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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 1999.01.23CITY OF BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL STUDY MEETING Saturday, January 23, 1999 Burlingame Main Library - Lane Community Room Mayor Mary Janney convened the annual work program and goals study session of the city council and department heads on the above date in the Lane Community Room at 9:03 a.m. CouNcIr. IRESENT: Gel,uceN, JANNEy, KNIGttt, O'MegoNy, SnINELLI Srepr PRsspNr:ANosRsoN, ARGyRps, BAGDoN, Bpct<pR, EscopnnR, MIssEL, MoNRog, RULLY, Wlllnus 1. Rrvmw 1998: Fonpcesr 1999 The city manager noted that the purpose of this meeting is to review the past year and look ahead at the big picture as well as to allow council to comment on the work program for 1999. It is also the start of the budget year. Last year was a busy year. To the manager, the most noteworthy changes in 1998 were implementation of design review and televising of council meetings. We also had a record year of spending over $14 million on capital improvements. On the revenue side, it was also a good year financially for the city. Looking ahead to 1999, we will have the opening of the top deck improvements at the Bayside landfill park as well as the community high school swimming pool. In November, there will be an election for two council seats. 2. RrvrBw 1999 Wonx Pnocneu In reviewing the work program for 1999, Councilman Galligan noted that parking in the Burlingame Avenue area would seem to be a major issue. He favored looking at using sales tax and some type of bonding to improve the parking situation. Councilman Spinelli noted that using bonding to provide additional parking might be a good idea, particularly in conjunction with the Safeway project; it would be good to have private business partners from the area help financially in addressing this problem. Vice Mayor Knight noted that infrastructure was one of her top priorities and that the city had lots of aging pipes. She also indicated that the corporation yard was a priority; but she was opposed to adding more parking at this time on Broadway but felt there was a need in the Burlingame Avenue area. She commented on her frustration about the city's ability to follow through on the original Broadway Streetscape plans because of all the public / merchant questions being raised and the lack of support; that it might be wise to delay spending on this project until it can be supported by the community. She felt that we should go slow on adding parking; however, if we did proceed, we should look in the "golden triangle" area near Lorton. Councilwoman O'Mahony agreed that infrastructure, especially for water and sewer, was a top priority. She noted that the city cannot control the anchor stores which are coming to the Burlingame Avenue area. She felt the parking district and its regulations were causing problems, but we should proceed on a parking study for the Burlingame Avenue area. She 464 also thought it might be a good idea for the council to meet with the design review subcommittee prior to the February I meeting where council will hear an appeal. Councilman Galligan noted we had between $9 and 10 million annually from the general fund for capital improvements; a majority of this could go to infrastructure. He thought televising council meetings helped to inform the public, and he saw no reason to go back and revisit the streetscape decisions that council had made. He wants to look for a location for teens to call their own and to the formation of a youth commission under the aegis of the recreation department. He felt a location could either be a lease or buy proposition. Councilwoman O'Mahony wanted to support the approved streetscape plans for the Broadway area. She felt we should seriously look at providing parking on Laguna. She felt the Visitors and Convention Bureau structure was troubling and noted that they did not include the city's holiday tree lighting in their publications while they did calendar similar events in other cities in their service area. Councilman Spinelli agreed with other council members that infrastructure was a major importance and will pay dividends down the road particularly water, sewer, and the corporation yard. He felt that if we needed to acquire land for the corporation yard, we should proceed. Council did need to meet concerning design review and fine-tune that process. He felt that the streetscape program along Broadway should proceed. Providing additional off- street parking in the Broadway area made him nervous; and traffic impacts along Carmelita should also be considered. Vice Mayor Knight noted, concerning a teen facility, a less expensive alternative would be to use the depot. She has felt all along that the planning commission can act as the design review board. She was concerned that the planning commission may be trying to set policy which council may question. There is also a need to reduce the workload on the planning commission and staff. Mayor Janney agreed with the council comments concerning infrastructure and parking. She felt that the anchor stores in the commercial areas had an obligation to the community in the same way that the hotels support community activities and services. She felt that seniors should also be considered as well as teens when considering recreation programs and facilities. She asked that we look to a joint meeting with the council and planning commission in February instead of March. Councilman Spinelli thought it might be possible to review the design review guidelines prior to the February I council meeting. The city attorney noted there may be legal problems concerning the pending appeal and due process. Council felt that individual discussions with the design review subcommittee members may be more appropriate than a meeting. 3. Buocpr Fonpcesr 1999-2000 The city manager noted that at this time we anticipate the general fund revenues to increase in the 4% range this year whereas expenditures are increasing at the 7-8% level because of salary increases and new positions. It was noted that sales tax and hotel tax are growing at approximately half the rate of the prior year, and we will be dipping into fund balance $172-to- 2 million to fund our capital improvement program. We also have a potential loss of sales tax from rental cars and possibly auto sales. Looking at water and sewer rates, San Francisco is Burlingame City Council 465 January 23,1999 anticipating a 32% increase in the wholesale rate for water this coming year. The preliminary guidelines for departments in preparing for their budget for fiscal year 1999- 2000 will be for a 4% increase in salary and operating expenditures. It is hoped that the PERS retirement rates will decrease. The general fund contribution to capital projects will be limited to the $10 million level which may result in a further decrease in fund balance. While the manager is still cautiously optimistic, we have a number of threats facing us including the state budget, mandatory social security, and loss of sales tax revenue. On the plus side, we have gains in hotel rooms, anticipated revenue from the driving range, and reduced PERS rates. Council had no questions concerning the budget outlook. 