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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1998-06-17Mayor Eugene R. Mullin Council: James L. Datzman Joseph A. Fernekes 'Karyl Matsumoto Iohn R. Penna MINUTES City Council Municipal Services Building Community Room June 17, 1998 SPECIAL MEETING CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO JUNE 17, 1998 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 17th day of June 1998, at 5:15 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 54956.9, Molieri vs. South San Francisco. Dated: June 16, 1998 City Clerk City of South San Francisco CALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL: AGENDA (Cassette No. I) Closed Session, pursuant to GC 54956.9, Molieri vs. South San Francisco. Councilman Penna Arrived: RECALL TO ORDER: ACTION TAKEN 5:20 p.m. Mayor Mullin presiding. Council Present: Council Absent: Datzman, Fernekes, Matsumoto and Mullin. Penna. Council adjourned to a Closed Session at 5:21 p.m. to discuss the item noticed. Councilman Penna arrived at the meeting at 5:37 p.m. Mayor Mullin recalled the meeting to order at 6:21 p.m., all Council was present, no action was taken and direction was given. M/S Fernekes/Datzman - To adjourn the meeting. 6/17/98 Page 1 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN ,DJOURNMENT: Carried by unanimous voice vote. Time of adjournment was 5:38 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITrED, APPROVED. Barbara A. Battaya, City Clerk City of South San Francisco E~ayor City of~'6uth 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. 6/17/98 Page 2 Mayor Eugene R. Mullin Council: James L. Datzman Joseph A. Fernekes Karyl Matsumoto Iohn R. Penna MINUTES City Council Municipal Services Building Community Room June 17, 1998 SPECIAL MEETING CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO JUNE 17, 1998 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 17th day of June 1998, at 6:00 p.m. in the Municipal Services Building, Community Room, 33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco, California. Purpose of the meeting: 1. BART Station Design. 2. 3. Dated: June 9, 1998 CALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL: SamTrans/CalTrain/JPB/MTSMA. 5'/.b" 2~ Play area and school facility improvements: 5/~ ! · Alta Loma School · Sunshine Gardens · Spruce Gym · Southwood School site library parking expansion Telephone usage at Council meetings. City of South San Francisco AGENDA (Cassette No. 1) ACTION TAKEN 6:30 p.m. Mayor Mullin presiding. Council Present: Datzman, Fernekes, Matsumoto, Penna and Mullin. Council Absent: None. Councilman Fernekes stepped down from the podi- 6/17/98 Page 1 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 1. BART Station Design. 6/17/98 Page 2 um due to a conflict of interest. Senior Planner Kalkin related: BART came to Council to present designs of the major components of the station; Council requested an additional study of the parking garage and adjacent plaza design; staff received clarification on the roof of the station design which includes a barrel vault roof with a wave pattern running through; staff understood that the entire wave portion of the roof would be con- structed of a translucent material to allow the natural light to penetrate; BART clarified that while the roof will incorporate translucent panels over both main entrances and at either end of the station, the main portion of the roof is to be standing seam metal roofing; BART has set a main priority to provide as much natural light as possible at the platform level and believes the current design achieves this objective; the parking structure was a long two story structure along El Camino and the Council wanted to break that with terracing or by increasing the height to break up the mass; BART staff is going to give attention to the entry feature of the Gateway; BART did provide revised plans that were reviewed by the Subcommittee, but it was not felt these designs were what the City intended; so, rather than continue to react to the proposal, we should refine our proposal and bring it back to BART; staff hired John A. Matthews, Architect, and John Lucchesi they will walk Council through the design the firm put together; the firm looked at a compromise where the setback along El Camino will vary from one end of the garage to the other and perhaps terrace a portion of the garage and way minimize the number of parking spaces and create a more open feel in the area; for the plaza the ap- proach was, let's look at the way the plaza area is going to be used; one is a gateway, a view corridor, another is a designation where people are going to congregate and celebrate the movement as a theme; staff brought this to the Council Subcommittee last week and they generally endorsed the concept on the portal idea of the space, but are concerned that it not overwhelm the station; they are only sketch ideas, are not formal designs and staff is looking for some endorsement as to what they should be, and allow staff to work further with BART. Councilman Penna stated that this is the station where the trains will come in and there will be a transparent type of material where it looks like AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 1. BART Station Design - Continued. 