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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2008-12-10o~~~~~N_SA ~yti ~ ~, _H ~ U O ~`~LIFORZ`~P MINUTES CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SOUTH. SAN FRANCISCO REGULAR MEETING MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUILDING COMMUNITY ROOM 33 ARROYO DRIVE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2008 CALL TO ORDER: 7:45 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Councilmen Garbarino, Gonzalez and Mullin, Vice Mayor Addiego, and Mayor Matsumoto. Absent: None. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Matsumoto INVOCATION None PRESENTATIONS • New Construction Energy Saving Rebate for the Joseph A. Fernekes Recreation Building. Presenter: Kathy Lavezzo, Account Executive, PG&E. Ms. Lavezzo of PG& E presented the City with a Ceremonial Check for $2,558.00 representing the annual energy savings the City realizes as a result of energy efficient construction and structures at the Joseph A. Fernekes Recreation Building. AGENDA REVIEW No changes. PUBLIC COMMENTS Executive Director of North Peninsula Neighborhood Services Karla Molina De Bourdon appeared to address Council and acknowledge the Fire Department for assisting the agency with meeting the needs of over 600 South San Francisco residents in need during the Holiday Season. She also thanked Council for its support of the agency's efforts. HIP Housing Development Director Lois Ward appeared to thank Council for its continued support of HIP's programs. She explained that HIP provides over 1000 individuals with housing. She then presented Council with HIP's 2009 Calendar including art work by Peninsula children that reflected the children's' thoughts on what home means. ITEMS FROM COUNCIL • Announcements • Committee Reports Councilmembe~s reported on attendance at community meetings and events, including the opening of the Leo Ryan Post Office, the swearing-in of Assemblyman Jerry Hill, a HOTHRA meeting and the West Orange Library's How to Inject Happiness into Life Presentation. Council congratulated Mayor Matsumoto who was sworn in as Mayor on December 2"d and thanked Councilmember Gonzalez for his service as Mayor over the past year. Council also recognized staff's work on the successful Santa Comes to Town Event and the Fun Run on the Bay Trail. Specific items for further action and/or consideration were set forth as follows: Councilman Mullin requested that staff contact Caltrans to inquire about updating the population numbers on highway signs pertaining to the City. He also commented on signage around the City in general and recommended evaluating the signage around town, particularly the North bound sign on El Camino Real coming from San Bruno. He suggested that tasteful signs around town and /or near the highway acknowledging the City's substantial Biotech industry might contribute to image enhancement. He stated a willingness to assist with such a program. Mayor Matsumoto suggested the Cultural Arts Commission might assist with a sign program. Councilman Mullin further noted that at a meeting of the Conference Center Authority he learned that South San Francisco does not offer a TOT exception for State and/or federal employee groups, which may put the City at a competitive disadvantage in terms of bringing certain government related conference or other opportunities to town. He requested that staff look into the item which he opined might be revenue neutral. He further advised that the South San Francisco Unified School District had become a basic aid district, which meant the local school district could keep more of its property tax revenue generated from the community. Vice Mayor Addiego expressed concern over what would be coming down the pipe financially in the coming year. He noted that companies in South San Francisco were trimming over 400 jobs and recommended staying out in front of the issue. He requested that staff diligently watch what happens to sales and property tax and noted that many properties in town could go down by as much as a quarter of a 1 million dollars. Mayor Matsumoto noted that at Council's upcoming retreat she would suggest that quarterly updates from the Finance Department be incorporated in the Regular City Council Meeting schedule so as to keep the public apprised of the situation. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 10, 2008 MINUTES PAGE 2 CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Motion to approve the minutes of November 3, 2008 and November 12, 2008. 2. Motion to confirm expense claims of December 10, 2008 3. Motion to cancel the Regular Meeting of December 24, 2008 and schedule a Special Meeting on December 17, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. to be held at the Municipal Services Building in the Community Room. 4. Motion to accept the 2007-2008 Scrub/Slurry Seal Project, Project No. ST-08-1, as complete in accordance with the plans and specifications. 5. Motion to waive reading and adopt Ordinance No. 1402-2008 amending Chapter 8.54, adding Article VI, to the South San Francisco Municipal Code, regulating abandoned and distressed residential properties within the City and establishing a registration program. 