HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-20 e-packet@7:00Wednesday, March 20, 2019
7:00 PM
City of South San Francisco
P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400 Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, CA
City Hall, City Manager's Conference Room
400 Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA
Special City Council
Special Meeting Agenda
March 20, 2019Special City Council Special Meeting Agenda
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of
California, the City Council of the City of South San Francisco will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday,
March 20, 2019, at 7:00 p.m., in the City Manager's Office, City Hall, 400 Grand Avenue, South San
Francisco, California.
Purpose of the meeting:
Call to Order.
Roll Call.
Agenda Review.
Public Comments - comments are limited to items on the Special Meeting Agenda.
ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION
Study Session to present opportunities for a Community Facility District financing
strategy for the East of Highway 101 Area. (Mike Futrell, City Manager)
1.
Adjournment.
Page 2 City of South San Francisco Printed on 4/17/2019
City of South San Francisco
Legislation Text
P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400
Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, CA
File #:19-191 Agenda Date:3/20/2019
Version:1 Item #:1.
Study Session to present opportunities for a Community Facility District financing strategy for the East of
Highway 101 Area.(Mike Futrell, City Manager)
ATTACHMENTS
A.Comparable CFDs
B.Proposed Boundaries of City of South San Francisco Industrial Area Community Facilities District No.
2019-01
C.Utah Avenue Six Alternatives
D.PowerPoint Presentation
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City of South San Francisco
Legislation Text
P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400
Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, CA
File #: 19-191 Agenda Date: 3/20/19
Version: 1 Item#: 1.
Study Session to present opportunities for a Community Facility District financing strategy for
the East of Highway 101 Area. (Mike Futrell, City Manager)
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council consider and provide guidance on next steps to
establish a Community Facility District generally within the East of 101 Area.
BACKGROUND
The San Francisco Bay Area has experienced unparalleled economic succes s since the end of
the Great Recession. Approximately 660,000 jobs have been created in the region since 2010,
and the unemployment rate in San Mateo County as of December, 2018, was at 2%, reflective
of our robust economy. South San Francisco and its residents have benefited from this economic
success in the form of greater job opportunities, increased home values and elimination of
blighted sites in the city, replaced by modern buildings.
This economic growth has not come without a cost, however, and traffic in South San Francisco
has increased with the growing number of jobs and associated commuters. Much of the increased
traffic is associated with growth in the City’s biotechnology and industrial area, centered along
Highway 101 and East of Highway 101 (E101 Area.) To understand traffic patterns and the
impact of future economic growth, the City began developing a new E101 Area Traffic Master
Plan. The City will develop a new master traffic plan for areas West of Highway 101 in 2019.
Once complete, both traffic master plans will become part of the new General Plan for South
San Francisco.
The City hired the firm of Fehr & Peers, well-qualified transportation experts, to develop the
master traffic plan for the East of Highway 101 area. Fehr & Peers held multiple public meetings
to gain information, feedback and ideas; studied existing travel patterns, roadway congestion,
bicycle and pedestrian gaps; and evaluated the transit service within the E101 Area. Fehr &
Peers then studied and projected future growth in the E101 Area, modeled that growth in light
of existing transportation conditions, and concluded continued growth will increase the stresses
on the City’s transportation systems to an unacceptable level.
In light of the conclusion that continued growth would negatively affect transportation systems,
Fehr & Peers explored and modeled possible improvements to transportation. What emerged
were five initiatives, which, if successfully implemented, would improve transportation to an
acceptable level even with the projected future growth. The Fehr & Peers study is known as
Mobility 2020.
Mobility 2020 identifies major capital and operating investments for the E101 Area which
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improves the transportation system; however, the plan requires an investment of approximately
$356 million for construction, and an annual operating revenue stream of approximately $7
million for operation and maintenance. There are insufficient local, regional, state, or federal
funds available to cover the cost of the needed improvements, requiring that City Staff look to
other solutions to fund the needed improvements.
City Staff, in conjunction with many companies in the E101 Ar ea, have explored the
establishment of a Mello-Roos Community Facilities District (CFD) as a means to raise needed
funding. Essentially, upon formation of a CFD, businesses in the E101 Area would pay a special
tax of a specified amount, with those funds going towards improving transportation in the E101
Area. Discussion of the CFD formation process and costs/benefits is the focus of this study
session, with City Staff seeking the City Council’s guidance and direction to continue pursuing
a CFD as a means to finance the identified transportation improvements.
DISCUSSION
Current and Future Growth East of the 101 Area
The E101 Area is an international hub for the biotechnology industry as well as a regional center
for industry, logistics, and travel. Presently, the E101 Area serves approximately 28,000
employees across 21 million square feet of office/R&D, industrial, commercial, and hotel uses.
Office/R&D and industrial space is in very high demand, with vacancy rates under five percent.
Over the next two decades, the City expects to add over 13 million square feet of mostly office
and R&D space in the E101 Area, doubling its daytime population to up to 55,000 employees.
Approximately half of this growth is already approved or under construction and most will be
office/R&D uses along with new hotels, retail, and employer amenities. Figure 1 graphically
displays the projected growth in the E101 Area.
Figure 1 – Current and Future E101 Growth
Current and Future Transportation Challenges
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The E101 Area faces several challenges in accommodating expected growth:
Regional congestion on US-101, 280, 380;
Limited road access into the district via Oyster Point Blvd, Grand Avenue, Produce Avenue
or South Airport Blvd;
Physical barriers created by US-101, the Caltrain Corridor and the San Francisco Bay; and
Future environmental concerns related to wetlands and sea level rise.
