Community Health and Environmental Justice

Goal CHEJ-2:

All low-income residents in the city have access to healthy food options.

Intent:

To expand access to affordable and high-quality fruits and vegetables, especially in disadvantaged communities.

Policy CHEJ-2.1: Ensure healthy food access.

Ensure convenient access to affordable, fresh, and culturally relevant produce and healthy foods in all neighborhoods, including grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and community gardens, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

• Action CHEJ-2.1.1: Explore economic incentives for food access.

  Utilize economic development incentives to encourage existing stores to sell fresh, healthy foods in disadvantaged communities. Pursue funding and partnerships and develop incentive programs to encourage the equitable availability of healthy food options.

• Action CHEJ-2.1.2: Provide healthy food education.

  Work with other local non-profit organizations and public agencies, such as the San Mateo County Health, to create a Healthy Food Awareness campaign that educates the community about healthy and culturally relevant food options within the community.

• Action CHEJ-2.1.3: Work with developers to provide a grocery store.

  Work with developers to bring a full-service grocery store to Downtown or East of 101.

• Action CHEJ-2.1.4: Expand farmers’ markets.

  Partner with County agencies and non-profit organizations to expand farmers markets in South San Francisco, including in Downtown.

Policy CHEJ-2.2: Encourage urban agriculture.

Encourage edible landscapes, fruit trees, and community gardens in the City’s parks and public spaces through implementation of the Urban Forest Management Plan and Parks Master Plan.

Policy CHEJ-2.3: Allow food microenterprises.

Allow innovative food microenterprises, such as street vendors and home kitchen operations, in the municipal code to promote local food production and address food insecurity.

Policy CHEJ-2.4: Encourage acceptance of food affordability programs.

Encourage grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and other healthy food retailers to accept CalFresh Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards; Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits; and Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program benefits.

Policy CHEJ-2.5: Promote good nutrition.

Promote healthy eating habits and good nutrition among residents of South San Francisco.

• Action CHEJ-2.5.1: Adopt an ordinance that requires City-funded events offer healthy food choices to participants.

  Adopt an ordinance that requires City-funded events offer healthy food choices to participants.

• Action CHEJ-2.5.2: Partner with SSFUSD to implement school nutrition education programs.

  Partner with the South San Francisco Unified School District to create and implement educational programs for children on healthy eating, such as edible school yards and healthy cooking classes.

Policy CHEJ-2.6: Limit fast food and alcohol outlet concentration.

Limit new limited service restaurants, convenience markets, and off-sale liquor establishments—as defined by the City’s Municipal Code—in areas with a significant concentration of these outlets (e.g., multiple stores on the same block or intersection) and in child-sensitive areas, such as schools, parks, and childcare facilities.

Goal CHEJ-3:

South San Francisco neighborhoods near highways and industrial uses have improved air quality. 

Intent:

To improve air quality and promote health for all residents, and especially residents living in disadvantaged communities.

Policy CHEJ-3.1: Support regional efforts to improve air quality and protect human health.

Support regional efforts to improve air quality and protect human health.

• Action CHEJ-3.1.1: Monitor air quality in Lindenville, East of 101 and Downtown.

  Work with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to establish and identify funding for air quality monitoring and reduction strategies. This action may include purchasing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) monitors to track local air quality data in Lindenville, East of 101, and Downtown.

Policy CHEJ-3.2: Reduce mobile source pollution.

Reduce emissions from mobile sources of air pollution, such as diesel-based trucks and vehicles that travel to, from, or through South San Francisco.

• Action CHEJ-3.2.1: Maintain Truck route maps to minimize exposure.

  Maintain an up-to-date truck routes map that minimizes exposures to sensitive land uses. Prohibit the designation of new truck routes on local neighborhood streets in South San Francisco.

• Action CHEJ-3.2.2: Adopt an ordinance establishing vehicle idling restrictions.

  Establish a local ordinance that exceeds the state vehicle idling restrictions where appropriate, including restrictions for bus layovers, delivery vehicles, trucks at warehouses and distribution facilities and taxis, particularly when these activities take place near sensitive land uses (schools, healthcare facilities, affordable housing, and elder and childcare centers). Manage truck idling in new residential neighborhoods in Lindenville and East of 101.

• Action CHEJ-3.2.3: Transition the City’s vehicle fleet to lower-emission fuel technologies.

  Transition the City’s vehicle fleet to lower-emission fuel technologies, including electric, hybrid, and other alternative fuel vehicles.

Policy CHEJ-3.3: Support businesses in transitioning their operations to emit fewer air pollutants.

Support local business owners in transitioning their operations to emit fewer air pollutants through incentives and development standards.

