HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1997-05-28 Mayor Joseph A. Fernekes
Council:
James L. Datzman
Eugene R. Mullin
--lohn R. Penna
Robert Yee
MINUTES
City Council
O49
Municipal Services Building
Community Room
May 28, 1997
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
MAY 28, 1997
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of California, that
the City Council of the City of South San Francisco will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, the 28th day of May
1997, at 6:00 p.m. in the Municipal Services Building, Community Room, 33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco,
California.
Purpose of the meeting:
Interview of applicants for the Conference Center Authority
City Clerk
City of South San Francisco
Dated: May 22, 1997
A~ENDA
ACTION TAKEN
CALL TO ORDER: (Cassette No. 1)
6:05 p.m. Mayor Fernekes presiding.
ROLL CALL:
Council Present:
Council Absent:
Datzman, Mullin, Penna and
Fernekes.
Yee.
Interview of applicants for the Conference Center Au-
thority ~" ! ~..~
Council interviewed Mr. Emanuele Damonte and
Mr. Albert Dimminger. Mayor Femekes stated Mr.
George Chimenti and Ms. V. Marie David would be
interviewed at a later time.
M/S Mullin/Penna - To adjourn the meeting.
Carried by unanimous voice vote.
DJOURNMENT:
Time of adjournment was 6:37 p.m.
5/28/97
Page 1
AGE_NDA
ACTI_QON TAKEN
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Barbara A. Battaya, City Clerk~
City of South San Francisco
APPROVED.
Jo~,ph/~/Fer~Jc~7~ayor
C~/y 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-
tions, 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.
5/28/97
Page 2
Chairman loseph A. Fernekes
Boardmembers:
James L. Datzman
Eugene R. Mullin
tohn R. Penna
Robert Yee
MINUTES
Capital Improvements Financing Authority
Municipal Services Building
Community Room
May 28, 1997
SPECIAL MEETING
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FINANCING AUTHORITY
OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
MAY 28, 1997
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of California, that
the South San Francisco Capital Improvements Financing Authority of the City of South San Francisco will hold a Special
Meeting on Wednesday, the 28th day of May 1997, at 6:50 p.m. in the Municipal Services Building, Community Room,
33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco, California.
Purpose of the meeting:
1. Roll call.
-- 2. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of 12/18/96.
3. Resolution authorizing Downtown Central Redevelopment bonds.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
FINANCING AUTHORITY AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF NOT TO EXCEED
$13,000,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF DOWNTOWN/CENTRAL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
1997 TAX ALLOCATION BONDS UPON CERTAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS, APPROVING
DISTRIBUTION OF OFFICIAL STATEMENT RELATING THERETO AND PROVIDING OTHER
MATTERS PROPERLY RELATING TO THE DOWNTOWN/CENTRAL REDEVELOPMENT
PROJECT
4. Adjournment.
Dated: May 15, 1997
i2ity Clerk
City of South San Francisco
CALL TO ORDER:
DLL CALL:
AGENDA
(Cassette No. 1)
ACTION TAKEN
6:58 p.m. Chairman Fernekes presiding.
Capital Improvements Financing Authority Present:
Datzman, Mullin, Penna, Yee and Fernekes.
5/28/97
Page 1
TAKEN
ROLL CALL
Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of
12/18/96.
Resolution authorizing Downtown Central Redevel-
opment bonds. ~'/~'".-.~
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN
FRANCISCO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FI-
NANCING AUTHORITY AUTHORIZING THE
PURCHASE AND SALE OF NOT TO EXCEED
$13,000,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF DOWN-
TOWN/CENTRAL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
1997 TAX ALLOCATION BONDS UPON CER-
TAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS, APPROVING
DISTRIBUTION OF OFFICIAL STATEMENT
RELATING THERETO AND PROVIDING OTHER
MATTERS PROPERLY RELATING TO THE
DOWNTOWN/CENTRAL REDEVELOPMENT
PROJECT
52
Capital Improvements Financing Authority Absent:
None.
