HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1982-03-31Mayor Gus Nicolopulos
Vice Mayor Roberta Cerri Teglia
Council;
Ronald G, Acosta
Mark N, Addiego
Emanuele N. Damonte
AGENDA
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
CALL TO ORDER:
1. Municipal Services Building
Unfinished Space,
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Conference Room
March 31, 1982
ACTION TAKEN
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
Reci ted.
7:05 p.m. Vice Mayor Teglia presiding.
Council present: Damonte, Acosta,
Teglia and Addiego.
Council absent: Nicolopulos.
City Manager Birkelo commented on the
consideration of possible uses for
the available space.
Mrs. Violet Valen, 445 Alta Vista Drive,
stated that she was a member of the
senior citizens group and participated
in the nutrition center. She indicated
that the unused space was needed by the
senior citizens in order to accommodate
the growing number of people participating
in the programs.
Mr. Willie Dicker, 734 West Orange Avenue,
commented on the amount of space necessary
in order to provide a harmonistic atmosphere
in which to gather.
Mr. Anthony Valen, 445 Alta Vista Drive,
expressed concern regarding the possibility
of the City renting the unused space to
private businesses. He stated that the
space should be allocated for use by the
senior citizens.
Discussion followed relative to the po-
tential use of the Magnolia Center pending
the results of the feasibility study;
alternative uses for the unfinished space;
growing number of senior citizens being
served within the community; future
utilization of the City's property; needs
of the senior citizens; cost factors; etc.
Consensus of Council to consider
3/31/82
Page 1
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
e
Municipal Services Building
Unfinished Space.
Oyster Point Grade Separation
Feasibility Study.
RECESS:
RECALL TO ORDER:
the possibility of an interim use of
the unfurnished space during the budget
process.
City Manager Birkelo explained that
in accordance with the Gateway Project
EIR, the firm of George Nolte Engineers
had been employed to prepare a feasi-
bility study for the Oyster Point
Grade Separation in order to facilitate
the City entering into negotiations with
Gateway and/or other affected properties
and develop a plan for the possible
addition, modification and funding of
the grade separation.
Mr. George Nolte, Jr., president of
George Nolte Engineers spoke of his
firms involvement in the project and
stated that a number of alternatives
had been prepared for Council's con-
sideration and indicated that the
primary objective in developing the
various schemes had been focused on
safety. He then introduced Mr.
William Waoner, Project Manager.
Mr. William Wagner, then introduced
Mr. Byron Larsen, Traffic Engineer,
and Eileen Shelton. Mr. Wagner pro-
ceeded to present the numerous
alternatives which had been prepared
and explained the details involved.
Vice Mayor Teglia declared a recess
at 8:10 p.m.
The meeting was recalled to order at
8:20 p.m., all Council present.
An in-depth discussion followed con-
cerning traffic impacts; advantages
and disadvantages of the various
alternatives presented; cost allo-
cations; complexity of the issue.
Director of Public Services Yee
in response to Vice Mayor Tegli~'s
inquir~ stated that at this time
he fel~ further study was necessary
to narrow the alternatives down, and
once the alternatives had been lessened
an in-depth study of each would follow
3/31/82
Page 2
Oyster Point Grade Separation
Feasibility Study.
3. Corporation Yard.
4. Sale of City Property.
e
Review of Plans for Reception Honoring
Retirees.
in order to assess each alternative's
capabi 1 i ti es.
Mr. Richard Waxman, Professional Real
Estate Services representing Dubuque
Meat Packing Company, asked when the
next meeting would be held to consider
the narrowed down choice of alternatives.
Director of Public Services Yee replied
that the meeting would be held within the
next 2 months.
Mr. Steve Rother, Sutter Hill Limited,
stated that his firm was presently under
contract with the Dubuque Company and
asked when the cost sharing estimates
for the alternatives would be available.
Director of Public Services Yee responded
that the estimates for the cost sharing
allocations would be available within
2½ months.
City Manager Birkelo gave a brief
description of the background of this
matter. He requested direction regarding
Council's desire to proceed with the
project.
Discussion followed relative to costs
involved; value of the property;
alternative options available; expansion
of Orange Memorial Park, etc.
Consensus of Council to postpone further
action until after the completion of the
feasibility study for Magnolia Center is
completed.
Consensus of Council to postpone until
after the completion of the feasibility
study for Magnolia Center is completed.
Vice Mayor Teglia explained that the
Fire Department had expressed a desire
to feature their past Chiefs. She
explained a plan which would display
9~ x 12" photographs of the past 4
Fire Chiefs and placing the fire bell
on a base below the photographs in the
alcove of the atrium of the Municipal
Services Building.
3/31/82
Page 3
5. Review of Plans for Reception Honoring
Retirees.
ITEMS FROM STAFF
6. Update on Paramedic Ambulance
Status.
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
Vice Mayor Teglia:
Discussion followed concerning the cost
involved.
M/S Acosta/Teglia - To proceed with the
installation of the fire bell and the
pictures of the past Fire Chiefs and
that the unveiling be scheduled for
the retirees reception on April 18, 1982.
Motion failed for lack of a majority
vote. Councilmembers Addiego and
Damonte voting no.
Discussion followed concerning the
music to be provided at the reception;
refreshments which would be served and
other matters of interest.
