HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2024-02-20SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
CONFERENCE CENTER
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
CONFERENCE CENTER AUTHORITY
South San Francisco Conference Center
255 South Airport Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080
February 20, 2024
Meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m. by Authority Chairperson Maharaj
Authority Members Present: Francois Camou, Richard Garbarino, Shila Narottam, Buenaflor Nicolas,
BJ Patel, Pravin Punjiya, lyad Shihadeh, Reena Maharaj
Authority Members Absent: James Coleman
Staff Present: Ali Wolf, Katie Leung, and Jim McGuire
Public Comment:
There was no public comment.
Authority Chairperson Maharaj called the Closed Session to order at 5:16 p.m.
Closed Session:
1. Public Employee Performance Evaluation
(Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957)
Title: Executive Director
2. Conference with Labor Negotiator
(Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6)
Agency Designated Representatives: Richard Garbarino and Ali Wolf
Unrepresented Employee: Executive Director
255 South Airport Boulevard I South San Francisco I California 1 94080
t: 650-877-8787
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CONFERENCE CENTER
Closed Session Report (Action Item #6.):
Closed Session ended at 5:55 p.m. The Authority Board has appointed a subcommittee to review and
consider a potential incentive structure and will bring back a proposal at the next Authority Board
meeting. The subcommittee consists of Authority Members Patel, Shihadeh, Narottam and Punjiya.
Action Items:
1. Consideration of Resolution approving Amendment No. 2 to Employment Agreement between
James McGuire and the South San Francisco Conference Center Authority (to be considered
following closed session).
Chairperson Maharaj requested to discuss this Item #6 as Item #1 with no objections. General Counsel
provided a staff report of a Resolution approving the proposed Second Amendment to the Employment
Agreement between the South San Francisco Conference Center Authority and James McGuire. Authority
Member Patel moved to approve the Resolution approving the Second Amendment to the Employment
Agreement between the South San Francisco Conference Center Authority and James McGuire. Authority
Member Nicolas seconded the motion. The Authority agreed unanimously to approve the Resolution
approving the Second Amendment to the Employment Agreement.
2. Review/Approval of Minutes from the December 11, 2023, Regular Meeting.
Authority Member Shihadeh moved to approve the minutes and Authority Member Narottam seconded
the motion. The Authority agreed unanimously.
3. Review/Approval of Authority's 2024-2025 Regular Authority Board Meeting Schedule
McGuire presented to the Authority the Regular Authority meeting dates for the years 2024 and 2025.
He stated that there are two dates that have been altered from the third Monday: June 3, 2024, and
Monday, June 2, 2025. The meeting dates have been moved to the first Monday of June, so that the
Authority will be able to present their fiscal year budget to the City Council later in June.
Authority Member Nicolas moved to approve the Meeting Schedule and Authority Member Patel
seconded the motion. The Authority agreed unanimously.
4. Election of Authority Chairperson for 2024.
Chairperson Maharaj entertained nominations for Chairperson for 2024. Chairperson Maharaj nominated
Authority Member lyad Shihadeh and made a motion to nominate Shihadeh as Chairperson for the
upcoming year. Authority Member Nicolas seconded the motion. The Authority agreed unanimously.
255 South Airport Boulevard I South San Francisco I California 1 94080
t: 650-877-8787
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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
CONFERENCE CENTER
S. Election of Authority Vice Chairperson for 2024.
Chairperson Maharaj entertained nominations for Vice Chairperson for 2024. Chairperson Maharaj
nominated Authority Member Shila Narottam and made a motion to nominate Narottam as Vice
Chairperson for the upcoming year. Authority Member Garbarino seconded the motion. The Authority
agreed unanimously.
6. Appoint Budget Subcommittee for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Process.
Chairperson Elect Shihadeh entertained a motion to appoint three Authority Members to the Budget
Subcommittee. After a brief discussion, Chairperson Elect Shihadeh appointed Authority Members
Punjiya, Coleman and himself and Authority Member Camou as an alternative to serve only in the
circumstance if one of the appointed subcommittee members is unavailable to the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year
Budget Subcommittee. McGuire noted the first meeting will be held in April.
Discussion Item/s
1. Review November and December 2023 Preliminary Financial Statements.
Chief Financial Officer, Katie Leung, reviewed the November and December 2023 Preliminary Financial
Statements for the Authority. YTD Gross Revenue was over budget by $60,076. The YTD Total Operating
Expenditures are $133,263 below what was budgeted. Administrative & General expenses were under
budget by $93,018, Operation & Maintenance expenses were over under budget by $19,080 and Sales &
Marketing expenses were under budget by $21,166. YTD Net Income, Net Depreciation Expenses is
$434,117 and Net Income is $207,806 over budget.
