HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2021-02-23 @6:00x SAv MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
A
U O
CITY COUNCIL
c411FO CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021
6:00 p.m.
Teleconference via Zoom
City Council conducted this meeting in accordance with
California Governor Newsom's Executive Orders N-25-20 and
N-29-20 and COVID-19 pandemic protocols.
CALL TO ORDER Mayor Addiego called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL Present: Councilmembers Coleman and Nicolas, Vice Mayor
Nagales, and Mayor Addiego.
AGENDA REVIEW
No changes
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENTS - comments are limited to items on the Special Meeting Agenda.
1. Members of the public wishing to participate were encouraged to submit public comments in
writing in advance of the meeting via GoogleDoc by 4: 00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
The following individuals provided public comments:
• Lien Uy
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
2. Report regarding a study session on a South San Francisco Universal Basic Income pilot
program. (Christina Fernandez, Assistant to the City Manager)
Assistant to the City Manager Fernandez presented the report and provided background information
on Universal Basic Income (UBI). The South San Francisco UBI pilot program's goals would be to
provide direct, immediate economic relief to our most vulnerable residents facing food and housing
insecurity. It would supplement existing assistance programs and help at -risk households impacted
by COVID-19. A secondary goal is to gather enough data to create a longer-term, sustainable
program to assist those residents in the greatest need.
In its current form, the South San Francisco UBI pilot limits payments to one person per household.
Universal Basic Income which provides every resident of South San Francisco with a monthly
check. Given the approximate cost of $402M to provide 67,000 residents with $500 every month
over twelve months, staff recommends focusing the pilot on our communities most in need.
The cost of direct cash payments of $500 every month for 400 households would be $2.4 million.
Based on existing city programs, our non-profit partner's administration costs are estimated at 15%
or $360,000. Costs for outreach materials and translation services are estimated at $30,000.
City staff continues to explore potential fiscal and administrative partners, including Open Research
Labs, San Francisco Foundation, Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, Jain Family Institute, YMCA,
and others. Staff hopes to secure an administrative partner within the next month. Securing fiscal
partners is an ongoing endeavor as the City seeks a layered funding approach.
Vice Mayor Nagales thanked Assistant to the City Manager Fernandez and City Manager Futrell for
their assistance with this item. He expressed the reasons he brought this item forward and
encouraged the Council to establish the pilot program.
Councilmember Nicolas inquired about the program requirements and raised some concerns about
defining a household. Assistant to the City Manager Fernandez stated that details were still being
considered, and staff would be exploring various options.
Councilmember Coleman inquired whether the program would replace the federal program.
Assistant to the City Manager Fernandez stated it would depend on how the program was designed.
Councilmember Flores thanked city staff and Vice Mayor Nagales for bringing the item forward.
He acknowledged the public comment about calling the program Universal and stated that the
Council should consider a different program name. He would also like to extend the program to
families at risk of eviction or who have trouble paying their bills and suggested a different payout
method.
Councilmember Coleman provided background information about other similar programs; specify
the Alaskan Permanent Fund. He agreed with the public comment speaker that the program should
not be misleading by calling it universal.
Mayor Addiego expressed his unhappiness with the Council's efforts to alleviate the communities'
needs, given that the State had passed similar programs. He would like to know of all the city's
programs for residents that are struggling and how they work with each other. He supported a
program to assist residents; however, there was a lot more work to be done.
3. Report regarding implementation of a Partnership for Workforce Development in the City of
South San Francisco to provide career path opportunities for underserved and disadvantaged
residents and assist local businesses in need of a skilled workforce. (Mike Lappen,
Economic Development Coordinator, and Nell Selander, Deputy Director, Economic and
Community Development Department)
Economic and Community Development Director Greenwood provided opening remarks and
introduced Economic Development Coordinator Lappen to provide a report. In June 2020, ECD
prepared an Economic Base Analysis for the City's General Plan Update. Based on this analysis,
South San Francisco continues to be a major job center for San Mateo County, with 35% of all
transportation jobs, 23% of all warehousing jobs, and 54% of all biotechnology jobs in the County.
The City's largest industry sector continues to be manufacturing, representing nearly 25% of all
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 23, 2021
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jobs, followed by information, professional, scientific, technical services, transportation, and
warehousing.
Since the beginning of COVID, staff had been researching and tracking impacts and trends in the
Bay Area economy and the job market. Staff found that South San Francisco residents' employment
characteristics and skills fit closer to higher -unemployment communities, such as East Palo Alto
and Oakland, than San Mateo County. Recent economic and labor market data show that there is a
skills gap between the industry in the City and our residents' educational attainment level and
training. Based on data from the State's Employment Development Department (EDD), South San
Francisco had the third-highest unemployment rate in San Mateo County, at just over 7% in
December 2020. Likewise, the South San Francisco Unified School District prepared a report that
notes that South San Francisco residents may be vulnerable to future changes in industries,
occupations, and skills requirements.
Staff recommended implementing the program in three phases. In Phase 1, staff recommended
engaging a partner or partners to provide "rapid response" services to residents who are
unemployed and/or at risk of falling into poverty. The selected partner(s) would evaluate the
participant's employment barriers while considering their family situation, work history, education,
occupational skills, financial resources and needs, supportive service needs, interests, and aptitudes.
