HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1989-08-17Mayor Roberta Cerri Teglia
Council:
Mark N. Addiego
Jack Drago
Richard A. Haffey
Gus Nicolopulos
MINUTES
City Council
City Council Conference Room
City Hal 1
August 17, 1989
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 Thursday, the 17th day of August 1989, at 7:30 a.m., in the City
Council Conference Room, City Hall, 400 Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, California.
Purpose of the meetin§:
1. Closed Session for the purpose of the discussion of personnel matters, labor
relations, property negotiations and litigation.
2. Discussion and possible action to deal with the San Mateo County Board of
Supervisors decision to locate the County Jail at Mission Road.
Bar ara . at aya, Ci y Cl~rk
City of South San Francisco
Dated: August 16, 1989
CALL TO ORDER:
ROLL'CALL:
(Cassette No. 1)
Discussion and possible action
to deal with the San Mateo County
Board of Supervisors decision to
locate the County Jail at Mission
Road.
7:33 a.m. Mayor Teglia presiding.
Council present:
Council absent:
Addiego, Drago, Haffey,
Nicolopulos and Teglia.
None.
Mayor Teglia stated that the meeting had
been called for the purpose of discussing
the outcome of the Board of Supervisors
meeting two days ago with respect to
siting the No. County Jail on Mission
Road in South San Francisco.
She stated that a group from S.S.F.
attended the meeting where this item was
discussed, and Council had received the
recommendation of the County Manager in
advance which recommended action other
than what the Board took. She stated
that the Board, after a great deal of
discussion, did make some comments on the
EIR, but she felt there were still some
areas that were deficient - had not been
answered or that the group disagreed
with. She related the following: that
Councilman Drago had made a statement;
8/17/89
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AGENDA ACTION TAKEN ['081
o
Discussion and possible action
to deal with the San Mateo County
Board of Supervisors decision to
locate the County Jail at Mission
Road.
that there were residents present; that
one resident got up and presented almost
5,000 signatures of S.S.F. residents who
indicated they did not want to have the
jail at the Mission Road site; that she
left the meeting at 3:45 p.m. for another
meeting; that Councilman Drago had
remained, and would make a report; that
Mr. John Rubin was present from Senator
Kopp's Office to offer assistance.
Councilman Drago gave the following
report: that after the recess the
Sheriff had made a passionate speech on
how he wouldn't put anyone out at the
bayfront site - which was the City's
alternate proposal; he felt the Sheriff
should be challenged on the Shell Oil
tank facility when he cited the risks;
questioned if the risk was from fire or
explosion; that the Sheriff had talked
about aircraft overhead - did that make
reference to noises or crashes; toxic
materials in the soils and fumes;
Sheriff stated that S.S.F. was the best
site.
He stated that Supervisor Huening wanted
to accept the County Manager's recommen-
dation to rehabilitate the facility at La
Honda and then develop a master plan. He
stated that he had thanked the Board for
considering at this time not to put the
facility in our City, because by all
indications the Board was going to go
with the County Manager's recommendation
- which Supervisor Schumacher really got
up tight on that, and kept saying the
Board had not said that.
He stated that Supervisor Eshoo started
to talk about the EIR, that she didn't
think it was complete as far as putting
the expanded jail facilities in the park,
and it did not address the sewer and
water properly. He stated that County
staff wanted to defend the EIR, but it
never came to that point. He stated that
Ms. Eshoo was more concerned with putting
a majority facility at Redwood City adja-
cent to the McGuire Facility, and to take
care of the Womens Work Furlough Program;
8/17/89
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AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 0082
2. Discussion - Continued.
and even look at some manufactured
housing as a temporary measure so people
would not think this was a permanent pri-
son park. He stated that the County
Manager threw water on the idea mainly
because of time as construction had to be
underway by 1990, and do a new EIR on
the McGuire Facility Addition, otherwise
the County could lose the money.
He stated that Supervisor Schumacher had
stated that it was a better use for the
S.S.F. site, and might have thought the
Board could add a few more beds.
He continued with his report: at 4:30
the first vote was taken to not accept
or certify the EIR - Yes: Nolan, Eshoo;
No - Griffin and Huening; Abstain -
Schumacher; Supervisor Nolan reintroduced
the vote to certify the EIR: Eshoo was
the only no vote; Supervisor Schumacher
stated that La Honda was not a good place
and recommended S.S.F.; Supervisor
Griffin stated that it was not a good
site, and would add problems in S.S.F.;
Supervisor Hueni§ wanted to replace the
La Honda site right now; Schumacher said
they should close La Honda and move the
prisoners to S.S.F.; a 132 bed facility
was brought up, and then they voted;
Supervisor Griffin stated that it
wouldn't work, and had received
complaints on the sally port with
screaming; Supervisor Schumacher said it
was mechanical problems that could be
worked out; Councilman Dra§o stood at the
podium during the vote, and Supervisor
Griffin said the Board did not have to
recognize him because the vote was over,
but in courtesy would recognize him;
Councilman Dra9o couldn't find enough
words to describe his contempt for the
Board's actions, and said I/we would do
everything in our power to stop the pro-
ject - and walked out.
Mayor Teglia stated that Schumacher had a
great number of concerns, because in
reading between the lines of the
Manager's recommendation there was indi-
8/17/89
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AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
2. Discussion - Continued.
cation that the S.S.F. site was very
costly, and it either needed to be
improved or it needed to be shut down and
he expected that to be a recommendation
in the future.
