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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2020-02-19 @6:00CALL TO ORDER ROT.T. CAT T AGENDA REVIEW MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO Meeting held at: CITY HALL CITY MANAGER' S CONFERENCE ROOM 400 GRAND AVENUE SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Present: Councilmembers Matsumoto, Nagales, and Nicolas, Vice Mayor Addiego and Mayor Garbarino. City Manager Futrell requested Council consider Closed Session matters before Administrative Business. Closed Session Item #6 postponed to a future date. CLOSED SESSION Time Entered Closed Session: 6:01 p.m. Resumed from Closed Session: 6:24 p.m. 6. Conference with Legal Counsel -Existing Litigation (Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)) Name of Case: Kashiwa Fudosan America, Inc. v. City of South San Francisco San Mateo County Superior Court Case Number: 18 -CIV -01728 Item not heard 7. Conference with Legal Counsel -Anticipated Litigation (Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2)) Significant Exposure to Litigation: One Potential Case (Sky Woodruff, City Attorney and Christina Fernandez, Assistant to the City Manager) Open Session resumed: 6:24 p.m. Report out of Closed Session by Mayor Garbarino: Direction given. No reportable action. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 1. Discussion of possible relocation of the South San Francisco Farmers' Market to the downtown area. (Sheri Boles, Community Programs Manager) Community Programs Manager Boles presented the report and provided an overview of the Farmers' Market annual operations held on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. beginning the first week in May to the last week in October at the Joseph A. Fernekes Building at Orange Memorial Park. In 2010, it was moved to the South San Francisco BART Station; however, due to lower attendance, in 2011 it returned to Orange Memorial Park. Attendance at the Farmers' Market remains steady but stagnant at approximately 150 visitors weekly with about 12 vendors participating. In 2019, staff visited the Farmers' Market regularly to poll both visitors and vendors, askingfor their f feedback about the current location and the possibility of relocating it to the downtown area. Staff conducted an intensive outreach campaign to downtown area businesses by first emailin them and following g o lowing up with a personal visit. Staff visited 169 businesses, only two merchants expressed disfavorp with the proposed relocation of the Farmers' Market due to limited to no parking. Staff worked with City departments, including Economic and Community Development, Police Department, Fire Department, and Public Works; a City consultant, Pacific Coast Farmers' Market; and the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce on several prospective locations in the downtown area; based on discussions, research, and analysis keeping into consideration accessibility, traffic patterns, public transportation, and parking options with choices narrowed to three locations. The three locations included Option A: City Hall Back Parking lot of Miller Avenue between Maple and Walnut Avenues; Option B: Maple Avenue #1 on Maple Avenue between Grand Avenue and 3rd Lane; and Option C: Maple Avenue #2 on Maple Avenue between Grand Avenue and 4th Lane. p a e. Based on meetings with the stakeholders, as well as feedback from downtown merchants, Option A was the most feasible location. PUBLIC COMMENTS — comments are limited to items on the Special Meeting Agenda. Liza Normandy, CEO of the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, addressed the Council to express her support of relocating the Farmers' Market to the City Hall parking lot on Miller Avenue between Maple and Walnut Avenues. She thanked staff for including the S SF Chamber of Commerce and Downtown businesses during their outreach efforts. She provided Council an overview of the relocation benefits. Leslie Fong, resident of South San Francisco, addressed the Council to express her support of the proposed relocation, inquired about parking accessibility, and suggested offering free parking. g Councilmember Matsumoto expressed her concern with the vitality of the market due to lack of density in the downtown area. She suggested brining a Thursday or Friday eveningmarket to boost i business and improve the downtown. Vice Mayor Addiego expressed his concern with the proposed relocation and suggested relocating the market to the front of Orange Memorial Park to increase visibility. Councilmember Nagales inquired about parking requirements for the three proposed relocation sites. Staff indicated that Farmers' Market patrons would be encouraged to use the Miller Avenue Parking Garage, not supportive of patrons having to pay for parking. He suggested relocating the market to the Civic Campus Center in the near future. