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Home My WebLink AboutMin - CC - 1980.07.09A study meeting of the Burlingame City Council by Mayor R. David Martin at 7:58 p.m., JuIy 9, Conference Room B of the Burlingame City HaIl. was convened 1980, in PRESENT:COUNCILMEMBERS: AMSTRUP, BARTON, MANGINI , IqARTIN ABSENT: COUNCILMAN CROSBY (vacation) STAFF :Schwalm , Bergs i ng Kirkup, Argyres, Yost, Hoffman, 1. IMPROVEMENTS FOR BURLINGA}IE VILLAGE PARK Park Dj-rector John Hoffman reviewed proposed improvementsfor Burlingame Village Park designed subseguent to the re-ceipt of a petition from residents in the area who resuestedseating, picnic tabl-es and shaded areas in the park. Stateblock grant funds for recreational facility development areavailable provided 25E matching funds are provided bl the City.Mr. Hoffman assured Council, if the project is approved, theCity's $2,611 share may be contributed through services, therebyrequiring no additj-ona1 cash outlay. Mrs. lTames Scott of 1115 Dufferin Avenue addressed Council. Shestated she has been a resident of the Village Park area for eightyears. During that time no improvements have been made to thepark. She bel-ives supervision of children in the park will be more satisfactory if seating and shade are provided. Council questioned the possibilj-ty that seating would attractpeople using intoxicants. It was the consensus of Staff thatthe planned improvements would permit clear visibility to thepicnic faci-lities from the street for police patrols and fromthe adjacent residences. Councilmembers approved the proposed development plans and the application for 7979 State block grant funds. A resolution for the grant wifl be prepared for the next regular council meeting. II. BUDGET REVIEI,I PUBLIC I^]ORKS Public Safety, Building Inspector:Approved of $7 50 to theEn.Ineer an : Approved with addition travel account. Street and storm Drains: Approved. Staff was directed. to prepare a lj.st of street irnprovernents under con- sideration and estimated dates for repairs. Street Lighting: Approved. Sewer Maintenance: Approved, including proposed security sys'tem. Sewer Treatment: Approved with $17,000 reduction in contractual services because of over-estimate of increase based on cost of living index for first half of fiscal year, and with approval of proposed source monitoring progrErm. 78 BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL STUDY },IEETING Jultz 9, 1980 Councilman Amstrup reviewed the current status of the budget review. Although the Librarian and two assistants were present at the meeting, consideration of the remaining Library accounts, increased hours for the Easton Branch and for addition to the book account will be deferred to a subsequent budqet meeting. 79 Maintenance of Equipment: Conditionally approved with itional justification for brake lathe and a list of types of vehicle maintenance services performed. F,Tater Operations : Approved. Capital Improvements: Approved proceeding with East ffiin replacement so that specifications may be drawn and project put to bid before the rainy season. INSURANCE AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS Finance Director Argyres reviewed insurance costs as detailed on pages 36 to 39 of the proposed budget document. It was suggested that wage negotiations attempt to equalize the medical benefitfor all employees. Mr.Argyres was directed to obtain data re- garding retj-rement dates of employees who retired more than fj-ve and ten years ago to assist in consideration of a one-time cost of livj-ng increase. 1II. NORTH PARK APARTMENT CONVERSION Mr. Cyrus McMillan introduced Attorney A. Bruce Gilmore of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison and Mr. Jeff Spragens of FCH Services Inc. Mr. Spragens reviewed for Council the Jul1r 1, 1980, report of FCH Services regarding the proposed North Park Apartment con- version. He stated that his organization effected the conversion of hToodlake to cooperative ownership and recently was approached by the owner of North Park Apartments to undertake a similar conversion of ownership of that complex. A recent report of the Department of Housing and Urban Development details the effect of conversions upon residents and cities, and copies of the summary of conclusions were distributed to Council and Staff.. Most of the techniques recommended are used by his firm which has thirtrZ years of experience in the fiel-d. He cited the success of dealings with residents and the City of San Mateo during the conversion of Woodlake and the education of new owners in manag,e- ment. FCH contends that individual ownership of units will in- crease tax revenues through reassessment antl create a more stable comrnunity because of increased responsible individual property ownership. Also their experience indicates that commercial property ownership ceases to be financially remunerative after the initial years of ownership; thereafter property frequently deteriorates in the effort to maintain rate of return. The report proposes sale of individual apartments in North Park, with present residents guaranteed a sixty-day right to first purchase at a discounted price if they qualify for financing. More comprehensive tenant protection measures are contemplated than those set forth in the tenant protection ordinance currently under consideration by Council, including an option for a five- year lease to be mailed to senior citizens with notification of the proposed conversion to condominium ownership. Council questioned the ability of the project to meet parking, open space, individual utility controls and sound-proofing re- quirements of the Building Code for condominiums. Mr. Spragens responded that their engineering consultant informed them that all requirements in that respect could be met. Councilmembers caIled attention to community concern about the availability of rental units. There are indications that groups advocating rent control will resume their efforts if there is an attempt for a major condominium conversion. Mr. Spragens pointed out that approximately 50 percent of the complex would remain as rental units with the requirement that they would be subject to a 5 percent increase limit for the first two years. Increases to senior citizens would be tied to the cost of living index. J 80 Mr. Spragens requested an indication fronn Council of theacceptability of the program prior to incurring further ex- pense in preparation of material for presentation to the Planning Commission. Council declined to comment on the pro- posed conversion, and suggested that public reaction be ob- served when the concept is reported in the press. IV. TENANT PROTECTION ORDINANCE Councilmembers expressed concern that the provisions of the tenant protection ordinance before Council does not accomplishits intent to stabilize the number of rental units within theCity. One method used in surrounding communj-ties is to limit the number of unit conversions to the numbe:: of new rentalunits added within a time period. Another is to permit conver- sions only when the vacancy rate is below a set percentage. The consensus was that it is the intent to freeze rental units tonot l-ess than the number presently existing in Burlingame as recommended in the Housing Element. The ordinance was referred back to Staff for revision. V. OTHER Regional Planning Commission: Councilwoman Barton requested reaction to a recommended energy ordinance to be submitted to the Board of Supervisors which would require inspection upon resale of property to require compliance with energy saving reguirements such as insulation, etc. Council was unanimously opposed to such an ordinance. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m. lyn i11City C erk zu7/