HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 2021.06.09CITY
BURLINGAME
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BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL
Approved Minutes
Special Meeting on June 9th, 2021
1. CALL TO ORDER
A duly noticed meeting of the Burlingame City Council was held on the above via Zoom
Webinar at 5:46 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Beach, Brownrigg, Colson, Keighran, Ortiz
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor O'Brien Keighran asked the Councilmembers and the public if they wished to remove
any item from the Consent Calendar. No items were pulled.
Vice Mayor Ortiz made a motion to adopt the Consent Calendar; seconded by Councilmember
Beach. The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote, 5-0.
a. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ALLOCATION OF
FUNDING FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2021-22
Finance Director Augustine requested Council adopt Resolution Number 071-2021.
5. STAFF REPORTS
a. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION DIRECING STAFF TO FLY THE PRIDE
FLAG AT CITY HALL THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF JUNE 2021
City Manager Goldman thanked Assistant City Attorney Spansail for writing the staff report.
She explained that the City has long recognized June as Pride Month. She stated that during the
May 17, 2021 City Council meeting, multiple Councilmembers inquired about the ability to fly
Burlingame City Council June 9, 2021
Approved Minutes
the Pride Flag during June 2021. She noted that staff were not able to get that item on the June 7
agenda and therefore a special meeting was called.
City Manager Goldman explained that there has been some confusion in the past about raising
flags other than the American Flag and the California State Flag at City Hall. She stated that
under the Government Speech Doctrine, a City may advance its own speech without requiring
viewpoint neutrality when the City itself is the speaker, so long as the speech does not
communicate a religious preference or violate a separate constitutional provision. She continued
that the City is exercising its own right of expression, not that of a third party.
City Manager Goldman stated that City staff ordered the Progress Pride Flag, which is the
updated version of the flag.
Mayor O'Brien Keighran opened public comment.
Rabbi Dan Feder, Senior Rabbi at Burlingame Temple Shalom, stated he is in favor or raising the
Pride Flag. (comment submitted via publiccommentkburlin ag me.org).
Craig Wiesner, a small business owner and San Mateo County LGBTQ Commissioner voiced
support for raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via publiccomment(d),burlin ag me.org).
Christine Lou commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccommentgburlin am�e.org).
Meredith Keefer commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccomment(&,burlin ag me.org).
Tamara Scalise commented she is not in support of raising the Pride Flag at any government
building as the Pride Flag should be reserved for personal homes or businesses. (comment
submitted via publiccomment(&,burlin ag me.org).
Genesee commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. She hoped that the City would fly the
Progress Pride Flag. (comment submitted via publiccommentgburlin a�g).
Kirk Pessner commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccomment(d),burlin ag me.org).
Russell Miller commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccommentkburlin_ am�e.org).
Former Mayor Terry Nagel voiced support for raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccomment(c�r�,burlin ag me.org).
Serina Beauparlant commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccommentkburlin am�e.org).
Burlingame City Council June 9, 2021
Approved Minutes
Debby Kerr commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. She thanked Council for all they do.
(comment submitted via publiccomment(&burlin ag me.org).
Kelsey Andrews, a healthcare worker, commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. (comment
submitted via publiccomment&burlin ag me.org).
Annette Angulo, a mental health professional, commented in support of raising the Pride Flag.
(comment submitted via publiccomment(&burlin ag me.org).
Regina Morano commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccomment&burlin- a�g).
Cecilia Ziniti commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccomment(d),,burlin ag me.org).
Maria Lorente-Foresti, a Burlingame resident for 34 years, commented in support of raising the
Pride Flag. (comment submitted via publiccommentkburlin ag me.org).
Emily Bronson -Joseph commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccomment(&,,burlin ag me.org).
StarVista representative Sepideh Fatemi, commented in support of raising the Pride Flag.
(comment submitted via publiccomment&burlin _ ag me.org).
Ella Darnell commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. She noted that all other cities in the
County are flying the flag and hopes Burlingame will join them. (comment submitted via
publiccommentkburlin- a�g).