She stated that Supervisor Schumacher had
met at least three times over the last 18
months with the Subcommittee who were
tracking all of the documentation of the
proposed jail, and he had indicated - not
to worry, that there would not be a jail
built on the Mission Road site, and that
he had a plan that he was going to put
together but he had to secure the votes
which basically had to do with approving
the detention center and some other mofi-
fications to their system. She cited the
Council concerns at that time: did not
see anything written or discussed, such
as an analyzation of the EIR or other
processes. She stated that Supervisor
Schumacher had really let the City down -
badly.
Councilman Drago stated that Supervisor
Schumacher had commented, "not in my
backyard," to each person that got up,
and when it was Councilman Drago's chance
to get up under the public hearing part
he had said, "Through this whole thing
S.S.F. had never said that we did not
want a jail in our City, that all along
we have been against the location -- the
residential area, and did offer the Board
an alternative." He stated that he had
also questioned the reasons a person had
in saying that the bay site was unsuitable,
and had commented that the City had been
willing to work with the County during
the last year to overcome any deficiencies
the County might see on that property.
He continued, the Council also had huma-
nitarian concerns for those who live in
our neighborhoods - who are good citizens
and stay out of jail.
Mayor Teglia stated that there were
people at the meeting who addressed their
concern about a new and expanded jail
facility at the La Honda site, and
8/17/89
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^GE,D^ ^CTION 'r^x N
Discussion - Continued.
Supervisor Schumacher attempted to bait
them by saying, "We will put it in S.S.F."
She stated that the citizens concerns
were focused on the inadequacies of the
EIR addressing that particular site.
Vice Mayor Haffey questioned the Board's
commitment to come to S.S.F. for a public
hearing.
Mayor Teglia related a conversation with
Supervisor Griffin on the subject wherein
the Supervisor had indicated that when
she came to S.S.F. she would bring that
message back to the Board and urge that
they have a meeting in S.S.F. - and the
Board by majority refused.
She cited possible options the Council
had to discuss in Closed Session: simply
roll over and let it happen, and quietly
accept the fact that the County is going
to do that; or stand up and attempt to
impede this with every resource we have.
Vice Mayor Haffey questioned if City
staff had additional information from the
County staff.
City Manager Armas stated that he had
discussion with County staff, and in
light of the recommendation of the report
and the manner in which it was phrased:
certify the EIR; close La Honda; develop
a master plan to look at some of the
needs Countywide to develop some kind of
cohesive plan. He felt the County staff
was equally surprised as were those in
attendance at the meeting at the Board's
decision. He stated that the Board had
decided the matter and provided direc-
tion, and staff will have to prepare
whatever documentation to implement the
Board's decision: preparing the
necessary paperwork; submit a grant
application to the State; to obtain wha-
tever services are necessary to design a
facility.
Councilman Addiego questioned: if the
County knew what they were going to build
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A G E N D A A C T I 0 N T A K E N ~'~k}Oi9
Discussion - Continued.
in S.S.F., when different prisoners
qualify for different treatment.
Mayor Teglia stated that once a grant has
been applied for the County must have a
master plan - which at this time did not
exist, but was part of the
recommendation.
She stated that she wanted Mr. Rubin to
be a party to the Closed Session.
Councilman Dra9o stated that it should be
noted that the Council had never seen any
construction plans, and it appeared that
the density was greater today than it was
yesterday.
Vice Mayor Haffey stated that the Board
of Supervisors sent the Criminal Justice
Task Force the jail alternatives to make
a recommendation to speak to this very
action, and that recommendation was 180
from this.
He questioned if anyone had any feeling
that there may be some linkage to other
County/City relationships or issues that
might reflect this vote.
Mayor Teglia stated that it had been
discussed, and perhaps Mr. Gabe could
attend the Closed Session and comment on
County/City relationships.
Discussion followed: that a master plan
should have been the first thing that was
developed by the County; that this was
going to bring a major facility to S.S.F.
that was going to impact this City for
many years to come; that there was no
rational for the County process; that
Supervisor Schumacher had commented on
the Traffic Court moving out of Mission
Road; the difference between a jail and a
prison; why sentenced prisoners have to
be adjacent to a Courthouse; that the
three votes of the Board for Mission Road
as the site of the jail facility were
Supervisors Nolan, Schumacher and Eshoo.
8/17/89
Page 6
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
Closed Session for the purpose of
the discussion of personnel
matters, labor relations, property
negotiations and litigation.
RECALL TO ORDER:
ADJOURNMENT
Council adjourned to a Closed Session at
8:04 a.m. to discuss the items noticed,
siting the County jail and possible
litigation.
Mayor Teglia recalled the meeting to
order at 9:14 a.m., all Council present,
no action taken.
M/S Haffey/Drago - To adjourn the
meeting.
Carried by unanimous voice vote.
Time of adjournment was 9:14 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Bar ara . Battaya, City ~Yerk
City of South San Francisco
~x~VED. .. ~ ,
/~ro~ soeur~ S:ng ~ar;ncisc~aY°or
The entries of this Council meeting show the action taken by the City Council to dispose
of an item. Oral communications, 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.
8/17/89
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