6. Resolution 112-2008 to Adopt a Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for the Purchase of Playground Equipment at Three Locations: Terrabay Gymnasium and Recreation Building, Project No. 51-13232-0941); Avalon Park, and City Hall P'.ay Area, Project No. 51-13232-0943, in the Amount of $106,100. 7. Acknowledgement of Commending Resolutions issued to Assemblyman Gene Mullin in honor of his service on the California State Assembly for the past six (6) years and in honor of Councilman Pedro Gonzalez for his service as Mayor of the City of South San Francisco from December 4, 2007 through December 2, 2008; and acknowledgement of Proclamation issued to RotaCare Clinic in honor of its 15th Anniversary. Item 5: Mayor Matsumoto reminded staff that she requested a monthly progress report to be included in Council's Friday packet that would outline the cost to administer the program, revenues collected and expenses. Motion -Vice Mayor Addiego/Second -Councilman Garbarino to approve the Consent Calendar. Unanimously approved by voice vote. Recess: 8:16 p.m. Meeting Resumed: 8:27 p.m. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 10, 2008 MINUTES PAGE 3 PUBLIC HEARING 8. 213/221 EGrand -Alexandria Real Estate ARE-SF No 21 L.P./Owner ARE-SF No 21 L.P./Applicant 213 & 217 East Grand P07-0106: UP07-0017, DR07-0065, DA07-0001, SIGNS07-0059, TDM07-0005 & EIR07-0001 Use Permit, Design. Review, Development Agreement, Transportation Demand Management Plan, Master Sign Program and Environmental Impact Report to construct a 9-story, 291,634 sq ft office/R&D building and afive-level parking garage on a 7.027 acre site at 213 East Grand Avenue in the Planned Industrial (P-I) Zone District, in accordance with SSFMC Chapters 20.32, 20.81, 20.85 & 20.120. Public Hearing Opened: 8:27 p.m. Economic Development Coordinator Lappen presented the Staff Report reviewing 213/221 East Grand Avenue. The proposed nine (9) story office building would be located ac the corner of East Grand Avenue and Forbes in the east of 101 area. A five (5) level parking garage was also proposed for the project. The project would utilize two (2) parcels of land and would include the demolition of about five (5) existing one (1) or two (2) story older manufacturing buildings on the site. The proposed parking ratio was lower than permitted by the SSFMC. The proposed building would use LEED construction technology and a volleyball court was planned for the project. The Planning Commission reviewed the project on October 2°d and 16t" and generally liked the plans, which include an innovative architectural design. At the Planning Commission's request additional architectural details were added to the Parking Garage structure and landscaping plans were adjusted. The applicant aimed to create a landmark building in the Gateway Area that would have maritime aspects. All aspects of the design, including signage would have a uniform look. The use of LEED construction technology would contribute to the City's stock of green buildings. The TDM Plan included mandatory elements such as shuttle program. van pools showers and locker facilities. While the proposal called for reduced parking in light of the zoning code's 925 space requirement for the proposed project, the project met the more aggressive TDM requirements upon which similar parking ratios had been approved in the East of 101 Area. Accordingly, staff recommended approval of the resolutions and introduction of the proposed ordinance. Niall Malcomson of Alexandria Development presented a model and Power Point presentation depicting plans for the L shaped office building proposed on the site. He advised the Parking Structure would have 826 parking spaces. The office building would be constructed with green and gray glass. The parking structure would be accentuated with vertical transportation notes. Richard Sharp of Studio 5 Design, which served as the landscape architect on project described the proposed landscaping and explained the design incorporated a public viewing garden and included an opportunity for public art. He further advised the whole core area would incorporate a permeable paving condition so that the landscaping would be as self treating as possible. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MF,ETING DECEMBER 10, 2008 MINUTES PAGE 4 Public Hearing Closed: 8:55 p.m. Councilman Gonzalez questioned the purpose of an indented feature on the L-shaped roof. Mr. Malcomson responded the same design element was included at the Developer's 249 East Grand project, which creates an architectural tie between the projects. Councilman Gonzalez commented that the building's design presented an excellent opportunity for the incorporation of solar or wind energy. He further stated approval for the proposed landscaping design. Councilman Garbarino expressed support for the bold design of the proposal. Vice Mayor Addiego agreed the design was a show stopper and was very well done. Councilman Mullin approved of the bold design and questioned the Developer's LEED certification target. He also questioned the top five (5) elements that are incorporated to meeting the standard for certification. Mr. Malcomson responded that Silver LEED Certification is the target for a building's shell. To make this level, a developer must create a project that achieves at least 30 points. Accordingly, developers primarily concentrate on benchmarks. 