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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1975.08.184r)'() Burlingame, California August 18, 1975 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Burlingame City Council was held on the above date in the City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. by Mayor Irving S. Amstrup. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG: Led by John R. Yost, Assistant City Planner. ROLL CALL Council Members Present: Amstrup-Crosby-Cusick-Harrison Council Members Absent: Mangini (excused, vacation) MINUTES The minutes of the meeting of August 4, 1975, previously submitted to the City Council,were approved and adopted. PRESENTATION Mayor Amstrup recognized Mr. Joseph Aliamus, first aid instructor to the City's safety forces. Mr. Aliamus informed the City Council that three of the four members of the Police Department who recently completed the first aid ..instructor course were present this evening to receive certificates:, They, in turn, will teach first aid within the Police Department, and that department in conjunction with the Fire Department can now perform a service of which the community can be very proud. He cited the City's skilled resuscitation crews, responsible for saving many lives, as an example of emergency services provided by safety forces. Police Officers Dennis J. Luca, Thomas P. Marriscolo and Frank D. Tealdi came forward to receive their certificates. In acknowledging the officer's accomplishments, Mayor Amstrup expressed his and the City Council's appreciation for the excellent emergency aid program available through Police and Fire Departments. FISCAL YEAR BUDGET 1975-1976 Mayor Amstrup announced that the City Council will adopt an operating budget and tax rate this evening. Information from the Finance Director forwarded by the City Manager indicates some revisions may be necessary in capital improvement projects; for this reason, consideration to the capital improvement budget will be delayed until all five members can be present. Councilman Cusick referred to the notes of the budget study meeting held on August 6, Page 4, third paragraph, last sentence. She stated it was her understanding the $55,000 was to be deleted not held in abeyance. Council members agreed. The sentence was amended to read "Also, there appeared to be a consensus that the $55,000 allocation for Phase II of the Park Department corporation yard shall be deleted." Councilman Harrison -stated that Paragraph 8, Page 3 should read "Council- man Harrison recommended reducing the $5,000 to $2,500 provided that CETA subsidizes approximately 95% of the salary; otherwise, there is not e a landscape drattsman in the NarK uepartmen Mayor Amstrup reviewed policy goals endorsed by the Council at the budget study meeting: 1. Pursue a middle course of reducing the tax rate without stripping City finances to a dangerous point. 2. Main- tenance gas tax funds rather than general funds will be used on quali- fied street maintenance and repair projects; reserves will be main- tained in the gas tax fund for major projects. 3. Projects authorized within departmental budgets and not completed within the fiscal year will not be carried forward to the next fiscal year without City Council approval. 4. Funding of the Burlingame Civic Art Council will be reviewed annually. 5. Two positions proposed to be eliminated, land- scape draftsman and engineering aide, were retained upon advice from the City Manager that CETA will subsidize about 95% of the salaries. Mayor Amstrup announced that the Council has received several reports since the budget study meeting from the Finance Director with City Manager comments. Referring to the memorandum of August 15 from the City Manager concerning "Report on Carryovers from 1974-75 Budget," Mayor Amstrup advised that all of the items listed therein are forms of capital improvements and, as such, will be held for review by the entire Council with the capital improvements budget. For the benefit of the audience, Mayor Amstrup reported that all of the material is public information. Mayor Amstrup anrounced there appears to be no alternative but to fix the tax rate at $1.00. He had hoped to present a lower rate but reasons presented by the City Manager and Finance Director to sub- stantiate that rate cannot be ignored. In supporting the $1.00 rate, Councilman Harrison commented this will enable Burlingame to maintain an envious position among all of the cities in San Mateo County. Councilman Cusick asked about the policy decision with respect to the two planners. There appeared to be a consensus to pursue the subject at a study meeting. Stating that he had a great deal of difficulty working with the budget document, Mayor Amstrup recommended a simplified document in the future. Additionally, for the Council's consideration, he recom- mended (1) In the future there be two separate budgets, an operating and a capital improvement. (2) The water department be completely separated from other operations so it can be examined closely. The system is operating at a loss, as is the sewer system, necessitating general fund subsidy. This should be taken into consideration by the City Council next year. (3) After the Council has completed its review of capital improvement projects, other sources of revenue should be explored. If the Council intends to reduce the property tax to keep it within reason, it will be necessary to look to new revenues perhaps from business license fees or the hotel tax. These may not prove feasible but could be investigated. Mayor Amstrup explained that reserves in many of the