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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1982-01-27Mayor Gus Nicolopulos Vice Mayor Roberta Cerri Teglia Council: Ronald G. Acosta Mark N. Addiego Emanuele N. Damonte M I N U T E S CITY COUNCIL City Council Conference Room January 27, 1982 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of California, that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, the 27th day of January, 1982, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Council Conference Room, City Hall, 400 Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, California. Purpose of the meeting is a Study Session to discuss the following: 1. Newspaper Rack Ordinance. 2. Envirotech Presentation. 3. City Hall Addition. 4. Sister City Program. Gus Nicolopul os, M~vbr City of South San Francisco Dated: January 22, 1982 A G E N D A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE CALL TO ORDER: (Side 1 TF-OO1) 1. Newspaper Rack Ordinance. ACTION TAKEN Reci ted. 7:10 p.m. Mayor Nicolopulos presiding. Council present: Damonte, Acosta, Teglia, Addiego and Nicolopulos. Council absent: None. City Manager Birkelo said that during the construction of the Downtown Revital- ization Council had instructed Staff to work out a system to improve the news- paper racks appearance to conform to the project. He said that an Ordinance had been drafted and was sent to each of the newspaper companies and that it had been viewed with disfavor. He said that the companies did not see a need for a regulatory ordinance and thought that a voluntary program might achieve the same objectives. 1/27/82 Page 1 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 1. Newspaper Rack - Continued. Director of Public Services Yee said that the newspaper distributors objected to the following: imposition of application fees, limitation on the number of newsracks and restrictions on their location, the time limits for compliance with the Ordinance are unrealistic. He said that the news- paper distributors proposed a plan of self-regulation to monitor the distribution of newspapers on Grand Avenue and would install modular metal newsracks at the present locations where no precast concrete newsracks exist. He explained in detail the six locations where news- papers are not displayed in precast newsrack and the suggested alter- natives for display purposes. Discussion followed on whether the existing structures could also be used, removing the concrete boxes, the cost of the concrete bunkers, etc. Mr. J. Hart Clinton, Editor of the San Mateo Times, said that the City had constructed the bunkers without consultation with the newspapers and that if they had been consulted the bunkers would not have been placed where they were placed. He said that where bunkers are established it was proposed to use them and where they were inadequate to construct newspaper rack holders which would be artistically suited for the area. Vice Mayor Teglia stated that the Council's objective during the revit- alization had been to get away from the metal racks and chains that were attached to telephone poles. Mr. Clinton said that the newspaper companies should not be penalized for the metal racks and that that had been done by people outside the area who created the situation. Councilman Damonte said that Council was concerned with the undesirable publications and that was why it 1/27/82 Page 2 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 1. Newspaper Rack - Continued. 2. Envirotech Presentation. was felt that control was necessary. Mr. Clinton said that the newspapers represented tonight would put up a modular rack if additional space was needed to display newspapers. He said that the bunkers were objectionable due to the fact that the newspapers were hidden and as a result of that very few papers were sold. He said that the bunkers were litter collectors and that was why racks were recommended. He said that if vandals broke open the racks then the newspaper company would come in and replace the racks. Vice Mayor Teglia related that the revitalization of Grand Avenue had not been paid for by City Hall but the City had participated with the Downtown merchants and the owners and she felt that the other two groups should be parties to any change of bunkers to racks. Councilman Acosta suggested that the newspaper companies meet with the Downtown Merchants and come to an agreement in that they had paid for the revitalization through assessment proceedings. He said that perhaps then the bunkers could be removed or used as planter boxes. City Manager Birkelo said that the type of newspaper racks was one thing and the regulatory ordinance was a different issue which only the Council can act upon. Mr. Clinton thanked the Council for their consideration and said the news- paper group would meet with the Down- town Merchants. Mr. Jack LaRocca, Envirotech, acquainted the Council on the Firm's scope of services of the Waste Water Treatment Plants and presented a series of slides showing various operations. 1/27/82 Page 3 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 2. Envirotech - Continued. 