2. SamTrans/CalTrain/JPB/MTSMA. 6/17/98 Page 3 windows on the roof. Mr. Nell Mont, bay area consultant to BART, walked the Council through the station with the use of scale models to show the ground plan, platform, elevation and roof area. Discussion followed: light from the translucent areas; there will not be wind blowing through the station; why can't the whole roof be translucent; because they need places to run FVAC and it must be closed in to keep the birds out; Mr. John Lucchesi walked the Council through the rough designs soliciting input; he was trying to emphasize movement through the station reminiscent of portals, and at the El Camino end, they could have a large canopy in the center or sitting space on the side with a plaza with a low wall around the edge for a future retail expansion on the site; for a recurring theme at El Camino, the firm is introducing a low wall of some sort that has signage on it to indicate $.S.F./ BART Station rather than have the signage up on the station; having a larger landscape buffer; there are 1157 parking spaces in the garage; Mayor Mullin asked, wasn't there supposed to be a statue in the original design; that was a recommendation by the Cultural Arts Commission, in fact it was Council- member Matsumoto, and staff said they would look at it, but not at this stage; Mr. Lucchesi thought a statue would be appropriate; having no terrace and a full terraced structure which would be much softer at the corner; Mayor Mullin stated Council's con- cern was to not have the focal point being the park- ing garage that would dominate; the sketches seem to soften and coordinate that with something delight- ful so it has style and grace, rather than say here is where you put your car and here is your train; BART stopped designing the parking structure pend- ing a vertical scheme; Mayor Mullin stated this was a good start, he looked forward to seeing the final- ized design after BART has worked with Ms. Kalkin. Councilman Fernekes returned to the podium at 7:06 p.m. Mayor Mullin stated next are the anticipated changes in the SamTrans schedules. Mr. Larry Steuck, Director of Planning for the JPB, SamTrans and the Transit Authority, related: he AGENDA ACTION TAKEN SamTrans/CalTrain/JPB/MTSMA - Continued. started out in S.S.F. 25 years, then went to SamTrans; he described how SamTrans was scaling back their express routes to stretch dollars, but are still obligated to Redi-Wheels; there may be a mis- understanding in our involvement in the shuttle program; we had been a partner with MTSMA with some routes and they asked us to take over, and now there are five; good news, SamTrans will pick up the tab for Toshiba and relinquish turning over some of that cost; at the same time they are introducing a new route in the office park; down the line when BART is built and the station opens up there will be more opportunity because of the proximity to the office complex in the community; the Transporta- tion staff meeting on 7/3/98 on the Caltrain station is to look at many issues, such as punching a hole to provide better connection for the pedestrian access from the train station out to South Airport; they are in agreement with the design plan and feel it is their responsibility to come to the table and pick up the next staff meeting; he asked that one of the Council- members come to the meeting to make it more effec- tive for it is a major improvement to transportation; Supervisor Griffin is working with MTC to provide a childcare facility somewhere in the station; it will be incorporated into it so that any one coming down to the station can drop off their child at a childcare station; they are looking at four stations, Caltrain, Hickey and one other; MTC found the area around Hickey Blvd. very interesting and wants to work with them and the City to look at the options for transit oriented development around Hickey for he would not have allowed Costco to come into that area because of the need for transportation and the land available around the station and they would like to become a partner to look at different uses. Discussion followed: Mayor Mullin stated Mr. Stuck was talking about retail office; yes, office or retail are the types of uses that offer the direct link to the job or the home; residential may offer more ways to commute, but the City wants people to live and work in your community and that is difficult; with a Hickey Station you are going to see the com- ing and going to the