South San Francisco City Council Regular Meeting - February 25, 2026

The South San Francisco City Council held a regular meeting on February 25, 2026, covering a wide range of topics including the announcement of a new Business Advocates program for small businesses, council member comments on community events and legislative issues, a public hearing on the CDBG community needs assessment, a proposed lease agreement for a cafe at the Library Parks and Recreation Center, and a design update for new dedicated pickleball courts at Orange Memorial Park. The meeting also included discussion and revision of the City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook.

Presentations

• Women in Public Safety Workshop (March 28, 2026): Lieutenant Amy Seriati announced a workshop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the police department, designed to help women explore careers in policing and fire service. The event was championed by Councilmember Nicholas. As of the meeting, six registrants had signed up, with a goal of at least 20 participants.
• New Business Advocates Program: Economic Development Manager Ernesto Lucero presented a new initiative to assist small businesses in understanding permits, zoning, and other requirements when opening or expanding a location in South San Francisco. The program provides a single point of contact through economic development staff, aiming to save time and money by engaging businesses before they sign a lease. The program builds on the existing Economic Advancement Center, which has helped nearly 2,400 people find jobs or start businesses.

Council Comments & Requests

• Memorials: Mayor Adiego and Councilmember Flores honored three community members who recently passed away: Geraldo Valentino "Aldo" Maltoni (age 93), Ivania Bustos, and Julia Garbarino Ramos (age 104). Councilmember Flores also recognized the life of Reverend Jesse Jackson.
• Events & Activities: Councilmember Flores reported on the Black Lives Matter flag raising, the What is Love Art Show, the Lunar New Year celebration (over 2,000 attendees at the night market), and other community events. Vice Mayor Nogales highlighted the Youth and Government Breakfast and his Westborough town hall. Councilmember Nicholas noted her attendance at Kaiser Permanente's Magnet recognition site visit and her participation on the Authority Board.
• Policy Concerns: Multiple council members discussed the need for e-bike safety regulations following a fatal accident in Half Moon Bay, with the mayor urging the city to act quickly. Councilmember Coleman raised the issue of BART's fiscal cliff and the potential closure of the South San Francisco station by 2027 without new funding, calling for community education. Councilmember Flores reported on the state's Vehicle License Fee (VLF) funds being withheld and the county's lawsuit against the state. Mayor Adiego noted the seriousness of the budget situation and the need for subcommittee meetings to discuss potential cuts.
• Other: Councilmember Flores highlighted a $850,000 federal grant for the Westborough Early Childhood Education Center, secured by Congressman Kevin Mullen. He also noted that South San Francisco's Transportation Demand Management (TDM) policy received a county exemption for exceeding reduction requirements. Councilmember Coleman proposed creating a local "I Voted" sticker contest.

Public Comments

• Corey David: Criticized the city's handling of the Municipal Services Building (MSB) and alleged neglect, questioning the use of a FEMA grant and demanding transparency.
• Annie Lowell: Asked about the city council handbook revisions (noting no redlines in the draft) and requested feedback on why she was not selected for a board or commission appointment, leaving two seats open.
• Fionola (via speaker): Praised council members Adiego and Coleman for supporting preservation of public records and accused the city of past corruption, urging arrests.
• Leslie Fong: Suggested the city allow advanced submission of public comments to reduce in-person speaking time and praised the council and city staff for their dedication.

Consent Calendar

• Items 2–3 and 5–11 were approved unanimously. Item 4 (handbook revisions) was pulled for separate discussion, and Item 5 (budget amendment) was also pulled by Mayor Adiego.
• Budget Amendment (Item 5): Staff reported a $600,000 increase in permit fee revenue and $300,000 in professional services expenditures due to a surge in permit applications before the building code cycle change. The council approved the amendment.

City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook (Item 4)

The council discussed proposed revisions to the handbook. Key points:

