City Council meeting, Monday, December 10, 2012

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local channel 26, also live internet feed, pct26.com.  The meeting begins at 7pm, or shortly therefollowing.  City council updates and archives are available on the City website. 

City Council meeting agenda, 12/10/12.  Items listed below may include embedded pdf documents, illustration and photographs of interest.   

A.    Closed session, 6:15 pm.  Government code 54957.6  "Agency labor negotiator, Ann Ritzma report.  "Employee organizations:  Pacifica Pollice Oficers Assn.; Pacifica Police Supervisors Assn.; Police Management Local 350; Pacifica Fire Fighters Local 2400; Teamsters Local 856 Battalion Chiefs."  

For whatever Holidays you celebrate

B.    Open session (7:00 pm) 

Consent Calendar (pass through)

1.     Approval of cash disbursements, 11/01/12-11/16/12, fiscal year 2012/2013.
2.     Approval of Minutes, city council meeting 11/13/12.

3.     Approval of Minutes, city council meeting 11/26/12.

4..    Ongoing proclamation confirming existence of local emergency, cliff erosion, revetment failure, supporting City storm drainage at 380 Esplanade Avenue. Emergency ratified 4/12/2010. 

5.     Review and compliance of new development fee accounting, (requirement of Mitigation Fee Act).  

6.     Approval to purchase a new Ford F550 utility truck, $72,036.80, previously budgeted from Fund 72 (vehicle replacement fund). Additional $10,000 from Fund 18 for necessary upgrading. .

7.     Approval to purchase a new Ford F450 4x4 winch and dump truck, $53,646.21, previously budgeted from Fund 72. 

8.     Approval to purchase a new Ford Fusion, $21,113.17, previously budgeted from Fund 72.

9.     Authorize the Senior Services Programs Supervisor to submit RFPs to San Mateo County Area Agency on Aging for Fiscal periods 2013-2015, for congregate Nutrition Program, $58,050; Transportation program, $11,976; Meals on Wheels Program, $87,600, and Supplemental Meals on Wheels program, $4,500. 

Item 15, Fireworks Task force

10.   Resolution to authorize One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) Funds application from the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) of San Mateo County, under the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). The grant is for Palmetto Avenue Streetscape Improvements.. Required city matching funds if approved, 11.47%.

11.    Resolution approving and authorizing public telecommunications utility underground easement, in accordance with the the "Palmetto Underground Utility District"  (11/24/08). No fiscal impact. 

12.    Resolution creating the Beautification Advisory Committee (BAC).  City council voted to create the committee 11/13/12.  Fiscal impact limited except for required staff support.. 

13.    Adoption of a reusable bag ordinance, second reading. The ordinance was introduced 11/26/12, and will not be implemented until April 22, 2013.  See City Agenda printout above.

14.    Resolution declaring results of the general municipal election, 11/6/12. The election was Certified 12/4/12. 

Consideration

15.    Direct staff  to create a Fireworks Task Force.

16.    Award of an Economic Development Plan contract from the Request for Proposals, 10/22/12.  Award to Wahlstrom & Associates, $34,900 not included in the 2012-13 General Fund budget.

17.    City Selection Committee and the San Mateo County Council of Cities meeting, 12/14/12. The Mayor or a councilmember holding the Mayor's proxy should attend. At the meeting appointments  consideration voted upon  are the Committee Chair, Vice Chair, and the San Mateo County Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). 

Adjourn 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Rockaway Beach Tree Lighting Ceremony, December 9

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Eeek!!

Fresh & Easy grocery stores may be closed

Stacy Finz
Updated 5:34 p.m., Wednesday, December 5, 2012

British supermarket chain Tesco is considering closing down its 200 American Fresh & Easy grocery stores - 19 in the Bay Area - after they failed to deliver acceptable shareholder returns, the company announced Wednesday.

"Whilst the business has many positives, its journey to scale and acceptable returns will take too long relative to other opportunities," Phillip Clarke, Tesco's chief executive, said in a written release. 

