HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 2016.03.07Burlingame City Council March 7, 2016
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BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL
Approved Minutes
Regular Meeting of March 7, 2016
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 Police Chief Eric Wollman.
3. ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Beach, Brownrigg, Colson, Keighran, Ortiz
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
4.REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION
There was no closed session.
5. UPCOMING EVENTS
Mayor Keighran reviewed the upcoming events taking place in the City.
6. PRESENTATIONS
a. PROCLAMATION FOR MARCH AS AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH
Amy Lang from the San Mateo County chapter of American Red Cross accepted the proclamation declaring
March American Red Cross Month. She briefly discussed the work of the American Red Cross stating that
the organization is dedicated to providing shelter and relief to members of the community, services to Armed
Forces, and collecting and providing blood donations.
She went on to explain that in 2015, Red Cross responded to 51 local disaster incidents, aided 619 adults and
75 children affected by local disasters, trained 5,188 individuals in CPR and aquatic safety skills, and
collected 1,857 blood donations.
Mayor Keighran presented the proclamation to Amy Lang declaring March American Red Cross Month in
Burlingame and thanking the American Red Cross for their hardwork and dedication.
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7. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Burlingame residents Adela Meadows, Mark Meadows, Cynthia Cornell, and others expressed their
sympathy for Marie Hatch and discussed the need for just-cause eviction and renter protection.
Burlingame resident Rosalie McCloud stated that a conversation needed to be had about the City and
County’s housing issue, but stated that it was not the City’s fault that Marie Hatch passed away.
Burlingame resident Jeff Londer reminded citizens to sign up for the Cool California Challenge.
Burlingame resident Steve Duncan discussed his concerns about the PG&E vault covers on the sidewalk.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Keighran asked the Councilmembers and the public if they wished to remove any items from the
Consent Calendar. No items were removed.
Councilmember Brownrigg made a motion to adopt the Consent Calendar; seconded by Vice Mayor Ortiz.
The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote, 5-0.
a. APPROVAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 16, 2016
CC Hassel-Shearer requested Council approve the City Council Meetings of February 16, 2016.
b.ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A SELECTION PROCEDURE WHEN
MULTIPLE BALLOT MEASURE ARGUMENTS ARE FILED
CC Hassel-Shearer requested Council adopt Resolution Number 15-2016.
9.PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no public hearings.
10.STAFF REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
a. CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENT TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSION
City Manager Goldman asked that the Council make an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Parks and
Recreation Commission. She reminded the Council that they conducted interviews with Ian Milne and Eric
Story on March 2nd for the three year appointment, ending on October 7, 2019.
The Council unanimously voted to appoint Ian Milne to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
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b.CONSIDER APPOINTMENT TO THE MOSQUITO & VECTOR CONTROL DISTRICT
BOARD
City Manager Goldman asked that the Council make an appointment to fill one expired term on the Mosquito
& Vector Control District Board. She reminded the Council that they interviewed Joe Galligan on March 2nd
for the two year appointment, ending in February, 2018.
The Council unanimously voted to appoint Joe Galligan to the Mosquito & Vector Control District Board.
c.ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CALTRANS TO IMPLEMENT THE
SOUTHBOUND LEFT TURN RESTRICTIONS AT THE INTERSECTION OF EL CAMINO
REAL AND FLORIBUNDA AVENUE; AND INITIATING A COMMUNITY
STAKEHOLDERS’ PROCESS TO EXPLORE AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS TO
ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO THE EL CAMINO REAL CORRIDOR
DPW Murtuza requested Council adopt Resolution Number 16-2016.
DPW Murtuza reviewed the staff report explaining that for the past few years Caltrans worked on a Draft
Environmental Impact Report (“DEIR”) that proposed a remodeling of the El Camino Real and Floribunda
Avenue intersection that would require the removal of 14 trees. DPW Murtuza explained that as part of the
City’s formal comments in response to Caltrans’ DEIR, the City requested that Caltrans consider two less-
invasive alternate options as possible ways to mitigate the safety concerns at the intersection. Those
measures included split phasing the traffic signal and restricting southbound left-turns from El Camino Real
to Floribunda Avenue.
