uh of course, you know, Gus Shihada, uh Mayor Pedro Gonzalez, but also Sensei Sue Miller, who had a celebration of life here in this building.

Uh our our city and our community has lost many uh important and impactful people in the past few weeks.

Uh a couple weeks ago, I also had the opportunity to uh host a cafecito with Mayor Eddie uh at Rolling Pin Donuts.

Um and that was a really well attended event.

Uh a lot of community members, I see some of you in the room uh were there as well.

And uh we had a good uh it was a good way to meet residents and talk to them about uh you know ADA accessibility, uh what we can do to make our streets safer, uh and also had a long discussion about tax policy, which was a lot of fun, I bet.

Um and I hope to have many more.

Um I also had the opportunity to attend concert in the park.

Uh and this was a great event where we featured uh Ozamotley, and that brought in so many people from you know, not just here in South City, but all across the Bay Area to uh celebrate a concert in the park.

And I just think about um my childhood and going to Day in the Park, and really uh looking forward every year to that event, and then you know, going in the mornings to the pancake breakfast that I think our firefighters used to host, and then also putting on uh my uniform and like performing karate and on the stage in front of everyone.

So, so this year, just these past two weeks I really thought about my childhood and and how much you know these events mean to the people of South San Francisco, and I'm really looking forward to next year because what's gonna happen next year, we're gonna finish the new pools, and that field's gonna be open up again where we can potentially expand concert in the park and continue to uh enlarge that event for for many to enjoy.

And that's all I have for today.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Coleman.

Councilmember Nagales.

Uh thank you.

Um, yes, Constantine Park was fantastic.

Uh, special thanks to all the staff that helped organize that.

It was I got there at 8 30 to set up my tent.

There's ready people out there before me.

Um, but staff was there even earlier, uh, making sure that everything was all set up.

So thank you, uh, Greg Miotti and everyone, uh, Sharon and everyone out there who was just um who made that event such a great event.

And I agree with Councillor McColman.

When we move it uh to the new kind of the old site, I guess, original site, um, it's gonna be great to see kind of the new pool plus all these people in one area.

Um, I wanted to thank um staff, um, because I got a great email uh from a Westboro resident at um I want to look at Greg Miyati and his team for all the improvements that they've done in Sellett Park.

Um that's a park I'm kind of taking under now, uh, in terms of improvements, and um they were just so impressed with just the current improvements that we've done.

And there was actually they're asking about a um fixing the swing and the change, and actually staff was ready ahead of the game that had already ordered all the supplies, and the individual was so impressed to hear that.

Uh so I just wanted to make sure I give special thanks to to Greg and the Parker Rec team for doing that.

Uh, and kind of also spun to a conversation that I think uh we uh we need to have at some point, and that's kind of the parks master plan in terms of what we can do to improve our parks uh throughout South San Francisco.

I know we have some priorities building some new parks, um, but after we we finish those, I would like for us to have a broader conversation what we can do to improve other parks throughout South San Francisco.

Um our last meeting, um we we actually got to introduce our new finance director, Drew Corbett, and um I didn't get the chance to recognize him, but I got to have uh coffee with him.

And if you have the opportunity to do so, please speak with Drew.

He is a wealth of resource, and he was a former city manager or the city of San Mateo, and I think he's just a great addition to our city.

So I wanted to mention that.

And then I um I also joined my colleagues in remembering Gus Shahade.

Uh Gus was a friend uh to many and a champion for our community, and through his deep involvement with the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, uh Gus worked tirelessly to strengthen our local business community and to create opportunities for others to thrive.

His leadership and advocacy helped shape the economic vitality of our city, and alongside his family, Gus operated several businesses here in South San Francisco that became more than just a place of commerce, but really kind of a gathering space for friendship.

And um, and you know, when I would go to a more as eat a meal there, there was Gus, you know, kind of like welcome everyone.

And so may uh may the Shahada family um know um how deeply Gus was admiring in love and that his contributions, Cersei, will never be forgotten.

And then secondly, um I want to take this opportunity to recognize and honor the life of Mike Zuber, who is the brother in law of our city manager, Sharon Reynolds.

Mike recently passed away, and there will be a celebration of his life in October.

Sharon, on behalf of the entire city council, please accept our heartfelt condoles to you and your entire family.

That's all I had, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Um, Mr.

Vice Mayor.

Well, Mayor Flores, I wanted to start by um thanking you for creating this special moment for the Gonzalez family in a big way.

This is um it reminds me of that poignant moment at the end of the Oscars where they do the in memorium, and you realize how many special people that we've lost, and that's what this is really for me, going back so many years and remembering these people as young people, uh, remembering uh the Shahada family.

Um the three boys arrived after the father set up the business uh from Ramallah from the West Bank, and he was pretty prophetic because he after the 67 war with Israel, he didn't think things were going to get better.

And so he got his family out and they excelled.

And that's I mentioned earlier Pedro Gonzalez came as a young man to Los Angeles, made his way to San Francisco, and before he was done, he was a well-respected mayor of his community, a fresh immigrant, as Gus Shahada was, and and uh uh really a pillar in the business community, and we need to celebrate that in a much more direct and and um uh more aggressive way because of all that's happening in our country.

We really forget that we all come from someplace else.

And there are um there are a couple of other gentlemen that passed away towards the end of August.

I did miss an August meeting, but I wanted to mention them, even if they have been mentioned because uh they're important families that go way back.

So uh Richard Altizio um was a member of this community for all of his adult married life, lived over in Southwood, and uh his wife was Jean Altizio, who was very involved in the women's club a little later in life, but with schools, ran for the school board at one point.

And um uh Rich was um was you know such a supportive husband, it was really wonderful to see the roles be reversed.

And the husband uh was uh doing what uh traditionally wives do for their husbands.

Uh, he was a great man.

And he made it to 93 years.

Um Art Tiscano, who was not in the community quite as long, but he was a uh according to uh Chief uh Campbell, he was a 10-year member of our police force way back, Art Tiscano.

Uh his son is still with us in the police department.

And um, it was an interesting time because um our chief of police, Sal Rosano, um, exited South San Francisco.

That didn't happen too very often.

Um they usually retire here.

We'll see what happens.

Um, and Sal Rosano uh went to a larger city in Sonoma County in Santa Rosa, and art and I think there were others that followed him up there.

So um it's just um uh it is a wonderful town, and it's great that we took the time to really reflect and remember the people that have touched us.

So, Mayor Flores, thank you for this.

Thank you, thank you, Vice Mayor.

Thank you to my colleagues.

Um, I know that your sympathies and your presence was uh deeply missed, Councilwoman, uh, at these funeral services as well, but I know that your heart and sympathies are with those families, but thank you to my colleagues here on my right and left for also uh showing up and and letting folks know that we're not just here in front of Adaya's behind mics, but we're also uh mourning uh the laws of our community um with our community and with the families as well.

Um the Shahari family is very important.

Both two two of the members of that family serve as commissioners uh within our city's commission.

I last saw Gus at a at a gala event that Councilmember Coleman and I were invited to, and he always would come up to me after um any public speaking opportunity, and he would say, You need to be on radio.

You need to be you need to have a podcast.

So um here's to one day honoring his his memory and and truly um his smile, the way he greeted you, always made you feel um uh just included.

So to the Shahada family, our deepest sympathies and condolences as well.

Um on a lighter note though, I wanted to really recognize everyone that helped put together the concert and the part.

I think we're only getting better and bigger.

Um, I don't want to say we're gonna get even bigger and bigger, but maybe who knows.

But I can't tell you how many uh folks uh stopped me the day of of the event on Saturday, but also um we're attracting individuals and families and community from outside of San Francisco too.

And we're getting emails and we're getting recognition of of all the cultural events that we're celebrating here in South San Francisco, and I absolutely do not take the credit.

I want to thank uh our city manager for leading the charge, our director Midiadi for leading a very large department that really cares about deeply about making this a fun and safe event.

Um I want to thank each member of our public safety teams, police, fire, as well as all the volunteers.

Um it was a sea of green shirts that that said event staff, and they were all smiling and they were all help helpful, um, whether it was uh giving directions or or wayfinding or whatnot, or or even including all of our vendors.

So I want to recognize that that event takes a lot of work.

I know it does.

I've planned events at that level myself, so I want to recognize and thank you all for your leadership, for your kindness for for making South San Francisco what it is.

Um I also um got a chance to uh past uh weekend um really celebrate the heritage celebrations right now that are happening throughout the city.

It was an interesting uh uh weekend for me because many things, oh, you guys just work on Wednesday nights.

No, for me it was Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

And I'll tell you a little bit about them.

On Friday, I attended not this Friday, but the one before, the sixth anniversary of the uh Cantonese Heritage Association that they had their dinner.

It was a very grandiose dinner.

Over 800 individuals here at a restaurant in South San Francisco, members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the Council uh General, um, and many other elected officials were able to be there.

But when folks come up and say, Thank you, South San Francisco for always welcoming and being an inclusive city.

That means a lot, and I don't take that lightly, especially in these days.

Uh the next day we celebrated uh Fiestas Patrias right here in South San Francisco with El Grito, uh, the celebration of uh Mexican independence and central American independence with our friends and colleagues at Morelos Hall.

That was another genuine, very uh warm celebration for Cloric dancing and music and food, and I was honored to be able to celebrate and joined by uh president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, David Canapa, as well.

And then Sunday, once again, I I did double duty, believe it or not.

Um in the morning we were here celebrating our Italian heritage at Festa Italiana, and uh that was another wonderfully put on event uh by the Italian citizens uh association here in South San Francisco.

We had gelato, we had pizza, we had focaccia, we had everything and then some.

We had uh music and celebration, um, a really really testament that we're not just about one culture, but we're all about inclusivity and diversity and celebrating our immigrants that didn't just come yesterday, but came many decades ago as well.

So it was fun partaking with our Italian neighbors and family members.

And then that afternoon, I was invited over to Redwood City to I think one of the if not the largest uh uh Fiestas Patrias event um in their town square uh with the entire council.

I think um the mayor and the council members there for inviting me over.

It was a great event.

Again, I think it was thousands of individuals packing uh downtown Redwood City, celebrating um Hispanic Heritage Month, and I was able to give a few words and um offer a certificate on behalf of the city council as well.

These are events that are important in our community, outside of our community, celebrating and welcoming visitors.

I also got an important tour, uh, the Head Start facility, which is Izzy, which is based on the Baden grounds here at the old Baden High School.

It was important to be able to tour that facility with our city staff, our parts and rec director and assistant director, and really showcase the collaboration that really exists within the South San Francisco Unified School District, this site, which is a very important head start.

Believe it or not, they start as early as two years old.

No longer is it four or five, right?

Or TK or PK.

This is a very important site, and I'm very proud that we're able to connect, have partnerships with them.

Uh the majority of uh the families there are immigrant families, our subsidized care, and it's important that we continue to support them and have relationships with them.

I was really excited that through our economic and development department, we were able to host what's happening east of 101, which is our speaker series uh that was started in idea uh brainchild of our our city manager Sharon Reynolds.

Uh, this one was held at Genentech, and we were able to partake and showcase what was really fun is to be able to see a lot of our community uh travel out to Genentech, and it was fun getting to know the science and understanding what's happening, um, the trials, um, how it important it is for diversity and to have a diverse pool um within uh clinical trials and how uh clinical trials get involved and how people can get involved.

That series, that speaking speaker series, continues here at our library in Parks at Rec.

So definitely uh attend if you are able to uh at all means.

Um, and yes, uh to finalize, thank you, Councilmember Coleman, for joining.

It was over 50 individuals that joined us on Saturday morning about a week and a half ago at Royal Penn Donuts here.

Um I started these cafecitos, which are coffee with the mayor, because one, I wanted to build community and create community.

It wasn't about me giving a speech to you all.

No, I'm tired of doing that.

It was about just building community, and I continue to see these cafecitos where an individual comes over and says, Hey, you live close by.

Let's exchange.

And I see the exchange of of contact information happening.

That's community building.

That's when I that's that forced.

That's authentic.

Um, that's relationships that are built.

And also being able to break bread and and coffee early morning and here, and I'm with my list and and thank you to the staff who helped me, putting down all of the comments, the questions, the concerns, and immediately I come back on Monday morning and Sharon knows, and we we sit and we go through it with all the department heads, uh, to make sure that that gets addressed.

So when you talk to me, it doesn't just go one uh in one ear and out the other.

We actually take action on what we're working on and your concerns, and we follow up, and I want to make sure that that continues as well.

So thank you to the city staff for for moving that forward.

Um, it was, I will tell you, it was an unusual week here in South City, right?

I I did not want to get another text message or another announcement of another passing of our community members.

Um it's heavy when one alone happens and when two or three or you have heard the list of um adjournments that we will do tonight, it's heavy on our city.

But we are a resilient city.

We are an inclusive city, we are a city that takes care of each other uh through witnessing through the events that we have had, and I'm proud to continue uh to lead alongside this this amazing council and leadership uh this this beautiful city.

And with that, let's move on to the next agenda item, please.

Thank you, Mayor.

Moving on to public comments, we have a few tonight.

I'm going to separate the individuals that signed up to speak under public comment.

There are some individuals that signed up to speak under consent calendar, and they will come immediately after.

We'll start with Michael Harris.

And just uh for the record, can you repeat um uh madam city clerk that the item 18, if you are speaking on item 18, that has been postponed or recessed to another meeting?

Correct, Mayor.

There are no speakers for item 18.

Confirming that, okay.

Before we we start, I want to make a statement.

Uh the city acknowledges that members of the public have the right to be heard, but the city also wants to emphasize that we have a zero tolerance policy for discriminatory and harassing conduct.

The city denounces any hate speech that may be vocalized during public comments, and speakers making public comments are not expressing the views of the city.

Thank you.

Michael Harris, and then after Michael Harris, we're gonna do Marjorie Reese Ialgo and then Sam Takuti.

Good evening.

After Pedro retired, Pedro and Ellie attended their health permitting.

Mel Adiago also attended his health permitting.

Tom Carney chaired the CPTF.

Police Sergeant Sean Kermy was assigned.

Police Lieutenant Matthew O'Connor was also assigned.

Keromatsumoto was the implementing force in this.

I attended this for several years.

My futile abolished it to the end of many of the citizens here.

The last few meetings, Pedro and Ellen could not attend it.

His health was too bad.

Please fix my family's house.

The city dropped a light bulb on it August 20th, 09.

The house is virtually unlivable.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Buenas noches.

I know I know most of you.