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 19, 2020 MINUTES PAGE 2 Councilmember Nicolas indicated that a change in the demographics of the downtown area would be beneficial to the success of the market. She supports an evening Farmers' Market downtown. Mayor Garbarino expressed his concern with the relocation of the Farmers' Market. He supports a future relocation to the Community Civic Campus. Consensus of the Council to keep the market at its current location. Staff will increase outreach efforts during this year's market and will consider relocating the market to the Community Civic Campus. 2. Discussion of City's 2020 Anti -Litter campaign. (Leslie Arroyo, Communications Director) Communications Director Arroyo presented the report and provided an overview of the City's 2020 Anti -Litter campaign. She indicated that in a February 14, 2019 San Francisco Chronicle article titled "Caltrans ordered to clean up the roadways or face up to $25,000 -a -day fines," it states that Caltrans has committed $400 million toward trash control and maintenance between now and 2026. That includes $33 million on cost-sharing deals with five cities to build collections systems and clean up homeless encampments near highways. However, Caltrans has stated it does not know how it will pay for everything it was ordered to clean up. According to Keep America Beautiful, one of the bad aspects of litter is that it encourages more people to litter. Researchers observed that if people see garbage scattered around public or commercial areas, they tend to drop their litter on the ground nearby. This is why it is imperative that the City of South San Francisco mount an aggressive anti -litter campaign and provide more ways for people to dispose of their trash. The 2020 Anti -Litter Campaign Elements include the following: The City has established a "Clean Team" and adopted the slogan "This is Your City. Keep it Clean South San Francisco." to combat the litter, illegal dumping, and graffiti. The Cleanup Blitz 2020 Kick-off event held on Saturday, March 21, 2020, in the downtown core area surrounding Grand Avenue between Airport Boulevard and Spruce Avenue from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Participants consist of multiple City Departments, and community volunteer groups. Activities will focus on cleanup and improving downtown amenities, sign replacement, curb painting, graffiti removal, tree well maintenance, plant strip improvements, and breezeway painting. Community Ambassadors Program - "Trashbusters": this is the concept of the Community Ambassadors program, where volunteers representing the community gather monthly and become "Trashbusters," by Adopting a Neighborhood or Block. Business Ambassadors: Implementing a Business Ambassador program keeps the City of South San Francisco litter free and volunteers improve the appearance, property values, and attractiveness of the City. Volunteering businesses help keep their adopted blocks clean by removing litter, and reporting graffiti, weed control, and blight issues. Downtown FaVade Grant Program: The City is developing a new Downtown Facade Grant Program. If approved by Council, the program would launch in July 2020. Scavengers Vouchers: This program would be available to all residents, but it would target residents who do not own their property. Currently, Scavengers provides two free pickups to SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 19, 2020 MINUTES PAGE 3 residents of single-family dwellings, but will not do pickups at apartment buildings. Under the City of South San Francisco voucher program, residents (must show proof of residency) cang o to the Public Works department and obtain a voucher, not to exceed three/year, for a drop Scavengers doff. g p The vouchers are good for one truckload. Vouchers are not transferable. Big Belly Trash/Recycle Units: Public Works will install 10 Trash/Recycling units alongGrand Aven Avenue. These units are compacting, solar -powered, sensor -equipped waste and recycling stations that communicate real-time status to collection crews; eliminating unnecessary manual inspections, i increasing efficiency, and allowing staff to address additional maintenance issues. Vice Mayor Addiego requested clarification on the City and SSF Scavenger responsibilities to empty garbage cans throughout the City. Public Works Manager Dave Bockhausp rovided