SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CITY LIAISON SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING
Minutes of the Meeting on Tuesday, September 3, 2024
South San Francisco Unified School District
District Office – Board Room
398Street, South San Francisco, California
A. Call to Order - 2:30 p.m. by Board President Daina Lujan Members present: Board President Daina Lujan Vice Mayor Eddie Flores Board Member Chialin Hsieh Councilmember Mark Addiego
Superintendent Shawnterra Moore
Also in attendance: Asst. City Manager Rich Lee
B. Pledge of Allegiance
C. Public Comments
Antonio Orozco spoke about his long-term residency in Sunshine Gardens and his connection to the South City School District. He represents over 85 members of the Sunshine Gardens Park Coalition, which has seen growing interest, as demonstrated by a recent meeting with over 65 families. He highlighted that a park would enhance community quality of life by providing a gathering space for families and a place for children to play. Mr. Orozco emphasized that parks align with city goals for green spaces and can improve student engagement. He acknowledged that while change can be challenging, the benefits of a park outweigh concerns. He concluded by quoting the district's strategic plan, underscoring the importance of community and expressing hope for collaboration to develop a park that benefits everyone.
Davyly Perez addressed the board, sharing that she has lived in Sunshine Gardens for over 40 years and raised three daughters who attended local schools. Now a grandmother of seven, she expressed a strong desire to connect with new families but highlighted the lack of community space for these interactions. Ms.
Perez passionately advocated for a park in Sunshine Gardens, envisioning it as a vital hub for socializing and outdoor activities. She pointed out 7.5 acres of available land that could be transformed into this space and shared conceptual designs, emphasizing that they are just starting points. With a petition of over 350 signatures supporting the park, she asserted that Sunshine Gardens deserves the same amenities as other neighborhoods. She urged the board to collaborate with elected officials to realize this vision, noting that strong community bonds are essential for educational success.
Janet Shapiro addressed the board, highlighting her experience as a resident since 1992 and a retired educator. She discussed the negative impact of technology on students and stressed the need for opportunities to engage in outdoor activities. Ms. Shapiro shared that a neighborhood park would enhance community wellness and provide a space for families to gather, unlike school playgrounds that serve mainly younger children. She shared personal experiences of driving her children and grandchildren to distant parks and noted how her son, who attended special day classes, missed chances to connect with local peers due to the lack of a nearby park. She also emphasized that a local park would create vital social opportunities for families and expressed her excitement about its potential to positively impact the community.
Michael Yoshida addressed the board, representing himself and his wife, who has lived in Sunshine Gardens for nearly 60 years. He has been a resident for 25 years and discussed the community's ongoing efforts to secure a park, highlighting missed opportunities when land was sold for housing instead. He emphasized the need for a park that serves all residents. As a Scoutmaster, he noted his troop's involvement in other community projects but expressed difficulty engaging in Sunshine Gardens due to a lack of facilities. Mr. Yoshida highlighted how a park could foster connections and provide a safe gathering space, recalling positive experiences at El Camino High School. He urged the school district to collaborate with the community to create a park, stressing its potential to strengthen ties and benefit everyone.
Lupe Ibarra addressed the board as a lifelong resident of South San Francisco, having lived there since age four. After moving to Sunshine Gardens in 1980, she was disappointed by the lack of a local park, despite community interest. As a mother of three and grandmother of seven, Lupe often drove her children to parks in other neighborhoods. She emphasized the need for a park in Sunshine Gardens, noting its benefits for families of all ages. She highlighted that a park would provide a safer, more enjoyable space for activities and enhance community interaction. She urged the board to recognize the positive impact a park would have on the neighborhood.
MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION
1. Motion to approve the minutes of the May 2, 2024 meeting.
MOTION - (Vice Mayor Eddie Flores/Councilmember Mark Addiego) to approve the Minutes from the meeting of May 7, 2024.
