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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1964.08.2773 Burlingame, qalifornia August 27, 1964 CATT TO ORDER An adjourned meeting of the Burlingame City Council from its adjourned meeting of Augnrst 24, L964, was held on the above given date. Meeting called to order at 8:05 p.m., I{ayor Martin in the Chair. At word from the Chair, Pledge of Allegiance to ROLL CATL aLl in the Council Chambe r arose and gave the the Flag. COMMI'NICATIONS PAYROLL DEDUCTED DUES REQUESTED A communication was read from the Burlingame Civil Service Enployees' Association, Inc., dated August 24, L964, advising of its current reactivation and the recommendation of the members that Council authorize the palzment of dues through payroll deductions. 2. IIYATT MUSIC THEATRE PROCLAII'IATION A cornmunication was read from lilr. Theodore T. BluInberg, dated August 27, L964. recommending that Council acknow).edge, by proclamation, the nehr cultural and entertainment center, "Hyatt Music Theatre" to be opened soon in the City of Burlingame. Council concurred and lltayor Martin proclaimed the week of septenber 9 to 15 as 'Hyatt Irlusic lfheatre Week. " UNFINISHED BUSINESS ORDINANCE NO. 812 (Amending Section 1171 .8 Sales Tax) I{ayor Uartin advised that Ordinance No. 812 pertaining to an amendment to distribute sales and use tax collections into the General Fund, was scheduled for second reading on this dater that in addition thereto, Council , by 1aw, is required to set the 1964-1965 tax rate prior to september 1. The City Clerk vras requested to obtain departmental membership comprising the Ihe Chair explained the proposal to deposit into the General Fund for the allocation of as Council may authorize. additional information concerning organization. alL sales tax revenue such City expenditures Acknowledging the large attendance announced that oral presentations the Council Chambers, Mayor Dlartin the issue would be heard. in on Ur. A. c. Westcott, President, Suburban Protective Association of Burlingame, read a letter, eopies of which had been previously forwarded to members of the Couneil and to the Press, wherein the discontinuance of crediting fifty percent of the sales tax revenue on real estate and personal property was opposed. PLEDGE OF AILEGIANCE Present - Councilmen : Crosby-Diederich sen-George-ilohnson-Ir{artin. Absent - Councilmen: None 1. 74 Mr. westcott stated that the need for many of the capital improvements proposed is not disputed; however, the method to finance projects other than by means of a bond issue approved by the voters is questioned. Recalling that a prior Council took an action wherein fifty percent of the sales tax revenue was pledged to reduce the tax rate, Ur. We$ott stated that his Association is of the opinion that the conmj.tment should be upheld . l4r. Westcott stated that in his examination of the 1964-1965 budget the $240,000.00 Capital Improvement allocation does not include an itemization of projects proposed. Councilman Gjorge explained that the Capital Improvement sum has been reduced to provide for personnel increases in salaries and parking district fund deficiencies; $57,000.00 currently remains in the Capital Inlrrovement reserve. The Chair referred to Capital Improvement priority items reconmended by the Planning Commission for the 1964-1965 period, including among the large expenditures, the acquisition of bay front properties (Burlingame shore Land Cornpany, $I25,000; state property adjacent to the City Dump, $56,000;) uills Estate and Ray Park ifiprovements, the completion of fire alarm system installations and the Broadlray Overpass study plans. Explaining the special tax rate system and advising that Council is proposing to increase the general tax Levy on1y, Iqayor Martin referred to a "tax rate formula " memo wherein the City Manager advised that under the present formula, the general fund lewy is limi.ted this year to thirty-qix cents; if the current limitation is abandoned, the g".,".atlPBS rate can be raised to g1.00 (per $100 assessed valuation.) The Chair advised that council however, is not considering an increase to the $1.OO tax limit. l{r. westcott stated that his Association has noted an "element of a more expensive type of capital- Improvement" referring particularly to the recent publicity concerning a nev/ Ciq/ HaII, a golf course and the Broadway overpass improvements and that major projects as such, should be referred to the voters. In clarifying a reference made by ltlr. Westcott to his 1951 eLection (to fill Council vacancy) campaign promise to maintain the fifty percent sales tax restriction. Mayor Martin pointed to the record wherein prior to the 1962 election (to a fulL term) he issued a public announcement that he had reversed his stand and favored the rescission of the fifty percent restriction to increase ttte general fund levy to provide for much-needed City improvements. Mayor Martin further clarified that (1) it shal1 be at least three years before the Broad\^ray overpass project becomes a reality; revenues will be derived from the state Public utilities Corrnission, the county Road Fund, the Division of liighways and other agencies and that only a preliminary study is currently in progrress; (2) council has not determined when or how a new Cj-ty HaLI shall be financed; (3) Council has authorized a preliminary feasibility report withrespect to the golf course and methods proposed for its oPeration are self-l iquidating; and (4) council is interested and has discussed only, the purchase of raw land, being of the opinion that a continued delay would be costly. in view of the rapid rise in land Purchases. councilman ceorge, speaking as Chairman of the council Budget connittee, presented budgetary figures fot L962-63, L963-64 and 1964-65, making a comparison between the anticipated revenues in relation to the increases in governmental expenditures. 