The firm said it will conduct a strategic review of the U.S. grocery chain before making a final decision, which could include selling off the stores instead of shutting them down. Company officials say they have been approached by a number of parties interested in acquiring either some or all of the business, or partnering with Tesco.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Fresh-amp-Easy-grocery-stores-may-be-closed-4094422.php#ixzz2EF23YuTc

Posted by Steve Sinai

Pacifica School District declares former Oddstad Elementary School surplus

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, 12/4/12.  "PSD board makes all of Oddstad surplus for sale or lease;  intends to keep ball fields there."  

Former Oddstad Elementary School

"After a lenghy discussion during its meeting Nov. 14, the Pacifica School District board of trustees declared all of Oddstad surplus for sale or lease. This has been a hot topic for community members and neighbors who have pressed the board to maintain playing fields on the property.  

Instead of declaring the classroom portion of the site surplus and trying to attract a lessee for only that portion, the PSD board decided to declare the whole school site surplus and to offer the property for sale or lease, but with the clear intention that some part of the property will remain ball fields. The board directed staff to offer the city a low-cost lease of the fields.

The vote to surplus the whole site was not unanimous.  PSD board member Joan Weideman cast the lone vote against it. .... "Why would the city take on additional expense? I am concerned about us being in the park and recreation business," Weideman said."   Read article.

Related - Starboard TCN, worldwide commercial Real Estate, "space available at former school site." Note:  photograph from this listing.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Foster City increases Recology franchise fees

The Daily Journal (San Mateo), Charlie Bronitsky, 11/2/12. "Op-Ed: Franchise fees, a tax law loophole?"

Foster City learns from cities like Pacifica

"While most Foster City's residents were likely watching our San Francisco Giants win game 7 of the National League Championship Series, a few of us were in a City Council meeting. At that meeting, the council voted 3-2 to increase the franchise fees for trash collection from five percent to 10 percent.

City needs money?  Raise franchise fees

What are franchise fees, you may ask? Well franchise fees are the fees that cities charge to vendors, such as Recology, for the "privilege" of providing some service to the city residents and businesses. In this case it was trash and recycle collection.

How about double, from 5% to 10%?

These fees are supposed to be used to offset the cost incurred by the city when the vendor provides services. In the case of trash collection, those costs would include the cost for someone at the city to interface with residents, businesses and Recology when there are collection problems. Other costs would include things such as wear and tear on our streets from the trucks driving on them.

Who pays these franchises? Well, Recology pays them to Foster City, but Recology is allowed to treat them as what is called a "pass-thru" and pass the cost off to the ratepayers. In other words, you and I pay these fees."   Read article.

Related - Pacifica city council meeting, 11/26/12, Item 7,  Public Hearing, Recology of the coast rate adjustment 1/1/2013. Public Hearing notice, page 3:  Recology fees:  Franchise fee is $805,000, Frontierland Park Remediation Fee $75,000, ABA 939 Fee $30,000. Review and audit, HFH Consultants, "Recology request for a 1.42% rate increase..." We determined that a total increase of 1.89% to Recology's total compensation is necessary to compensate Recology for its allowable expenses," (Summary page 1).  Total compensation requirement $7,407,719 (table 3, page 5), recommended final contractor's compensation $7,441,850. Details, pages 8-12.  The franchise fee is estimated at 11%, and the City provides few services, even past due collections are handled by Recology.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

SF Supervisor Land Use Committee Sharp Park resolution "Tabled"

