HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1998-04-01 Mayor Eugene R. Mullin
Council:
James L. Datzman
Joseph A. Fernekes
'--Karyl Matsumoto
Iohn R. Penna
MINUTES
City Council
Municipal Services Building
Community Room
April 1, 1998
s_ _P_ _E C ! A k MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
APRIL 1, 1998
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 1st day of April
1998, at 5:30 p.m. in the Municipal Services Building, Community Room, 33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco,
California.
Purpose of the meeting is a study session to discuss:
Downtown Charrette - continued from the 3/18/98 meeting
City Clerk
City of South San Francisco
Dated: March 19, 1998
AGENDA
ACTION TAKEN
CALL TO ORDER: (Cassette No. 1)
5:40 p.m. Mayor Mullin presiding.
ROLL CALL:
Council Present:
Council Absent:
Datzman, Fernekes, Matsumoto
and Mullin.
Penna.
Downtown Charrette - continued from the 3118/98 meet-
ing. ~O qj q
.... ~uncilman Penna Arrived at 5:44 p.m.
Director of Economic & Community Development
Van Duyn related: a summation of what was
brought to Council at the last meeting; there are
several issues in the design concepts - the Caltrain
Station, City entrances and the Grand Avenue
streetscape; the Caltrain Station relocation and rede-
sign is the key issue, but that does not mean we will
abandon the present facility but would look for
activity to relocate and how we interface with the
Caltrain riders with an extension of the platform and
allowing expansion of the access; next was Grand
Avenue and the Charrette components - the gate-
4/1/98
Page 1
A.GEND A ACTION TAKEN }55
Downtown Charrette - Continued.
4/1/98
Page 2
ways and towers as a possible way to relate changes
to the downtown and for the purpose of creating an
architectural statement and definition for the down-
town; modify the street with furniture and eliminate
some of the on-street parking that will bring more
businesses out to the street and take advantage of the
sunny side of Grand Avenue border and enhance
entrances; enhance facades, improvements with
street furniture and street activities and to redesign
the entire section of Grand Avenue and Linden
Ave.; it is staff's recommendation to build on the
recommendation and move to the next step for more
serious evaluations on what Council likes in the
Charrette and evaluate the realities of the existing
things out there and some would impact operating
businesses in the downtown and interfacing with
significant activities, either proposed or existing with
the CDBG funds coordinated; at the last meeting
staff demonstrated the activities downtown and the
Charrette is another step for more activity to address
the issues and the design solutions must be further
evaluated and implemented; staff wants to make sure
whatever comes out of the Charrette is supported by
the umbrella of the general plan for it will focus on
the downtown; staff had several meetings with the
JPA regarding the detail of the station and gave
them the recommendation of the Charrette; staff
followed up by providing the Joint Powers with
copies of the Charrette and have received a good
reaction and want to broaden that with their coming
back with the feasibility including land acquisition,
and if they are supportive then give us financial
assistance in order to achieve it.
Discussion followed: the composition of the JPA
will be supplied to Council; there are nine members
in total; there will be political changes that will go
through this Board and Mayor Mullin feels it is
important who is on the Board; one of the recom-
mendations is to allow staff to proceed and if so that
will be included in the work program; recommenda-
tions for Airport/Linden in the Charrette; just the
the track relocation and platform are $1 million
which does not include everything needed; the Fed-
eral transit bill is reported to be out and is ready for
signature and there is going to be ISTEA money for
transit operated projects and we are going to
analyze that; that was brought up at the last meeting,
so when this City has a project is joint transportation
multi-model opportunities we are trying to get our
transportation interfaced, but at the same time we
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
Downtown Charrette - Continued.
