HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020-02-25 Item 3aMILLBRAE CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES - DRAFT
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January 28, 2020
CALL TO ORDER MILLBRAE CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Holober called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Mayor Reuben D. Holober, Vice Mayor Ann Schneider and Councilmembers Gina Papan
and Wayne J. Lee. Councilmember Anne Oliva was excused.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE U.S. FLAG
1. CEREMONIAL/PRESENTATION
• Commendation for Millbrae Community Foundation (MCF) Student Volunteers
MCF President Maureen Davis presented certificates of appreciation and Mayor Holober presented
commendations to Stella Baltasar and Samantha Lam.
2. AGENDA OVERVIEW/STAFF BRIEFING
• Calendar of Events
• Report of Bills and Claims
City Manager Williams provided the agenda overview and updated the City Council on the following
items:
Community Open House re Gateway at Millbrae Station Project on February 1;
Disc Golf Course Demo Day on February 1;
Millbrae’s Spring Art Show and Contest on March 27 – 28;
Millbrae launches new website address – www.cityofmillbrae.com;
Thanked Millbrae Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service volunteers.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• Regular Meeting of January 14, 2020
Upon a motion/second by Papan/Schneider the minutes from the meeting of January 14, 2020 passed with
a vote of 4:0 with Councilmember Oliva excused.
4. ORAL REPORT FROM CITY COMMITTEE/COMMISSION CHAIRS
NONE
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
NONE
CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice Mayor Schneider requested that Item No. 5 be pulled from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
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6. Resolution No. 20-11 Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Execute a Second
Amendment to the Professional Service Agreement with New City America for Work Related to
the Formation of a Community Benefit District in Downtown
7. Resolution No. 20-12 Accepting the 2019 Pavement Maintenance Project as Complete and Filing
of Notice of Completion
Upon a motion/second by Lee/Schneider Items 6 and 7 on the Consent Calendar passed with a vote of 4:0
with Councilmember Oliva excused.
5. Resolution No. 20-10 Waiving the Competitive Procurement Process and Authorizing the City
Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Ghirardelli Associates for
Construction Management and Construction Inspection Services for the Gateway at Millbrae
Station Project (TOD#2) in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $900,000
Vice Mayor Schneider said that the management company that the City is working with is already working
with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and we need to ensure that they are working for the City and not
BART. The City did not get the re-use of trees in the contract and we are trying to negotiate saving and
re-purposing the trees. We agreed not to have night work and if this is happening by the Highland Canal
I just want to be transparent.
City Manager Williams responded that due to traffic congestion, night work will be allowed as long as the
City does not get any complaints. Night work will be infrequent and with the first complaint we will shut
down the night work. City staff is working with Republic Urban on the issue of trees and Republic Urban
has agreed to remove the trees and deliver them to the Public Works Department for re-planting.
Councilmember Papan said she believed through the process the City was requiring trees and foliage to
be re-purposed. I am also concerned that BART is not doing anything about the noise in the parking
garage. What control do we have here? City Manager Williams responded as a private development
project commences we do have control over the area of land that is being developed. There are still noise
and cleanliness issues with the parking garage. I am meeting with the BART Director at the BART Station
this week to continue with his Listening Tour, follow ups and what they can do to provide more attention
to the Millbrae BART Station. Councilmember Papan said she hopes that the City pulls the Environmental
Impact Report (EIR) because BART has over-estimated their plan and circulation. We still have not seen
a circulation plan and a parking plan. City Manager Williams responded that the City is working with
Republic Urban on the Parking Management Plan. They need to meet the satisfaction of the City before
we can issue building permits. The grading and demolition permits issued are pursuant to terms and
definitions outlined in the Development Agreement.
Mayor Holober said he had some concerns about this item as well when he saw it on the agenda. Who is
Ghirardelli Associates really working for? Are they working for BART or the City? It sounds like the
City does not really have any liability here. If there are any problems with any of the infrastructure and
any of the work that gets done, it is on BART to fix it and the City will be enforcing that.
Upon a motion from Lee/Holober Resolution No. 20-10 waiving the competitive procurement process and
authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute a professional services agreement with Ghirardelli
Associates for construction management and construction inspection services for the Gateway at Millbrae
Station Project (TOD#2) in an amount not to exceed $900,000 passed with a vote of 4:0 with
Councilmember Oliva excused.
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Councilmember Lee requested that Items 11 and 12 be moved up since commission and committee
members are present.