Good News! On Monday, Dec.  3, the Land Use Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors "Tabled " indefinitely a draft Resolution sponsored by Supervisor Christina Olague, that would have aborted the nearly-four-year-old Environmental Review process for a Rec & Park Sharp Park Plan to recover frog and snake habitat, while saving the 80-year-old Alister MacKenzie-designed 18-hole golf course.  Supervisor Olague herself, with an assist from Supervisor Scott Wiener, moved to "Table" the Resolution; the motion was adopted by the Committee without objection.  A video of the Land Use Committee's Dec. 3 proceedings (Sharp Park occupies the opening 4 minutes) can be found at:  http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=12  The Olague Resolution was supported by anti-golf groups, including the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity, Wild Equity Institute, and by the Sierra Club's San Francisco Bay Chapter.  San Francisco Public Golf Alliance led the opposition.     Special thanks to:  the several dozen Alliance members who wrote e-mails and letters to the Supervisors, opposing the Olague Resolution; and to the additional handful who  personally attended and monitored the Land Use Committee meetings on Nov.  19 and Dec.  3.    Under Board of Supervisors' procedural rules, the "tabling" of draft legislation does not kill the bill; rather, it means the bill will go into a kind of legislative limbo; the legislation can be revived by any one Supervisor,  calling at a meeting of the Full Board for the Land Use Committee to conduct a public hearing on  the matter, on no less than 6 days' notice.  Semper Vigilans. Save Sharp Park. -- San Francisco Public Golf Alliance Donations are greatly appreciated. To donate, please visit our website: Donations Page

We are on Twitter (@SFPublicGolf), Facebook and our website Contact us at info@sfpublicgolf.com

You are currently subscribed to this mailing list with the email address info@sfpublicgolf.com.  If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here: Unsubscribe If you received this email as a forward, and would like to subscribe, please visit our website. Good news!  When will these guys quit?   Submitted by Jim Wagner                 Posted by Kathy Meeh

World greenhouse gas update

San Francisco Chronicle/Associated Press, 12/2/12. "World heat-trapping pollution rises 3%."

Carbon isn't warming the planet?

"The amount of heat-trapping pollution the world spewed rose again last year by 3 percent. Scientists say it's now unlikely that global warming can be limited to 2 degrees, which is an international goal.

The overwhelming majority of the increase was from China, the world's biggest carbon dioxide polluter. Of the planet's top 10 polluters, the United States and Germany were the only countries that reduced their carbon dioxide emissions.

Last year, all the world's nations combined pumped nearly 38.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the air from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, according to international calculations on global emissions published Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change. That's about a billion tons more than the previous year."   

Most emissions  2011 figures for the biggest polluters:  1. China: Up 10 percent to 10 billion tons. 2. United States: Down 2 percent to 5.9 billion tons. 3. India: Up 7 percent to 2.5 billion tons.4. Russia: Up 3 percent to 1.8 billion tons.5. Japan: Up 0.4 percent to 1.3 billion tons.  Read more.  

 

Related - Big Sky Carbon, National Geographic, 2007, "Global Warming 101", embedded video, 3:04 minutes.  Journal referenced from the article  -  Nature Climate change, "Focus: Water in a warming world."  

 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Mike Nevin, San Mateo County civic leader, died 12/1/12

Those who knew Mike Nevin might appreciate the following article.

The Daily Journal (San Mateo), Michelle Durand and Daily Journal Staff, 12/3/12. "Former supervisor Nevin dies."

Mike Nevin, 1943 - 12/1/12

"Former county supervisor Mike Nevin, a longtime local leader who most recently served as executive director of the county’s service league, died of cancer Dec. 1 at the age of 69.

Nevin spent 27 years with the San Francisco Police Department, rising to the rank of inspector, before jumping into politics as a Daly City planning commissioner from 1979 to 1982 followed by the Daly City Council in 1982. During his 1984 turn as Daly City mayor, he introduced an economic development program and saw the city recognized as outstanding by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Nevin followed the council with election to the county Board of Supervisors in 1992 and served as president in 1997 and 2001. While serving, he advocated for better transportation, took on the banking industry over its privacy policies, pushed for a ban of gun shows, championed medicinal marijuana trials, health care coverage  and looked for creative solutions to community problems. 

Nevin also served numerous boards and commissions during his political career including the Criminal Justice Council of San Mateo County, the Narcotics Task Force, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the San Mateo County Health Center Board of Directors."  Read article. 

