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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 2017.10.02 Burlingame City Council October 2, 2017 Approved Minutes 1 BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL Approved Minutes Regular Meeting on October 2, 2017 1. CALL TO ORDER A duly noticed regular meeting of the Burlingame City Council was held on the above date in the City Hall Council Chambers. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG The pledge of allegiance was led by Mary Hunt. 3. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Beach, Brownrigg, Colson, Keighran, Ortiz MEMBERS ABSENT: None 4. CLOSED SESSION City Attorney Kane reported that direction was given but no reportable action was taken. 5. UPCOMING EVENTS Mayor Ortiz reviewed the upcoming events taking place in the City. 6. PRESENTATIONS a. BUSINESS LANDSCAPE AWARD This presentation was moved to October 16, 2017. b. PRESENTATION ON PENINSULA CLEAN ENERGY ECO100 Doug Silverstein from the Citizens Environmental Council (CEC) made a presentation on the CEC’s push to have residents and businesses opt up to Peninsula Clean Energy’s (PCE) ECO100. He began by thanking the City for choosing to opt up to ECO100. He explained that the City opting up is the equivalent of removing 218 cars from the road. Burlingame City Council October 2, 2017 Approved Minutes 2 Mr. Silverstein stated that the CEC is developing a 12-month pilot program of education and incentives to entice residents and businesses to opt up to ECO100. He stated that he hoped that residents would step up to this challenge and that Burlingame could serve as an example City for the rest of the County. Mr. Silverstein stated that to accomplish their goal, the CEC is forming a team of energetic and influential Burlingame champions including City officials, CEC members, and residents in the community. The team will be responsible for working with the City, PCE, and the County and educating the public on why it is important to opt up. Mr. Silverstein stated that the goal of the pilot program is to increase business and resident participation in ECO100 from 2% to 33%. He explained that the CEC believes the selling points of opting up include: 1) it is a cheap and easy way to help the environment as it only costs an additional $5 (approximately) a month; 2) Burlingame residents are educated and interested in environmental issues; 3) opting up has a fast impact as it immediately moves energy usage over to solar/wind power; and 4) the feel good effect of doing something positive for the environment. Vice Mayor Brownrigg asked how the CEC calculated the additional cost of $5 a month per person. Mr. Silverstein stated that it is the number of kilowatt hours per month used multiplied by a penny. He stated that $5 is an estimate. Mr. Silverstein showed the shift in electricity demand from PG&E to ECOplus to ECO100. He explained that currently under ECOplus, residents and businesses are using 58% renewables, but under ECO100 it will be 100% renewables. All residents and businesses were moved over to ECOplus last year unless they opted out. Councilmember Colson stated that currently ECO100 is 100% wind power. Vice Mayor Brownrigg asked why the CEC thought it important to move away from large hydro (which makes up a percentage of PG&E’s energy sources). Councilmember Colson stated that it is because environmentalists don’t consider large hydro to be renewable. She stated that large hydro is greenhouse gas- free. Mr. Silverstein discussed steps the CEC is taking to encourage individuals and businesses to opt up to ECO100. The CEC is conducting presentations to community groups including the Lions, Rotary and parent associations. Additionally, the CEC is working on educational tactics including social media, newsletters, and yard signs. Mayor Ortiz asked how often PCE updates the numbers to show the number of individuals and businesses that have opted up. Mr. Silverstein stated once a month. Mayor Ortiz stated that he did opt up to ECO100 and encouraged others in the community to do so at: https://www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/opt-up/. Burlingame City Council October 2, 2017 Approved Minutes 3 Councilmember Beach stated that she and Vice Mayor Brownrigg could brief the Chamber of Commerce on this challenge and get their perspective on how to get businesses on board with opting up. Councilmember Colson and Vice Mayor Brownrigg discussed CEC’s messaging on why you should opt up. Both encouraged CEC to focus more on the idea that opting up is good for the environment and good for future generations versus the cost. 7. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no public comments. 8. CONSENT CALENDAR Mayor Ortiz asked the Councilmembers and the public if they wished to remove any item from the Consent Calendar. Councilmember Colson pulled item 8f. Councilmember Beach made a motion to adopt 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, and 8g; seconded by Councilmember Keighran. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote, 5-0. a. ADOPTION OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 18, 2017 City Clerk Hassel-Shearer requested Council adopt the City Council Meeting Minutes of September 18, 2017. b. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SIDE LETTER AGREEMENT WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF POLICE ADMINISTRATORS HR Morrison requested Council adopt Resolution Number 114-2017. c. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE BURLINGAME POLICE SERGEANTS ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY OF BURLINGAME AND AUHTORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE MEMORANDUM ON BEHALF OF THE CITY HR Director Morrison requested Council adopt Resolution Number 115-2017. d. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO PIPE AND PLANT SOLUTIONS, INC., FOR THE LORTON AVE STORM DRAIN LINE CLEANING PROJECT, CITY PROJECT NO. 84930 DPW Murtuza requested Council adopt Resolution Number 116-2017. Burlingame City Council October 2, 2017 Approved Minutes 4 e. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO COMMUNITY PLAYGROUNDS, INC. FOR THE PALOMA PLAYGROUND RENOVATION PROJECT (CITY PROJECT #84940), AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT Parks and Recreation Director Glomstad requested Council adopt Resolution Number 117-2017. f. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A HABITAT CONSERVATION FUND MATCHING GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 FOR THE MILLS CANYON TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT Parks and Recreation Director Glomstad requested Council adopt Resolution Number 118-2017. Councilmember Colson stated that she read the full application that P&R staff worked on. She explained that it was very well done with an incredible amount of details and data. Vice Mayor Brownrigg explained with this grant the City would now be investing $100,000 in Mills Canyon, an important asset of the City. He stated he was very happy to see this happen. Councilmember Keighran asked if Friends of Mills Canyon would be notified about this grant and the upgrades that would be done. Parks and Recreation Director Glomstad replied in the affirmative. Mayor Ortiz opened the item up for public comment. No one spoke. Vice Mayor Brownrigg made a motion to adopt Resolution Number 118-2017; seconded by Councilmember Colson. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote, 5-0. g. ISSUE A CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO FILL A VACANCY ON THE STORM DRAIN MEASURE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE DPW Murtuza requested Council issue a call for applications to fill a vacancy on the Storm Drain Measure Oversight Committee. 9. PUBLIC HEARINGS a. INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE ADDING SECTION 18.07.140 TO THE BURLINGAME MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF STATEWIDE STANDARDS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS CDD Meeker presented the staff report introducing an ordinance to add Section 18.07.140 to the Burlingame Municipal Code regarding the implementation of statewide standards for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations. Burlingame City Council October 2, 2017 Approved Minutes 5 CDD Meeker stated that the California Government Code has been amended to require cities and counties to administratively approve applications for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations through the issuance of building or other nondiscretionary permits. The review of the application to install an electric vehicle charging station is limited to the Building Official’s review of whether it meets all health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law. The City may only deny such a permit if it makes written findings based on substantial evidence that the proposed station could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to mitigate satisfactorily or avoid the impact. If the administrative permit is denied, the City may require the project proponent to apply for a discretionary use permit. The law requires cities to adopt an ordinance to implement an expedited process for processing charging station permits. CDD Meeker explained that the proposed ordinance requires the creation of a series of checklists and plan examples that would make clear the requirements for processing a charging station permit. He stated that while the checklists were not included in the staff report, they were provided at the beginning of the meeting. He explained that to ensure consistency with state law, staff referred to the “Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist” developed by the State Office of Planning and Research and has incorporated the recommendations from the Guidebook into the proposed ordinance, thus ensuring the goal of a uniform permitting process throughout the state. Mayor Ortiz asked the City Clerk to read the title of the proposed ordinance. She did so. Councilmember Keighran made a motion to waive further reading of the proposed ordinance and introduce it; seconded by Councilmember Colson. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote, 5-0. Mayor Ortiz opened the public hearing for comment. No one spoke. Councilmember Colson talked about the Volkswagen settlement that requires them to install EV charging stations in municipalities. She stated that downtown Burlingame was one of Volkswagen’s target areas. Councilmember Keighran stated that in the near future the City would be installing EV charging stations off of Broadway. Vice Mayor Brownrigg asked why the State felt the need to draft legislation outlining procedures for municipalities to permit EV charging stations. He asked if municipalities had been making it difficult to install EV charging stations. CDD Meeker stated he could only guess that some jurisdictions had created a more stringent permitting process for EV charging stations. He added that Burlingame is not one of those jurisdictions. Councilmember Keighran made a motion to bring the proposed ordinance back for adoption at the October 16, 2017 meeting; seconded by Councilmember Beach. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote, 5-0. b. INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 3.40.010 OF THE BURLINGAME MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING PLANNING COMMISSION COMPENSATION Burlingame City Council October 2, 2017 Approved Minutes 6 City Attorney Kane presented the staff report introducing an ordinance to amend Chapter 3.40.010 of the Burlingame Municipal Code regarding Planning Commission compensation. City Attorney Kane provided background on this report. She explained that pursuant to the Municipal Code, Planning Commissioners are to receive a $200 a month stipend. However, she stated that due to economic hardship, this stipend was suspended in 2004 and was never resumed. Accordingly, at the September 5, 2017 City Council meeting, she brought this issue before the Council requesting direction on either reinstating the stipend or amending the Code. She explained that based on Council direction, the proposed ordinance was drafted that would bring the Planning Commission in line with the other boards and commissions in the City. She stated that the proposed ordinance provides reimbursement for necessary training but eliminates the $200 a month stipend. City Attorney Kane noted that staff and Council reached out to sitting Planning Commissioners prior to the September 5, 2017 City Council meeting to get their opinion on the matter. However, Council and staff received no feedback prior to the meeting. Since the September 5th meeting, staff received feedback from two Planning Commissioners, neither of whom asked for the stipend to be reinstated. Councilmember Colson stated that in reviewing the Code, it was clear that the language concerning training reimbursements was different for each commission and board. She stated that she would like to see the language in the Code cleaned up so that the language was identical for all commissions and boards. She explained that this didn’t need to be done right away but that this is something staff should work on. City Attorney Kane replied in the affirmative. Mayor Ortiz asked the City Clerk to read the title of the proposed ordinance. She did so. Councilmember Beach made a motion to waiver further reading of the proposed ordinance and introduce it; seconded by Councilmember Keighran. The motion was passed unanimously by voice vote, 5-0. Mayor Ortiz opened the item up for public comment. No one spoke. Councilmember Keighran made a motion to bring the proposed ordinance back for adoption at the October 16, 2017 meeting; seconded by Councilmember Colson. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote, 5-0. 10. STAFF REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a. UPDATE ON EUCALPYTUS TREES ON BURLINGAME AVENUE AND EASTON DRIVE AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FY 2017-18 PARKS AND TREES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET TO ADD $54,000 FROM GENERAL FUND RESERVES TO FUND THE REMOVAL OF NINE OF THE TREES City Arborist Disco presented the staff report updating Council on the Eucalyptus trees on Burlingame Avenue and Easton Drive. He reviewed the background on this matter, stating that at the June 19, 2017 Council meeting, he made recommendations to remove 12 trees on Burlingame Avenue. At that time, he Burlingame City Council October 2, 2017 Approved Minutes 7 also stated that independent Arborist Kevin Kielty recommended 15 additional Eucalyptus trees on Burlingame Avenue be assessed. City Arborist Disco explained that since the June meeting, the City contracted with Arborist Roy Leggitt from Tree Management Experts Consulting to evaluate the 15 additional Eucalyptus trees on Burlingame Avenue. After evaluating the 15 trees, Mr. Leggitt recommended 10 trees for removal. City Arborist Disco stated that he also requested that Arborist Kielty perform an evaluation of the Eucalyptus trees on Easton Drive. Mr. Kielty identified 6 trees for possible removal on Easton Drive. He explained that he is having Mr. Leggitt review these findings. City Arborist Disco reviewed the different evaluations the two arborists used to determine whether a tree needs to be removed. He stated that Mr. Kielty uses the 12-point hazard rating system. Under this evaluation, each tree is evaluated using three categories, with a possible total score of 12 points. If the tree has a rating of 12, it has a high probability of damage or failure. Mr. Leggitt assessed the trees using the International Society of Arboriculture Basic Tree Risk Assessment. Under this evaluation, each tree is evaluated separately for different targets and different failure scenarios. This analysis allows for the highest risk to be reported as the risk for that tree. City Arborist Disco explained that