clarification on the shared responsibilities and the benefits of the proposed receptacles. Updated Illegal Dumping Ordinance: Changes include increased fines, and lace the . .. p responsibility for cleaning up of dumping on the property owner. The updated ordinance also makes the owners of Multi -Unit dwellings responsible for illegal dumping stemming from their property, regardless of where the dumping occurs. Vice Mayor Addiego inquired about the staff cost of illegal dumping cleanupd graffiti ang abatement. Staff will provide a follow-up memo to Council with costs. Shopping Cart Ordinance (update pending): The updated ordinance would require storeowners to provide a shopping cart business plan with additional steps to prevent shopping cart removal from their property. Businesses failing to comply with the new ordinance will face increased penalties. Graffiti Ordinance - Update Pending: The current ordinance requires a propertyowner to abate graffiti on their property within 48 -hours. However, if the property owner does not, then the City will abate the graffiti at no cost. The city will immediately abate gang graffiti and offensive graffiti. Caltrans: The updates Delegated Maintenance Agreement (DMA) on Caltrans Properties increases the p compensation for current work performed by City forces on Caltrans properties. The work consists of street sweeping, cleanup, and signal maintenance primarily along El Camino Real and Airport Boulevard. City staff is currently in discussions with Caltrans to expand current maintenance agreements to allow city staff or city contractors the ability to clean up additional areas outside �� p s de of those areas reserved for Exclusive Freeway Use." Councilmember Nagales expressed his concern with Caltrans and their response to clean u trash 1 p p along Interstate 280 and Highway 101; trash off state roads becomes a local city's responsibility. He encouraged staff to continue to work with Caltrans to reduce trash. Staff Augmentation: Public Works is preparing to release a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in order to solicit proposals for on-call maintenance services. These services can be in any number of disciplines, including graffiti abatement, illegal dumping cleanup, traffic p signal, and streetlight ole g g painting, curb painting, street striping, weed abatement, transient encampment cleanup, and p p� concrete and asphalt repair. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 19, 2020 MINUTES PAGE 4 El Camino Real landscape improvements: As part of the larger Clean City initiative, Parks Maintenance staff continues to work with Public Works/Engineering staff to supportp the landscape improvements along El Camino Real, including the Grand Boulevard Initiative, and rehabilitation of the medians from Spruce Avenue heading north toward Chestnut Avenue. Enhanced maintenance services in high visibility areas: In addition to ongoing maintenance g g activities described above, Parks Maintenance staff proposed to increase the existing landscape e maintenance services contract budget authority to enhance maintenance of g, right-of- way, streetscap g in i ht -of- way, particularly in high visibility arterial streets, such as Sister Cities Boulevard, Airport Boulevard, El Camino Boulevard, Junipero Serra Boulevard, Hickey Boulevard, Chestnut Avenue Poletti Way adjacent to the new Caltrain Station, and Gull Drive in addition to an e expanded scope p of work on Centennial Way Trail. In addition to a Zero Tolerance approach, the South San Francisco Police Department will focus on ip areas prone to illegal dumping, as well as expand current programs to engage our youth in clean-up efforts. Deputy Director Greg Mediati provided an overview of the enhanced maintenance servicesro osal p p and indicated that the median chain link fence along the ECR corridor scheduled for replacement. City Manager Futrell requested Council's feedback on replacement of the chain link fence. He indicated the site currently maintained by Caltrans but would fall in the City's maintenance after replacement of the fence. Mayor Garbarino inquired about staffing and costs. Deputy Director p Y Mediati indicated that in order to continue with enhanced services there is a need to increase landscaping contract. Installation of surveillance cameras: Based on 2019 reported illegal dumping incidents from p g EngageSSF, staff is recommending placing ten surveillance cameras in the to five high dumping p g p g areas in South San Francisco to combat or deter violators. These areas are Susie Way, Randolph h Ave, Gardiner Ave, 3rd Avenue, and 4th Ave. Councilmember Nicolas inquired about