Reference - Mike Nevin, Wikipedia.  Related article -  San Mateo County Times, 12/3/12, "Mike Nevin remembered as a big-hearted, 'iconoclast'."  Note: photograph above from The daily Journal, 12/1/12.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Planning Commission meeting, Monday, 12/3/12 Cancelled

Let planning activity happen outside Pacifica!

"City of Pacifica notice of meeting cancellation:  Notice is hereby given that the regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission of December 3, 2012 has been CANCELLED. 

George White, Planning Director, 11/20/12."


Posted by Kathy Meeh 

Soda taxes failed in two cities, but update says its not over

Soda tax crushed!

Frivolous tax measure

Okay, now its doubtful that San Mateo County will want to bring  a "soda tax" to our county, then to us.

CA voters in the 11/6/12  Richmond (Contra Costa County), and El Monte (Los Angeles County) elections rejected their "soda tax" ballot measures.  Rejected by how much?  Richmond, Measure N, 67%;  El Monte (Los Angeles county), Measure H, 77%.   


The Daily Meal (all things food and drink) blog, Marcy Franklin, Editor, 11/8/12. "Both soda tax initiatives failed in California."

"Looks like New York City will continue to forge the lonely war on soda by itself, as the two soda tax initiatives on the ballot in California failed to pass.

Cool, but I need to see a dentist

Mori Point "road kill" frog?

Report the Huffington Post and the Los Angeles Times, a whopping 76 percent of the population voted against the soda tax in El Monte, Calif. In Richmond, Calif., 67 percent of the votes were against the ban. The votes may not be a total shock, considering how much money the beverage industry spent fighting the bills. Huffington Post reports that the American Beverage Association (ABA) — an outspoken foe of the New York City soda ban and the proposed taxes — spent $2.5 million in Richmond, Calif., and $1.3 million in El Monte, Calif. (It was the most expensive campaign ever in El Monte, Calif.)

Many are disappointed that the soda taxes won't be put into effect considering the two cities' growing obesity rates; they are among the highest in all of California. Still, it looks as though the ABA will continue to dominate the war on soda — until they get to Bloomberg, of of course."

Related Fix Pacifica reprint - Palo Alto Daily news: Richmond soda tax measure, 10/26/12.

Updated article, San Francisco Chronicle/Carolyn Jones, 11/29/12. "More soda tax measures may be coming." "Richmond's soda tax may have faltered badly on election day, but the idea is now bubbling up in other Bay Area cities and counties. Officials in San Francisco, Berkeley, Alameda County, Vallejo, El Cerrito and other jurisdictions have discussed, or plan to discuss, placing soda taxes on ballots. .... In Half Moon Bay, resident Tim Pond, inspired by Richmond, has been lobbying city and San Mateo County officials to move ahead with a soda tax."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

California is gaining revenue, many obstacles, manage carefully

Regional newspaper opinion on the current state of the State.

The Daily Journal (San Mateo), 11/30/12, Santa Rosa Press-Democrat Op-Ed:  "A more golden financial state."

CA balanced budget is as rare as a CA gray wolf

"Don’t look too quickly, but California may be on the verge of seeing something in Sacramento almost as rare as a gray wolf — a budget surplus.  As noted in the latest state legislative analyst’s report, thanks to a rebounding economy, prior budget cuts and the passage of Proposition 30 in the Nov. 6 election, there’s a “strong possibility” that California could see multi-billion operating surpluses within a few years.

But there are still plenty of challenges ahead for Gov. Jerry Brown and legislators. Of immediate concern is that California faces a $1.9 billion deficit next year. That’s a good deal more manageable than the $13 billion gap that was projected a year ago or the $25 billion shortfall that was predicted two years ago. Nonetheless, it’s a problem that has to be addressed before June when a budget needs to be approved.

