1 BURLINGAME CITY COUNCIL
Approved Minutes
Regular City Council Meeting on February 3, 2025
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 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
The pledge of allegiance was led by HR Director Saguisag-Sid.
3. ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT: Brownrigg, Colson, Pappajohn, Stevenson, Thayer MEMBERS ABSENT: None
4. REQUEST FOR AB 2449 REMOTE PARTICIPATION
Councilmember Thayer requested to attend the meeting remotely pursuant to AB 2449.
Councilmember Pappajohn made a motion to allow Councilmember Thayer to attend the meeting remotely pursuant to AB 2449; seconded by Vice Mayor Brownrigg. The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote, 5-0.
5. REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION
There was no closed session.
6. UPCOMING EVENTS
Mayor Stevenson reviewed upcoming events in the city.
7. PRESENTATIONS
a. VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN UPDATE
2 DPW Murtuza stated that a few years ago, the Council voted to include Vision Zero as a multi-year City initiative. He explained that a subcommittee with Mayor Stevenson, Councilmember Pappajohn, and TSPC Chair Martos was formed to spearhead this project.
Fehr and Peers Principal Dana Weissman stated that she works with several cities and counties on their Vision Zero Plans. She explained that the City was awarded a $480,000 federal grant to develop and support a Vision Zero Action Plan. She discussed other cities in the county that have committed to the Vision Zero goal of eliminating fatal and serious injury crashes including: Daly City, Pacifica, South San Francisco, San Bruno, San Mateo, Redwood City, and Menlo Park.
Ms. Weissman explained that Vision Zero sets a goal to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries on roadways. She stated that it encourages people to approach roadway safety in a different way than in the past – through proactive and preventative measures. She noted that Vision Zero is based on the fundamental principle that loss of life is not an acceptable byproduct of mobility. She added that the intention is to establish a roadway system that prevents those inevitable mistakes from resulting in severe injuries or fatalities.
Ms. Weissman stated that Vision Zero is achieved through proactive roadway design, roadway policy, and other roadway system strategies that lessen the severity of crashes. Its success depends on planners, policy makers, designers, and individual road users all taking responsibility for road safety.
Ms. Weissman stated that a Vision Zero Action Plan is an analysis and strategy document that provides the City with a clear path forward to improve road safety by identifying key safety challenges and ways to address them. She reviewed key areas of the plan:
• Proactively reduce collision risk for all road users
• Facilitate agency partnerships and collaboration
• Engage the community and integrate their input into the final plan • Build a “Safety First” culture among all stakeholders • Satisfy eligibility for state and national funding opportunities
Ms. Weissman explained that this would be done by first undertaking a robust analysis of Burlingame’s collision history. She stated that understanding the collision history informs the development of a toolbox of safety infrastructure countermeasures tailored to Burlingame’s roadway and safety needs.
Ms. Weissman discussed public outreach for the project. She stated that public outreach methods for this project would include:
• Robust project webpage
• Online surveys
• Community workshops
• Community pop-ups
• Walk audits
• Task force meetings
3 • City Council and Traffic Safety & Parking Commission presentations
Ms. Weissman reviewed the next steps of the project:
• February 2025 – safety data analysis and benchmarking assessment • March 2025 – task force meeting, community advisory committee meeting, and project webpage • April 2025 – community workshop and online survey
• May 2025 – community pop-ups and Council and Commission meetings
Councilmember Pappajohn asked when the consultants would be sharing the data they collect. Ms.
Weissman replied that they have started collecting data and would be sharing it with the community in the upcoming task force meetings.
Councilmember Pappajohn discussed the importance of having representatives from the school districts on the community advisory committee. DPW Murtuza replied in the affirmative.
Councilmember Colson asked what types of recommendations are included in the plan. Ms. Weissman replied that it will include a number of different elements including infrastructure, education, and policies.
Vice Mayor Brownrigg discussed enforcement of traffic laws. He asked if the report would assess different technologies in terms of enforcement. Ms. Weissman replied in the affirmative.
Councilmember Thayer asked about the size of the community advisory committee. DPW Murtuza replied that the size would be ten to 12 people. He stated that if Councilmember Thayer knew of individuals interested in joining, she could pass their names on to him.
Mayor Stevenson asked if there was a definition for serious injury. Ms. Weissman replied that it is subjective. She added that when undertaking traffic collision analysis, it is tricky, because it is based on subjective observations by the police officers.
Mayor Stevenson asked if the plan would include costs for different infrastructure projects. Ms. Weissman replied that the plan would include some projected costs in order to assist the City in obtaining grants.
Mayor Stevenson opened the item up for public comment.
Tony Paul discussed utilizing DUI checkpoints to assist with traffic safety.
Mayor Stevenson closed public comment.
Vice Mayor Brownrigg stated that he attended a session regarding the safety of Rollins Road south of Broadway. He discussed the County’s concerns about the number of collisions and almost collisions on this road. He stated that the County stressed that this area has a lot of young people and cars speeding.
Councilmember Colson discussed integrating Vision Zero into the Age Friendly Cities Action Plan.
4 Councilmember Thayer discussed prioritizing safety to make the City more walkable.
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were none.
9. APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Stevenson asked the Councilmembers and the public if they wished to remove any item from the Consent Calendar. No items were pulled.