DPW Murtuza stated that after several meetings, Caltrans agreed to a pilot project that would restrict
southbound left turns for 36 months at the El Camino Real and Floribunda Avenue intersection. As a result,
staff is asking Council to approve the memorandum of understanding between Caltrans and the City to
implement the pilot project. Mr. Murtuza explained that the proposed memorandum of understanding
includes the following key elements: (1) Caltrans will install “No Left Turn” signage for southbound traffic;
(2) the City and Caltrans will collect and analyze data to determine the success of the project; (3) Caltrans
will not finalize the Draft EIR; (4) the City will establish and develop a stakeholders’ process involving
representatives from the City, Caltrans, Hillsborough, and others to address the various traffic, pedestrian,
infrastructure, safety and natural resources on the El Camino Real Corridor; and (5) the stakeholder process
would contemplate a collaborative exploration of the effectiveness of the project and make recommendations
in relation to the project and future improvements for the El Camino Real Corridor. Mr. Murtuza explained
that if Council approves the memorandum of understanding staff will hire a consultant to lead the
stakeholder process.
Councilmember Brownrigg thanked Mr. Murtuza for his efforts and thanked the Council’s steadfastness in
looking at less invasive ways to ensure the safety of the El Camino Real and Floribunda Avenue intersection.
Councilmember Brownrigg asked why the memorandum of understanding did not include the current
accident rate for the intersection. He explained that in his opinion the current accident rate should be
included to act as a benchmark for the success of the pilot project. DPW Murtuza explained that pursuant to
the memorandum of understanding, the accident rate they will be looking at is what is in the DEIR (April 1,
2009 through March 31, 2012). He explained that the reason for this is that Caltrans will determine the
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success of the pilot project based on whether or not there is a general improvement from what was recorded
in the DEIR.
Christopher Blunk, Caltrans representative, noted that Caltrans is continuing with the environmental process
for the Floribunda Avenue Left Turn project. However, in response to the comments they received from the
public and the City, Caltrans is exercising its right to further study the intersection. Therefore, when
Caltrans reviews the traffic data used to see if the pilot study worked Caltrans will use the data from the
DEIR.
Mayor Keighran opened the item up for public comment.
Burlingame resident Jennifer Pfaff thanked staff, the Council and Caltrans for their work in adopting this
pilot project.
Burlingame resident Gavin Duncan asked that as the evaluation criteria for the pilot project is adopted that
the stakeholders look at what the no left turn would do to navigation systems as well as traffic volume on
side streets.
Burlingame resident Jeff Londer suggested a robust data collection be done before the new project starts so
that true benchmarks are created. As well, he suggested that the number of stakeholders involved was too
large and that a member of the traffic, safety and parking commission should be invited to join this
committee.
Mayor Keighran closed public comment.
Mayor Keighran asked what staff’s request for $100,000 for the project would cover. DPW Murtuza stated
that they would need to hire a consultant to facilitate stakeholder meetings. He explained that the
stakeholder meetings will identify and explore the issues, alternative solutions and provide recommendations
to Caltrans and the Council.
Mayor Keighran asked when the makeup of the stakeholder’s committee would be determined. City
Manager Goldman stated that the number of stakeholders isn’t set in stone but that Caltrans requested certain
groups such as C/CAG and Hillsborough be represented. City Manager Goldman stated that they would
identify a list of stakeholders in the coming weeks. Mayor Keighran responded that she liked Jeff Londer’s
idea that the Traffic, Safety and Parking Commission would have a member in the stakeholder’s group.
Councilmember Brownrigg stated that for the record the issue on El Camino Real is not just this particular
intersection but rather the stakeholder group needed to look at how to improve the safety of El Camino Real
from stem to stern. He stated that this is why the pilot project, stakeholder group and meetings with Caltrans
turned into a longer process.
Vice Mayor Ortiz and Councilmember Beach thanked the staff and the Caltrans representative for their work
and efforts.
Councilmember Brownrigg made a motion to approve Resolution Number 16-2016; seconded by
Councilmember Beach. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote, 5-0.
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11.COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND ACTIVITIES REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council reported on various events and committee meetings they each attended on behalf of the City.
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Brownrigg discussed the notion that the City should determine how much bigger
Burlingame should/wants to get. Mayor Keighran stated that Councilmember Brownrigg brought up a good
point and that it would best be discussed during the updates to the General Plan meeting. As well, in order to
obtain better attendance at the general plan update meetings she asked if the announcement of upcoming
meetings could be moved to the top of the e-newsletter.
13. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Commission Minutes: Traffic, Safety and Parking Commission January 14, 2016 and Library Board of
Trustees February 23, 2016
14.ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Keighran adjourned the meeting at 8:35 pm in memory of Marie Hatch.
Respectfully submitted,
Meaghan Hassel-Shearer
City Clerk
/s/