the process of monitoring surveillance cameras. Information Technology Director Barrera indicated that video footage reviews prompted by complaints only, no live monitoring. p y� Mayor Garbarino inquired about the liability of surveillance cameras. Information Technology Director Barrera provided an overview of the process and indicated that staff would work with the City Attorney's office to determine liability. Special services: Initiating "special services" throughout the City whileolice personnel are on dutyp and conducting their regular duties. Officers and personnel will look for areas that require cleanup and initiate incidents that will be forwarded to the proper city . department for cleanup. p Project NEAT involvement: The Police Department will evaluate cases involvingjuvenile suspects that could be resolved by the juveniles completing the Project NEATNei hborhood � g Enhancement Action Team) program as an alternate to criminal prosecution. Summer Youth Work Program expansion: The Summer Youth Work ro a Program is ram that g program was implemented in the mid 1990's, and has been managed through the police department since its . p p inception. The current program is comprised of six youth workers and one adult manager. program g SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 19, 2020 MINUTES PAGE 5 The police department proposes an expansion to the existing program by increasingthe amount of workers to 12, and adding an additional manager to create a second team. The total budget for the City led efforts is $425,,000. Council supports the proposed $425,000 budget for the proposed projects, funded from the FY 2019-2020 General Fund surplus as recognized through the mid -year budget process; however, staff to provide additional information to Council for the $730,000 funding request for the FY 2020- 2021. 3. Study Session regarding the Hillside -Sister Cities Traffic Study (Bianca Liu, Senior Engineer) Senior Engineer Bianca Liu presented the report and indicated that as part of the City's continuing g efforts to engage residents and solicit community feedback, the City facilitated a series of community meetings, which included multiple meetings for the Sunshine Gardens and Paradise Valley and Pecks lot neighborhoods. City staff also participated in neighborhood "ride -along s" to observe and discuss the concerns of the residents. Staff utilized the feedback received combined with historical traffic data, to study the neighborhoods and identify opportunities to address resident concerns and improve safety while maintaining efficiency along commute corridors. The existing intersection at Hillside Boulevard and Lincoln Street is the only non -signalized intersection within the Hillside Boulevard -Sister Cities corridor. City staff investigated the feasibility of installing a roundabout and the feasibility of a traffic signal and determined that the installation of a roundabout was infeasible at this location due to existing right-of-way constraints. The City continued to evaluate the traffic signal alternative in the Hillside Boulevard Traffic Study. The Hillside Boulevard Traffic Study proposes to improve safety for automobiles and bicycles along Hillside Boulevard from Lincoln Street to Lawndale Boulevard. The Sunshine Gardens Safety and Connectivity Improvement Project is currently under construction and will install high -visibility yellow ladder crosswalks, edge lines, bulb -outs, new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb ramps and a Class 3 shared bikeway to improvepedestrian and project bicyclist safety and connectivity in the Sunshine Gardens neighborhood. The location includes Evergreen Dr. between Baywood Avenue and Crestwood Dr., on Crestwood Dr. between Evergreen Dr. and Holly Avenue, on Miller Avenue between Evergreen Dr. and Holly Avenue and on Holly Avenue between Mission Rd. and Hillside Boulevard. Speed cushions arero osed along p p g Holly Avenue to reduce vehicle speeds The Paradise Valley/Pecks Lot Neighborhood Traffic Calming Study investigated neighborhood g g traffic concerns. Vehicles reportedly cut through the Paradise Valley and Pecks Lot neighborhoods hs g at high speeds to avoid congestion on Airport Boulevard and Sister Cities Boulevard. The study sought to identify the extent of these problems and list specific targets for possible abatement. Staff, with the assistance of DKS Associates (on-call traffic consultant), evaluated existing traffic volumes, vehicle speeds, collision data and field observations in the Paradise Valley and Pecks Lot neighborhoods. The data collected and reviewed support community concerns din re arspeeding