CITY OF SAN MATEO
City Council Special Meeting
February 3, 2024
9:00 AM
College of San Mateo
1700 West Hillsdale Blvd.
College Heights Conference Room
Building 10, Room 468
(Click Here for Facility Map)
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Lisa Diaz Nash, Mayor
Rob Newsom Jr., Deputy Mayor
Rich Hedges
Amourence Lee
Adam Loraine
AGENDA
THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD AS AN IN-PERSON WORKSHO P. PUBLIC ATTENDANCE IS AVAILABLE IN-PERSON ONL Y. PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED IN PERSON OR IN WRITING. FOR SUBMITTING PUBLIC COMMENT SEE FURTHER DETAILS BELOW
CALL TO ORDER
Roll Call
AB 2449 Requests and Considerations for Meeting Participation by Teleconference due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances
PUBLIC COMMENT
This is the opportunity for the public comment on the Council’s Stragetic Plan and Objectives for fiscal year 2024-25 before the Council proceeds with its working session. Public comment will be limited to a total of 30 minutes.
STUDY SESSION
The public will have an opportunity to comment during the consideration of these items.
1. City Council "Blue Sky" Goal Setting Workshop
Review the current City Council Priority List for fiscal year 2023-2024 and identify new City Council priorities for consideration for fiscal year 2024-2025.
CEQA:
This workshop is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is a government activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4).)
ADJOURNMENT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGENDAS:
Agendas and material are posted on the City’s website on the Friday preceding each Council Meeting and can be viewed on the City's website at
www.cityofsanmateo.org
. Any supplemental material distributed to the Council after the posting of the agenda will be made part of the official record.
PUBLIC COMMENTS/REQUEST TO SPEAK
Prior to the Meeting
Send comments to:
[email protected]
until 4 p.m. on Friday, February 2, 2024.
ACCESSIBILITY:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, those with disabilities requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting may contact the City Clerk’s Office at (650) 522-7040 or [email protected]
. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will
enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
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CITY OF SAN MATEO
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 1 Section Name: STUDY SESSION Account Number: 10-1311 File ID: 24-8376 TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: City Manager's Office
MEETING DATE: February 03, 2024
SUBJECT:
City Council "Blue Sky" Goal Setting Workshop
RECOMMENDATION:
Review the current City Council Priority List for fiscal year 2023-2024 and identify new City Council priorities for consideration for fiscal year 2024-2025.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council goal setting process includes a three-step deliberation process resulting in the adoption of a Priority List that represents the City Council’s priorities. The City Council Blue Sky workshop scheduled for February 3, 2024, is the first step in the goal setting process. At this meeting, City Council will review the current Priority List and identify new priorities for consideration for the upcoming fiscal year. The meeting will include 30-minute public comment period at the start of the meeting followed by a facilitated discussion among the Council to review the current Priority List, recommended items for addition and removal, and major initiatives staff is already working on.
To facilitate the review of the current fiscal year priority list, staff categorized items into the following: (1) Priorities to Retain; and (2) Priorities to Remove. A description of each category is listed below.
Priorities to Retain:
•Priorities included in this category are ones that staff have invested significant resources into to date and it is not practical or advisable to discontinue work on these items.
Priorities to Remove:
•Items in this category are either complete or will be complete by the end of the fiscal year and staff recommends removing them because the goal of this workshop is to create a priority list for the next fiscal year; •Items are now embedded in our operations and staff recommends removing them because work on them will continue to take place regardless of whether the City Council tracks them on its priority list; •Items are mandated and are required to happen whether or not they are on the Council’s priority list; or, •Items are listed or covered in another larger priority and tracking them separately as redundant.
In addition to dividing the items into the above categories, staff has assigned an estimated time frame for completion as well as an estimated resource intensity for each item. The resource intensity categories (low, medium, and high) include a preliminary assessment of both staff time and financial resources required to complete an item. More detailed analysis of the resources required including additional staffing and budget appropriations, will occur as part of the second step in the goal setting process.
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CITY OF SAN MATEO
Following the review of the items on the fiscal year 2023-2024 priority list, Council will review the list of potential new priorities submitted by each council member and staff and discuss which items to include in the priority list. To help further the conversation, staff color-coded the proposed priorities to identify ones that are new, existing, or modified versions of existing priorities. Staff also identified with an asterisk, priorities that were raised by more than one council member. As part of the consideration process for new priorities to include on the list, staff is providing a list of major department and Citywide initiatives identified for fiscal year 2024-2025. These lists highlight the significant work plan items that staff plans to address next fiscal year that Council may not otherwise be aware of, but that staff does not believe should be tracked on the Priority List.
Some of the major community-driven initiatives such as flood control, historic resources, cell sites, and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure & public safety are already captured in some of the current priorities or the proposed priorities by City Council and Staff.