NEW BUSINESS
11. Adoption of Fiscal Year 2019 – 2020 Sister Cities Commission Work Plan
Sister Cities Commission Chair Gottschalk presented the report.
Vice Mayor Schneider requested the minutes reflect her specific comments that she brought up the hope
that the Sister Cities Commission would work on diplomatic protocols including American made gifts
for events, freedom of speech area, and a timeline for inviting Sister and Friendship representatives to
City events. Chair Gottschalk responded that he fully agrees.
Begin public comment.
Ed Musa, Millbrae resident, requested that the City Council consider a Sister City relationship with the
City of Ramallah which is his birth place. There are fifty families from Ramallah living in Millbrae.
End public comment.
Councilmember Lee said that last year, while he was the Mayor, Mr. Musa approached him with this
request. Councilmember Lee wrote a letter to the City of Ramallah expressing interest in a Sister City
relationship. The City of Ramallah responded that they are interested in forming a Sister City relationship.
Mayor Holober said he recommends that Mr. Musa attend the next Sister Cities Commission meeting.
City Manager Williams responded that staff has been working with Mr. Musa and a staff presentation is
scheduled for the next Sister Cities Commission meeting on February 24.
Upon a motion/second by Schneider/Lee Item 11 passed with a vote of 4:0 with Councilmember Oliva
excused.
12. Adoption of Fiscal Year 2019 – 2020 Senior Advisory Committee Work Plan
Senior Advisory Committee Chair McBride and Vice Chair Mullen presented the report.
Mayor Holober thanked Senior Advisory Committee Chair McBride for her service and for all her help
with the Recreation Center planning. Vice Mayor Schneider shared her experience volunteering for the
Meals on Wheels program and asked Police Chief Kunkel how can we find people who are home-bound
and identify them for our evacuation plan? Police Chief Kunkel responded that Pacific Gas and Electric
Company (PG&E) is working on our evacuation plan. It is hard to maintain the database, determine who
maintains it and there are significant privacy issues. This is a very difficult complicated matter to solve.
The Office of Emergency Services is working on it.
Upon a motion/second by Lee/Papan Item 12 passed with a vote of 4:0 with Councilmember Oliva
excused.
PUBLIC HEARING
NONE
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EXISTING BUSINESS
8. Recommendations of Art Work Submitted by Millbrae High Schools (Mills High School and
Capuchino High School) for Utility Box Painting
Cultural Arts Advisory Committee Vice Chair Van Wart and Committee Member Whiteley presented
the report. They reported that after this second round of utility boxes, there is one more utility box with
artwork to be done by the seniors and we do not have a date for that yet.
Councilmember Lee thanked the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee for all the work they have done. He
said he is not sure why the City Council has to approve this. As long as staff and the Cultural Arts
Advisory Committee approve the art work, Council approval is not needed. Councilmember Papan said
we have a Public Art Policy and it does need to come to the City Council for approval. I love the art
work and I am looking forward to seeing this in public. Vice Mayor Schneider thanked the committee.
Upon a motion/second by Papan/Lee Item 8 passed with a vote of 4:0 with Councilmember Oliva excused.
9. Re-Affirm Citywide Position Opposing Senate Bill 50 and Authorize Submission of Mayor's
Opposition Letter
Mayor Holober said this bill has come back. Amendments were made on January 6 that attempted to ease
some of the cities’ concerns, but we feel there are a number of questions that have been raised but not
answered. The bill has a deadline of this Friday, January 31, but it may be voted on tomorrow. City
Manager Williams presented the report.
Councilmember Papan thanked the Mayor and staff for preparing the letter. It points out very significant
issues. One of the primary issues is that it is inequitable. It does not treat all counties and jurisdictions
the same. If they are truly committed to housing, everybody should be treated equally. In addition to that,
Millbrae has significant transit issues that we have tried to enhance throughout in any developments that
we do, but it actually deters people from taking transit in some jurisdictions. We want to note too that
Millbrae has approved 844 housing units. We are doing a lot in that realm and will continue to do so. I
move for approval.
Mayor Holober said the bill attempted to create a local accountability plan which would allow cities to
come up with their own plan on how they would comply. Unfortunately, the legislation did not make any
clear standards for what is acceptable in a local accountability plan. It takes the power out of the legislature
and puts it in the Housing and Community Development Department at the State level. I cannot accept
that at this time. It is saying we have to come up with a plan without any clear standards or guidelines as
to what would be acceptable.