75 In referring to the low tax biI1s received by the property owners for the past several years, Councilman George observed that an increase in the General Fund levy shal1 provide capital- Improvement funds to finance projects "1ong overdue in the City of Burlingame. " Mayor l{artin, as an illustration, cent increase in the General Fund repealed. would add $18.75 to the T'he Chair advised that Council is within as has been proposed, or by a Bond issue method. pointed out that a twenty-five if the sales tax ordinance is taxes on a home valued at $30,000. Irtr. R. T. Perry, 5ol Concord way, questioned the legality of financing capital j.mprovement project by means other than by the vote of the people . its ,of, prerogative to proceed by a lease-purchase llhe Chair further pointed out that some capital improvement projects cannot be acquired through a bond issue and in reply to inquiries concerning a special tax levy for capital improvements, explained that the use of funds derived f rom 5:ark, recreation and library and similar special tax levies is l-imited; the General Fund permits a greater flexibility. !lrs. Blandre Freeman, 1601 Toledo Avenue, spoke in favor of the proposed amendment, stating that monies used for capital improvements, if expended prudently, would be acceptable. Itr. Buell Profitt, 10 Kinder Lane, Hillsborough and a Burlingame property owner, !1r. Harry stephens. 1341 Capuchino Avenue, Mrs. tlarianne Byrd, 1308 castillo Avenue. ltr. Bernard llorris, 1I0I oxford Road, Irlr. Kenneth Baldwin, 3036 Rivera Drive, Ur. Steve sanguinetti, 120 EIm Avenue, !1r. Charles Cole, I17 Occidental Avenue and Miss Margaret Til1man, 733 Farringdon Lane, each spoke in opposition, stating, essentially, that "major capital improvement" expenditures should be decided by bord issues and that Council is bound by a "moral obJ.igation" to "uphold the action of a previous Council." Communications were read and acknowledged from the following: ilr. william Q. Beckett, 1419 [ontero Avenue, Mrs. Ttrelma C. Castle, 1O2J- Capuchi.no Avenue, It1rs. James Aldrich, 740 Walnut Avenue and I{rs. Marie U. Teixeira, 1601 Granada, urging the continuance of the fifty percent restriction on the use of sales tax revenues and that the voters of the community be given the opportunity to decide capital improvement expenditures by bond issues. A communication was also acknowledged from Mr. Luther l{. Carr, referring to recent publicity on the relocation of the city Ha1I within the MilLs Plaza area and entering an objection to the removal of the goverrunental seat from central Burlingame. Following considerable discussion, Mayor Martin invited Council conunents. Councilman Johnson spoke in opposition to the amendment, stating that while sympathetic to the needs of the City, she questioned the necessity of acquiring all the proposed projects in the one yearr that a slight tax increase by means of a special lewy would provide needed irnprovements and a Bond issue wou Id resolve the proposal to acquire Land. In conclusion, Councilman Johnson expressed concern that the repeal of the sales tax ordinance may be an incentive for future Councils to rails the General Eund levy to the $1.00 maximum and urged that Council reconsider its intention to increase the tax rate by rneans of an amendment abandoning the sales tax revenue restriction. Councilman Diederichsen complimented the Planning Commission on its foresightedness in recommending for Council deliberation, a Capital Inprovement program designed to establish a systematic approach to (o improve and expand the facilities of the City and voiced his approval to the proposed sales tax anendment. councilman Crosby observed that the hearing on this occasion indicated that the conununity as a whole is unaware of "how the tax dollar is spent" and suggested that future budget hearings be more widely advertised. Councilman Crosby. in commenting on the improvements long due, referred to the fire alarm system installed for many years, but connected, within the hill areas of the City and the inadeguacy the Corporation Yard facility to house expensive City equipment. not of Councilman Crosby stated that the repeal of the sales tax ordinance does not necessarily imply an increase in the tax rate but it does permit Council greater latitude in allocating general funds. Councilman George spoke on the advantages of maintaining contingency funds by the repeal of the sales tax ordinance, stating that the City's current expansion and the demand for additional municipal services should be supplied. Following further discussion, wherein questions were raised by opponents concerning increases in the City's revenue by special levies rather than by the repeal of the sales tax ordinance, the majority of the Council expressed preference for the latter method. !.,layor Martin explained that a special Levy must be used specifically for the purpose intended (Park for park usage, Recreation for recreation usage. etc.,) and that surplus special levied funds are not transferrable to other funds. ORDINANCE NO. 812 "An Ordinance emending Section ll7l.8 of the Burlingame Ordinance code Providing for the Deposit of SaIe6 and Use Tax Collections in the General Fund" was thereafter given its second reading and upon motion of Councilman George, seconded by Councilman Crosby, said Ordinance passed its second reading and was adopted by the following vote: Aye s : Councilmen ! Crosbyrpls6erichsen-George-Uartin. Noes: councilmen: ilohnson Absent Councilmen: None RESOLUTION NO. 112-64 "Fixing Tax ltate for the City of Burlingame For the Fiscal Year Ending June 3O, 1965" ($1.54 per $100 assess valuation) was introduced for passage on motion of Councilman George, seconded by Councilman crosby and adopted by the following Roll Call vote: Ayes : Councilmen : Crosby-Diederichsen-George-I{artin. Noes: Councilmen: ilohnson Absent Councilmen: None ADJOURNMENT lfhe meeting was regularly adjourned at 11:45 p.m., to meet in regular session septe ber 8, 1964, and in memory of Mr. Harry Regan, Burlingame pioneer and civic personality, who recently passed in death. Respectfully submitted, -/,firr't -fzrt&-bAPPROVED: R. D. MARTIN, MAYO R @rrYcLERK ,4