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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting – February 16, 2023

Planning Commission — Thursday, February 16, 2023

BodySouth San Francisco, California

SessionPlanning Commission

DateThursday, February 16, 2023

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 47:05

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:04

Okay, I see Tony's thumbs up, so I'm gonna start.

0:09

Welcome to the Thursday, February 16th regular meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission.

0:15

This meeting is being held in accordance with the Brown Act as currently in effect under the provisions of Assembly Bill 361, which allows attendance by members of the Planning Commission, city staff, and the public to participate and conduct the meeting by teleconference.

0:33

Teleconference locations are not open to the public.

0:37

To provide a comment during the meeting, please use the raise hand function indicating you would like to speak and you will be unmuted in order during the times we're served for public comments.

0:49

You will have three minutes to make your comments.

0:52

You may also email PC comments at SSF.net or call 650 8294669, and we will read into the record emails or message comments that you provide.

1:07

Please note that all commission time limits and rules of decorum will apply to public comments.

1:14

This meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission is hereby called to order.

1:18

Will you please stand and join in the pledge of the allegiance?

1:23

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:30

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:37

May we have the roll call, please?

1:47

Adina, you're muted.

1:52

Okay.

1:53

Chair Zhang.

1:54

Here.

1:56

Vice Chair Faria.

1:58

Here Commissioner Shahade.

2:01

Here.

2:02

Commissioner Evans.

2:05

Not here.

2:05

Commissioner Funes.

2:07

Here.

2:08

And Commissioner DePaz Fernandez.

2:10

Here.

2:14

Are there any changes to the agenda?

2:17

There are not.

2:18

Thank you.

2:21

So now it will be the oral communication.

2:25

Does any member of the public wish to address the commission on an item that is not on the agenda tonight at this time?

2:32

Please use the raise hand feature to indicate that you would like to provide a comment.

2:37

And I do see two raised hands.

2:40

We do have two raised hands.

2:42

We have so I'm gonna.

2:45

So Cynthia, I'm going to make you a speaker now.

2:50

If you would like to speak.

2:53

May I ask?

2:54

Can you hear me?

2:55

Yes.

2:56

Okay, thank you.

2:57

Good evening.

2:59

You have been contacted by the residents over the past few months to save the municipal services building as a senior multi-use historical community building.

3:09

It has passed every code inspection since 1969, is structurally sound and is a safe structure.

3:15

Multiple ideas have come from the community how it can be a benefit for all of our South San Francisco residents.

3:21

In review of past city council agendas, the general plan has been amended after its approval.

3:26

The residents contacted you to help save the MSB, and we've listened to your comments also.

3:31

At the Planning Commission meeting of February 2nd, Planning Commissioner Chair Alex Sang asked Chief Planner Tony Rossi, was this an item that the planning commission needed to agendize or take action on?

3:43

And Chief Planner Rossi said in brief, it is something the public.

3:50

Sorry, Cynthia, we are not to the city council so they can agendize it.

3:55

Oh can you hear me now?

3:58

Yes.

3:59

Uh probably rewind about like 10 seconds.

4:02

That would do.

4:04

The residents contacted you to help save the MSB.

4:08

And we've listened to your comments at the Planning Commission meeting of February 2.

4:13

Uh, planning commissioner chair Alex Zhang asked chief planner Tony Rossi, was this an item that the planning commission needed to agendize or take action on?

4:21

And Chief Planner Rosie said in brief it is something the public should direct to the city council so that they can agendize.

4:27

In the South San Francisco City Council Procedures and Protocols Handbook under boards and commissions, it states, quote, the purpose of boards and commissions is to provide advice to the city council to aid in its decision making and to handle matters within its area of expertise.

4:43

The city council is also hearing from the residents to save the MSB.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Planning Commission█████████████████████████████████33%

Public Engagement████████████████████████████28%

Procedural██████████████████████22%

Historic Preservation█████████████████17%

Summary of Proceedings

South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting – February 16, 2023

The South San Francisco Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 7:00 PM via teleconference. The meeting included public comments on the Municipal Services Building (MSB), approval of the consent calendar, reappointment of Design Review Board members, and discussion on changing the meeting start time from 7:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes: The commission unanimously approved the draft minutes from the February 2, 2023, Planning Commission meeting. Motion passed with 5 yes votes (Commissioner Evans absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

Cynthia (resident): Urged the commission to recommend that the city council preserve the MSB as a senior multi-use historical community building. She noted that the building has passed all code inspections since 1969 and is structurally sound.
Tom (resident): Stated that over 26% of South San Francisco’s population is seniors, a higher percentage than surrounding cities, and that seniors currently lack a local community center. He asked the commission to write a letter to the city council to save the MSB.
Fionola (resident): Echoed prior comments, emphasizing the need for a senior center and the obligation of younger generations to plan for future needs. She implored the commission to take action to save the MSB.
Tom Carney (resident): Later in the meeting, expressed frustration that public comments on the MSB were not being addressed due to Brown Act constraints, and asked what steps residents could take to bring the issue before the commission. City staff clarified that city-owned property matters are under the city council’s jurisdiction.
Unnamed speaker: Inquired whether the commission would be discussing the “South London projects”; staff confirmed it was not on the agenda.