I am proud and honored to say I knew most of you already and your senior staff, and that we have been working closely.

But thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself officially for the record.

So my name is Marjorie Ruizidal.

I am your PGE local government affairs representative for the 21 jurisdictions on the peninsula.

So as you already know, this means that I am your day-to-day single point of contact.

Hi Sharon.

So I have been on the job for five months, but I've been in South San Francisco a lot longer.

I am a resident.

Well, I am officially no longer a resident here because my husband dragged me somewhere else, but my mom is here, so this is still my hometown.

Now thankfully, I do not serve you all by myself.

I am a part of a whole PG<unk>E team based out of the San Carlos Service Center, and this includes gas and electric crews, emergency response service planning, vegetation management, and those responsible for the customer experience.

City council, senior staff.

As you know, you have a standing offer at any time.

I hope you find me accessible.

I hope you find me informative and straightforward.

I hope to continue collaborating with South San Francisco and really set the standard of what it can look like when a city and a utility company can collaborate and come together on issues.

I am here.

Please take me up on my offer.

Vice Mayor A Diego, I hope to get to know you a little bit more.

I will leave a contact card for you, but most of you already know how to reach me directly.

Also, we have wonderful council chambers here.

I'm just saying for the rest of the peninsula.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Sam.

Okay.

Mayor Flores.

Members of South San Francisco City Council and fellow citizens.

My name is Sam Kitkuti.

On January 1st of 2025, AB 413 went into effect throughout the state of California.

This bill mandates that there is no parking less than 20 feet from the approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

Yet virtually every day that I turn left or right from Buxton Avenue, where I live onto Longford Avenue, invariably my line of sight is blocked by vehicles parking too close to the corner on Longford Avenue.

It is evident that AB 14413 is not being enforced.

About four years ago, I requested the city paint the corners of the intersection red with letters with the lettering, no parking, SSFPD.

Some corners, like for example, the corners at the intersection of Lamitas Avenue and Questa Drive are painted, whereas others are not.

The individual I spoke to at the time told me that it would be far too expensive for the city to do this as it would require a great deal of paint.

That is strange.

As I have seen in the last few months, um the size of many roads painted green for bicycle riders.

I have also seen combs up and down, June Percera.

I assume also for bike riders.

Apparently, South San Francisco has money for their pet projects, but none for others.

I have no desire to get anyone in trouble, but if the state passed law banning parking 20 feet from the corner should be adhered to, I personally do not want to play Russian roulette simply turning left or right from my street because my line of vision is blocked by vehicles illegally parked.

Perhaps the corners being painted red will deter people from parking too close to the corner.

Since I am a careful driver, I hopefully will never have an accident at the aforementioned intersection, but of non-adherence, because of non-adherence to the law by others.

However, if I should, you can be assured that I will sue the city of South San Francisco, not only for their lack of enforcement of the law, but also for their disregard of my request to have the corners painted red to alleviate this possible problem.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Rob Rob Seeley, and then we're going to follow with Mary Dowden and Annie.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council Members, City Staff.

So I'm Rob Seely.

I'm your community and government affairs representative for Calwater here in the Bay Area.

I came tonight to discuss uh 18, but uh that got pushed.

So I just wanted to come down and remind you guys that we are here to have open discussion.

I want to encourage you to reach out to us to have more of that discussion.

I think at the end of the day, we all want the same thing, which is the best opportunities, the best quality of living for the residents here, and that's always a fine balance and a difficult one to strike, particularly as so many different entities and people face financial hardship and crisis in the state as affordability keeps going up.

So we look forward to continuing that conversation with you and encourage you all to reach out to me.

Um I will be reaching out and look forward to having more of those conversations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

My name is Mary Dowden, and I am a volunteer with South San Francisco Education Foundation.

And I'm here tonight to share a little bit about our organization and invite all to participate in our readathon and community book fair fundraiser.

The education foundation was formed about three years ago by a group of parent volunteers to support uh to support the school district, the um San Francisco Unified School District, with special focus on the schools and students with the highest needs.

We align with the district's portrait of a graduate and strategic plan in our fundraising priorities.

We were awarded mayor the mayor's award last year by Mayor Coleman, so thank you.

One of our areas of focus is literacy.

Reading proficiency is tied to long-term success.

Having more books at the home, reading as a family, and seeing our trusted adults reading their own books, helps kids read at or above grade level.

In the month of October, we invite all community leaders and community members to participate in our readathon by setting a personal reading goal for, for example, to read a number of books or a certain number of pages or um or minutes.

Share that goal with your family and community and invite them to pledge to the read-a-thon in support.

Funds donated to the readathon will be split 50-50 with the school sites of the San Francisco Unified School District.

Sites, school sites will use their funds for wellness programs like school wide assemblies and social emotional learning.

We at the San Francisco Ed Foundation will use our funds for foundation programs.

To kick off the readathon donation drive, we are partnering with the South San Francisco Public Library and we to hold community wide scholastic book fair.

The book fair will run from October 2nd to October 5th in the second floor community room of the library.

We thank the city and library leaders for their partnership and hope all will stop by.

We will have information on our social media and on our website the next few days about how to make a readathon donation.

You can find us at SSF ed foundation.org or at SSF Ed Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.

And thank you very much for your time, your service, your support of building a stronger community connection and investing in our future success.

Thank you.

Annie, and then we'll have Tianola.

Good evening.

In the weekly mayors updates from April 19 to May 17, 2024, there was an announcement promoting the Cultural Activities Grant, whose application due date was May 24, 2024, which stated we are pleased to announce a cultural activities grant program to support community organizations and artists who wish to offer free or low cost events and activities that will expose the community of South San Francisco to cultural and recreational activities and programming.

I've trained in many types of dances, including ballot jazz, ballroom, Latin, folk, and ethnic dances from around the world.

A few years ago, I started learning contemporary line dances from prominent line dance choreographers in the U.S.

and around the world, with music ranging from current pop hits to ballroom, Latin, funky, hip hop, and country music.

Due to the varieties of music being used, contemporary line dances attract people of all ages and physical capabilities with different preferences of music.

I was hoping to receive this grant to help me rent various venues around the city, such as this library building, Terra Bay, to do demos of dances using various types of music at a different level, such as beginners intermediate advanced to our fellow residents and asked for their feedback on whether to set up my classes to by types of music or by types of levels of difficulty so that I would be able to tailor classes based on the majority's preference.

I spoke with staff Carrie Jones extensively before I submitted my application on May 24, 2024.

Carrie told me on May 23rd that the applications will be reviewed in June.

Notifications should go by August, if not sooner.

Instructions will be provided for next steps as appropriate.

I waited but did not hear from Carrie again.

So I followed up with her in August of 2024, and she responded on August 28th that we are still awaiting guidance from the city attorney's office before we move forward with awarding grants.

We hope to have guidance in the next couple of weeks to present options to the Cultural Arts Commission at the next meeting on September 24th.

I was really surprised that a grant that has been announced to the public had not been fully vetted and approved, and needed the city attorney to intervene during the commission review process.

I didn't hear back from Carrie, so I follow up on October 25th and again on November 8th.

And as of today, which is 10 months later, I have not heard from her nor seen any public communications, including who were the recipients of this grant on any of the mayor's updates on the city's website.

This grant just disappeared into thin air as if it never happened.

And the city's website on this grant has been taken down.

On June 26 of this year, I submitted two public records requests, one for the finance department and one for the Parks and Rec's office to provide specific information on this cultural activities grant program for fiscal year 2023 to 24.

I have not heard anything, and I hope someone will respond to me as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Enacted in 1938, is a United States law requiring individuals or entities acting as agents for foreign nations to register with the United States Department of Justice.

How many of you have registered with the foreign agents registration act?

Since this city has long been surrendered to a foreign nation, violations of this act can result in criminal and civil penalties, including imprisonment.

Have any of you registered with the Department of Justice as agents of that state?

And very interestingly, when the community asks for public records with regards to financial undertakings in this city, we are told to go pound sand.

Yet tonight I notice item six, six A.

You want to revamp your public records process.

What you need to do is reinstate the public records process and make sure you keep the record as you should and not delete it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mary.

Moving on to Emily Lake, and she is speaking on item number seven in the consent calendar.

And while they make their way to this podium, we did receive nine public comments through our e commons portal, eight were anonymous, and one from Andy D.

Go ahead.

Okay.

Hi, Council.

Um, my note page messed up.

Oh, okay.

Sorry.

I'm not used to going up here.

Um I just wanted to start with uh a quick land acknowledgement for the Ramatouchalone who were the original residents of this land.

Um, and also thank you, Mayor, for acknowledging undocumented people and the transgender community.

Um, so I heard uh through the grapevine from my friend Kim and also my neighbor that there was a chance that the Dundee Park was not going to get um uh all the funding that it needed.

Um, so I am born and raised in South City, resident of the West Winston Manor community.

Um, when I was growing up, I never really played at Dundee Park, even though I can see it from my house.

Um we always would go to Clay Park because Clay Park was bigger and badder and had more uh funner things on it.

Sorry, not good English, but just um uh so I'm just really putting in a plug to uh extend the budget for the park.

We need a basketball court that does not slant, and that is levels so people can play basketball.

Um we need a place to sit.

Uh my grandmother who uh is also or she was uh also a resident of West Winston Manor, one of the um original uh people who bought a house there in the 1950s, so my family goes way back to West Winston Manor.

Um she always tells me, oh, the reason why Dundee Park has one little bench is because she complained about it.

I don't know if that's really true or not, but um, go grandma.

Um, so uh, sorry.

Where was I?

Oh yeah.

So about 10 years ago when Kim first moved into the neighborhood, I had just moved back in after leaving for San Francisco for a little bit.

Um we started going to the park with our kids, and we were like realizing how disheveled it was and rusty and old.

And um, so we started attending the annual West Winston Manor Association meetings where we met Jacob and Greg, who are here, and um started asking them when can we get our park redone?

Um I think 10 years ago they said that we were like 11th on the list.

Um, and a couple years ago they finally told us, hey, we got money for your park.

And um that we had all the meetings, they came up with the uh the design, which is really great.

We really love it, and we're very excited about it.

Um, but we really need um just uh more tables and uh and a good basketball court because the park is a place of community.

It's where we meet, it's where we gather with our neighbors.

Um, yeah, so it's not just for West Winston Manor, it's for the city.

So do it for the city.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We have uh community members Daryl Yip and Melanie Olson and both speaking on consent calendar item number 10.

Hello, City Council.

Uh Daryl Yep.

Speaking as myself, um I'm speaking on the one-on-one Produce Avenue Interchange Project uh item 10.

Praise and caution.

First, the praise.

Um I'm pleased with the proposed bikeways.

I love seeing new bikeways and bike crossings across the dangerous intersections and ramps, including uh removing the dangerous slip lanes, which are really important.

And then second, the caution.

Um, this project was originally scoped to construct a new overpass and to widen the ramps.

Um, and a few years ago I had commented on this um that that would perpetuate car dependency by adding capacity and adding traffic and making it hard to harder to take other modes.

Um, so fortunately I I don't see uh the overpassing the ramps in the city's uh capital improvement program anymore, but uh just wanted to warn you that it's still in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's uh transportation improvement program, um, which is the funding plan for the region.

Um is that an oversight and should the overpass and ramps be removed from the funding plan, or does the city actually intend to continue to advance um the overpass and widening the ramps?

Uh that portion of the project would cost a few hundred million dollars, and um which is the same cost as implementing the entire um bicycle plan active South City.

So I urge you to remove it from the MTC's funding plan.

And I just want to thank you and staff for listening to all of our comments and incorporating our feedback through this process.

Thank you.

Hello, Mayor Flores, Vice Mayor and Council members.

Um, my name's Melanie Olson.

I'm a lifelong resident.

I want to echo what Daryl just said and provide my support for the South Airport Boulevard and Airport Boulevard bike extension that was shown in the consent agenda.

However, I'm confused at the title of the Utah Avenue overcrossing project.

That was also indicated in that item, since I did not see these plans in the agenda, I wasn't here a couple years ago.

So it would be good to learn more about that if that's still a part of the plans.

So I would like to state that I oppose the Utah Avenue overpass expansion and ask the city council to please let us know the status of the Utah Avenue portion of this project.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Moving on to individuals that spoke and would like to speak on item number 15, and we'll start with Vincent Chandler, followed by Ryan Siebers.

So just to clarification, this is a public hearing item 15.

We do have your consideration.

Annie has signed up to speak on item number six, which is consent calendar.

Okay.

Let's do consent.

So right now, we'll come back to item 15.

Or coming back.

Yes.

Apologies for that.

Would you like to have Annie speak on item number 16?

Yes.

Okay.

Sorry, item number six.

Annie.

During the last council meeting, I talked about the public records, about you know, when we speak at the council meetings, I was really surprised that my the only thing that was recorded in the minutes was just my name, period.

I spoke multiple times at multiple meetings, and the only thing that was ever recorded was Annie.

Nothing else.

Nothing on the topic, nothing not even a brief, you know, description of what was being discussed.

I really have an issue with that because I have done a lot of meetings, global, international, a lot of people around the world, and I have never seen minutes where you only use the name of the person and does it.

Not even a short, you know, description of what was being discussed.

So I'm very concerned about public records, keeping public records properly and accurately, adequately for our city.

Because if all of us who speak here, all we can see is our name.

How are you gonna remember what was being brought up to the council?

Public comments are very important.

They are what the public wants to share with all of you, council members, and the public.

And those are our thoughts, our opinions, and what matter most to us, and that's why we make the effort to come here.

So I approach our city clerk about this topic, and I know she said, Oh, well, you can submit e-comment and all of that.

But you know, e-comment, okay, it's not even captured in the minutes, and but they do have an advantage, at least they are available, but you have to search for it.

But the meeting minutes are the really the official records of the meeting, not e-comment, not what is uploaded on the website, and because there are times when those records, electronic records, are not available.

And we we had, you know, I had a few people who told me they were looking for specific records, and the electronic copy is no longer available, is crushed.

So you cannot just count on that.

The meeting minutes is the most important document that illustrates what happened during this meeting.

So I strongly oppose any changes.

In fact, our public records, our public comments were more properly documented prior to September of 2020.

I looked back at our history.

All the minutes prior to September 2020, they were very good.

It's only after that, I think that was a change.

I was told that it was approved by the council.

So I asked the council to carefully look at this matter very seriously, because this is important to us.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

That concludes our comments for public comments and consent calendar.

We will now move on to consent calendar.

Please do.

