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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2007-07-11 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO REGULAR MEETING MUNICIP AL SERVICE BUILDING COMMUNITY ROOM WEDNESDAY, JULY 11 2007 7:30 P.M. PEOPLE OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO You are invited to offer your suggestions. In order that you may know our method of conducting Council business, we proceed as follows: The regular meetings of the City Council are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Services Building, Community Room, 33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco, California. Public Comment: For those wishing to address the City Council on any Agenda or non-Agendized item, please complete a Speaker Card located at the entrance to the Council Chamber's and submit it to the City Clerk. Please be sure to indicate the Agenda Item # you wish to address or the topic of your public comment. California law prevents the City Council from taking action on any item not on the Agenda (except in emergency circumstances). Your question or problem may be referred to staff for investigation and/or action where appropriate or the matter may be placed on a future Agenda for more comprehensive action or a report. When your name is called, please come to the podium, state your name and address (optional) for the Minutes. COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE (3) MINUTES PER SPEAKER. Thank you for your cooperation. The City Clerk will read successively the items of business appearing on the Agenda. As she completes reading an item, it will be ready for Council action. RICHARD A. GARBARINO, SR. Mayor PEDRO GONZALEZ Vice Mayor MARK N. ADDIEGO Councilman JOSEPH A. FERNEKES Councilman KARYL MATSUMOTO Councilwoman RICHARD BATTAGLIA City Treasurer FLO DERBY Interim City Clerk BARRY M. NAGEL City Manager STEVEN T. MATTAS City Attorney PLEASE SILENCE CELL PHONES AND PAGERS HEARING ASSISTANCE EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE HEARING IMPAIRED AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS CALL TO ORDER 7:31 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Councilmembers Addiego, Fernekes and Matsumoto, Vice Mayor Gonzalez and Mayor Garbarino None Absent: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Mayor Garbarino INVOCATION Rev. John Cantley PRESENTATIONS . Harry Potter 7 Summer Reading Party - Library Children's Services Staff . Proclamation: Park and Recreation Month . U.S. Conference of Mayors City Livability Award - FRESH Program . Summary of 4th of July activities/incidents - Police Chief Mark Raffaelli and Fire Chief Philip White AGENDA REVIEW - No changes. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Garbarino noted there were several speaker cards on one subject and that some people had asked to give up their minutes to allow one person to speak. He inquired of Council if they wanted to hear individuals, or one primary speaker. Consensus was to see the presentation and hear the speakers. Kamala Silva Wolfe, representing the neighborhoods of Paradise Valley and Peck's Lot. She reviewed some history of problems in the neighborhoods and the process of neighbors coming together to discuss items of concern. A Power Point presentation followed, narrated by Colleen Rudd and Kamala Silva-Wolfe. Hard copies were distributed and petitions submitted to the City Clerk. The presentation highlighted speeding issues and the need for sound/safety barriers, emphasizing concern about the area along Sister Cities Boulevard and trash and garbage along Randolph Avenue. The presentation included a request to close Randolph at North Spruce. The group also asked Council to discuss the issue of a sound wall. Resident safety and quality of life was the main focus of the presentation. Safety concerns are about racing and speeding which occurs regularly in the area. The residents feel there is likelihood a vehicle will go into a home eventually. These neighbors stressed that Sister Cities Boulevard impacts their quality of life in a negative way due to speeding, dumped garbage and accidents. Councilwoman Matsumoto went on record taking exception to a comment about Allison Knapp, stating she is a paid consultant who represents the best interests of South San Francisco, who has and continues to do a good job on behalf of the City. She didn't appreciate the earlier comment about the fox guarding the chicken house. Jesse King, 135 Belmont Avenue, lives at the comer of Randolph and Belmont, referred to speeders in his area and his concern for neighbor safety. He stated he envisions the problems REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 11,2007 PAGE 2 getting worse as the neighborhood is built more. He asked Council to take action to protect and preserve the neighborhood. Chris Thatcher, 38 Randolph, stated her objection to closing Randolph, although she supports a sound wall. She asked Council to look at alternatives to closing the street. She asked