funds are questionable at this time because of uncertainty with respect to continuing revenue sharing allocations; also, because of the economy, it is difficult to project next year's tax collections. He stated that the people want property taxes reduced, but it is not likely that the citizens of Burlingame would want all of the reserves accumulated as the result of many years of frugal government eliminated. R.D. Martin, 1504 Alturas Drive, former councilman and mayor of Burlingame, upon recognition by Mayor Amstrup, requested the Council's consideration to reducing the rate to 92t. His reasons for doing so were based upon the average 25% increase in the City's assessed valuations; a 924 rate on this percentage of assessment increase would mean that the taxpayer who had no raise this year would pay the same tax that he paid last year. Because of present economic conditions, a 92t rate appears to be a must. He contended that school boards, boards of supervisors, city councils and other taxing bodies should reduce their rates. Mr.Martin stated that most of the first -residential property in Burlingame increased in value conhsiderably more than 25%; a great many apartments and businesses did not 299essments increased according to the assessor's office. Assuming a more realistic increase of 35% in first -residential assessments and a 92¢ rate, a homeowner would pay 8% more in taxes than last year --city taxes only. With a $1.00 rate and 35% increase in assessed valuation, the homeowner would pay 17% more in taxes. He suggested that the 8Q cut is not nearly as drastic as it may seem and, for that reason, was sorry the capital improvements budget was not to be discussed this evening. He stated that the 8t reduction would save the taxpayers about $141,200. Perhaps not a large sum in relation to capital improvement expenditures, but this would mean that the taxpayer would pay $358,000 for the new police station not $500,000. Mr. Martin suggested that the capital improvements budget be reviewed prior to setting the tax rate, that it would not be a major decision on the Council's part to reduce the rate to 92t and would have the effect of the City Council telling the people we are trying to give you relief on your taxes. Ronald C. Bierma, Finance Director, in response to Mayor Amstrup, acknowledged that Mr. Martin made some good points. Mr. Bierma stated that he, too, sympathized with the taxpayer, but there were some points that Mr. Martin may have overlooked: 1. The $1.00 rate was recommended after taking into consideration the cost of living or inflation factor which affects the City of Burlingame drastically. Expenditures have increased 16% in operating budget between last year and the current year with revenues increasing at a smaller percentage. 2. As far as capital improvements, this was separated from the operating budget because it was recognized that the City should not depend upon tax revenue to finance capital improvements to any great degree. The City is approaching the time where revenue sources are just about carrying the operating budget. The City must look to new sources of revenue. 3. No portion of property tax revenue is committed to the police station. It is entirely financed by revenue sharing. Agreeing that the City Council surely can sympathize with Mr. Martin's comments about tax relief, Councilman Harrison pointed out that the Finance Director and the City Manager both take the position that the Council would be treading on dangerous ground were the rate fixed below the $1.00 level. Mayor Amstrup confirmed that the new police station will be financed through revenue sharing not property taxes. He stated it is the City Council's intent to reduce property taxes to the lowest feasible level, to do the very utmost to lessen the burden on the taxpayers, and to continue to maintain a fiscally sound government. Furthermore, the Finance Director states that the $1.00 is the best the City can do if it is to remain financially stable. He asked if the Council wished to postpone consideration of the tax rate until after the first of September when Councilman Mangini will return from vacation. There were no comments from Council members. RESOLUTION NO. 58-75 "Fixing Tax Rate For The City Of Burlingame For The Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1976" was introduced by Council- man Harrison, who moved its adoption, second by Councilman Cusick, unanimously carried on roll call of members present. RECONVENE: Following a recess at 8:40 P.M., Mayor Amstrup called the meeting to order at 8:45 P.M. RESOLUTION NO. 59-75 "Adopting Operating Budget - City of Burlingame Fiscal Year En tng June 30, 1976" was introduced by Councilman Harrison, who moved its adoption, second by Councilman Cusick, unanimously car- ried on roll call of members present. HEARING SAFETY ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN Mayor Amstrup announced this was the time and place scheduled, pursuant to published notice, to conduct a public hearing and to consider the above document recommended by the Planning Commission. The Assistant City Planner, John R. Yost, in response to Mayor Amstrup explained that the Planning Commission held its public hearing on the � _0 draft Element on June 23, 1975, and that State law requires that the Element be approved and adopted by the City Council no later than September 20, 1975. Furthermore, as a result of State mandate requiring adoption of a safety element to be included in a general plan, San Mateo County initiated coordinated studies with all of the cities in 1973 addressed to problems of a regional nature. San Mateo County