• Minute Format: The council reached consensus to include the speaker's name and the topic of their comment in the minutes, rather than just a list of names. Staff will update the format accordingly.
• Video Retention: Councilmember Coleman advocated for keeping video recordings beyond the proposed two-year retention period, citing historical value. The city clerk noted current retention is 30 days (state minimum) but the city keeps videos for two years and is updating its records schedule. The issue was left for future discussion.
• Public Comment Time Limits: After debate, the council agreed to adopt a transparent framework: 3 minutes per speaker for 1–10 speakers, 2 minutes for 11–20 speakers, and 1 minute for 21 or more speakers. The mayor retains flexibility to adjust based on total agenda items. Language will be drafted for a future meeting.
• Proclamations and Recognitions: Vice Mayor Nogales suggested placing external proclamation requests on the consent calendar to streamline presentations. The council agreed to consider this as a compromise.
• Honoring the Life of Requests: The council agreed to move this item from the end of the agenda (item 13) to earlier in the meeting (item 8) to avoid lengthy waits for families.
• Travel Reimbursement: The city manager clarified that the new travel request forms are for out-of-county travel; local travel is covered by the annual budget.
• Credit Card Policy: Mayor Adiego stressed the importance of timely receipt submission, suggesting that non-compliant council members should surrender city credit cards and use reimbursement instead.

The item was continued to a future meeting for further revisions.

Public Hearing: CDBG Community Needs Assessment (Item 12)

Staff presented the annual action plan for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The estimated CDBG entitlement for 2026-27 is $456,000. Ten applications were received for public services, with $200,000 available through city-funded housing activities. The council heard testimony from nonprofit organizations:

• Life Moves (Miguel Chavez): Requested $33,445 for case management at Family Crossroads in Daly City, serving 45 families (70 adults, 78 children). Reported a 77% positive exit rate to permanent housing and 96% stability at 12 months.
• Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center (Carlos Reyes): Served 35 South San Francisco residents since July, providing business classes and consulting. Goal of 40 eligible clients annually.
• HIP Housing (Laura Fenuki): Serves 60 residents in South San Francisco through home sharing, self-sufficiency, housing readiness, and a resource hub. One senior exited shelter and secured housing at Magnolia Plaza.
• Rebuilding Together Peninsula (Melissa Logan): Repairs homes for low-income homeowners, including seniors and people with disabilities. Completed work for nearly 90% reported reduced stress and improved ability to age in place.
• Safe Harbor Shelter (Juan Molina): Served 156 South San Francisco residents in the last fiscal year (exceeding the projection of 90). Provides shelter, food, counseling, and recovery services.
• CORA (Karen Ferguson): Operates the only domestic violence shelter in San Mateo County (28 beds). CDBG funding supports the safe house program.
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (David Carducci): Holds weekly legal clinics at the YMCA to prevent evictions. Evictions in the county up 60% from 2019 to 2025.
• Friends for Youth (Ron Campania): Requested $13,200 to provide mentoring for six students in South San Francisco schools. Starting group mentoring at the high school.

No action was taken; the council will receive the CDBG subcommittee's funding recommendations on March 6.

Discussion: Morning Vibes Cafe Lease (Item 13)

Staff recommended a 36-month lease with Mata MV Corporation (dba Morning Vibes Cafe) to operate a 192-square-foot cafe on the third floor of the Library Parks and Recreation Center. Proposed terms: $240 monthly base rent plus percentage of gross sales (3% year 1, 3.5% year 2, 4% year 3+). Estimated move-in summer 2026. Councilmember Flores noted that the rent/revenue share scoring was only 4.9% of the evaluation and that other proposals offered higher rent. Mayor Adiego suggested postponing the item to discuss terms in closed session and to consider a broader catering policy. The council agreed to continue the item to a closed session in March.

Discussion: Pickleball Courts at Orange Memorial Park (Item 14)

Staff presented design plans for six dedicated pickleball courts at the site of the existing skate park, funded by $1.05 million in park construction fees. Key features: sound-dampening panels (opaque and transparent), wind screening, lighting, a bullpen waiting area, and nine parking stalls. An acoustic study indicated no increase in noise levels to adjacent neighbors. The project is estimated to cost $855,000 and is targeted for completion in fall 2026. The council expressed support for the design, with suggestions to consider future expansion and tree planting for wind mitigation. No formal action was taken; the project will return for bidding approval.

Key Outcomes

• The council directed staff to revise the meeting minute format to include speaker names and topics.
• The council agreed on a public comment time framework (3/2/1 minutes based on number of speakers) and directed staff to draft language for the handbook.
• The consensed to continue the handbook revisions to a future meeting.
• The council continued the Morning Vibes Cafe lease item to a closed session in March to discuss terms.
• The council provided general support for the pickleball court design, with project returning for bidding approval.
• Councilman Flores was designated as the proxy for the San Mateo County City Selection Committee meeting on February 27 to vote on Hart Board reappointment (Diane Howard).
• The council entered closed session for anticipated litigation (one potential case).