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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1999-02-17 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO SPECIAL MEETING February 17, 1999, 7:00 PM Municipal Services Building Community Room CALL TO ORDER: 7:01 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Fernekes, Mullin and Penna, Mayor Pro Tern Matsumoto and Mayor Datzman. Absent: None. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. CLOSSED SESSION: Closed Session pursuant to GC Section 54956.9, existing litigation - Molieri vs. City of South San Francisco. Council entered into Closed Session at 7:04 p.m. Council reconvened into Open Session at 7:25 p.m. Mayor Datzman recalled the meeting to order, all Council was present, direction was given and no action was taken. (Recess 7:25 p.m. - 7:35 p.m.) ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS Certification of Terrabay Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) for Terrabay Phases II and III. In accordance with FPPC rulings, Councilman Penna announced he would abstain from participating in this item and would also step down for the remainder of the meeting since this was the last item on the agenda. Mayor Datzman reminded the audience that a five minute time limit is requested due to the number of people who wish to speak. Before presenting the staff report, Chief Planner Harnish recognized Planners Susy Kalkin and Mike Lappen for their efforts regarding the preparation of last week's Scavengers MI~/TS staff report and Assistant City Attorney Lindgren and Planner Allison Knapp for their assistance with the Terrabay project. Chief Planner Harnish presented the staff.report with a slide presentation. Mayor Datzman opened the item for discussion. The Council briefly discussed with staff the issue of a spring, moving wetlands from one vicinity to another and the review process by the Army Corp of Engineers. The area looked at was determined not to be a year round spring. Mayor Datzman reviewed what transpired at the February 10 meeting and announced that David Schooley, Fred Matthews and Del Schembari had spoken that evening. Ms. Jan Pont, 111 Belmont Avenue, stated there were many issues that were not adequately addressed in the SEIR, but her main concern was access to the mountain. Other issues of concern included the hook-ramp, traffic, parking, wetlands, and other environmental issues. Mr. Dan Shattuc, 907 W. Cardinal Drive, Sunnyvale, felt the SEIR was adequate, but not complete. He felt it did not address water quality, the three separate accesses to the mountain that were promised, soil erosion and traffic. He wanted to know why the SEIR did not include comments from the California Department offish and Game. He felt that mitigation measures could not control where water flowed, so efforts to move a wetland would not work. He felt underground utilities made access problematic. He suggested the City spend money to make the area open space. He also wanted affordable housing to be included in the development. Mr. Del Schembari, 321 Alta Mesa Drive, felt the SEIR did not sufficiently address traffic patterns along Hillside Boulevard, and that the explosion blasts would disturb Hillside School. He felt the wetlands needed to be addressed further and stated that the visual beauty of San Bruno Mountain was lost. Mr. Michael Hitchcock, 1508 Redwood Avenue, was philosophical and stated that a development that needed to address cumulative impacts and mitigation measures would also require additional mitigation measures for cumulative impacts on all future projects related to the same development. He felt this type of cycle created impact measures unaccommodating to an environment. Ms. Jacklyn Jehl, 434 Hemlock Street, discussed issues concerning the Terrabay development when it was first proposed in the early 1980's. She listed the animal life that inhabited the area, and felt it was being destroyed by the construction on San Bruno Mountain. She also mentioned that grading has caused a tremendous amount of dust that has lead to health problems and that the lower portion of San Bruno Mountain is a dumping ground. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 17, 1999 PAGE 2 Mr. Fred Matthews, 44 Duval Drive, stated he philosophically opposed the project and felt the SEIR was inadequate based upon the opinion that it will lead to the destruction of sensitive resources. With regards to taking a wetland, he felt the ratio should be three to one. He stated his opposition to the plan allowing construction 30' from the shellmound and that it will have adverse effects. (Letter submitted to City Clerk.) Ms. Deborah Ruddock, Loma Prieta Chapter, Sierra Club, 3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, addressed the cumulative impact analysis and felt it was lacking the key to a quality document by not having adequate disclosure. She felt the analysis did not address long range planning or growth inducing impacts. Mr. Fred Andres, 2413 Carlson Boulevard, Richmond, had two comments and the first referred to the statement in the draft that a suitable habitat for the garter snake was absent from the site. The second concern he voiced regarded the survey of host plants for the callippe silverspot butterfly and that the survey neglected to examine nectar plants. Ms. Cindy Marcopulos, 106 Sutton Avenue, recited South San Francisco demographics and stated that the Terrabay project has added to the City's growth, but also to its budget for fire and police services. She questioned the need for green spots and found them to be inappropriately located. Ms. Charlene Moore, 901 Hillside Boulevard, stated she has lived across from San Bruno Mountain for 36 years, but can no longer walk to the mountain from her home. She urged Council to stop further building on the mountain. She stated that the streets in her neighborhood haven't been paved in years and that her children step on (hypodermic) needles. Mr. David Schooley, San Bruno Mountain Watch, P.O. Box AO, Brisbane, disagreed