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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1992.01.11CITY OF BI'RLINGAIIIE CITY COIJNCIL STI'DY MEETING Saturday, January LL, 1992, 9:00 a. city EalI conference Room A m D1ayor Frank Pagliaro convened the annual- work program and goal session of the Burlingane City Council and department heads on the above date j.n conference Roon A of Burlingame City HaI1 at 9:00 a.m PRESENT: COLTNCf LI{EITIBERS IARRISoN, KNIGIIT, LEMBI, o I l'IAHoNv, PAGLIARo STAFF PRESENT:ARGYRES, BECKER, BERGSING, COLEI{AN, HARVEY, KIRKUP, }IONROE, PALMER, QUADRI, TOWNS, WAGNER OTHERS PRESENT: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPRESENTATIVES City Manager briefly reviewed 1991 and Presented a forecast for 799r. He then reviewed a list of problems, issues, and projects which we anticipate the city needing to act on in the upcoming year. These include regional issues, local issues, budget/ adrninistration, and rnajor capital projects. As the council members worked through the outline, they began their discussion of various iterns. Councilman Lembi noted that last year the council created the Senior Citizen Coordinating Council. He thought after this yearrs activi- ty, it would be desirable to change this cornmittee to a full commis- si,on. councilnembers Harrison and otMahony agreed. It was suqgest- ed that the comrnission review its goats, rnission statement, and bylaws and bring to council for consideration a proposed ordinance to create them as a commission. The concept would be that as a cornmission the senior groups would report directly to council. In reviewing the requirements for AB 939 and recycling, Mayor Pagliaro asked the status of the restaurant recycling progran. St;ff noted within the next one to two months, we should receive bids on the installatj.on of centralized recycling collection points for downtohrn restaurants. council next discussed the state requirements for updating our current housing elenent. Councilman Harrison thouqht we should not try to update the current element at this time. counci-lwoman o'Mahony felt that the plan needed to address the specific needs of Burlingime. This would be difficult because of the State mandates which may not match the city's needs, the cost and real possibility of increlsed residential densities needed to meet State require- ments. Marti Knight urged the council to begin a dialogue with our legistators focusing on possible revisions to the State law to make it-more feasible for built out cities tike Burlingane. Mayor Pagliaro suggested that we may want to look at sone kind of do1lar sei aside reguirement for future large projects to fund affordable housing. councilwornan orMahony suggested that if a large project comes ilong, we should look at requiring funds for housing. rt was suggested tnat staff review the kitchen requirernents at the Retire- nent tnn for guidance for future projects designed for elder citi- zens. Council then discussed the effect that regional government could have on loss of Local control and the current bills being proposed by the legislature and governor. There was a general council dlscussion on the need to protect our 1ocal control. councilmembers Harrison and orMahony have drafted a Letter in response to senator Morganrs sB 797. Mayor Pagliaro asked to be notified when there are legislative hearings concernj,ng reqi.onal government proposals so th;t he could try and attend to represent the city's position. Under loca1 issues, the city Manager reviewed the need to inprove pernj.t processing. He indicated that we are trying to have our pernit processing be faster and rnore user friendly, but we are also teing pulled in the opposite direction because of more regulations at both loca1 and state tevel. He indicated that the workload for both planninqr and buiJ.ding continues to be very high despite a 3L7 318 recessionary period. The report from the consultant on building inspection witl be reviewed by the council within the next nonth. Councilwoman Knight suggested we needed a forum for reviewing the i.ssue of nass and bulk prior to our April session with the planning commission. councilman Harrison felt it was important to receiveinput from the planning commission before we review regulations such as declining height. It was the council consensus to wait until theApril study session for further discussion. City Manager indicated that under convention center study iten, hre had discussions in Novenber with the future property orrner of the Anfac location. Council thought we should be receiving a proposalfor addi.tional study on that property. On the subject of city maintenance of schooL facilities, the Manager indicated this would be reviewed at the February study session, and council asked thatpark and recreation commissioners be invited to that neeting. On the iten of the joint service study with Mitlbrae fire, Council- rnan Harrison suggested we lirnit the study to providinq trainingassistance. Council asked that in discussions with lli11brae staff be very cognizant of the need for nutual benefit as a primary consideration and that we should proceed slow1y. In reviewing other itens to be added for the work