shuttle and it is a great land use; the City is looking at the lands close to the Caltrain Station with the same concept; ABAG is looking at the ability of transit/residential and people qualified that don't need cars and putting them in houses close to BART and it becomes a way to ensure greater ridership on the shuttle service out to 6/17/98 Page 4 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 2. Samtrans/Caltrain/JPB/MTSMA - Continued. Vice Mayor Datzman Left the Meeting at 7:06 p.m. to Make a Presentation to the Harbor District. East Grand; the Redi-Wheels demands are increasing which is a mandate which changed the nature in what JPB does, for the Feds give no money for their mandates; the good news is that sales tax is way up; Mr. Stuck stated he asked his staff to look at all bus services, in terms of bus schedules, for S.S.F. and proceeded to discuss percentages of ridership on weekends; SamTrans hired a consultant for a study, held twelve community meetings and there were few comments they acted on; one of which was in Sunshine Gardens and they rerouted the bus, so Samtrans feels they were quite responsible; there was discussion of the routes to be replaced and dropped; everyone will be affected in the BART options and will integrate into the BART Station as a major transportation hub; it seemed to the Mayor, Samtrans was going to discontinue the service to El Camino High School; the bus is to take that route and consolidate into the 2lA; so, it will be a differ- ent number to the bus, a slightly different route, and the stop will be at the high school; the routes Samtrans is talking about will be phased in in five years, but nothing that affects passengers through Samtrans services when BART comes in will be affected until after BART service begins; Council- member Matsumoto stated Samtrans representatives said nothing would decrease on the routes to the different schools; Mr. Stuck replied yes, but some neighborhoods and some areas have been streamlined and may have taken it out of a particular neighborhood because of ridership, however, they will go out into the community to educate the people that they are part of another route before the five year change; he described the consolidation of routes; Councilmember Penna stated the problem is that it doesn't go anywhere important for those people that need to use the bus; you don't have a system that goes from east of El Camino to the westside to connect to the Caltrain Station or goes into the industrial areas; he stated one route starts at the City limits on Huntington, it loops around and goes to Orange and ends up at Armor Avenue; people in Buri Buri, Westborough, Avalon Park and Brentwood areas can't get into the Grand Avenue area or connect to Caltrain or Samtrans for 101 without having to switch buses, and it is so awkward people won't use it; Samtrans has three mutes that start at Huntington; if you look at the 24H or 24B, they come up Hemlock and the first stop is Terrabay, and then Sunshine Gardens, yet there is a school before Chestnut and Parkway and it really 6/17/98 Page 5 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN ~_ ~' .~ _ 2. Samtrans/CaltrainBPB/MTSMA - Continued. should come down Chestnut Avenue for there are 2,000 or 3,000 homes that need buses and are not being served; he feels it is not user friendly and those are the comments he is hearing on a continu- ing basis; Samtrans El Camino Corridor is excellent and so is 101, but it is picking up people in the neighborhoods that is lacking; his other concern is the Sunday route into the industrial area and whether Samtrans is going to pickup from the BART Station to the industrial area because he does not see any one using it because people using BART use the shuttle service from Glen Park, because that is the closest in time and expense, but picking up people from the neighborhoods is lacking and Samtrans could have a service from Glen Park and the Caltrain Station; Mayor Mullin reiterated, there is no coverage on Chestnut Avenue with all the homes that have been built, plus the middle school; it does not accommodate or meet the needs of that section of the City; Councilman Fernekes asked, with a new Hickey Station is it going to be closer from Glen Park or Hickey; Mr. Stuck stated the route would be closer to Hickey, but you have to take into consider- ation to come through Colma and Hickey; Council- member Penna stated San Bruno is the closest; Samtrans is thinking of relocating San Bruno and is going to reexamine the whole shuttle area to try to get it economic; Mr. Stuck is hearing - look at Chestnut and Westborough to Grand Avenue and the whole shuttle issue; Councilman Penna stated, also your Samtrans route into San Francisco along Air- port Blvd. for you are dropping off short of it and it should be at it; Councilman Fernekes stated Council has given lots of thought, after the