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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2000-08-01 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 1, 2000 MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUILDING COMMUNITY ROOM 33 ARROYO DRIVE 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call o 7:00 p.m. Present: (Cassette Tape No. 1) Councilmembers Gonzalez and Penna*, Mayor Pro Tem Fernekes and Mayor Matsumoto Absent: Councilman Mullin *Councilman Penna arrived at 7:03 p.m. Staff Present: City Manager Wilson, Assistant City Manager Moss, Assistant City Attorney Johnson, Public Works Director Gibbs, Finance Director Steele, Superintendent of WQCP Castagnola, and Environmental Compliance Coordinator Honan Others Present: Mr. Mike Britten, Corrollo Engineers, Ms. Joan Cox, Harris & Assoc. Public Comments None. Public Hearing - Resolution approving a Report of Annual Stormwater Fees for 2000-01 and Stormwater Fees and Charges for 2000-01 Public hearing opened. Staff report presented by Environmental Compliance Coordinator Honan. Ms. Charlene Moore, 901 Hillside Boulevard, stated her remarks were regarding the sewer rate increase and Mayor Matsumoto asked her to hold her remarks until Agenda Item No. 5. Ms. Jackie Williams, 242 Longford Drive, asked if the proposed fee increases affected property in the city of Daly City or the proposed Serramonte Corporate Center. City Manager Wilson stated the fee structure is for the City of South San Francisco, and does not pertain to properties outside City boundaries. Public hearing closed. Mayor Matsumoto asked if the current rate has been in effect since 1995 and staff confirmed that information. Motion-Fernekes/Second-Gonzalez: To approve Resolution No. 96-2000, adopting a report of Stormwater Management Service fees for Fiscal Year 2000-01 pursuant to South San Francisco Municipal Code Section 14.04.110 and Resolution No. 97-2000, approving Stormwater Management Service Charges for Fiscal Year 2000-2001. Approved by voice vote. Public Hearing - Resolution approving a Report of Annual Sewer Rentals and Charges for 2000-01 and 2001-02 and 5 % sewer rate increases for 2000-01 and 2001-02, and authorizing future rate increases of up to 5% per year for 2002-03 through 2004-05 Staff report and visual presentation given by consultant, Mr. Mike Britten, Corollo Engineers, explaining the problems the plant has had, proposed expansion and the wet weather improvements, also known as the clean water program. Finance Director Steele presented the second portion of the staff report that discussed the sewer rate increase and purpose, the Prop 218 actions, and the next steps in the process. Ms. Charlene Moore, 901 Hillside Boulevard, speaking against the increase, stated the increase did not take into consideration senior citizens and disable people who are on a fixed income. She stated she has been conserving water for years and felt property owners should not be penalized due to new developments. She submitted a letter of protest to the City Clerk. Ms. Jackie Williams, 242 Longford Drive, asked if there is a joint agreement on sewage service with Daly City. Assistant City Attorney Johnson advised Council that comments are limited to the sewer rate increase. City Manager Wilson stated there are agreements with adjacent cities to pay a proportionate share and suggested Ms. Williams direct her questions to adjacent cities to find out how they set their individual sewer rates. Mayor Matsumoto informed Ms. Williams her questions were not germane to the items on the agenda. Mr. Joe D'Angelo, 310 Evergreen Avenue, speaking in support of the increase, stated he oversees nine sewer districts, and that the rates in South San Francisco are low in comparison to many of the districts he manages. He further discussed his background and knowledge and substantiated staff's recommendation for the increase. Mr. Tony Khorozian, 116 Aptos Way, speaking against the increase, stated there should be three sewer rates: residential, small businesses, and big businesses/hotels. He felt sewer rates for people on fixed incomes should not be increased. Mr. Khorozian further commented on items unrelated to the discussion and Assistant City Attorney Johnson advised Council to limit comments to the sewer fee increase. City Manager Wilson offered to meet privately with Mr. Khorozian. In response to Mr. Khorozian, City Manager Wilson explained that the commercial/industrial sewer rates are based on flow (gallons) and the strength of the effluent. Rates are fair and equitable. Mr. Larry Hirsch, 258 Westview Drive, speaking with concern, stated he owns two laundromats in South San Francisco. He felt his type of business should be given an equitable SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 1, 2000 PAGE 2 rate due to the characteristics of his business which provides a service to the community. Manager Wilson stated his agreement with Mr. Hirsch and that models and appropriate multipliers are set by the State of California, which have already taken these factors into consideration. A protest can be filed