The Burlingame Voice

Sidewalks of Burlingame

City Council rates sidewalk repairs a top priority (Examiner)

BURLINGAME (Map, News) - City Council members vowed recently to pay for sidewalk repairs a major issue for the tree-heavy city likely by adding another bond measure on the November ballot or increasing the city's hotel tax.

Council members called sidewalk repairs, which have been the responsibility of residents for a few years, a top priority and said the only question left is how to pay for them. A flood-protection bond measure that would include earmarked sidewalk-repair funds has a good chance of being added to the November ballot, members said.

The city is also researching increasing its transit occupancy tax or hotel tax from 10 percent to 11 percent, to allocate funds for repairs. The council expects to vote on funding options soon. From the city staff's standpoint, the bond measure is a better bet to become a reality at this point than increasing the city's hotel tax, city engineer Victor Voong said.

Vice Mayor Ann Keighran and Councilmembers Terry Nagel and Jerry Deal all said the hotel tax was a viable and realistic option. Mayor Rosalie O'Mahony, who controls what items are put on the agenda, said she favored a bond measure when she was sworn in as mayor last week. Councilmember Cathy Baylock could not be reached for comment.

Many cities in the county face the issue of sidewalk repairs. But council members said the issue is especially important in Burlingame because of its abundance of trees, many of which are very old. They've also said that the city is a walking community.? This is a major priority; it's a big issue with a lot of people,? Deal said. I would like to see it done soon.? Nagel said she was totally committed? to funding repairs and also wants to refund residents who have paid for damages in the last few years.

The problem with a bond measure, they said, was risking the money associated with the election with two-thirds approval needed. Measure H, the similar bond from 2006, received 64 percent approval.

The city also has a few other more unlikely options to fund the repairs, such as raising the annual $100 business license fee or starting a pay-as-you-go? policy to fix cracks. As for long-term solutions, Parks and Recreation officials are planting smaller trees that would be less likely to put cracks in sidewalks.

San Mateo County sidewalk repairs

South San Francisco, Palo Alto 100 percent payment for repairs
San Mateo $3 million earmarked in Prop. 1B funds for street repairs
San Bruno Measure F sales-tax increase for repairs failed Nov. 6. Recently approved $185,000 for repairs
Redwood City Weighing repairing sidewalks in Middlefield Road area

- Written by Fiona

Planning Commission Meeting on California Drive Project

Government Watch in the Daily Journal:

The Burlingame Planning Commission will review design plans to turn a one-story fitness center at 755 California Drive into a four-story, 63-unit group residential facility for the elderly. This is a second review. The first review held Aug. 13 resulted in a number of changes including a reduction of rooms and addition of a covered enterance.

The commission meets 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10 at City Hall, 501 Primrose Road, Burlingame.

- Written by Fiona

Burlingame Avenue Holiday Celebration

A wonderful event tonight at the tree lighting and Burlingame Avenue celebration - plenty for everyone. Apart from seeing the kids excited about Santa, the best for me was seeing a group of girls kicking "a soccer ball" made of bunched up paper down Burlingame Avenue before the parade and the young skateboarders too - sans traffic and sans parking!

The BIS Band at the tree lighting was amazing!

Two improvements would be (l) a marching band leading the parade - perhaps even our local High School Band (hmmmmm) and (2) why not light up the Train Station with hundreds of lights - it looked dull, dead and boring and it was a missed opportunity to highlight the station as part of recognizing our Centennial (double hmmmmm)

Thanks Linda, Quent, Randy, the sponsors and all those who helped make a great evening.

- Written by Fiona

Radar Program in Burlingame

Radar program to start within weeks - Volunteers to help curb speeding on Burlingame streets (by Mark Abramson, Daily News)

Burlingame residents could be toting radar guns by the end of the month as part of a novel approach to slow speeding motorists.

The city is putting the finishing touches on its new speed watch program, which involves recruiting teams of volunteers to use radar guns to monitor motorists and jot down speeders' license plate numbers. Police will send letters to people caught speeding, asking them to slow down. "I think a lot of people don't think they are speeding, and the impact of getting a warning letter will draw their attention," police Sgt. Don Shepley said.

The first batch of volunteer radar gunslingers could swarm to an area such as Winchester Drive, where residents say speeding is a problem, city officials said. Burlingame traffic engineer Augustine Chou has already talked to some Winchester Drive residents about the speed watch program. "A lot of people feel it can be a positive program, as long as the neighborhood can be active in taking its street back from speeders," Chou said.

When the volunteers are out on the streets, a sign will be posted alerting motorists that they are being clocked, Shepley said. Volunteers will work in pairs for added safety. They will be trained to use the guns, which cost about $1,200 each, and to pinpoint which car their gun is tracking when there are several vehicles present, Shepley said. Because the program relies heavily on volunteers, it will be relatively inexpensive, he added.

Shepley came up with the idea, but learned after researching it that other cities in the United States and overseas have similar programs. One such city is DeForest, Wis., which has handed out radar guns to residents the past 1 1/2 years. "It gives residents who complain about speeding the power to do something," DeForest police Lt. Daniel Furseth said. "It is about keeping your neighborhood safe."