Vice Mayor Schneider thanked Mayor Holober for preparing the letter. Transportation agencies control
over what is happening with Transit Oriented Development #1 (TOD#1) and Site One really frustrates
me. It puts all the pressure on cities and ignores that transportation agencies can be extremely destructive
to existing housing and any new housing. Senator Wiener needs to get the transportation agencies on the
hook too. Mayor Holober said that this bill has no funding mechanism for infrastructure and services.
Such broad mandates without infrastructure or transportation funding are unacceptable.
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Councilmember Lee thanked Mayor Holober and staff for preparing the letter. He put out a similar letter.
Before we send out the letter, he would like to see more about affordable housing. Mayor Holober and
Councilmember Papan responded that we are in a time crunch.
Begin public comment.
Steven Green, Millbrae resident, spoke in favor of SB 50. In the midst of the most severe housing crisis
Millbrae is going backwards. We need to create an intelligent plan.
End public comment.
Mayor Holober thanked Steven Green for speaking, said that he made a lot of good points and we will
look to address that through our General Plan Update. Vice Mayor Schneider said she appreciates Steven
Green’s points, however, the reality is that the City has approved 444 – 488 housing units and High Speed
Rail and Caltrain put a stop to it. I would love to see the housing advocates talk to the transit agencies.
Councilmember Papan said, to clear the record, the only height limits we have in Millbrae relate to the
airport and not the City. We are building ten stories high. It is a progression in the General Plan as to
other areas in the City. Fifteen years ago nobody wanted to build there. TOD#1 and TOD#2 have both
astronomically accelerated beyond anybody else’s developments in an intermodal center. It’s only been
five years since those projects were proposed. We appreciate the passion a lot of people have here but we
need to get the facts straight. We are trying to find the balance that will sustain Millbrae and help it grow.
Mayor Holober said we have capacity concerns with water and sewer service. We don’t have capacity.
We have restrictions from the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) for water
supply. Councilmember Lee said he appreciates Steven Green’s comments about water rates. Adding
more people will lower the rates a little bit. I am concerned about people on a fixed income. We are not
saying no to housing, but build housing with the amenities.
Upon a motion/second by Papan/Schneider Item 9 passed with a vote of 4:0 with Councilmember Oliva
excused.
10. Receive Informational Update on Millbrae Recreation Center Restoration Project
Interim Public Works Director Kao presented the report. She said that staff will provide a monthly update
at the second City Council meeting of each month. This will be a Consent Calendar item. Vice Mayor
Schneider requested that this item be on Existing Business and not the Consent Calendar. City Manager
Williams responded that staff can put the item under Existing Business if that is the Council’s preference.
Councilmember Papan said that transparency is very important. I suggest that the Recreation bulletin
should have a timeline people can follow. We also need to keep our website up to date. Vice Mayor
Schneider said she is concerned that we have not identified the Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (FF&E)
cost. Mayor Holober said there were a number of items in our budget for the Recreation Center and
obviously the loan from San Mateo County is the key to getting this going. There were some parcels
identified as surplus property. What is the status on the process and the other pieces of the funding? City
Manager Williams responded, in terms of surplus property, we had two properties that we surplused. We
need to sit down with the school district to discuss their desire to purchase the property. Once we exhaust
that, then we can move forward. We are working on a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit a real estate
broker. Some of this has been delayed because we were looking at a $43 - $45 million Recreation Center
and so now that we are working with Swinerton Management and Consulting we will know more about
what we can do within the $30 million budget.
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Mayor Holober said he hopes this does not interrupt the timeline. City Manager Williams responded no
it will not interrupt the timeline. Mayor Holober asked has the City received Development Impact Fees
for TOD#2? City Manager Williams confirmed that the City has received a check for a little over $16
million.
This is an informational item.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mayor Holober:
Attended Caltrain Local Policymakers Group meeting last week. There was a brief High Speed
Rail discussion. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is anticipated to come out in April. This
is an opportunity for us to comment. They still have a $50 billion funding gap. They would like
to see more federal funding, but it looks like that will not be the case under this administration.
The Caltrain business plan was discussed. Discussions where on whether to prioritize more express
service like the baby bullets trains or trains that stop at more stations. Baby bullet trains are very
popular now and are usually completely full.
Attended Parks and Recreation Commission meeting and we discussed grants.
Announced Disc Golf Demo Day on Saturday, February 1, at Mosta Grove at 10:00 am.