from the 10 trees that Mr. Leggitt recommended removing, it was determined that with pruning, 6 of those trees could be kept. City Arborist Disco showed an overhead shot of Burlingame Avenue pointing out the location of the 4 trees that would be removed. Additionally, he pointed out another tree on Burlingame Avenue that would be removed as the tree is leaning to the south, has poor structure, is cabled, and has excessive end weight on the limbs. Next, City Arborist Disco showed an overhead of the 4 trees on Easton Drive that staff is considering removing. City Arborist Disco reviewed the costs the City has incurred for the past two years concerning the maintenance of Eucalyptus trees. He stated that for Burlingame Avenue, the City has spent $10,000 for tree assessments, $70,000 in tree trimming and maintenance, and $80,000 in removals. On Easton Drive, the City has spent $2,000 for tree assessments, and $48,000 in tree trimming and maintenance. He explained that now staff is requesting an additional $54,000 for the removal of 9 trees. Councilmember Keighran asked what species of tree staff would be using to replace those removed. City Arborist Disco stated that it would be Eucalyptus Citriodora. Councilmember Colson stated that the Citriodora is a smaller, more compact tree and will be easier for the City to maintain. City Arborist Disco replied in the affirmative. Vice Mayor Brownrigg stated that in looking at the overhead photo of Burlingame Avenue showing the trees that had been removed and those that are being proposed for removal, the City is getting close to having removed 50% of the long standing Eucalyptus trees. City Arborist Disco replied in the affirmative. Burlingame City Council October 2, 2017 Approved Minutes 8 Vice Mayor Brownrigg stated that he would like to see laminated signs on the new Citriodora trees stating what it is and why it was chosen. He explained that he believed there would be an education process that residents would need to go through on this matter. Vice Mayor Brownrigg read from Jennifer Pfaff’s letter to the Council on this matter stating: “I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of the Beautification Commission, Margaret Glomstad, and in particular, Bob Disco. The assessment of trees in general is not a perfect science. And so, I applaud the care and thoughtful approach that Bob has demonstrated over the past several months. He has consulted not one, but two unrelated arborists in order to get as clear and unbiased data as currently feasible, balancing safety concerns with this city’s heritage and valued aesthetic continuity.” He stated that he believed Council agreed with this opinion. Councilmember Beach thanked City Arborist Disco for his hard work on the matter. She asked if the current trees that exist on Easton Drive and Burlingame Avenue are Red Gums. City Arborist Disco replied in the affirmative. Councilmember Beach stated that she learned from the report a lot about why in the long term, topping is detrimental to trees. Therefore, she asked if the Citriodora are small enough that they would not need to be topped. City Arborist Disco stated that he believes the Citriodora can be groomed and maintained so that this is not necessary. Councilmember Beach asked about the timing of the replanting. City Arborist Disco stated that he is hoping to plant the Citriodora trees by the beginning of next year. Councilmember Colson asked about the life expectancy of the Red Gums and Citriodora trees. City Arborist Disco stated that he is unsure. He noted that the current Red Gums have been in Burlingame for a long time, and many are still going strong. Councilmember Colson stated that by replacing nearly 50% of the Red Gums with Citriodora trees, the City would be getting some diversification in the ages of their trees. Accordingly, she stated that the need to remove and replace trees would slow down and even out. Mayor Ortiz asked why neighboring trees are put in jeopardy when a tree is removed. City Arborist Disco stated that they are exposed to a lot more elements than they had been in the past, and removal of the weight of the neighboring tree can cause them to be more vulnerable to tipping over. Mayor Ortiz opened the item up for public comment. No one spoke. Vice Mayor Brownrigg made a motion to adopt Resolution Number 119-2017; seconded by Councilmember Keighran. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote, 5-0. 11. COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND ACTIVITIES REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Council reported on various events and committee meetings they each attended on behalf of the City. Burlingame City Council October 2, 2017 Approved Minutes 9 12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS No future agenda items were proposed. 13. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The agendas, packets, and meeting minutes for the Planning Commission, Traffic, Safety and Parking Commission, Beautification Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Library Board of Trustees are available online at www.burlingame.org. 14. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Ortiz adjourned the meeting at 8:19 p.m. in honor of William Wollman. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Meaghan Hassel-Shearer City Clerk