• Action CHEJ-3.3.1: Explore incentives for pollution reduction.

  Explore opportunities for production, distribution, and warehousing uses in Lindenville and East of 101 to reduce pollution, such as greener trucks, energy efficient buildings, and other strategies.

• Action CHEJ-3.3.2: Reduce indoor air pollution.

  Explore opportunities to work with property owners to rehabilitate existing buildings and require that new buildings adjacent to production, distribution, and warehousing uses; highways; or rail to implement appropriate mitigation measures to reduce indoor air pollution such as air filtration/ventilation systems, landscaping, and other physical improvements as recommended by the California Air Resources Board and/or the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

Policy CHEJ-3.4: Encourage participation in the Green Business Program.

Encourage existing businesses and industries to participate in the San Mateo County Green Business Program.

Policy CHEJ-3.5: Discourage development of sensitive uses near sources of pollution.

Discourage the development of sensitive land uses (schools, healthcare facilities, and elder and childcare centers) within 500 feet of highways and stationary sources of pollution. For sensitive land uses that cannot be sited at least 500 feet away, potential design mitigation actions include:

• Locate air intake systems for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems as far away from existing air pollution sources as possible.
• Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and develop a maintenance plan to ensure the filtering system is properly maintained.
• For non-residential buildings, consider utilizing only fixed windows next to any existing sources of pollution.
• Plant landscape barriers between highways and residential areas to reduce noise and air pollution for residents.

Policy CHEJ-3.6: Incentivize air filtration in multifamily residential buildings.

Connect property owners of existing multifamily residential buildings, especially those in disadvantaged communities, to incentives to install heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems with high-efficiency particulate air filters for all units.

Policy CHEJ-3.7: Expand tree canopy.

Increase the tree canopy in residential neighborhoods, particularly in Downtown and El Camino, with native and low-maintenance street trees.

For related policies and implementation actions related to urban forestry, see Goal ES-4.

Goal CHEJ-4:

South San Francisco generates less solid waste, cleans up hazardous sites, and ensures safe storage and transportation of hazardous materials in Lindenville and East of 101.

Intent:

To decrease residents’ risk of exposure to hazardous materials.

Policy CHEJ-4.1: Support Brownfield remediation.

Support clean-up and reuse of contaminated sites in Lindenville and East of 101 to protect human health.

• Action CHEJ-4.1.1: Maintain map of hazardous waste sites.

  Maintain a map and database of contaminated, hazardous waste and substance sites (e.g., Cortese list).

• Action CHEJ-4.1.2: Precautions for Oyster Point Landfill.

  Implement any future City-prepared sea level rise adaptation plan for the Oyster Point Marina and landfill to prevent the release of toxins into the Bay.

Policy CHEJ-4.2: Require remediation before development.

Require that contaminated sites are adequately remediated before allowing new development.

Policy CHEJ-4.3: Reduce exposure from hazardous materials.

Reduce residents’ risk of exposure to hazardous materials and toxic wastes.

Policy CHEJ-4.4: Maintain map of hazardous materials transport route.

Maintain an up-to-date truck routes map that minimizes exposures to sensitive land uses from vehicles carrying hazardous materials and toxic waste.

Policy CHEJ-4.5: Establish land use restrictions on new toxic wastes.

Prohibit new non-residential uses that are known to release or emit toxic waste at levels that are harmful to human health while continuing to allow life science, research and development, medical, and other necessary services such as dry cleaners.

Policy CHEJ-4.6: Expand community engagement on remediation.

Engage community members in the remediation of toxic sites and the permitting and monitoring of potentially hazardous industrial uses.

Goal CHEJ-5:

Residents of all incomes, ages and abilities have opportunities to lead active lifestyles.

Intent:

To provide safe and convenient places for physical activity, especially in disadvantaged communities.

Policy CHEJ-5.1: Provide recreational programming to increase physical activity.

Continue to provide City recreational programs that focus on physical activity and that promote active lifestyles.

Policy CHEJ-5.2: Develop partnerships to promote physical activity.

Develop public, private, and non-profit partnerships to develop and maintain parks, recreational facilities, and publicly-accessible private open spaces in disadvantaged communities.

Policy CHEJ-5.3: Promote active transportation.

Design neighborhoods that support safe pedestrian, bicycle, and public transit use for residents of all ages by prioritizing safety, implementing complete streets, and providing easy access to play, fitness, and active transportation networks. Prioritize transportation system funding and improvements in disadvantaged communities.

Policy CHEJ-5.4: Access to clean drinking water.

Work with water suppliers to ensure all South San Francisco residents have access to clean, safe drinking water.

