1 BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL
Approved Minutes
Regular City Council Meeting on September 18, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER
A duly noticed meeting of the Burlingame City Council was held on the above date in person and via Zoom at 7:03 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
The pledge of allegiance was led by BHS students Lilah and Shani.
3. ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Beach, Brownrigg, Colson, Stevenson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ortiz
4. REQUEST FOR AB 2249 REMOTE PARTICIPATION
There were no requests.
5. REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION
There was no closed session.
6. UPCOMING EVENTS
Mayor Brownrigg reviewed upcoming events in the city.
7. DISCLOSURE OF SB 1439 CONFLICTS (GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 84308)
Councilmember Beach stated that she is unaware of any contributions she has received that are in conflict and therefore need to be disclosed. However, she noted that if any member of the public is aware of a conflict, they should write the City Clerk.
2 8. PRESENTATIONS
a. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY
Mayor Brownrigg began by recognizing September 19, 2023 as National Voter Registration Day. He thanked the City Clerk for her efforts in encouraging voting and assisting residents on Election Day.
City Clerk Hassel-Shearer discussed Generation Voter, an initiative out of the City Clerk’s Office to register students to vote and prepare them for voting! She introduced her two new interns, Lilah and Shani.
Lilah and Shani reviewed the work of Generation Voter. They stated that the mission of Generation Voter is to create youth engagement and excitement around voting.
Lilah discussed the City’s second “I Voted” sticker contest. The contest is open to all Burlingame residents 18 years old and under. She noted that Generation Voter would be using this contest as a way to educate the youth on voting.
Shani stated that Generation Voter has established a Generation Voter Club at BHS and hopes to utilize this platform for weekly topics, creating information kits, and to increase @GenerationVoter ‘s social media presence.
Lilah stated that one of the main focuses of Generation Voter will to be obtain the Distinguished Service Award for students that show a commitment to the community.
Vice Mayor Colson asked about whether students should register to vote in their hometown or where they go to college. Lilah stated that Generation Voter would need to look more into this topic.
Mayor Brownrigg thanked the students for their work and asked that the sticker contest be announced at all schools in Burlingame. Shani replied in the affirmative.
Councilmember Beach thanked the two students for their efforts. She asked them to consider working with the League of Women Voters.
Councilmember Stevenson stressed the importance of getting students registered to vote when they turn
18. He asked about the challenges of getting the youth involved in voting. Shani and Lilah talked about the lack of information they have as students regarding how to register.
The Council thanked Generation Voter for their efforts.
9. PUBLIC COMMENTS
AFSCME members spoke on behalf of their union regarding the City’s current labor negotiations. The commentators included: Dante, Sean, Robert, Elexa, and Jim. Their comments included:
3 • Employee turnover is high
• Retaining employees is difficult
• Difficulty in hiring
• Cost of living has increased leading to employees not being able to live in the area • Appreciation for work done
• Need to increase wages to be equal with neighboring cities • Reserve funds, General Fund balance, and enterprise funds could be used for increases • Inability to live on their employee wages
10. APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Brownrigg asked the Councilmembers and the public if they wished to remove any item from the Consent Calendar. Vice Mayor Colson pulled 10e from the Consent Calendar.
Councilmember Beach made a motion to adopt items 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d from the Consent Calendar; seconded by Councilmember Stevenson. The motion passed by roll call vote, 4-0-1. (Councilmember Ortiz was absent).
a. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR THE AUGUST 21, 2023 CLOSED SESSION
City Clerk Hassel-Shearer requested Council approve the City Council Meeting Minutes for the August 21, 2023 Closed Session.
b. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR THE AUGUST 21, 2023 REGULAR CITY
COUNCIL MEETING
City Clerk Hassel-Shearer requested Council approve the City Council Meeting Minutes for the August 21, 2023 Regular City Council Meeting.
c. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH OPENGOV INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,999.96, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WORKS
DEPARTMENT
DPW Murtuza requested Council adopt Resolution Number 125-2023.
d. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINAL MAP (PM 23-03), SUBDIVISION OF PORTION OF LOT 10, BLOCK 9, MAP OF BURLINGAME LAND COMPANY NO. 2 AT 1433 FLORIBUNDA AVENUE; AND FINDING THIS ACTION IS EXEMPT FROM CEQA PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINA SECTION 15061(b)(3)
DPW Murtuza requested Council adopt Resolution Number 126-2023.
4 e. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF BURLINGAME’S RESPONSE LETTER TO SAN MATEO COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY REPORT ENTITLED “BIKE SAFETY IN SAN MATEO COUNTY:
MAKING BICYCLING SAFER IN THE COUNTY”
Vice Mayor Colson discussed the speed of electric bicycles. She asked if Council should consider addressing the proliferation of electric bicycles and whether the speed limit for e-bikes should be lower than for cars.
Police Chief Matteucci stated that several cities are facing concerns about electric bicycles and their speeds.
He explained that the police department is coming up with a “cheat sheet” of all the different laws that apply to the different types of electric bicycles. He stated that the police department would be undertaking public outreach about electric bicycle safety and the laws around them.
Councilmember Beach asked if she was correct that the Spin bikes have a mechanism to block them from going above a certain speed. Police Chief Matteucci replied in the affirmative.
Councilmember Beach explained that several types of electric bicycles act more like mopeds than bicycles.
She thanked the Police Chief for looking into this topic and noted that public outreach and education would be important.
Mayor Brownrigg discussed traffic and safety issues that have arisen and thought that the City should consider an annual meeting between the City Council and the Traffic Safety and Parking Commission.
Mayor Brownrigg opened the item up for public comment. No one spoke.
Vice Mayor Colson made a motion to adopt Resolution Number 127-2023; seconded by Councilmember Stevenson. The motion passed by roll call vote, 4-0-1. (Councilmember Ortiz was absent).
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND LEVYING THE DOWNTOWN BURLINGAME AVENUE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023- 24 Finance Director Yu-Scott stated that on August 21, 2023, the City Council adopted a resolution of intention to set the FY 2023-24 Downtown Burlingame Avenue BID assessments. She explained that the assessment is used to provide benefits to the business district. She added that if there is a protest by businesses that represent a majority of the value of the assessments, then the resolution cannot be approved.
Finance Director Yu-Scott asked the City Clerk how many protests she had received. City Clerk Hassel- Shearer replied that she received three.
Finance Director Yu-Scott stated that this was not a majority.
5 Mayor Brownrigg opened the item up for public comment.
Bob Trahan asked that businesses be supplied with an upfront list of the fees that a business should predict to pay each year. (comment submitted via [email protected] ).
Mayor Brownrigg closed public comment.
The Council discussed Mr. Trahan’s idea and acknowledged that there should be a way to let businesses know of the City fees that are scheduled each year.
City Manager Goldman noted that the Downtown Burlingame Avenue BID assessments are a pass-through fee. She added that staff would work on creating a schedule of fees and information for new businesses.
Councilmember Beach made a motion to adopt Resolution Number 128-2023; seconded by Vice Mayor Colson. The motion passed by roll call vote, 4-0-1. (Councilmember Ortiz was absent)
12. STAFF REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
There were no staff reports.
13. COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND ACTIVITIES REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council reviewed their committee appointments.
14. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
There were no future agenda items.
15. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The agendas, packets, and meeting minutes for the Planning Commission, Traffic, Safety & Parking Commission, Beautification Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission, and Library Board of Trustees are available online at www.burlingame.org
.
6 16. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brownrigg adjourned the meeting at 7:57 p.m. in memory of Cathy Everson.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Meaghan Hassel-Shearer
City Clerk