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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 Page i 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 Page 2 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 Page 3 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 Page 4 ^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 8/17/89 Page 5 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 Page 7