City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 5/1/2023 Page 1
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Amourence Lee, Mayor
Lisa Diaz Nash, Deputy Mayor
Rich Hedges
Adam Loraine
Rob Newsom Jr.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Special Meeting Minutes
City Council
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
May 1, 2023
City Hall Council Chambers 5:30 PM
Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER at 5:30 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Lee, Deputy Mayor Diaz Nash, Council Members: Hedges, Loraine, and Newsom
STUDY SESSION
1. Solid Waste Rate Setting Introduction and Overview
Jack Johnson, Waste Management Supervisor, provided a presentation on the Solid Waste Program and annual rate setting process. Consultants Rick Simonson and Gabe Sasser, HF&H Consultants, also presented and answered questions.
Council asked questions of staff.
Public Comment – Thomas Morgan would like more communication regarding large item pickups.
Council discussion ensued with consensus expressed for an interest in the combination hybrid approach, and use reserve funds. It was noted there was no increase in fees during Covid. An interest was expressed in exploring a lower rate increase due to the high inflation rate right now.
2. US-101/Peninsula Avenue Interchange Improvements – Project Update Bethany Lopez, Senior Engineer, provided a presentation on the history of the interchange improvements, purpose for the proposal, issues with funding and outlined some options for moving forward. Options for consideration include 1) continue with current project; 2) add new alternatives to the project that would require less right-of-way acquisitions; 3) Restart the process and require less right-of-way acquisitions; and 4) Determine if congestion and safety concerns can be addressed in short- or long-term, without having to complete an interchange project.
Council asked questions of staff.
Public Comment – Kevin Simpson stated a desire to keep this project going; Geno Caccia, Caccia Plumbing, stated the need to review previous studies and do not press reset button now. Laurie Watanuki stated concern with traffic redirection and the impact on 3rd -4th -5th and Humboldt with the closure of Poplar. Cynthia Newton stated Burlingame needs to be involved and do not start over. Ashley Kline, resident of Burlingame, has children that walk to school and commented on the need to look at the negative impacts on her city. Lynn Lenardon stated this has been going on far too long, affecting property values – do not keep owners in limbo. Max Mautner is concerned with an arterial road to separate two of the biggest schools in our area and safety for children. David Hunt believes Poplar should just be closed as on-ramp and off-ramp. Henry Riggs called out collateral issues related to the project stating street parking is a major concern.
Mayor Lee commented on the area having the worse rankings for safe routes to school and noted the need to give business owners some guidance as to where they stand on eminent domain matter. Consensus of Council is to DocuSign Envelope ID: E6DA4A14-685B-4197-8B86-D5353501785C City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 5/1/2023 Page 2
pursue Option #2 because of the expedited timeline, it leverages the environmental studies and analysis studies that have already been done, and there is funding for the design.
ADJOURNMENT –The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
APPROVED BY: SUBMITTED BY:
Amourence Lee, Mayor Patrice Olds, City Clerk DocuSign Envelope ID: E6DA4A14-685B-4197-8B86-D5353501785C