M/S Yee/Perma - to approve the Minutes of the
Special Meeting of 12/18/96.
Carried by unanimous voice vote.
Coordinator of Economic & Community Develop-
ment Beyer gave the staff report: the
resolution authorizes the sale of $10 million
of tax allocation bonds; the Council and Agency had
a study session in 1996 and discussed the alterna-
tives.
Boardmember Penna stated he had a conflict of
interest on this item, left the podium and did not
take part in the discussion or vote on this item.
Coordinator of Economic & Community Develop-
ment Beyer continued: this specific project is well
over $13 million and staff was directed to move
forward and work with the consultant and bond
underwriters for the needed documents which are
before the Agency this evening.
Discussion followed: this item is also on the Coun-
cil agenda this evening; Boardmember Yee ques-
tioned the $10 million figure vs. the $13 million
figure used in the documentation; the difference is
the net value; the requested level of maximum bond
level is $13 million; the issue will be $11.6 million
and that will be a net of $10 million and that is the
target for the redevelopment in bond issuances; staff
left room for the market and the $11.6 million will
yield $10 million; because this is a tax allocation
bond issue and because it is going to be paid for
through revenue there is no need for a public vote;
Attorney Oster explained the difference
in bonds that must have a public vote; what happens
where the tax increment is not sufficient to meet the
obligation; that is the risk bond buyers take; so, this
would have a higher interest rate because there is no
fall back to the City; the rate is based on the tax
increment; there is $2 million in the downtown fund
and this additional $10 million is to give the flexibil-
ity to do the projects and not wait to accumulate
more tax increment and get the projects done soon-
er; the City will receive 2% to 5% each year.
M/S Yee/Mullin - To adopt the Resolution.
5/28/97
Page 2
A~ENDA
ACI!QN TAKEN
Jr, 53
3. Resolution - Continued.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Barbara A. Battaya, City Clerk
City of South San Francisco
RESOLUTION NO. CIP-53-97
Carried by majority voice vote, Boardmember Penna
abstained.
APPROVED.
o~pn . rerne es, ayor
Ci~ 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-
tions, 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.
5/28/97
Page 3
Mayor Joseph A. Fernekes
Council:
James L. Datzman
Eugene R. Mullin
--lohn R. Penna
Robert Yee
MINUTES
City Council
Municipal Services Building
Community Room
May28, 1997
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
MAY28, 1997
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of California, that
the City Council of the City of South San Francisco will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, the 28th day of May
1997, at 7:10 p.m. in the Municipal Services Building, Community Room, 33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco,
California.
Purpose of the meeting:
Closed Session, pursuant to GC 54957.9, conference with legal counsel on pending litigation - Molieri vs. City of
S.S.F.
Adjournment
Dated:
CALL TO ORDER:
ROLL CALL:
May 22, 1997
AGENDA
(Cassette No. 1)
Closed Session, pursuant to GC 54957.9, conference with
legal counsel on pending litigation - Molieri vs. City of
S.S.F. ,.5' / ~'..~
x~ECALL TO ORDER:
City Clerk
City of South San Francisco
ACTION TAKEN
7:15 p.m. Mayor Fernekes presiding.
Council Present: Datzman, Mullin, Penna, Yee and
Fernekes.
Council Absent: None.
The Council entered a Closed Session at 7:12 p.m.
to discuss the item noticed.
Mayor Fernekes recalled the meeting to order at
7:32 p.m., all Council was present, no action was
taken and direction was given.
5/28/97
Page 1
AGENDA _ACIIQN TAKEN
ADJOURNMENT:
M/S Mullin/Yee - To adjourn the meeting.
Carried by unanimous voice vote.
Time of adjournment was 7:33 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Barbara A. Battaya, Ci
City of South San Francisco
APPROVED.
City/cf South San Francisco
The entries of this Council meeting show the action taken by the City Council to dispose of an item. Oral communica-
tions, 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.