that all residents of Paradise Valley be notified when meetings occur about these issues. Tom Carney, 66 Randolph, spoke in favor of closing Randolph Avenue. He presented petitions with 64 signatures of homeowners who agree. He asked that temporary barriers be considered to see if effective. He referred to an incident about two months ago where three fire departments responded and no fire trucks or emergency vehicles used Randolph because of the inability for large vehicles to turn there. Howard Lee, 125 Claremont, encouraged the construction of a sound and safety barrier along Sister Cities Boulevard, especially considering large trucks will be using it more when the Home Depot and Lowes are built. Bill Scheper, 132 Claremont, has seen many changes in the area and supports the extension of the sound wall and barrier. He believes that with the opening of the home improvement stores there will be maximum capacity on Sister Cities Boulevard. He also supports the closure of Randolph at the top of the hill. LouAnn Salter, 130 Drake A venue, lives two houses from the corner at Randolph, and moved to South San Francisco when there was a country feeling to the neighborhood. There is tremendous noise in the middle of the night from cars racing. Multiple calls go into the Police Department. Trucks and buses also use that road. The noise gets worse all the time. Sonny Koya, totally supports the request that the sound wall be completed on Sister Cities Boulevard, to help eliminate the problems, including traffic, noise, speeding, waste, homeless people and other issues. He supported the suggestion to close Randolph, and he felt speed bumps might help, but he asked that City Engineers and experts look into it. Councilmember Fernekes commented on a request that had been made for information by a member of the public, which had not been provided. He therefore asked for a summary of the process related to the sound wall that is now in place. Allison Knapp, consultant, reviewed the history ofthe project. The original study did not state there would be a noise impact, but it did suggest that a sound wall could be placed to give the perception of less noise. In 1996, another firm studied the problem and again in 1999 an EIR was done. That document addressed sound walls. Community meetings resulted in noise measurements in backyards all up and down Sister Cities Boulevard and from different portions of the right-of-way. Many consultants have studied the sound wall. Findings of scientists were that a l,080-ft. sound wall would adequately address and reduce noise in certain areas. Recommendation was not made to continue the sound wall east because as you get to the intersection at Airport Boulevard, there is a significant impact from Highway 101 traffic. There would be a risk of increasing the noise to certain areas because of a reflecting off the back of the wall into backyards. There are many factors the sound wall wasn't continued, such as terrain difference and in-grade separation which actually mitigated the noise in that area. These are the findings of professional consultants. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 11,2007 PAGE 3 Christina Saldano, 106 Edison, spoke in favor of a sound wall including an extension to Airport Boulevard. She also stated it has been difficult to get public records on this matter. She referred to two conflicting reports. She asked Council to review the noise issues again. Mayor Garbarino asked for copies of both reports referenced by the previous speaker. ITEMS FROM COUNCIL Councilman Addiego commented on the traffic in the area of Sister Cities Boulevard. He asked that staff develop suggestions for mitigation, such as a temporary barrier at the peak of Randolph, to determine if it would help. He also asked for a traffic report from the Police Department on that neighborhood. Councilwoman Matsumoto asked that the meeting be adjourned in memory of Barbara Carr, former Councilmember of Pacifica. Mrs. Carr was always a great friend to South San Francisco. She also reported on committee attendance: Improving Public Places, Centennial Committee, Commemorative 4th of July Picnic, Farmer's Market and the SamTrans Board. She reported an announcement had been made that the application deadline for Grand Boulevard is August 10th. $2-million is available to cities. Mike Scanlon announced that BART to the Airport from Millbrae will be stopped, changing to San Bruno to the Airport. Councilman Fernekes reported on the Centennial Way Linear Park and the donation program being developed. Kallander & Associates is putting together a pamphlet featuring the items that will be available to donate in memory or in behalf of someone. He also met on the ballot measure that will be before Council tonight. The Centennial Sub-Committee also met and he believes the celebration year will be wonderful, beginning with the New Year's Eve Gala, followed by a 4th of July picnic, a multi-cultural celebration. The Committee is aggressively at work. Vice Mayor Gonzalez