ITEMS FROM STAFF
Fire Chief Drago explained that the
City had been in negotations with
the County during the past months
regarding the Paramedic Grant Study.
He said that there had been discussions
concerning the City's rates, possible
County subsidizing, and the back up
ambulances. He stated that the
City would be transporting persons
within the next month. He explained
the proposal and the provisions which
would be required by the City.
Discussion followed regarding the
length of the agreement.
City Manager Birkelo requested that
Council select a date and time to
meet and discuss labor relation
guidelines for the coming year.
Consensus of Council to meet on
Tuesday, April 13, 1982, at 5:00 p.m.~
in the City Council Conference Room,
City Hall.
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
Read the following statement, "On Monday,
February 22nd, a City employee, who is
also an elected official with the
South San Francisco Unified School District,
was summoned to the office of the
3/31/82
Page 4
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
Assistant City Manager, whereupon,
the Assistant City Manager unsuccess-
fully attempted to intimidate and
influence our employee in his role
as a School Board Trustee through
his employment with the City of
South San Francisco.
Our employee was told that if School
District pressure on a certain School
District employee was not relaxed that
our employee would be jeopardizing the
"flexibility" he presently enjoyed
as a City employee serving as an
elected official. It was pointed
out to the Assistant City Manager
that the City employee had never
depended on "flexibility" in order
to fulfill his School Board re-
sponsibilities and commitments, but,
rather, had used legitimate comp time
and/or vacation time. Additionally,
it was pointed out that the City em-
ployee had received excellent job
evaluations and was not a marginally
performing employee with respect to
either quantity or quality of output.
I believe that the Assistant City Manager
acted, in this instance, unilaterally,
without authority, improperly and
abused his position of rank in reaching
down through the ranks of our employment
force, past legitimate supervision levels,
to seek to intimidate and influence
this employee/elected official with
respect to his role as an elected official.
I feel that the Assistant City Manger,
whatever his motives might have been,
has by this action placed the City
Manager's Office, the City Council and
the School Board not only in an em-
barrassing position but in a potentially
scandalous position. I feel the credi-
bility of the City's government in
relation to its own employees, the
public and the School District, with
which we have worked to build a strong
relationship over the past four years,
is in serious jeopardy.
3/31/82
Page 5
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
I ask this City Council to instruct the
City Manager to obtain the Assistant
City Manager's resignation effective
immediately. If we do otherwise, I
feel we will have accepted, condoned
and participated in this unwarranted
and improper act."
Motion by Vice Mayor Teglia - That
we ask the City Manager to obtain the
Assistant City Manager's resignation
effective immediately.
Councilman Acosta said that he felt
this matter was extremely important
and that action should be withheld
until the Mayor was present.
City Manager Birkelo presented an
Inter-Office Memorandum to Vice Mayor
Te§lia related to the clarification
of his investigation findings. He
stated "My investigation was directed
to the question of 'Whether or not the
Assistant City Manager did or attempted
to use the authority of my office to
exert improper influence upon another
City employee for political purposes or
reasons.' The evidence obtained led me
to conclude that he did not. I also
concluded, however, that he used poor
judgement in allowing himself to become
involved in a matter that was of no
concern to my office. I wish to assure
Council that my office will continue
to carry out its administrative
responsibilities in a completely open and
impartial manner." He indicated that he
had nothing further to say on this matter,
other than any Council inquiries in a
Closed Session.
Councilman Addiego seconded the Motion
made by Vice Mayor Teglia. He then
said that while he could agree with
the City Manager'~s conclusion which
was presented to Council in a Closed
Session that based upon what might be
construed as professional intimidation
he believed that the political intimi-
dation that was being pursued by the
3/31/82
Page 6
AGENDA AC_ZiON_ TAKEN
ITEMS ?ROM COUNCIL
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
Assistant City Manager was very real.
He further said that perhaps it was
improper to take action this evening,
without the Mayor being present, but
due to the severity and the exposure
to the City on this issue, he felt
that it was important that people be
aware of where the Council stands.
He said that to not take action
amongst themselves, would be to con-
done those actions.
Motion failed for lack of a majority
vote. Councilmembers Acosta and
Damonte voted no.
Motion by Councilman Damonte for
adjournment.
Motion died for lack of a second
to the Motion.
M/S Addiego/Teglia - For a vote of
no confidence in the actions of the
Assistant City Manager.
Councilman Acosta said that this
matter had been brought to Council
in a Closed Session and based upon
the findings of the City Manager
there had been no attempt of
intimidation or political coercion
of the individual. He said that
the person involved had the opportunity
during the investigation of the incident
to bring out the point of political
intimidation. He spoke of the importance
of administrative hearings and the ad-
herence to the Personnel Rules and
Regulations of the City.
Discussion followed concerning the
purpose for the vote of no confidence;
the importance of addressing the issue.
Motion failed for lack of a majority
vote. Councilmembers Acosta and
Damonte voted no.
M/S Damonte/Acosta - That the meeting
be adjourned.
3/31/82
Page 7
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
ADJOURNMENT:
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
~arDara A. Ba~taya, ul~y Clerk
City of South San Francisco
Carried by unanimous voice vote.
Time of adjournment 9:30 p.m.
APPROVED:
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.
3/31/82
Page 8