5/28/97
Page 2
Mayor Joseph A. Fernekes
Council:
James L. Datzman
Eugene R. Mullin
- tohn R. Penna
Robert Yee
MINUTES
City Council
Municipal Services Building
Community Room
May 28, 1997
CALL TO ORDER:
ROLL CALL:
AGENDA
(Cassette No.
1)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
INVOCATION:
PRESENTATIONS
-~'gmmendations by Mayor Fernekes to Fire Chief Stark
.d Paramedic Mike Ahern
TCI - General Manager Schacher
ACTION TAKEN
7:40 p.m. Mayor Fernekes presiding.
Council Present:
Council Absent:
Datzman, Mullin, Penna, Yee and
Fernekes.
None.
The Pledge was recited.
Lay Leader John Cantley, Grace Covenant Church,
gave the invocation.
PRESENTATIONS
Mayor Fernekes gave Certificates of Appreciation to
Fire Chief Stark and Paramedic Mike Ahearn for
their aid to a woman in full arrest, wherein they
established a pulse using CPR so she could be trans-
ported to the hospital.
Mr. Schacher introduced Ms. Kelly to relate
programming and rate changes.
Ms. Stacy Kelly related: TCI acquired Western TV
Cable last year and the rate calculations from the
former owner; they expanded the services and rates
based on the guidelines that the government set forth
in order to calculate rates; Western adjusted the
rates on a quarterly basis for a couple of external
components and added TCI costs to go into effect in
June; the expanded basic rates have already been
reviewed up to April 1996 by the FCC and they
found the rates are quite a bit below the rates we
could have in place; she quoted rates which she
said are lower than other cities; there are three years
of inflation that have not been put into the rates; the
second component is external costs that include a
number of channels they have added; copyright fees
they have to pay on the small broadcast that amount
to 47% of the increase; they are not allowed to
include any other types of operating costs of
5/28/97
Page 1
PRESENTATIONS
~ENDA
5/28/97
Page 2
ACTION TAKEN
PRESENTATIONS
o5 ;
acquisition; there are no increased operating costs.
Mr. Schacher described changes made to the various
services: they moved Discovery to basis services;
added Animal Planet, Fox News, Home & Garden,
Cartoons, History Channel, Fox Sports and the
sports channel was changed from a premium channel
with a fee for the professional sports and signed an
agreement to put that on expanded package; he
believes the added programming provided a good
package for the citizens whom they listen to; they
have extended the hours for the customers to do
business; there maintenance is 99.98% reliable; in
the month of May there were less than 2% calls for
service; later in the year, in the middle of the
fourth quarter, the Disney Channel will be added to
expanded basic service; etc.
Discussion followed: TCI is not required to raise
the rates, but has chosen to raise the rates; TCI does
not own any channels, but do have some part own-
erships through salvaging local networks from bank-
ruptcy; taking the cost away from the Disney Chan-
nel is being done in other markets; S.S.F. rates are
already higher than other cities; TCI's rates are
made up of the components they acquired; Council-
man Datzman asked if programming guides will be
available to the public for they are published by
other companies; where is the organizational chart
the Subcommittee asked for; TCI will send it out
tomorrow; Mayor Fernekes stated the meeting of the
subcommittee was prompted by the manner of noti-
fication of the basic rate increases in the mail that
extends those rates 12-14%, it is unfortunate that the
Council does not have the prerogative to approve
those rates; one of the issues, part of the agreement,
is you are supposed to expand the system and part of
that is fiber optics; TCI is still looking at all the
options and the driving force for expansion are for
programming and that is what customers are looking
for - more choice, so they are looking at fiber optics
and digital systems; the rate increase is far greater
than inflation which has only been two to three
percent a year, so how does TCI come up with
14%;
City Manager Wilson stated there were no changes
to the Agenda.
A~ENDA
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
5/28/97
Page 3
ACTION TAKEN
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Richard J. Busalacchi, 406 Forrest View Dr.,
stated he owns a home on San Felipe and related the
following on the noise insulation program; his prop-
erty is not covered at this time, yet rental properties
are being covered in the program; he feels the peo-
ple in his unit should be able to get whatever people
in other rented units are getting, and the way it
looks it is not going to be covered at all; he feels
when they come through an area it should all be
done, and the City should go for more money; he
does not want to wait until the year 2000 before
getting the home insulated.