Councilmember Colson made a motion to adopt the Consent Calendar; seconded by Councilmember Pappajohn. The motion passed unanimously by roll call vote, 5-0.
a. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR THE JANUARY 14, 2025 ANNUAL GOAL
SETTING SESSION
City Clerk Hassel-Shearer requested Council approval of City Council meeting minutes for the January 14, 2025 Annual Goal Setting Session.
b. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR THE JANUARY 21, 2025 REGULAR MEETING
City Clerk Hassel-Shearer requested Council approval of City Council meeting minutes for the January 21, 2025 Regular Meeting.
c. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE UP TO THREE
EXTENSIONS OF TWO YEARS EACH TO THE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF MILLBRAE AND SPIN
FOR A MULTIJURISDICTIONAL ELECTRIC BICYCLE SHARING PROGRAM AND TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE A FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT
Assistant to the City Manager Kirshner requested Council adopt Resolution Number 007-2025.
d. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT #1 TO ADD $30,581 TO THE PROCUREMENT OF THE BURLINGAME TOWN SQUARE SITE FURNISHINGS, FOR A TOTAL OF $385,804.17, FOR THE NEW BURLINGAME TOWN SQUARE PUBLIC PLAZA, CITY PROJECT #86120
Parks and Recreation Director Glomstad requested Council adopt Resolution Number 008-2025.
5 e. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE LORTON AVENUE STORM DRAIN PIPE AND CRESCENT AVENUE CULVERT CLEANING, CITY PROJECT NO. 85920, BY PIPE AND PLANT SOLUTIONS, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $436,924
DPW Murtuza requested Council adopt Resolution Number 009-2025.
f. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING A $264,155 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH WILSEY HAM FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD STORM DRAIN PROJECT #15, CITY PROJECT NO. 86540, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT
DPW Murtuza requested Council adopt Resolution Number 010-2025.
g. CONFIRMATION OF THREE APPLICANTS TO ARTS COMMISSION TASK FORCE
City Librarian McCulley requested Council confirm Leslie Holtzman, Janet Martin, and Preeti Deb to the City’s Arts Commission Task Force.
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no public hearings.
11. STAFF REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
a. DISCUSSION OF HOME OCCUPATION PERMITS REGULATIONS (BMC CHAPTER 25.72)
CDD Zayer stated that in September 2024, members of the public attended a Council meeting to express their support for youth basketball instruction being conducted at a residence in Burlingame under a home occupation permit. She explained that the City’s current home occupation permit restricts the number of students allowed at one time to three. She noted that the members of the public and instructor were asking for an allowance of eight to ten students.
CDD Zayer stated that the Planning Commission discussed this item at their October 15, 2024, meeting.
She explained that there was no clear instruction from the Planning Commission on whether to amend the home occupation permit or not.
CDD Zayer reviewed some potential modifications that could be made to the home occupation permit including:
• Increasing the allowable number of students to an even number to facilitate game and drill-based instruction. Staff recommends a maximum of four or six students to strike a balance between business needs and neighborhood considerations.
• Differentiate between indoor and outdoor home occupations. This approach would enable tailored restrictions on student numbers based on the type of instruction being provided.
6 Councilmember Colson asked if the City received a lot of complaints about individuals with home occupation permits. CDD Zayer replied in the negative.
Councilmember Colson asked if an individual is running an at-home daycare, what is the number of kids they are allowed. CDD Zayer replied that daycares are regulated by the State and are under State regulations and mandates.
Vice Mayor Brownrigg stated he was surprised there wasn’t an hour limit for home occupation permits.
CDD Zayer replied in the affirmative. She explained that individuals could have a home occupation permit for making items to sell online or working from an at-home office.
Vice Mayor Brownrigg suggested an outdoor time limit for a future home occupation permit. He discussed individuals using batting cages late at night. He asked if staff talked to the complainant about their concerns with the at-home basketball camp. CDD Zayer replied that the complaint was filed with the Code Enforcement Officer, and it is an active case.
Councilmember Thayer asked if because the home occupation permit didn’t have noise restrictions, would the activity fall under the City’s noise regulations for residential areas. CDD Zayer replied in the affirmative.
Councilmember Thayer asked if there could be some deference to staff to determine how many individuals are allowed under the home occupation permit. CDD Zayer replied that the City’s current regulations for home occupation permits allow her to add conditions.
Councilmember Colson asked about “pet daycare” and if there was a limit on how many pets are allowed to be boarded at a house. CDD Zayer replied that she didn’t believe the home occupation permit allowed for boarding of pets.
Councilmember Pappajohn discussed how start-ups utilize home offices. She voiced concern about how it’s affecting neighbors.
Mayor Stevenson opened the item up for public comment.
A member of the public stated that the existing noise ordinance allows the City to not micromanage the home occupation permit.
Mayor Stevenson closed public comment.
Councilmember Colson voiced support for allowing six students under the home occupation permit. She added that 9:00 p.m. should be the cut-off time.
Vice Mayor Brownrigg concurred with Councilmember Colson. He added that he thought it was a fine line to have rules in place versus relying on people being good neighbors. He noted that he would like guidance about outdoor lights so that they point down and not into neighbor’s homes.
7 Councilmember Thayer stated that the 9:00 p.m. cut-off should only be for outside usage.
Mayor Stevenson asked if any of this changed the City’s liability. City Attorney Guina replied in the negative.
Mayor Stevenson reviewed the direction to staff:
• Baseline of six customers/students
• 9:00 p.m. cut-off for outdoor usage
• Ability to increase customer visits at the discretion of the Community Development Director on a case-by-case basis
12. COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND ACTIVITIES REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. COUNCILMEMBER COLSON’S COMMITTEE REPORT
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Vice Mayor Brownrigg asked staff to look into electronic signage or other ways to communicate to the public at the Town Square.
14. 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
.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 8:26 p.m. in memory of Leonard Vernon Thayer who passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Meaghan Hassel-Shearer
City Clerk