The immediate goal of Phase 1 would be to find a job and connect the individual with social
supports, such as rental assistance, health care, and food assistance. Phase 1 may be provided
virtually or offsite, although when possible, the partner(s) would use community spaces in South
San Francisco for in-person support.
In Phase 2, concurrent with the delivery of services in Phase 1, and likely lasting three to nine
months, the selected partner(s) would work with City staff to design a long-term program to
facilitate economic mobility and sustainability underemployed and unemployed workers and
communities at risk. In addition to designing this new Partnership for Workforce Development, the
selected partner(s) would work with the City to establish a financing strategy to ensure long-term
program success.
Phase 3 is the implementation of the program designed in Phase 2 and will include pursuing
financing identified in Phase 2. Phase 3 would likely include outfitting classrooms for training
courses. City staff has had several staff -level, preliminary conversations with school district staff
regarding locating classroom training in underutilized SSFUSD classrooms. The initial Phase, 3
implementation period, will be two years and may utilize the partner(s) identified for Phases 1 and 2
or different partner(s) depending on the program needs.
On February 3, 2021, staff issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) soliciting experienced
partners that offer comprehensive and sustainable workforce development programs. Letters of
Interest were due on February 17, 2021, and full submittals will be due on March 2, 2021.
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 23, 2021
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Vice Mayor thanked staff and agreed to have case management for this program. He would like to
ensure that residents would be successful and asked for the next steps in the selection process.
Economic Development Coordinator Lappen provided an overview of the selection process.
Councilmember Nicolas thanked Economic and Community Development staff and supported the
program. She inquired about the skills held by the unemployed. Economic Development
Coordinator Lappen provided the information based on the general plan economic development
study conducted.
Councilmember Coleman supported the program and inquired about outreach. Economic
Development Coordinator Lappen indicated they would target the unemployed and would be
aggressive in the outreach.
Councilmember Flores inquired on how staff came up with the initial number of program
participants and would like the inclusion of coding. Economic Development Coordinator Lappen
provided an overview of how staff came up with the initial number of participants.
The following individuals provided public comments:
• Lelan Anders
• Kathleen ButlerTom
4. Report regarding a study session on establishing a Small Business Resource and
Entrepreneurship Center in South San Francisco. (Ernesto Lucero, Economic Development
Coordinator and Nell Selander, Deputy Director, Economic and Community Development
Department)
Economic Development Coordinator Lucero presented the item and provided background
information on establishing a Small Business Resource and Entrepreneurship Center. The COVID-
19 crisis caused major disruption for small businesses in South San Francisco and has intensified
existing structural inequities, demanding a strong response for local economic recovery. In South
San Francisco, the high technology and biotechnology industrial sectors appear to be weathering
changing economic conditions, with the city's biotech companies and associated real estate
developers continuing to invest in new research, construction, and essential employees. However,
similar to national trends, many South San Francisco restaurants, personal care services, "mom and
pop" stores, long-time or legacy businesses, and hotels have struggled significantly since the first
shelter in place order was issued in March 2020. Many local businesses continue to face operational
challenges, a lack of business, a reduced workforce, and the need for additional working capital to
sustain through the remainder of the pandemic and survive in a post-COVID economy.
On February 3, 2021, staff issued a Request for Qualifications soliciting experienced partners who
currently offer business support services for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Letters of Interest
were due on February 17, 2021, and full submittals would be due March 3, 2021.
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 23, 2021
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Staff anticipates that the proposed Small Business Resource and Entrepreneurship Center would be
able to leverage partners and service providers funded through other means, such as other
governmental organizations and programs. Examples include the Small Business Administration
(SBA), which is federally funded, and the Employment Training Panel (ETP), which is state
funded. A well-designed program will also be eligible for federal and state grants, as well as
philanthropy funding and corporate partnerships.
Councilmember Flores expressed his support for the program and welcomed sponsorships and
partnerships from the biotech and tech industries.
Councilmember Coleman inquired about financing options for small businesses. Economic
Development Coordinator Lucero stated there were Federal, state, and regional resources coming
soon.
Councilmember Nicolas expressed her support for the program and echoed the Council's comments.
She would like the program to give women businesses a preference and requested clarification on
the change of the current partnership with the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center. Economic
Development Coordinator Lucero provided an overview of the changes, including a satellite center
in South San Francisco. Deputy Director Selander provided additional information on the current
relationship with Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center.
The following individuals provided public comments:
• Sharon Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
Vice Mayor Nagales inquired how many small businesses applied to the San Mateo County Strong
Fund and received assistance. Economic Development Coordinator Lucero believed it was about
20. There were about 180 businesses that applied to the South San Francisco Small Business Relief
Fund.
ADJOURNMENT
Being no further business, Mayor Addiego adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Cindy )la
Assistant City Clerk
Approved by the City Council: 03/2-1
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
Approved by:
f Q
Mark Xddiego
Mayor
/ 2021
FEBRUARY 23, 2021
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