Today, the East of 101 Area experiences an extended peak travel period with local traffic
congestion spanning multiple hours. On a typical weekday, the busiest commute times are 7:00 -
10:00 AM (inbound) and 4:00-6:00 PM (outbound). Approximately 80 percent of trips occur via
driving alone. Most trips originate in San Mateo County, but a growing number of commuters
travel from the East Bay given the Peninsula’s worsening jobs-housing imbalance.
Figure 2 - Inbound and Outbound Trips by Time of Day
Traffic congestion is especially prevalent during the evening commute period. Access to the East
of 101 Area is constrained to four major gateways accessing US -101 and I-380: Oyster Point
Boulevard, East Grand Avenue, and South Airport Boulevard (north and south). These corridors
experience daily backups, often extending several blocks.
Furthermore, the mode split, or way that employees travel to the E101 Area, is skewed heavily
towards trips by driving alone originating within San Mateo County (shown in Figure 3). This is
primarily a result of convenience for San Mateo County based employees and a product of
challenging last mile connections. Although several transit operators have identified the E101 Area
as a near-term service expansion opportunity, including Caltrain, SamTrans, and the Water
Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), the Area’s limited shuttles, disconnected
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1,000
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4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
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Person Trips In (Eastbound) Person Trips Out (Westbound)
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sidewalks, and lack of bicycle infrastructure limits the accessibility of these services. Absent a
reliable transit option, the vast majority of workers in the E101 Area drive a car to work, and they
drive alone.
Figure 3 - Peak period mode split and trip origins
Without any improvements, the E101 Area will experience extended peak period congestion and
diminished regional competitiveness in the future. With its current infrastructure and services, the
E101 Area can theoretically absorb approximately 10,000 new employees – equivalent to the
amount of development currently under construction. However, this growth (and any growth
beyond it) will result in worsening congestion along key corridors such as Oyster Point Boulevard
and East Grand Avenue. Recent traffic studies suggest that sixteen E101 Area intersections will
operationally break down if all projected growth materializes by 2040.
CFD Traffic Modeling
Using the City’s model, Fehr & Peers analyzed the effects of CFD projects on the East of 101
area. With no changes, substantial traffic congestion would occur entering and exiting the area
during peak periods, especially on Oyster Point Boulevard, East Grand Avenue, and South
Airport Boulevard. Due to constrained roadway capacity and limited transit services, not all
demand would be served. The CFD projects would expand roadway capacity by 20 to 30 percent
and support a reduction in driving alone to 60 percent of all trips. Consequently, roadways would
generally function within their operational capacities, though some congestion may occur in
certain locations.
Potential Traffic and Transit Solutions
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New roadway capacity and reduced solo driving is necessary to maintain an efficient and effective
transportation network in the E101 Area given future growth. This requires new street connections,
stronger Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs, transit service expansions, and
walking/bicycling investments. The Mobility 2020 study focuses on five major projects within the
E101 Area to enhance access and provide viable options to travel to and from work while reducing
delay. Combined, these projects are intended to increase roadway throughput capacity by
approximately 20-30 percent and support a reduction in drive alone trips to 60 percent of all
commute trips. These projects will also improve traffic West of Highway 101 by reducing the
number of cars commuting through South San Francisco en route to major job centers East of
Highway 101. The five recommended initiatives include:
1. Utah Avenue Interchange with US-101
a. Description: Extends Utah Avenue from South Airport Boulevard to San Mateo Avenue
with a new southbound onramp and off-ramp.
b. Cost Estimate - $100M
c. Mobility Improvement: Provides a new east-west crossing of US-101 and a more direct
path to the US-101 southbound onramp, alleviating a bottleneck at South Airport
Boulevard/Produce Avenue intersection. Enables traffic to bypass East Grand Avenue and
helps maximize underutilized capacity of Utah Avenue.
d. Status: This project is on the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and is
currently in design utilizing a $3.8 million grant from the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission (MTC). This Caltran supported project will finish design in early 2020, and
then move into the environmental phase, costing an additional $4 million and lasting
approximately 24 months. If placed on the fast track, this project could start construction
in 2023 and open in 2025, pending funding. This project is also on the list of projects
associated with the recently passed Measure W sales tax measure. Being on the STIP and
the Measure W list, this project is eligible for funding from multiple sources.
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Figure 4 – Highway 101/Produce Avenue Project Alternative 1
Utah Avenue Interchange with US-101 Alternatives
The following alternatives are currently being considered. All of the build alternatives would
involve constructing a new overcrossing extension of Utah Avenue over US 101 that would
connect with San Mateo Avenue. Please refer to Attachment C for all 6 Alternatives.
A. No Build Alternative
The “No Build” alternative assumes no construction of the Utah Ave/Produce Ave
Interchange. Under this alternative, the existing southbound US 101 on-/off-ramps, Produce
Avenue, South Airport Boulevard and Utah Avenue would remain unchanged. This
alternative does not meet the need and purpose of the project. Rather, it provides a basis for
the analysis and evaluation of the “Build” alternatives for the proposed project.
B. Alternative 1 - Braided US 101 Southbound Off-Ramp
This alternative would shift the existing southbound Produce Avenue on-ramp northerly to
improve the weaving distance to I-380. The existing southbound off-ramp would be closed
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and replaced by a new diagonal off-ramp grade that would connect to the new overcrossing.