The second step in the goal setting process, scheduled for March 18, 2024, will be a study session item where staff will share the proposed new fiscal year priority list with proposed work plans and resources required, and staff will seek Council feedback on the wording of the proposed priorities and work plans. In addition, the City Council will receive public comment on the draft list. The final step in the process, which will occur at the April 1, 2024, City Council meeting will be a consent calendar item where City Council will approve the priority list with the proposed priorities for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Staff plans to hold a progress report of the priority list in the fall of 2024.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no budget impact from this agenda item. The resources required for the final list of priorities identified by the City Council will be taken into consideration as part of the development of the fiscal year 2024 - 2025 budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This workshop is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is a government activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4).)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 - Priorities to Retain
Att 2 - Priorities to Remove
Att 3 - Major Department Initiatives
Att 4 - Proposed Priorities FY 24-25
Att 5 – Public Comment
STAFF CONTACT
Denise Garcia, Management Analyst II
[email protected]
(650) 522-7277
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Fiscal Year 2023-24 City Council Priorities
Items Staff Request Retaining
# Department Lead(s) Council Priority Status Update as of Jan 2024 Proposed Modifications 3 City Manager's
Office
Establish policies to decarbonize existing buildings
and infrastructure and eliminate methane gas use
by 2030
Staff presented a project update at the January 16, 2024 City Council Special Meeting. City Council members directed staff to continue research, analysis, and outreach on all five policy options presented for consideration. This feedback will be incorporated for the next phase of outreach which will begin in July 2024. The final Sustainable Building Strategy would return to City Council for adoption in 2025.
4 City Manager's
Office
Integrate master plans to increase efficiency and
community impact
Staff presented the progress report to City Council on November 6th and recommended we move this item to the 2-5 year completion category. Move item to 2-5 year completion category. 5 Public Works and
City Manager's
Office
Design and implement capital improvements for
permanent street closure
Design is being finalized to include bollards, furniture, and planters on both blocks with bollards between 1st and 2nd Ave being an optional bid item. Project Team anticipates construction documents package will be ready for advertisement in February 2024. Project is over budget due to significant increases in scope throughout design process. Construction of improvements to commence in the fall of 2024.
Move item to 2-5 year completion category.
8 Finance Initiate a Community Budget Process for
anticipated revenue from Measure CC
The City has yet to recieve Measure CC revenue. Once revenue is recieved, staff plans to initiate a community budget process. Move item to 2-5 year completion category. 9 Public Works Remove North Shoreview from FEMA Flood
Assessment
FEMA requested formal time extension on 12/27/23 for review of the Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), which is part of the process to change floodzones. Current deadline for update is 30 days by 1/26/2024.
Move item to 2-5 year completion category.
11 City Manager's
Office Consider the adoption of wage theft protections
San Mateo County created an internal Office of Labor Standards Compliance in December 2023 to provide wage theft protections & strengthen worker protections, especially for the most vulnerable and at-risk workers. The office will start on July 1, 2024. Staff will bring a study item to the City Council in early 2025, to avoid duplicating efforts with the County, State, and Federal governments in providing wage protection.
12 City Manager's
Office
Explore the establishment of Property-Based
Improvement Districts
Work has not commenced. Staff will start internal discussions on property-based improvement districts in the summer.
13 City Manager's
Office
Explore the implementation of a Customer
Response Management or 311 system Staff paused progression on this item to allow staff to prioritize Workday implementation 16 City Manager's
Office and Public
Works
Enhance city-wide disaster response and
emergency preparedness
The San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department's Office of Emergency Services (OES) developed a draft Wet Weather Emergency Action Plan that is under review by all departments. Public Works has enhanced its wet weather preparations with cleaning of catch basins, additional sand bag stations, and regular inter-departmental forecast monitoring/planning check-ins. OES is developing a new Emergency Operations Plan for the City. Emergency Management training has commenced for all City staff with the first trainings taking place in January 2024. Emergency food for City staff was purchased in January 2024.
17 Community
Development Update the General Plan
The General Plan and Final EIR were published in January 2024, with adoption hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council planned for January and March 2024. Once General Plan 2040 is adopted, a ballot initiative to amend Measure Y will need to be brought to the voters in November 2024.
Modify priority to include amending Measure Y and
initiating Zoning Code amendments to implement
General Plan 2040.
Items to be Completed within 2 to 5 Years
Items to be Completed within the Fiscal Year
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Fiscal Year 2023-24 City Council Priorities
Items Staff Request Retaining
# Department Lead(s) Council Priority Status Update as of Jan 2024 Proposed Modifications 18 Community
Development Implement Housing Element Policies
Staff published an updated Housing Element for public review on November 16 and submitted to HCD on November 22. The City recieved notification in January 2024 from HCD that the Housing Element is in Substantial Compliance. The Next step is for Housing Element adoption by the Planning Commission in March and by the City Council in April. Implementation of Housing Element two programs was completed in Nov/Dec - adoption of Objective Design Standards and increasing the administrative approval threshold for residential projects to 25 units.
Implementation of Housing Element policies and programs with a 2024 commitment is ongoing.
Maintain priority - significant work to implement
Housing Element will be necessary each year through
2031.
19 Library and Public
Works Address structural issues at the Marina Library
Library representatives met with architect, design lead, and engineering team for the Marina project on 12/19/23. The next step is for Project Team to summarize their findings, create visual renderings of their ideas, and put together alternatives for project scope, and begin the conceptual design process. Construction still anticipated to start fall 2024. 20 Public Works Reconstruct all failed streets in San Mateo by 2026 Phase 4 construction is suspended for the winter season and will resume road reconstruction in the Spring 2024. Additional field investigations were performed fall 2023 on Phase 5 streets to ensure road treatments are appropriate. City to receive 90% Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) in January. Phase 5 anticipated construction bid in March/April 2024. 21 Public Works
Replace all remaining high voltage circuits to
improve safety and reliability of the street light
system
Construction of Phase 3 is on-going. City’s contractor has completed all the work they can until PG&E completes preparation of various electrical service connections. PG&E is experiencing delays so our project is paused. Design on Phase 4 has been paused but will resume in January because PG&E indicated they will begin working on the Phase 4 electrical service applications. 22 Public Works Fund and deliver the Clean Water Program Collection system capacity improvements, annual sewer investigations, and upgrades are in progress and continue. Construction of the WWTP Upgrade & Expansion, Immediate Action, and Annual Major Components projects are in progress and will continue. Project completion estimated in Fall 2024.
