HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1992.06.03394
CITY OF BURLINGAME
CITY COUNCIL STUDY MEETING
Wednesday, June 3, 1992,7:30 p.m.
City Hall Conference Room A
Mayor Frank Pagliaro convened the study session of the Burlingame City Council on the
above date in Conference Room A at 7:33 p.m.
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS HARRISON, KNIGHT, LEMBI, O'MAHONY, PAGLIARO
STAFF PRESENT: ARGYRES, BECKER, BERGSING, COLEMAN, ESCOFFIER,
KIRKUP, MALFATTI, MONROE, PALMER, QUADRI, TOWNS,
WAGNER
1. PROPOSED TREE PRESERVATION ORDINANCE
Mayor Pagliaro introduced this item noting that council had enacted an emergency ordinance
the prior Monday night covering a portion of the draft ordinance suggested by the Beautifica-
tion Commission. Chairman Bill Ward and the Beautilication Commission were present to
support the proposed ordinance. Councilwoman Knight questioned whether we have
incorporated some of the items suggested in the City of San Mateo letter concerning their
experience. She also asked whether we, at some further date, should consider "trees as
views" which is not addressed in the current ordinance.
Councilman Harrison indicated he was against opening Pandora's box by including language
concerning trees as views. He felt the overall proposal recommended by the commission was
good. Councilwoman O'Mahony indicated she was delighted over this proposal but thought
that some of the specifics needed to be reviewed after public hearings on the ordinance.
Councilman Lembi questioned the cost of a 24-inch box tree. Rich Quadri noted that
typically a tree this size costs approximately $200. Mayor Pagliaro suggested clean up
language but indicated he supported the overall ordinance. Councilwoman Knight noted
there was a blank in section 5 concerning the tree requirements for new or expanded
condominiums and apartment houses. City attorney indicated this was a conceptual outline
suggested by the commission; if they approve, he will prepare a draft ordinance for council
consideration.
City council directed the city attorney to prepare and draft an ordinance for introduction and
thanked the Beautification Comrlission for their efforts.
2. REVIEW PROPOSED 1992-93 BUDGET AND CAPITAL PROGRAM
Mayor Pagliaro indicated that the council has reviewed the budget document and asked any
council members for specific comments or questions. Councilman Lembi indicated that he
had met with the police chief and noted that the budget was extremely tight. The one item
he felt needed to be discussed concerned crossing guards and the proposal to reduce the
current seven positions to three. He suggested adding one more position in order to cover all
the major school locations. Chief Palmer reviewed the specific locations with council and
indicated that within the funds currently budgeted we could cover the four locations
proposed. Mayor Pagliaro questioned the vehicle replacement program, and the chief
indicated we are replacing one less vehicle this year than in prior years. Council approved
the proposed police budgets.
City Manager noted that we received a request from the school district concerning providing
a crossing guard for summer school; this would cost approximately $500. Council deferred
discussion of this request until later in the meeting.
Councilman Harrison next reviewed the library budget. He mentioned a concern about
information concerning possible cuts in various departments' budgets becoming public before
any specific proposals had been received by the council. In developing budget alternatives,
various department personnel had discussed the possibilities of eliminating all crossing guards
or reducing library hours; the current budget proposal includes neither of these items, so the
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public became concerned for no purpose. He had reviewed the library budget with the city
librarian and felt the budget that was proposed was satisfactory. Council concurred.
Councilwoman O'Mahony reviewed her meeting with the fire management staff concerning
the fire budget. She noted that there is reduction in both capital outlay and operating
expenses, but the majority of the budget was in salary and benefits. She felt this was a
model budget and that it was as lean as possible. Any further cuts would be reflected in
service levels. Mayor Pagliaro noted that in the unfunded future capital improvement portion
of the budget, there was a need for a $500,000 aerial truck. He also asked what activities
were included in the disaster preparedness position. Chief Towns reviewed the job responsi-
bilities and answered questions for the council. Council supported and recommended the fire
budget.
Councilwoman Knight reviewed with council her discussions with the public works director
and city manager regarding the large number of budgets covering public works and city hall.
She thanked the public works director for the excellent job he had done in preparing
approximately ten divisional budgets. She briefly reviewed with council some comments
concerning staffing levels in the building department and the training and safety programs in
street and sewers, as well as the increase in water purchases in the water department. She
supported all of these budgets to the council.