Goal CHEJ-6:

Low-income residents have access to safe housing and shelter throughout South San Francisco.

Intent:

To enhance the quality of existing affordable housing and to expand housing opportunities and services for residents experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

Policy CHEJ-6.1: Strengthen programs to maintain a safe and sanitary supply of affordable housing.

Strengthen programs to maintain a safe and sanitary supply of affordable housing.

• Action CHEJ-6.1.1: Continue working with San Mateo Fall Prevention Task Force.

  Continue working with San Mateo Fall Prevention Task Force in creating safer homes for older adults.

• Action CHEJ-6.1.2: Establish lead and asbestos removal program.

  In cooperation with San Mateo County and other regional agencies, establish a lead-based paint and asbestos removal program for affordable housing units built before 1980.

Policy CHEJ-6.2: Enforce housing maintenance and building codes safety.

Enforce applicable provisions of the housing and building codes. Where implementation of applicable provisions may result in housing displacement, identify opportunities to ensure residents remain housed. Expand maintenance and abatement assistance programs for single (including mobile homes) and multi-family properties of low-income households. Support programs designed to rehabilitate deteriorated units through weatherization, modernization, and elimination of common home pollutants.

Policy CHEJ-6.3: Track HUD inspections.

Track and address annual United States Housing and Urban Development (HUD) inspections of publicly subsidized housing units.

Policy CHEJ-6.4: Strengthen programs to provide housing and services for unhoused residents.

Strengthen programs to provide housing opportunities and services for unhoused residents, including safe restrooms, permanent supportive housing, and services..

• Action CHEJ-6.4.1: Provide safe restroom facilities.

  Provide mobile shower, bathroom, and needle exchange sites and facilities for unhoused residents.

• Action CHEJ-6.4.2: Implement permanent supportive housing.

  Implement the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing First program once permanent supportive housing is available within the city.

• Action CHEJ-6.4.3: Provide services for unhoused families.

  Work with homeless service providers to prioritize legal help, housing assistance, and other social services for unhoused families in South San Francisco.

Policy CHEJ-6.5: Partner with the local shelters.

Continue to partner with the local shelter to provide cots for emergency shelter situations, including extreme heat and cold days.

Goal CHEJ-7:

Low-income households are protected from displacement. 

Intent:

To ensure existing low-income residents are able to continue to comfortably live in South San Francisco.

Policy CHEJ-7.1: Support residents who are at-risk of being displaced.

Reduce the rate of evictions and support low-income residents who are at-risk of being displaced.

• Action CHEJ-7.1.1: Provide renter education and assistance.

  Continue to connect low-income residents to city, county, state, and non-profit resources that provide technical, legal, and financial assistance for renters facing eviction.

• Action CHEJ-7.1.2: Develop anti-displacement plan.

  Develop an anti-displacement plan to halt displacement in the city, particularly in Downtown, Sign Hill, El Camino, and Sunshine Gardens, which may include a rent stabilization policy, just cause-eviction and harassment protections, tenant and landlord mediation programs, right of first refusal, rental assistance, tenant legal counseling, and a rent board to implement the program.

• Action CHEJ-7.1.3: Create a rental and eviction registry.

  Create a rental and eviction registry to assess rental market and eviction trends.

• Action CHEJ-7.1.4: Provide housing for people with disabilities.

  Add disability to the existing live-work preference policy to prioritize providing housing to people with disabilities.

Policy CHEJ-7.2: Create pathways for homeownership.

Support low-income residents in securing homeownership and establishing generational wealth in South San Francisco as a pathway to prevent displacement.

• Action CHEJ-7.2.1: Connect residents to mortgage assistance resources.

  Provide mortgage assistance to help low-income homeowners at risk of foreclosure with financial or counseling support. Provide residents with resources and connections to HEART of San Mateo County, a countywide homeowner assistance program, and other non-profit homeowner assistance programs.

Policy CHEJ-7.3: Encourage resident controlled limited-equity housing.

Encourage resident controlled limited-equity ownership, such as limited-equity condominiums, limited-equity cooperatives, and community land trusts.

Policy CHEJ-7.4: Expand housing funds and programs.

Continue to expand housing funds and ensure residents have access to home repair programs.

Policy CHEJ-7.5: Enforce fair housing laws.

Strictly enforce fair housing laws to protect residents from housing discrimination.

• Action CHEJ-7.5.1: Provide resident housing rights education.

  Provide education, outreach, and referral services for residents regarding their rights as tenants and buyers.

• Action CHEJ-7.5.2: Provide landlord housing rights education.

  Provide education and outreach to landlords, property managers, real estate agents, and others on their obligations as they make or manage properties available for housing.