2. Update on status of parking lease issue for the property in front of Park Pointe Hotel that is
included within the Agreement for Reciprocal Grant of Nonexclusive License for Parking by
Patrons of the South San Francisco Conference Center.
Executive Director McGuire reminded the Authority that the Conference Center recovered Park Pointe
Hotel's PG&E Lease when Park Pointe Hotel terminated the lease in September 2022. The Conference
Center has been in touch with the Park Pointe Hotel to recover payments made by the Conference Center
on the lease. Park Pointe Hotel failed to make several payments to the Conference Center, but General
Counsel and McGuire have been in communication with the Park Pointe Hotel's General Manager, and
the Park Pointe Hotel have once again begun making payments, including making up for prior payments
missed. McGuire will keep the board updated on any additional developments regarding the PG&E Lease.
255 South Airport Boulevard I South San Francisco I California 1 94080
t: 650-877-8787
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Authority Announcements, Referrals and Future Agenda Items:
None
Executive Director's Report:
Sales Activity Report, Operations Report and Executive Director's Updates
McGuire reported on the Sacramento Reception / CaISAE Tradeshow from December 2023. McGuire
joined Director of Sales Kathleen Kearney and Sales Manager Stacey San Pedro in Sacramento and hosted
a private reception for thirty (30) qualified meeting planners and McGuire reported that sixty (60) showed
up for the event. The sales department secured a piece of business for the California Hotel & Lodging
Association valued at $80,000. Additionally, the sales department is working on a Request for Proposal
(RFP) from the tradeshow that San Pedro attended for the California Pharmacists Association for next
Fiscal Year. The sales team was joined by sales representatives from our hotel community including the
DoubleTree Hotel, Embassy Suites, and Sonesta Hotel.
Another high -profile event is scheduled for April 2024 that will require security assistance from the South
San Francisco Police Department. Navy Industry Day will be held at the conference center with many
dignitaries in attendance as well as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
McGuire updated the Authority on recent budget percentages as follows: Room Rental is at 88% of
budget, Audio -Visual is at 66% of budget, Event Services is at 113% of budget and Food and Beverage is
at 91% of budget.
McGuire informed the Authority Board that the conference center was awarded with a Runner Up
recognition for the 2023 Planner's Choice Awards in the Earth -Friendly Venue category and informed the
Authority that another marketing option was added to Cvent which increased the RFPs by 35.2%.
Upcoming travel will include San Pedro attending "Meet New York", with SF Travel this month to meet
with qualified meeting planners. McGuire reported that Events Manager Julian Torres, Events Supervisor
Andy Levene, San Pedro, and McGuire will attend the MPI Annual Conference Experience in San Francisco
in March. McGuire also showed photos of the new banners that are hanging in the Lobby that features
our new design for advertising.
255 South Airport Boulevard I South San Francisco I California 1 94080
t: 650-877-8787
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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
CONFERENCE CENTER
Operations Update
Executive Director McGuire updated the Authority on capital projects, reporting that all projects have
been completed for this Fiscal Year except for the server upgrade, bathroom countertops, and roof repair,
which will be completed next quarter. A couple of unexpected projects developed that needed immediate
attention including the replacement of both hot water boilers, which cost $40,000 and the replacement
of the original rain gutters from 2007 on the Oyster Point Room, which will cost $25,000. McGuire shared
images of both projects.
McGuire also informed the Authority that thirty-eight (38) ice blocks on the walls of the front entrance
have been cracked, damaged, and filling with water for several years and they will need to be replaced.
McGuire will include this project in next Fiscal Year's capital projects. The approximate cost to replace all
the blocks is $9,000.
Executive Director's Updates
Executive Director McGuire informed the Authority Board that Andy Levene, Events Supervisor, has
successfully completed his ninety (90) days and Andy is doing a great job and has received positive
feedback from clients and the team. McGuire also informed the Authority that the upcoming quarterly
General Manager / Director of Sales meeting on March 2155 will feature Mayor Coleman and a
presentation from Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA).
The South San Francisco Police Department held their Promotion and Swearing -In ceremony at the
conference center on February 13th, and it was a great success.
McGuire concluded his presentation by presenting former Chairperson Garbarino and outgoing
Chairperson Maharaj with an appreciation plaque, and the Authority Board thanked them for their
service.
Chairperson Maharaj announced that the next Regular Authority Meeting is scheduled for Monday, April
15, 2024.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:26 p.m.
Iyacliha Ji cGuire
Authority Chairperson E ecutive Director
255 South Airport Boulevard I South San Francisco I California 1 94080
t: 650-877-8787
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