Item number five is a motion to approve the minutes from the meeting of September 10, 2025.

Item number six is a report regarding a resolution authorizing and approving a records management policy for the citywide records management program and amending the city, the city's records retention schedule.

Item 6A is a resolution.

Item number seven is a report regarding a resolution approving an agreement with Ross Recreation Equipment Incorporated of Santa Rosa, California for the purchase construction and installation of park amenities for the Dundee Park Remodel PK 2402 in an amount not to exceed $692,393, and approving budget amendment number 26.021.

Item 7A is a resolution.022.

Item 8A is a resolution.

Item 9 is a report regarding a resolution authorizing the acceptance of $2,698.56 in funding from San Mateo County Registration and Elections Division to support an 11-day vote center at the main library, library parks and recreation center for the November 4th, 2025 statewide special election and amending the library's department fiscal year 2025 26 operating budget via budget amendment number 26.023.

Item 9A is a resolution.

Item 10 is a report regarding an application for the San Mateo County Transportation Authority Highway Program Grant for up to nine million dollars for the construction phase of the US 101 Produce Avenue Off Ramp Improvements Project TR 1404.

Item 10A is a resolution.

Item 11 is a report regarding a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a uniform services agreement with Cintas to provide uniform services for the public works maintenance, parks and facilities, and water quality control plant divisions in a form approved by the city attorney.

Item 11A is the resolution.

Item 12 is a report regarding a resolution authorizing the fire department to participate in Calwaters water conservation rebate program accepting funding in the amount of 127,722.31 cents to purchase a pump pod direct recirculating apparatus, fire fighting training sustainability unit, approving budget amendment number 26.024 to the fire department's fiscal year 2025-26 operating budget in an amount not to exceed 127,722.31 cents and authorizing the city manager to execute the purchase agreement on behalf of the city of South San Francisco with pump pod in the amount not to exceed 127,722.31 cents.

Item 12A is a resolution.

Item 13 is a report regarding a resolution approving amendment number one to the city's wage and salary schedule for fiscal year 2025-26 to establish the salary range for the new classification of crisis response clinician one slash two item 13A is a resolution.

Item 14 is a report regarding a resolution approving an amended and restated lease with the boys and girls club of the peninsula for the Orange Avenue Clubhouse located at 201 West Orange Avenue.

Item 14A is a resolution.

Thank you.

Are there any items that members would like to pull from consent?

I would like to pull number seven and number 10.

Okay.

Anyone else?

Number 11.

We'd love to councilwoman Nicholas, anything?

No.

Okay.

And I'd like to pull item 14.

Um, so let's start off with item seven.

All right, great.

Uh so there's a public comment.

Um, does the park have enough funding with what would be authorized under item number seven currently?

Yes.

So we we are requesting under item seven an additional three hundred thousand dollars as a budget amendment, and that is sufficient to complete the project as designed in your package.

All right, great, thank you.

And just uh some remarks about that park.

I know that this is a very active community, they have a very active uh homeowners association.

And uh, you know, last year when I spent a lot of time knocking doors and talking to members of the community.

Uh there are a lot of growing families there, a lot of young um toddlers uh who would really benefit from that park.

Uh, that park is is aging, and uh for those of you who haven't been to Dundee Park, they have a basketball court, but it's slanted, which doesn't really work well for basketball and slanted towards the street, so the basketball kind of bounces towards the street, which is not safe, and so this is not just you know a issue of um, you know, giving uh West Winston Manor the park that they deserve, which is a high quality park, it's also an issue of safety, and I hope that I can um count my colleagues to approve uh this park.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, um, next item is item 10.

Councilmember Coleman.

Okay, sorry.

Uh so again, just kind of responding to a public comment that we had.

Does approving this grant application require that we move forward with the Utah Overpath Project?

Or does it just have to do with the bike improvements?

Yeah, this uh grant is specifically targeting the San Mateo Produce Airport Boulevard intersection only.

Uh we've decided to peel it away from the Utah Avenue overcrossing project simply because the intersection is gonna be more constructible, uh, and it's gonna advance much further ahead than the overcrossing project itself.

So we don't want to delay that portion, which is that intersection, so we've decided to make it independent from the overcrossing project.

Great.

That's all the questions I have.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, uh seven, ten.

Now we're moving to item eleven, vice mayor.

And well, welcome Ms.

Green.

Good evening.

Good.

How are you?

Um, in your staff report, um, you mentioned that um each division prior to this manages its own agreements, which has resulted in inconsistent service and administrative inefficiency.

So that sounds pretty serious, but can you kind of expound on that?

Tell me what exactly has been the problem.

It's mostly been um interruptions of our service from our current company that we're contracted with.

Um we've been getting inconsistent service from that company.

Um, lack of shortages of our deliveries for our uniforms.

Um, some of our uniforms have been um received damaged.

Um consistent communication with the company.

Um so each of the we currently, we currently have just one supplier, we do all the departments.

So that's not the change.

Correct, it's just a change in who it is.

Exactly.

Okay, um and beyond the two, there are there are some others.

I mean, is this was this competitive in any way, or did we just land on the one we wanted?

We reached out to three different companies, one in that is included as the current contractor that we're with right now.

Um, so we reached out to who we wanted, and we got received demos from each of them, and based on what we were looking for, what staff was looking for in management, um, the selected uh contractor, which is CentOS, best met up with what we were looking for as far as service.

So, like the last company, previous company, also based in South San Francisco.

Uh yes, they are located uh locally, yes.

Okay, thank you, Ms.

Garrett.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And uh just for the record, I'm pulling um item number 14.

Um, I am recusing myself from item 14 out of an abundance of caution because I serve on the on the board of directors of the boys and girls club of the Peninsula.

I do not um and I will not be voting on that item, so I will pull it as a second uh item.

Um I do not get compensated for my role, but this is out of an abundance of caution to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

Having said that, can I have a motion to approve the consent uh agenda?

I would move approval of items five through thirteen.

Can I have a second?

I'll second.

I have a first and a second.

Can I have roll call, please?

Councilmember Coleman?

Yes.

Councilmember Nicholas?

Hi.

Vice Mayor Diego?

Yes.

Mayor Flores?

Yes.

Councilmember Nogales.

Yes.

Thank you.

Now can I have a motion to approve item 14?

So moved.

Second.

First and a second.

Can I have roll call, please?

Councilmember Nogales?

Yes.

Councilmember Coleman?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Adiego?

Yes.

And Councilmember Nicholas.

Aye.

Thank you.

And the record will reflect that you abstain, Mayor Flores.

Great.

Thank you.

Those motion move forward.

Next agenda item.

Item number 15 is a public hearing report regarding an ordinance making minor revisions to the South San Francisco Municipal Code, section 20.110.

Civic districts related to building height, a resolution making findings and approving a variance and design review for the redevelopment of the boys and girls club facility at 201 West Orange Avenue in the Parks and Recreation Zoning District in accordance with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code and a resolution making a determination under the California Environmental Quality Act that the project is categorically exempt as an infill development project.

Thank you.

For items 15, 15A, 15B, and 15C.

I will also be uh recusing myself out of an abundance of caution because I serve on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula and will not be voting on that item.

I will be stepping away from the dais, and I will be turning the gavel over to our Vice Mayor Adiego, who will lead in that item.

Staff, if you could please uh call me back when we're ready to proceed.

Thank you, Vice Mayor.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

So we'll go ahead and um open the staff uh the public hearing for this staff report.

Great.

Thank you very much.

Uh Vice Mayor, Council Members, and uh Mayor Flores, even though he's recusing himself.

Um, I'm Adina Friedman, Chief Planner, and I'm uh very happy to be presenting this project tonight.

I am actually going to turn the presentation over to the applicant and have them do a brief presentation.

They'll do a really good job of explaining the project, and then I'll give a brief staff report at the end and go over the um regulatory and sequo framework as well as staff's recommendations.

So with that, I'd like to introduce the boys and girls club of the peninsula team who's here tonight.

Um good evening, Vice Mayor, City Council members.

My name is Jenny Obiya, and I have the privilege of serving as the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula's CEO, and I'm thrilled to share more about our South San Francisco Clubhouse project today.

Um, for those of you unfamiliar with BGCP, although I think I was here last year sharing a bit of a presentation about who we are and what we do.

Our work is all about creating equitable opportunities for students and families here in our community.

You can see our impact footprint.

We serve 6700 students from East Palo Alto up to Daly City, including South San Francisco across 30 different sites.

Most of our sites are actually integrated into schools, but we have four clubhouses, and as you can see, the clubhouse in South San Francisco is the only one in this mid and northern part of our county.

Zooming in specifically on our service in South San Francisco.

You can see that this year we're on track to serve 520 active members.

These are students that come to us consistently.

This is a bit about a bit of what we do.

All of our programs are totally free to students and families.

We have after school, full day summer camps.

We provide warm, nutritious meals, academic support, mental health services, enriching extracurriculars like competitive sports leagues and career pathways programs.

We decided that there is an urgent need for us to rebuild this clubhouse for two main reasons.

One, building capacity.

We can also only serve K-8 students.

There is no ability to serve high school students right now.

In addition to the fact that the building, anyone who's been there, it's really, really old.

The facilities are in bad shape, and we're not able to run the programs that our students truly deserve out of the existing facility.

So our vision is to create a world-class community hub for students and families of South San Francisco.

And I know some of my teammates will uh talk more about the specifics of the project, but I do want to share that there's tremendous support uh for this uh rebuild.

Individuals in our BGCP community, private individuals, have committed 27.3 million dollars to make this a reality for our community, so they're very enthusiastic to make this possible.

These are all private dollars.

I want to note that programs will run during construction.

Um we are happy to be partnering with the city on a lease and have moved into the old library on 840 West Orange Ave, where we are currently um serving our students, and we will serve them through the duration of the construction project because we know how important that is.

Good evening, council.

My name is Deke Hunter.

I'm a private developer in the Bay Area for over 45 years and a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club.

And after getting involved with this project so much, I'm now a board member of the Boys and Girls Club.

I got involved with this a little over a year ago, year and a half ago, after the merger took place, as they were looking at their programming and ways to try and sustain the building that's well over 55, 60 years that's out there.

And that's when we came up with the redevelopment of what we call buildings one and two.

Buildings one and three, excuse me, building two being the gymnasium, which will remain.

The boys and girls club, as Jenny pointed out, have gone out to the community.

We've raised over 27 million dollars to rebuild this at no cost to the community.

This will allow our programs to double, both at the K through eighth and also at the high school level.

This project's a complicated project because we're wedged up against the BART cone of influence, we're up against the PGE line.

At the same time, um, the city has been very accommodating and working with us.

My role, and I'll turn it over to the project architect, is your project developer.

So whether you have community outreach questions, if you have any questions about any of the utility companies, about the project, the development, the timing, the cost, anything.

I'm your point person.

So if you reach out to me, I will gladly pull our team together and answer any questions you may have.

So with that, I'm gonna uh Michelle Nay from DevCon Construction come up and walk you through a few of the specifics, and I think Fortnite, given your agenda, um, it might be easier if we just answer your questions, but I'll leave you with one last one last thought.

It's an incredibly uh moving presentation with what the uh your community has gone through.

Somebody made a contrast of town versus city for someone who works all throughout the Bay Area for the size and the sophistication.

You guys still run this like a town, it feels like a town.

People are so welcoming.

Everybody we reached with, worked with from community outreach to your staff.

You have something really incredible going on, and I commend you.

And it's only fitting that tonight we're talking about the Boys and Girls Club and the next hundred years and its participation in the development and the continuing of all the positive things in South San Francisco.

And with that, Michelle.

Vice Mayor, Council members, I'm Michelle Nay, architect for the project.

I'm gonna briefly describe what's happening here.

Uh the top uh plan view is a site plan of the current conditions.

As Deke mentioned, we are we've got some site constraints with the BART tunnel and an existing 25-foot-wide PGE easement.

It's a public parking lot that people use to access the centennial trail as well as the Orange Memorial Park, just north of the image.

The lower site plan is what we're proposing to build.

As Deke was mentioning, the gym in the middle is remaining as is.

Building one, which is closest to Orange Avenue on the right hand side, is going to become a two-story building.

And the same thing with the left-hand side that's building three.

That's going to be a new teen center, also a two-story facility.

The top view here is the first floor of all three buildings together.

On the right hand side is going to be K through four.

The purple rooms are all of the classrooms.

And right above that, there's a cafeteria that's also going to become a multi-purpose room for the students.

And just outside of that, there's going to be a fenced-in outdoor play area for the kids.

It could be outdoor eating, it's a nice little amenity for the students.

On the left hand side, there's a main entry for the teen center.

The two purple rooms are the classrooms, the green areas, faculty and staff leadership rooms.

There's a large area for co-mingling, and then we'll get to the second floor.

I'll stay on the left side just to give you an idea.

There's two existing, or I'm sorry, there's two new classrooms in the new facility.

There's also going to be access to an existing classroom in building two.

So that's also in purple.

And just above that, there's a cool technology room and a sound studio.

So this is going to be a cool little spot for the kids to play their music, make some CDs or whatever they do, podcasting, whatever.

So that's going to be a fun new place to be.

On the other side, it's grades five through eight will be serviced here.

And it's much the same as the first floor outside of the culinary kitchen.

So the exterior materials, we're going with a very warm and rich, high quality materials.

And we'll end with more of a beauty shot from the other side of the building.

Excuse me, you may have not seen yet.

This is the teen center on this side.

The gym is in the middle.

We're showing that with a new exterior paint job.

Uh, and then the front of the building is on the other side.

This is a view from the front.

This is the K through eight facility, uh recessed main entry, entrance variety, and uh, I think it's a unique addition to the neighborhood.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you to the Boys and Girls Club applicant team, and now I will give a brief staff presentation.

So if we could have the great.

Okay, so um obviously the applicant team gave an overview of the project.

Um, in the interest of time, I'll give a brief presentation highlighting the entitlements request.

Oops, sorry, it's not, it's going the wrong direction.

Oh no.

Okay, there we go.

Um, the request for the oh, now it's moving again.

Okay, I'm just gonna keep keep going.

The request for the redevelopment of the boys and girls club clubhouse of 201 West Orange Avenue includes a variance for the rear setback to go from 10 feet to five feet, a minor zoning text amendment to allow additional height for mechanical equipment in the civic districts, design review, and a CEQA determination.

When reviewing this project, staff determined that the project is can is as proposed, is consistent with the general plan parks and recreation designation as well as general plan policy to provide facilities, services, and programming for all residents, including children in the community.