23 Library Implement Library Space Master Plan No further progress on the business area, jobseekers area, or biotech area at this time.
Items to be completed in 5 or more years
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Fiscal Year 2023-24 City Council Priorities
Items Staff Request Retaining
# Department Lead(s) Council Priority Status Update as of Jan 2024 Proposed Modifications 24 Parks & Recreation Implement the Central Park Master Plan In process of finalizing construction documents for the playground. A number of bidders have been prequalified for the construction of the playground in preparation of seeking pricing. City Council will hold a Study Session regarding the Playground Project and funding on February 20, 2024. There was a Fallen Heroes Memorial groundbreaking ceremony on 12/19/2023 with a planned unveiling in Spring 2024.
25 Public Works
Expedite efforts to improve the stormwater
collection, drainage, and storage system, including
dredging the Marina lagoon
Balloting period completed 12/17/23, stormwater fee passed and results were presented to Council on 1/16/24 with subsequent Fee adoption. In parallel, Staff released RFPs for the Stormwater Master Plan Update and Marina Lagoon Maintenance Dredging. Staff will provide their next quarterly update at the February 20, 2024 Council Meeting 27 Public Works Implement a Green Fleet by 2030
Preliminary design for Fleet EV infrastructure at City Hall is underway, expected construction in Spring of 2025. Planning and coordination of Corp Yard Green Fleet infrastructure to kick off in 2024. Staff have recently experienced supplier issues and delays in purchasing electric vehicles. 28 Public Works Expedite efforts to produce potable water from the Clean Water Program Project in preliminary engineering design and environmental review phase.
Modify to "Expedite efforts to provide high quality
effluent from the wastewater treatment plant upgrades
to support the future production of potable water"
29 Public Works
Minimize impacts to residents from train horn noise
at City at-grade crossings
City's construction on 4th and 5th Ave Railroad Crossings is anticipated to be completed by the end of February 2024 while Caltrain's construction is anticipated to be completed in October 2024. Project for Villa Terrace crossing closure and Bellevue Ave medians continues with preliminary engineering design phase. Construction anticipated Summer 2024. Outreach to community is underway with flyer and door knocking anticipated in early 2024. 30 Public Works Plan for the downtown grade separations and long- term train corridor improvements
Grant opportunities continue to be reviewed for this effort. No new grant applications have been submitted at this time.
9 6 of 39
Fiscal Year 2023-24 City Council Priorities
Items Staff Request Retaining
# Department Lead(s) Council Priority Status Update as of Jan 2024 Proposed Modifications 31 Public Works Improve traffic flow on 19th Ave and Fashion Island Boulevard from Grant to Mariners Island Boulevard
Funding for the design of the Norfolk/Fashion Island Intersection Project is identified. Staff is working with San Mateo County Transportation Authority on the 19th Avenue/Fashion Island Blvd Smart Corridor project that includes implementation of bicycle facilities, and may be designed simultaneously with the Fashion Island/Norfolk intersection. Feasibility assessment of alternatives is underway, with design expected to begin in the next fiscal year. 32 Public Works
Complete all High and Medium-High priority
projects in the 2020 Bicycle Master Plan and the
Pedestrian Master Plan
Design has begun for Delaware Corridor Safe Routes Protected Bike Lane and 28th Avenue Gap Closure project. The team is developing an implementation program for remaining high and medium-high priority projects to systematically program design and construction of facilities. 10 7 of 39
Fiscal Year 2023-24 City Council Priorities
Items Staff Request Removing
# Department Lead(s) Council Priority Status Update as of Jan 2024 Reason for Removal 1 City Attorney's Office and
City Clerk's Office
Study campaign finance reform policies, including voluntary expenditure limit, disclosure requirement for independent expenditures, and improving access for voter education initiatives Completed Remove due to completion.
2 City Clerk Explore increasing representation of youth and seniors on City Boards and Commissions
The City Council appointed two Youth Commissioners to the Park and Recreation Commission on November 6, 2023. The Youth Commissioners received onboarding from the City Clerk's Office and joined their first Commission meeting on January 3, 2024.
Remove since the initial goal was
complete, although the work will
continue.
6 Community Development
and City Manager's Office Create a racial equity community art project Mural was completed in October 2023, unveiled 10/28/23, and city web page has been updated with that announcement and final photos. Remove due to completion. 7 Community Development Analyze density minimums for mixed-use projects and update the Density Bonus and Community Benefits policies
Work with consultant (EPS) is ongoing, with a study session to present findings and receive Council direction anticipated in Spring/Summer 2024.
Remove since work is covered under
Housing Element implementation.
10 City Manager's Office and
Community Development
Implement the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The CAP Technical Update is scheduled for adoption in early 2024 in conjunction with the General Plan Update.
Remove since we are obligated to do
this work regardless of its priority
status.
14 City Manager's Office and
City Attorney's Office Adopt a Retail Cannabis Ordinance Staff presented policy and permit options for consideration to City Council on October 2nd. City Council deferred this item to year 2025.