regarding p g and cut -through traffic. Hillside Boulevard is likely serving a significant number of cut -through g vehicles. The study evaluated different traffic calming measures that could be utilized andro osed p p new enhanced pedestrian crosswalk striping, roadway striping, speed cushions, signage and speed g g p feedback signs. The cost of all of the improvements estimated to be approximately $2.79 million. y SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 19, 2020 MINUTES PAGE 6 Councilmember Matsumoto requested clarification on the Holly Avenue speed cushions. Principal Engineer Matt Ruble provided an overview of the proposed project including lane reductions. Mayor Garbarino shared Sunshine Garden residents concern with the newly installed curb extensions (bulb -outs) as they extend into the parking lane making it difficult for the larger vehicles to turn. Senior Engineer Liu provided an overview of bulb -outs. Council discussed an alternative option; Lawndale to Lincoln signalized intersection; road diet (lane reduction) from Chestnut to Lawndale to mitigate traffic concerns; maintain two vehicle with no enhanced bicycle lanes; retiming traffic signals to give priority to eastbound traffic, alleviating morning traffic congestion. Vice Mayor Addiego requested augmented outreach efforts to residents to the impacted neighborhoods. City Manager Futrell agreed and indicated staff would prepare direct mailers in addition, staff is working with County staff due to the County's ownership of the road. 4. Presentation of San Mateo County Standardized Evacuation Zone (Matthew Samson, Deputy Fire Chief) Deputy Fire Chief Matt Samson presented the report and provided an overview of the San Mateo County Standardized Evacuation Zone Project. Staff met with all Fire and Law agencies in SMC to create an interagency evacuation platform for all stakeholders to utilize. He reviewed next steps, funding needs and indicated that Airbnb has agreed to participate in the emergency alerts including Nextdoor. Vice Mayor Addiego inquired about the program and notification process. Deputy Fire Chief Samson indicated that the program has fire -modeling software intended to keep frontline responders informed with real-time data. Council thanked Deputy Fire Chief Samson for his participation in the proj ect. 5. Report regarding Resolution No. 21-2020 authorizing the acceptance of $25,000 in grant funding from the County of San Mateo to support the City of South San Francisco's Census 2020 outreach and education campaign and approving Budget Amendment 20.035. (Kathy Blandon Escobar, Census 2020 Program Manager) Census 2020 Program Manager Kathy Blandon Escobar presented the report and indicated that the South San Francisco Public Library's Community Learning Center received $25,000 grant from the County of San Mateo (SMCo) to support City of South San Francisco programs and outreach campaigns to bring awareness of the importance of an accurate Census 2020 count. The City's Census 2020 team will coordinate and conduct outreach campaigns and provide educational opportunities and census form assistance to populations identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as Hard to Count/Least Likely to Respond. As part of census programming, Questionnaire Assistance Centers and Questionnaire Assistance Kiosks would be implemented at both libraries and the Community Learning Center. A successful census relies on everyone's participation and will help benefit the community by providing the basis for reapportioning congressional seats, redistricting, and distributing federal SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 19, 2020 MINUTES PAGE 7 funds annually to support states, counties, and communities' vitalro rams - housing, education, p g g� ton, transportation,, employment, health care and public policy. Councilmember Matsumoto thanked staff for their outreach efforts and encouraged collaboration with community leaders and faith -based communities. Motion Vice Mayor Addiego/Second Councilmember Nicolas: To approve Resolution No. 21- 2020, authorizing the acceptance of $25,000 in grant funding from the County of San Mateo to su • ty support the City of South San Francisco's Census 2020 outreach and education d campaign and approving Buet g Amendment 20.035. Unanimously approved by roll call vote. ADJOURNMENT Being no further business Mayor Garbarino adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Approved by: osa Govea Acosta, CMC, CPMC is and Garbarmo City Clerk Mayor Approved by the City Council: � ! / 2� / 4,i2aq SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 19, 2020 MINUTES PAGE 8