The southbound off-ramp would begin as a single lane ramp and widen to two lanes,
providing off-ramp storage improvement. A new local road would be constructed starting
just before the southbound on-ramp and ending west of Utah Avenue extension. The existing
Terminal Court would be closed.
Alternative 1 increases capacity for the southbound off-ramp by constructing a new clear-
span bridge over Colma Creek and Produce Avenue. It also provides connectivity and
circulation with the west-side of the freeway and the proposed Utah overcrossing, and
reduces traffic on Airport Boulevard between Produce Avenue and Gateway Boulevard. The
cul-de-sac would have to extend parallel to the proposed Utah Avenue to provide access to
the Park N’ Fly lot adjacent to US 101. However, because of the cul-de-sac, there would be
necessary right-of-way takes at the produce market and therefore a refined version of this
alternative was created (Alternative 5).
C. Alternative 2 - Modified Partial Cloverleaf
Alternative 2 proposes to construct a modified partial cloverleaf interchange. The existing
southbound on- and off-ramps would be closed. A new southbound off-ramp would connect
to Produce Avenue in a “T” intersection with the loop on-ramp. A new local road starting
right after the Colma Creek Bridge would run alongside the new southbound off-ramp and
connect to a signalized intersection, west of Produce Avenue. Similar to Alternative 2, the
access to the Park ‘N Fly parking lots would be provided at the signalized intersection and
the existing Terminal Court would be closed.
This alternative also maintains Produce Avenue as a through road along the perimeter of the
Park ‘N Fly lot (similar to Alternative 1), connecting Airport Blvd to the proposed Utah
Avenue extension. This interchange design also requires a cul-de-sac roadway connection
from Utah Avenue to the Produce Market and south Park ‘N Fly lot which cannot be
avoided, and requires acquisition of a portion of the Produce Market.
D. Alternative 3 - Tight Diamond With Braided Ramps
Alternative 3 is the maximum foot-print alternative. It proposes to reconfigure the
interchange to a tight diamond interchange. The on- and off-ramps south of the overcrossing
would be braided with the I-380 connector ramps. In the northbound direction, the I-380 two-
lane connector ramp would braid over the off-ramp to the Utah Avenue overcrossing. In the
southbound direction, the two-lane on-ramp would split in two: one going to west I-380 and
the other heading to southbound 101. The existing southbound 101 to westbound I-380
connector ramp would also be shifted 1700 feet to the north. The existing on- and off-ramps
in both directions would be closed. Produce Avenue would be relocated along the westerly
side of the new southbound diagonal off-ramp and it would continue under the new
overcrossing, providing access to the parcels in the southwest quadrant.
Alternative 3 would improve storage capacity for the northbound and southbound ramps.
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This alternative would have the highest right-of-way impacts along both sides of US 101.
This alternative would also have substantially higher costs than the other alternatives, due to
the needed right-of-way and the number of structures.
E. Alternative 4 - Roundabout Intersections
Alternative 4 proposes to construct an overcrossing extending Utah Avenue westerly over US
101 to connect with San Mateo Avenue at a new “T” intersection. This alternative would
incorporate roundabouts in place of traffic signals at key locations. The existing southbound
on- and off-ramps would be closed. This alternative also proposes a roundabout at the
intersection of South Airport Boulevard and Utah Avenue.
The Utah Avenue/S. Airport Boulevard roundabout will have to be raised, and the higher
vertical profile will cause access problems for adjoining businesses (at their driveways). The
roundabouts would have to be two lanes wide to accommodate traffic volumes, plus
additional space may be necessary to allow adequate separation between bikes and cars. The
southbound on-ramp would be limited to one general purpose and one HOV lane which is
not anticipated to have sufficient capacity. Similar to Alternative 1 and 2, the removal of
Terminal Court for the proposed southbound off- and on-ramps also removes existing access
to the Produce Market and south Park ‘N Fly lot.
F. Alternative 5 – Braided US 101 Southbound Off-Ramp (Modified)
This alternative is similar to Alternative #1, but includes several major design refinements to
avoid or minimize impacts. The alignment of the Utah Avenue overcrossing was adjusted to
avoid direct impacts to the two main buildings at the Produce Market property. This
alignment still impacts the entrance gate to the market and administrative buildings, but
avoids the produce market structures that may potentially be considered historic. It provides
for direct access from the Produce Market area to the intersection at Utah Avenue and
Produce Avenue. To serve the south Park ‘N Fly lot, a connector roadway provides access
from the realigned Produce Avenue. The southbound Produce Avenue on-ramp would
accommodate multiple lanes including an HOV bypass, with increased capacity. The
southbound off-ramp would require a clear span bridge over Colma Creek.