with statements made regarding wetlands on San Bruno Mountain. He stated that the wetlands have changed over the years, but have never dried out. He recalled a previous City Council meeting when the audience walked out because of what developers wanted to do with San Bruno Mountain. He reiterated his previous remarks that people want the area the way it use to be. (Recess 8:40 p.m. - 9:50 p.m.) Mr. Doug Butler, 133 Adrian Avenue, stated that the SEIR was flawed because it did not reflect any changes from the DSEIR. He said that relocating a wetland would change the mountain's eco system and he felt a two-acre mitigation for the shellmound was no mitigation at all. He asked that the area remain open space. He further stated that certifying the SEIR was the first step in approving the project. Ross Crippen, 68 Randolph Avenue, also recalled the City Council meeting that was attended by many people in opposition to development. His concerns included the seismic instability, making it a mixed residential/commercial neighborhood, failure of the Habitat Conservation Plan, two acres of land (shellmound) surrounded by commercial buildings, and the impact on the Randolph Avenue neighborhood. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 17, 1999 PAGE 3 Mayor Datzman asked staffto address questions and concerns that were raised by the speakers. Chief Planner Harnish stated that the cumulative impact analysis is adequate and it did take into consideration existing known projects in the East of 101 area and vacant land, such as the Haskins property. The analysis also addressed issues not addressed in previous plans. City Attorney Lindgren verified that the wetland mitigation measures incorporated are based on the procedures and standards used by the Department ofFish and Game. Mayor Pro Tem Matsumoto asked why the Department ofFish and Game did not comment on the SEIK Chief Planner Harnish stated that they were noticed through the State Clearinghouse and chose not to comment. Any change of streams would require an alteration permit from the Department offish and Game. Mayor Pro Tem Matsumoto briefly responded to comments made regarding the City's lack of attention to the Paradise Valley neighborhood. She asked staff to respond to comments made regarding the inadequacy of the wetland issue. Staff responded that the Army Corp of Engineers operates under the "no net loss of wetlands" policy, and if one can not be saved; it is mitigated. Chief Planner Harnish felt that an accurate identification of wetlands was made and the information is accurate. Staff suggested that when the project comes before Council for approval, mitigated impacts can be challenged and revised. Councilman Mullin briefly responded to comments made toward the City's lack of attention to the Randolph Avenue area. Other comments included: · off-site burial is an unknown factor; · agreed that the SEIR was lengthy and difficult to follow; · the plant survey: staff responded that it was the HCP's decision to survey the viola as the host plant and that this was the best approach; · the City is exploring many alternatives to driving cars, e.g., ferries, BART, Caltrain, etc., and building necessary housing; · the vast bulk of San Bruno Mountain is open space; · dust and gauging the velocity of wind: staff responded that a construction engineer will use a wind speed machine to determine the velocity of wind, and once it reaches 25 mph construction stops; · neglected streets in Paradise Valley: staff will prepare an analysis of the area to determine the last time streets were paved. · Council is receptive to upgrading areas and has been upgrading many parks and tot lots. · In summary, Councilman Mullin felt the SEIR was adequate. Councilman Fernekes asked staff to clarify issues regarding the hook ramp. Staff stated that the hook ramp is part of Phase III and will be paid by the developer. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 17, 1999 PAGE 4 Councilman Fernekes also clarified many improvements that were made in the community, at no additional expense to the citizens of South San Francisco: · Fire Station 5 (Terrabay) was financed by the Terrabay developer with no increase in staffing required. · Irish Town Greens is maintained by corporate sponsors; · Parks are being renovated, upgraded, or constructed, such as Alta Loma, Sunshine Gardens, and a linear park along South Canal Street. · In summary, Councilman Fernekes felt the SEIR met the necessary criteria. Mayor Datzman stated that although the Department ofFish and Game had not commented on the SEIR, the National Fish and Wildlife had. In response to blasts disrupting Hillside School, staff stated there will be small blasts that will be monitored. With regard to restoration, staff stated that although there has been some failures, the HCP is a work in progress. Mayor Datzman stated that as of last week problems in the lower Hillside Boulevard area are being looked at by Code Enforcement. Councilman Fernekes requested staff verify the voting record for the 1981 special election regarding the San Bruno Mountain South Slope sphere of influence. Motion-Mullin/Second-Fernekes: To certify the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) for Terrabay Phases II and III as adequate. Approved by roll call vote. AYES: Councilmembers Fernekes and Mullin, Mayor Pro Tern Matsumoto and Mayor Datzman. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: CouncilmemberPenna. ABSENT: None. Motion-Matsumoto/Second-Femekes: To adjourn the meeting at 9:53 pm. Approved by voice vote. Respectfully submitted: Approved: M. Payne, City Clet, k City of South San Francisco J( sTDat~zman~~, yor J~0f ~outh San F~ At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Dennis Breen presented a deed to the Terrabay Recreation and Gymnasium. The entries of this Council meeting show the action taken by the City Council to dispose of an item. 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. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 17, 1999 PAGE 5