program, ltayorPagliaro noted we need to be sure to keep up with our siderralkrepair program, particularly in sone of the hitlside areas. Coun- cilwoman O'Mahony indicated that under the subject of Broadwayparking, there is a snall lot on Chula Vista which appears to beavailable for sale. city Manager indicated we currently haveapproximately 9400,000 in our parking fund. counciLnan Lembi statedthat there are several small houses on Chula Vista that night be assembled to create a larger area for parking. Council asked thatstaff look at what is currently available and possible locations on Chu1a Vista for future parking. Di.scussing the budget, Mayor Pagliaro asked that staff bring backprornptly the possible airport pirking tax and business licensereview for council consideration. He also asked the city attorneyto review the recent court case concerning local taxes. Council asked that this be set for the March study session. Under the discussion of capital projects, the council noted that itwas important that the public be aware and understand the importanceof the projects the city has underway. Councilman Lembi suggestedthat a quarterly city newsletter type insert be rnade as a part ofthe recreation brochure. Staff indicated that it would deterninethe cost for this and return for council consideration. Council$ronan orMahony indicated that after sitting on the auditcomrnittee, she thought we should recognize the work of our accoun-,tant in elirninating our fixed asset qualification fron our recentaudit. Under budget outlook, the City Manager indicated that revenues are currently down approxinately 4t not including the 2tj.ncrease in hotel tax which council has not yet designated and theone-time PERS refund money. Based on our current outlook, there appears to be the need to lirnit next yearrs budget increase toapproxirnately 3* which with anticipated cost of living increaseswould equal a 2-38 reduction in some program leveLs. CouncilwornanKnight felt that the city should use the j,ncreased hotel tax noneyif necessary. Councilman Harrison would like to see the city lookinto the tax on airport parking so it would be effective by JuIy 1992. Mayor Pagliaro thought that if necessary, hotel tax could be usedbut it vrould be better to indicate that this vras for specificproject such as the library seismic retrofit. City Manager indicat-ed he would provide council with as many options as possible for theupconing 1992-93 budqet review, including possible cuts as erell asadditional- revenues in order to balance the budget. He indicatedthat we needed to revj.se our nethod of charging for sewer charges sothat it is not as dependent on water usage during a period of 319 drought. IIe also indicated that because of the cost of durnp closure and continuing nonitoring, a garbage surcharge should be considered by the council. The botton line for our budget for 1992-93 is to becautious particularly because of the State budget crisis. Council next asked questions and nade comments concerning the department heads goals that had been submitted. Councilnan Lenbi was pleased to see the comments concerning service goals in bothplanning and public works. I,layor Pagliaro shared the concern aboutservice regarding our perrnitting processes and thought that thereport fron the consultant should be expanded to other departnents. Councilman Harrison also commented that it was inportant to have thepriority on service as outlined in both the city plannerrs andpublic $rorks directorrs menos, He also was supportive of the goalof doing nore in-house engineering design for capital projects. Councilwornan Knight noted that there hras a lot of priority on conputerization and questioned whether this would require purchaseof additional equiprnent. She also vras very pleased to see the goals concerning emergency preparedness and employee safety. Councilwoman O'Mahony indicated she appreciated the report qrhich showed the goatsof 1991 with comments on acconplishment and suggested this migh good format for future reports. Councilman Lembi indicated tha would like to see the commissioners i attendance reports in a stdardized format in the future. Marti Knight questioned when wo Oak crove l^rou1d be conpleted; staff conmented that the final st major resurfacing, would not occur until Spring. FROM THE FLOOR Chamber of Commerce executive director Karen Key requested informa-tion from council on the regional, government proposals for theirinclusion in their newsletter. Larry Lyons commented on the housing el"ement discussion noting that there is a need to support business by providing for senior citizen and housing affordable for employ-ees. He felt there was some land available in Burlingane. Hethought that we needed more input fron the public to see what waspossible. I"Iayor Pagliaro briefly reviewed the current housing requirernents from the State and ABAG and indicated how difficult it would be forthe city to undertake this at this time. On another iten, Mr. Lyonsfelt that the consultantts study looking at the building departnentperrnitting process should be expanded to include other departnents. ADJOT'RNMENT The neeting was adjourned at 11:05 a.m. tbethe an-rk on €P, Judith A. Iilalf attcity clerk