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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-9-24 Joint Special Meeting PPC & TSC MinutesCALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL: Present: Absent: City Staff: REGULAR MEETING MINUTES April 9, 2024 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO JOINT SPECIAL MEETING PARKING PLACE COMMISSION/ TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMISSION The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m. by PPC Chairperson/TSC Commissioner Abarca Brandon Chan, PPC Vice Chairperson & TSC Commissioner David Carbone, TSC Commissioner Dana Abarca, PPC Chairperson & TSC Commissioner Justin Yuen, TSC Vice Chairperson Hermes Monzon, PPC Commissioner & TSC Chairperson (arrived at 6:31 p.m.) None Marissa Garren, Secretary to the Traffic Safety Commission Diana Wang, Clerk to the Traffic Safety Commission Dave Bockhaus, Public Works Deputy Director Claire Lai, City Attorney AGENDA REVIEW: No changes. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. CONSENT CALENDAR: 1. Approval of the Parking Place Commission Meeting Minutes for February 13, 2024. Motion PPC Vice Chair Chan / Second PPC Chair Commissioner Abarca -to approve the February 13, 2024 Parking Place Commission Meeting Minutes. Approved by voice vote (2-0-0). 2. Approval of the Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Minutes for February 13, 2024. Motion TSC Commissioner Carbone I Second TSC Commissioner Chan -to approve the February 13, 2024 Traffic Safety Commission Meeting Minutes. Approved by voice vote (4-0-0). ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS: 3. Parking Place Commission & Traffic Safety Commission roles and Responsibilities Presentation (Claire Lai, City Attorney) • TSC Vice Chair Yuen thanked Claire Lai, City Attorney for her presentation and asked what the difference was between a commission and a committee . His understanding of a committee is that they act as an advisory body and do not generally have any power to make recommendations to staff on various issues. Are there key differences between these two commissions and a standard committee? Claire Lai, City Attorney responded, the way she would distinguish between whether a body has certain powers is by looking to the source of authority and enabling creation statute. A commission that originated from state law will be enabled certain powers whereas another body such as the Traffic Safety Commission, created by City Council action, will have a more limited scope of responsibilities and authority. The key differences are the source of authority and what functions, and power were given to that particular body by the creating authority. In this case, the Traffic Safety Commission is more of an advisory body created by the City Council and has more of a limited scope and power than the Parking Place Commission which was created by state law and the specific tasks they're vested with. • PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan asked for further clarification on the difference between a commission and advisory committee. Claire Lai, City Attorney responded, the name itself does not give it significance because it comes down to the originating function and enabling statue. Commissions are vested in the municipal codes and created by a local ordinance. The purposes and tasks differ amongst the commissions depending on what City Council requested input on or assistance with. Committees are usually more temporary in duration, more focused on a topic and not vested by ordinance. Ultimately, the key difference is who created it, the background and scope authority. • PPC Chair and TSC Commissioner Abarca asked if the commissions in the City are technically committees. Claire Lai, City Attorney responded, they are commissions. Commissions are individual bodies that have different functions and are tasked differently by an ordinance. Their scopes vary dependent on the enabling statue, which in our case is City Council, and City Council sets forth what the commissioners can or cannot do. For example, the Parking Place Commission is required by state law, but still created by City Council. • PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan asked if City Council gives a work plan on what to advise on and requested further clarification on the Traffic Safety Commission's scope. Claire Lai, City Attorney responded, the commissions' purpose is to advise and make recommendations to City Staff on issues relating to traffic facilities throughout the City. TSC Vice Chair Yuen mentioned that the commission advises on generally the traffic safety of motor vehicles but also correlates to pedestrian and bicycle safety. TSC Commissioner Carbone agreed and requested further clarification . He mentioned the discussions usually concern safety around pedestrians and bicycles, so it seems the TSC is colliding with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). Claire Lai, City Attorney responded these topics are all interrelated and impact each other, therefore are not overstepping that committee. • TSC Commissioner Carbone asked for clarification on the rationale behind why Parking Place Commission members are also on the Traffic Safety Commission, the only duo commissions in the City. Claire Lai, City Attorney responded , City Council believed these two commissions are both interrelated and function together as they overlap in topics pertaining to parking within the parking district and traffic safety. TSC Vice Chair Yuen responded, there are overlaps and ties between the Parking Place Commission and Traffic Safety Commission, however, there is not a strong connection between the two. Claire Lai , City Attorney responded, the City has changed and developed from when these commissions were created and so, the scope City Council saw then compared to now may have changed . • TSC Commissioner Carbone brought up the timing issue of the two commissions. The Parking Place Commission has a set time of 5 p.m ., however, the Traffic Safety Commission does not have a set time and follows directly after. Why is this the only duo commission in the City? He also raised concerns regarding compensation for the Parking Place Commissioners who attend both meetings but receive the same compensation as the Traffic Safety Commissioners. Claire Lai , City Attorney responded , any changes to the time and compensation ordinance would require City Council