South San Francisco City Council Meeting - March 25, 2026

The South San Francisco City Council met on March 25, 2026, at 2:30 PM to conduct regular business. The meeting included presentations on tourism and equity, public comments, a public hearing on city vacancies, and administrative approvals. Key actions included accepting grant funds, awarding a restroom renovation contract, adopting annual progress reports, and directing staff to develop a legislative advocacy platform.

Consent Calendar

• Items 3–7A were approved unanimously. These included a proclamation for Government Finance Professionals Week, approval of minutes from March 11, 2026, reappointment of a library board member and a parking/traffic committee member, receipt of the Housing Successor Agency annual report, and a resolution approving a side letter agreement with AFSCME Local 829.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Cynthia Markopoulos urged the council to preserve official minutes that include speaker names and topics for searchability, and to retain video recordings as the city's archive.
• Sam Kikuti criticized the school board's equity efforts, citing declining math proficiency at Juniper Serra and Skyline Elementary (e.g., Serra from 82% meeting standards in 2011 to 45% in 2021–22) and argued that teaching children they are all equal sets them up for failure.
• Leslie Fong expressed strong support for city departments (police, fire, libraries, parks) and their programs, praising staff and recent events.
• A fourth speaker (not named) accused the city clerk and city attorney of deceiving the council and public regarding the format of action minutes, alleging discrepancies in documents and asking for the clerk's resignation and the city attorney's termination.

Presentations

San Francisco Peninsula CVB Strategic Plan

• John Hutar, President/CEO of the San Mateo County Silicon Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, presented the organization's strategic plan. Key points included: rebranding to "San Francisco Peninsula" in 2022; a 28.1% increase in countywide hotel revenue per available room (RevPAR) in February 2026, with a 32% increase in the Brisbane/South San Francisco/San Bruno area; and four major events planned for 2026 (Flavors of the Peninsula, Heritage Fire, Whiskies of the World, and a countywide restaurant week). Council members expressed strong support for the organization's work.

Commission on Equity and Public Safety Annual Update

• Chair Carol Sanders and Vice Chair Stephen Yee presented the commission's 2025 activities and 2026 goals. In 2025, the commission conducted a community survey and in-person interviews at Kultura Fest, finding that residents overwhelmingly reported a sense of belonging, appreciation for city programs, and a desire for greater awareness of resources. The 2026 goals include increasing public awareness of the commission and exploring equity gaps in city communications. Council members praised the commission's passion and creativity, noting that its work originates from community input.

Discussion Items

Public Hearing: Vacancy, Recruitment, and Retention Report (Item 8)

• HR Director Leah Lockhart reported on the city's vacancy rates for calendar year 2025. The average vacancy rate was 9.7% (down from previous highs). The Operating Engineers unit had a 23.5% vacancy rate but has since dropped to approximately 14% due to new hires. The average time to hire was 182 days. The city's turnover rate was 7.2%. Council discussed streamlining the hiring process and using billboard advertising. No public comments were received, and the council accepted the report.

Administrative Items

• Item 9 (Grant Acceptance): Deputy Director Angela Duldulao requested approval to accept $13,123 in additional grant funds from San Mateo County for the adult daycare and congregate nutrition programs. The funding supports meals and therapeutic activities for seniors. Councilmember Flores noted unsolicited feedback that the food was repetitive and bland; staff agreed to investigate and conduct a survey. The resolution was approved unanimously.
• Item 10 (Restroom Renovation Contract): Parks Division Manager Joshua Richardson presented a contract with Beam Construction for $258,587 to renovate the restrooms at Orange Memorial Park. The restrooms, built in 2001, have not been renovated and suffer from odor and wear. Usage at the adjacent ball field has surged from ~8,000 visits/month in 2019 to nearly 30,000/month in peak seasons. Funding comes from CDBG-CV COVID funds and previously allocated city funds. Council approved the contract unanimously.
• Item 11 (General Plan and Housing Element Annual Reports): Staff presented implementation progress. The General Plan has seen 58% of policies/actions completed or ongoing (up from 51%). For the Housing Element, the city issued building permits for 593 new residential units in 2025, including 543 multifamily units at 7 South Linden Avenue and 48 ADUs. Total RHNA progress is 770 units (19.5%) of the 3,956-unit target. Council noted the need for more affordable housing and discussed financing challenges. The reports were accepted and authorized for transmittal to state agencies.

Policy Advocacy Process (Item 12)

• Deputy City Manager Megan Woolley Osdall presented options for handling requests for letters of support/opposition on state and federal legislation. Council debated the authority to sign letters, with concerns about placing that responsibility on the mayor when the council is divided. Consensus emerged to direct staff to develop a legislative platform that would guide advocacy, with the city manager authorized to sign letters implementing that platform. The motion passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar approved (unanimous).
• Vacancy report received and filed (no vote required).
• Grant acceptance (Item 9) approved unanimously.
• Restroom renovation contract (Item 10) awarded to Beam Construction, approved unanimously.
• General Plan and Housing Element annual reports accepted and transmitted to state agencies (unanimous).
• Policy advocacy process direction given: staff to return with a draft legislative platform, with city manager authorized to sign letters consistent with that platform (unanimous).
• Council entered closed session to discuss property negotiations at 356 Grand Avenue and 901 Civic Campus Way (Items 13 and 14).