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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 2015.10.05 Burlingame City Council October 5, 2015 Approved Minutes 1 BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL Approved Minutes Regular Meeting of October 5, 2015 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 Mike McCord. 3. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Brownrigg, Keighran, Nagel, Ortiz, Root MEMBERS ABSENT: None 4. REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION CA Kane advised that Council met in Closed Sessions, direction was given, and there were no reportable actions at this time. 5. UPCOMING EVENTS Mayor Nagel reviewed the upcoming events taking place in the City. 6. PRESENTATIONS a. PRESENTATION REGARDING CALTRAIN SAFETY As a result of two recent car/train collisions, Mayor Nagel asked DPW Murtuza to discuss the accidents and what if any actions would be taken to prevent future collisions. DPW Murtuza first stated that the two recent car/train accidents were not related to the Broadway interchange construction. Using an overhead shot of the intersection, DPW Murtuza explained how the accidents occurred. He stated that because of the double lights at the intersection paired with the heavy flow of traffic, many people try to push ahead and end up in the area on each side of the train tracks marked “X”. He explained that in the last accident the driver was stuck at the signal with the back of her car in the area marked “X.” Burlingame City Council October 5, 2015 Approved Minutes 2 DPW Murtuza stated that he met with Caltrain to investigate what happened and what could be done to improve the intersection. In his meeting with Caltrain, he was assured that the traffic signals, gate and warning bells were properly working. However, the issue is that drivers attempt to get ahead in traffic by inching close to the railroad tracks at the light and don’t leave the areas marked “X” empty. Accordingly, in order to increase driver safety transit police will be monitoring these intersections. DPW Murtuza ended by stating he will be meeting with Caltrain again to review additional signage and safety measures for these intersections. Councilmember Brownrigg gave three suggestions to improve the intersection: (1) paint the width of the train on the street so that people understand where the train will be; (2) extend the gate so that it crosses the entire intersection; and (3) lights at the intersection should run with one another, so that it discourages holding. DPW Murtuza replied that he would look into these suggestions. b. REMEMBERANCE OF MAUREEN BROOKS CDD Meeker shared a few words and memories about former colleague Maureen Brooks who passed away. He remembered her spirit and the family bond that she had with her coworkers over her 19 year commitment to the City. She will be deeply missed. 7. PUBLIC COMMENTS Burlingame resident Jeff Londer spoke about the “Cool California Challenge” and encouraged citizens to sign up on www.cachallenge.org. 8. CONSENT CALENDAR Mayor Nagel asked the Councilmembers and the public if they wished to remove any items from the Consent Calendar, Councilmember Brownrigg removed 8a. Councilmember Brownrigg made a motion to adopt items 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, of the Consent Calendar; seconded by Vice Mayor Keighran. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote, 5-0. a. APPROVE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 CC Hassel-Shearer requested Council approve the City Council meeting minutes of September 8, 2015. Councilmember Brownrigg asked for the meeting minutes to be revised on page 4 paragraph 5 to state “CEO of Mills-Peninsula Medical Center stated that there were no plans at present to build a medical office on the adjoining property and stated that therefore the hospital didn’t have a restriction on height of buildings. Councilmember Brownrigg noted that if the hospital were to expand in the future the city would not let the helipad drive the building outcome.” Mayor Nagel made an edit on page 7 paragraph 3 correcting the spelling of the word “sever”. Councilmember Brownrigg made a motion to adopt the Council Meeting Minutes as amended; seconded by Vice Mayor Keighran. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote, 5-0. b. APPROVAL OF TEEN LIBRARIAN’S OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL Burlingame City Council October 5, 2015 Approved Minutes 3 Lib McCulley requested Council’s approval of teen librarian’s out-of-state travel. c. APPROVAL OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR’S ATTENDANCE AT AN OUT-OF-STATE CONFERENCE (THE PUBLIC WORKS SUMMIT) DPW Murtuza requested Council’s approval of his attendance at an out-of-state conference (The Public Works Summit). d. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE CITY COUNCIL’S ACTION WITH RESPECT TO TERRY MCALOON’S APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S AUGUST 10, 2015 APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR DESIGN REVIEW AND A HILLSIDE AREA CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR MODIFICATIONS TO AN EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE AT 2753 BURLINGVIEW DRIVE CDD Meeker requested Council adopt Resolution Number 90-2015. e. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE LAGUNA DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS BY BAY PACIFIC PIPELINES, INC., CITY PROJECTY NO. 82600 DPW Murtuza requested Council adopt Resolution Number 91-2015. 9. PUBLIC HEARINGS There were no public hearings. 10. STAFF REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS a. DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING POSSIBLE COUNCIL PAY INCREASE Mayor Nagel introduced this matter by stating that she requested this item as the City Council had not received a pay increase since 1999. She explained that she felt this was a good time to discuss a pay increase because under the law if the Council passed a pay increase it would not benefit a sitting Councilmember (only future Councilmembers) and no current Councilmember was running for office. Furthermore, Mayor Nagel stated that Council now attends an increasing amount of meetings, functions and conferences outside of the City Council meetings. Accordingly, she questioned whether these increased costs may prevent some individuals from running for Council. CA Kane reviewed the staff report stating that the methods for raising pay are set forth in the California Government Code which created a base level of pay of $300 a month. She explained that under the code, if the Council wished to increase their pay it could do so through an ordinance by 5% a year. Therefore, since the Council had not received a pay increase in 16 years, the pay level could be raised by 16 x 5%. The current level of pay for City Councilmembers in Burlingame is $590 a month not including medical benefits. Councilmember Root stated that when it was first discussed to put this on the agenda he had believed that their pay in relation to other city councils in the County would be vastly less. But that when they reviewed the pay of others, this was not the case. Burlingame City Council October 5, 2015 Approved Minutes 4 Mayor Nagel stated that her suggestion was for a 20 or 25% increase, which would be an additional $135 a month. Vice Mayor Keighran stated that she strongly opposed a pay increase. She stated that her opposition to a pay increase was because: (1) currently, the pay level for Burlingame City Councilmembers was on the higher end of other cities in the area; (2) Burlingame has several capital improvement projects that need funding and therefore it is not the appropriate time to consider pay increases for the Council; and (3) she believed that individuals should not be seeking council positions for the salary or medical benefits instead individuals should be seeking a seat on the Council because of their desire to represent the community. Councilmember Ortiz agreed with Vice Mayor Keighran, stating that the Council’s pay was well within the ranges of other councils in the County. He stated that the City Council needs to send a message that they are keeping their purse strings tight and instead funding what is important for the community. Councilmember Brownrigg stated that while he thanked Mayor Nagel for bringing forward this matter, he agreed with his colleagues that the pay is where it should be. Councilmember Root stated that he was involved with various boards over the years and that they had absorbed the costs of some of their board members to ensure that people of varying backgrounds were on the board. He stated that they should be careful that the City Council is not just made up of individuals that have the means to be on the Council but instead equally represent the population of Burlingame. Mayor Nagel stated that because of the Council’s resounding opinion the matter would not be moved to a motion. 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 requested an update on the Peninsula Avenue project. 13. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 14. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Nagel adjourned the meeting at 9:09 pm in memory of Maureen Brooks. Respectfully submitted, /s/ Meaghan Hassel-Shearer City Clerk