South San Francisco, CA June 20, 2018
The announcement that the South San Francisco Special Council meeting set for this evening (June 20, 2018) would be held in the Conference Room at City Hall resulted in multiple inquiries to Everything South City asking why there would be no recordings of this meeting and why such a small venue when the agenda is varied and full.
The question was sent to our City Clerk, Krista Martinelli, who responded “My office does not have authority to set the agenda, but I will work with management to find a solution to the concerns you raise on future agendas” and included the City Council, Manager, Assistant Manager, Communications Director and legal counsel which generated the following response from the City Manager.
“It is very good that our residents are engaged and looking to maximize opportunities to participate. Concerning tonight’s meeting, it is the common practice of City Council to host study sessions at City Hall. In fact, last year the City Council met nine times at City Hall versus the MSB (and once at the Fernekes Building,) and so far this year have met three times at City Hall. Tonight’s meeting is not out of the ordinary, and certainly not scheduled in any way to “bury/hide” anything.
I will note there was the desire to host at least one official Public Meeting about district elections at City Hall, perhaps making it easier for those in the downtown area to participate in the district elections process. All other Public Meetings on district elections have been held at the MSB, and tonight is the last Public Meeting prior to Council voting on the districts next week (at the MSB.) From this perspective, hosting the meeting at City Hall was designed to encourage public participation and provide another venue option for our residents to voice an opinion about district elections.
I appreciate the concern raised, and again am glad our residents are wanting to engage fully in the governance process in our city. As a follow up I will ask our IT Department to devise a way to televise meetings held at City Hall in the future; your point about this is well taken. Thanks.”
A short time later this additional information was received by the City Manager Mr. Futrell:
‘As an update, our IT Department will video tonight’s meeting and rebroadcast it on the PEG channel and place the video on our website for anyone who wants to view the meeting. A plan to broadcast live any future City Hall Council meetings is in the works also. Thanks again for raising this suggestion.’
The benefit of hosting this study session, regarding the upcoming changes with our election process, closer to residents in different neighborhoods is commendable yet the full agenda listed below is of importance to all, especially those who watch the meetings on the community TV channels ( Astound- CH 26 and Comcast- CH 27) or live streamed on the City website CLICK HERE. We know our neighbors who are not able to make this evening’s meeting will appreciate this extra step to ensure our public meetings truly are for all the public and not just the few that can fit into the City Hall conference room.
The agenda includes the following items and the staff notes can be found CLICK HERE.
*Presentation of New Employees
*Report regarding the fourth public hearing to receive public testimony regarding draft district maps for City Council elections in the City of South San Francisco pursuant to Elections Code Section 10010.
*Report regarding an ordinance of the City Council of the City of South San Francisco amending Chapter 4.04.080 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code, pertaining to open market procedures.
*Ordinance of the City Council of the City of South San Francisco amending Section 4.04.080 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code, pertaining to open market procedures.
*Study session on smart growth in South San Francisco.
*Report regarding a resolution amending the shuttle services agreement with PCAM, LLC of Los Angeles, California by an amount of $1,000,305 in a total not to exceed amount of $1,430,305 and extending the term until June 30, 2020 for the operations of the South City Shuttle.
*Resolution amending the shuttle services agreement with PCAM, LLC of Los Angeles, California by an amount of $1,000,305 in a total not to exceed amount of $1,430,305 and extending the term until June 30, 2020 for the operations of the South City Shuttle.
*Report regarding a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a consulting services agreement with Alta Planning for the preparation of a citywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan in an amount not to exceed $270,000 and adopting budget amendment 18.032 appropriating an additional $40,000 from the General Plan Maintenance Reserve in the Developer Deposit Fund for Capital Improvement Project 1705.
*A Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into a consulting services agreement with Alta Planning for the preparation of a citywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan in an amount not to exceed $270,000 and adopting budget amendment 18.032 appropriating an additional $40,000 from the General Plan Maintenance Reserve in the Developer Deposit Fund for Capital Improvement Project 1705.
*Report regarding a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute first amendments to two consulting services agreements for administrative, plan review and inspections services: 1) renewing an agreement with CSG Consultants Inc. for two years in the amount not to exceed $1,400,000 for each year of the two year contract, and 2) renewing an agreement with West Coast Code Consultants for two years in an amount not to exceed $1,400,000 for each year of the two year contract period.
*A resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute first amendments to two consulting services agreements for administrative, plan review, and inspections services: 1) renewing an agreement with CSG Consultants Inc. for two years in the amount not to exceed $1,400,000 for each year of the two year contract, and 2) renewing an agreement with West Coast Code Consultants for two years in an amount not to exceed $1,400,000 for each year of the two-year contract period.
*Report regarding a resolution accepting a letter from Measure W Citizens’ Oversight Committee independently verifying FY 2016-17 audited financials.
*Resolution accepting a letter from the Measure W Citizens’ Oversight Committee independently verifying Fiscal Year 2016-17 audited financials
Staff report links are available on the link as well.
[…] Manager Mike Futrell has previously indicated meetings to be held at City Hall would be broadcasted live on the City Website for those who cannot make the meetings. CLICK […]
This is an approach the City finds useful in anticipation of angry people they expect from the meeting’s agenda item to needlessly transform their city into something the people disapprove. The City Council knows what to do to solve the anger, but are fine with the city manager’s handling of it by changing the venue. And by the way, why does the City need new council chambers per the new civic campus designs when many small cities routinely hold meetings in rec. centers, senior centers and have no dedicated fancy space to conduct the People’s business? Answer: more wasteful spending.