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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1996-05-15 Mayor Jack Drago Council: Joseph A. Fernekes Eugene R. Mullin ----John R. Penna ?,obert Yee MINUTES V L, 5'0 City Council Municipal Services Building Community Room May 15, 1996 AGENDA ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING CALL TO ORDER: (Cassette No. 1) ROLL CALL: 1. David Schooley, Save San Bruno Mountain presenta- tion on the shell mounds on San Bruno Mountain (15 -- minutes). Councilman Penna Arrived At the Meeting: AC!!ON TAKEN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING 7:07 p.m. Mayor Drago presiding. Council Present: Mullin, Yee and Drago. Council Absent: Fernekes and Penna. City Clerk Battaya stated Councilman Fernekes had a conflict with his work and was unable to attend tonight's meeting. Mayor Drago stated this subject would not be de- bated tonight and was being presented for educa- tional purposes on the shell mounds, however, the EIR will address this subject in the future. Mr. David Schooley, San Bruno Mountain Watch, stated the future of the shell mounds are critical due to its historical and prehistoric subject matter. He related: San Bruno Mountain is surrounded by Brisbane, Daly City, Colma and S.S.F.; San Bruno Mountain is recognized as a relatively undeveloped and pristine landscape with 384 native plant species identified and is home to many federally listed en- dangered butterflies and a snake; the Mountain pre- serves evidence of its Native American settlement and has the largest remaining Native American shell midden on the North Peninsula. Councilman Penna arrived at the meeting at 7:12 p.m. Mr. Schooley continued: he presented a slide show of the native plant species, endangered butterflies, snakes and shell mounds; there were at least a hun- dred shell mounds ringing S.F. Bay, each mark- ing the site of a former Indian village, however, most of the mounds have been bulldozed and cov- ered with concrete or asphalt; on San Bruno Moun- tain three shell middens exist in their original form 5/15/96 Page 1 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 1. David Schooley - Continued. 5/15/96 Page 2 - one is in the San Bruno County Park, however, the park boundary is close to a proposed commer- cial development which may lead to the degradation of the site and the other two are on the sites of a proposed hotel and office complex for the Terrabay Project; one of these middens is the oldest and most important cultural resource on the Mountain and the other in a perfect state of preservation; Bay Area Land Watch is working to find ways to include these mounds in a proposed enlarged San Bruno Mountain Park or Ohlone Archeological Preserve as a part of our communal heritage; these shells contain mus- sels, oysters, clams, bones, charcoal, ashes, human remains and relics; these areas were used for burial and domiciliary purposes and are as ancient as any deposits elsewhere in America; the shell mounds of this area are almost the only witness of a practically unknown period in the early history of this region; there was an intensive native occupation of the area leaving behind substantial remains; a single tribelet was utilizing the Mountain, and more research is needed to determine the age and character of the sites; no official government recognition has ever been given to the Ohlone Indian tribe nor any reser- vation ever set aside for them and they were not paid for land taken away from them; the open space right here by the bay is the largest shell mound that has survived for there is a creek coming down by it and it is a miracle it has survived, however, the future is a serious question; the shell mounds are five feet deep; he and his group check the area frequently, however, what can they do - it is pri- vately owned by Sunchase and is right next to the State and County Park and American Indian people are concerned about the shell mounds; etc. Mayor Drago asked if the shell mounds would be addressed in the EIR. Discussion followed: the shell mounds are ad- dressed in the EIR; it is a tiered EIR and does not include finalized plans for this area, so it is ad- dressed and identified, but there is not a final reso- lution in this; Phase 2 and 3 will come to the Coun- cil for discretionary approval; Mayor Drago wanted to make sure of that because Mr. Schooley may have support and that is the proper time to address the shell mounds; he suggested Mr. Schooley get his presentation down to 10 minutes and contact West- ern TV Cable to show it during the intermissions. AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 1. David Schooley - Continued. 2. City charter issue. ,5-/,6"_3 5/15/96 Page 3 Mr. Schooley stated he would work on that, because a lot of people are concerned about the shell mounds and its future. He stated people are concerned about what happened in Paradise Valley and the activities for Terrabay affecting shell mounds. He stated there have been five years of mismanaged activities on Terrabay, the Habitat Conservation Plan did not happen, there is concern about what Sunehase has done in reference to the fish and wildlife and now the Building Trades are questioning what Sunchase has done up to this point. He stated those are big questions for a lot of people, for this will affect the shell mounds and it would be a horror if they are covered over. The group is talking about doing a letter to Sunchase and the Trust for Public Land, who helped his group before to save shell mounds, about the possibility of a donation or gift of a critical area of shell mounds and it may negate the negative things felt about the development on the Mountain. Mayor Drago asked if each of the Council received the City Attorney's memo on this subject dated today. He stated it goes into the issues, wants it addressed, and wants a consensus to give it to the voters in November to decide if this is the type of things they want and put the intention into a binding document to create a charter city. It would give the standards the people want for their elected officials to work under. He stated the government allows that to happen, so he was asking that Council allow staff to continue this process and it is an issue of home rule and principally the laws of the State and they provide the police powers for the charter. The charter has the power to enforce subject only to the limitations in the charter. He related: there is a regular process where the Council puts together a blue ribbon committee to design a charter; submit it or put it on the ballot in November and decide if they want a charter and those people will be appointed to follow through; one of the items is a balanced budget. Councilman Mullin stated he did not receive the memo until this evening. Councilman Penna stated he did not receive it. Mayor Drago stated the memo was from the City AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 2. City charter issue - Continued. 