Vice Mayor Schneider:
Attended the Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) strategic retreatwhere we discussed the best use of
money, e.g., spending money so the public knows the difference between PCE and PG&E. We
also discussed whether Electric Vehicle (EV) rebates are actually helping or are they just going to
people who would buy an EV anyway.
Announced Ground Base Noise meeting on Thursday, January 30, at 9:30 am.
Attended League of California Cities (LOCC) New Mayors and Council Members Academy on
January 22 – 24 where we discussed transparency and housing.
Attended San Mateo County Transportation Agency update of transportation issues in the county
on January 24. I asked the director about Seamless Transportation as Millbrae had just approved
the resolution and I was told that what is needed is more frequent trains rather than other methods
of linking different transportation.
Attended Emergency Service Council meeting where we discussed air pollution from the airport
and fires, how to measure particulate that falls on Millbrae, and the draft evacuation plans.
Lomita Park School has students from San Bruno and Millbrae and it is possible we could do a
Safe Routes to School walk. There has not been a Safe Routes to School audit since 2013.
Spoke with Managed Lanes staff and they are going to be removing more vegetation in Millbrae.
This means greater noise impact from the airport.
Councilmember Papan:
Re the Caltrain Burlingame program, the trees along the Burlingame side of El Camino Real have
become a health hazard and they are required to get a plan to replace all the trees and improve the
streets there.
The school district is finally looking at serving alcohol in their facilities. It is still a work in
progress. We are hoping the school district will take advantage of State regulations that protect
them and expand their rules to allow the PTAs to fully fund their events.
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has a workshop on Thursday and Friday, January
30 and 31, to discuss Plan Bay Area 2050.
Managed Lanes is moving ahead and we will be impacted. This is adding lanes to US Highway
101. The funding for that is progressing.
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Several councilmembers are working on making BART accountable as far as serving our
community. It’s unsafe and unhealthy. Last week they cleaned all the BART stations in San
Mateo County. Once again they are dirty and disgusting. I voted no on $35 million of discretionary
money going to BART with no strings attached.
Received a study from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) on why people take
transit. Number one, if you do not feel safe on public transportation you will not take it.
Re Seamless Transportation, coordination between agencies is needed. I am working with our City
Manager and trying to get MTC to expand on a resolution they had and also bringing that to the
State legislature to force transit agencies to show us the results.
There was an article in the San Francisco newspaper accusing SamTrans of dumping homeless
people in San Francisco. They are being forced off the BART train at night either in Millbrae or
the airport. The Airport has decided to give them bus tokens to return them to San Francisco. We
do not do that here. We are trying to help as many people as we can.
There was article in the Los Angeles Times saying that majority of homeless people in any
jurisdiction are local. So the actions that jurisdictions take, whether we take them here in Millbrae,
to provide affordable housing units and trying not to displace people, other jurisdictions are not
doing the same. San Francisco has 70,000 units coming online none of which are affordable.
Bank or America is working with other credit card agencies for a contactless bank acceptance card
for transportation.
Councilmember Lee:
Announced MTC and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) are having all day
workshops on Thursday, January 30.
The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) process is starting again.
Announced San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, February 1. The Mills High
School Dragon Team will participate in the parade.
Thanked the City Council, Millbrae Cultural Committee, City staff, San Mateo County Sheriff’s
Office, Central County Fire Department (CCFD) and everyone who participated in the Millbrae
Lunar New Year Festival on January 26. 4,000 people attended the festival.
Thanked everyone who participated in the Lions Crab Feed on Saturday, January 25, which was
was very successful. All the money raised goes back to the community.
PCE has always promised a goal of 0 greenhouse gas emissions. PCE has been asked by PG&E
for $5.3 million for the rights to say that we do not buy nuclear energy. It seems like a waste of
$5.3 million better spent on energy savings programs. We decided not to accept this offer.
Millbrae School District Superintendent Vahn Phayprasert has announced his resignation at the
end of this year.
CLOSED SESSION
NONE
ADJOURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The meeting was closed in memory of Millbrae resident Bob Richard. The meeting was also closed in
memory of Professional Basketball Player Kobe Bryant and the other victims of the helicopter crash on
January 26.
There being no further business to discuss, the City Council adjourned at 9:03 p.m.
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The video recording of the meeting is available on the Millbrae Community Television Youtube website.
You can click on the link below to view the recording of the entire meeting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBJ_Z6z3gEo
By: Approved:
Elena Suazo Reuben D. Holober
City Clerk Mayor