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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1996.02.0343C CITY OF BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL STUDY MEETING Saturday, February 3, 1996 City Hall Conference Room A Mayor Bud Harrison convened the annual work program and goals session of the City Council and department heads on the above date in Conference Room A at 9:00 a.m. CouNcu- PRgsext: H.mRtsoN, Jnlwny, KNtcrr, O'MnuoNy, SlnrrEttl Srnrr PNBSTNIT:Ancynns, BECKER, CoLrulN, Dl,Ly, EscorrEn, KrRKUp, Mornor, PALMER, QulonI, RErLLy, ScnweRrz, WLLnus OrHens RrpRrsrx'TATIVES oF CHAMBER oF Coprupncr nxo LmnnRy BoARD 1. REwpw 1oo5, FORpCnst 1oo6 The city manager noted that this is goals session XV. The purpose is to review upcoming issues and look at the work program for 1996 as well as start the budget process. 1995 was a fairly busy year and a year of change; including a change on council. In 1996, most of the change will be on the department head side with three or four department heads retiring. We started 1995 with a $4 million contract on the landfill. BART is still on the agenda. We have recently received a letter from Washington, DC, asking whether we intend to testify at this year's Congressional hearing. There was significant progress on the library both in terms of relocation, construction bids, and financing. We are still working on developing a parking lot at Donnelly. If relocation of the tenants can be accomplished, we will demolish the structures on the future parking lot at the same time as the library. The streetscape study is progressing and should be completed this spring. Councilwoman Knight noted that she was very pleased with the contract for the Peninsula Conflict Resolution service. Vice Mayor O'Mahony wanted to know what value are we receiving for our dollars, and how many Burlingame cases are there. She also noted that Broadway merchants are very pleased with the shuttle service from the hotels. 2. RBvrcw 1oa6 WoRr PRocnnu The first item on the 1996 work program is the same as 1995: BART to airport EIR. We anticipate a response to our comments and a final EIR draft in April or May. Council decided we should not talk to BART until we see their responses to our questions on the EIR. Councilman Spinelli said he felt he made a difference in appearing before Congress last year and thought we should be careful not to drop the ball; he would be willing to go again this year. Councilwoman Knight asked if we could put this on the agenda for Monday night. It was noted a four-fifths vote was needed to add it to the agenda. The council also asked for previous city correspondence and materials on the matter to be delivered to them Monday prior to the meeting. Next, the manager reviewed the status of the library renovation and landfiIl closure projects For the landfill closure, over 200,000 cubic yards of additional clay and soil is needed to 43 i achieve the final grades. Concerning the streetscape study, Mayor Harrison asked if the consultant has become more realistic in terms of proposed solutions. Staff indicated the most recent workshop went much better. We also will be reviewing the proposals to revise the M-1 district regulations at the joint Planning Commission/Council meeting in April. Concerning the Donnelly parking lot, we still have three tenants that need to be relocated, and the February 5 deadline is approaching. The manager indicated that he may have to start eviction proceedings. Under cable television, it was noted that we are still waiting for TCI to complete the purchase of Pacific Cable. Because of the long time involved, we may need to go to a month-to-month type franchise. Councilwoman Knight noted she would like to discuss at a study meeting what provisions we would like to have included in the franchise since she still favors televising council and planning commission meetings. Also, she has received some complaints concerning various financial charges. The manager reviewed the financial outlook for 1995-96 which indicated revenue growth in the 3-4Vo range. Fifteen years ago, property tax growth was llVo; this past year, it was negative. The total property tax that we collect would not cover the cost of either police or fire; and over one-half of the property tax collected from the R-l area is used strictly for tree trimming and sidewalks. The budget calls for a $1 million reduction in current reserves but due to improved sales and hotel tax the city manager did not believe this would occur. For next year, we do need $800,000 additional for debt service for the library. Also we are anticipating increased PERS retirement rates. The big unknown is the effect of the Proposition 62 court decision. This could put in jeopardy 2% of the hotel tax and may require a prepayment of the funds. If we were to lose this, the budget picture would change dramatically. The League of California Cities is trying to get the legislature to adopt legislation which would make our current tax legal. We may need to go to election to resolve the issue. In planning for future capital improvements, we will be required to spend $3.7 million on the California Drive sewer interceptor. This means that we will need to raise sewer rates gradually to cover the costs. The Transportation Authority recently issued an estimate for an underground Broadway grade separation which would cost $37 million. There is a shortfall of $12 million in terms of financing. Mayor Harrison asked the public works director about the recent study with San Mateo concerning a below grade alignment in San Mateo from Peninsula to downtown. The public works director indicated that because of the extreme cost, this proposal is not proceeding forward. Councilwoman Knight would like to see a future council study meeting look at the alternatives available in terms of a grade separation on Broadway. Councilman Spinelli felt we should also look at the Broadway interchange in connection with the grade separation and what might happen to this interchange if BART were to locate at Millbrae Avenue. The manager also discussed the desire to increase interest in the Tri-city aqueduct connecting the city to the San Andreas reservoir in order to improve the reliability of Burlingame's water supply and storage. This $9-10 million project needs to receive support from San Francisco Water, Millbrae, and Hillsborough. Next, the manager stated that there will be four department head retirements in the next four to seventeen months. Concerning the park department, we may look at restructuring. Loosing 43? half the city's department heads at one time will be a big change. We also have seven labor agreements which will be expiring and renegotiated in 1996. CouNctt l-ttscusstoN- 1 006 WoRx PRocRev Vice Mayor O'Mahony stated she is always concerned with the aging of our infrastructure, particularly the sewer system, and felt we needed to put more attention on residential sewers. The manager indicated he is concerned on the water side, as well. Councilman Spinelli asked about undergrounding utilities along El Camino Real. He asked the public works director about his recent letter to PG&E. Some of the problems of undergrounding including conflict with other utilities and costs to private development for hook up were discussed. The public works director indicated that in the past the city has had an underground committee to choose locations for undergrounding, and we may need to reactivate it. We anticipate an answer from PG&E in approximately 60 days about the cost of undergrounding on El Camino. We will schedule a future study session on this matter. Councilwoman Knight indicated she has heard a number of complaints about the clegp[inep.s-g{-.- tt. .iiy. .srr"'*"rrt fike to see more "presence" among the public works a.p.rt*.qff|_3;T3'fl?i!or llo.n, employees. The manager indicated we have only two people directly assigned to street hel p at mj n.imum cleaning, and it is all mechanized. Another issue is the lack of 7-day garbage pick up. She wage. also asked the public works director to see when Rollins Road is scheduled to be resurfaced from Broadway to Peninsula and whether for safety it would be possible to put in raised (reflective) dots on the street to separate directional traffic. Vice Mayor O'Mahony inquired about when the rubber pads will be placed on the railroad crossings at Broadway. The public works director advised this is at least a year away because of problems with the JPB and contracting with Amtrak. He did indicate that Oak Grove would be repaved within the next few months. 3. BuncsrFoRrcesr The manager indicated that we need to continue to limit expenditure growth to be in line with revenues. The city is on a semi-fixed income and we have very little control within the general fund. Council briefly discussed the present status of hotel development and their desire for additional hotels to increase the revenue base. The manager indicated that the major threat to the budget seems to be from state restructuring of the local government financing. 5. DrpnRnrlrNt HEno "Nrw YBIR RgsoLutloNs" Council began a department-by-department review of the new year resolutions prepared by the department heads. Councilman Spinelli asked the police chief to look at the opportunities for digital communication service with an outside vendor to whom we have recently awarded a contract. In responding to a council question, the chief noted the citizens academy is full. Also there is currently a list for the anticipated vacancies due to retirements in the police department. Assistant Fire Chief Reilly reviewed with council the benefits to the city and the status of the fire engine maintenance and the paramedic programs. Councilman Spinelli also asked about the status of the digital mapping; the public works director noted we are preparing an RFP on that matter and it is budgeted for this year. Councilwoman Knight supported the disaster training proposed for all employees and thought it would be good to go over the materials in 433 the disaster cabinets to reinforce part of the training Under public works, Mayor Harrison asked about the construction period for the library; it was noted that it is anticipated to be 18 months. In reviewing the park department, Councilwoman Ifuight asked the park director to describe the proposed award for citizen involvement for the Oxford/Cambridge area. The park director noted he has proposed the citizen who organized the neighborhood for the elm tree replacement for a state volunteer award. The recreation director reviewed how the registration using of Visa and MasterCard was going, as well as telephone, mail, and fax registration. Councilwoman Knight asked that we continue to look at providing senior citizen access to computers. She felt that the possibility of using the depot for a teen program should be considered. There were no comments concerning the library work program. The finance director was complimented for receiving the Chamber of Commerce president's award for the east-west "free bee" shuttle. Under planning, Mayor Harrison asked that the planning department work with SAMCEDA to develop a common application form. Councilwoman Knight discussed the litter situation on Burlingame Avenue with code enforcement. She suggested, and council agreed, to put the issue of the take-out permits on the joint Planning Commission/Council meeting agenda. Council also asked for information on what plans may be in the works for future improvements to the Safeway, Wells Fargo, Walgreen's, or Lucky's sites. With the city attorney, Councilwoman Ifuight asked that we review the garbage situation on the south end Rollins Road, particularly furniture left at curb side. Under the city manager's goals, Vice Mayor O'Mahony indicated her appreciation for the evaluation of the prior years accomplishments. FRotrl ttrp FtooR Under public comment, the park director suggested that he noticed another city has city department phone numbers printed on the back of city council member business cards; this might be a good idea for us. Council concurred. There was no other public comment. CouNcn Cotvttrlfxrs Mayor Harrison asked if anyone was willing to attend a meeting concerning the Tour de Peninsula Bicycle Race; no one was available. He also asked that council consider changing a meeting time from 7:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Council thought this was a good idea, and directed staff to prepare a required code amendment. AorouRxtrlgrvr The meeting adjourned at 1l:10 am Judith A. v City Clerk