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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1991.09.18270 CITY OF BURLINGAI{E CITY COIJNCIL STUDY I,{EETING Wednesday, September 18, 1991, 7:30 p.n.city Ha1l council Chambers Mayor Gloria Barton convened the study session of the BurlingameCity Council on the above date at 7:30 p.m. Due to the size ofthe audience, the Council moved from conference Roon A to theCity Council chambers. PRESENT: COt NCILMEITIBERS BARTON, HARRISON, OTMAHONY, PAGLIARO ABSENT: LEMBI STAFF PRESENT: ARGYRES, BECKER, COLE}IAN, QUADRI , TOWNS, WAGNER 1 GREYHOIJND BU S STATION PRESENTATION A A ARCHITECTS Jack Matthews of the San Mateo County Chapter of American Insti-tute of Architects reviewed with council their ideas fron a workshop held March 30. The first plan presented showed thepossibilities of a simple restoration and repainting of the creyhound depot approxinately within the current funds budgeted. The remainder of the presentation showed concepts involving al-arger project looking at the whole site. Ideas included openingthe back of the building to the park and naking that a mainentrance and courtyard. Al-so reviewed lras the possibility of expanding the park by changing sone of the existing parking onHighland from diagonal to para11e1. Mayor Barton indicated that she had a concern about traffic inthe area part icula trances tjust the was very building we need tthe parki andrpoB Gre exc and od ng. did not want to encourage children to use thatark. She thought that since it is one of the en-urlingame, it should also identify Burlingarne and not yhound Bus company. Councilman Pagliaro stated heited about the possibility of opening the back of theinproving and preserving the building. He felt thatiscuss with the merchants the suggested revisions to He thought that we ought to return this to Park andRecreation and ask for recommendations on at least two optionsfor further council revi-ew. It was the consensus of the council that staff should receiveproposals from architects for looking at various options torenovate and improve the building and develop a phased nasterplan with cost estirnates. Council thanked the AIA Chapter fortheir work. 2. BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT City ltanager reviewed his memo on the interest expressed by the Broadway and Burlingame Avenue merchants associations on thefornation of a business irnprovement district. He indicated thatthere are approxj-mately 165 business licenses in the Broad$rayarea and 580 in the Burlingame Ave area. Dependingr on how the assessments are levied, the funds raised would be substantiallyLarger in the Burlingane Avenue area than Broadway area and that r^re needed to hear from the merchants as to the types of servicesdesired. If we decide to proceed with the forrnation of thedistrict, it requires a city-appointed advisory board, annual assessment report, and assessment hearing. A suggested alterna- Councilwoman O'Mahony questioned the Iocation of the existing door and the plans for closing that entrance. She indicated that she liked the idea of a hedge to shield the area frorn traffic.Recreation Director indicated to council that we currently have a $40,000 budget for the project, and he thought the next steprrould be to select an architect to develop various options andcost estimates. The current estirnate we have for a roof alone hrould be around $10,000. 27 1 David Uinckle of the Broadway Merchants discussed with counciltheir meetiners concerning this idea and the suggestions of theconsultant they had met with concerning formation of a district. He thought an assessment natrix could be developed with two zonesand differing rates for retail service and office, and theirprojections are that $30-35,ooo annual-Iy might be raised from the 160 businesses on Broadway. The rnerchants had a long list ofprojects they would like to see undertaken including advertising,beautification, and shuttte service. He thought the city shouldconsider hiring the consultant they had net with--Mr. DaveKilbourne--to work on the fornation of a district. ur. Kilbournehad indicated to them that a formation cost for a district on Broadway would be approximately $18,000 r^rhereas if one districtwith two zones were developed to include Burlingame Ave, the costwould be $24,000. He felt that it vTas desirable to have themerchants deciding on the amount of the annual assessment anddeveloping the budgeted projects to be undertaken. Counci lman HinckLe indrequired an Counci lmanthe merchan outlining bconsider funding or advancing the funds for such a formationeffort. Councilwonan OrMahony felt that more work rras needed in definingthe projects that the groups would undertake. Stephanie Navarra,representing the Burlingame Ave lilerchants, felt that there is adifference with the BurlingTame Avenue area since it has a larger number of busi,nesses and that they would be looking at a differ-ent assessment matrix. Their ideas for projects include adver-tising, building lighting, muraLs, banners, shuttle service, andsidewalk cleaning. She felt a joint district with two zones erould be des irabl-e . Stan C1ark, representing Burlingame Avenue, also felt that mostof the problems concerning the district had been addressed by theconsultant and he felt that Burlingarne Avenue was interested inparticipating. Dave Kilbourne, consultant, indicated that he hadforned districts in 29 other cities and it would be very costeffective to do both