HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - CC - 2001.01.021" REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
A 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 at7:00 p.m. by Mayor Joe Galligan.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Led by David Bamrto
3. ROLL CALL.
COUNCIL PRESENT:
COUNCIL ABSENT:
GALLIGAN, JANNEY, O'MAHONY, SPINELLI
COFFEY
4. MINUTES
Mayor Galligan requested the following be added to item 6c of the December 18ft minutes, regarding
the Appeal of the Planning Commission's approval of a conditional use permit for a dry cleaning
processing plant at 1360 Broadway: "Councilfourud it was cruciul to sustain the commercial and
retail mix in the Broadway commercial ures and to closely examine possible parking conflicts
during busy hours on Broadway, which is both shopping and a commuter avenue".
Councilwoman Janney made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting held on December 18,
2000; seconded by Councilwoman O'Mahony, approved by voice vote, 4-0-1, with Councilman
Coffey absent.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5a. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED SAN MATEO COUNTY TOURISM BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, THE BASIS FOR AND LEYY OF ASSESSMENTS FOR
CA Anderson noted this is the first of at least two public hearings Council will have on the formation
of the proposed Business Improvement District. The idea presented by the San Mateo County
Convention and Visitors Bureau and San Francisco Peninsula Hotel Council is to form a Business
Improvement District encompassing a number of cities within the County as well as the unincorporated
area. The cities proposed to be included in the district are Belmont, Burlingame, Brisbane, Daly City,
Foster City, Flalf Moon Bay, Millbrae, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Bruno, San Mateo, South San
Francisco and the unincorporated areas of the County. The district would be divided into two zones
and would encompass all hotels. Hotels are defined and include anywhere where people stay on a
transient basis" Ond'zone would be on the coast side that would pay adifferent levy of assessment;
the second zone would be on the bay side. The purpose of the levy would be to assess each hotel based
on the number of rooms they have; that money would then go toward tourism and convention
promotion in the County and these funds would provide a sustainable income to the Convention
Bureau. Currently, a number of the cities have consented to being included in the district; when each
Burlingame City Council
t.
27r January 2,2001
BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA
January 212001
THE DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR 2OO1
City has consented, the Burlingame City Council will adopt an Ordinance that would form the district
and the City of Burlingame would administer the district. It would be a large assessment district, with
a total of assessments of approximately $2 million. The assessments proposed for the coming year are
based on the level of service provided by each establishment as well as what the past occupancy rates
have been. Certain types of hotels on the coast side have lower occupancy during the week than the
hotels on the bayside, which is addressed in the assessment. The base line assessment is $1.00 per
room per day. The process from here forward would encompass a public hearing on January 17 and
a public hearing on the ordinance itself on February 5, at which time the ordinance could be adopted
and the assessments levied.
Mayor Galligan verified with Finance Director Becker that all monies collected from the cities will
funnel through a trust account and will be immediately sent to the Convention Bureau. Mayor
Galligan also noted that if a hotel in another City refused to pay the fee, it would initially be that City's
issue; the administering of the district should not require a lot of Burlingame's staff time.
Mayor Galligan opened the public hearing. Peter Marshall, General Manager for the Doubletree
Hotel, asked if the Resolution gives permission for the hotels to levy a tourism tax on the guests and
what would Burlingame's position be if other cities within San Mateo County were to defeat the
Resolution. CA Anderson explained that this is not atax; it is an assessment that is placed on the
hotel business and not on the hotel guest. Unlike the Transient Occupancy Tax, which is an obligation
to be paid by the person who occupies the room, this is an assessment placed on the business. How the
business chooses to collect the fee from other parties is up to the hotel. The Bureau has provided
recommendations on how to pay the assessment. Consent has already been received from at least five
cities in the County so Burlingame will not be alone in the district.
Ann LeClaire, President of the San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau, noted that the BID
was reviewed by two City Attorneys and there have been many discussions on how the assessment can
be collected from the hotel guests. Mr. Marshall stated he understood that several cities have
indicated they would be in favor of the BID, but that there was also a requirement that the hotels voice
approval. He felt that even though the City may approve the BID, the hotel owners might not agree as
a group; it doesn't seem correct to say that the Resolution is guaranteed to pass. CA Anderson
explained there are two levels of political governance. One is that there has to be a protest by 50o/o of
the assessed valuation; even if the majority of the hotels in a City didn't want to participate and filed
written protest with the City of Burlingame, that would not have any effect on the final action of the
Burlingame City Council. Burlingame is looking at the entire district and the overall assessment, not
city by city. The ke., issue is the Consent Resolution from the City Councils.
James Berilla, Villa Hotel, asked how the hotels are being charged for the fees and why the hotels
aren't paying the same rate. Ann LeClaire noted that many options were reviewed and the best
determined was the hotels with the most meeting space and level of service had the greatest number of
options in terms of meetings and groups they could attract. The smaller properties could be assessed
at $.15 per night and be listed in literature and receive visitor guides and maps for their guests; the
larger properties would want referrals for meetings, etc. CA Anderson stated if a particular hotel feels
they were misclassified, they should notify Ann LeClaire or the City.
There were no further comments and the hearing was closed.