G. Alternative 6 – Utah Avenue and Local Road Improvements
This alternative is a reduced scope version of Alternatives #1 and #5. It features several
design refinements and deletions to avoid and minimize impacts as shown in the other
alternatives. The alignment of Utah Avenue was adjusted further to the north to avoid direct
impacts to the two main buildings at the Produce Market property. The major difference of
this alternative is that Produce Avenue and the connecting southbound on-ramp are kept
almost intact. The intersection at Airport Boulevard and San Mateo Avenue is upgraded to a
‘complete streets’ configuration. The segment of San Mateo Avenue between the new Utah
Avenue connection and Airport Boulevard (which is currently one lane in each direction with
on-street parking) will be restriped to show two northbound lanes and one southbound lane
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with no on-street parking. This alternative will maintain a shorter cul-de-sac at terminal
court while providing a revised entrance to the south Park ‘N Fly lot and Produce Market
area. A second/alternative entrance to the Produce Market and north Park ‘N Fly lot is
provided along Utah Avenue. This alternative minimizes or avoids impacts to the north Park
‘N Fly lot, the Park ‘N Fly lot’s new entrance plaza, and the gas station on Produce Avenue
near the Colma Canal. The existing southbound off-ramp will be maintained in its current
location. The existing free right-turn connector (from northbound Produce Avenue to
eastbound Airport Boulevard, with a stop sign at Airport Boulevard) will be removed. It will
be replaced with two right turn lanes from Produce Avenue to Airport Boulevard, controlled
by a signal. This alternative would likely be the lowest cost of all of the alternatives
evaluated.
2. I-380 Connector to Haskins Way/Littlefield Avenue
a. Description: Connects I-380/North Access Road directly to the E101 Area via either
Haskins Way or Littlefield Avenue
b. Cost Estimate - $130M
c. Mobility Improvement: Provides direct connection to I-380, US-101, and I-280 via
presently underutilized freeway stub. Enables traffic to travel I-280 to I-380, then directly
into the E101 Area, bypassing US-101 completely.
d. Status: This project is in the South San Francisco FY18-19 CIP project for conceptual
design. This project is also on the list of projects associated with the recently passed
Measure W sales tax measure.
Figure 6 – Highway 380/Haskins Way or Littlefield Avenue Causeway Alternatives
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Figure 7 – Highway 380/Haskins Way Causeway Notional Design
3. Grand Avenue/US-101 Northbound Off-ramp Flyover
a. Description: Realigns northbound US-101 off-ramp to Grand Avenue by routing traffic
above the new Caltrain Station. Figure 8 shows the current and proposed road alignment.
Figure 9 is a rendering of the eastern Caltrain Plaza with the Off-Ramp Flyover in place.
b. Cost Estimate - $35M
c. Mobility Improvement: Removes barrier to accessing Caltrain station and supports more
efficient connection to Grand Avenue for eastbound and westbound off-ramp traffic.
d. Status: This project is in conceptual design.
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Figure 8 – Grand Avenue/Highway 101Northbound Off-Ramp Flyover
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Figure 9 – Grand Avenue/Highway 101Northbound Off-Ramp Flyover Notional Design
4. Street Operations, Safety, and Active Transportation Improvements
a. Description: Modernizes street infrastructure to provide more efficient intersection
operations, on-street bus stops, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and new trail
connections, creating safer links to Caltrain, Ferry Terminal and BART. See Figure 10 for
a visual summary of projects. Below is a summary of project areas and cost estimates.
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a. Cost Estimate - $91M
b. Mobility Improvement: Supports improved circulation within E101 Area and enhanced
connections to transit, Bay Trail, and Centennial Trail.
c. Status: In planning.
Figure 10 – Street Operations, Safety, and Active Transportation Improvements Summary
5. Increase in Commuter Shuttles
a. Description: The City is well served by transit – two nearby BART stations, Caltrain
Station and Ferry Terminal – but cannot effectively use these assets due to the severe lack
of “last mile” commuter shuttles. Increasing the number of shuttles, and operation and
maintenance of same, is required to reduce the number of employees driving to work.
b. Cost Estimate - Purchase shuttles, plus $6 million per year for operation and maintenance.
c. Mobility Improvement: Maximizes ridership to promote a mode shift to transit.
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d. Status: In design.
Benefits of the Five Point Solutions in Mobility 2020
The Five Point Solutions described above will enable the East of 101 Area’s transportation
system to keep pace with growing demand. These improvements will help expand the Area’s
peak period street capacity by approximately 20-30 percent and support a quadrupling of transit
and bicycle ridership. Specifically, these improvements will enable the following area- and city-
wide benefits:
Traffic Benefits: The Five Point Solutions would improve traffic operations at freeway
interchanges and on major arterials such as East Grand Avenue, Oyster Point Boulevard, and
South Airport Boulevard, keeping most intersections operating within the City’s level of service
(LOS) standards. They provide a more resilient transportation network providing two new east-
west street connections providing additional circulation options and rerouting commuter and
freight trips away from downtown, East Grand Avenue, and the Caltrain station area. By
providing better non-auto commute options, they support continued compliance with employer
trip reduction requirements described in the City’s TDM ordinance.
These solutions will also provide ancillary benefits to the areas West of Highway 101. More
transit users equates to fewer commuters driving to work, equating to fewer cars on major
arterials such as Westborough Boulevard, Hillside Boulevard and Sister Cities Boulevard.
Construction of the I-380/Littlefield Flyover allows vehicles to bypass South San Francisco all
together, travelling to work via I-280 to I-380 and directly into the industrial area East of
Highway 101.
Transit Benefits: The Five Point Solutions would help create a more competitive transit service
to efficiently funnel riders to transit and support the extension of SamTrans to the East of 101
Area. By bridging the first/last mile gap for transit riders, they help increase demand for transit
services and the Area’s regional competitiveness for bus, rail, and ferry trips.
