HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1996.09.17CITY OF BURLINGAME
CITY COUNCIL STUDY MEETING
Tuesday, September 17, 1996
City Hall Conference Room A
Mayor Bud Harrison called to order the special joint study session with the Park and
Recreation Commission on the above date in Conference Room A at7:02 p.m.
CoUNcIL pRESENT: HlRnIsoN, hNNEv, KNIGHI, O'MeuoNy, SpINELLI
Srerr PRpssNr:AncyRES, CoLBul,N, ERnecueR, MISSEL, MoNRor, NAt<tso, ScnwlRtz,
Wnlreus
OrHsRs pRESENT: Pem & RBcnBnrroN CoTTaUISSIoNERS KELLy, LARIos, NrLrunynR,
NyulN, PERA, PtccnttI, Ronrxts, Doucgnnry, CRrIAN
1. Rgvrpw or TepN Issups wIrH PIRK eNp REcnrertoN Cot\,IlvrrssroN.
Park and Recreation Commissioner Frank Kelly reviewed the report which the commission
had developed out of their special meeting on Thursday, August 29. The report outlines
various community concerrrs regarding teens and the desire of the commission to increase the
activities in the recreation deparffnent for teenagers. The major conclusion was that the
commission felt the need for a staff specialist to work on developing teen programs.
Council and commission discussed the various perceptions of what teens needed and the role
that a teen coordinator could play. Mayor Harrison had asked police Commander Gary Missel
and Officer Ed Nakiso to address the conclusions of the Burlingame Together program. Vice
Mayor O'Mahony asked about the status of the questionnaire for the high school.
Commissioner Kelly felt there was a drop off of activities between BIS and the high school
level and that we needed to increase our emphasis at the high school level. Commissioner
Larios felt that we could use the existing facilities of the school for recreation programs after 3
p.m. He would like to see more of the school facilities used, not just the athletic facilities that
are used now. He felt that there are lots of kids looking for something to do after school.
Commission and council discussed the very diverse nature of today's students and the variety
of interest that teens have. Mayor Harrison felt we needed to conclude the labor negotiations
with city employees before considering adding any full-time staff. Councilwoman Janney and
O'Mahony felt we needed to explore more fully with the high schools what we could be doing
to assist teens. Councilwoman Knight thought we needed to look at possibly using the depot
for teen activities but adult supervision would be needed. Councilman Spinelli noted that it is
a multi-faceted problem and we need a variety of activities including things like computers.
After additional discussion, council directed that a committee be formed to meet with the high
school district to identify possible facilities and teen programs on which we could cooperate.
The committee should include principal Larry Teshara, superintendent Tom Mohr, Park and
Recreation Commissioners Larios and Piccetti, Mayor Harrison, Councilwoman Janney, Park
and Recreation Director John Williams, police Commander Gary Missel, and City Manager.
42
Councilwoman Janney indicated that we may need to look at surcharges on recreation fees to
pay for facilities. Vice Mayor O'Mahony asked we look at what other cities are doing and
indicated she did not favor adding additional staff at this time.
2. Rsvrpw TerB-our PpRMtr REcUI-erIoNs eNo Issups
City planner reviewed her staff report and the difficulty which staff had in terms of identifying
the particular issues which council wished to address. Staff had heard issues of cleanliness,
trash, litter, and sanitation, along with zoning issues of maintaining the retail/restaurant mix
and the pedestrian orientation of Burlingame Avenue. Council agreed that we need to
maintain the pedestrian retail orientation of Burlingame Avenue. Councilman Spinelli felt that
there was a very fine line but it was important to maintain an appropriate mix of retail and
restaurant uses. Councilwoman Knight agreed that we need to limit restaurants and felt that
"take-out" establishments are becoming eating establishments. She stated that we need to
focus on food and revise our definitions.