Remove since Council directed staff
to bring this item back in 2025 for an
update
15 City Manager's Office and
City Attorney's Office
Review and update the City Charter related to district elections, mayoral rotation, and filling Council vacancies
Council provided feedback on proposed Charter amendments. Next study session to be held on February 20, 2024.
Remove since item will be complete
by the end of the current fiscal year.
26 Public Works Meet the 100% trash reduction mandate
Design and environmental permitting is underway for the 41st Ave Trash Capture project. The design for the Small Trash Capture project is complete and will be put out for construction bid January 2024.
Remove since we are mandated to
do this work.
Items to be Completed within 2 to 5 Years
Items to be Completed within the Fiscal Year
Items to be completed in 5 or more years
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Major Department Initiatives
For Fiscal Year 2024-25
Citywide Initiatives that have High Resource Intensities:
•Initiate and finalize Stormwater Facilities Masterplan, develop Capital project programming and funding plan for Stormwater Fee.
•Citywide Enterprise Resource Planning Software System Implementation. •Citywide ballot measures and district elections education & outreach. •Organizational assessment of CIP program and process.
•Citywide Recruitment and Retention.
•Creation of a citywide communications and community engagement division.
City Manager’s Office:
•Organize and facilitate DEI Strategic Framework implementation workshops for staff within each department across the organization.
•Convening with diverse community leaders to build meaningful relationships with community members who typically do not engage with city staff.
•Develop a Citywide Grants Management Team.
•Streamline Special Events permit and process.
Community Development Department:
•Review and update the City’s Tenant Protection Ordinance, including community outreach. •Ongoing support to manage and process the public-private partnership mixed-use project with affordable housing on City owned property on Railroad and 4th Ave (Bespoke). •Ongoing code amendments to clean up Municipal Code and simplify/streamline development requirements, including updates to the Floodplain Ordinance and Residential HVAC noise requirements.
•Support the hiring and recruitment process to maintain full staffing; and continue training and collaboration to increase staff efficiency, consistency, and accuracy. •Process code amendments and update processes to align with new State law requirements, including updating the ADU Ordinance and establishing pre-approved ADU/JADU plans and implementing the online SolarApp (contactless permit approval process for eligible PV applications).
•Convert more express permits to automated contactless permits. •Continuing to provide high quality customer service and process planning and building permit applications within timeline targets.
•Establish a third-party hearing officer for various citywide appeals, and process associated code amendments.
Human Resources:
•Recruit for staffing vacancies at all levels of the organization. •Streamline recruitment process.
•Nurture and Retain staff.
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•Organize Employee Town halls.
Finance:
•Fill staff vacancies while continuing to provide a full range of services (24% vacancy rate). •Review internal controls and enhance Finance Department’s business processes. •Explore development of a Section 115 Trust Fund for Unfunded Pension Liability.
Library Department:
•Secure funding to finish painting the Main Library’s first and second floors. •Purchase & Implementation of an updated Mobile Library Service. •Develop a department-wide strategic plan.
•Enhance the library by relocating the Main Library café from the 3 rd floor to the 1st floor.
Parks & Recreation:
•East Hillsdale Park design finalization and construction document finalization. •King Pump Shed construction to close out the synthetic turf at King Park installation. •Assessing aquatics facilities for renovation and upgrades in addition to resiliency center upgrades for King Center.
•Childcare Licensing assessment and implementation (Lakeshore Facility). •Irrigation controller technology upgrade installation (2 year project). •Age Friendly Action Plan – Develop age friendly business certification program (pilot project). •Begin construction on Central Park playground.
•Filling Staff vacancies (20% vacancy rate).
Police Department:
•Organized Retail Theft Grant – partner with Daly City and San Bruno to implement strategies to discourage retail theft such as targeted security details; creating workspace/substations near retail; implementation of new technologies; and other tactics. •Communications Infrastructure Phase II/III – replacement/repair of external infrastructure and portable radios.
•Ensure compliance with RIPA (Racial and Identity Profiling Act) and conduct analysis of data. •Transition crisis response and domestic violence services in-house. •Enhance neighborhood safety by leveraging technology to increase efficiency and effectiveness (i.e. ALPR, sUAS, creating a real time crime center, etc.).
Public Works:
•Continue expediting recruitment process for vacant positions (21% vacancy rate). •Provide coaching opportunities for existing employees. •Collaborate with CDD on various General Plan implementations. •Complete Local Roadway Safety Plan and develop implementation programming. •Complete Citywide and N. Central Complete Streets Plans and develop implementation programming.
•Initiate process to acquire required permits for Citywide Creek Maintenance. •Examine department structure to respond to community needs.
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•Investigate consolidating Public Works offices from 1900 Ofarrell to City Hall or other City facilities.
•Update Small cell Wireless Ordinance and Design Standards (partially to meet revisions to State Law).
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1 New priority Resource Intensity A priority mentioned by more than one Council Member LEGEND: Modified existing priority Completion Timeframe Resources required to complete the item. High = lots of staff/funding required. Medium = moderate amount of staff/funding required. Low = lower level of staff/funding required.
City Council Proposed Priorities
for Fiscal Year 2024-2025
Mayor Diaz Nash Resource
Intensity
Completion
Timeframe
1.Create a comprehensive, ongoing Citywide Community Outreach and Engagement Program.
a.Rationale: Improve community understanding of City activities and how they can help; increase community satisfaction through better response to inquiries and community education; identify and resolve issues before they become problems; gain actionable ideas from people living the issue/seeing the opportunity.