attended the Inter-Agency Council discussing Hope Year I. They also discussed goals for Hope Year 2 to expand homeless outreach strategy. This is a group of agencies that work for the homeless and people who are at risk to become homeless. He was invited to attend a celebration in Seattle, Washington with WT A and South San Francisco staff, for a keel laying ceremony and to view the construction of the first often 8W2A spare vessels. These first vessels will be in service between South San Francisco and the East Bay route by the end of2008. These are the most environmentally-friendly boats available. They will be 80% cleaner than EP A emission standards for 2007. These vessels will be made in America. Mayor Garbarino attended the Senior Mobility Task Force Steering Committee. He mentioned a Guide that will be available at the senior centers. He attended the Peninsula Traffic Relief Alliance Board of Directors, County Emergency Services Council, the Regional Airport Planning Committee, the League of California Cities Policy Committee meeting on Community Development and the League of Cities meeting. He mentioned events he attended: the Old Town Homeowners meeting Breakfast Forum, Genentech Scholarship Awards Luncheon, Chamber of Commerce breakfast. He attended the 380 Alta Vista Opening, a home the City purchased, refurbished and rented to a City employee. He attended the Colt Mustang Baseball Championships, awarding the trophy to the Philly's and he attended the installation ofa new pastor at Grace Covenant Church (Pastor Cardona). REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 11,2007 PAGE 4 Mayor Garbarino shared information from the Policy Committee meeting he had attended. He talked about obesity in young children, a very severe problem. In 2004 in San Mateo County, 27% of the children were obese. Newer figures about South San Francisco show that 31 % are obese. One third of children seven years old will develop diabetes. New numbers for San Mateo County show the figures are going up, not down. He is very disturbed that the generation of children who are now 5 or 6 years old do not have the life expectancy of their parents because of obesity and associated problems. He suggested offering fresh fruit and healthy food to eat. He also mentioned he had been given a Home Safety Checklist to identify fall hazards and accessibility issues. Kaiser Neighbors in Health on July 28, 9:00am-1 :OOpm will sponsor free health services for uninsured and underinsured women and children (at the Kaiser Daly City Medical Center on Hickey Boulevard). Councilman Addiego mentioned also attending the Genentech Awards Luncheon. He had been happy hear the dreams of the students honored. Genentech had been quite generous. He felt this had been an uplifting and inspiring meeting to realize the students were on a career path and he was proud it is happening in South San Francisco. . Appointment of Joan Marvier to the Peninsula Library System Advisory Board Motion-Fernekes/Second-Gonzalez: to appoint Joan Marvier to the Peninsula Library System Advisory Board; unanimously approved by voice vote, 5-0. Mrs. Marvier made comments of appreciation for the appointment. Recess: 9:00 p.m. Reconvened: 9: 11 p.m. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Motion to approve the minutes of June 13,2007 2. Motion to confirm expense claims of July 11, 2007 3. Resolution awarding a contract to provide material testing and special services Kleinfelder Associates for the Wet Weather Sewer Improvement Projects - Phase II 4. Resolution authorizing the acceptance ofLSTA Funding in the amount of$7,500 from the California State Library to support a digital story station and amending the Library Department's 2007/08 budget 5. Resolution authorizing the acceptance of$4,900 in donations and grant funding to support the Library's Summer Reading Club and amending the Library Department's 2007/08 Operating Budget 6. An Ordinance amending Section 3.12 of the SSFMC updating personnel position titles Motion-Addiego/Second-Fernekes: to approve the Consent Calendar as presented; unanimously approved by voice vote, 5-0. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 11,2007 MINUTES PAGE 5 PUBLIC HEARING 7. Resolution increasing parking permit and parking meter rates Mayor Garbarino declared the public hearing open; City Planner Susy Kalkin presented the staff report. Mrs. Judy Corde, an employee on Grand Avenue, spoke of the hardship of paying increased rates for permanent parking and expressed her concerns about the situation. Mayor Garbarino closed the public hearing. Councilmember Addiego asked questions about the percentage of monies collected ($445,000) resulted from annual fees. Assistant City Manager Marty Van Duyn estimated the increase would yield about $101,000 additional revenue, about 25% increase compared to 2005-2006. He expressed empathy for people who have to drive to work and no parking is provided. Vice Mayor Gonzalez stated that nobody came to the meeting that Council had about