The zoning district is also the parks and recreation district, and the boys and girls club is consistent with the uses that are permitted in the parks and recreation district.

I should note that the current uses will remain the same following the expansion and redevelopment project, just on a larger scale and serving a larger range of age range of children.

As Deek and Michelle mentioned, there are many site constraints in this on this site, including the PGE easement and the BART zone of influence influence, so a minor variance would be required to build as proposed, to have a five foot setback rather than a 10-foot setback.

As well, minor zoning text amendment is I'm sorry, the PowerPoint is jumping all over the place.

Um a minor zoning text amendment is also being proposed to allow for a modest increase to mechanical screening for equipment.

Um the design review board reviewed this project at their meeting in March of this year and recommended approval.

The Boys and Girls Club also held a neighborhood meeting in May of this year, which uh was attended by members of the community as well as community members who attend the boys and girls club now.

Um the community members supported the project and had questions about the interim conditions, which the applicant team discussed tonight.

They will be meeting at the at the um West Orange Library.

And then in August of this year, uh this uh item was heard at the planning commission.

The planning commission unanimously uh recommended the approval of the project, and there was strong community support at that meeting.

The project is subject to a CEQA evaluation.

The applicant has submitted a checklist that shows that the project qualifies for a CEQA categorical exemption in fill, and no um additional documentation is needed.

Staff supports approval of the boys and girls club redevelopment.

The project would modernize and improve a heavily used community facility, expand a resource to better serve South San Francisco children and families, improve pedestrian access and overall site accessibility, and the project supports general plan goals and policies.

With that, staff's recommendation is that the city council follow the planning commission's recommendation, make a CEQA determination that the project qualifies for a categorical exemption, and approve the entitlements request, including a zoning ordinance amendment, design review, and a variance.

With that, I am going to conclude the staff report, and I'm happy to answer any questions about this project.

Okay, thank you, Ms.

Freeban.

Would the council like to hear public comments first?

Or let's see if we have any public comments on this.

We do, Vice Mayor Andigo.

We have Vincent Chandler.

Now I'm on point.

Good evening, Vice Mayor, Council members, and community.

My name is Vincent Chandler, and I serve as a coordinator of expanded learning and after school care for the South San Francisco Unified School District.

I'm here tonight to express my strong support and humbly request yours for the new Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula building at Orange Park.

Before my current role, I was a classroom teacher for nearly 20 years, teaching high school and college students in blended programs, and it was a stellar, amazing 20 years.

My goal was always the same to create spaces where young people felt seen, valued, and empowered to become architects of their own happy, successful and fulfilling lives.

But of course, it was not always easy.

As we all too well know, it is not an easy thing to be in this world.

But when students are given moments of belonging, encouragement, and opportunity, those moments outweigh hardship, adversity, and despair.

Resilience becomes a superpower, and darkness does not last, especially if there is a place with people who can help guide their way.

And that place is our own Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula at Orange Park.

I have spent hours visiting and observing their programs in our community, and I literally need to take a walk away from the groups of students and their staff to hide my tears through an immense smile.

You see, the staff consistently meet every student where they are, challenge them, play alongside them, and help them become bigger, better, and stronger versions of themselves.

Simply put, the caliber and style of their program design and delivery and their team are unparalleled.

So we are lucky.

South San Francisco was fortunate to have the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula at Orange Park, and what they need now is more space to serve more students, more families, and strengthen more partnerships across our community.

This new building will not just be an expansion of floor space, it will be an expansion of opportunity, equity, and hope for our young people.

For these reasons, I respectfully and sincerely ask for your support to make this project a reality.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chandler.

Thank you for joining us and sharing your observations.

Moving on to Ryan Sievers.

Good evening to our council and to our community.

So my name is Ryan Sievers.

I'm the director of student and family services for South San Francisco Unified School District.

Echoing the comments of my colleague who is just up here.

So I'm here to express our wholehearted support for the Boys and Girls Club and their plans to expand services for our youth.

We have a very long-standing partnership that has been built on a significant shared commitment, and that is ensuring every child in South San Francisco has access to academic support, social, emotional resources, and safe and welcoming spaces to grow.

So the Boys and Girls Club has been a trusted and valued ally in helping our district to address both academic achievement and whole child well-being.

And they've created safe spaces where students can learn, connect, receive guidance, and not just as learners, but as developing youth and our future adults.

These programs are a lifeline for many families, providing enrichment, membership, mentorship, excuse me, and a sense of belonging, especially for students who might otherwise go without this valuable support.

So as of now, uh, their capacity currently can't meet the demand.

Kindergarten through eighth grade programs have wait lists, and that simply means that students who want these opportunities can't access them.

So the expansion would not only open the doors for every deserving kindergarten through eighth grade student, but also extend these critical supports to our high school students.

And that is a group that faces increasing academic pressures and mental health challenges.

So this project is an investment in our city's future in the students who will one day be our workforce, our leaders, and our neighbors.

So we respectfully encourage your support so that this project can continue.

And we thank you for giving us this opportunity.

And we express our wholehearted support.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Seavers.

Moving on to Mark Cox and then Max Schemkel.

Good evening, Council.

Thank you for letting me present.

My name is Mark Cox.

I'm a resident of South City.

I live at 130 Knoll Circle.

But I'm also the uh pastor of Good News Chapel, which is the church that sits uh right behind the Boys and Girls Club.

Um, we are, as a church, we're honored to be neighbors with the Boys and Girls Club, and this whole project has helped I think build an even stronger relationship with us.

So we're excited.

Um I feel like much of our goals uh intersect and overlap into in terms of serving the families of South City, especially the West Orange neighborhood where we're located.

Um we've seen the plans, we've had a chance to look at them.

Um, and we have and we want to encourage that the that you would approve the variances that are there.

Currently, if you looked on the map, there's a there's a zero setback.

In 1961, they built that building right on the property line.

So we're getting five feet of setback, so we're quite happy with that.

Um, and the height and height will be fine as well with the again, it's just adding more space to really serve the families, and that's where our heart is at as well.

Um, we feel that the developers and the organization have been very responsive, uh addressing our issues about you know that backyard court area we have, we have children playing back there, and we use that area.

But I feel I feel we've been heard uh that they'll be careful with uh debris and cleanup and and the overall disruption that that will happen during that time, and so um I just I come to give our full support of the project as well.

Thank you, Pastor Copp.

And after Max, we'll have it Moises Villeva and Lena.

Good evening.

Um Vice Mayor uh Diego, uh Councilmember Coleman and uh Councilmember Nogales as well as Councilman Nicholas.

My name is Max Shumpkel, and I'm a business representative for IBEW Local 617, the San Mattel County Electricians.

Tonight I'm here on behalf of more than 100 of my union membership that are South San Francisco residents, as well as several hundred additional residents who belong to the affiliates of the San Mattel County Building Trades Council.

We are proud working class families in many parts of the country.

Our wages would place us squarely in the middle class with enough left over to enjoy a modest level of security.

But here on the peninsula, the cost of raising a family makes even a good paying union job a daily struggle.

That's why projects like the Boys and Girls Club matter so deeply.

For me, this project is personal.

I was a troubled youth.

And in my own boys' club and girls' club in San Mateo, I played I played and I was raised there, and I made life-changing um decisions during that time.

It gave me guidance, community, and a safe place to grow.

Because of that experience, I stand here today, not only as a union leader, but also as a father, a homeowner, a faith and community leader.

I know firsthand what a difference this resource can make, and that's why I'm dedicated to give back support and stand as the advocate to the communities and the programs that gave me a second chance.

As a society, we are judged by how we invest in the next generation.

Whether we provide safe, enriching places where young people can learn, dream, and become well-rounded adults and prepare for life's challenges.

The project before you tonight represents the commitment for South San Francisco.

On behalf of the IBW Local 617 and the San Mateo County Building Trades, I urge you to support following staff recommendations to follow the planning commission recommendations to one make the sequel determination that this project qualifies for categorical exemption, and two approve the entitlement request, including a zoning ordinance, amendment, design review and variants.

Together we can help build not just the facility, but a future for the young people of the city.

Thank you for my time and for your consideration.

Max, thank you for stepping up and chairing.

Good evening, Vice Mayor and the Council, and uh fellow residents.

My name is Moisés Villera.

I am a field representative of Corporate's Union Local 217, representing representing approximately 1,500 uh members of local 217 that reside throughout Samateo County, also representing approximately 36,000 plus members throughout Northern California.

We proudly say we build it.

When I'm here today before you to express strong support for the proposed uh development project that uh reflects the best of what this city stands for, responsible growth, union labor, and meaningful community investment.

This project will be built by DEF CON Construction, a strong partner of the Carpenters Union, which means that it will be constructed by skilled professionals, journeymen and apprentices who have graduated from a state-certified apprenticeship program.

They will also receive fair wages, working safe conditions, and bring pride and quality to every aspect of the job.

These are the kind of jobs that support families and strengthen our local economy.

The developer, Hunter Properties, has shown deep commitment to doing things the right way.

They've engaged with the community, listened to concerns, and made thoughtful adjustments to ensure that the project benefits everyone, not just today, but for years to come, generations to come.

One of the most exciting aspects of this project, the Boys and Girls Club, the Boys and Girls Clubhouse, is a space that will serve as a safe, supportive, and enriching environment for our youth.

This isn't just a building, it's an investment in the future of our children that will provide after-school programs that keep kids engaged and learning, mentorship opportunities that help guide youth youth, young people towards success, sports, arts, and leadership activities that build confidence and character, and most importantly, a safe space where kids can grow, dream, and thrive.

This project is more than just a concrete and steel building, it's a symbol of what can, it's a symbol of what can be achieved when labor, development, and community come together with share purpose.

I respectfully urge you to approve this project.

It's responsible, it'll be union built, and it's a gift to the current and future generations.

Thank you, Moises, for your advocacy.

Does that complete the public comment?

We have three more, Vice Mayor David.

Oh, sorry.

Lena, followed by Melanie, and then Anne G.

Good evening.

My name is Lena, and I have been involved in the Boys and Girls Club since I was a freshman.

I'm now a senior at South San Francisco High School.

Um, participate future grads and create Pathways program.

Future grass has impacted my life with a lot of opportunities, self-growth and has provided great support.

I have gone on many free freeful trips with food, transportation included, and rate care.

I have visited eight colleges and three companies through future grads and the Create Pathways program through CPP.

I have near how to make professional resume and network.

This summer I was part of the YouTube apprenticeship program.

I met with professionals at YouTube every day to learn about their careers and go to work on challenges each week with my group.

I also participated in the coaching map program this summer through the athletic program at the OP Clubhouse, where I learned public speaking skills, both confidence, how to be a coach to younger students.

I have taken advantage of every everything they go, the boys and girls club has offered me.

If I had a high school boys and girls club, it would be very beneficial to me.

Right now, if I don't have sports, I just go home after school.

A clubhouse will help me with my education.

I have a younger sister who one day could go to this clubhouse and she could receive me.

Could she could receive more resources?

In my opinion, it is always better to be in prison.

I would still be in future grades in college, and this clubhouse will be a space I can meet with them one day to get help.

Thank you.

Thank you, Lena.

Melanie.

Good evening.

Um I am my name is Melanie, and I am a lifelong lifetime South City resident.

Um I myself attended the Orange Park Clubhouse Boys and Girls Club, as well as it was my first summer job as um as a child.

And so I recognize the importance of the clubhouse.

I have two children.

Uh one have a has currently aged out of the program.

He's a freshman in high school, and I would love for him to be able to have a good space to attend after after school ends for him.

Um my daughter currently attends there at the new at the old library.

She takes advantage of the sports programs they offer.

Uh they do uh mental health uh assessments and therapies there as well that she benefits from.

And as a parent with uh two working parents in the household, it is essential for us to have a place for our children to go after school as well as during the summer.

Any parents in this uh city will tell you how hard it is to find a summer program that's not full.

Um, so it is so important for this clubhouse to not only improve its current building but expand it for additional students to attend and to take advantage of the great programs that they have to make sure that homework gets done and the amazing leadership classes that they have.

Um it's so wonderful.

I love the staff there.

My kids have loved the staff there, and it's been wonderful.

Every time I go in there, I remember what it hasn't changed much since I um since I was there 25 years ago.

Um, and it does need improvements and to expand and welcome the new kitchen and the high school and the library and the electronics portion that you spoke of.

Um, I think would be such an amazing addition to our community and to help our youth, as well as continue to have a place for our older youth to have their summer jobs at.

Thank you.

Okay.

Thank you for sharing the memories, Melanie.

Angie.

Good evening, or good evening, everyone.

My name is Angie E, and I'm an eighth grade at Otolema Middle School.

I'm here today to speak about my experience with the boys and girls club.

I've been going to this specific clubhouse since I was in kindergarten.

A little wee baby, may I say.

So basically, I was grown up in this clubhouse, everyone being my family.

You may think that that's a long time, but my family has been going to this clubhouse since forever ago.

Not even kidding.

It started with my cousin, who's now 20 years old, who started going when he was around seven years old and went all the way to the end of middle school, plus high school volunteering.

Oh, sorry.

Within the three minutes, I have a lot to say, so sorry.

Okay.

We might give you more time.

Go ahead.

Um, okay.

And it's still going strong with the littles in my family.

Safe to say that the Y family is kind of a legend at Boys and Girls Club, but not to brag.

The boys and girls school has helped my family so much, it is genuinely so unbelievable.

With my family working later than most, the boys and girls club is here to take our after school program off my parents' hands.

Not to mention the free dinners they provide for families to take home.

It is truly a game changer because some families aren't so fortunate enough to provide proper dinners every night or families like my own who have a few picky ones.

With the food given, there is always a second option for dinners, which makes things so much easier.

This program offers so much to us kids, and it's not appreciated enough.

In my time of going to boys and girls club, I've experienced and been given an unbelievable amount of opportunities.

I would never be able to without this program.

Some examples are when I was in fifth grade going to an event speaking out about what boys and girls club is and a few with a few of my peers.

In fifth grade, me going to another clubhouse to perform a dance for a dance for youth of the year.

And going camping for the first time last summer with a group of my friends for the first time ever.

And in seventh grade, when I led many events, such as the Thanksgiving Feast, Halloween, Monster Bash, and talent shows.

These are just a few of the many things I was so blessed to have the opportunity to experience.

It is so exciting knowing that not only my sisters and cousins get to follow in my footsteps and have a chance to do all these amazing things, but every single person attending the after school program.