Active Transportation Benefits: The Five Point Solutions would improve active transportation
connections to increase walking and biking. By seamlessly connect residents, employers, transit
hubs, and the Bay Trail, the Five Point Solutions supports growth of the citywide bicycle
network and more walking trips within the East of 101 Area.
A Note About the East of 101 Traffic Impact Fee
The East of 101 Traffic Impact Fee was first established in 2001 and updated in 2005 through
resolution 101-2005 and updated again in 2007 through 84-2007. The East of 101 Traffic Impact
fee is used to fund traffic improvements that help mitigate increased traffic generated from new
developments in the East of 101 Area. The fee is paid by developers of new projects. Each land
use category has a different generated fee paid per square foot. Commercial use has the highest
fee, followed by Office/R&D, hotels, and industrial. The fee is paid as part of the building permit
issuance. Completed East of 101 Traffic Impact Fee funded projects include
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adding additional Northbound US 101 exit lanes on South Airport Boulevard and Grand Avenue;
adding additional turn lanes on Dubuque and Oyster Point Boulevard; and improving the Utah
Avenue and South Airport Boulevard intersection.
In the fiscal year 2018-19 Capital Improvement Program, the East of 101 Traffic Impact Fee is
funding the design of intersection improvements at East Grand Avenue and Gateway Boulevard
and Oyster Point Boulevard at Gateway Boulevard and Veterans Boulevard. A total of
$3,729,452 is allocated for these projects, leaving a current unallocated balance in the East of
101 Traffic Impact Fee fund of $12,127,761. Receipts into the East of 101 Traffic Impact Fee
fund over the past five years are shown below:
FY13-14: $1,886,962
FY 14-15: $1,411,850
FY 15-16: $1,637,445
FY 16-17: $ 109,867
FY 17-18: $5,698,648
The revenue generated by the East of 101 Traffic Impact Fee is helpful; however, it is not
adequate to address the five recommended solutions in Mobility 2020.
Creation of the South San Francisco Industrial Area Community Facilities District (IA-CFD)
A common tool used in California to raise revenue for defined projects is formation of a
Community Facilities District (CFD). Pursuant to the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of
1982 (“Mello-Roos Act”), a CFD is a defined geographic area in which the City is authorized to
levy annual special taxes to be used to either finance directly the costs of specified public
improvements and/or public services, or to pay debt service on bonds issued to finance the
public improvements, as well as to pay costs of administering the CFD and for maintenance and
operation of assets acquired through the CFD. The formation of the CFD requires consent of
66.7% or more of the affected landowners.
Numerous CFDs have formed in the Bay Area. For example, the City of San Mateo formed a
CFD in the Bay Meadows project, and the City of Redwood City formed a CFD around the One
Marina project, both to fund public infrastructure. Recently formed CFDs are listed in
Attachment A.
Utilizing this tool, staff recommends pursuing creation of the South San Francisco Industrial
Area Community Facilities District (IA-CFD) to provide financing for the eligible project areas
in the Mobility 2020 plan. The proposed IA-CFD boundaries would include all non-residential
parcels in the East of 101 Area, plus certain non-residential parcels extending to San Mateo
Avenue and Airport Blvd, located to the west of Highway 101. A map outlining the proposed
IA-CFD boundaries is provided as Attachment B. In total, the IA-CFD would be comprised of
approximately 492 taxable parcels with 348 unique property owners, made up of a total land
area of 1,138 acres containing approximately 23 million building square feet. Note that publicly
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owned parcels are excluded from the proposed IA-CFD area.
This funding allocation provides a large part of the construction dollars needed to move forward
the four construction oriented elements of Mobility 2020, an acquire additional shuttle buses or
other assets needed to provide last mile transit solutions. Additional funding from federal, state,
regional and local sources will bridge the gaps to move projects to completion.
How to Form a Community Facilities District (CFD)
The process of establishing a CFD requires at least four City Council meetings:
Meeting Number One: Adoption of two resolutions: a Resolution of Intention (ROI) setting
forth the City’s intention to establish the CFD, designating the name of the CFD, identifying the
services and facilities to be funded by the CFD, stating the City’s intention to levy a special tax
annually on property within the CFD to pay for these services and facilities, and approving the
Rate and Method of Apportionment of Special Tax (RMA) for the CFD, which details how the
special tax will be levied on properties within the CFD and sets the maximum special tax rates
that can be levied within the CFD. The ROI also sets the date for the required public hearing (30
to 60 days later) on the matters set forth in the ROI. The second resolution a Resolution of
Intention to Incur Indebtedness, sets forth the Council’s intention to issue bonds supported by the
special taxes. This resolution also sets a public hearing for the same date.
Meeting Number Two: Hold the noticed public hearings at a City Council meeting. Following
the public hearings, the City Council is presented with two resolutions: a resolution forming the
CFD, and a resolution calling the special tax election (90 to 180 days later) by the landowner
voters within the CFD.
Meeting Number Three: Opening and counting of ballots. If the CFD gains the required
number of votes for passage, the City Council will adopt a Resolution Confirming Results of
Special Election, and introduce an ordinance ordering the levy of special taxes within the CFD
Meeting Number Four: Hold a second reading to adopt the special tax ordinance ordering the
levy of special taxes within the CFD. After formation of the CFD, a special tax is levied annually
on taxable properties that are located within the boundaries of the CFD.
Community Facilities District Boundaries
The proposed CFD boundaries include all non-residential parcels in the East of 101 Area, plus certain non-
residential parcels extending to San Mateo Avenue and Airport Blvd, located to the west of Highway 101.