High 1 year
2. Implement a robust, year-round Downtown Activation and Beautification Program as part of our core City services, including a standing City Beautification Committee.
a.Rationale: Increase resident/visitor time spent in Downtown; increase local business revenues, satisfaction and retention; reflect San Mateo's position as the Peninsula's largest city with a diverse offering of cultural and entertainment events; help justify the claim of "San Mateo: It's Where You Want To Be!"
High 2-5 years
3. Partner with CalTrain on a substantial effort to bring grade separations to Downtown San Mateo as quickly as possible.
a.Rationale: Preserve the long-term economic/community vitality and leadership position of San Mateo; prevent crossing closures of 30+ minutes every hour once increased electrified schedule is implemented that would devastate our City.
High 5 or
more
years
Deputy Mayor Newsom Resource
Intensity
Completion
Timeframe
1. Create a Capital Infrastructure Plan / a process for reinvesting in infrastructure.
Have the City have the ability to evaluate City facilities and assets and be able to amortize/ plan for their "end of life" (or when they will need to be upgraded.)
High 1 year
2. Emergency Preparedness/Readiness- we have an incredible team of first responders (Fire, Police & Public Works and entire City staff,) however we saw failures from not having a better Emergency Preparedness Plans when we experienced flooding on 12/31/22. I want to ensure that our Emergency Preparedness Plans are updated and that we ready in the event of a disaster.
Medium 2-5 year
3. Economic Vitality/Support of Business Development. Many mixed use buildings are being built but remain vacant, or worse are filled and then don't make it after a year. The pandemic exacerbated this. Ex: Station Park Green's entire business area now only has 1 business left. Similarly Bay Meadows developments still have vacancies and continue to turn-over. Our Historic Medium 1 year
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2 New priority Resource Intensity A priority mentioned by more than one Council Member LEGEND: Modified existing priority Completion Timeframe Resources required to complete the item. High = lots of staff/funding required. Medium = moderate amount of staff/funding required. Low = lower level of staff/funding required.
Downtown still needs help recovering, and many of our neighborhood small business corridors could also use assistance.
Council Member Loraine Resource
Intensity
Completion
Timeframe
1. Conduct an Annual Transportation Review of progress on all ongoing plans (Complete Streets, Bike & Ped, citywide TDM ordinance, etc.), including project updates and key metrics such as City mode share, collision and safety data.
a. During the first review, explore options to expedite the funding and creation of a Vision Zero Action Plan without displacing related work already scheduled.
High 1 year
2. Enable more quick-build bicycle/micromobility/pedestrian projects by identifying reliable City funding (e.g. General Fund, Measure A, Transportation Impact Fee, etc.) and installation via Public Works staff and/or a trusted on- call contractor. Use the funding and staff to complete high-priority quick-build projects identified in City transportation plans.
High 2-5 years
3. Explore piloting a City Grant Fund (likely complementary and similar to the Community Development Block Grant—maybe even an extension—but applicable citywide, beyond the CDBG target area)* to which local community- based organizations could apply, to fund projects that benefit low-income households and those most vulnerable in San Mateo
Medium 2 – 5
years
Council Member Hedges Resource
Intensity
Completion
Timeframe
1. Electrification:
a. I propose the San Mateo City Government educate constituents about the home electrification tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act as well as State of California incentives for electrification. b. Further, the City of San Mateo should conduct at least one meeting in each district to educate the public on the requirements of electrification including written take-aways with simple steps about requirements to convert to electrification and the methods for applying for financial assistance. We should also utilize various media platforms (such as the City’s website) and social media to reach as many households as possible.
High 1 year
2. Gardening Waste:
a. So as to prevent home and business flooding because of clogged street gutters, I propose a simple ordinance to require gardeners to collect leaves, grass and clippings and take them to a green landfill instead of blowing them into the street. For residents that do their gardening themselves, their green waste shall be placed in their green waste barrel provided by Recology for composting. No one shall blow, rake or cause gardening waste to be deposited into the streets of the City of San Mateo.
Medium 1 year
3. Labor Law Enforcement/Worker Protections: Medium 1 year
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3 New priority Resource Intensity A priority mentioned by more than one Council Member LEGEND: Modified existing priority Completion Timeframe Resources required to complete the item. High = lots of staff/funding required. Medium = moderate amount of staff/funding required. Low = lower level of staff/funding required. a. Determine the date of expiration for our contract with the City of San Jose for their enforcement of our minimum wage ordinance; I’d like to see that work insourced back into the County as soon as our newly established OLSE is prepared to take it on. The City Manager should be coordinating with the County Executive’s office on this. b. Cooperate with the San Mateo County Office of Labor Standards Enforcement. We left in place the developing of a City of San Mateo Office of Labor Standards Enforcement on our Blue-Sky objectives last year by a vote of 5-0; we also committed to creation of a wage theft ordinance.
c. On November 12, 2023, the County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to develop a countywide Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, thereby negating the need for us to develop our own. However, since we have our own minimum wage ordinance, City staff should be well versed in its tenets.
d. Ways to cooperate with the County:
i. A prominent page on the city website explaining employee wages/hours/working conditions rights with a link to the County’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement and to all relevant complaint forms. Further, the computer in City Hall should have the aforementioned forms in both printable and fillable versions as well as contact information for the County Office of Labor Standards
ii. City Hall front desk employees should also be prepared to help residents who feel their labor rights have been violated to fill out any necessary paperwork related to filing a claim, as well as provide a “warm hand off” for said residents to the County Office of Labor Standards Enforcement. This will require said City employees to be trained accordingly.
iii. While AI and AV advance, it is critical the City of San Mateo does not allow said advancements to replace City employees. I propose Council pass a Resolution affirming our commitment to ensuring responsible integration of new technologies in a way that mitigates employee displacement, and that Council directs the City Manager and HR Manager to work together to develop strategies to attain this goal. Such strategies should be created in partnership with both our labor partners and our County Workforce Investment Board (NOVAworks).