Vice Mayor O'Mahony agreed that there was a great concern about "take-out." She suggested
possibly a moratorium would be appropriate while we study the issue and discuss appropriate
regulation. She also felt that if thirty percent or more of a business is take-out, perhaps it
should be considered a fast food establishment. Councilwoman Janney felt that we needed to
define better the differences between "take-out" and restaurants. Councilman Spinelli agreed
with the idea of a moratorium in Subarea A. He noted that our survey showed we have no
"take-out" establishments on Howard; possibly we would wish to encourage more eating
establishments in that area. He also noted that the Lorton area, also Subarea B, is impacted
with food establishments so that also needs to be considered.
City attorney reviewed the time requirements of a moratorium. He noted that the purpose of it
is to stop all new applications while the city studies the issue and considers solutions. Mayor
Harrison indicated that he wasn't sure he could support a moratorium; but if one were
imposed, it should only be in Subarea A. Councilman Spinelli also noted in regulation we
should address that if an eating establishment goes out of business, the "right" for that use
should some how come back to the city. Mayor Harrison felt we needed to immediately
address the maintenance issues of the existing facilities such as cleaning and washing
sidewalks, BFI pick up on Sunday, and new trash receptacles. City planner asked how much
code enforcement the council wished. Mayor Harrison noted that news racks are a problem
and we needed to be more aggressive in code enforcement of that. It was agreed that there are
lots of complaints about parking and traffic abuses such as loading zones, illegal U-turns, etc.
Others noted the need to enforce trash management by businesses, but that enforcement should
continue to be on a complaint basis. The city engineer noted that all encroachment permits for
sidewalk seating have use standards which are not formally enforced. He wondered if council
wanted a more formal, citation procedure.
After additional discussion, council directed staff to prepare a moratorium which would
address take-out establishments and relocation of food establishments within Subarea A for a
six-month study period. They also asked that staff return to council with an implementation
strategy for the streetscape study which would include maintenance of the existing facilities.
Burlingame City Council 43 September 17, 1996
3. Srnrus El.pcrruc UNoencnouNo CoNvsRsroN FuNos - ORppR oF MecMruop Cosrs EL
Cevrrxo REeI-.
City manager reviewed the letters received from PG&E indicating we have approximately $1
million in Rule 20A funds and accrue another $213,000 annually. Estimated cost for El
Camino Real underground conversion was $10 million which would make it a20-to-40 year
project. One other area for undergrounding that we have looked at in the past is along Airport
Boulevard by the landfill and hotels. The estimated cost for this project was $1.4 million.
Council felt the El Camino project was out of the financial realm of possibility at the current
time. They directed staff to look at the Airport Boulevard project for implementation since
available funds would cover the cost.
CouNcIL CotvfirlpNrs
Vice Mayor O'Mahony felt council needed to check with our legislators about the status of the
earthquake insurance program and the differential in premiums between the northern and
southern parts of the state. She also stated she felt that if BART was going to come to
Burlingame, it should be underground and the council should communicate this preference
now.
Mayor Harrison noted that we anticipate an agreement from BART to come to the city shortly.
Councilwoman Knight and Councilman Spinelli noted that the Millbrae city council had
received an agreement which required that all materials to be confidential.
Fnorra rgp Floon
Pete Umland, 1400 Burlingame Avenue, noted that his project would be coming forward at the
October 7 council meeting. He felt that they had been doing take-outs of sodas and other
foods for many years. Council directed that we consider that with his appeal.
Gary Cohn, a local realtor, noted that he had done about seven of the restaurants in Subarea
A. He agreed with the need for a moratorium and felt that take-out should be tied into the
food establishment permit. If one has a food establishment, one should be automatically
allowed take-out. He also agreed that restaurants shouldn't go with the propefty so that
property owners were able to sell their rights to other people. He noted that the current
process to obtain a take-out service food permit takes approximately eight weeks which is a
long time and thus very expensive proposition for the property owner to go without rent. For
this reason, take-out permits should be a permitted part of a food establishment use and
freestanding take-outs should not be allowed. Both sides of Subarea B should be encouraged
to allow food establishments. Council thanked him for his observations and cornments.
AolouRNupNr
The meeting adjourned at 9:38 pm.
Judith A. Malfatti
City ClerkV
September 17, L996 44 Burlingame Ciry Council