In total, this CFD area is comprised of 492 taxable parcels and 348 unique property owners, with a total
acreage of 1,138 acres containing approximately 23 million building square feet. This figure includes
projects estimated to be built to completion by June 2020 and is subject to change. Public parcels have
been excluded from the initial proposed CFD area.
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Who are the Landowners?
There are currently 348 property owners in the E-101 Area, comprising of 492 taxable parcels
and a total acreage of 1,138 acres containing approximately 23 million building square feet. The
top three land uses by total building area (SF) are Warehouse (35% or 8,122,460 SF), Biotech
(31% or 7,261,736 SF) and Multi-story Office (15% or 3,365,900 SF).
E-101 Area General Land Use Classes
The top 10 property owners account for 679 acres and 52.2% of the total voting acreage. Top
property owners include Genentech, HCP, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Prologis, Blackstone,
Phase 3 Real Estate Partners, Valacal, Boston Properties, Golden Gate Produce Terminal, South
San Francisco Scavenger Company. All other property owners account for 596 acres.
35%
31%
15%
6%
5%
8%
Total Building Area (SF) by Land Use
Warehouse Biotech Multi-Story Office Hotel Light Manufacturing Misc
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Community Facilities District Financing
To estimate the total financing capacity of the CFD, the City and its consultants are currently evaluating
two (2) different scenarios, Model 1 and Model 2.
Model 1 uses a proposed special tax rate of $1.00 per building square foot ("BSF") for all non-
residential property. Using the methodology outlined above, the CFD is estimated to raise
approximately $22.9 million per year in special tax revenue, a portion of which will be used for
administration, operations and maintenance.
Model 2 proposes a lower special tax rate of $0.60 per BSF for warehouse parcels only. Using the
methodology outlined above, the CFD is estimated to raise approximately $20.1 million per year
in special tax revenue, a portion of which will be used for administration, operations and
maintenance.
Conceptually these funds could be used to implement the recommendations of Mobility 2020 as
follows:
Maintenance and Operation of tangible property (i.e. shuttle busses) identified in Mobility
2020 and purchased with CFD funds: $6 million annually
Bond Out Revenue for Construction: $230 million (estimated $15.9 million debt service)
Administration and Contingency: $1 million per year
The City notes that certain parcels in the Oyster Point area are also a part of Community Facilities District
No. 2017-01, and as such, these parcels would only pay the difference between its existing special tax for
CFD No. 2017-01 and the proposed rates for the various scenarios. Additionally, future building square
feet developed through new construction or up-zoning will be subject to the tax, and the additional funds
will be able to used to secure additional bonds. All figures are estimates, subject to change.
Any funds not allocated for administration, operations and maintenance can be made available for bond
financing; and as such, the City can raise a range of bond proceeds between $189 million and $230
million for public facilities and infrastructure. All figures are estimates, subject to change.
Outreach
Over the last several months, City Staff have met individually with 27 landowners, tenants and
others in the E-101 Area to gauge interest in supporting the IA-CFD, at the noted rate of $1.00 per
square foot per year. In general, all those met with appreciated the City’s proactive approach to
finding traffic solutions, and agreed that pursuing a CFD to fund those solutions was appropriate.
Assuming City Council likewise agrees that continuing to pursue a CFD makes sense, City Staff
will, over the next five months, continue to meet with landowners and tenants in the proposed IA-
CFD area to gain user input on both the Mobility 2020 plan and the CFD as a financing tool.
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FISCAL IMPACT
Depending on the model selected, staff estimates that the CFD will generate approximately $20.1
million to $22.9 million in annual CFD revenues with a range of bond proceeds between $189
million to $230 million to pay for public facilities and improvements, depending on the special
tax revenue allocation towards operations, maintenance, and services.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
Exploring the creation of a Community Facilities District (CFD) in the East of the 101 Area meets
Strategic Plan Goals #3 Public Safety, #4 Financial Stability, and #5 Economic Viability. The
improved mobility and transportation options East of the 101 ensures that South San Francisco
remains a viable economic hub with a full range of employment options and a diverse mix of
industries while preserving strong city revenues resistant to economic downturns (#4 and #5). A
CFD East of the 101 Area will also provide improved accessibility to first responders during times
of emergency or natural disaster.
CONCLUSION
Both new roadway capacity and improved transit to reduce solo driving is necessary to maintain
the economic viability of the East of Highway 101 industrial area. Anticipated economic growth
will increase the stress on existing transportation infrastructure and systems, requiring action today
to meet those anticipated challenges. Taking meaningful action requires substantial financial
investments well beyond the current capability of City finances. City Staff seeks City Council
direction and guidance as staff continues to explore a Community Facilities District for the
industrial areas around Highway 101 and East of Highway 101 as a means to finance the needed
transportation improvements
Staff recommends continuing outreach efforts to E101 Area landowners and stakeholders in
order to determine feasibility. Further, staff recommends scheduli ng additional study
sessions to keep Council apprised and gain further direction.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Comparable CFDs
B. Proposed Boundaries of City of South San Francisco Industrial Area Community
Facilities District No. 2019-01
C. Utah Avenue Six Alternatives
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File #: 19-78 Agenda Date: 3/7/2019
Version: 1 Item #: 2.
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File #: 19-78 Agenda Date: 3/7/2019
Version: 1 Item #: 2.