has now completed its Draft Seismic and Safety Elements of the General Plan; copies of the documents Volumes 1 and 2, were sent to the City Council for information. The Assistant City Planner advised that City of Burlingame's planning staff, working within the framework of the County report has prepared a Safety Element covering hazards of special concern. These are detailed on Page 1, Paragraph 2 of the Safety Element document. Fire, Public Works and Civil Defense Departments contributed to the draft Element prepared for the City Council's consideration. The Assistant City Planner explained that the Element prepared by City staff can be discussed and, after public hearing and possible amendment, adopted, The City draft and County report are consistent but not identical in all areas and if the Council wishes to recognize the County report, it may adopt it. If it is not the Council's wish to recognize the report, it can be used as background for the City's Safety Element. Declaring the hearing open, Mayor Amstrup invited comments from the floor. There were none. The hearing was declared closed. The Council was invited to comment. Councilman Cusick advised that questions she raised at the meeting on August 4 were answered by the City Planner in his memorandum to the Council dated August 13, 1975. Councilman Cusick asked for a few minor changes in the text. There were no objections from Council members. The City Planner was directed to make the changes as follows: 1. On Page 5, Paragraph 5, first sentence to read "Consider preparation of a 100 year flood protection plan in compliance with Federal require- ments." Councilman Cusick requested that Council be furnished cost estimates for the plan. 2. Page 21, Paragraph 8, delete "prepare plan," substitute "consider preparation of plan." 3. Page 14, first paragraph refers to access that the City had ten years ago to "nine capped wells." She asked that staff determine if the wells are available and costs of reactivation. Councilman Harrison reported he would prefer neither to endorse noradopt the County's Safety and Seismic Elements. Mayor Amstrup suggested the material be reviewed and, if the Council wishes to endorse or adopt, this can be done at a later date. RESOLUTION NO. 60-75 "Adopting The Safety Element Of The Burlingame Genera Plan" was introduced by Councilman Crosby, who moved its adoption, second by Councilman Harrison, unanimously carried on roll call of members present. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Change of subcontractor - Emergency Water Improvements Job No. 75-6: Under date of August 14, 1975, the Director of Public Works reported that the general contractor for the above project has requested the City's approval to a change in the subcontractor doing the boring. The Director of Public Works and the City Manager recommended approval. There were no objections from the City Council. 2. Two hour parking 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. floribunda Avenue, Primrose Road to California Drive: Recommendations from the Director of Public Works, July 21, 1975, and the City Manager, July 31, 1975, that the parking restrictions be repealed were referred to the Traffic, Safety & Parking Commission for study and recommendation. 440 3. Heritage Tree Status: Nominations from the Beautification Commission for one tree on private property at 1112 Drake Avenue and eight trees in Washington Park were forwarded by the City Manager under date of August 14, 1975 with a recommendation for approval. A motion by Council- man Crosby confirming Heritage Tree Status was seconded by Councilman Har- rison and carried on voice vote of members present. CITY MANAGER REPORTS 1. Solid Waste Management Plan: In a communication dated August 13,1975 the City Manager advised it is the position of the City Attorney that a public hearing is not required at this time. (City Attorney memo of August 8, 1975.) However, the County expects cities' comments by Sep- tember 15 and formal action between October 15 and December 15, 1975. The City Manager advised further that the plan provides for a Public Rubbish Collection Point (PRCP) (small transfer station) for Burlingame by 1978. It was his recommendation, since cooperation from the City of San Mateo appears to be nil, that Burlingame probably should proceed to establish a PRCP. Accompanying the City Manager's communication were comments from Councilman Mangini (memo of August 7), the City Planner (August 11) and S.A. Armogida of the County Engineering and Road Depart- ment (August 13, 1975). Mayor Amstrup referred to an article in the San Mateo Times, August 18 issue, indicating that the City Council of the City of San Mateo has taken the position there will be no solid refuse transfer station within the boundaries of San Mateo bayfront plan. Councilman Cusick pointed out that the County plan provides for a transfer station in Burlingame, projected to the year 2000. She asked if it is the intent that the facility service only Burlingame or a larger area. At her requEst the City Manager was directed to obtain further details from the County; also, because of the newspaper item, Councilman Crosby recom- mended that the City Manager pursue the transfer station matter with the City of San Mateo. The County's preliminary report was referred to the September study meeting. 