HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1995.11.20446
BI.JRLINGAME, CALIFORNIA
November 20,1995
CALL TO ORDER
A duly noticed 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 at7:30 p.m.by Mayor Knight.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
The pledge was led by Vice Mayor Pagliaro.
ROLL CALL
COUNCIL PRESENT:
COUNCIL ABSENT:
HARRISON, KNIGHT, O'MAHONY, PAGLIARO, SPINELLI
NONE
MINUTES
The minutes of the November 6, 1995 meeting were unanimously approved after a change by
Councilwoman O'Mahony on page 3, line 4, "define the employee parking location plan. "
PRESENTATIONS TO RETIRING COUNCIL MEMBER
Mayor Knight asked Vice Mayor Pagliaro if he wished to make any parting comments. Vice Mayor
Pagliaro congratulated Mayor Ifuight and Councilwoman Janney; he said he was confident that
Councilwoman Janney would do a fine job; he thanked his wife Bonnie and his children for their
support over the past 12 years as councilman; he thanked his campaign supporters the Cannons, past
and present council members, and city staff. He said there are two dangers to our city, one from
within and one from without: BART from without, will divide the city, there is no crossing the
third or electrified rail so the city will have a fenced or walled barrier its length if BART continues
down the Peninsula. If it stops at Millbrae, the walls will focus all noise out its end into Burlin-
game Village area. The danger from within is personal vendettas; we must put them aside as we
have in the past and try to make government work. He said he was only taking a sabbatical from
serving Burlingame and quoted Churchill: "This is not the end, in fact this is not the beginning of
the end, but it is the end of the beginning. " Finally, he thanked the people of Burlingame.
Mayor Knight presented Vice Mayor Pagliaro with a plaque corlmemorating his years of service to
the city on Council and the Recreation Commission. Council members all commented on Vice
Mayor Pagliaro's contributions and wished him well. A representative from Senator Kopp's office
presented him with a framed proclamation.
Vice Mayor Pagliaro took a seat in the audience.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS - OATH OF OFFICE OF NEW COUNCIL
Assemblywoman Jackie Speier called forward the new council member, Mary H. Janney. Mary and
her two sons came forward. Assemblywoman Speier administered the oath of office to Council-
woman Janney and congratulated her.
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Assemblywoman Speier then administered the oath of office to Mayor Knight and congratulated her.
The new council members took their seats.
Councilwoman Janney said she had been privileged to live and work in this community and to serve
on the elementary and high school boards; she thanked all her friends and supporters in the
audience.
Mayor Knight acknowledged the many commissioners and officials in the audience; she thanked her
husband Phil and son Chris; she described the highlights of the past year as mayor, noting the
memorial to the Oklahoma City bombing, painting of the former Nathan's restaurant, and greeting
many visitors from around the world who stayed in Burlingame for conventions; she thanked council
for its fight against BART, and thanked city staff for its help.
SELECTION OF NEW MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR
Mayor Knight nominated Councilman Spinelli for Mayor and noted years ago Vic Mangini was
appointed mayor after being on the council only 18 months when the vice mayor left the council,
Councilwoman O'Mahony nominated Councilman Harrison for Mayor. After a 3-2 roll call vote,
Councilman Harrison was appointed as Mayor; Harrison, Janney and O'Mahony voting for Harrison
and Knight and Spinelli voting for Spinelli.
Councilwoman Knight said she felt she had to speak up about a call and meeting she had with
Mayor Harrison in October where he asked for her support in his bid for Mayor and he said he
already had three votes. Councilman Spinelli said he was greatly troubled two years ago when
council initially passed over Marti Ifuight as Vice Mayor and then because of former Vice Mayor
Pagliaro's action appointed her; at recent meetings with council members from other cities, several
have mentioned that Harrison has stated he would be mayor. He has prepared and will send a letter
to the District Attorney regarding what he felt to be demonstrated a violation of the Brown Act,
specifically the "serial meeting" section.
Mayor Harrison took his seat as mayor and presented a plaque to Councilwoman Knight commemo-
rating her year as mayor. He welcomed guests and congratulated the Fire Chief and his wife who
were present tonight on their third anniversary; he introduced his wife and son and other special
guests and congratulated Councilwoman Knight and Councilwoman Janney on their new terms of
office. He asked for nominations for Vice Mayor.
Councilwoman Janney nominated Councilwoman O'Mahony for Vice Mayor. Councilwoman
Knight nominated Councilman Spinelli. After a 3-2 roll call vote, Councilwoman O'Mahony was
appointed Vice Mayor; Harrison, Janney and O'Mahony voting for O'Mahony, Knight and Spinelli
voting for Spinelli.
Councilwoman O'Mahony said she would dedicate this coming year to the memory of her mother
who passed away recently atthe age of 91. She reviewed the many majorprojects before the city
and said she would work with all the council members to get the job accomplished.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Harrison asked for any public comments. Gloria Barton, 734 Winchester, said two years
ago she had to say the same thing to council about the controversy about appointment of the vice
mayor; Councilman Spinelli was voted into office by 3,000 people, this council is not just voting
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against two other council members, but against those 3,000 people. Alexander Bogdis, 601
Burlingame Avenue, congratulated the new Mayor and Vice Mayor and the new members. Will
McGowan, commissioner, welcomed Councilwoman Janney and thanked former Vice Mayor
Pagliaro for his service, especially his proposal to allow tables and chairs on Burlingame Avenue.
Glenn Mendelson, said he was disappointed at council ignoring the tradition of rotation of mayor; he
thanked Councilwoman Knight for leading the fight against BART. Gary Cohn, businessman,
thanked former Vice Mayor Pagliaro for his contributions of time and effort to the city. Assembly-
woman Speier said she had not intended to comment but noted council has to work together to
promote good public policy; she does not want her city council to become a dysfunctional family;
council needs to think about how it can serve the city amicably. There were no other comments.
Mayor Harrison thanked Assemblywoman Speier for her comments; he anticipated this council
would work together as they had in the past despite differences; said some perceived Burlingame as
antlbusiness and he hoped to change this attitude, to streamline permit processes; reviewed the large
projects before the city, library and dump; said he would like to complete the bike trail along the
bay, noted the importance of tying in the bike trail with transit, adding a bike lane to the Broadway
overpass; spoke of the need for a grade separation at Broadway; convincing Samtrans that the BART
TSM alternative was the way to go; said he would not respond to the charges leveled at him tonight;
said government is about compromise.
SCHEDULE APPEAL HEARINGS
Mayor Harrison set December 4 hearing dates for (1) an appeal of the Traffic Commission decision
regarding a stop sign at Ray and Davis Drives, and (2) a sign permit for 777 Airport Boulevard, the
Red Roof Inn.
GLADYSZ AND LEO J. RYAN
Mayor Harrison said the meeting would be adjourned in memory of Hilde Rooth, city employee and
widow of a former mayor; Majorie Powell Herrick, former commissioner; his wife's uncle, George
Gladysz; and he also asked people to remember on the 17th anniversary one of the victims of the
Jonestown Massacre, ko J. Ryan, his friend and colleague. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45
p.m. to a reception in the lobby
Judith A. Malfatti
City Clerk