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File #: 19-78 Agenda Date: 3/7/2019
Version: 1 Item #: 2.
Project Name Project Location Purpose Bond Series Amount of Bond Issue District Name Year of Bond Issue Base Year Maximum Special Tax (Residential)Base Year Maximum Special Tax (Non-Residential)Total Effective Tax Rates 2018 Maximum Special Tax Rates
Bay Meadows City of San Mateo 2012 $31,800,000 City of San Mateo CFD No. 2008-1 2012
Bay Meadows City of San Mateo 2013 $26,000,000 City of San Mateo CFD No. 2008-1 2013
Bay Meadows City of San Mateo 2014 $28,475,000 City of San Mateo CFD No. 2008-1 2014
Transbay City and County of San Francisco 2017A $36,975,000 City and County of San Francisco CFD No. 2014-1 2017
Transbay City and County of San Francisco 2017B $171,405,000 City and County of San Francisco CFD No. 2014-1 2017
Alameda Landing City of Alameda
Public Infrastructure including: Roadways,
Sanitary Sewer, Storm Drain, Parks, Street
Lights and Traffic Signals, Wharf Improvements,
Floating Dock
2016 $15,415,000 City of Alameda CFD No. 13-1 2016 $4,915 per SFD Residential, $3,348 per MF Residential $1.63 per BSF Non-Residential 1.81% - 1.83%$1.70 per BSF Non-Residential
One Marina City of Redwood City
Public Infrastructure including: Blomquist
Bridge Extension, Highway 101 Pedestrian
Undercrossing, Grading, Sanitary Sewer,
Walkways, Landscape, Erosion Control, East
Bayshore Road Pavement
2011 $5,760,000 City of Redwood City CFD No. 2010-1 2011 $3,080 per Residential Unit, $1,540 per BMR Unit $86,820 per Non-Residential Acre 1.71%$99,730 per Non-Residential Acre
Mission Bay South City and County of San Francisco 2013A $81,775,000 City and County of San Francisco CFD No. 6 2013
Mission Bay South City and County of San Francisco 2013B $19,635,000 City and County of San Francisco CFD No. 6 2013
Mission Bay South City and County of San Francisco 2013C $21,601,256 City and County of San Francisco CFD No. 6 2013
Northern California - Bay Area - Community Facilities Districts Bonds
$1.99 per Office SF, $0.58 per Retail SF
Public Infrastructure including: Streets,
Roadways, Avenues, Parks, Storm Drain,
Sanitary Sewer, Utilities, Mitigation Fees
Public Infrastructure and Public Services,
including: Open Space, the Train Box,
Salesforce Park, Street and Sidewalk
Improvements, Maintenance
$1.77 per Office SF, $0.52 per Retail SF 1.69% - 1.70%
Unchanged
Public Infrastructure including: Streets,
Walkways, Landscaping, Open Space, Parks,
Utilities, Fire Station, School Site
1.25% - 2.71%$8.61 per Residential SF, $5.88 per Rental SF $5.74 per Office SF, $3.72 per Retail SF
$5,719 per SFD Residential, $1,658 per MF Residential
$114,000 per Acre of Developed Property $125,865 per Acre of Developed
Property, $0.55 per Retail BSF1.54%$114,000 per Acre of Developed Property, except $0.50 per Retail BSF
AIRPORT BLVDE GRAND AVE
PARK WY
SHAW RDMAPLE AVE4TH LN
2ND LN AIR PO RT BLVDS AI
RPORT BLVDLINDEN AVEDUBUQUE AVE1ST LN
SISTER CITIES BLVD
HEMLOCK AVE
U T A H A V E
S LINDEN AVETAMARACK LN
POLETTI WYUS HIGHWAY 101RAILROAD AVE
LOWRIE AVEGATEWAY BLVDDNA WYN ACCESS RD GULL DR3RD LN SPRUCE AVEGRAND AVE
S MAPLE AVESAN MATEO AVEEC C LES AVELARCH AVE
ROCCA AVE
SWIFT AVE
VIOLA ST
E JAMIE CTALLERTON AVEPECKS LNMITCHELL AVEASH AVEOLIVE AVEE BASIN RD
LAWRENCE AVE
A
L
L
E
Y
BEACON ST
VICTORY AVE
DOLLAR AVEE HARRIS AVE
G AR D IN ER AVESYLVESTER RDOY S T ER P O I N T B LVD
B E L L E A I R E R DRO EBLING RDWEST WY
CFD Boundary Area
SFO
Brisbane
San Bruno
O y s t e r P o i n t M a r i n a
INTERSTATE -3 8 0
City Hall
San Bruno Mountain
County Park
Lege nd
CFD Boundary
Other Parcels in SSF
City Limit
EAST OF 101
TRANSPORTATION PLAN
City Council Study Session
March 20, 2019
Agenda
I. Traffic Modeling
II. Improvement Concepts
III. CFD Process & Financing
IV. Q & A
E101 Traffic Modeling with Investment
•Existing Conditions support 28,000 employees in E101 area
•In Year 2040, with no investment:
55,000 employees expected with severe traffic conditions
•In Year 2040, with completion of recommended projects:
55,000 employees with moderate traffic conditions
Requires reducing solo driving from 80% to 60%
Action is Required to Save E101as a Viable Economic Center
About 80% of peak period trips occur by driving alone.
*Among TDM ordinance participants, 64% drive alone.
A majority of peak period trips are not covered by the TDM ordinance.