2. Fixed Asset�Ap�raisal: The City Manager advised in a memorandum dated uTst 13, T975, that the completed appraisal report has been received from M&S Appraisal Systems, and that the data will be used as the basis for fixed asset accounting records, insurance and annual inventory update. A current report will be furnished annually by the consultant. RESOLUTIONS 1. RESOLUTION NO. 61-75 "Resolution Indicating Intention To Comply With Regional Water Quality Control Board Requirement For Dechlorination Of Treated Wastewater" was introduced by Councilman Harrison, who moved its adoption, second by Councilman Crosby, unanimously carried on roll call of members present. 2. RESOLUTION NO. 62-75 "Concerning City Council Procedure For Study Meetings" was introduced by Councilman Harrison, who moved its adoption, second by Councilman Cusick, unanimously carried on roll call of members present. ORDINANCES (Second reading) ORDINANCE NO. 1044 "An Ordinance Amending Sections 11.06.070 And 11.06.080 Of The Municipal Code Relating To Appeals From Decisions Concerning Distinctive And Heritage Trees" was given its second reading. There were no comments from the audience. On motion of Councilman Cusick, second by Councilman Harrison, said Ordinance passed its second reading and was unanimously adopted on roll call of members present. 4-11 2. (Introduction of) ORDINANCE NO. 1045 "Repealing Chapter 17.04 Of The Municipal Code And Adding A New Chapter 17.04 Adopting The Uniform Fire Code" was introduced for first reading by Councilman Harrison. Mayor Amstrup referred to a recent press article concerning City of San Bruno legislation which limits operation of businesses on San Mateo Avenue to retail establishments, provides for nonconforming use permits to busi- nesses in operation before adoption of the ordinance and forfeiture of the permit when a business ceases to operate for six months or more. The City Manager was requested to obtain a copy of the ordinance for Council review. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. San Francisco International Airport Environmental Impact Assessment Report In response to an inquiry from Councilman Cusick, the City Manager con- firmed that deficiencies noted in the EIAR from the City of Burlingame's viewpoint were forwarded to the Airports Commission and acknowledged promptly by communication from the Director of Airports. NEW BUSINESS 1. Councilman Cusick noted that the Council of Mayors has been asked to support legislation introduced by Assemblyman Papan (AB 2201) which would require the assessor to reappraise the same proportion of property in all categories if less than the entire roll is reappraised. She felt this could have the effect of nellifying any tax relief ..for, Burlingame homeowners next year. Mayor Amstrup indicated he would raise the question at the next Council of Mayors' meeting. 2. Mayor Amstrup reported that a recent newspaper item indicated that the San Mateo County Transit District Board of Directors may be discussing fixed rail types of transit. Commenting it was his impression that the District was formed to create bus system transit, he asked the City Manager to investigate and report to the City Council. COMMENDATIONS - Police Department Personnel On behalf of the City Council, Mayor Amstrup acknowledged the very efficient performance of Sergeant Friedberg, Dispatcher Peluffo and Officers Boyle, Ickes, Schneider, Shea, Strohm, and VanEtta on the occasion of two recent attempted robberies. SPECIAL PARKING COMMITTEE Mayor Amstrup announced the group met on August 15 to discuss the Broadway situation. It was decided to recommend to the City Council that the lot at Rhinette and California Drive be used on a trial basis - perhaps two to three months - for public parking. Depending upon its use during this period, the Council can decide whether or not its acquisition will be of benefit to Broadway; as an alternative, there was discussion relative to enlarging one of the existing lots. With respect to Burlingame Avenue area, Mayor Amstrup explained that the committee has not discussed specifics. Multi -story structures and cantilevering streets are the thoughts of one member, not suggestions of the committee proper. PROCLAMATIONS Mayor Amstrup proclaimed JAYCEE/"OLY" MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY RECYCLE WEEK August 17 through 23, 1975 and "UNITED WAY MONTH" September, 1975. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS City Attorney report of Planning Commissioners Institute, Police Department and Fire Department Monthly Reports, July, 1975, City Planner report of Planning Commission meeting, August 11, 1975, Director of Recreation report on Musical Theater Workshop, Planning Commission minutes, July 28, 1975. 442 Communications: Mrs. Herbert Sommer, 1387 Hillside Circle, endorsing enactment of legis- lation regulating handbills and advertising circulars. Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Hittenberger, 2895 Hillside Drive, supporting Musical Theater Workshop sponsored by Recreation Department. Bay Land Area Study Team material dated July 9, 1975, concerning Westbay Associates claim to tidelands of San Francisco Bay. Regional Planning Committee Discussion Paper on Type of RPC Involvement in Planning Projects. - League of California Cities, July, 1975, bulletins. APPROVALS On motion of Councilman Cusick, second by Councilman Harrison, Warrants Numbers 293 through 577 in the amount of $638,289.14, duly audited, were approved for payment on voice vote of members present. Payroll, July, 1975, Checks Numbers 11081 through 1183$, in the amount of $321,999.07 were approved on motion of Councilman Cusick, second by Councilman Harrison, unanimous voice vote of members present. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was regularly adjourned at 9:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Herbert K. White, City Clerk Deputy/ City Clerk 7