My favorite part about Boys and Girls Club, besides the opportunities given, is Torch Club.

I'm currently the social manager in leadership at my school, which means I run all the social media accounts.

And I wouldn't be in the position I am right now in leadership without Torch Club.

I learned so much from this class, and it has helped me improve to become the best version of myself that I can be, from communication, outgoing, and accountability skills to helping me with my public speaking.

At the beginning of middle school, I wasn't necessarily shy, but I also wasn't the best at speaking in big groups of people.

But after all the times I was encouraged to speak out at Boys and Girls Club events, I can now easily speak out in front of hundreds of people without the big scare I used to have.

As we're on the topic of opportunities and speaking out, I would like to thank Mr.

Ramel.

Mr.

Romel for giving me the opportunity and moment that I have today.

I'm so grateful to be able to represent BGCP and express my experience with experience with it.

Moments like these are things I would never get to experience in my life without the Boys and Girls Club program.

One last thing that is so incredible about the Boys and Girls Club is the amount of people we get to meet.

Normally, most kids only know people within the same school as them.

However, the Boys and Girls Club brings brings together people from the whole South San Francisco South San Francisco School District.

Instead of only knowing a few people within my school, I've met people all over the district and made so many new friends and connections because of the Boys and Girls Club that brought us together.

Not to mention, I met my best friend in fourth grade at Boys and Girls Club, and I couldn't be more grateful for that.

I am so excited to see where the new clubhouse takes us, thanks to the high school part that's being added.

These things I have talked about are just a few things that Boys and Girls Club has done for my family and I.

I honestly have so much more I could say, and I can go on and on, but that would that would take all night.

So I'll spare everyone to end it here.

Thank you so much for listening.

Thank you, Angie.

Thank you.

Angie, next time you come to a meeting, um, try to speed it up a little bit to stay.

Within the three minutes.

That concludes our registered speakers, vice mayor.

Okay, wonderful.

Let's um go ahead and um close the public hearing and turn it over to the council and who would like to go.

I think Mr.

Nogales is ready to go.

Uh I had to do the math about 37 years ago.

I was a club kid.

Um my parents didn't have a lot of money.

Um, and so going to Los Arritos, I would see all my friends walking across the street.

I'm like, what are they doing over there?

And what they were doing is they were actually learning, playing, and just encouraging themselves.

And the names of Susan Bonta Gloopy, Joseph Egan, and Norm.

I never knew Norm's last name, but it was a we just always just norm.

But they never charged me for membership.

Because they wanted me to come in and participate.

And just looking at these designs, it's night and day.

And I cannot wait for this to happen.

I'd the I think there was a 50% South San Francisco requirement membership is that you're gonna get way more than that.

And it's gonna be amazing, and I can't wait for this to happen.

And that young lady who spoke, she just walked away.

You're gonna have more of those individuals coming.

I'm a former club kid, and now I'm a council member.

Um because of the people of the boys and girls club.

I'm here because of them.

So I can't wait to see this happen.

Okay.

Councilman.

This is my favorite item of the night, possibly the year.

Um, and I was the club kid myself, and uh, you know, when I was growing up, my father was in and out of the hospital.

My mother had to uh work, and so after school, I wouldn't, I mean, she couldn't pick me up, and so I would take the bus and I'd get dropped off at Boys and Girls Club and I'd carry me before I had swim practice at Orange Park.

So it's very convenient because I could just walk from Boys and Girls Club to Orange Park and of course made a lot of friends there, and it's great to see that we're not just renovating the space, we're doubling it, which is very exciting, uh serving high school students, uh, and I can't wait for it to get done.

The only question I have is how long will construction take.

15 and a half months.

How about that?

All right, I'm starting the timer now.

I didn't say when it started, no.

But we're very much looking forward to it as it's really gonna benefit so many so many kids here in South City.

Thank you.

Okay, and let's pivot to uh Japan.

I think we have somebody still on the line.

Yes.

Uh well, you know, I'm too old to be a club kid, but my son played basketball there in one of those uh tournaments that they had.

So I'm familiar with Norm.

I remember him quite uh vividly.

Uh we all agree that the future of our community lies on our youth, and the additional students that could avail uh of the resources offered by the Boys and Girls Club is really a wonderful resource for our youth.

Thank you to Jenny and the staff for continuing to invest in our community and empowering the next generation.

I had the pleasure of uh doing a uh visit there one time, and I know it seems like it's just a patchwork.

There's even I think from my point of view, a dangerous thing because you have to go back and and go up to where the other classrooms are, and I was just thinking to myself that if something or like an emergency happens, it may be a little difficult to get everything out.

And in addition to the benefits that we all know now for our community labor union will labor uh work will be utilized here.

Uh we also have your neighbor's support and kids and parents will have a safe you know pick up and drop off.

So I think I don't see any negative uh any negative on this, and I fully support it.

Thank you very much, Jenny and the staff and everybody who's involved.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Um I just wanted to um mention I was never a club kid.

Um I lived in a distant neighborhood from the boys and girls club here in South San Francisco, but I did for a time serve on the board of directors, and we did have wonderful employees, a very committed executive director, and the programs they were able to put together were spectacular, but the surroundings always made me sad that that was the best that South San Francisco could offer to its young people.

It just was not okay, and this was always the dream, and I just have to thank the Peninsula Boys and Girls Club for stepping into South City, raising this kind of money and being willing to spend it here on our young people who are so deserving and will maximize their use of that facility.

Um it's it's gonna be um it's just gonna be a big hit in the community.

Um so with that um we um need to uh do more than one uh action, yes.

So the council should uh act on 15A, which is the CEQA resolution followed by 15 B, the resolution on the entitlements, and then introduce the ordinance.

Okay, so we're gonna do three three action items.

So um I need a motion for 15A, I'll second.

Okay, and the roll call.

Vice Mayor Diego?

Yes, Councilmember Coleman?

Yes, Councilmember Nogales?

Yes, and Councilman Nicholas.

Aye, thank you.

Wonderful.

And now we're on to 15B, which is the variance and design review.

Uh sub move, Mr.

Mayor.

Wonderful.

I second.

Thank you, Flora.

And the vote.

Roll call.

Councilmember Coleman?

Yes.

Councilmember Nicholas?

Aye.

Vice Mayor Adiego?

Yes.

And Councilmember Nicholas.

Yes.

Okay.

And then finally, um, item 15 C.

So moved.

Thank you.

And I'll second.

Thank you.

Um roll call?

Councilmember Nogales?

Yes.

Councilmember Nicholas?

Aye.

Vice Mayor Adiego?

Yes.

And Councilmember Coleman.

Yes.

So it's just that easy, and we are so excited about what you're about to undertake.

Thank you very much for your support.

I'll wait for Mayor Flores to bring them.

Wow.

He was nearby.

All right.

Before we move on, how does the council feel about taking a break?

Are we good or you want to?

And I know that Councilmember Nicholas wants a little break from the screen.

So let's take a ten minute break and uh be back at nine thirty, please.

Annual performance and evaluation report and adopting a resolution approving the program year 2024 25.

Sorry.

Yeah, just maybe push back.

Resuming.

Program year 2024 25.

Capper and authorizing its submittal to the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Great.

I'd like to open up the public hearing and welcome Ms.

Condon.

Uh good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Council members.

My name is Alvina Condin and I'm a management analyst too in economic and community development.

Tonight I'm here to present the community development block grant, CDBG Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, also known as the CAPER, for program year 2024 to 2025.

The CAPER summarizes how the city utilized its CDBG funds to address the city's housing and community development needs and compares the city's accomplishments to the goals set in the program year 2024 to 25 annual action plan.

The city's grantees for program 24 to 25 served a total of 220 individuals and families through our CDBG and home administrative funds.

210 individuals were served through the city's uh public service programs by Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, Friends for Youth, Rape Trauma Services, the Center for Healing and Violence Prevention, and Magic Tooth Bus.

Six households were served through the city's CDBG Minor Home Repair Program through a Building Together's Peninsula Safe at Home and National Rebuilding Day programs.

Through our home administrative funds, Project Sentinel assisted four people through comprehensive fair housing services.

In addition, 20 people received consultations and referrals, and 36 individuals were reached through six community events.

In program year 2425, the city drew down over 173,000 in CDBG funding and 58 about $5,800 in home administrative funding received from the San Mateo County Home Consortium.

Concurrently, the city's housing trust funds supported 679 individuals through various housing services in partnership with community overcoming relationship abuse, CORA, HIP Housing, Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, Life Moves, Ombudsman Services of San Mateo County, Samaritan House, and Star Vista.

Well, in conclusion, staff recommends that the City Council hear public comments for the program year 24 to 25 CAPER for the CGBG program, adopt a resolution for the CAPER, and authorize its submittal to HUD.

Thank you.

Great, thank you.

Any uh immediate uh comments or or actually questions for uh staff from my council and councilwoman Nicholas, want to make sure that you're still there.

I don't see you on screen, but yeah, I'm here.

Great.

Uh any questions or comments.

Okay.

Let's move to any public comments for this hearing.

No public comments, Mayor.

Okay, so let me uh close the public hearing.

Um, and I think we can move forward with a uh a motion to approve.

So moved.

I have a first, can I have a second?

Oh, second.

A first and a second.

Roll call, please.

Vice Mayor Diego.

Yes.

Councilmember Coleman?

Yes.

Mayor Flores?

Yes.

Councilmember Nogales?

Yes.

Councilmember Nicholas.

Aye.

Thank you.

Great motion passes.

Thank you very much.

Appreciate that.

Thank you.

Uh next item, please.

Item number 17 is a report regarding a resolution amending the City of South San Francisco's Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2019 CARES Act, annual action plan and authorizing its submittal and all other required documents to the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Item 17A is a resolution.

Okay.

Uh good evening again.

Um, Alvina Condon, Housing Management Analyst, too in Economic and Community Development.

The purpose of this public hearing is to receive public comments on an amendment to the city's community development block grant, CDBG program, year uh 2019's annual action plan.

City council approved the original CDBG program year 2019 annual action plan on April 24th, 2019.

Since then, the plan has been amended twice in response to community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the first amendment that council approved in April 2020, the city received $584,000 in CARES Act funding, also called CDBGCV, to expand public services, assist homeless shelters, and create an economic development assistance program for businesses impacted by the pandemic.

In the second amendment that council approved in January 2021, the city received an additional two hundred and ninety thousand dollars of CDBGCB funds and reallocated funds to expand Wi-Fi access in low-income neighborhoods, provide medical supplies to the community, assist small businesses with technical support, and deliver meals to homebound seniors.

The CARES Act requires that all activities assisted with CDBGCV funds must be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond or PPR to coronavirus.

The proposed third amendment is to add a public improvement project led by the Parks and Recreation Department to rehabilitate an existing restroom at Orange Memorial Park to the program year 2019 annual action plan.

The project aligns with the PPR tie back by improving sanitation and safety in a high-use public space directly addressing concerns related to the spread of coronavirus and other communicable diseases.

Staff recommends allocating the unspent balance of 178,000 towards this project.

The primary goal of the rehabilitation is to modernize the outdated facility by implementing touchless fixtures, upgrading ventilation systems, and use utilizing materials that facilitate easier cleaning and maintenance.

This will ensure a more hygienic and safer environment for all park visitors.

The community impact and benefits include enhanced public health and safety, accessibility and inclusivity, and an improved park experience for residents and visitors.

In conclusion, staff recommends City Council adopt the associated resolution approving an amendment to the CDBG program year 2019 annual action plan and authorizing submittal of all required documents to HUD.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Any comments or questions or clarifications from my colleagues?

Yeah, no, I just wanted to mention I'm so glad to see that the drinking found is going to include a bottle filler.

Something we should be doing all over town.

Nobody should have to buy water.

Thank you.

Councilmember.

And just to clarify the bat, this is the bathroom over that we were using during concert in the park.

I'm trying to remember what the shelter or by the shelter.

I'm just trying to.

That is correct.

So it's the restroom near the shelter, not the um single occupancy restrooms that are part of the concession building.

So it's the older one that serves the ball field essentially.

Thank you.

All right.

Anyone else with questions or comments?

Uh if not, uh, can I any uh public comments?

No public comments.

We need to close the public hearing.

Yes.

I will close the public hearing and having uh no discussion, I uh will entertain a motion.

I'll move it.

So move.

Oh, second then.

Okay, I have a first and a second.

Uh can I have roll call, please?

Councilmember Coleman.

Yes.

Mayor Flores.

Yes.

Vice Mayor Diego?

Yes.

Councilmember Nogales.

Yes.

And Councilmember Nicholas.

Aye.

Thank you.

Motion passes.

Thank you very much.

Good use of funds there for our community.

Uh amenity there.

Thank you.

Moving on.

Next item.

Moving on for the record, we will uh postpone item number 18.

So moving on to item 19 is a report regarding consideration and adoption of a resolution approving a planning commission recommendation to make findings and certify an environmental impact report, including a statement of overriding considerations and mitigation and monitoring report program.

A resolution approving applications for a general plan amendment, zoning map amendment design review, transportation demand management plan, vesting tentative map to waive first reading and introduce an ordinance to rezone five adjacent private parcels at 120 Terminal Court, 196 Produce Avenue, 160 Produce Avenue, and 140 Produce Avenue from Mixed Industrial High to Business Technology Park High and to weigh first reading and introduce an ordinance approving a development agreement to extend the approved entitlements for the 101 terminal project and permit development of a life science campus at 131 terminal court.

Great.

I'll open the public hearing and welcome Mr.

Gross.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council members.

Billy Gross, principal panel with the city.

We are before you this evening to discuss the proposed project at 131 terminal court, which is the parcel highlighted in red on the graphic.

I'll go through this at a relatively high level for most of the, and then if you want to get into detail on things, we can do that during uh QA.

The site is located at the terminus of Terminal Court, has been continuously occupied by the Golden Gate Produce Terminal for decades.

This graphic shows a location in conjunction with other recently entitled life science residential projects, as well as the nearby transportation infrastructure.

As we get into more detailed views, this shows the proposed building sizes and configuration in comparison with similarly similar nearby life science projects.

And zooming into the site itself, the proposed Infinite 131 project will consist of a 1.7 million square foot life science campus.

In this slide, you can also begin to see how infinite 131 corresponds to the Infinite 101 project, which is immediately to the east, or at the bottom of the site in this graphic.

Infinite 101 was entitled in 2023, consisting of a life science campus of approximately 700,000 square feet.

These renderings provide a fuel for the infinite 131 design, which is in keeping with the Infinite 101 project architecture.