2. Public Works grant applications and traffic Improvements (Eunejune Kim, SSF Director of Public Works)
Director Eunejune Kim provided updates on several important safety initiatives at local schools. He highlighted that last month, a demonstration project was completed at Parkway Middle School, focusing on slowing down traffic and improving pedestrian safety at key intersections. Director Kim encouraged everyone to share their feedback through a survey available via QR codes on site. He also reminded everyone that last year, a resolution was passed to lower speed limits around 13 public and private schools from 25 to 15 mph. This change is now legally actionable, and a construction contract will be presented to the Council next week for the necessary signage and markings. Additionally, Director Kim mentioned that the team is actively pursuing four different grants aimed at enhancing safety, biking, and pedestrian facilities around Alta Loma, Buri Buri, Parkway, and Ponderosa schools, with updates to follow if funding is secured. Lastly, Director Kim shared that they are currently in the design phase for permanent improvements at Hillside and Spruce Schools, backed by over $3 million in funding, with plans to move to bid and construction next year.
President Lujan thanked Director Kim for the amazing work and update
3. CPR and Bleeding Control Trainings at ECHS and SSFHS – SSF Fire Department A representative from the SSF Fire department presented highlights of this year's fire prevention program, focusing on a special initiative for high school students. From October 7 through the 11th, training will take place at South City and El Camino High Schools for sophomore and junior classes. The program will provide hands-on training in CPR and bleeding control, incorporating age-appropriate fire safety messages.
The SSF Fire department representative emphasized the significance of hands-only CPR and bleeding control, noting that there have been documented cases in recent years where students have successfully applied these skills in real-life situations. He expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership in these important safety efforts.
President Lujan thanked the Fire Department for their support for our students.
4. Walking Bus concept program – (Eddie Flores, Vice Mayor) Vice Mayor Flores talked about the Council's efforts to encourage biking and walking around town over the past couple of years. He praised Council Member Nagales for focusing on bike safety and mentioned his own initiative, "Every Kid Deserves a Bike," which aims to get more kids on bikes. He introduced a new idea called the "Walking Bus" program. This would be a planned event where students gather at a central spot and walk or bike to school together. There would be safety measures in place, like having city staff
help manage traffic to keep everyone safe. He suggested that this program could work well at middle schools or even smaller groups around schools like Spruce or Martin. Vice Mayor Flores, stated Councilmember Nagales is excited about the idea and is hoping to get it started this fall, though they might need more time to plan for spring. He also emphasized how important it is for kids to feel safe and connected when biking to school, especially those who have received bikes in recent years.
Assistant City Manager Lee suggested starting the walking bus program in spring 2025, ideally on Bike to Work Day, which is May 15. He thought this timing would give everyone enough time to get ready.
President Lujan agreed that picking specific days for biking would help remind drivers to watch out for more bikes on the road, making it safer for everyone. Trustee Hsieh liked the idea and thought it was a great addition to what we are already doing.
Vice Mayor Flores suggested starting a trial program with a few schools to see how it goes.
Superintendent Moore mentioned it would be useful to have a clear plan to share with school leaders. This way, she can show the schools that got bikes and see if any of them are interested in the idea. She would take that plan to the leaders once it is done.
Councilmember Addiego offered to work on this to present at the next meeting in December.
5. Sunshine Gardens Park status – (Mark Addiego, Councilmember) Councilmember Addiego began by reflecting on the shift in city government from representing the entire city to focusing on specific neighborhoods. He shared that working with local communities has been more rewarding than he expected, allowing him to connect with thoughtful and creative people. He emphasized the importance of schools as community hubs, drawing from his experiences in rural Sonoma County, where schools bring everyone together. He mentioned a successful National Night event at Sunshine Gardens, where the community gathered and expressed a strong desire to connect. He then shared about a recent community meeting at the library about the potential for a park in Sunshine Gardens, which drew over 85 attendees. He was proud of how engaged and professional the community members were, and he enjoyed seeing their excitement about the park's possibilities. He hopes to keep this positive momentum going by starting discussions with the board and staff about how to make this vision a reality. He acknowledged the challenges of busy schedules but stressed the importance of seizing this opportunity for the benefit of both the city and the school.
President Lujan thanked everyone for their comments and expressed appreciation for the passion and advocacy shown. She noted that during her nine years on the board, this topic has come up many times, and wants everyone to know their voices are being heard. She acknowledged the professionalism and respect in the current conversation, which she found encouraging. While she could not make any definitive decisions at that moment, she emphasized the importance of gathering more feedback from the community and teams involved. She reiterated that recognizing and validating everyone's input is crucial for moving forward.