Stephanie Weisner voiced support for raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccomment(&,,burlin ag me.org).
Peninsula Young Democrats representative Erin Houser asked the Council to raise the Pride Flag
to promote diversity and inclusion. (comment submitted via publiccomment&burlin ag me.org).
Shareen Mala Casali asked the Council to raise the Pride Flag so that all cities in the County are
united in their support. (comment submitted via publiccomment(d),burlin ag me.org).
Sam Gardner voiced support for raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccommentkburlin- a�g).
Esmeralda Cabrera commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccomment(c�r�,burlin ag me.org).
Mia Semmelmann voiced support for raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccommentgburlin a�g).
Burlingame City Council June 9, 2021
Approved Minutes
Liz Garcia asked the Council to raise the Pride Flag as it is a celebration of the LGBTQIA
community. (comment submitted via publiccomment(&burlin ag me.org).
Uma Christian commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. She hoped Burlingame would
not be the only city in San Mateo County to not fly the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccomment(&,burlin ag me.org).
Paul Guzman commented in support of raising the Pride Flag. (comment submitted via
publiccomment@burlin _ a�g).
Mayor O'Brien Keighran reminded the public that public comment is limited to one minute.
Cecilia Luna Para, a recently BHS graduate, urged the Council to fly the Pride Flag as it is an
international symbol of LGBTQ+ history.
Stephen Seymour voiced support for raising the Pride Flag.
Jay Guzman spoke in support of raising the Pride Flag.
Robin Montoya spoke in support of raising the Pride Flag and thanked Burlingame for its hard
work on inclusivity.
Lauren Hungler commented in support of raising the Pride Flag.
Lisa Putkey, a fifth -grade teacher, spoke in support of raising the Pride Flag.
San Mateo County LGBTQ Commissioner Krystal Cansino spoke in support of raising the Pride
Flag. She thanked Council for their consideration in raising the Pride Flag.
Dana Johnson spoke in favor of raising the Pride Flag. They thanked everyone for sending in
emails and said hearing everyone was very emotional for them. They thanked Council for
scheduling this item.
Laine Schlesinger spoke in support of raising the Pride Flag.
Marilyn, who works at the San Mateo County Pride Center, spoke in support of raising the Pride
Flag not just this year, but every year.
Men Chun Wong, who is a Clinical Program Coordinator at the San Mateo County Pride Center,
spoke in favor of raising the Pride Flag.
Mayor O'Brien Keighran closed public comment.
Councilmember Beach thanked the community for participating in the meeting and voicing their
opinions. She thanked the San Mateo County Pride Center for bringing this to the attention of
City Council. She thanked Assistant City Attorney Scott Spansail for writing the staff report.
Burlingame City Council June 9, 2021
Approved Minutes
Councilmember Beach voiced her support for raising the Progress Pride Flag.
Councilmember Brownrigg stated he is fully in support of raising the Pride Flag this year and
every year. He added he has lived around the world and what makes this County so special is its
inclusivity. He stated that he believed the Progress Pride Flag embodies the idea of inclusivity.
Vice Mayor Ortiz agreed with Councilmember Beach and Councilmember Brownrigg. He
commented that he misses his former neighbors Lisa and Laurie and that this is for them.
Councilmember Colson thanked Mayor O'Brien Keighran for getting this together so quickly.
She commented that the Pride Flag is the most recognizable flag in the world. She noted that
when Gilbert Baker designed the flag in 1978, he never copyrighted it as he wanted it to be
humanity's flag and wanted anyone to be able to display it.
Mayor O'Brien Keighran thanked everyone who spoke and sent an email.
Councilmember Beach made a motion to adopt Resolution Number 072-2021; seconded by Vice
Mayor Ortiz. The motions passed unanimously by roll call vote, 5-0.
Mayor O'Brien Keighran asked when the flag would be raised. City Manager Goldman
responded that staff has ordered one, but it has not arrived yet. She commented that she would
let Council know when the flag would be raised so Council could attend.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor O'Brien Keighran adjourned meeting at 6:32pm.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Meaghan Hassel -Shearer
City Clerk
Burlingame City Council June 9, 2021
Approved Minutes