While each of the projects has been designed to be able to be standalone projects, the combined sites have also been designed to function as one overall campus.

As I show this detailed rendering, I'm going to pause the staff presentation and allow the applicant team to walk the council and public through the proposed project design, layout and other important details, and then after the applicant's presentation, I will come back and walk through all of the requested entitlements.

So I'll hand it off to Ben Yu with Steel Wave.

Okay, welcome Ben.

Thanks, Billy.

Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council members.

Uh great to be here tonight.

I'm hoping that this is the third most exciting item on the agenda.

Yeah, so it's been um uh my name is Ben Yu.

I am for Steel Wave.

I think uh Steve Dunn is is uh my partner uh that you know um and we are representing the infinite project.

Uh two years ago, you saw the first half of the project uh that you guys passed.

Um we thank you for that.

We're very excited about being able to show you what the whole project looks like as a whole.

Um I think with that um we wanted to show you a video uh that kind of flies through the project, uh give you a sense of how it's gonna look and feel okay.

Great.

As you fly through the the site, uh this is the view from obviously uh the Sam Burrito Mountains.

Yeah, perfect.

Thanks.

And you can see the project in that foreground.

You see the entire project and the parking garage in the foreground there.

And this is a portal into the project.

As you fly through, you start to see the immense, you know, five-acre open space with a uh what we're calling the launch pad.

It's a 60,000 square foot amenity center.

When you look at the access to this site, and we'll talk more in detail about it.

It is about equidistant to the San Bruno Bar station and about uh.7 miles to the Cal Train station.

Um we love this project because it's a project of scale, two and a half million square feet, uh designed as life science, but I think it could be any other user as well.

Um it's a 26-acre campus with open spaces that is going to be open to the public.

Uh and here you see a fly-through through our uh food court, uh, our food hall, where members of the public can enjoy uh food and drink.

On top of that, you'll also see a um a fitness center and a conferencing center for the project.

Um there's an amenity terrace as well that allows uh folks to sit down, have lunch, have meetings, and enjoy the protected space.

There's also a mega conference facility that seats 500 members of the community, and you'll see this uh the shot of a outdoor terrace and a um also there's uh a restaurant uh tree house restaurant as well.

So that's a project as a whole.

Um I'm going to uh turn it over to Mark Schwebman from SOM to go through some of the details of the project.

Thank you, counselors uh for your time.

The project has been designed in in keeping with its position at the southern entrance to South City, directly adjacent to 101, an extremely prominent site uh from both directions.

Just a few blocks from Oyster Point to the east across the freeway, just a few blocks south of the downtown core, directly proximate to 101 near the interchange with 380.

It's been mentioned equidistant between Caltrain and BART.

Despite this central location with transit and high capacity freeway access, the site today is primarily uh industrial and parking uses.

And a challenging site in some ways because it lacks the traditional street frontage that you might find.

And that's where the concept for the project came from to develop this uh gently curving series of buildings, each independent but connected, that define and shelter to really special open spaces.

It is a project of scale, and as such, we think it's really important that it be sustainably connected.

We have an ambitious target of 50% non-private vehicle mode share.

And we think that's achievable uh in part because of the off-site improvements that the project proposes uh over a hundred million dollars to construct new separated bike lanes, um, shuttle programs, traffic signalization.

And in purple, you see here between this project and the South Line project, a safe direct path from San Bruno Bart through South Line to Shaw Road, and then around the perimeter of the site without vehicular intersections, uh Produce and Airport all the way to Baden into the South San Francisco Caltrain station that's made possible by the bike lanes as well as the intersection improvements and future engineering studies and fair share contributions to potential overpasses of 101 to make more direct connections to the Bay Trail.

From a vehicular standpoint, the site enjoys connections at both sides, which allow shortcut to 280 across South Line and Sneath, as well as going north to uh one on one in both directions, which really allows connections to the freeways without adding traffic to the city's most important commercial streets.

These intersection improvements are also part of making that work.

At the heart of the project are uh retail style amenities, retail spaces, public facing spaces that sit at the center of this collection of five or six buildings, which are all linked together by open space.

The shaded part in white is Infinite 101, but as Billy mentioned, all of these buildings are designed to work together or to be built separately as the market allows.

The architecture is very porous, views in, views out, open spaces for the occupants of the buildings, and simple and iconic architecture that works at the scale of the freeway.

But despite that scale, the spaces inside are welcoming and sheltered.

The north courtyard is over 300 feet wide, the south almost 500 feet wide, both screened from the strong westerly winds by other buildings on the site.

The amenity program placed at the center of that, where it can do as much as possible to activate.

And the series of open spaces, in addition to 25, approximately 25 million dollars of contribution to park rack and art, include connections to the navigable SLU designed in conjunction with BCDC, the launch pad space, the social heart of the project that Ben mentioned.

More actively programmed spaces at the north, and a daycare at the corner of the safest and most disconnected corner of the site.

Landscape design by Carduccian Associates relies heavily on native plantings as well as a wide mix of deciduous and evergreen trees for year-round enjoyment.

And that landscape is part of the sustainability strategy that also includes rooftop photovoltaics, bird safe glass across from the slough, water recycling and treatment.

These are all electric buildings, lead gold at least, well certified, and a complete life cycle analysis of the building's uh carbon footprint.

Together with this internal network of bike and pedestrian circulation, we think it's a sustainable, walkable, and active place.

Here's some more images from the interior.

And the architecture is simple.

It modulates the six-story scale of the buildings with three two-story bands, each with slightly different materiality, wood-like materials and transparency at the base, slightly serrated lightly reflective glass above, whose different angles catch reflections of sky, trees, and the buildings themselves, and landmark architecture inside the buildings too.

The amenity building is imagined as a heavy timber and CLT building.

We're very excited about the project.

Happy to answer any more questions in detail.

And with that, I'll turn it back over to Ben to give a brief review of some of the public benefits of the project.

Thanks, Mark.

I'll just wrap up here.

As you can see, uh the build uh the project provides uh numerous amount of community benefits listed on the left-hand side of that slide.

But I think what's important to hear is that we've really listened.

I think, just like our discovery project, discovery station project, what we heard hey, the community wants safe way, so we're doing that.

And this project, um, we heard we really want a daycare center.

Integrating that in the project.

We also heard, hey, we want to have um really walkable uh open space that's open to the public.

We're we're all you know, making sure that that happens.

We also heard that uh traffic uh making the street safe, and that's why you see on the off-site improvements line the 24.8 million dollars.

We're making that commitment that we're gonna improve the intersections, both with lights, but also as important as the pedestrian walkways and the bicycle paths, improving that whole network.

Uh, and that's a big part of our off-site improvements and uh our commitment to the city.

So, with that, I think we just want to say thank you for the opportunity.

We're very excited uh to be here and uh appreciate your support.

Thank you.

All right, I was asking IT to move back to the staff presentation.

All right, so to move forward with the project, these are the specific entitlements that are necessary for infinite 131.

Uh we'll start with the general plan and then Lindenville specific plan amendments.

The graphic on the left shows the existing land use designation for the project site, which is mixed industrial high, as indicated in both the Lindenville specific plan and the general plan.

Council might recall when we were going through the general plan update.

We were trying to identify a preferred land use alternative.

And at one point we were looking at doing mixed use for all of this.

And in 2020, the Golden Gate Produce Terminal came to the city and said, no, we want to stay in this location.

Submitted a letter asking us to keep the land use designation as something that would be better coordinated with them, agreeing that residential would not be a good use with Golden Gate Produce Terminal.

We kept it as mixed industrial.

Since that time, and both of these letters from Golden Gate Produce Terminal were part of the SAFRO, were part of the SAF report attachments.

I do know that members of the Golden Gate Produce Terminal are here and can speak to their specific needs and what they're looking at for the future for their site.

I will also point out that there are parcels north of the project site currently consisting of the park and fly lots and a gas station.

Those are shown in dash lines in these.

We refer to these as the off-site redesignation parcels.

In keeping with policies in the Lindenville specific plan, staff is recommending that these parcels also be redesignated as business technology park high, allowing for consistent land use development throughout the entire produce terminal corridor.

There is no specific project that is proposed for those parcels.

Current uses would be allowed to continue indefinitely.

If a development project is ever proposed on these off-site redesignation parcels, they would have to go through its own entitlement processes, including project specific environmental review.

Zoning map amendments are similar, basically making them consistent with the general plan, ensuring that they all show these sites as business technology park.

The project does include a tentative parcel map, which will result in eight development parcels.

This is consistent with what we've seen in other large campus developments, allowing for the parcelization of the different building elements, and this meets all of our necessary municipal code requirements, and there are relevant conditions of approval for this.

As indicated, the Infinite 131 project would be considered a Tier 4 project for transportation demand management processes.

So they have a 50% mode share requirements and an on-site specific trip cap.

The TDM program as proposed is consistent with zoning ordinance requirements.

The applicant is requesting a development agreement that would cover both the Infinite 131 and Infinite 101 projects.

The DA is for a 12-year term with an option to extend the term for an additional five years if 700,000 square feet is constructed within the first seven years.

And just a reminder, 700,000 square feet is basically the 101 terminal project from a sizing standpoint.

The project is required to build all electric buildings.

And so the community benefit program is set up to be equivalent to that.

It would include uh child care space for 55 children or a payment of four million dollars.

They would include point of sale for project construction, allowing the city to obtain a larger portion of the sales tax allocation.

Also includes a construction of a class four bike path from the project site to the South San Francisco Caltoin Station.

The DA also includes monetary contributions of three million dollars, which would be paid within the first five years of the agreement.

Those are separate from the community benefit requirements.

This slide shows the estimated impact fees for the Infinite 131 project, totaling approximately 98 million.

In terms of environmental review, a draft EIR was prepared for the project.

As indicated, the majority of impacts were able to be reduced to less than significance, but there are impacts related to air quality, cultural resources, and transportation that are considered significant and unavoidable, even if mitigation were implemented.

In relation to the transportation impacts, we have identified mitigation measures that would reduce the impacts to less than significance.

But because the mitigation measures require the approval of outside agencies, in particular Caltrans, the city cannot guarantee that they will be implemented, though we do believe in an ongoing relationship with Caltrans that they will support these and they will be implemented, but because we can't guarantee that that is why this is being listed as a significant and unavoidable.

In relation to the cultural resources impact, one of the mitigation measures for the demolition of the produce terminal is the creation of an interpretive signage plan and/or public interpretation program that documents the history of the Golden Gate Produce Terminal on the site.

Um that will have to the final program will have to come back to council for review and approval prior to any demolition activities.

We don't have that yet.

We have some concept images, but that will be finalized as they move forward through the next process with the building permits, and we would bring that program back to council for your review and approval.

Finally, IR, which includes a response to comments document was prepared to respond in writing to comments, um, provides comments, responses to comments from planning commission hearing on August 1st, 2024, and from Caltrans.

Um we've also prepared a statement of overriding considerations, which makes the required findings that balances the benefits of the proposed project against the unavoidable impacts.

Um I am joined by members of the environmental consultant team, and so if there are specific questions, they're also here to help answer those.

Expressed general support for the project.

They had some high-level questions related to different infrastructure improvements that are happening in the area, traffic patterns, access for the public to the site, future plans of the Golden Gate Produce Terminal.

Ultimately, the commission did recommend that the council approve all of the entitlements by a vote of six to zero.

So, uh to finalize, staff is recommending that the council follow the planning commission's recommendation and make the four motions on the screen in front of you.

Um that ends staff and the applicants presentations.

Happy to answer any questions that you might have at this time.

Great.

Uh, thank you, uh Billy and uh Ben and the team.

Um, I would like to hear uh from the Golden Gate Produce Terminal folks before we start with questions and further on this item.

I guess that's me.

Welcome, yes.

Uh Joe Cartoni Jr.

Um, the reason I put junior on my name is because my father was on television and radio from South San Francisco for about 25 30 years.

Must have been 30,000 broadcasts radio and television constantly all over the country.

Fascinating.

It was great.

Uh so that had to be junior, otherwise, they'd confuse me.

Yeah.

Anyway, um, my father loved South San Francisco.

When we came down to South San Francisco, South San Francisco was in love with us.

We were thrown out of San Francisco, the Golden Gate uh Golden Gateway tossed us out of there.

Uh, Mayor uh George Christopher, and we and uh we had to move in just a short amount of time.

Two of the biggest uh tenants were my grandfather's business and my dad's business, and they came down here to South City with their mayor with their lawyer Joe Aldi Odo, came down here and met the mayor of South City, and uh they were in love with us.

We're in love with them.

South City was in love with us because your sign, South San Francisco, the industrial city, changed dramatically in 1962.

That's when Bethlehem Steel left.

So Bethlehem Steel left, and with an industry came in, the produce industry, and so it was it was everybody was madly in love with each other, it fit perfectly.

So to say that uh, where do you?

My father loved South San Francisco, he wanted that whole project, he wanted to own it, he wanted, you know, it's all partners, but uh it was and they're all different families, most of them Italian uh families who who were in the produce business, and so the the uh we they we owned the property.

It was really a terrific relationship that we had with South San Francisco, and to this day.

Um, and we always my father loved South San Francisco as a place for produce because the air is a little cooler in South San Francisco than in San Jose, and you could leave your tomatoes outside longer.

So that was really important too.

But South San Francisco, um, and we always kept up the produce market.

We, you know, we put a vast amount of uh of uh of solar panels on the top of the produce terminal.

We're do things we want to keep it up, want to keep it right, but things get old.

To redo that produce market and to make it into uh today's what's required under an awful lot of federal statutes that have come and are still coming, is very difficult and very expensive.

It's simply much cheaper to go and build a new produce terminal.

So though we love South San Francisco, it's something to move from.

And we're looking at places, and believe me, weather has something to do with where we're looking to.

But in any event, we the and we do have more than one place that we're looking at.

We're going to be able to do it.

The people we're dealing with, I don't know.

I guess you guys have dealing with steel wave, but I'll tell you, uh, I enjoyed meeting and dealing with these people.

We've had a lot of different developers.

I was doing all the stuff associated with this, and I met developer after developer after developer, Alexandria, and these people and that people.

Total class act.

They say something to you, steel wave, they do it.

So I'm so confident that I see that there, I just I love it.

And I love the concept for South San Francisco too.

South San Francisco has moved, uh, it keeps on moving ahead.

My father, when he wanted the place for the family, was thinking developmental.

It's crazy, but I remember him talking about it.

We want to get the whole piece of property.