Council Member Lee Resource
Intensity
Completion
Timeframe
1. Expand youth workforce development & civic leadership opportunities. a. Create year-round paid internship and fellowship positions within the City across multiple departments. Expand leadership development opportunities that fill staffing gaps and expand community services. b. Partner with the College of San Mateo and local high schools to tailor a mini-City Services Academy for young people.
Medium 2-5
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4 New priority Resource Intensity A priority mentioned by more than one Council Member LEGEND: Modified existing priority Completion Timeframe Resources required to complete the item. High = lots of staff/funding required. Medium = moderate amount of staff/funding required. Low = lower level of staff/funding required.
2. Increase organizational capacity to support the Toyonaka Sister City Program within the Parks & Recreation Department and City Clerk Department. a. Delineate roles and responsibilities within the City department and partnering organizations.
b. Dedicate budget for 70th anniversary.
Medium 1 year
3. Improve and strengthen democratic systems and decrease polarization. a. Study Rank Choice Voting for City Council elections. b. Continue exploring options to improve civic engagement, and voter turnout, and expand campaign finance reforms.
Medium 2-5 years
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City Council
City of San Mateo
330 W. 20th Ave
San Mateo, CA 94403
Re: Prioritize Vision Zero
Dear Council Members:
By now, you may have seen emails from parents and residents throughout our city asking this Council to prioritize Vision Zero and safer streets, especially around schools.
We are writing to specifically urge this Council to make these priorities and the acceleration of roadway safety projects, a priority in the next budget cycle through the Blue Sky process.
Over the last year we have seen increased aggressive driving and speeding on the streets around our cities. There have been several recent collisions that have endangered our children’s lives on their commute to school. On four separate occasions this past fall, students were hit by vehicles, or had near misses while traveling on foot or bike — at North Shoreview, Lead Elementary, San Mateo High, and Foster City Elementary
Vision Zero seeks the zero deaths and serious injuries from our roadways. Achieving Vision Zero requires a fundamental paradigm shift in how our culture views traffic collisions — we must affirm the fact that every roadway death and life-altering injury is preventable . Vision Zero applies to all roadway users, traffic collision injuries, and traffic-related deaths. When streets are safe for people walking and biking, they are safe for all road users, including drivers and transit riders as well.
All residents, including students, deserve peace of mind knowing they can travel safely around town. To this end, we make the following requests:
1. Vision Zero Policy - adopt ASAP
We know that his Council is on track to adopt a Vision Zero policy through the update to the Circulation Element in the General Plan. If for whatever reason the General Plan
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update is delayed, we strongly urge you to adopt the Vision Zero policy separately anyway. We have been waiting 9 years, since the City’s 2015 Sustainable Streets Plan called for such a policy. We are glad we are finally here, please don’t delay any further.
2. FUND Vision Zero
More importantly, we urge you to prioritize funding and staffing resources to create and implement a Vision Zero action plan. Staff must have whatever resources they need to implement as many roadway safety projects as possible. We need more staff to accelerate the rate of construction of these needed roadway safety projects and make up for years of underfunding these important initiatives.
3. Quick-builds
Through the Vision Zero action plan, we specifically want to see as many quick-build projects happen in our city as possible - at a minimum, we want to see one per District.
There are many benefits of quick-builds, one being that they are an important tool in quickly responding to collisions and near misses - as successfully happened on Franklin Parkway in the Bay Meadows neighborhood (which was featured on CNN).
Other benefits include: they are reversible and illustrate for the community what could be made permanent. Quick-builds can also be adjusted after community feedback to improve the projects.
4. No Right Turn on Red in the Downtown Core
One of the quickest safety projects that can happen in our Downtown Core is banning right turns on red. An analysis of intersections with No Turn On Red in Washington, DC showed a 92% decrease in motorists failing to yield to people walking at red lights and a 97% decrease in conflicts between cars. Almost all of the injury collisions in the Downtown Business District between 2017-2022 occurred at intersections and implementing No Turn on Red can dramatically decrease the number of collisions in our main business district.
We ask that you prioritize Vision Zero, while there is time to prevent any further injuries — or worse. We cannot wait. Safe streets save lives.
Sincerely,
co-lead
co-lead
SVBC Community Organizer
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From: Patrice Olds
To: Denise Garcia
Subject: FW: Blue Skies Priority: Youth Workforce Development & Civic Education Opportunities Date: Tuesday, December 26, 2023 1:56:51 PM
Patrice M. Olds, MMC
City Clerk
City of San Mateo
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo, CA
94403-1388
[email protected]
www.cityofsanmateo.org
(650) 522-7042
From:
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2023 4:55 PM
To: City Council (San Mateo) <[email protected]> Cc:
Subject: Blue Skies Priority: Youth Workforce Development & Civic Education Opportunities
Greetings to the City Council,
We are interns with City Councilwoman and Former Mayor Amourence Lee and have been working on a concept program to support youth in our City.