Charrette, at the end of Grand and Airport as an intermodel station; if Council continues looking in that direction would SamTrans also look at changing their lines, for right now there is only one line and in the next five years it might be advantageous to study; Mr. Stuck stated it is more than an option issue with the traffic is- sues, but he thinks they are receptive to try to make a better connection with the alignment and circula- tion; Mayor Mullin stated that goes hand and glove on how to move the southerly and Airport Blvd. in context to do that it makes sense to have something done, for SamTrans has four potential lines that come within proximity; talk of the minutes between BART train connections; Councilman Fernekes stated it is more like 10 minutes between trains, and in fact it is approximately four minutes; Councilman Fernekes stated, as BART moves further down the 6/17/98 Page 6 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN _ 2. Samtrans/Caltrain/JPB/MTSMA - Continued. Play area and school facility improvements: Alta Loma School; Sunshine Gardens; Spruce Gym and Southwood School Site Library Parking Expansion. peninsula there will be more trains departing; wheth- er the Station is to be called Hickey or S.S.F.; how many attended the Sunshine Gardens meeting; the meeting was held here and about 20 appeared; there were 50 people at the Half Moon Bay meeting; everyone on the Council drives exception Council- man Fernekes, and if the others were dependent on the bus, we don't necessarily have the means; etc. Councilman Datzman returned to the meeting at 7:55 p.m. Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Ser- vices Nagel related: this presentation will be pre- sented again tomorrow night to the School District; this is a potential collaboration with the District; the presentation will be made by himself, Community Outreach Director Quinn, Assistant City Manager Russ Moss, Mr. Abel Machado and Associate Plan- ner Mike Lappen; this is a potential partnership for the enhancement of community facilities; we see each of the sites providing improvement services to the residents; Alta Loma Park will be developed by Greystone and will include a baseball diamond, bas- ketball court, restrooms, parking and Council has expressed interest in spending $300,000 as well as the basketball and potential picnic areas; we would like to request that the District fund additional park- ing on the campus for $175,000 to the left of the school off Romney; staff is anticipating that constr- uction will start this August, 1999, and be complet- ed in January, however, staff thinks by the first of the year we will be able to go out to bid for both. Discussion followed: make a two way strip and come out on Romney; cost is $1,000 @ parking stall; if the City puts in $500,000, staff wants the District to pay $170,000 for parking stalls; staff will make a park at Sunshine Gardens with the vacant land, there and staff hopes to have conceptual plans soon; the cost is $1 to 1.5 million to renovate 2 ball fields, grading, sod, picnic site and a small tot lot accessible to the public; it will be open 7 days a week; staff now schedules the ball field; aerial shots show the area is in disrepair, and if Council spends the money will staff maintain it; use Spruce Gym as a learning center for a start-up cost of $163,000 and then renovate the storage area and in return staff wants a 15 year lease for $1 a year; Community Outreach Director Quinn stated it is a partnership with the District for community health collaboration; 6/17/98 Page 7 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN Play area and school facility - Continued. 4. Telephone usage at Council meetings. 6/17/98 Page 8 bringing in outside counselors is an employ- er/employee issue with the School District; Mr. Abel Machado has been hired to help Ms. Quinn; there will be a gated entrance at the Southwood School; this will enhance the quality of life of S.S.F.; we will spend $3.7 million on the District's facilities, they will spend $175,000 and give a 15 year renewal lease and additional space on Sunshine Gardens; Mayor Mullin stated it is subject to ap- proval from our generosity; Vice Mayor Datzman stated with the bond issue and bond measure the District has more money, for this is a talking part- nership and maybe there should be a balance in the partnership as it is awkward for consideration - is there a plan to take it to the people; yes, it will be at the next meeting; where is the $45,000 for counsel- ing in the schools coming from; it is new money for out station consulting and an expansion of services; it is a healthy start concept with Families on Track; the schools are looking at community sites and you deliver services of counseling and health and it is a stand alone program; the cost is $90,000 and Ms. Quinn is going for grant monies; $90,000 for all campuses