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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2020.12.08 @600 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meeting held at: Teleconference meeting Tuesday, December 8, 2020 6:00 p.m. Call to Order Meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll Call COMMITTEE PRESENT: Roderick Bovee (6:07 pm), Kristy Camacho, Robert Cavalieri (6:06 pm) Eddie Flores, Sophie Martin, Julie Ann Murphy, Sam Shihadeh (excused at 7:37), John Skerry, Bill Zemke, Rehman Baig (6:05 pm), Nick Maiden, Steven Yee (7:45pm) ALTERNATE PRESENT: Alan Wong ALTERNATE ABSENT: Patricia Murray Public Comment None. Consent Calendar 1. Approval of the Meeting Minutes of November 10, 2020 Committee Member Sam Shihadeh moved and Committee Member John Skerry seconded a motion to approve the meeting minutes of November 10, 2020 as submitted. The motion passed. New Business 2. Discuss Economic Development Policy Framework Derek Braun, Strategic Economics discussed what is an Economic Development Element. He noted that economic development policies cut across multiple General Plan Elements. Derek Braun reviewed what they learned from analysis of existing conditions and trends, including challenges and threats for the future of South San Francisco. He reviewed key community input themes including: support middle-wage industrial jobs, prepare students for high-wage job opportunities; support local business and strengthen biotech industry. Committee questions:  Kristi Camacho asked about housing and jobs in balance is not listed under challenges/threats. Derek Braun agreed that is a good point.  Roderick Bovee asked who SSF is competing with for businesses. Derek Braun noted that SSF is best known for biotech. Other nodes in Emeryville, San Francisco and Foster City. It also competes nationally. SSF benefits from spin off businesses. The city’s proximity to SFO is a strong attraction and proximity to households for logistics or delivery services.  Alan Wong also commented on business retention.  Jennifer Garstang asked about potential threats from pollution (air, water, ground, etc). Eric Yurkovich agree we need to consider the location of new uses (residential) near polluting sources and ways development can mitigate these issues. The General Plan will consider this holistically in addition to the Environmental Justice Element. Derek Braun also noted that we also need to consider if adding residential uses will impact businesses ability to operate and expand. Derek Braun reviewed a preliminary list of outcomes for discussion purposes: healthy economy; easy access to jobs; workforce readiness; fiscal health; and access to amenities and services. Each outcome will be measured using performance metrics. Committee questions:  Eddie Flores asked about preserving cultural diversity as an outcome. Derek Braun agreed to consider how to incorporate. Kristi Camacho agreed with this comment.  Jennifer Garstang suggested adding environmentalism added as an outcome and should be reflected in major priorities.  Bill Zemke commented on sustainability with growth. Kristy Camacho agreed and how it relates to sea level rise.  Julie Ann Murphy commented that we should consider equity and stability and what is already working well with our economy.  Kristy Camacho noted equity needs to connect to supporting local business including minority and women owned businesses.  Rehman Baig commented of diversity of industry. Nick Maiden agreed with risk mitigation for future markets to have a diverse economy.  Sam Shihadeh agreed workforce readiness is a great outcome, but how do we achieve this.  Kristy Camacho suggested more connections between students and local businesses.  Lisa Costa Sanders noted the work the SSF Commission on Racial and Social Equity is also working on these topics with recommendations that will tie into the General Plan.  Eric Yurkovich noted that the General Plan is intended as a long range and goal-oriented document. We will also include implementation and actions that help us get there. Derek Braun review draft goals to achieve outcomes for Committee discussion;  Draft Goal 1: enhance resident education, training and access to local job opportunities;  Draft Goal 2: enhance South San Francisco’s fiscal stability;  Draft Goal 3: attract and retain;  Draft Goal 4: provide retail, dining and service amenities;  Draft Goal 5: invest infrastructure to support job growth and mitigate effects of climate change;  Draft Goal 6: improve local/regional access to jobs in South San Francisco; and  Draft Goal 7: enhance downtown as heart of economic and civic life. He noted that goals and outcomes are intended to be long range and guide the next step in the process. Committee questions:  Roderick Bovee asked if the City’s business taxes and development fees are comparable to other similar jurisdictions? Derek Braun noted that this study did not evaluate those fees. Billy Gross noted that the City recently updated fees and evaluates against comparable cities. City is not changing maximum fees.  Roderick Bovee asked if there are strategies to create a center for higher education (satellite campus). Derek Braun agreed that this could be something the city could explore including possible partnership opportunity.  