HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2013-08-05MINUTES
y SPECIAL MEETING
J O
CITY COUNCIL
OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400 Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, California 94083
None.
None.
Meeting to be held at:
CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM
400 GRAND AVENUE
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA
MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013
4 :15 P.M.
1. Call to Order. Time: 4:15 p.m.
2. Roll Call. Present: Councilmernbers Addiego, Garbarino,
Gupta, Mayor Pro Tern Matsumoto and
Mayor Gonzalez.
Absent: None,
3. Public Comments — comments are limited to items on the Special Meeting
Agenda.
4. Agenda Review.
5. Closed Session: Conference with Legal Counsel — Anticipated Litigation
Significant Exposure to Litigation
(Pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(b))
One Case.
Time entered Closed Session: 4:16 p.m.
Open Session resumed: 4 :49 p,m.
Report out of Closed Session: No reportable action, direction given.
6. Public Hearing:
Consideration of potential ballot measure seeking voter authorization to amend the City's
existing business license tax for general fund purposes, establishing policies and procedures
in connection with such an election, and requesting that the San Mateo County Chief
Elections Officer conduct such an election.
Resolution establishing November 5, 2013 as the date for a Municipal Election on a
proposed Ballot Measure seeking voter authorization to amend the City's existing business
license tax for general fund purposes, establishing policies and procedures in connection with
such an election, and requesting that the San Mateo County Chief Elections Officer conduct
such an election.
Assistant City Manager Van Duyn provided the Council with a revised staff report covering some
matters that had been brought up including: the fairness of the proposed ballot measure on the basis
of all tax revenue generated by the business license tax being disproportionate to the overall business
license tax. They amended the staff report to demonstrate how relative taxing entities selected
business types were taxed by current city tax revenue estimates and the percentage of those as
applied to the overall relationship to business taxes throughout the city. Finance Director Steele
provided supporting material. This new business license category would generate less than 4% of
the current total business taxes on an estimated annual basis. Staff has had additional discussions
with representatives from Clear Channel and provided Council with that support material.
City Attorney Mattas added that on the analysis that Finance Director Steel prepared, the estimated
tax percentage on the companies within the category, billboards in particular, would be 4 -5 %. Those
companies presently pay 0.4% and on a comparative basis, even the 5% is substantially less than
other business industries in the city.
Public Hearing opened: 4:53 p.m.
Public Hearing closed: 4:58 p.m.
Bruce Qualls, a representative for Clear Channel Outdoor, thanked the Council for granting them the
extra time to work with city staff on a solution. He opined that billboards did not create any traffic,
crime or require the use of the Fire Department. He suggested that there was a risk associated with
the tax for First Amendment reasons. They had a long term relationship with the city and wished to
foster something positive in going forward. They could see the pressures on the community to
balance the budget and the pressure on the City Council to make the right decisions for the
community. One of the things they talked about was the creation of a benefits district with funding
provided for advertising programs that would help foster public safety in the community. He
believed that the proposal before them would be without dispute and would provide the city with
funds sooner than a tax would. He concluded that, regardless of the outcome they had tremendous
respect for the City Council, city staff and the community.
Addressing the City Council, City Attorney Mattas stated that given that they had two public sessions
on this item, they had two choices. At this point Council could continue the 'item through
Wednesday, which would be staff's recommendation, or alternatively, they could elect to put the
ballot measure on by adopting the Resolution included in their packet.
In response to Councilmember Addiego's inquiry into whether this was their last, best and final
offer, Bruce Qualls, Clear Channel representative, stated that they had been able to go through the
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 5, 2013
MINUTES PAGE 2
negotiations because of the confidentiality agreement and that the figures and detailed information
they went over with staff was proprietary. With that caveat, he fixrther stated that the offer was as far
as he would be allowed to go.
City Council decided to adjourn and convene a new special meeting on Wednesday, August 7ch at
10:30 a.m.
7. Adj ournment.
Being no further business, Mayor Gonzalez adjourned the meeting at 5:06 p.m.
Submitted: proved:
r
Is/ Krista J. Martinelli, City Clerk ae a Gonz ez, ayo
City of South San Francisco City of South San Francisco
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