January 2,2001 272 Burlingame City Council
Council questions: Councilwoman O'Mahony asked CA Anderson if each General Manager and
property owner has received a description of the different zones. He stated that each hotel and each
property owner received a complete copy of the previous resolution and a formal notice, a letter from
the Convention Bureau that indicated what the proposed classification was and what the calculated
number of rooms that they understood existed on the property were.
5b. ADOPT ORDINANCE REDUCING MEMBERSHIP ON TRAFFIC, SAFETY AND
PARIilNG COMISSION FROM SEVEN TO FIVE MEMBERS
CA Anderson noted that at the last meeting, Council introduced an ordinance that would change the
composition of the Traffic, Safety and Parking Commission from seven members to five members.
This was an idea that came to council due to the difficulty of reaching a quorum at commission
meetings. This was an opportunity to reduce the members due to vacancies on the commission.
Mayor Galligan opened the public hearing. There were no comments and the hearing was closed
Councilwoman O'Mahony made a motion to approve the ordinance reducing membership on the
Traffic, Safety and Parking Commission from seven to five members; seconded by Councilwoman
Janney, approved by voice vote, 4-0-1, with Councilman Coffey absent.
The Mayor asked the City Clerk to publish a summary of the Ordinance no later than 15 days after
adoption.
At this time, Mayor Galligan congratulated Dwana Bain for the aw'ard she received for her news
coverage of Sunbridge Convalescent Hospital.
There were no comments
7. STAFF REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
None"
8. coNSENr CALENDAB
a. RE,SOLUTION ACCEPTING IMPROVEMENTS _ BURLINGAME SHORELINE
TRAIL _ CP 9643
Director of Public Works Bagdon recommended that Council approve the Resolution accepting the
Burlingame Shoreline Trail improvements in the amount of $36,303.26.
Burlingame City Council 273 January 2,2001
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
b. OUT OF STATE TRAVEL FOR RECREATION TRICIA PINNEY
Parks and Recreation Director Williams recommended that the City Council authorize Recreation
Supervisor, Tricia Pinney, to attend the upcoming CalFest Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada on March
27-29,2001.
- c. REJECT CLAIM OF EVELYN DMITROWICH FOR PERSONAL INJURY
CA Anderson recommended Council reject the claim filed by Ms. Dmitrowich for personal injuries
suffered on September 13, 2000.
d. APPROVAL OF CONTRACT WITH BURLINGAME AOUATIC CLUB
Recreation Superintendent Randy Schwartz recommended Council authorize the City Manager to sign
the attached contract with the Burlingame Aquatic Club.
e. PROPOSED PRICE CHANGE ON RANGE BALLS AT BURLINGAME GOLF CENTER
Parks and Recreation Director John Williams recommended that Council approve the proposed change
of price charged to range users for the large bucket of range balls at the Burlingame Golf Center from
$9.00 per bucket to $10.00 per bucket.
Recreation Superintendent Randy Schwartz recommended that Council appoint Earl Walker
(Chronicle), Mark Schlemmer (San Mateo Daily Journal) and Michael Billingsley (San Francisco Bay
Guardian) to the Newsrack Committee.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT AMENDMENT NO. 1_ ENGINEERING
CONSULTING SERVICES, WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT PHASE II _ CP 9953
Assistant Director ofrPublic Works Erbacher recommended that Council approve the Amendment with
Roman and Lougee increasing efforts to atotal of $118,175.
Vice Mayor Spinelli made a motion to approve the consent calendar; seconded by Councilwoman
Janney, approved by voice vote,4-0-1, with Councilman Coffey absent'
9. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilwoman O'Mbhony attended the Lions Holiday lunch for Council, Commendation presentation
to Retired Police Commander Parkin, swearing in of Commander Brad Floyd and Sergeant Jim Ford.
Councilwoman Janney attended the opening of the North County Emergency Winter Shelter and a
meeting with Larry Teshara, along with Mayor Galligan, regarding potential sites for an ESL program.
Mayor Galligan was present at the swearing in of Commander Brad Floyd and Sergeant Jim Ford, the
Lions Holiday lunch, and met with the Airport regarding the runway expansion and the effects on the
City of Burlingame as well as the shoreline.
January 2,2001 274 Burlingame City Council
f. APPOINTMENT OF THE NEWSRACK COMMITTEE MEMBERS
10. OLD BUSINESS
Councilwoman O'Mahony brought up the letter from the Grand Jury. There was discussion by all
Council. Councilwoman Janney made a motion to authorize Mayor Galligan to respond to the Grand
Jury's letter; seconded by Councilwoman O'Mahony, approved by voice vote,4-0-1, with Councilman
Coffey absent.
11. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
12. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Commission Minutes: Traffic, Safety and Parking, December 14,2000; Civil Service,
September 25 andNovember 20,2000
Monthly Reports: Police, November 2000; Building, November 2000
Letter from 2000-2001 Grand Jury regarding Report on October 18,2000
d. Letter from Sigrun Franco regarding the proposed hospital parking structure
13. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Galligan adjourned the meeting at7:50 p.m. in memory of Ed Bridgeman and Tommy
O'Connor.
a.
b.
c.
0rr* / 9lL,.4t4D
Ann T. Musso
City Clerk
Burlingame City Council 275 January 2,2001