HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2007-09-19MINUTE S
~°~~x' S~~'~, CITY COUNCIL
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~ ~ CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
SPECIAL MEETING
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MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUILDING
COMMUNITY ROOM
33 ARROYO DRIVE
WEDNF?SDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2007
1. Call to Order 6:00 p.m. (Cassette Tape No. 1)
2. Roll Call Present: Councilmembers Addiego, Matsumoto, Vice
Mayor Gonzalez and Mayor Garbarino
Absent: Councilmember Joseph Fernekes
Public Comments: None
4. Study Session: Downtovrn Development
Chief Planner Susy Kalkin gave an overview of current development in the downtown area.
Highlights of the Overview:
• Currently there are development opportunities with potential growth;
• City has been working with the downtown community;
• Bilingual liaison has helped communication efforts;
• Block grant program has been successful;
• There have been physical improvements in some areas;
• There has been a loss of business (Ford);
• Improvements arc; needed in regards to lighting, street furniture, landscaping, etc.;
• Trash and recycling pick up efforts for bus shelters;
• Parking standard s to create pedestrian connections
Chief Planner Kalkin also provided Council with a handout of the three main downtown
corridors; Airport Boulevard, Grand Avenue, and Linden Avenue showing privately and
publicly owned opportunity sites.
DISCUSSION
Councilmember Addiego commented that he was looking forward to a second garage to
compliment the Caltrain Station and mentioned the map handed out by Chief Planner
Kalkin was very helpful. He also mentioned he was disappointed that a downtown area
tenant was unable to get city assistance for aloes-income housing project. Assistant City
Manager, Marty Van Duyn explained the reasons why a $3-million loan to the tenant was
not recommendable for the projc;ct but perhaps another look at the project could be
considered.
Councilwoman Matsumoto expressed her concerns regarding the downtown area retail
businesses. She voiced that the city needed to upgrade retail use and finding ways to get
the word out about our downtown area. She commented on the current conditions of
another `dollar' store in the city indicating the store is messy and unorganized inside and
the parking lot had food and garbage around the building. Councilwoman Matsumoto
expressed her concern about not sensing that a general plan or some type of organized plan
was in place at this time for the downtown area.
In response to Councilmembers Addiego and Matsumoto concerns, Assistant City
Manager, Marty Van Duyn, commented that efforts have been made to link East Grand and
the downtown area by purchasing properties to reinvigorate the idea. The city has been
working with Terranomics again to try and get a plan for a prof ect focusing on the
proposed future Caltrain Station .as the main transit hub.
Mayor Garbarino mentioned cities such as Burlingame, San Mateo, and Palo Alto have
pedestrian-friendly streets with parking structures as the main source of accessibility to
retail shopping.
Councilwoman Matsumoto has been seeking help from Senator Leland Yee to expedite the
Caltrain Station issue to improve the Grand Avenue and Airport intersection. Assistant
City Manager, Marty Van Duyn, has petitioned Caltrans to restrict trucks from exiting off
Grand Avenue and Caltrans is requesting traffic surveys and studies to support petition.
Produce Avenue is another concern which has required a number of studies and surveys.
Councilwoman Matsumoto asked if the city was prepared for high-speed rail if and when it
comes through South San Francisco. Assistant City Manager, Marty Van Duyn, and Chief
Engineer Ray Razavi indicted t:he JPB has reassured the city their plans will not short-
change South San Francisco in the preparation and work needed to accommodate high-
speed rail.
Several land purchases have been made to expand the development of the downtown area.
Vice Mayor Gonzalez commented that Linden Avenue is ready to add more retail with
housing-on-top type structures. Assistant City Manager, Marty Van Duyn, also mentioned
that Airport Blvd. has a potential for amixed-use corridor; mainly housing.
The former Ford dealership site, 950 Linden Avenue, and the 200 block of Grand Avenue
were also discussed. It was agreed property owners need to invest in order to attract more
business to these areas.
Mayor Garbarino suggested the `Lanes' be cleaned up especially behind the businesses on
Grand Avenue. He commented the city should build on its identity for improvements. We
should continue to buy property when it becomes available in the downtown area. Outdoor
eating option to all restaurants should be considered.
SPECIAL MEETING -STUDY SESSION September 19, 2007
MINUTES PAGE 2
Councilwoman Matsumoto asked if a percentage of the downtown area could legally be
designated for banks, retail, restaurant, services, etc. Senior Planner, Mike Lappen, shared
his experience while in Long Beach, California indicating that certain areas were
designated for certain usages but a major study had to be done. Councilwoman Matsumoto
suggested adding art and additional landscaping to attract potential business owners.
5. Adjournment
Mayor Garbarino adjourned the Study Session at 7:38 p.m.
Submitted by:
Interim City Clerk
City of South San Francisco
Approved:
Richard A. Garbarino, Mayor
City of South San Francisco
SPECIAL MEETING -STUDY SESSION
MINUTES
September 19, 2007
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