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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2000-05-31 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO SPECIAL MEETING MAY 31, 2000 CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM 400 GRAND AVENUE Call to Order: 6:02 p.m. (Cassette No. 1) Roll Call: Present: Councilmembers Gonzalez, Mullin and Penna*, Mayor Pro Tem Fernekes, and Mayor Matsumoto Absent: None *Councilman Penna left the meeting at 6:50 p.m. Staff Present: City Manager Wilson, City Attorney Mattas, Assistant City Manager Moss, Public Works Director Gibbs, Superintendent of WQCP Castagnola, Environmental Compliance Coordinator Honan, Interim City Engineer Chuck, Housing and Community Development Manager Fragoso, Redevelopment Project Manager Beyer, Finance Director Steele, Assistant Finance Director Freeman, Finance Auditor Neal, Police Chief Raffaelli, Police Captain Cooper, Fire Chief Lee, Assistant Fire Chief Lucia, Fire Marshal/Chief Building Official Kirkman, Library Director Sommer, Superintendent of Recreation and Community Services Ranals, Superintendent of Public Works White, and Human Resources Director Bower Others Present: Historic Preservation Commissioner Feudale Mayor Matsumoto welcomed newly appointed Councilman Gonzalez to his first meeting. Study Session ยท Operating Budget for FY 1999/2000: City Manager Wilson made introductory remarks, informing Council of the format that will be used to present the operating budget, including budget message, revenues, expenditures and department budgets. Finance Director Steele presented an overview of the general fund operating budget, stating that the proposed budget total is $44,649,326; the expenditure total is $44,349,326. There is a net surplus of $300,000 that is allocated to capital projects, and represents a balanced budget. He suggested the City be prudent in its spending for the next year as reserves are being drawn down quite a bit. City Manager Wilson stated the City is healthy and well-funded for its day to day operation. Council discussed with staff sources of revenue, the perception that South San Francisco is doing well, major expenditures during the past year, service levels being maintained, business to business tax, and sales and use tax. City Manager Wilson stated he would provide Council with a copy of the bio-med facilities that are in the City's top hundred sales/use tax revenue generators. Director Steele continued his presentation and responded to Council questions regarding revenue sources, projections for next year, the health and benefits fund (PERS refund) being used to help out the general fund. He stated that anticipated funds, such as those coming from Costco and REST Parking, are not factored in and figures are conservative. Councilman Penna left meeting. Each of the redevelopment funds, were reviewed by Director Steele. Staff discussed with Council the Shearwater and El Camino Corridor areas that show in the negative for expenditures; funds are advanced to the two areas from the Downtown/Central Redevelopment Area. Low and Moderate Housing activity was discussed, and two priority housing projects designated for funding are the Chestnut/Mission Road project and Cuneo's property on Mission Road. Council discussed the idea of partnering with other agencies and an in-lieu housing fund. Director Steele reiterated the concern that the general fund can not be used in the next year to supplement funding for start up funds. Director Steele reviewed the budget message and the main issues being the Information Technologies Department, staffing changes, and other program adjustments. Council/staff discussed the lack of affordable housing for employees, developing a program to supplement down- payments or rent, create a housing set-aside fund, and in-fill housing in the downtown area. Historic Preservation Commissioner Feudale discussed the Commission's $15,000 grant allocation and the Commission's mission to increase its stock of historic resources. He urged Council to approve this year's allocation that will allow the Commission to increase its number of designations. City Manager Wilson reviewed each department's budget, indicating which departments are status quo, and which departments have an increase in staffing or materials and services. Councilman Gonzalez asked that he be provided with a list of acronyms and their meanings that are referred to in the budget. Mayor Pro Tem Fernekes discussed with staff the fund balance for the parking district and the property recently purchased in the downtown area for additional parking lots. Council discussed in more detail the Fire Department's proposed budget and its concern with overtime usage. City Manager Wilson stated a report on city-wide overtime usage is being prepared by the Finance Department and it will be forwarded to Council. Councilman Gonzalez asked the status of the proposed Westborough swimming pool and City Manager Wilson stated that it is not prioritized in the Capital Improvement Program due to the SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 31,2000 PAGE 2 current extensive list. He stated the Council subcommittee (Matsumoto/Mullin) is considering a bond measure, and a survey will be conducted this summer to see what improvements the community will support, e.g., fire station or a library, with the results being available in October. (Recess: 8:56 p.m. - 9:12 p.m.) (Cassette Tape No. 2) Councilman Mullin discussed with Council/staff the protocol for a commissioner not being able to participate on his/her commission for any particular length of time. City Attorney Mattas stated that Council's policy is to ask for a resignation in the case of a commissioner with excessive absences, but if there is a legitimate reason that Council is made aware of, mandatory action is not required. Fire Department - New Positions Request/Funding: Fire Chief Lee reviewed his memo of April 11, 2000, requesting overstaffing in the Fire Department Operations Division. The cost will be offset by increasing building permit fees for commercial and new residential work; residential additions are not included. He reviewed the needs of the Paramedic/Firefighters program and improvements that have been occurring in the Fire Prevention/Building Division since 1995. He stated building permit fees were last increased in 1981. The increase is justified as there have been continued demand for building inspection and plan review services. Chief Lee stated tenant improvement work will continue to escalate and become more complex. He stated plan check is profitable and may be kept in-house. The proposed changes include code enforcement being fully staffed, which will allow them to do their work more efficiently. The discussion was opened up and City Manager Wilson stated his support for the concept. Chief Lee and Chief Building Official Kirkman described examples of poor construction work that have been observed in the field by building inspectors, therefore justifying the need for inspectors not to make hasty inspections. Council stated their support for the proposal. City Manager Wilson stated the proposal will come to Council as part of the FY 2000-01 budget. Chief Lee informed Council that code enforcement improvements will also include better response time and follow-up with complainants. Adjournment Motion-Fernekes/Second-Mullin: Absent: Penna. Submitted by: Syl0/t M. Payne, City Ct~rk City of South San Francisco The entries of this Council meeting show thc action taken by the City Council to dispose of an item. To adjourn the meeting at 9:50 p.m.. Approved by voice vote. App?~d:,, \ /Kary"bl~sumoto, Mayor City of SOuth San Francisco Oral communications, 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. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 31,2000 MINUTES PAGE 3