Mayor Fernekes stated the City is in the process of
trying to acquire additional funds to do them.
Mr. Pat Nobis, 125 Aldenglen Dr., stated he de-
cided to sell his property to S.S.F., unfortunately
because of all of the activity going on in his area,
plus 80 additional homes to be sold, he was told to
make a comprehensive disclosure that includes po-
lice reports and the Council portion of meetings that
dealt with the health and safety issue. He stated
there were three of you that were a part of those
meetings and he needs actual transcripts that will
allow him to protect himself to sell the property.
He stated this includes some of the audio tapes of
the Planning Commission when they started the
process and what they recommended, the police and
how the Council acted. Since he has to make the
disclosure that Sunstream is going to follow suit
when they go to sell their properties because they
will face the same thing, so he needs to request the
transcripts.
City Clerk Battaya stated she has completed minutes
of the meetings, tapes are available to copy, howev-
er, if the Council chooses it can direct the City
Attorney to hire a Court Reporter to do verbatim
transcripts because the City Manager's Office has
audio/video tapes of all meetings.
City Attorney Mattas stated Mr. Nobis can make a
written request for public records, tapes of the vari-
ous meetings will be made available and it will be
up to him to have transcripts made, for the minutes
are a written summary.
Ms. Kathryn Mulgrew, 2407 Unwin Court, stated
A~ENDA
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
5/28/97
Page 4
ACI!QN TAKEN
059
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
she was here to represent Ed Mulgrew, for due to
recent surgery he is unable to talk against Measure
C. She stated she has a couple of prepared argu-
ments against the bond measure of $40 million: were
it not for the Avalon-Brentwood homeowners insist-
ing on a property appraisal for a piece of surplus
school property, the district would have squandered
away thousands of taxpayer dollars; this is not acting
responsibly; they have failed to collect rent from a
tenant in a school rental for six months and then
lowered the rent 90%; where were the maintenance
programs in their budget to handle these problems;
why haven't they sold surplus school property; why
wasn't the election held at the regular election last
November for a third of the cost; Ed Mulgrew has
evidence of various classroom equipment, in good
shape, being thrown away in the crusher; when Mr.
Mulgrew asked if he could take them home and fix
the various equipment he was told no, we have the
money to spend, throw them out; the school district
administrators can't run 16 schools on $44,600.00
for equipment and set aside money for repairs?;
don't believe what you read in the newspapers for
they are being fed misinformation by the school
district in regard to the assessment, number of years
the assessment is going to cover and the cost of
assessment; the assessment is only a guess, the real
cost in unknown; Westborough has 4 more years to
go on the common greens assessment and now we
may get hit with another bond - payable over 25
years by our children -- no more phony bond issues
or assessments, enough is enough is enough.
Ms. Janet Ingersoll, 508 Cortesi, spoke in support
of Measure C: Measure C isn't about politics, but
children; S.S.F. schools continue to provide for the
students; she and her brother graduated from local
schools and from the skills afforded them and went
on to universities; here son and daughter are prod-
ucts of local schools and if she did not believe the
schools offer the best she would not enroll them; the
District has provided for three generations of her
family; she spoke of the people that believe in
education that signed the arguments; she urged
people to vote yes on Measure C for the best of
schools.
Ms. Laurie Masetti, 256 Oakcrest Ave., spoke in
favor of Measure C: this will provide warm schools
A~ENDA
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion to approve Minutes of the Adjourned Regular
Meeting of 4/30/97.
ACTION TAKEN
060
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
for the teachers and the students; the last bond issue
was passed over 30 years ago and there is no bond-
ed indebtedness today; the cost to the tax player
will be approximately $26.00 per $100,000 of as-
sessed value; other Districts are averaging $44.00
per assessed $100,000; there has been opposition to
this and it is apparent the opposition is not aware of
the facts; she reiterated her previous remarks made
at a prior meeting and urged a yes vote on Measure
C.