4/1/98
Page 3
also offered our powers of the Redevelopment Agen-
cy to be used for land assembly; Mayor Mullin
wants to see an analysis of how that breaks out and
what can be emphasized so that can be adopted to
meet the Federal requirement; City Manager Wilson
stated yesterday, they talked about another use that
may augment that and that is daycare; C/CAG has to
propose a budget and one petitions, for it is a
point system and the higher you are in achieving
goals allows you to be placed higher for funding;
what we have is a potential, a design and proposal
that is almost implementation that gives us a leg up
in seeking money because you are showing a project
with feasibility and real opportunity because the land
use has been determined compatible; it is not like
you are going to start and it is three years down the
road, for this is one year; staff is suggesting the
comprehensive plan for the downtown and it will
take into consideration the land use feasibility and
the plan for recruiting retail business and financial
assistance; the general plan will address the down-
town development in the context of growth and
future changes; high density housing will be an
important element in the area; staff is asking Coun-
cil to direct the preparation of a detailed work pro-
ject and proposed budget for the Agency program;
the Director had to submit his budget and included
the funds necessary to carry out the work program;
test out density and a concern that housing needs
may have to be accommodated by the density;
Councilman Fernekes is against high density; if
density is not addressed it affects other areas such as
transportation, air quality, congestion, but this gives
the opportunity to down size the risk; Mayor Mullin
stated there are certain scenarios where high density
is something he would not reject that would be a
stimulant to the downtown; in S.F. there is a combi-
nation going into commercial in the south of Market
St., so as the consultant goes forward all scenarios
should be looked at; they would have to go up in
building, thus maximizing air space so there are
things that are not a change that the consultant will
talk about on 4/15/98 and staff will look for direc-
tion; staff gave a presentation on 3/25/98 to the
Chamber which was well received and staff was
asked to sponsor another forum Tuesday at the Mag-
nolia Center at 8 a.m. for businesses and owners in
the downtown; staff has appreciated the Chamber's
enthusiasm and interest in the project and want to
continue with them irrespective of how this is ap-
proached; using in the general plan staff looks
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
Downtown Charrette - Continued.
4/1/98
Page 4
at a scenario of increasing density or moving resi-
dential with other uses; Vice Mayor Datzman likes
the changes in San Mateo to the downtown area;
Mayor Mullin agreed with the Vice Mayor's ideas
of taking advantage of the inter-model hubs and
using them to revitalize transit communities, and
making housing more affordable; he feels this will
make housing more affordable and the ability to be
in a transit hub can allow you to not have a second
or third auto and gives you a focus and commitment
to work because they are building new communities;
he believes this is an exciting concept; Vice Mayor
Datzman stated change is difficult and Charrettes
often result in dust on a shelf; he saw an area that
where a natural evolution took them down and when
he took office he said the downtown will go up or
down; he is pleased with this and feels they should
analyze all things, for what he sees does not encour-
age traffic in the downtown; etc.
Further discussion followed: hiring ESE and what
hindrances they faced; the Chamber has been work-
ing on ways to reach the property owners and get an
opportunity to make a case for a longer term use or
some variety of use that we are not seeing; is there a
way the Council can be proactive; using a bond
program and being a partner; we looked to purchase
the Crocker Bank and use it as a leverage to turn
around that portion of the corner; staff asked the
Council to get a bond program to purchase and
assemble properties and some money to assist busi-
nesses or those coming in, like the Bacchanal Res-
taurant; staff needs something dramatic to demon-
strate the joint public/private partnership for it is a
lot of risk on the developer's part; staff has not been
able to land that, but does have another proposal;
ESE suffered by being a southern California firm;
Mayor Mullin knew that two years ago; when he
walks a neighborhood, acting like an out of towner,
he questions what would he spend his money on,
and sees that it is all neighborhood oriented; staff is
looking for attractive retail uses; Vice Mayor stated
the downtown merchants say the City does not care
about the downtown, only the East of 101 and there
needs to be more dialogue about what the City has
done in the downtown like the ArtRise on Linden
which the future will determine if that is successful;
ArtRise must bring in a business plank; if the dream
does not materialize, why not put them elsewhere in
the downtown; the Vice Mayor would like Council
meetings back in the downtown and use the MSB for
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
.Downtown Charrette - Continued.
ADJOURNMENT:
other things; Councilman Fernekes does not mind
exploring that, but he likes the MSB and it is in the
downtown; have to expand the platform and move
spur tracks for direct access, and if they are relocat-
ed further north or eliminate them - that will have
an affect on the cost; Mayor Mullin feels it is im-
portant to make that sort of a hub but he does not
see how it is possible with all the other things;
people will be able to see into the downtown from
the turn around of the station; Councilman Penna
does not feel the station is a friendly place, but if
moved further then people can walk from Grand
Ave. and it can be a destination station for now it is
wide open, cold and windy; Vice Mayor Datzman
asked if there is consensus of moving the Council
meeting; Councilmember Matsumoto stated, as a
Westborough resident she supports meetings at the
MSB; Mayor Mullin stated he likes the meetings at
different place and has no objection to that; Council-
man Penna stated the floor in the MSB shakes and
he would hate to be here in an earthquake; Mayor
Mullin stated there is consensus to go forward with
the Charrette.
M/S Fernekes/Penna - To adjourn the meeting.
Carried by unanimous voice vote.
Time of adjournment was 6:44 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
APPROVED.
Barbara A. Battaya, City Clerk
City of South San Francisco
Euge e~. Mullin, Mayor
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 communica-
tions, 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.
4/1/98
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