districts at the sarne time and that separateboards would be possible. After additional discussion, the council asked the rnerchants tosubnit.by the next study session a formal proposal concerning theformation of the district and the necessary costs. Pagliaro asked why we should hire a consultant. Mr.icated that the nerchants felt that due to the timed experience needed, a consul-tant was necessary.Pagliaro thought the proper approach would be to havets and the consultant come back with a formal proposaloth a separate and two-zone distrlct and council- would 3. BEAUTIFTCATION COMIUTSSTON HERITAGE TREE ORDTNANCE Park Director Rich Quadri reviewed the past heritage tree ordi-nance which had been anended in 1975 and the difference r^rith theordinance now proposed by the Beautification Cornmission. Majordifference was the size of trees affected. By increasing thediameter of the trees which require permits, the commission felta nurnber of the problems of the past ordinance would be avoided.Currently, only 70 trees on private property are covered by ourcurrent heritaqe tree ordinance. The commission is proposing toexpand the existing ordinance onto private property in order toprotect our trees, tive might be a general business license tax increase with aprorated share of the j-ncrease going to community prornotion budget for the desired services based on the number of business- es. llayor Barton indicated that the city needed to be very careful inrestricting private property rights. Councilwornan OrMahonyquestioned how much space a 24rr box tree needed. she felt thatmore work on the proposed ordinance needed to be done and that itrnay be unenforceable in its current form. she vras also concerned 272 that we should increase the number of trees in our industrial areas, not just residential areas. llark Peeters of the Beautification Conmission discussed with council the reasons why we need an ordinance and that the majorthrust would be to require a permit process which requires replacement of trees vhich are rernoved. He felt that we need a city-wide tree protection program. Councilnan Pagliaro indicatedthat while he may be able to support the idea of tree replace- ments, he could see that there would be numerous problens with requlring pernits for any renoval. After further discussion, the council asked the commission to work further on the idea and develop two separate proposals: concerning tree replacenent standards, and the other a pernit procedure for removals. This should be reviewed at a future study session. one 4. RECYCLING STATUS REPORT Finance Director Rahn Becker reviewed the staff report recommend- ing selected sites on city property be used for recycling bins in order to expand cornmercial recycling. Debi Sargeant of BFI also discussed with council their current efforts in commercial recycling and the need for convenient drop-off places to expand the program. The locations suqgested tended to be near existing restaurants . councj.lrnan Pagliaro questioned why only 33 of 152 bars and restaurants are currently recycling. The lack of a convenient drop-off place seems to be a najor constraint which ne are tryingto address through the proposal. He asked if BFI was familiar with any mandated cornmercial recycling efforts in the Bay Area.It was indicated that none currently exist, but this may be sonethinq needed in the future as a result of AB 939. In re- sponse to questions, BFI indicated that currently all trotels in Burlingame are recycling and this would help neet the AB 939 goa1s. Council thanked BFI and staff and indicated that they should proceed with the location of the recycling sites as indicated in the staff report. 5. FIRE STATION PLANS Fire Chief Towns showed council drawings and pictures of the original fire station and the renderings of the new station on california Drive. He indicated that the project is on schedule for construction in 1992 and that it is currentl-y within budget. Council thanked the Fire chief and indicated that the renderings of the new station look acceptable. HOMELES SNE s Mayor Barton stated that she had asked this iten be placed on a study session because of two issues. She agrees there is a need for subsidized, Iow-j-ncome housing for working poor in this county and nation wide; but she felt that there needed to be asked the question, rrwho are the homeless?tr she felt if the probl-en vras due to drug, alcohoI, or mental problems that shel- ters might not be the right approach and that other programs rnight be needed. Councifman Harrison indicated that they had discussed the home- less report at the Transportation system Management meeting this morning and there were numerous questions concerning location of affordable housing in transit corridors. Council.man Pagliaro distributed to council copies of New York Times and Los Angeles Times articles on prevention programs for the homeless and indicated that he agreed with the comments nade by council. 6 Councilwoman OtMahony fel-t that the focus of the honeless prograln 273 should be on people who need transitional housing and job assis-tance. Council thanked councilman Pagliaro for his work on this i,ssue. COT'NCIL COMMENTS councilman Harrison relayed to council some of the comments made by Airport Director Lou Turpen concerning the need for a TSM program at the airport. FROI{ THE FLOOR There were no conments fron the floor. ADJOT'RNMENT The neeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m. ith A. MalfattiCity Clerk