13-14 of the points are related to mechanical systems and energy efficiency. Employing vortex separators and paying attention to the architecture's interaction with views to~daylight are elements that are incorporated. Landscaping that does not add a burden to the storm drain system is also an important element. Inclusion of a cool roof can knock about 20% off of ambient surface temperature. Mayor Matsumoto observed variations reflected in the various documents incorporated in the staff report and relating to the Draft Environmental Impact Report. She requested clarification of the numbers. Economic Development Coordinator Lappen explained that procedures call for an initial study that is not backed by research, the purpose of which is to set up criteria for working on an environmental impact report. Accordingly, initial estimates of significant impacts might be greater than what is actually determined to be significant. He advised that table 2.1 in the EIR identified all the potentially significant impacts and mitigating measures. Kevin Collin of Lamphere and Gregory associates who prepared the EIR for the project further clarified that with. respect to impact Haz-1 routine transportation use or disposal of hazardous materials outlined in the alternatives section, the misunderstanding might be that the impacts that are not significant after mitigation are all of the measures with the exception of traffic impact-17. Any tenant that occupies the building must obtain the permits to take it below the threshold of significance. Mayor Matsumoto questioned whether the project was still on spec and whether any target tenants were in mind. Mr. Malcomson responded there were currently no potential tenants. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 10, 2008 MINUTES PAGE 5 Mayor Matsumoto then questioned whether the striping of bike paths and lanes related to the TDM would be implemented. Mr. Malcomson responded the measures would be implemented. Mayor Matsumoto questioned who would be responsible for installing the medians depicted in the presentation. Mr. Malcomson responded that the medians depicted were a digital image of the nicely built up medians presently existing along Forbes Blvd. Mayor Matsumoto then questioned whether remedies had been planned to address the run- offs from landscaping in the open parking lot area. Economic Development Coordinator Lappen responded that remedies were a condition of approval. Motion -Councilman Garbarino/Second -Councilman Gonzalez to approve Resolutions Nos. 113-2008 and 114-2008 and to waive reading and introduce proposed ordinance No.1403-2008. Unanimously approved by voice vote. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 9. Resolution No. 115-2008 approving plans for the use of Proposition 1B funds for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 exceeding the amount of $930,841. Director of Public Works White presented the staff report recommending approval of plans for the use of proposition 1B funds in the current fiscal year for the purpose of future paving work in the City. Proposition 1B permits the state to sell 20 billion dollars of general obligation bonds to be utilized for transportation projects aimed at relieving congestion, im~~roving air quality and enhancing traffic safety and security. To obtain the funds, Council must first adopt a plan to be submitted to the state. Director White referenced a table in the staff report that identified the 14 streets proposed. to be incorporated in the plan. Upon Council's approval of the plan and its submission to the state, the City should receive the funds in about 30-45 days. Councilman Mullin questioned which state agency the City would be interacting with regarding the funds. Director White responded most of the paperwork goes through the local area engineer's office. Mayor Matsumoto questioned whether the money could be taken back if the Governor declared a state of emergency. City Manager Nagel responded the state could likely take the money if the Governor declared a state of emergency. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 10, 2008 MINUTES PAGE 6 Mayor Matsutmoto questioned whether the list of 14 streets reflected in the staff report was presented in order of priority. Director White responded the list was not presented in order of priority. Motion -Councilman Gonzalez/Second -Councilman Garbarino: to approve Resolution No. 115-2008. Unanimously approved by voice vote. COMMUNITY FORUM Mayor Matsumoto commented that displaying the model and or sketch of the proposed project at 213/221 East Grand in City Hall would alert the public to up and coming projects in the City. Vice Mayor Addiego suggested the MSB might be an appropriate display location. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business, Mayor Matsumoto adjourned the meeting at 9:23 p.m. ~. S ubmitted bye Ap ove // .-- Kri actin li-L son, i e Kary atsumoto, Mayor ity of uth Sa rancisco City of South San Francisco REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 10, 2008 MINUTES PAGE 7