5/15/96 Page 4 Attorney and says the things Council is allowed to do under municipal affairs outlined by the State, not what he was trying to go through - for that is a general concept. He stated this is a complicated issue which he is jumping into. He held off for a ye, ar and a half because he did not want to muddy the waters in the cardroom issue. One of the things he sees as a benefit is a balanced budget. He feels there should be a 10% reserve for contingencies and a $2 million project must go before the voters. The term limits could be included for a maximum of 8 or ten years, could add two more Council seats, for he has always felt a seven person Council gives more opportunities and it could be by district. In general terms it could be put together by a group of people, but these are things you would be allowed to do. We can set stricter conflict of interest codes and restrict funding from employee groups and limit campaign spending. He related: the taxing could be different; we can find policies for investing, although we have a good Treasurer now, but in light of the bind Orange County found themselves in through investments it would be wise to adopt our own policies for invest- ment with monthly reports to Council; 40% of cities over 50,000 are charter cries; we can have elections by mail; etc. Councilman Mullin felt it gives more control to the voters and has a lot of material on the subject. He wants to be able to go forward with the goal of getting it on the ballot for a charter city. Mayor Drago stated the voters would decide the issue, but the Council can put together a blue ribbon committee and put that on the ballot or put the concept on the ballot and allow the public to decide if they want that and then there would be a second election. He stated he wants to know if the Council is interested in becoming a charter city. He would like to go through this more thoroughly at a later date and it will require a lot of staff time. Discussion followed: how much staff time will it require; staff time is needed to get the committee together; typically when a city forms a charter there is significant public intensity with staff assisting the Council in forums and it could be lots of time ini- tially, but in terms of coming back with background information - that is a more limited scope; agendize AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 2. City charter issue - Continued. 3. Economic development report. 5/15/96 Page 5 it for the next meeting and the Mayor will try to put together all the positive and negative effects which he will give to the Council prior to the meeting; Councilman Yee wants to see samples of other cries' charters and would rather have it at a study session rather than at a regular meeting; some Coun- cil powers are taken away with a charter; Fremont is currently going through this and has a lot of infor- mation; this also can affect Council salaries where they can be tied into the top Council pay in the State; etc. Director of Economic & Community Development Van Dyun presented a slide show covering activities in his department: a 10% increase in work is antici- pated in Planning; more work to be done on the Genentech campus and spine; activities of the His- toric Preservation Commission - Sign Hill being placed in the national Register as a historic resource, restoration of the 1907 Cavassa home and the Schwartz home; Terrabay is being built under exist- ing permits; the Stonegate, Syufy, Chestnut Estates and the bay front open space projects are progress- ing; work on the sign and zoning ordinances; design guidelines for the BART station; next year Greystone Homes will develop the McLellan proper- ty after the annexation; improvements to the Caltrain Station; Economic Development - administration is working on business retention; permit coordination assistance; permit streamlining; business develop- ment; CDBG - public service; new doors at the MSB; housing rehabilitation program with minor vouchers up to $2,500 to bring homes up to Code; debris box vouchers; 5/18/96 is a City sponsored function at Martin School to educate the Oldtown Homeowners on various improvements in the down- town through Redevelopment Agency and CDBG funds; commercial rehabilitation; Parking Place Commission has 11 lots with 296 spaces; new me- ters reduce the maintenance by 75 %; etc. Mayor Drago complimented the Director on the excellent presentation and asked if he could get together with Western TV Cable for a video tape to be made and shown during intermissions at Council meetings. Director of Economic & Community Development Van Dyun stated he would get together with West- ern TV Cable and planned to annually present fur- ther updates on the Department's activities. AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 3._.~ Economic development report - Continued. ADJOURNMENT: Councilman Mullin felt it should also be given at a Chamber of Commerce meeting or at service clubs so people have a sense of what is going on in the community. M/S Yee/Mullin - To adjourn the meeting. Carried by unanimous voice vote. Time of adjournment was 8:37 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Barbara A. Battaya, City Clerk City of South San Francisco APPROVED. ck Drago, 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- ti.__ons, arguments and comments are recorded on tape. The tape and documents related to the items are on file in the ~ce of the City Clerk and are available for inspection, review and copying. 5/15/96 Page 6