Goal:
Our goal is to increase Youth Workforce Development & Civic Education Opportunities for students and recent graduates who’ve often been disenfranchised by creating paid internship and fellowship opportunities to work at the City of San Mateo. We hope to give an opportunity that allows students to earn job/life experience and positively impact our community in a way that’s flexible with school life. Through these paid internships/fellowships these future youth workers can cultivate a stronger connection with our city government.
We see this idea as a way to build staff capacity for the City to increase service and facility access. For example, if there were young people helping to staff our community centers, we could expand the hours of operation on the weekends. The King Community Center could be open to families on weekends and transform and revive City spaces into affordable and safe ‘third spaces’ accessible to all.
Problem/Opportunity:
Not many flexible jobs for students and recent graduates, who have limited schedules and job opportunities. Internships are more streamlined and accessible, student-friendly schedules than a lot of jobs.
Many jobs are in retail and don’t provide much impact on the community, leading to inexperienced teenagers entering the workforce, who are also
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From: Clerk
To: City Council (San Mateo)
Cc: Christina Horrisberger; Denise Garcia
Subject: FW: Request from SMYCA and SMCAT, RE: February 3 Blue Skies Session Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2024 12:06:09 PM
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Dear City Council,
Please see the below public comment submitted for the Blue Skies meeting.
Best wishes,
Martin
Martin McTaggart
Deputy City Clerk | City Clerk’s Department
330 W. 20th Ave., San Mateo, CA 94403
650-522-7044 |
[email protected]
From: Robert Whitehair <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2024 11:54 AM
To: Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc:
Subject:
Request from SMYCA and SMCAT, RE: February 3 Blue Skies Session
Dear Mayor Lisa Diaz Nash and Members of the San Mateo City Council,
We write to you on behalf of the San Mateo Climate Action Team and San Mateo Youth Climate Action. Our two organizations represent more than 200 San Mateo residents, students, and business owners, united in our concern about the climate crisis.
Those of us who are too young to vote are growing increasingly concerned about the state of a world we’re soon to be responsible for, and the need to implement bold solutions to global climate change. For us, taking climate action is not about doing the “right thing” but about creating a safe future where we won’t have to worry about extreme natural disasters, air pollution, or not having access to clean water. We voice our concerns to you - our City’s top leaders - time and again because, without the ability to vote, it is our only form of advocating for a livable world.
Those of us in older generations support these pleas for strong climate leadership.
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We are already experiencing severe climate impacts in our own lifetimes, but younger generations will bear the brunt of this frightening burden, much longer than us. We stand with the youth of our community in advocating for a livable world - for our children, for our grandchildren, for our youngest generations, and for our future generations.
Unfortunately, there is no time to push off our requests to some future date. With the most recent IPCC report, we know the writing is on the wall: the time to prevent such worsening climate change impacts is now.
The good news is that cities can have a major impact in fighting climate change by eliminating fossil fuels from our City’s investment portfolio, building stock, transportation and other equipment. As you set your agenda for 2024, we urge you to be part of the climate change solution by adopting the following objectives for FY 2024-2025:
1. Adopt a Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Policy that Ends Direct Financing and Investment in Fossil Fuels, and Further Study Options for an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Policy.
2. Continue Strong Implementation of the “Decarbonization Objective” Adopted by Council in 2022: “Establish policies to decarbonize and electrify existing buildings and eliminate natural gas use by 2030.”
3. Complete all High and Medium-High Priority Projects in the 2020 Bicycle Master Plan and the Pedestrian Master Plan.
4. Assist Landscaping Professionals with an Equitable Transition Away from Gas Equipment.
Please see the discussion of these requests beneath our signature line.
We are running out of time to solve the climate crisis. There is not a single year to spare. San Mateo has been a climate action leader, and as grandparents, mothers, fathers, and youth, we urge you to continue your climate leadership as you set your objectives for FY 2024-25. In addition to benefiting our own community, your climate leadership will set an important example for other cities to follow.
Finally, on behalf of our organizations, we thank you for the opportunity at the upcoming February 3, 2024 San Mateo City Council goal setting meeting to deliver for your consideration a joint presentation.
In Partnership,
on behalf of the San Mateo Climate Action
Team
on behalf of San Mateo Youth Climate Action
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# # #
DISCUSSION
1. Socially Responsible Investment & ESG
In alignment with past Council objectives, study sessions and discussions, we urge the Council to adopt a Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Policy that ends direct financing and investment in fossil fuels, and to further study options for implementing an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy.
Implementing an SRI policy will align San Mateo with the County’s Investment Policy as of 2023.*
Furthermore, below are two recommendations to be considered concurrently:
bank divestment and ESG policy, with the latter being a stronger action. If an ESG policy cannot be brought forth as a potential objective to the council, then an SRI regarding bank divestment should.
A. Bank divestment: There are a number of corporate bonds that the council holds that contribute directly to financing fossil fuel projects, most significantly being the city’s bonds in the Royal Bank of Canada, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America (Information on these investments are from an information packet provided to the council in March of 2023). These banks are major fossil fuel financers, with JP Morgan Chase & Co being the largest financier of fossil fuels in the world with 434 billion invested just since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2016 (Banking on Climate Chaos Fossil Fuel Finance Report 2023). The city should approach these banks with an SRI lens, creating an exclusionary list of banks depending on their extent of fossil fuel financing, adding and removing depending on their behavior.