AM Peak Travel Patterns
Most trips originate in San Mateo County
•With no changes, substantial traffic congestion would occur across East of 101 Area.
•With constrained roadway capacity and limited access transit services, not all demand would be served.
2040 Conditions
V/C Ratio DefinedVolume to capacity (V/C) ratio is a measure of roadway demand
versus operational capacity.
A V/C ratio over 1 indicates a
roadway is heavily congested, while some delay may be experienced starting around a V/C ratio of 0.75.
CFD Project Description
Infrastructure & Services
•Hwy 380 to Littlefield Ave Connection - $130M est.
•Grand Avenue/ US 101 Improvements - $35M est.
•Corridor Improvements & Access to Transit - $90M est
•Last Mile Connections: Caltrain & BART & Ferry - $6M est.
•Utah Avenue/Hwy 101 Interchange - $100M est.
Transportation Recommendations
Project Cost estimate is $355M and unfunded
I-380 Connection
•Leverage underused capacity on I-380 and North Access Road to create new bypass
Cost: Approximately $130 Million
I-380 Connection
•Leverage underused capacity on I-380 and North Access Road to create new bypass
Cost: Approximately $130 Million
Grand Ave Offramp
•Separate offramp traffic from Caltrain station area to improve efficiency and safety
Cost: Approximately $35 Million
Grand Ave Offramp
•Separate offramptraffic from Caltrainstation area to improve efficiency and safety
Cost: Approximately $35 Million
Street Operations & Safety
•Modernize major arterials and active transportation network
Street Operations & Safety
Corridor Improvement Estimated Cost
Oyster Point Blvd Add bus lanes and bus stops, reconfigure median, improve
sidewalks/crosswalks
$7M
East Grand Avenue Modernize traffic signals, improve sidewalks/crosswalks,add bikeways,
close gap in median, add new signals or roundabouts, add bus stops
$22M
South AirportBlvd &
Gateway Blvd
Close gaps in median and sidewalks, improve crosswalks, add bike
lanes, modify lane configurations
$17M
Gull Drive Widen from two to four lanes $6M
Forbes Boulevard New signal at Corporate Drive, close sidewalk and bikeway gap
between Eccles and Allerton
$4M
Other Improvements TBD Changes to streets such as Utah, Harbor, Mitchell, Eccles, and Allerton
to support other CFD improvements
$15M
Total $71M
Last Mile
•Develop a shuttle service carrying >10,000 riders per day
•Capacity for Future Service
-Caltrain: 8 stops/hour
•$9M in capital costs to purchase 13 vehicles; $6M/Year for operations & maintenance
Street Operations & Safety
Project Improvement Estimated
Cost
Caltrain Trail
Connections
Connects Caltrain with 3
miles of trails and
improvements to
intersection crossings
$7M
BART /
Centennial
Trail
Connection
Connects Bay Trail with
Centennial Trail and San
Bruno BART Station via
bridge across US-101.
$13M
Total $20M
Utah Avenue Interchange
•New East-West US-101 Crossing
•6 Alternatives
Community Facilities District
Process & Financing
Community Facilities District (CFD)
•Requires Two-Thirds (2/3) vote of Property Owners through Mail Ballot
•Votes are calculated based on acreage
•Assessment is calculated on building square footage
24
East of Hwy 101 CFD
25
CFD Boundary Area:
- East of Hwy 101
- Partial West of Hwy 101
Properties:
- All Non-Residential
- Excludes Public Properties
East of Hwy 101 CFD
CFD Boundary Area:
-East of Hwy 101
-Partial West of Hwy 101
Properties:
-All Non-Residential
-Excludes Public Properties
26
Total Building Area (SF) by Land Use
Warehouse
Biotech
Multi Story Office
Hotel
Light Manufacturing
Misc
348
Property
Owners
Land Use by Square Footage
Land Use Total Building Area
(SQ FT)
Warehouse 8.1M
Biotech 7.2M
Multi-Story Office 3.4M
Hotel 1.5M
Light Manufacturing 1.2M
28
Genentech 249
HCP 127
Alexandria Real Estate Equities 99
Prologis 62
Blackstone 33
Phase 3 Real Estate Partners 27
Valacal 26
Boston Properties 25
Golden Gate Produce Terminal LTD 16
South San Francisco Scavenger Co.15
All Others 596
Top Property Owners (Private) Acres (Rounded for
Voting Purposes)
52%
Total Acreage 1,138 acres
Two Financial Models
Model #1 –
•$1 per square foot (all land types)
Model #2 –
•.60 cents per square foot - Warehouse
•$1 for all others
Model #1 : $1 per SF for All
•$22.9M in CFD revenue (est.)
•$7M for annual O&M and Administration
•$15.9M for annual debt service (bonding)
•$230M estimated bonding capacity
30
Model #2: Warehouse Pays a Different Rate
31
•$20.1M in CFD revenue
•$7M for annual O&M and Administration
•$13.1M for annual debt service (bonding)
•$189M estimated bonding capacity
Questions and Answers
Questions & Answers
32
Upcoming Milestones
•Continued Meetings with Landowners – March 2019 to TBD
•Next City Council Study Session (Proposed Date: May 13, 2019)
•CFD to City Council for a vote – TBD
•Staff Recommendation: Continue to meet with landowners and stakeholders in order to determine feasibility.
Bringing the Mobility 2020 Plan to Life!
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
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