4. Sister City Program. He said that the proposal was to contract for the waste water mainten- ance and described the computers that were utilized, management, operators, superintendents and labor specialists. Discussion followed on the degree of Envirotech's responsibility in the event of a successful contract, effluent violations, legal fees in the event of a lawsuit, life expectancy of plant equipment, etc. Discussion followed on mandates on water quality control, air pollution, violations of effluent requirements, civil service employees vs. Envirotech employees, unions, a guaranteed fixed budget with Envirotech running the plant, Envirotech's freeing the client from plant operations and maintenance. Mr. LaRocca said that at the time of contract the City employees would become Envirotech employees and a package of benefits would be made up for the employees comparable or better than the City's. Discussion followed on the various employment and retirement plans that Envirotech offered employees when taking over a plant. Councilman Addiego spoke of the City incentive cash program, on-going training and certification programs and the low turnover in employees. Councilman Damonte expressed concern in that the City had experienced a similar transition when the Harbor Commission took over City employees, however he noted that the plant would represent a larger number of employees going out of City service or being absorbed by other City departments. Discussion followed on employee moti- vation, liability from accidents, etc. Mr. Alvaro Bettuchi, Chairman of the 1/27/82 Page 4 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 4. Sister City Program - Continued. South San Francisco Sister City Committee, said that last November when he had addressed Council he had put forth many issues for input: Recognize the Committee by Resolution as an arm of the City Council; qualify as a non-profit organization through recognition. Councilman Addiego questioned that this was something in the Council's realm of authority. Vice Mayor Teglia suggested that what was being said was to make the Committee a Commission, however a Commission was selected by Council and she did not believe the Commission wanted the Council involved. She said that to become tax exempt the Committee must apply to IRS. Councilman Addiego said that if the Sister City Committee became a Council Commission and had a program that collected money, then the City would manage those funds. Councilman Acosta that a Commission was an integrity unto itself, which elects its members and Board of Directors and solicits funds. He said that then the City could rec- ognize the Committee for the services rendered the City. Vice Mayor Teglia asked if recognition meant that the City would contribute funds to the Committee. Mr. Bettuchi said that in working with cities in other countries the Committee wanted to know that it was representing the City and that their actions were approved. He said that if a Mayor from one of the cities came to South San Francisco this City might want to do something for him, however if 30 people came to this City there would be no obligation. Councilman Damonte suggested that the Committee make application under Revenue Sharing. 1/27/82 Page 5 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 4. Sister City Program - Continued. 3. City Hall Addition. ADJOURNMENT: Councilman Addiego questioned the control the Council would have over the Committee. Councilman Damonte said that application for revenue sharing required a financial statement be submitted each year. Discussion followed on whether the Council was being asked to fund a structure or a program, how other cities treated the Sister Cities Program, the Committee having latitude without being an arm of the City, the Committee privately raising funds without the City, the Committee applying for revenue funds, that the Mayor would sit in on the Committee's meetings. City Manager Birkelo presented the preliminary designs of the City Hall Addition and the projected costs. He said that Staff had discussed adjacencies and four plans had been designed and reviewed with the department heads. He described the floor plans in detail and stated that the top floor in City Hall would not be changed in any of the plans. He said that Plan C had been recommended at the subcommittee meeting, and that Plan A had been recommended by Staff. He said that Plan D shows a new building of 6,000 square feet. Discussion followed on the elevator for the handicapped, the print shop not being permanently located in the basement, moving the print shop to the Municipal Services Building, the costs of the various plans, selling surplus property to pay for the addition. M/S Damonte/Acosta - That the meeting be adjourned. Carried by unanimous voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at ll:05 p.m. 1/27/82 Page 6 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, APPROVED: 'Barbara A. Battaya, City Cl~e'rk City of South San Francisco J Gus Nicolopulos, M~y'or v City of South San Francisco The entries of this Council meeting show the action taken by the City Council to dispose of an item. Oral presentations, arguments, and comments are recorded on tape. The tape and documents related to the items are on file in the office of the City Clerk and are available for inspection, review and copying. 1/27/82 Page 7