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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2012-05-23 (2) . 4 :P Il _ MINUTES 0_ ti ` = _ 0 CITY COUNCIL U r Tyr O CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO c4IIFORA REGULAR MEETING MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUILDING COMMUNITY ROOM 33 ARROYO DRIVE WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2012 CALL TO ORDER: TIME: 7:02 P.M. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Councilmembers Addiego, Matsumoto and Mullin, Vice Mayor Gonzalez and Mayor Garbarino. ABSENT: None. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Garbarino. PRESENTATIONS • State of the City Presentation by Hon. Mayor Garbarino. Hon. Mayor Garbarino presented the State of the City Address opening by noting that many changes had taken place since he last gave the address as Mayor in 2007. He stated that economic circumstances on both the state and national levels had drastically changed as recovery from a recession was now beginning. Highlights from the presentation included that South San Francisco had worked hard to weather the recession; sustainability was and would continue to be a major focus of the City; the Ferry Service was set to open on June 4, 2012; housing stock continued to grow and be rehabilitated; and despite the dissolution of Redevelopment the City hoped plans to rehabilitate the Downtown and follow the Grand Boulevard Initiative on El Camino Real would continue. Mayor Garbarino closed by commending the Police Department for its work leading to the May 3, 2012 arrests of suspected gang members alleged to be responsible for tragic violence in the City. He encouraged all residents to continue to stand together against community violence. • Certificate of Recognition: LS9, Inc. 2012 Sustainable Biofuels Technology Award presented to Charles Penner. Item not heard. • Proclamation declaring EMS Week in the City of South San Francisco. Council presented the Proclamation declaring May 20- May 26 as Emergency Medical Services ( "EMS ") Week in the City of South San Francisco to Fire Captain Medeiros. The Proclamation recognized the importance of EMS and the highly trained individuals who work to save lives on a daily basis. • Proclamation honoring National Public Works Week. Council presented the Proclamation honoring National Public Works Week to Director of Public Works White. Director White thanked Council and the Citizenry for supporting the Public Works Department. He noted the Department's employees were very dedicated to their job tasks and were proud to contribute to the safety and health of the community. AGENDA REVIEW None. PUBLIC COMMENTS Several Downtown Merchants appeared before Council to express concern regarding the declining character and climate for doing business in the Downtown District. Included among those that addressed Council were: Dr. Leonilo Torio of South City Optometry, Don Edwards of Bronstein Music, Sam Shehadeh of School House Grocery and Amoura Catering, Mia Garcia of Madame's Boutique, David Naman of South City Pawn, Rita and Sergio Hernandez of Panaderia Hernandez, Barber Joe Murrata, Hardware Store Owner Nick Tentes, Christina Ng of Grand Palace Restaurant, Jim Wilson of Physique Magnifique and Business Owner Romero Castillo. Collectively these individuals recounted several issues confronting business owners, clients and customers in the Downtown, including, aggressive panhandlers, drug dealing, unsavory actions and robberies. Several of the merchants opined these incidents might be minimized if Saint Vincent DePaul's operations were moved to a more appropriate site. They further noted their customers do not feel safe walking to and from their cars in the evening. They urged Council to acknowledge the problem and come together with the community to figure out ways to offer solutions. Councilman Mullin thanked the business owners for addressing this issue. He acknowledged awareness of the problem and asked staff for an update on progress related to assisting the chronically homeless in the area. Assistant City Manager and Director of Economic and Community Development Van Duyn noted that Council was aware that the former Redevelopment Agency had acquired a property suitable for leasing and occupancy by Saint Vincent DePaul. With the dissolution of the RDA, plans to move towards this possibility had been tabled. However, the City planned to encourage movement in this direction. Councilwoman Matsumoto acknowledged the problem and recounted Council's efforts to clean up the area, including introduction of a greater police presence. She noted that in many instances, legal obstacles prevent action to clean -up the streets. She questioned whether any ordinances or other solutions might target the problem. Captain Brosnan of the Police Department noted that benches in the area had been removed and lanes and breezeways had been reconfigured to make loitering less comfortable and /or attractive. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 23, 2012 MINUTES 2 Councilman Addiego noted that due to his employment by the Archdiocese of San Francisco, he was conflicted out of any discussion related to Saint Vincent DePaul. Regarding the Downtown generally, he noted his appreciation for the Merchant's concern and their willingness to work with Council to find a solution. He believed the Downtown should be an area where people feel safe coming and going and businesses are free to prosper. Mayor Garbarino stated the importance of devising a strategy to clean -up the area. He encouraged staff to consider a town hall meeting with the merchants and County stakeholders to bring awareness of the impact of certain County programs. Councilman Mullin requested further information regarding the County program aimed at assuaging the problem of chronic homelessness in the City. Assistant City Manager Van Duyn noted that the City did get an award for the HOTS Program which had been successful at resolving the problem of chronic homelessness in San Mateo. He noted that part of the program was to be supported by redevelopment funds, and accordingly, was presently on hold. However, Phase 1 of the project was still being worked out. ITEMS FROM COUNCIL • Announcements. • Committee Reports. Councilmembers reported on attendance at community meetings and events including a Council of Cities Dinner at Facebook, a CMET Meeting, an MTC Meeting and a PG &E Meeting. Councilmembers congratulated Mayor Garbarino on his State of the City Address. Announcements regarding upcoming events included the ribbon cutting at the South San Francisco Ferry Terminal on June 4, 2012 and the Memorial Day Celebration that would begin with a 9:15 a.m. march from the Main Fire Station followed by a ceremony at Orange Park near the Eternal Flame Sculpture. Specific items for further action and/or consideration were set forth as follows: Councilman Addiego announced a program that would be rolled out by Assistant to the City Manager Kennedy. The program, called Next Door, would be a website for neighborhoods and would foster resident connections and engagement. Vice Mayor Gonzalez encouraged residents with questions or concerns about the PG &E Pipeline Project to call the PG &E hotline set up to deal with such inquiries at 1- 800 -743- 5000. Mayor Garbarino requested that the meeting be adjourned in honor of Dennis Rosaia, whom he described as his friend and a stalwart of the community. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 23, 2012 MINUTES 3 • Update on South San Francisco Coalition Strategic Plan by Michelle Vilchez, Executive Director of the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center ( "PCRC "). Executive Director of the PCRC Michelle Vilchez provided a PowerPoint presentation updating Council and the public on the progress of the South San Francisco Coalition Strategic Plan. The presentation recounted the contract objectives, included an update on current coalition goals, activities and accomplishments and provided a plan for next year. During the presentation, Ms. Vilchez noted that PCRC had been operating for 27 years as a neutral organization providing mediation services, community engagement and violence prevention. As part of the South San Francisco Coalition Strategic Plan the agency was contracted in early 2011 to assist with fostering collaboration amongst residents and community leaders. Over the past year and a half, the agency served as a facilitator and convener overseeing the strategic planning process and developing a collaborative strategic plan document that all community partners were committed to implementing. The planning process began early in 2011 and has included input and collaboration from over 450 participants throughout the City, including youth, teachers principals, community leaders and nonprofit service providers. Over 21 dialogues, 55 one -on -ones and 200 surveys were included as part of this data collection process. Ideas generated through this collaborative process included, but were not limited to, the following: (1) creation of a liaison position at schools and campuses; (2) provision of programming information and resources to local teachers; (3) increase in employment opportunities; (4).) continuing to work collaboratively with law enforcement; (4) strengthening the family unit; (5) mentorship; and (6) increased engagement. Major accomplishments during the first year included the first annual peace walk, and regular meetings of the Community Coalition. The Community Coalition would be working on the National Night Out in August 2012. She noted the City's Coalition building program had merited attention through the region and commended Council on its groundbreaking work to engage the citizenry and end violence in the community. Councilman Mullin thanked Ms. Vilchez for her commitment to the Coalition and for spearheading the work within the community. He thanked and recognized Vice Mayor Gonzalez for his dedication to the program and for helping it to succeed. He noted the community's commitment to the program would be essential as it continued to build on the strategies and other efforts aimed at ending violence and developing partnerships. He noted the program's success might not be immediately measurable, but that the work being done now would bear fruit over the long hall and in future generations. Councilman Addiego expressed disappointment with the strategic plan document. He opined it could have been written for any community with the exception of the first paragraph and noted a preference that it be more specific to a better and safer South San Francisco. Councilwoman Matsumoto applauded the work being done, but noted similar concerns to Councilman Addiego. She requested that the plan include more specific solutions. She questioned whether the data collection included neighborhoods outside of the Old Town area. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 23, 2012 MINUTES 4 Ms. Vilchez noted the first phase of work was in the Old Town area, as it was perceived to have the greatest need. As the program grew, it gained momentum and it is hoped that data collection and plan implementation will be move to other parts of the City. Councilwoman Matsumoto noted the target population was youth. She suggested that more parent involvement be incorporated in the plan. She also encouraged development of the document in a more fluid direction and requested that more detailed measurement tools be incorporated. She commended the plan's incorporation of a parenting academy. Vice Mayor Gonzalez commented on the importance of moving forward with the plan to build awareness, relationships and partnerships within the affected community and throughout the City. Ms. Vilchez noted that at times during the process participants had felt like progress was coming slowly. She noted that this new approach to dealing with violence was playing out through implementation and she welcomed Council's feedback and suggestions for improvement. Captain Brosnan thanked Ms. Vilchez and her team for their assistance with engaging the public and building relationships that have helped to forge partnerships between the Police and the community. He thanked the public for showing patience during this trying time in the City. Councilman Mullin advocated for continuing the program. City Manager Nagel advised Council had agreed to fund the project with $50, 000.00 over a two year period. It would be revisited in a future budget process. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Motion to approve the minutes of meetings of May 9, 2012. 2. Motion to approve expense claims of May 23, 2012. 3. Motion to waive reading and adopt an ordinance repealing Chapter 8.58 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code pertaining to Solicitations directed to Occupants of Motor Vehicles. 4. Motion to waive reading and adopt an ordinance modifying regulations regarding the allowed locations and other minor revisions for Antenna and Wireless Communications Facilities (Chapter 20.370), and to amend the Waivers and Modifications chapter (Chapter 20.510) to allow regulatory flexibility for projects that include environmentally sustainable design and/or technology, in accordance with South San Francisco Municipal Code Chapter 20.550 ( "Amendments to Zoning Ordinance and Map "). 5. Resolution No. 36 -2012 authorizing the acceptance of $8,650 in donations and grant REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 23, 2012 MINUTES 5 funding to support the Library's Summer Reading Club and Reader Leader program, and amending the Library Department's 2011/2012 Operating Budget. Motion— Councilwoman Matsumoto /Second— Councilman Addiego: to approve the Consent Calendar. Unanimously approved by voice vote. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 6. Resolution No. 37 -2012 approving proposed 2012/13 Scavenger Rates. Director of Finance Steele presented the staff report recommending approval of the proposed resolution authorizing the scavenger rates for 2012/2013. He noted that pursuant to the 1997 Franchise Agreement between the Scavengers and the City, a rate survey is conducted every 3 years. The benchmark for the rate adjustment is 95% of the average of the rates in the 32 cities surveyed. Pursuant to the study done for the upcoming year, residential rates would have increased by 7- 8.59 %. Due to current economic circumstances, the Scavengers recognize this to be a difficult increase for customers. Accordingly, the Scavenger Company had expressed a willingness to split the increase over 2 years. With those terms, the proposed rates, which would increase the average residential 32 gallon container household by $1.10 /month was before Council for approval. Councilman Addiego commended the Scavenger Company for its excellent and reliable service in the City. He further noted that the Company's Principals have long standing associations with the community and give back in so many way ways. Councilwoman Matsumoto commended the Company for its civic engagement. She noted that rates are going up in all cities, but to assist with easing the burden on South San Francisco families the Scavengers are taking a loss and splitting the entitled increase over 2 years. Paul Formosa, CFO of the Couth San Francisco Scavenger Company thanked Council and noted the Company was working on several sustainability and other service improvements, including working with commercial customers to meet new recycling requirements, an anaerobic digestion program, a composting program and corresponding use of methane gas to fuel company vehicles. Motion— Councilwoman Matsumoto /Second Councilman Addiego: to approve Resolution No. 37 -2011. Unanimously approved by voice vote. COMMUNITY FORUM Councilman Addiego requested that the meeting be adjourned in honor of Bob Marshall of San Bruno. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 23, 2012 MINUTES 6 ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Mayor Garbarino adjourned the meeting at 9:21 p.m. in honor of Bob Marshall and Dennis Rosaia. Submitted by: Approved: ' 'sta Martin i, City (422 ichard A. Ga arino, Mayor City of Sout an Francisco City of South San Francisco REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 23, 2012 MINUTES 7