4. DppeRrNaeNr Hpen Nnw YpeR RssolurtoNs Vice Mayor Knight questioned the police chief about the police locker room project and dispatch. Chief Missel noted that the police station is sixteen years old and within two to three years, there will be a need to expand the station. The public works director also replied on our discussions with BART concerning a construction permit. The librarian reviewed the current custodial situation at the library. The park and recreation director explained the current outlook for expanding the portion of the building serving the city's seniors and a morning drop-in program for seniors. Councilwoman O'Mahony asked that the park department and library look at the landscaping at the Easton branch library to see if it can be better maintained. Councilman Spinelli commented on the concrete railroad crossings being installed and asked about the schedule for Broadway. He would also like the recreation department to look at the possibility of having a computerized registration form on-line. 5. Crrv CourvrrssroN SrRucruRB The city manager noted there have been a variety of issues which council has addressed in the past few years concerning commissions. Councilman Spinelli thought that we had recently had a lot of good applicants and the commissions are functioning satisfactorily at this time. Vice Mayor Knight thought that we should possibly look at some type of term limits, although the council action concerning attendance has helped the sinration. She also noted that she was concerned about the lengths of meetings of the planning commission as well as the method of operation of the traffic safety commission concerning when items are taken up for action. Councilwoman O'Mahony thought we were on the right track, but we should look at more information before proceeding on a youth commission. She thought it might be good to look at the possibility of combining a youth commission, park and recreation, and senior commission, but agreed this might be difficult. She too was concerned about the length of planning commission meetings, and had tried to address this when she was mayor. Councilman Galligan did not believe there should be any strict term limits for commissioners per se, but we should have a goal of having both new commissioners and longer tenured commissioners in order to maintain a sense of history and continuity in decision making. He suggested that once a year council should meet with each commission. Concerning commissioner appointments, he felt we should have the recommendation of the interview subcommittee prior to the meeting where they were to be appointed in order to avoid surprises. Councilman Spinelli liked the idea concerning subcommittee recommendations prior to council January 23,1999 466 Burlingame City Council I meeting action. He suggested the possibility of meeting separately with the park and recreation commission and meeting collectively with the other commissions on a Saturday. After further discussion, the council agreed that it would be a good idea to meet with the commissions and ask that we set a schedule for meeting with each commission individually on a council meeting night, possibly starting 30 minutes prior to the regular meeting. 6. Y2K Pnonlpus exo PRppenerrou Councilman Galligan noted that we need an action plan to address the potential Y2K (Year 2000) problems. Perhaps a good model would be to inform the residents to follow the suggestions for earthquake preparedness. After discussion, the council agreed that we should highlight in the fall and possibly srunmer recreation brochures a checklist for residents concerning preparing for service problems which might occur as a result of Y2K. It was noted that the county disaster council will be holding a drill this fall concerning Y2K. 7. CouNcrr. RsoRoeNlzetoN eNo RoretloN Mayor Janney noted that we should try to reduce the uncertainty concerning rotation of mayors. It was noted that the listing of prior mayors does not set the rotation, and the Brown Act limitations have caused a number of uncomfortable situations. It was suggested that possibly an agenda item in October each year to discuss the rotation would be desirable. 8. FRourupFloon Mayor Janney asked for any public comment. Planning Commissioner Jerry Deal noted that he was also concerned about the rotation of planning commission chairman; it should be made clear that it is a rotation. Concerning design review, he thought it was important to talk to the council about the guidelines prior to the February I appeal. Council again discussed this issue with the city attorney and the concern about due process. It was decided that Planning Commission Chair Deal should talk individually to council members. John Root noted that the city needed to be proactive with business and there needs to be some improvement in their participation at the community level. He asked that we try not to overwork staff and that a new corporation yard would be a great boost to employee morale. David Hinckle addressed the issue of trees on Broadway and agreed that the city should go forward with the streetscape program providing as much greenery and landscaping as possible to offset loss of trees. He was concerned about the airport expansion and the potential traffic impacts on Broadway. He felt that the council should look at acquiring a lot on Laguna to improve traffic flow by providing shoppers an alternative to Broadway as well as more parking. A resident, June Curtis, was concerned about the character of downtown and the creation of a mini "Rodeo Drive. " She was also concerned about the effects of Y2K problems and possible power outages on residents of the city. Burlingame City Council 467 January 23,1999 v Carolyn Root asked whether we really want to have a mall on Burlingame Avenue and expressed concern about how long this trend would continue, or would we end up with a lot of vacancies when corporations decided profits were not enough. Planning Commissioner Karen Key asked the council to develop a policy on parking in the Burlingame Avenue commercial area to guide the planning commission. We should also consider an increase in our business license fee for business promotions in the commercial areas, a way to work around the corporate policies which affect current contributions. AorouRNupNr The meeting adjourned at 12:07 p.m. Judith A. Malfatti City Clerk January 23,1999 468 Burlingame City Council