Mayor Pagliaro reviewed the park and recreation budgets. He questioned the proposed
$11,000 reduction in the summer crew. The park director noted we are increasing use of the
Hillcrest crew on a twice-a-month basis, and this has replaced much of the need for a
summer crew. He also noted a decline in interest by local youths in participating in the
summer crew. Under recreation, the Mayor noted that a large amount of the increase in that
budget is the result of our support of the high school programs and the refinishing of the
gym. He also noted that the capital improvement portion of the budget outlined $43 million
in future capital project needs which currently have uncertain or unknown funding.
The Mayor then asked the council to consider funding requests for community groups.
Councilwoman O'Mahony felt we should stay within the same $20,000 funding level as last
year. She supported continuation of funding for the San Mateo Women's Shelter even
though no request was received. Councilman Harrison stated he would like to review the
community promotion budget first. He proposed a two percent reduction in the amount to
the Visitor and Convention Bureau. These funds should be reallocated to funding community
groups such as Project Focus which had been cut from the police department budget.
Councilman Lembi related that as a member of the executive board of the Convention
Bureau, he was in a very difficult position. He noted the Convention Bureau is facing cuts
on many fronts, but he could support a two percent cut if the funds were used for community
groups, especially Project Focus.
Councilman Harrison suggested the council consider a $2,000 limit on all community groups,
and he reviewed with council his proposed distribution of the funds. Councilwoman
O'Mahony had a different distribution for the $20,000 and expressed her preference includ-
ing supporting a reduction in the Convention Bureau to fund other community groups.
Councilwoman Knight suggested council not fund any group more than last year. She also
questioned whether we should drop the request for Mercy High School for repair of Kohl
Mansion since last year's request was proposed as a one-time grant. She believed we needed
to hold the line with city contributions to community groups which should be seeking funding
from private sources. She also noted that we needed to have a say on how our money was
being r.rsed by the Homeless Trust Fund. She also supported a two percent cut in the
Convention Bureau budget to fund Project Focus.
Mayor Pagliaro reviewed with council the current status of the Horneless Trust Fund and its
possible relationship with the Peninsula Foundation and the issue of affordable housing. He
suggested we leave $2,000 budgeted for the Winter Shelter and reduce the $11,000 included
for the Homeless Trust Fund by that $2,000 until we receive further information.
After additional discussion, cor.rncil supported a $6,720 reduction in the Convention Bureau
budget plus the following distribution for community groups:
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Samaritan House
Mission Hospice
Easter Seals/Peninsula Recare
Call-Primrose Center
Suicide Prevention
Project REACH/PARCA
Human Investment/Shared Homes
Friends for Youth
Center for Independence of Disabled
San Mateo Women's Shelter
Arthritis Foundation
Winter Shelter
Project Focus
$ 3,000
1,000
3,000
1,750
1,500
1,500
1,000
750
1,500
1,000
2,000
2,000
3,500
TOTAL . $23,500
The $11,000 designated for the Homeless Trust Fund would also be reduced to $9,000
because of the funding of the winter shelter.
Council next reviewed the Chamber of Commerce request. Council supported this amount.
Karen Key of the Chamber noted that the $500 scholarship amount was no longer necessary
and suggested this might be available for the summer school crossing guard. Council
thanked her for the suggestion and approved this transfer to the police department budget.
Council next reviewed the water and sewer funds. City manager indicated that because of
water rationing and changes in consumption as well as the 18 percent increase in San
Francisco rates, that water and sewer rates would need to be increased ten to fifteen percent.
Staff will also be recommending a new method of applying sewer rates to single family
homes. The public works director discussed with council his proposed method of setting the
single family sewer charge based on average December to May water use to be billed as a
fixed monthly charge on water bills. Council authorized staff to use this method in preparing
the annual rate review.
3. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council thanked the departnient heads and nranager for their work on preparation of the
budget. They noted it was an excellent job of maintaining existing service levels to the
public while reducing costs as required by revenue limitations. Councilmembers also
thanked the police chief for the memorial service for Sergeant Bruce Friedberg. They noted
it was very sad but impressive.
4. FROM THE FLOOR
Mayor Pagliaro asked for any comments from the floor; there were none
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m
Judith A. Mal
City Clerk