Councilman Datzman noted his concern: flyers,
without a name, that are passed out and stuck under
doors and there is no way to contact the person
writing the material; the second issue has to do with
Kaiser Hospital for he has seen many changes over
the past 30 years, an expansion, a move to the El
Camino, purchase of a building on Orange and
Railroad for a new facility, then they decide to sell
that land which brings up what he raised before as
to what Kaiser's long range plans are; he had a
meeting with Kaiser on the 28th and asked that same
question, what is the long range plan for that is
important to the community for the local medical,
and there is no answer, but they agreed to have a
meeting on the 9th of June; he subsequently sent
information to the Mayor for a Subcommittee for it
is important to not wake up without Kaiser if there
is a decision to move the medical from this City.
Such decisions should be made with public aware-
ness in the best interest of S.S.F. citizens.
Mayor Fernekes related: three members were invit-
ed to a girl scout dinner that was the 75th anniversa-
ry, and Councilmembers Mullin and Datzman joined
him for the awards ceremony; he complemented the
schools and staff for the Youth and Government
Day, during that he had the opportunity of meeting
the President of the Philippines and Councilmembers
Mullin and Penna were with him; they invited their
student counterparts to attend and got to meet the
President of the Philippines and gave him a City
pin.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Approved.
5/28/97
Page 5
A~ENDA
ACTION TAKEN
. 061
CONSENT CALENDAR
:. Motion to confirm expense claims of 5128/97. ~'0/,.,~
CONSENT CALENDAR
Approved in the amount of $1,567,126.14.
Resolution providing interim spending authority dur-
ing the first 60 days of the 1997-98 fiscal year. ,5-'~ 7' 7
A RESOLUTION APPROVING INTERIM FUND-
ING FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997-1998 FOR THE
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO AND
ADOPTING CORRESPONDING APPROPRIA-
TIONS
RESOLUTION NO. 53-97
Motion to accept completion of Aircraft Noise Insu-
lation Program, Phase XII. .~'2.~
So ordered.
Resolution to award contract for the Aircraft Noise
Insulation Program, Phase XIV to G. E. Chen Con-
struction, Inc. in the amount of $4,496,000 as the
lowest responsible bidder. ~'2-<~
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE AWARD
AND EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO AND
G.E. CHEN CONSTRUCTION, INC. FOR THE
AIRCRAFT NOISE INSULATION PROGRAM
PHASE XIV
RESOLUTION NO. 54-97
Resolution to award contract to Edward W. Scott
Electric Co., Inc. in the amount of $156,362, as the
lowest responsible bidder, and a budget amendment
of $220,000 for the Westborough Street Lights Phase
II Project. ~D <~
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE AWARD
AND EXECUTION OF A CONSTRUCTION CON-
TRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN
FRANCISCO AND EDWARD W. SCOTt ELEC-
TRIC CO. FOR THE WESTBOROUGH STREET
LIGHT PROJECT PHASE II IN THE AMOUNT OF
$156,361 AND APPROVING A BUDGET AMEND-
MENT (NO. 97-19) TO THE 1995-97 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT
OF $220,000
Motion to approve plans and specifications and au-
thorize advertisement of bids for the Spruce Avenue
Traffic Signal Interconnect Project. ,~t9 ~
RESOLUTION NO. 55-97
Removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion
by Councilman Yee.
Motion to approve plans and specifications and au-
thorize advertisement of bids for Hillside Blvd. and
5/28/97
Page 6
So ordered.
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
CONSENT CALENDAR
;. Motion - Continued.
Chestnut Ave. Traffic Signal Installation Project.
Resolution approving Downtown Central Redevelop-
ment bonds. ~'O~ a/
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO AP-
PROVING THE ISSUANCE BY THE REDEVEL-
OPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
SAN FRANCISCO OF NOT TO EXCEED
$13,000,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF BONDS
RELATING TO THE DOWNTOWN/CENTRAL
REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
10.