these proposed increases. Mr. Van Duyn said people had received notices when they came in to renew their permits. In response to Vice Mayor Gonzalez's question, Mr. Van Duyn stated that the need for increasing parking rates was to assist with the debt service for the potential $9- million Agency expenditure on a parking garage. He further commented on the history leading to this item. He also there had been public notice and newspaper notice. Assistant City Manager Marty Van Duyn followed Vice Mayor Gonzalez's request to explain for the benefit of the public the rationale for the increases. Vice Mayor Gonzalez also stated there had been a meeting with the merchants in the area, who supported the construction of the parking garage. Councilmember Matsumoto felt that since the merchants had requested the construction of additional parking, perhaps they could assist their employees with higher fees. Councilmember Addiego asked about the annual permits. Mr. Van Duyn said the permit is for a calendar year, but pro-rated based on purchase date. The purchase of a one year permit includes one free month. Motion-Fernekes/Second-Garbarino: to adopt the resolution increasing parking permit and parking meter rates as recommended by the Parking commission; unanimously approved by voice vote, 5-0. 8. Resolution establishing a General Plan fee to recover City costs incurred in updating the General Plan and preparing related environmental documents Mayor Garbarino declared the public hearing open; City Planner Susy Kalkin presented the staff report. There were no speakers; Mayor Garbarino closed the public hearing. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 11,2007 PAGE 6 Councilmember Matsumoto asked for clarification of a discrepancy between the staff report and the resolution concerning the percentage of assessed valuation. Ms. Kalkin stated the figure should read: .15 percent. Motion-Gonzalez/Second-Fernekes: to adopt the amended resolution establishing a General Plan fee to recover City costs incurred in updating the General Plan and preparing related environmental documents; unanimously approved by voice vote, 5-0. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 9. Resolution approving Orange Memorial Park Master Plan Director of Recreation & Community Services Ranals presented the staff report. She recalled well attended public meetings and events leading to this point, as well as many Sub-Committee meetings. The Commission unanimously approved this proposed Master Plan at their regular meeting on June 28, 2007. Staff believes it is a solid reflection of a number of public meetings and public input. She introduced Brian Fletcher and Matt Gruber from Kallander Associates to lead Council through the presentation. Councilmembers commented extensively on their impressions, concerns and preferences. Staff stated there is no funding requested at this time and that this document provides Guidelines only. There will be opportunity in the future for additional input/changes. Motion-Matsumoto/Second-Fernekes: to adopt the resolution approving the Orange Memorial Park Master Plan; unanimously approved by voice vote, 5-0. 10. Resolution expanding public service hours at the Main and Grand Avenue libraries Library Director Sommer presented the staff report. Councilmember Matsumoto asked for clarification that this funding does not have an on-going revenue stream and that this approval would mean future augmentation to the Library budget. City Manager Nagel confirmed there is no commitment that this funding will be on-going. Councilmember Matsumoto also noticed a typographical error in the resolution (amended in final version). Motion-Gonzalez/Second-Addiego: to adopt the resolution expanding public service hours at the Main and Grand A venue libraries, as amended; unanimously approved by voice vote, 5-0. 11. Introduction of an Ordinance amending Title 4, Chapter 4.20, Section 4.2.130 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code to grant authority to impose liens for delinquent payment of Transient Occupancy Tax Finance Director Jim Steele presented the staff report. City Attorney Mattas answered questions about specific language in the ordinance and recommended corrections. Motion-Matsumoto/Second-Fernekes: to introduce an Ordinance amending Title 4, Chapter 4.20, Section 4.2.130 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code to grant authority to impose liens for delinquent payment of Transient Occupancy Tax; unanimously approved by voice vote, 5-0. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 11,2007 PAGE 7 12. Resolution establishing November 6, 2007 as the date for a municipal election on a proposed ballot measure seeking voter authorization for a commercial parking tax for general fund purposes, establishing policies and procedures in connection with such an election, and requesting that the San Mateo Chief Elections Officer conduct such an election Finance Director Steele presented the staff report. Staff estimates that the new tax, in addition to leveling the playing field between the private parking operators and SFO, would also increase General Fund Revenues from the $150,000 (settlement with SFO) to about $l-million. Motion-Fernekes/Second-Matsumoto: to adopt the resolution establishing November 6, 2007 as the date for a municipal election on a proposed ballot measure seeking voter authorization for a commercial parking tax for general fund purposes, establishing policies and procedures in connection with such an election, and requesting that the San Mateo Chief Elections Officer conduct such an election (with minor administrative changes to be reviewed by Council at the next meeting); unanimously approved, 5-0. Mayor Garbarino appointed Councilmembers Matsumoto and Fernekes to write the ballot arguments in favor of the Measure. [Beyond the ballot argument, no expenditure of public funds will occur in relation to this measure.] 13. Resolution establishing November 6,2007 as the date for a municipal election on a proposed ballot measure seeking voter authorization to increase the City's existing business license tax for general fund purposes, establishing policies and procedures in connection with such an election, and requesting that the San Mateo Chief Elections Officer conduct such an election Finance Director Steele presented the staff report. Vice Mayor Gonzalez expressed concern about regulation of street vendors who sell food. City Attorney Mattas stated that the City is working on this issue separately on regulatory issues for vendor carts. A business license tax is a tax for the purpose of raising revenue, as opposed to a regulation for the purpose of regulating business. Other provisions in the Municipal Code relate to the regulation of solicitors or vendors. This section taxes the activity; it does not regulate them. Staff will return to Council in the future on this issue. Councilmember Addiego said he wonders if there will be organized opposition to these taxes. He feels the top ten employers will be impacted the most. [See's Candy, Genentech, AmGen, Cell Genesis, Orowheat, Computer Associates, Columbus Manufacturing, Costco, Royal Laundry and Kaiser Permanente] Councilmember Matsumoto commented on the City's limited ability to generate revenue to provide services to the community. Finance Director Steele said that for comparison, the second largest business would pay $8,385 under the new provision. Mayor Garbarino appointed Councilmembers Fernekes and Matsumoto to prepare the ballot argument in favor of this measure. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 11,2007 PAGE 8 City Attorney Mattas read the following changes: Pg. 3 of 15, Section 6.04.125: the annual cap amount would be modified from $75,000 to $100,000, and that would be reflected both in the numeric and text representation. Pg. 14 of 15, top of page, sub-section (d): the second sentence of that paragraph would be deleted. That sentence reads: "In addition, for warehousing businesses with a cumulative total of 1,000 square feet or more of warehouse space in the City, the tax shall also include $1 per square foot of warehouse space /warehouse activities rate." If you take that out, the warehouse activities are paying on the same principal that the others are, which is $75 + $15 multiplied by the average number of employees. Motion-Fernekes/Second-Gonzalez: to adopt the resolution establishing November 6, 2007 as the date for a municipal election on a proposed ballot measure seeking voter authorization to increase the City's existing business license tax for general fund purposes, establishing policies and procedures in connection with such an election, and requesting that the San Mateo Chief Elections Officer conduct such an election (as amended); approved Unanimously by voice vote, 5-0. 14. Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute Program Supplement Agreement No. 11 with the State of California for the Linear Park Phase I Project Director of Recreation & Community Services Ranals presented the staff report. She stated this is basically an administrative requirement to enable the City to receive the funds. Motion-Gonzalez/Second-Fernekes: to adopt the resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute Program Supplement Agreement No. 11 with the State of California for the Linear Park Phase I Project; approved unanimously by voice vote, 5-0. CLOSED SESSION 15. Pursuant to Government Code section 54957.6, conference with labor negotiator, Barry M. Nagel; Unrepresented Employee: City Attorney Time entered into Closed Session: Time reconvened into Open Session: Report from Closed Session: 11 :07 p.m 11 :20 p.m. No action taken. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Garbarino adjourned the meeting in memory of former Pacifica Councilmember Barbara Carr at 11 :20 p.m. Submitted by: ~Y,~~leTk City of South San Francisco Approved: ~tp/II ~ Richard A. Garbarino, Mayor City of South San Francisco REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JULY 11,2007 PAGE 9