Park and fly, they sold off park and fly next to the, but I was originally part of the terminal, but we didn't need all that land.

My father wanted to keep it because he wanted the whole development.

So this development coming together is actually something my father had in mind when he bought the when he and my grandfather and certainly the Risticcies and the Milanese and all these other families got together and bought the terminal.

So it's really kind of exciting, both for the city going ahead, the produce terminal having to cannot possibly redo that terminal, just way too much money.

The city getting a real big-time benefit out of this whole development that uh, you know, is hard to do.

I mean, how many pieces?

You know, you're getting 20, you're getting 17 and now you're getting about 26, 27 acres.

How do you find that?

And to have such a beautiful development and being developed by people that I really think I hope you understand that when you're dealing with steel wave, as I came to understand, it's really class act.

So um uh, so we're excited for the future of the produce industry, we're excited.

Sounds silly, but excited for the future of South San Francisco, because I do think it's really really a terrific project, a real terrific project.

It's exciting to me.

Okay.

Any questions?

Thank you.

You're full of great history here.

So I appreciate your your context and framing it for us.

Let me open it up now for uh questions for staff.

Thank you for your comments.

Um go ahead.

And we have time, I want to unpack this.

I I'll believe we have a lot of questions and comments here.

So first of all, I remember I'm just young enough to remember your father's commercials on TV, so the green grocery uh so I read the TDM report, and um what it said was during AM trips, you're looking at 1500 cars.

This is prior to the 50% reduction.

And at the PM trip, so AM trips, 1500 PM trips, you'd like to get 1400.

Now, when you do the 50% TDM, you're still getting about a thousand cars coming into that area.

So now you yeah, I think you mentioned there were about four other developments in that area that we've approved in the last couple of forget in the last couple of years, I think.

So you put a thousand new cars potentially in that area, along with whatever TDM we put for the other projects.

That's gonna have a significant impact on that neighborhood with the new development that we're doing now there in the downtown area.

And one of the things I was reading, you were kind of mentioned it in terms of the significant impact.

You know, one of the things that the project does is funds an engineering study to do a new trail crossing and a southbound 101 off ramp, but that's contingent on like you mentioned Caltrain or San Bruno.

So kind of help me alleviate some of the fears I think I'm having, because I'm picturing this massive development.

And you're gonna have a very, very significant impact in that section of the city.

So I'm trying to understand if this 50% TDM is enough to relieve any congestion we might have.

One of the things I'll say with this specific project is obviously from an access is actually much different access than at the other site.

They actually have a off-ramp that basically is just north of it.

Um currently it's just a stop sign, right?

Yeah, at that, but the one of the mitigation measures that's shown there is putting in a signal, which so during AM peak hour, it likely will probably be green, allowing traffic to just come flow off of the the off ramp towards terminal courts during peak hours, and then something a bit different in the evening.

They are also getting access off of Shaw Road, yeah, and so um the roads that will have traffic for this project are actually roads that won't impact, aren't currently impacted with it's not gonna be in a residential area, it's an industrial areas, or it's giving new access that's not there now, and so um as part of the traffic analysis, the traffic analysis actually takes into account all of the growth that was looked at as part of the general plan update.

And so it's not just what's on the ground now, we're looking at full build-outs of 2040.

Um, but I can also say with this in terms of the project approvals, and so it's one of the first projects that has the lower parking requirement that we adopted in 2022.

So, 1.5 spaces per thousand, yeah, the 50% TDM requirement, the trip cap, the site-specific trip cap, and so um with all of these measures, if they're corresponding with that, and all of the mitigation measures are installed, which we believe that they will be.

Caltrans, we we have a good working relationship.

Um this the significant unavoidable in some ways is it's a misnomer in terms of the only reason we're saying that is because we we don't have the ability to prove them ourselves.

We we have to go through Caltrans, or for any items that it might go through San Bruno work with them, they have to say yes to that.

But we've always been able to do that for all of the Project ESO 101 that have been adopted and titled in the last 10-15 years, same types of impacts, significant unavoidable for traffic purposes was adopted.

We were always able to get the improvements through the process, and so with all of the different measures, the TDM, trip cap, the street improvements, yes, there will be more traffic, but it will all flow to where we won't be having uh traffic should not be backing up onto the 101 main lines.

Um should still be able to get in and out from the general area to this site.

So that 24 million that was stated that's for street improvement within our jurisdiction to put stop lights and the 24 million, I believe include um all of the CEQA mitigation measures, yeah.

Umies towards the studies, and then the their 100 million dollar um number also includes the 83 million for transportation impact fee that they would be subject to.

And then you mentioned the child care center.

Is that market rate or is that gonna be affordable?

That is market rate.

Um we do have a requirement in the development agreement that it be open to South San Francisco residents as well.

It's not just four, so it's a public facility, um, but it is a market rate.

I mean, most likely what's gonna happen if it's market rate, it's gonna be the employees are gonna be using it, right?

Because if I'm living up in Westboro, I'm not gonna drive all the way to the east side of one-on-one that Java with my kid, because it's more difficult to get there.

It takes longer for me to get there, and it's probably gonna be more expensive.

So, really, you're only tailoring it to them the 55 children whose parents happen to work there.

So, my question is does it make sense to have that there or take the four million dollars?

But I guess I look at it as that if we don't build the child care center, those 55 kids will probably get added on to our wait list that we currently have, and that adds on to the stress that we have.

So I I guess I'm okay with it right now, but I'm not happy about the fact that it is market rate, because it should be affordable.

Yeah, so those are just my original kind of comments right now, Mr.

Mayor.

I'll wait for other things as we move along.

Thank you.

We'll continue the discussion.

Uh councilwoman uh Nicholas.

Okay, hi.

Um, did this go to the AM to the airport land use?

I thought it did.

It did.

Yes, yeah.

And they, yeah, it's consistent with the airport's land use compatibility plan.

Yeah, and that's that's how I remember it.

Um I like the design, it's futuristic.

I like the sustainability features, the art display.

Uh the open space is really wonderful.

But um, how's this noise uh over in that area?

Well, because it's really close to the freeway.

If there's an open space, the open space areas um are all protected, they're all basically in the interior.

Other than at the SLU, they're all the interior of the buildings.

So the buildings should serve as a noise attenuation.

I will ask the project team if they want to add anything to that.

Sure, I can add to that that um the placement of the buildings at the edges, and the fact that the ground floor and second floor buildings are really completely solid.

So the openings are are higher up, that freeway noise won't go up and then back down.

We also have really extensive uh trees planted all along the edge of the site.

So between the buildings and the freeway, we've got we've got tall trees, we've got low trees.

Um to be a sound barrier.

And that will help as a sound barrier.

There's also a small grade change.

The site is being built up a little bit to accommodate uh sea level rise.

Um, and then on top of that, for the actual users of the building, um, the glass on the side that faces the freeway will have uh three layers of glass, two layers and air space, and then another layer, each piece of glass is different thickness, which cuts out different frequencies of sound.

So we're we're very confident that both the buildings and the open space in the middle of the site will be well protected from the freeway noise.

Yeah, I was just thinking that that you know, for that open space to be use a test for it to be useful, then you know it shouldn't that be something that you can what you can hear is just old noise.

But thank you for for that.

So, we agree, thank you.

Okay, uh Councilmember Coleman, yes.

Um a lot of great things I see.

And um this isn't our first project with Steel Wave, and I remember some of us were a little worried that you know we've been promised the safe way for so long, and it's never really been delivered, but now we see it being delivered, and so uh, and and I just want to you know add on to uh what our friends at Golden Gate Produce Terminal said where you know you say something, you mean it and you do it, and and that's something that that I really appreciate uh coming from Steel Wave Um and the partnership that we have.

Uh I like how this is a electric uh life science building.

Um I like how this has been been done in collaboration with Golden Gate Produce Torminal.

Um I do like the open space concept as well, and I kind of you know, a couple years ago I I went to Alexandria for the first time in San Carlos and kind of thought what they envisioned with their open space, and they've they've really opened up to the community, and so oftentimes you'll see you know, nonprofits like Moonstar, right?

Come in, have a fundraiser for for the community, and they would do it right there.

And my question is, will the open space here can that be used by the community in that capacity as well?

Yeah, thanks for that.

Um, we welcome it.

We that the food that you see there um that we've designed in, it was actually from the community that says that hey, we really would like an area where we can gather and eat and actually have drinks, and that was uh another large biotech firm that told us that.

And so, and then one of the other feedback that we got was hey, uh, we really want a wind protected uh open space.

I think uh Councilman or Nicholas mentioned uh, you know, the freeway noise, but there's also this San Bruno gap, all that wind that comes through this area, and this really protects that area, and so we think it's wonderful space for the entire community um to be able to use where you can have food, you can enjoy the outdoor space, and you know it's uh in the development agreement that it's it's open to the public.

So we're very excited about that.

Great, thank you.

And then my next question is to staff.

So I know in in the renderings uh you say there's a future Utah overpass.

And so I'm wondering, you know, with this TDM program, with kind of what we're envisioning traffic to be like, does it rely on the Utah 101 overpass being constructed?

No, it does not.

We we looked at this project with that completely, yeah.

There's no certainty that that moves forward, so this had to be able to stand on its own without that.

Great.

And just making sure that the project didn't um prohibit it or yeah, preclude it from happening in the future.

Sure.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Those are all my questions, thank you.

Ice May.

So I've been excited about the potential for this project from the very beginning, and I'm sure that the professionals that are designing it are going to make certain that it is something that a tenant would want to rent.

Um I think that um it really um it's such a great use on top of the freeway there.

And it is a signature building that uh will eclipse what's on the north end of town, which is I think quite spectacular also.

So I'm I'm um very excited about the day that this happens.

It may be a little bit out into the future.

And I heard you tonight very clearly say that um uh it could be bio or another use of course we don't know what the future is going to bring to South San Francisco, but you know, we have probably some room for AI.

Um Steel Wave does have a great you know reputation in town, and as far as the community is concerned, I'm talking to Ben and Steve, um, this hasn't this hasn't reached them yet.

Um, but that safe way that you're building every other day.

Somebody asked me, is that whole building safe way?

I mean, it's just they're kind of boggled by what you're doing over there on that corner because it's so high profile to all of our neighborhood.

So this is I I know it was in in grocery parlance, that particular building would be called a lost leader.

Um, and so I understand the ramifications of that, and at the same time um you're building a tremendous uh amenity for us.

Um and so I can't help but um be enthusiastic about what you want to bring uh to the southern portion of South San Francisco.

Might not be here when it uh is constructed, but I'll I'll come and enjoy it as I drive.

Thank you.

Um I also have a a couple a few questions.

Um going back just to reiterate so public spaces uh was mentioned throughout the presentations.

Um I want to define what public means.

Is that tenants or is that the public and residents?

In particular, I think we we asked about the conference space, the retail space and eatery areas, um, daycare and also the gym.

Uh in particular, I want to hone into the gym because former mayor Kara Matsumoto during her time, and I think you're you might know where I'm going with this.

Uh, the Genesis Tower, the gym that's over there in your uh Chico Marks, she ensured that that was open for the community as well.

Of course, during you know, weekday hours, not weekend necessarily.

Is this also open for the public, not tenants, the gym?

I will allow C wave to answer this, but I'll give a preliminary answer.

Um, all of these developments under the new zoning ordinance have a requirement that at least five percent of the project site be publicly accessible open space, so anybody comes through.

Um staff pushes that amenity buildings, gyms, all those things are open to the public, but there's no requirement for that.

The one thing I'll say is if for some reason any of that, the conference space, the gym, any of those became just private, we would require them to remove parking for that because they're they're counting those as being open to the public, and so there'd be additional parking that would be required.

Um everything that I've heard from Stillwave is that yes, it will be open, but I'll let them answer that portion for you.

But there's no requirements under current codes that it would have to be.

And I think go ahead, come feel free.

Um, and I I no, I was gonna say I this is not the first time you hear this from me, Ben.

I think I've mentioned it to you as well as my next question regarding public art, but I'll let you speak on.

Sure.

Um we have really designed this to be public-facing and wanting people to to come here.

The difficult part of saying yes, it will be open to the public.

I'm talking about the gym and the conference center, is that a user may have a particular want or need, and it'd be difficult to know today whether they will say, I'm only going to your project if that is only private, which I I can't see foresee that as like who wouldn't want people to more activity because I've never seen a gym that is completely full, but that's the the tough part to kind of guarantee that.

I think we've designed it that way, and I really want people to go there uh for that reason because I want it to be very active.

I think that keeps people wanting to be there.

Uh so I know it's it's not a uh 100%, but that's the way that we feel about it is that we want that to be public.

The food amenities, that I can say that we want that to be, and we'll have that open to the public and and not gated off or you know, require a card key.

That's that's designed to be used as as for public.

I think that also answers um uh one of the things that uh council member Nigales was asking about you know, trips all kind of focused on one time.

We design these projects so that people want to be there and stay.

I want to have dinner there.

So instead of fight traffic, I'm gonna eat dinner, I'm gonna invite my friends and family to come here to have happy hour.

Those types of things kind of spread out the traffic to not you know four to six.

It could be like you know, four to like ten o'clock because people want to be there, they're gonna take a workout afterwards and and stuff like that.

So again, that the whole design, we we consider this mixed use because of that amenity that's really there.

So that's hopefully reduces traffic, but it also invites people in.

I highly want to advocate for that in your negotiations with future tenants.

Please keep that in mind.

That's really important to build community, especially around this area.

We want to continue.

You heard the presentations earlier today.

It's about building community and including folks, not making them feel I can't go into that glass um uh building, right?

It it makes people welcomed, it makes people uh connect even with our downtown and walk down to our our downtown businesses and support our businesses.

So I I really encourage you to to hold that negotiation point really strong on when you when you think about this facility.

Um I also maybe it's Billy or maybe it's you.

Um the other building uh that's coming up, IQ HQ building uh was here I think at the last council meeting.

Uh they're facing uh highway 101, and they had also mentioned that their lighting will change according to the traffic patterns as as streets or traffic moves along.

I'm wondering if that's a consideration in terms of the lighting that will be um in these buildings reflecting on highway 101.

Is that for our safety or more of an art?

Uh I think it's uh it's both, right?

It's art and but it's also safety.

I would I'm I mean, I don't know.

We'll we'll I can only imagine what that would look like.

That's pretty cool and interesting.

Um we have as as you've seen from our uh 101 project, um, the the art uh that we have on our parking garage that's gonna shimmer and glow and it's it's really cool.