CA Legislature keep paws off the new CA state revenue

....  Democrats need to keep their paws off the new revenue if the state has any hope of getting back on an even keel. We encourage legislators to head the legislative analyst’s advice to use whatever surpluses that materialize to build up the “rainy day” reserve that was envisioned in Proposition 58, which voters approved in 2004. The state also needs to get serious about addressing the unfunded liability for teachers’ retirements. As we’ve noted before, teachers are not the source of the state’s pension problems, but their retirement system has been grossly underfunded by the state.California also needs to get serious about reforming its overall tax structure."   Read article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Potential green energy franchise fee (tax) for Pacifica, clean electric energy

Hail to the energy sun god !

Is this city green or not?  Or does the city just talk a "green game", while waiting  for 100 year climate change to sweep away the coast?   Green electrical energy could create a whole new a franchise fee/tax, but it may not be revenue positive. Residential solar electric bills should go down. So, here's an plan: charge higher franchise fees. No doubt other cities have worked out the billing.

Santa Cruz Sentinel/Jason Hoppin, 11/29/12. "Santa Cruz County may study power agency formation to pursue renewable energy."

"Santa Cruz County governments are exploring the possibility of setting up a local joint powers authority that would allow residents to buy more green energy, and could be a vehicle toward the county's future energy independence.

....  So-called community choice aggregation plans have been allowed under state law for a decade. Marin Clean Energy has been in operation since 2010, San Francisco's is about to go live and others are exploring the idea.  

Looks nice, works great

Not fancy but practical

Set up as joint powers authorities, the nonprofits give local power customers a choice -- they could ditch PG&E as their power supplier, though PG&E still handles billing and maintains ownership of the electricity grid.  But the San Francisco-based utility is no fan of community power, which threatens its customer base. In 2010, PG&E spent $46 million on an unsuccessful initiative that would have stifled community power agencies, though a spokeswoman said the company respects community choice aggregation and continues to cooperate with communities trying to implement them.

....  Community power nonprofits make local governments players in volatile wholesale energy markets...  But they can also keep ratepayer dollars local, and foster job growth if the agency pursues local wind or solar projects."   Read article.

Related - How it works.  Marin Clean Energy Services has been in operation since 2010, for example. Same website, also see the "rebates" and "news" sections.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Devil's slide should boost tourist business

Hope you're right Dan, but tourism (shared with other coastal cities) may not fix Pacifica's structural economy.  The "free" weekend shuttle service (grant from our Measure A transportation tax money) begins today.  

Pacifica Tribune, Letters to the Editor, 11/27/12. "Devil's Slide Coast Recreation Area" by  Dan B. Underhill

One View from Middle Ridge Trail

"Pacifica City Councilwoman Mary Ann Nihart spoke very briefly, at the end of the Pacifica-Daly City Democrat's breakfast meeting yesterday, about a collaboration between the U.S. National Park Service, California State Parks Service, San Mateo County Parks, The Coastal Conservancy, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, Midpeninsula Regional, Open Space District, and the Peninsula Open Space Trust. This collaboration is to be called the Devil's Slide Coast, and I believe, as all of these organizations obviously believe that this has all the makings of a very popular tourist destination.

There has been a great deal of talk over the years about bringing some kind of industry in to Pacifica. It has long been obvious to me that tourism is our best bet. We live in a truly gorgeous place. It is of serious geological interest what with all the tectonic action that is visible on the surface from part of Highway One that will become a walking/biking path. We have many wild birds and animals that live here or pass through here on their migrations. We have history, and clean air, and the very famous Pacific Ocean.  I want to encourage everyone to visit http://www.devilsslidecoast.org/ .

Council Woman Nihart also spoke of things the city of Pacifica is doing to make good use of the new Devil's Slide Coast. 

Recreation Area. The one that stood out for me is the Devils Slide Ride- free weekend shuttle. It is already funded with grant moneys (If I had paid better attention I could say from whom) and is scheduled to start when the tunnels open. Seattle, Washington has enjoyed great success with their free bus service throughout downtown. It provided a real and lasting boost to their downtown economy.  For those who have expressed concerns about Pacifica's economic future I would say that these are real hopeful signs and are in keeping with what our very unique little venue has to offer. Thank you, Mary Ann."1180111

Related -  Pedro Point headlands.

Posted by Kathy Meeh