Alan Wong asked about potential financial crisis and goals to address. Derek Braun agreed that given severity of COVID-19 economic impact there could be some consideration. He also noted that there are typically several recession cycles in a General Plan. He suggested goals for resilient economy and diversity to make the city more recession proof.  Jennifer Garstang asked about infrastructure to encourage working from home. Derek Braun noted that could be included as a policy to ensure robust data access in the city.  Sophie Martin noted the challenge of raising money to support areas of existing development where there are fewer properties redeveloping and need for infrastructure improvements. She also asked about encouraging adequate childcare access and asked how the City utilizes the childcare impact fee funds. Staff will research and respond. Kristy Camacho noted that the funds are directed to capital improvements to expand facilities.  Eddie Flores stressed adding equity focus on all goals and policies. Also consider re- categorize goals to make sure everything is addressed.  Eric Yurkovich noted that the final General Plan will have more detail and these are intended as a starting point.  Kristy Camacho agreed with need to add more language relating to equity and community building to address community concerns. This could include more services for people that live in the area. She also asked about more services to serve new residential development in Lindenville and East of 101. Would like to see more community building goals. Eric Yurkovich noted that community building items will also be addressed in other Elements as well.  Sophie Martin agrees with need for connection between community comments and concerns and how policies address.  Julie Ann Murphy noted adding inclusion as an outcome with growth and prosperity goal.  Billy Gross noted that we can consider several themes that are addressed in every Element of the General Plan, including equity and diversity.  Rehman Baig agreed that indicators are also important.  Sophie Martin noted the policy framework document does includes equity, inclusion, sustainability and innovation.  Jennifer Garstang suggested language that demonstrates a commitment to holistic approach to economic growth and how economic plan will work with other aspects of the general plan to achieve its intent.  Nicholas Maiden supported use of graphics to reinforce messages.  Kristy Camacho suggested adding equity to each goal with policies and actions that support equity inclusion.  Alan Wong noted need for grocery stores in the east side of town and other services to support residential development.  Sophie Martin suggested a program to encourage local procurement among businesses and for businesses to support each other.  Roderick Bovee are there programs to support home based businesses. Billy Gross noted there is a new State program that allows home baking. He also noted that the City could look at updating home based business regulations.  Nicolas Maiden asked about opportunity to support small businesses with regulatory framework. Billy Gross noted that Economic Development staff is works with businesses and agreed with opportunity to make the City’s regulations and processes more streamlined.  Eric Yurkovich commented on the impact of COVID-19 and longer-term implications. Derek Braun noted there are many unknowns, with the most damage to service industry businesses, although SSF is well positioned to grow biotech economy. Goal to sustain restaurants and small businesses in the short term. Office space usage also remains an unknown as there may be more remote working as well as more desire for larger spaces per employee.  Alan Wong noted the importance of adding flexibility in plan to address changing situations and adding diversity and promote innovative companies.  Steven Yee asked about opportunities to attract PPE related companies. Derek Braun expects these industries to stay in lower cost regions. John Skerry anticipates seeing more areas producing PPE for diversification, but not likely the United States. Committee members are welcome to provide written comments to staff. 3. Review Schedule for 2021 Lisa Costa Sanders noted that the City Council extended CAC member terms for an additional two years. Eric Yurkovich provided an overview of the schedule for 2021. Work includes Climate Action Plan, Zoning Code, General Plan policy framework and the Environmental Impact Report. Anticipate public review draft documents issued end of Summer/Fall of 2021. He noted series of meetings will be held for public outreach including Planning Commission and City Council to obtain input on the policy frameworks. Eric Yurkovich reviewed future CAC topics for 2021. The January 12, 2021 CAC meeting will be a community forum on sea level rise and flooding. Staff Comments None. CAC Member Comments Kristy Camacho asked if there will be another draft distributed after receiving Committee member comments. Eric Yurkovich noted it will be updated prior to Community meetings in the spring. Eric Yurkovich plans on releasing the policy documents at the same time and holding community meetings on each policy topic in a more informal setting. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2021 at 6:00 pm.