in S.S.F.; has the school union have a parallel model; City Manager Wilson stated they had talked about career counsels and ours is counseling on living and where they are going; trying to enter into collaboration with the School District, but if impossible we can use the money for another pur- pose; Ms. Quinn's key role in this is Families on Track; Mayor Mullin stated if they do inter-person- nel service, as well as counseling and if they are coming in from outside, then it affects labor con- tract; Facilities on Tract is a different aspect with the nurses, because they don't work for the School District, and he complimented staff on their presen- tations. Councilmember Penna stated he appreciates talking about this tonight because he found something out when he used the cell phone one evening when Council had the issue of Willow Gardens. That day he had been walking around with his headpiece and was driving and went to an opening and people asked if he was wired in. He stated there was an issue tonight and he will try it, so when he got here he asked TCI to put his cell phone number on the screen to call in. He is used to being able to handle a phone call and listen to something else, because he does that all day long and does not find it distract- ing. He continued: when the phone started to ring __4., Telephone usage at Council meetings - Continued. and he realized people were starting to call in, he was concerned about the sound of the ring to the members on the podium and the Vice Mayor said he could hear the talking; what he got out of it was the public being able to call in and communicate on what they are seeing us do and he found that impor- tant because he received five calls that evening; these calls helped him to understand better by the people not able to attend the meeting, and found the issues were not that different, they are the same as asked in the audience but to repeat it and ask staff to answer again; it seems we understand their concerns and he felt more comfortable in voting because it was very well communicated; he was thinking about how we may be able to interact with this; he has been realizing there is the public that is out there, watching the television and the reason we did this was to let the people see what is going on; he realiz- es there are people out there who are elderly or parents and can not come in and watch the screen to see what is happening, and others want to be in- formed on what is going on in the community; if we are going to do telecommunications, that it should be done the way he did it because it could be messy with a disturbance, but he thinks there should be a period of time to take a five minute session with their numbers on the screen, so if the public wants to call in on the subject they can do so; then we can get their questions and concerns and we can answer them and address the questions before we conclude on whatever we are going to do; he sees this as a way to take input to phone in; we can get the name of the people calling, the address and the phone number of the individual to have as a record; this would certainly open up the lines of communication from the standpoint of telecommunications and the age of interaction on our methods of communicating by phone; etc. Discussion followed: Mayor Mullin asked if it was true four of the five phone calls were Mr. Fuchs; Councilwoman Matsumoto responded, number one John, she was very upset that as a fellow Council- person you didn't give us time for feedback - a courtesy; number two, she heard your phone all the way where she was sitting and she could hear your speaking and our audience could not; people who come in give their name, and if maybe disabled - well they can write, we get letters and there is the hot line - we have made every effort; we are here to serve the public, our meetings are long, but Coun- 6/17/98 Page 9 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN .)~'7 4. Telephone usage at Council meetings - Continued. cilman Penna leaves - it is not fair; she worked for Quentin and knows the Brown Act and supports it; she assumes one of our hot topics at a Council meeting will be Terrabay with a lot of people com- ing in and she personally does not want to put in a cell phone - for she only uses hers for City business; she uses her cell phone to be accessible to City business and does not want her cell phone number given out. Councilman Penna apologized if anyone was insulted in any way, he had no intention of doing that, it was a thought and he appreciates the Councilwoman bringing it up for he was not aware she could hear it. He asked the Vice Mayor if he could hear it and he could, but he did not ask the Mayor or Councilmember Matsumoto, so this is good to know. He stated the Board of Supervisors used phones during their meetings. Councilmember Matsumoto stated the Supervisors only use the phones