Resolution authorizing submittal of grant application
to the David and Lucille Packard Foundation for
$60,592.00 for Fiscal Year 1997-1999. ,_~ O 'Z. 3
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF
A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE DAVID AND
LUCILLE PACKARD FOUNDATION FOR $60,592
FOR THE 1997-99 FISCAL YEARS TO CONTIN-
UE THE EXPANSION OF THE USE OF VOLUN-
TEERS IN CITY DEPARTMENTS
Motion to approve plans and specifications and au-
thorize advertisement of bids for the Spruce Avenue
Traffic Signal Interconnect Project. ~-0 ~0
CONSENT CALENDAR
... 062
So ordered.
Removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion
by Councilman Yee.
RESOLUTION NO. 56-97
M/S Datzman/Yee - To approve the Consent Calen-
dar with the exception of Items 7 and 9.
Carried by unanimous voice vote.
Councilman Yee stated the report says it only goes
as far as No. Canal, and questioned why it does not
go to Huntington and El Camino Real.
Director of Public Works Gibbs stated only funds
for this are available, for BART will not come into
this. He recommended going ahead, but if BART
interferes, then we must handle this later.
Councilman Yee stated this only goes to No. Canal
and Mayfair, and say you don't care what happens
after that, but have we applied for Victory/Hunting-
ton/El Camino Real and how long ago was it applied
for.
Director of Public Works Gibbs stated it was applied
for two years ago.
5/28/97
Page 7
.._7. Motion - Continued.
A~NDA
Resolution approving Downtown Central Redevelop-
ment bonds. ~O ~ '~
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO AP-
PROVING THE ISSUANCE BY THE REDEVEL-
OPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
SAN FRANCISCO OF NOT TO EXCEED
$13,000,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF BONDS
RELATING TO THE DOWNTOWN/CENTRAL
REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
RECESS:
RECALL TO ORDER:
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
Resolution approving a Memorandum of Understand-
ing with First Point Utility Solutions, Inc., a Portland
General Company as a preferred electric provider.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SOUTH
SAN FRANCISCO AND FIRST POINT CALIFOR-
NIA, INC. RELATED TO PROVISION OF UTILI-
TY SERVICES
ACT!__O_N TA K_E N
.. 063
MIS Yee/Penna - To approve plans and specifica-
tions and authorize advertisement of bids for the
Spruce Avenue Traffic Signal Interconnect Project.
Carried by unanimous voice vote.
Councilman Yee asked that the documents be
changed to reflect the proper spelling of his name.
M/S Yee/Mullin - To adopt the Resolution.
RESOLUTION NO. 57-97
Carried by majority voice vote, Councilman Penna
abstained on the item.
Mayor Fernekes declared a recess at 8:35 p.m.
Mayor Fernekes recalled the meeting to order at
8:50 p.m., all Council was present.
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
City Manager Wilson stated Maury Kruth worked
with the staff and Subcommittee on this item and
will give an overview on the status and the
opportunities provided. Following the presen-
tation he will introduce officers of Portland
General Company, and then he will take the Council
through the details of the agreement.
Mr. Maury Kruth, Senior Vice President of RMI,
stated he has been working with City staff looking
for opportunities to lower the electric rates after the
recent deregulation of electricity firms. He
related: we have reached an important milestone
and will produce savings for the City; his presenta-
tion is to have an update in choosing this as your
partner; electricity is a large business, and the State
spends $23 million on electricity and the legislature
recognizes this is a problem since the rates in Cali-
fornia are 50% higher than neighboring states and
this led to the unanimous passage of legislative bill
AB 1890 in the Assembly and Senate; this opens it
up to customer choice on electricity; historically,
electricity has been provided by PG&E and every-
thing down to the local meters including all service;