Um we haven't really thought about what the lighting like I I think it's pretty easy because a lot of it is LED lighting that you can switch between different colors.

I don't know if that's distracting to to drivers.

I'm I hope it's not, but I think it'd be pretty easy to have that as part of the project to be able to have different colors as as you see.

I appreciate the art.

That was in kind of my priority.

My priority was just the brightness of it right now, as as it's in that space, right?

Absolutely.

We appreciate the lighting.

I love it that it's uh LED and gold plus certified and all of that, but um the lighting situation as it as it as traffic moves forward on that.

Yeah, I think all of that's designed to not be distracting or have light spill over to the freeway to to make it difficult to drive, if if that's the concern, but maybe Mark, talk about it.

I I can add a little bit of detail.

The lighting on the freeway side was not imagined as an art piece.

Um our lighting designer is uh excuse me, Francis Cray, who is really an absolute expert at the science and photometrics of lighting, and we did a lot of careful work with him to understand for both the parking garages, the roofs, and the the street level lighting to eliminate glare from the freeway and also to cut off the headlight distraction from the freeway.

That's part of the reason for the elevation, part of the reason for the trees.

Um there is decorative lighting at the top of the buildings.

Um it's carefully tuned to not shine into the sky so that it doesn't distract and confuse birds.

Um it could be programmed to change color.

That wasn't a feature we thought about, but it's something we we'd be happy to think about as we get into the more detailed design.

Great.

Yeah, again, I'm appreciative of the public art component.

That's not the priority here.

It's just making sure that the safety component is of uh essence here.

Um talked about also um uh a little bit about uh the the bicycle, I think at one point you said the bike four bike lanes, uh Billy.

I wanted to look back at the renderings.

Uh they're not within the project, right?

This is off uh moving towards uh downtown.

Is that where the the class four bike lane would be basically connecting terminal up uh produce and and airport to Baden to connect to the Caltrain station?

So it's not within.

One is two and three, I saw.

It's a class, yeah, class one, I believe, in the site itself, um, and then a separate connection south towards South Line, got it.

And while you're up here, um you mentioned that it would come back to council when uh demolition construction, can you explain a little bit more on the part that will come back?

So the Golden Gate Produce Terminal was designated as a potential historic resource, um hasn't because of that, um becomes a significant um impact and an unavoidable because we're taking it down.

So the the question was is there some way to document the history of the Golden Gate Produce Terminal?

So what we have as a mitigation measure is that Stillway will create a like a public interpretive program or like a signage program that will be designed into the overall site, that specific public interpretive signage program, that is what would come back to council.

We didn't want to design all of that now, wanted to get through entitlements first, but before they would be able to do any demolition of the Golden Gate Produce Terminal buildings, that program would have to be approved and that that happens at council level.

Thanks for that.

Got it, thank you.

Um I'd be remiss not to mention this uh in the uh sorry.

Were you gonna comment about that?

Go ahead.

I just thought I would, since you asked about the bike lanes, the uh the bike lane improvements at Shaw and Produce going north are class four because they are uh two-way separated but in the street.

The western edge of the site, which connects to both of those, um, it is actually a shared pedestrian and bike path that is raised from the street, so it's separated from the street because it's on the west side of the site, it doesn't have any intersections, so it's essentially a straight shot up the western edge past the potential daycare, should it be there, um, and then out to the class four bike lane, which goes up um from terminal to produce to Baden.

Um the reason we did it that way was there's a fairly narrow connection to Shaw, and we thought for pedestrian and bike safety we wanted to separate that from the cars, and then in addition, it it puts them uh on the other side of the street from the buildings, and we have trees on the other side.

So although it sounds like it's less because it's not class four, it's actually separated from the roadway.

The pedestrians are separated from the roadway.

Um, so I think it's a it's an excellent facility that will be very safe to connect all the way through the site.

There are also um bike lanes within the site in all different directions.

So it's it's really a a very uh bike and pedestrian friendly plan.

Thank you.

Uh the lower adjacent parcel, what is that?

Remind me again.

What is that gonna look like?

It wasn't included in this project.

What is what is that?

I saw it in the renders.

The off-site redesignation parcels.

There's no change.

So that's park and fly currently.

It's just giving it the same zoning hand use classification designation.

So at some point in the future, if that were redeveloped, it would be the same type of use.

Okay.

Great.

Nothing's proposed there currently though.

I wanted to confirm that.

And then I saw in a lot of the great graphics and renderings, uh, Ben, um, the Utah overpass there, but I didn't see it in your financial that you're contributing to the the creation and the building of that.

How are we gonna get that overpass build then?

That is a separate project.

It has its own funding.

Um, does it have funding?

No, I I should say it has its own funding needs.

Um that is a uh a project that the city will have to look at um steelwave has expressed interest in their transportation impact fees going towards that um but obviously we we don't give it to specific projects you're gonna put it on renderings that's a very strong assumption so we need to see the financial we wanted to make sure that their project could incorporate it if it if the city decides to move forward with it right at some point great wanted to confirm that all right um thank you thank you uh let's move on uh if we have any public comments mayor all right uh floor did you want to have anything else to add or are you good you're good I think so okay great awesome all right so let me uh close the public hearing and if I will entertain a motion to move uh this forward Claire do I need uh separate motions here yes that promotion each of the items gotcha okay we'll take one um at a time uh do I have a uh a motion to move forward with item nineteen a I'll make the motion for nineteen a I have a first do I have a second I'll second it I have a first and a second can I have roll call please councilmember Nicholas aye councilmember Coleman yes mayor flores yes councilmember Nogales yes vice mayor Diego yes motion passes uh can I have a motion to move forward with item 19 B.

So moved I have a first can I have a second I'll second I have a first and a second can I have roll call please.

Councilmember Nicholas aye mayor Flores yes Councilmember Coleman yes Vice Mayor Diego yes Councilmember Nogales yes motion passes uh moving forward with item 19 C can I have a motion to move that forward I was so moved Mr.

Mayor and I will second uh have a first and a second can I have roll call please Vice Mayor Diego yes Councilmember Nogales yes Councilmember Nicholas I mayor Flores yes Councilmember Coleman yes great last item item 19 D.

Is there a motion to approve I move to approve do I have a second second I have a first and a second uh roll call please council member Coleman yes Vice Mayor Diego?

Yes Mayor Flores?

Yes Councilmember Nicholas aye Councilmember Nicholas yes okay I'll motions uh pass and move forward thank you thank you all thank you very much moving on to item number 20 is a record report regarding introduction of an ordinance repealing current building code regulations under title 15 of the South San Francisco municipal code and adopting by reference the 2025 California building standards code with certain local amendments item 20 a is the ordinance I'd like to open the public hearing on this item welcome hi good evening mayor vice mayor city council my name is Eric Reedorf and I'm your chief building official tonight my legislative business is our triannual code adoption every three years the International Code Council ICC publishes the model codes a year later the California Building Standards Commission along with the California State Farm Marshal and other state agencies amend and adopt the model codes known as the California Code of Regulations Title 24 these become some of the most restrictive codes in the nation monitoring building safety accessibility fire rating energy efficiency structural integrity fire suppression and sustainability just to name a few a city has a legal obligation for adopting these adopted codes and readopting previous local amendments that they wish to carry over.

Our last code adoption with local amendments was January 1st, 2023, which included a few local amendments, as well as a residential electrification reach code, which was adopted on June 9th, 2021.

Our code adoption this year is similar to our code adoption in 2022, with a few exceptions.

First, this time we are bound by restrictions of AB 130 adopted June 20, June 2025, which along with other things created a six-year moratorium on local amendments to building codes as it applies to residential.

It restricts local jurisdictions from passing more restrictive local amendments and/or ordinance ordinances to residential construction unless it has been adopted by September 1st, 2025, or unless it meets one of the five exemptions defined in the bill.

These include changes or modifications, substantially equivalent to standards that were in effect before September 2025, changes needed to align with the general plan approved before June 2025 and meeting other requirements, home hardening, administrative process streamlining, and energy standards required by the state.

Due to the fact that our residential electric reach code uh ordinance was adopted in 2021.

We're able to keep it as part of this year's code adoption and for future code adoption cycles.

The second change is that we have a new volume added, volume seven WUI, which is wildland urban interface, which includes specific code requirements for those areas that are part of state farm marshal defined area where the development meets undeveloped wildland area.

California has had uh specific wooy code requirements since 2008.

Prior to the new separate volume, WUI had been previously housed within the California Building Code.

South San Francisco has adopted the new fire hazard safety zones, the FHSCs, published by the state fire marshal for the local responsibility area.

But as you can see from the map, the areas listed are labeled moderate, and the adoption of the WUI area was not deemed necessary.

Therefore, mandatory provisions from the WUI code do not need to be enforced, which is good news for our homeowners in this fringe area.

The plan this year, along with the adoption of the 2025 codes, is to maintain our currently adopted amendments and readopt our current residential electrification reach code for new construction.

In conclusion, staff recommends that the city council introduce an ordinance which will amend the South San Francisco Municipal Code and adopt by reference the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Commission Title 24, the International Property Maintenance Code, readopt the existing residential electrification reach code, and waive further readings.

Okay.

I would like to thank the city attorney's office, especially Claire Lye and Fire Marshal Harders for their extensive collaboration during this process and working through some of the amendments.

Thank you, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

Thank you.

Appreciate that.

Presentation, any clarifications or questions or comments from my colleagues.

Any public comments on this hearing?

No public comments, Mayor.

All right.

Then we'll proceed with closing the public hearing.

And we uh will entertain a motion to move this forward.

I'll I'll move the item, Mr.

Mayor.

Okay, I have a first and a second.

Can I have roll call, please?

Councilmember Coleman?

Yes.

Councilmember Nogales?

Yes.

Mayor Flores?

Yes.

Councilmember Nicholas?

Aye.

Vice Mayor Diego.

Yes.

Item passes.

Moves forward.

Thank you all.

Thank you very much.

All right.

Uh that ends our public hearings going to the last item.

Next item, please.

Moving on to administrative business.

Item number 21 is a report regarding a resolution approving a successor memorandum understanding between the city of South San Francisco and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 39, amending the public safety manager's compensation plan, approving amendment number two to the city's wage and salary schedule, and approving budget amendment number 26.025.

Item 21A is a resolution.

Okay, Leah, bring us home.

All right.

Good evening, Mayor Flores, Vice Mayor Audiego, and City Council members, Leah Lockhart, your human resources director.

I know it's been a long night, so I'm going to keep my comments brief tonight.

Just by way of background, we have our actually a total of eight labor groups, eight employee and labor groups, and as of August 13th, council approved tentative agreements with six of those groups.

And now tonight we are presenting the final two tentative agreements, one with the International Association of Operating Engineers, Local 39.

They represent our wastewater treatment plan, or sorry, wastewater water water quality control plant operators and technical staff, as well as our public safety managers, so the command staff for our police and fire department.

The key terms of these agreements are similar to our other agreements that we previously presented, so 4% cost of living increase for each of two years.

And again, that is similar to what we had across the board for other groups.

These are equivalent to what the subordinate groups received.

So it's keeping the alignment the same.

We did bring back the longevity pay benefit, which had formerly sunseted for employees who were hired after 2012.

And this one, these two also follow some of the other groups.

So for local 39, this is the same benefit that the AFSME and Teamsters group got.

So at 10 years of service, that's one percent of salary, and a total of 3.5% at 15 years.

For public safety managers, this is equivalent to what the police and fire groups got, two and a half percent at seven years and three and a half at 15 years.

And so this is a common certificate, uh verifies a certain level of experience and training, specifically geared towards command staff management skills.

And along with that is a requirement that everybody live in the state of California.

One other item that is in the salary schedule that is presented tonight, is uh a small adjustment for the fire chief.

And this is due to we look at internal alignment, we try to make sure that supervisors are at least 10% above their subordinate, and with department heads, you know, we we like to be a little bit above 10%, but you know, 10% would really be the minimum after adding in uh all the incentive pays and different uh pay components.

Uh we are recommending a two uh 2.3% adjustment to the range for fire chief.

And then in terms of fiscal impact, uh what was budgeted this fiscal year was an estimated three percent cost of living adjustment.

Uh, the four percent uh is a bit above and beyond that, plus um some of the added uh smaller incentive pays, and so uh because we have the um uh local 39 group is uh entirely budgeted through the sewer enterprise fund.

That does not hit the general fund, that's 86, uh roughly 87,000 um per year, and then uh the general fund is uh where the public safety managers are are funded from, and that is uh 226,000 uh for the fiscal year in addition in additional appropriations.

So that is included as budget amendment 26.025, and that would appropriate the funds.

Um staff's recommendation is to approve the um tenative agreements for the successor MOU with IOU IUOE Local 39 and the amended public safety managers compensation plan uh as well as well as the amendment to the wage and salary schedule.

And with that, I just want to thank council for their direction and support and thank our labor groups for a collaborative and uh thoughtful process uh as we completed these MOUs.

Any questions?

Thank you, Leah.

Appreciate your work on this.

Uh any questions?

I know this council is very well versed on this item, but I'll entertain any questions or comments.

Just uh thank you to the Leo for all your great work and all to our labor partners to gain this resolve.

Thank you.

All right, uh any uh public comments?

No public comments, mayor.

Once again, thank you, Leah.

I know it was a pretty long uh season here with all these eight, but uh you did it and you did it successfully, thank you and the entire team that supported this.

And with that, I will take a motion to move forward and approve this item.

Is there a motion?

I'll move it.

I have a first to I have a second, a second.

The first and a second.

Can I have a roll call, please?

Councilmember Nogales?

Yes.

Mayor Flores?

Yes.

Councilmember Coleman?

Yes.

Vice Mayor Diego?

Yes.

Councilmember Nicholas.

Hi, thank you.

Motion passes.

Um next item.

Moving on to items from council committee reports and announcements.

Any updates, reports, or announcements.

All right.

I'll just say one thing.

So HART, Housing Endowment and Regional Trust Board of San Mateo County.

We have our annual celebration tomorrow, 5 p.m.

at Devils Canyon Brewing, and you're all invited, so please come by, celebrate housing and eat some food.

All right.

Um before we adjourn, just want to remind everyone watching and at home.

Our next council meeting is not October 8th, it is October 22nd.

Um, yes, and we will adjourn in memory of all those mentioned uh tonight.

And councilwoman Nicholas travel home back safe, uh have a safe flight.

And with that, I will adjourn this meeting.

Have a good night, everyone.

Thank you.