to talk to staff, for she knows as she was an Aide. Councilman Penna again apologized, because he does not want this to be misunderstood, for he thinks it is a good opportunity to be in the forefront and allow people to communicate with us. It is not just the question of someone who can come down here or they are not speaking or they can use the hot line. The issue is that most people are seeing and hearing the issue on television and something may spark as to what they are hearing, and it is the Council who benefits because we are listening to something. He stated this has benefitted him and that is why he asked it to be brought back and sees it as a good opportunity for all of Council. Councilman Fernekes stated he also was surprised this was going to happen that night without having the opportunity to discuss it by phone call or open session. What was disturbing is that it was a public hearing for the public that wanted to testify for or in opposition, and it is difficult to take phone calls for you are not giving the others your listening atten- tion. All of Council receives many phone calls and take that into consideration. If we did not post the agenda and advertise on Channel 3 and in the news- paper, then he would think about that, but they are afforded the opportunity. They can talk to the City Manager, that information is forwarded to him and 6/17/98 Page 10 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 4. Telephone usage at Council meetings - Continued. he is able to talk to the person. The public can write to us and has the opportunity to talk about an issue before us maybe it is not that night, but they also have the opportunity to come again. He stated that on an ordinance there are two readings, and the public can call between meetings. He stated there are also study sessions, so it is rare to adopt some- thing at one time, so a lot of the major issues are not one time but various times in open session and his phone is always open to comment. So, he be- lieves the public has ample opportunity to talk to us and believes that is fair, but he wants to give his attention to the public speaker, not to the person on the cell phone. Vice Mayor Datzman stated that three is the number to carry a vote, and what Karyl voiced in reference to Terrabay and the phone calling off the hook and we do not know who they are. There is input on the hot line, the agenda is posted, there are few calls and he feels very comfortable with the existing conventions. Mayor Mullin stated he will give Councilman Penna some limited support - he thought he was off line, but that is in the past. He feels we are in the begin- ning of a technological revolution, this is a germ of an idea and there should be a way to get some input and he concurs there are vehicles to contact Council, and are contacted sufficiently. He does believe there is a role for the Internet, for telephone communica- tions, but it is not clear what it is, but not at a Council meeting when an issue is being heard or ignoring people testifying. There is a certain diffi- culty to get out of your chair at home and the people vote with feet and if the room is full - that is an important issue. That is more difficult than staying home and calling in, and he does not think Council can disrespect people who come and listen. He waits in line at a drugstore and someone calls the cashier about a tooth paste and that takes precedence over me and he puts his things down and leaves. Is there a way to have a staff person take five minutes of calls when each issue is called, is there a way to have the comments forwarded to us of those in favor or opposed to the issue. He believes that before long the Council will have lap tops and we can access the staff report. He does not want to cut this off automatically, but he does think it needs to be worked on. 6/17/98 Page 11 AGENDA ACTION TAKEN 4. Telephone usage at Council meetings - Continued. ADJOURNMENT RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Councilman Penna, again, apologized to the Council and stated he never intended to insult any person on the Council to do anything that is derogatory, but he had an idea and ran with it. Mayor Mullin asked staff to do a brief survey on the technology available in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. He suggested having a technician, using a computer screen, survey nine cities. Councilman Penna suggested a survey of Foster City, Redwood City and City of San Mateo. Vice Mayor Datzman asked the City Manager to contact the League of CA Cities Library and agrees it should be a survey of San Mateo and Santa Clara. M/S Penna/Fernekes to adjourn the meeting. Time of adjournment was at 9:08. APPROVED. uarbara A. Battaya, City City of South San Francisco 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- 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. 6/17/98 Page 12