now, you will see a number of opportunities for a
variety of suppliers for customer choice, but you
5/28/97
Page 8
~ENDA
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
1. Resolution - Continued.
5/28/97
Page 9
_AC_T!QN TAKEN
. 064
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
will see the same companies in terms of distribution;
in trying to save money for the citizens there are a
variety of alternatives - status quo, load aggregation
by others, load aggregation by S.S.F. with partners,
partial municipal system, municipal system with
leased facilities or municipal system with ownership;
the City issued an RFP with a number of bankers
that wished to help; staff and the Subcommittee
interviewed five major firms, all of which were the
same size or larger than PG&E; the firm recom-
mended to be selected is Portland General Company
First Point Utility Solutions, Inc. as the preferred
electric provider; some key features in the agree-
ment - to form a team to offer electricity and the
folks will get a guaranteed savings and if everyone
takes advantage will be $2 million a year, it is a five
year agreement and is better than others like
ABAG's agreement; the 5% is a minimum savings
and Portland could do better than that; PG&E will
still do the metering and distribution; reimbursed
city expenses; an average $100 monthly bill would
now be $95; there is an effort to lower the residen-
tial/commercial by 10% and they are having difficul-
ties because of the bond issues; it creates a good
incentive and is wise for the residents to chose it
because it is better service and cheaper rates and
without risk to the City.
Discussion followed: since the rate is tied to the
PG&E rate, how often does this change; they are
not likely to change more than the 10% because the
Assembly Bill froze them and that is part of the
complex deal to give PG&E ability to pay off their
costs so it will deliver more savings quicker than if
you do nothing; most of the utility rates are coming
down in the near future; Portland's intent is to work
with the City to get the market share and make it as
attractive as possible; the resident has the option to
select their power provider; how often would a
client be able to change providers if PG&E becomes
more competitive; the PUC is going through rule
making, but it looks like they are trying to find a
balance and not drive the prices up; Ms. Jan Grego-
ry, First Point Utility Solutions, Inc., stated the City
Manager will be reviewing the business agreement
and will be able to answer any detail questions; First
Point's goal is to improve the commitment with
lower utility costs and protect the customers; Port-
land General owns three businesses - PGE Electri-
A~ENDA ACTION TAKEN
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
1. Resolution - Continued.
5/28/97
Page 10
065
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
cai Utility, First Point Utility and Telecommun-
ications; we are a customer/community operated
company and are actively involved in doing projects
in the community and schools, and put computers in
the schools; we are the largest generator of gas in
Northern America; the company is 107 years old in
Portland; there are other competitors from Southern
California Portland General will be competing
against for residential and commercial; we are com-
mitted to have an office here to establish Portland's
presence and develop needs; we are committed to
providing the electricity and natural gas and tele-
communications, perhaps the Internet will become
part of the package; Councilman Datzman stated
page ten of the sample agreement talks about the
local office and he questioned if that would be
manned by a live person or by a push button phone;
Portland will have a number of staff in the office
setup to meet consumer needs; it is not open all day,
but certain hours, but there will be a phone number
to call to answer questions on the rates to help them
understand our outages; in the event the office is
already closed there will be a 1-800 number 24
hours a day; will someone be assigned full-time or
just in a region; Portland's client if S.S.F. and will
have an office to serve the community and we will
be headquartered here; Councilman Yee stated there
will be two concerns - my rate is too high and the
second question is, where is my electricity; Portland
will interface with PG&E; so, for the first question
Portland responds and PG&E responds to the second
question; Portland will begin positioning themselves
in the community very quickly, starting July 1 we
have the authority to start making our presence
known and begin signing up customers and January
1 we can serve them; Vice Mayor Mullin stated the
City's name will be on the literature and are
offering to our residential and commercial customers
in our best judgment through a long process we have
been going through and think it is for the advantage
of the community to make the switch to Portland;