Superintendent Moore added that they are currently in the initial assessment phase for Sunshine Gardens as part of the bond program, meaning they have not even started the design phase yet. This is when community conversations will take place to understand everyone's needs better. She echoed President Lujan's appreciation for the community's willingness to collaborate and acknowledged that their requests have not gone unnoticed. However, she emphasized that they are not ready to make any commitments yet since they have not done the necessary groundwork at the staff level. Additionally, she mentioned that while she cannot speak for the entire board, they are open to continuing discussions. She wants to ensure that any promises made reflect the views of the community at Sunshine Gardens. She reassured everyone that once they start gathering feedback, the community will be invited to participate in the conversation about what the park could look like and what it needs.
Vice Mayor Flores thanked Dr. Moore and expressed strong support for the idea of a park, calling it long overdue. He appreciated the progress made in planning, noting that they have come a long way from earlier proposals that were closer to the street. He also mentioned that he is currently involved in a different community project, so he understands the effort required to develop detailed plans. He stressed the importance of keeping this park proposal on the agenda and ensuring it is not forgotten during leadership changes. He plans to stay involved in the liaison committee and wants regular check-ins on the project. He
expressed gratitude to everyone working for the community, emphasizing that their efforts are vital for success. He also thanked Councilmember Addiego for championing this initiative, noting that it takes commitment to foster ongoing discussions and support for the project within the school district.
6. After School Recreation Program (ASRP) / Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) – (Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation)
Mr. Mediati, the Director of Parks and Recreation, provided an update on city-operated programs. He mentioned that they run childcare programs at six school sites, including licensed after-school programs at Buri Buri, Monte Verde, Ponderosa, and Spruce. Additionally, they operate three ASES-funded programs at Los Cerritos, Martin, and the library's Community Learning Center.
The ASES programs provide free after-school learning support to participants, complementing classroom education. Mr. Mediati highlighted that while school districts usually lead these grants, the city is taking the initiative this time, collaborating closely with the district. He reported that there are about 120 children enrolled in the Extended Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) across six sites, with ongoing waitlists as they work to enroll more families. He thanked Dr. Moore and her staff for their collaboration on space issues and mentioned discussions with the Business Services team regarding childcare. He concluded by expressing gratitude for the partnership and support from all involved staff.
7. Consideration of meeting time change to evening – (Eddie Flores, Vice Mayor) Vice Mayor Flores mentioned that during the last meeting, he suggested moving the Liaison meetings to the evening to accommodate those with full-time jobs and to encourage greater community engagement.
He wanted to confirm that everyone was on board with this idea and asked if anyone had specific time constraints for evening meetings. Mr. Flores suggested allowing the staff to work out the details.
President Lujan thanked everyone for discussing meeting times. She shared her full-time work commitments, including board meetings for the South San Francisco Unified School District on Thursdays and the Jefferson Union High School District on Tuesdays, with some Tuesdays requiring her to prepare for a 6 PM closed session. She also teaches at Skyline on Wednesdays during the spring semester. However, she mentioned that she would be stepping down from the board, which may help reduce scheduling conflicts.
Vice Mayor Flores suggested that, out of respect for President Lujan’s tenure, they could keep the current meeting schedule for December 3.
President Lujan acknowledged that while she has scheduling challenges, she does not want the meetings to revolve solely around her. She expressed confidence in Dr. Hsieh and others who can contribute as well.
Vice Mayor Flores responded by saying he’s open to starting the next year with a full calendar of meetings scheduled quarterly in the evening, ensuring they can accommodate everyone's availability.
8. Upcoming events, including State of the City – SSF (Rich Lee, Assistant City Manager) Assistant City Manager Rich Lee provided an update on upcoming events, highlighting the “Concert in the Park” event on September 21st featuring the El Camino jazz band, along with performances by Blessed Union of Souls and others. He also mentioned that the State of the City address is scheduled for October 1 at 6:30 PM. Other upcoming events include Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day on November 14 and the tentative Sign Hill tree lighting ceremony on December 1, with a council rework meeting set for December
10. Councilmember Addiego added an invitation to the Italian American Citizens Club’s second annual Festa Italiana at Orange Park on September 29 from 11 AM to 6 PM. He noted the event's success last year and mentioned there would be food trucks and music, including a tribute to Frank Sinatra, making it a great opportunity for the community to enjoy Italian culture.
Future meeting
The next meeting date is December 3, 2024.
Adjournment at 3:16 p.m.