B. ESG-policy: ESG is the most comprehensive approach to dealing with investing in a manner that will create as limited of an impact on the environment as possible. The Council learned about potential ESG approaches at a 2023 City Council Study Session as a result of the 2022-2023 FY Objective #34. In this Study Session, one of the main concerns raised by Council was the subjective nature of ESG. While this is a fair concern, we feel that ESG was completely abandoned due to its complexity and that more resources should be directed toward fairly evaluating ESG. The Council should continue its work on implementing 2022-23 Objective #34 and retain ESG consulting advisors in connection therewith.
* See excerpt regarding SRI objective, from the 2023 San Mateo County Investment Policy Statement, approved by the Board on January 17, 2023, located at the end of this Discussion section.
2. Continue Strong Implementation of the “Decarbonization Objective”
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Adopted by Council in 2022: “Establish policies to decarbonize and electrify existing buildings and eliminate natural gas use by 2030.”
Please continue your leadership to rapidly decarbonize our City’s building stock through an equitable approach. Specifically, we request that you provide sufficient funding, community education/outreach, and additional sustainability staff in the City Manager’s office and in other city departments, as well as legal review, to fully vet and implement the strongest policy directions adopted at the January 17, 2024 Study Session of the City Council. These can be summarized as:
A. Follow state and BAAQMD mandates for Zero NOx in 2027 and 2029.
B. Adopt new building reach codes.
C. Require electric replacements of fossil gas equipment, ahead of the 2027/2029 BAAQMD requirements.
D.
Establish Building Performance Standards for electricity usage in commercial buildings.
E.
Adopt an electric first policy for City facilities, including funding.
F. Smooth the building permit process for replacing fossil gas equipment with electric alternatives.
G.
Establish a fund to assist homeowners and businesses with electrification.
H. Prioritize electrification efforts in the areas of San Mateo historically affected by pollution.
To the extent that Options A and C are mutually inconsistent (i.e., only one of them can be adopted), we urge Council to adopt Option C.
3. Complete all High and Medium-High Priority Projects in the 2020 Bicycle Master Plan and the Pedestrian Master Plan
We urge the Council to expand its efforts to reduce harmful emissions from transportation. To that end, we request that the Council prioritize the completion, with full funding, of all high and medium-high priority projects in the 2020 Bicycle Master Plan and the Pedestrian Master Plan, as set forth in the 2023-2024 City Council Objectives.
We believe that the best way to implement these projects is to publicly adopt a Capital Improvement Plan showing funding, year the design will begin, and year construction will begin. We are aware that there is a shortfall in funds. But we are asking for a full project implementation calendar with funding requirements including short falls. This we believe is the best way to implement the Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan.
4. Assist Landscaping Professionals with an Equitable Transition away from Gas Equipment
According to the California Air Resources Board, more air pollution is created in California from landscaping equipment than from cars. We salute the work of the City
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of San Mateo in the past year related to the elimination of gas leaf blowers.
Supporting a rebate program is a fair, equitable and small first step toward reducing the burden on small businesses of eliminating gas leaf blowers. We appreciate how the City has demonstrated its commitment to the program by purchasing electric backpack leaf blowers for some City Staff.
We ask that the City ramp up the program by holding an additional study session in the spring that highlights how successful the current efforts have been. Given that sales of new gas-powered leaf blowers and other small off road engines are slated to end on July 1, 2024, we ask the City to adopt a specific objective relating to the end of use of gas-powered equipment.
We recognize, however, that there are many hurdles that must be overcome before small gas-powered equipment can be eliminated:
A. Dialogue with the impacted community of small business owner landscapers is essential to avoid placing the entire burden on the backs of a historically vulnerable population.
B.
Dialogue with homeowners who can support battery electrification of landscaping equipment by making fully charged batteries available at their homes.
C.
Learn whether/how landscapers may need some additional wiring at their homes, in order to safely charge replacement batteries overnight.
D.
Determine how the program will be monitored for compliance.
We ask for the City of San Mateo to actively participate in this dialogue process through outreach to landscaping businesses and affected homeowners.
We further ask that a road map be created to provide a date when gas-powered equipment will no longer be allowed to operate in San Mateo.
Finally, we ask that, as a demonstration of its commitment, the City of San Mateo include funds in the budget to fully electrify the landscaping tools of City employees.
* SRI Investment Objective of San Mateo County 2023 Investment Policy Statement -
“D. Socially Responsible Investment Objectives
In addition to and while complying with California Government Code provisions that regulate the investment of public funds (which require that, when managing and investing public funds, the objectives shall be, primarily, to safeguard principal of invested funds; secondarily, to meet the liquidity needs of the local government; and third, to achieve a return on invested funds), the County Treasurer recognizes the importance of socially responsible investing. The Treasurer will consider and promote investment in authorized issuers that display adherence to strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, including but not limited to, environmental sustainability, social and economic justice, and good corporate governance. The
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Treasurer will forego investments in fossil fuel issuers if able to do so while complying with all legal and fiduciary mandates, including with respect to safety of principal, liquidity, and return on invested funds. The Treasurer will seek to invest in a socially responsible manner by considering investments in corporate issuers that meet designated risk score thresholds, as provided by an independent organization or organizations that supply analytical research, ratings, and data to institutional investors regarding issuers’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.
Issuers will be reviewed and confirmed against these thresholds on a periodic basis, and any investments in issuers that fall below designated thresholds may be sold or held to maturity.” (San Mateo County Investment Policy 2023)
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