with Plant Superintendent Castagnola. City Councilman Penna questioned why the public hearing was being held at a special meeting and City Manager Wilson stated that it was originally intended to be heard at a regular meeting, but due to noticing requirements the item was re-scheduled. Mayor Matsumoto stated the item was discussed at a May meeting and a community meeting was held by staff in July. Councilman Penna discussed with staff and consultant the following items: · Sewer bottlenecks - Mr. Britten stated bottlenecks are located throughout the system with major ones along Airport Boulevard, Linden Avenue, and the San Mateo Avenue and Shaw Road pump stations; · Old Town area being neglected - Director Gibbs stated that the sewer lines have been replaced and repaired on an as-needed basis. A maintenance program will be submitted to Council in the next year or so; · Sewer plant being outdated/outmoded - Supt. Castagnola stated the plant was initially built in the 1950's, it's been upgraded several times, the last upgrade was in 1991. A co- generator was built in 1991 to utilize waste gas from treatment processing that covers about 25% of the plants needs and saves $10,000 a month in electricity; · New developments share - City Manager Wilson stated that new residential developments sewer hook-up fees will increase from $810 to $1400 per unit; · Biotech industry share - Supt. Castagnola stated that sewer rates am higher due to the water usage, oxygen demand, and amount of solids in their water; · Wet weather program - Director Gibbs stated that the water inflow that occurs during storms, which currently overstresses the plant, will be collected in retention basins; · San Francisco sewer rates - Supt. Castagnola stated the rates in San Francisco are very high and them is currently a freeze on rates due to public protest; · Residents subsidizing rates for future developments - City Manager Wilson explained that a treatment plant has a set capacity and a dollar amount to operate it, the fee is calculated to recapture that cost as new development occurs; · Testing of industrial discharges - Supt. Castagnola stated that Coordinator Honan measures the discharges using State guidelines. Councilman Penna stated his support for the sewer rate increase. Mayor Pro Tem Fernekes discussed with staff the penalties and lawsuits the City has encountered. Supt. Castagnola stated the penalties were less stringent at one time, but now can include a prison sentence if neglect is detected. Mayor Pro Tem Fernekes stated his support for the sewer rate increase. Councilman Gonzalez discussed with staff the Prop 218 process and his concern that the fees will not increase annually through 2004-05. He stated that he has seen repairs made to the sewer lines in Old Town, and the bottlenecks that Mr. Britten referred to. He acknowledged the SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 1,2000 MINUTES PAGE 3 need for the treatment plant improvements as a way of alleviating these problems. Mayor Matsumoto asked if there was recently a situation when the plant almost experienced an overflow and staff stated that there were problems during the power outage, and a potential situation recently during heavy rains, which was averted. Director Gibbs explained the co- generator's and emergency generator's effectiveness during emergencies. Mayor Matsumoto discussed with City Manager Wilson funding the improvements with money from the General Fund if the increase were not approved, and Council's fiduciary responsibility. Mayor Matsumoto stated her support for the sewer rate increase and reiterated that the City's rate is the second lowest on the Peninsula. (Cassette Tape No. 2) Mayor Matsumoto asked if there were any more formal written protest to be turned in. Hearing no response, Mayor Matsumoto closed the public hearing. Mayor Matsumoto announced a recess for tabulation of the written protests. (Recess: 8:31 p.m.- 8:41 p.m.) With the assistance of Ms. Cox, Harris & Associates, City Clerk Payne reported 27 protests were submitted out of 13,209 properties, equating to a 0.2% response. Motion-PennaJSecond-Fernekes: To approve Resolution No. 98-2000, approving 5% annual increases for sewer rates effective in Fiscal Years 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, and increases of up to 5% annually through 2004-05, amending the master fee schedule to include the rates and adopting a report of annual sewer rentals and charges for 2000-01 and 2001-02, pursuant to Chapter 14.12 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code. On the Question: Councilman Penna asked for a verification on the amount of the rate increase, which staff explained. Motion continued: Approved by voice vote. 5. Adjournment Motion-Penna/Second-Fernekes: To adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. Unanimously approved by voice vote. Submitted by: Sylvia M. Pa~erk City of South San Francisco Approved: City of Isumoto, Mayor >uth San Francisco 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. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 1, 2000 MINUTES PAGE 4