direction to amend the current ordinance. TSC Commissioner Carbone asked how long the amendment process would take. Claire Lai, City Attorney responded, this will take two council meetings, a public hearing, and if all goes well , City Council will adopt the ordinance. The entire process could take a month or a couple of months. City staff and City Attorney would help draft the ordinance amendment. Once the ordinance amendment is approved, it will take 30 days to go into effect. • PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan asked if the Parking Place Commission has any jurisdiction or control over the parking district fund as part of its operation, management, and control of the Parking District? Claire Lai, City Attorney responded, the parking district funds are not in the general fund , but a separate fund, and is used for the purposes of the parking district. The Parking Place Commission can voice their opinion or suggestion for any purchases used from the parking district fund, however, City Council is the one that appropriates and approves the use of the fund . • PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan asked if the Parking Place Commission oversees and supervises the day-to-day use of parking district funds within the parking district. He also inquired if one of the roles of the Parking Place Commission is to check the monthly reporting to ensure it's being used in accordance with the council approved budget. Claire Lai, City Attorney responds, the fund is only used for the district so any expenses on the monthly reports have already been approved by the City Council for its use. PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan brought up the Bigbelly units along Grand Avenue and asked how those units were approved without the Parking Place Commissions approval. Secretary Garren responded, City Council approved the purchase of the Big belly units and the funds to be appropriated through the parking district fund because the units are placed within the parking district. City staff can advise the Parking Place Commission on the purchase, but City Council will approve the use of the budget. PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan asked, does the Parking Place Commission have the authority to review and give the stamp of approval or stop a purchase made within the parking district fund? Claire Lai , City Attorney responded , the purpose of the Parking Place Commission is to advise on any purchases that were already approved by City Council. City staff informs the commissioners of the purchases and commissioners can only advise or recommend. • PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan asked if the parking district fund is for the operations, management of the parking district assets such as the Miller Parking garage and parking spaces. The parking district funds should not be used to bu ild a new parking structure within the parking district. Therefore, the Parking Place Commission should not have any jurisdiction over the new parking structure. Claire Lai, City Attorney clarified City Council will approve the construction of the new parking garage and there is a possibility those funds can be used for those facilities. • Claire Lai, City Attorney stated the role of the Parking Place Commission is to advise and recommend on what they think is necessary for the maintenance, administration, and operations of the parking district. PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan responded , the state statute says, "the Commission shall operate, manage, and control the spaces and enforce rules for their use," however, the Commission doesn't have the power to do any of that. The state statute on the Parking Place Commission's role is not clear or concise. • PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan requested confirmation if the Parking Place Commission's scope of responsibility is advisory input and setting parking meter, and parking permit fees . Claire Lai, City Attorney responded, that is correct. • City Attorney and city staff to confirm if the Parking Place Commission will manage the new parking garage if funds are to be used from the parking district fund within the parking district. ITEMS FROM THE COMMISSION: None. ITEMS FROM THE STAFF: • Secretary Garren went over the Parking District Expenditures & Revenue to Date as of April 4, 2024, and Parking Permits Sold to date. For the months of March and April, the expenditures are delayed. • PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan asked why the parking permit fees sold from January to March 2024 are much lower than last year. He also requested the net value of revenue and expenditures to be on the reports. Secretary Garren responded , she will get clarification from Finance on the parking permit fees and she will include the net value on the reports moving forward. • PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan mentioned the traffic signal timing on Airport Bou leva rd and Grand Avenue is off. Dave Backhaus, Public Works Deputy Director responded, new signal lights take time to adjust and will be fixed . • PPC Commissioner & TSC Chairperson Monzon requested an update on the SamTrans bus shelter at 200 Airport Boulevard. Secretary Garren responded, SamTrans is working with the developers to have them buy and put the shelter back. Will confirm whether this shelter will be placed in front of 150 or 200 Airport Boulevard. • PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan asked if there was an update on the two-way lane on Cypress Avenue. Dave Bockhaus, Public Works Deputy Director responded , there is no update. A work order has been sent to maintenance and is weather pending. • Secretary Garren went over the volunteer appreciation picnic flyer and encouraged commissioners to attend. • Secretary Garren went over the community clean-up event this weekend. The City is collaborating with SSF Rise and encourages commissioners to attend. • Secretary Garren went over the City Council meetings encouraging commissioners to attend . Commissioners and staff to go over at next meeting . PPC Vice Chair and TSC Commissioner Chan requested this council meeting should be after the parking district walk-through. Parking Place Chairperson & Traffic Safety Commissioner Abarca adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m. Dana Abarca Parking Place Commission Chairperson ~B Hermes~ Traffic Safety Commission Chairperson