Discussion Items

Design Review Board (DRB) Reappointments (Item 2): Principal Planner Adena Friedman presented a staff report recommending reappointment of all five current DRB members to another four-year term. The DRB is an advisory committee of design professionals appointed by the Planning Commission. All five members reapplied, and no new applications were received. Commissioners praised the DRB’s performance and consistency. Motion to reappoint passed unanimously (5-0).
Modification of Meeting Start Time (Item 3): Staff proposed changing the regular meeting start time from 7:00 PM to 6:00 PM, noting that the city council and most other commissions begin at 6:00 PM. The change would require a municipal code amendment by the city council. Commissioners discussed the pros and cons:
- Vice Chair Faria: Supported 6:00 PM to allow earlier end times.
- Commissioner Shihadeh: Supported 6:00 PM, citing staff and presenter convenience.
- Commissioner Funes: Preferred 7:00 PM due to disability and transportation challenges (she does not drive and relies on public transit).
- Chair Zhang: Expressed concern that a 6:00 PM start might disadvantage working residents who cannot arrive by that time, but noted that the city council already meets at 6:00 PM and that agendas are published in advance. He deferred to staff and council.
- Commissioner Luis De Paz Fernandez: Announced he will be moving out of the city and resigning from the commission soon (expecting a child in April). He supported 6:00 PM but deferred to remaining members. Staff indicated they would take the commission’s feedback to the city council. No formal action was taken.

Key Outcomes

DRB Reappointments: All five current Design Review Board members were reappointed for a four-year term (motion passed 5-0).
Meeting Start Time: No decision was made; staff will use the discussion to inform a recommendation to the city council.
Public Comments on MSB: The commission acknowledged the public’s concerns but did not take action, as the matter is not within the Planning Commission’s purview. Staff reiterated that the city council is the appropriate body for decisions on city-owned property.
Commissioner Departure: Commissioner Luis De Paz Fernandez announced his upcoming resignation due to relocation. The chair and other commissioners expressed appreciation for his service.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, I see Tony's thumbs up, so I'm gonna start. Welcome to the Thursday, February 16th regular meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission. This meeting is being held in accordance with the Brown Act as currently in effect under the provisions of Assembly Bill 361, which allows attendance by members of the Planning Commission, city staff, and the public to participate and conduct the meeting by teleconference. Teleconference locations are not open to the public. To provide a comment during the meeting, please use the raise hand function indicating you would like to speak and you will be unmuted in order during the times we're served for public comments. You will have three minutes to make your comments. You may also email PC comments at SSF.net or call 650 8294669, and we will read into the record emails or message comments that you provide. Please note that all commission time limits and rules of decorum will apply to public comments. This meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission is hereby called to order. Will you please stand and join in the pledge of the allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. May we have the roll call, please? Adina, you're muted. Okay. Chair Zhang. Here. Vice Chair Faria. Here Commissioner Shahade. Here. Commissioner Evans. Not here. Commissioner Funes. Here. And Commissioner DePaz Fernandez. Here. Are there any changes to the agenda? There are not. Thank you. So now it will be the oral communication. Does any member of the public wish to address the commission on an item that is not on the agenda tonight at this time? Please use the raise hand feature to indicate that you would like to provide a comment. And I do see two raised hands. We do have two raised hands. We have so I'm gonna. So Cynthia, I'm going to make you a speaker now. If you would like to speak. May I ask? Can you hear me? Yes. Okay, thank you. Good evening. You have been contacted by the residents over the past few months to save the municipal services building as a senior multi-use historical community building. It has passed every code inspection since 1969, is structurally sound and is a safe structure. Multiple ideas have come from the community how it can be a benefit for all of our South San Francisco residents. In review of past city council agendas, the general plan has been amended after its approval. The residents contacted you to help save the MSB, and we've listened to your comments also. At the Planning Commission meeting of February 2nd, Planning Commissioner Chair Alex Sang asked Chief Planner Tony Rossi, was this an item that the planning commission needed to agendize or take action on? And Chief Planner Rossi said in brief, it is something the public. Sorry, Cynthia, we are not to the city council so they can agendize it.

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