the agreement will go for five years, during which
time PG&E can pay off their costs; there will be
people that we did not select out soliciting business,
so the advantage you have is that you are our part-
ners and we are recommending Portland to the
community; Councilman Yee stated, if that is the
case then any one in the community can sign up
with other companies, as well as with Portland; City
AGENDA ACTION TAKEN
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
1. Resolution - Continued.
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
5/28/97
Page 11
066
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
Manager Wilson stated most companies will be look-
ing for large customers to serve and there is less
interest in going down and serving the single family
detached homes, and with the rate structure there is
an interest to go to the small and large commercial;
this agreement with Portland is saying we will serve
anyone, so come January 1st every home and busi-
ness will have a choice and will have a reduction in
rates; this agreement is in lieu of a franchise agree-
ment and calls for an exclusive agreement between
the City and Portland; there is also a provision in
the document that says Portland will have to pay a
comparable amount to what a franchise will be; this
is a free market and the companies have to be
licensed by the PUC as an aggregator and there is a
$200 fee and anyone can come into the market;
the PUC will have rules on switching companies; for
the first year PG&E will read the meters and pro-
vide data; Portland will be required to perform all
retail support services that are allowed by the PECK
that include the billing customer services, marketing
and working with PG&E and responsible for supply-
ing the power to the customers for five years; there
is a minimum of a 5 % savings and maybe even
greater amounts; explore the treatment plant and
make recommendations on the options and are pre-
pared to undertake regulatory support monitoring the
PUC along with mercury reporting and provide
technical support to the businesses and assist build-
ers and developers; they are going to handle the
aggregation and provide metering options and modi-
fy the billing to meet the needs of the customers;
they will work with the City for the marketing for
the strategy for the attraction of new business and
coordinate a marketing program; City Attorney
stated this is an enabling document; etc.
M/S Mullin/Penna - To adopt the Resolution.
RESOLUTION NO. 58-97
Carried by unanimous roll call vote.
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
Mayor Fernekes introduced Sally McCloud as the
new Director of the Chamber of Commerce.
Councilman Penna noted Council had a lot of work
AfiENDA
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
GOOD AND WELFARE
CLOSED SESSION
L Closed Session, pursuant to GC 54956.9, conference
with legal Counsel on existing litigation - Caines vs.
City of S.S.F. ~'/~'~
Councilman Penna Left the Closed Session.
RECALL TO ORDER:
13.
Motion to adjourn the meeting to Thursday, 6/5/97,
6:00 p.m., City Council Conference Room, City Hall
for a study session to discuss: 1) El Camino corridor
market analysis; 2) scavenger franchise agree-
merit/junk collector ordinance; 3) Closed Session,
pursuant to GC 54957.6, labor negotiations for
AFSCME, Management, Confidential and Executive
Management.
_ACI!QN TAKEN
· 067
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
and asked that study sessions be shortened to 1-2
hours and start at 5:00 p.m. so the public can at
tend, and the Council's concentration is better at
shorter meetings.
Vice Mayor Mullin stated that was an admirable
goals, but if the Council could be precise in study
session they could be shorter for the Subcommittee
took six hours to select Portland.
Councilman Yee suggested going from 6:00 - 9:00
p.m.
Councilman Datzman suggested 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.,
but on Wednesday evenings.
GOOD AND WELFARE
No one chose to speak.
CLOSED SESSION
Council entered a Closed Session at 10:00 p.m. to
discuss the item noticed.
Councilman Penna left the Closed Session at 10:27
p.m. and did not return to the meeting.
Mayor Fernekes recalled the meeting to order at
10:50 p.m., all Council was present with the ex-
ception of Councilman Penna, no action was taken
and direction was given.
MIS Mullin/Yee - To adjourn the meeting to Thurs-
day, 6/5/97, 6:00 p.m., City Council Conference
Room, City Hall for a study session to discuss: 1)
El Camino corridor market analysis; 2) scavenger
franchise agreement/junk collector ordinance; 3)
Closed Session, pursuant to GC 54957.6, labor
negotiations for AFSCME, Management, Confiden-
tial and Executive Management.
5/28/97
Page 12
,DJOURNMENT:
AGENDA
ACTION TAKEN
Carried by unanimous voice vote.
Time of adjournment was 10:50 p.m.
068'
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Barbara A. Battaya, City Clerk
City of South San Francisco
APPROVED.
~t;P~f'S;uth San Francisco
The entries of this Council meeting show the action taken by the City Council to dispose of an item. Oral communica-
tions, 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.
5128197
Page 13