It only takes about 10 minutes to train people to use the guns, and after a while the volunteers learn how to judge speeds without them, Furseth said. DeForest is so small that in some cases, an officer will knock on the door of the person caught speeding, he said. Although there is no way to gauge exactly what kind of impact the program is having, Furseth said he believes it encourages drivers to slow down.

Police in Loveland, Ohio, a Cincinnati suburb of 12,000 people, launched a volunteer radar program in October. Complaints from residents sparked Loveland's program. Before it is implemented on any street, at least three people with ties to the area have to sign a petition to approve it, said Loveland police Capt. Tim Sabransky. "The downside is the weather has turned cold, so I'm not getting a lot of responses," Sabransky said.

- Written by Fiona

Councilmember Deal Sworn In

Deal makes it to council finally (by Heather Murtagh, Daily Journal)

Nine votes delayed Jerry Deal from joining the Burlingame City Council previously but did not smash his aspirations to be locally involved in decision making a chance voters recently awarded him. Deal, who was sworn into his office as councilman Monday night, first attempted to join the council in 1999. At that time, Mike Coffey succeeded in joining the council, beating Deal by just nine votes. This time around Deal edged out incumbent Russ Cohen by 82 votes. In his new position, Deal hopes to streamline the way the council conducts business by trying to find a balance between maintaining an open government process without dragging out issues.

Political aspirations were not always at the front of Deal's mind.

The 58-year-old was born in Modesto but raised in Redwood City. Deal knew from an early age the he enjoyed architecture. He enjoyed building things with Legos or with American Plastic Bricks, the predecessor to the now popular toy.

Deal, who now owns a residential design firm, began classes during his freshman year at Sequoia High School. The school offered courses during the first two years of school. School officials allowed Deal to do special studies during his junior and senior years to continue his interest in architecture and biology. Biology seemed to be Deal's route out of high school. Deal changed his tune not too long after enrolling at the College of San Mateo toward architecture.

Deal went to work locally for a while after CSM. He was drafted into the Army in 1969. Deal spent his two-year term at Fort Ord in Monterey. Mostly, Deal worked as a technical illustrator creating charts for meetings.

After the military, Deal decided to return to school. Unaware that he should apply to multiple colleges, Deal applied to only the University of California at Berkeley. He was accepted. Deal graduated in 1976 and went to work full-time for local building designer Ralph Button. Button was Deal's boss until Deal opened his own office in Burlingame. I like working with the people,? Deal said about his work. Every day you see your projects around town.? His work lead others to invite Deal to become involved with the Planning Commission. Deal did not apply right away. He was appointed in 1992 and held office until 1999, when he was voted off after his unsuccessful attempt to join the council. It was then time for Deal to take a break from local politics. He decided to return when an opening appeared in 2001.

The desire to make decisions and become more involved with issues like the new Safeway and developing the Howard Avenue area drew Deal to run again this year. Looking ahead, Deal looks forward to being a part of shaping those downtown projects most. In getting things done, Deal hopes to keep a consistency to the ambiance of the area but still make movement.

A proposed Walgreens at the end of Burlingame Avenue near El Camino Real is an example. Deal explained it as an example of how a large business can draw customers to the opposite end of the street, but could also fit into the architecture if planned correctly.

In his spare time, Deal likes to go wine tasting with JoAnn, his wife of 25 years. The couple enjoys traveling. They have five children and 10 grandchildren. When he can, Deal enjoys exploring the outdoors.

- Written by Fiona

" Extension to their Backyard" IN, Sunday Softball OUT

Sunday softball out for Burlingame park - Peninsula: Ray park sides with neighbors(Examiner)

Burlingame, Calif. (Map, News) - A recreational-field use issue that divided the community was put to bed Sunday when the Burlingame Parks and Recreation Commission awarded Sunday use of Ray Park to its neighbors, stymieing young softball players' desire for extra practice.

The contentious issue began months ago and ended when the commission held a special meeting Sunday at Ray Park as 350 girls from the Burlingame Girls Softball Association took to the field. The meeting was held at the park so commissioners could determine how disruptive Sunday practices would be to the surrounding community.

The league of girls ages 5-14 wanted Sunday use of two fields at the park which is used by the general community from March to May from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Coaches did not want to lug heavy equipment to other fields in Burlingame to which the commission had offered access and complained of having to play without adequate bathroom facilities at other fields as well as having to travel to other cities in the past, five-year coach and league President Donna Colson said.

Residents are worried about a potential increase in noise, parking and traffic generated by practices on Sunday which already take place the other six days of the week. They also say approval of Sunday practices would lead to games. Neighbors by the park, situated behind Lincoln Elementary School, also said they would lose an extension of their backyard? if the league were to hog the field on Sundays. This used to be a neighborhood park,? said Zita Escobosa, who has lived by the park for 37 years. It's a nightmare [during practices].?

The meeting was called to order outside the park's snack shack and continued as commissioners took a tour of the grounds during a simulated practice. The meeting shifted to the Lincoln gym, where dozens of concerned neighbors sat on one side of the room while dozens of coaches and players gathered on the other. The meeting was so heated that at one point, elderly residents began raising their voices at the young female players speaking publicly in support of the Sunday practices.

After 3 hours, 16 residents speaking against adding Sunday practices and 14 supporting it, the commission ruled 4-3 to keep the current Sunday guidelines and deny the league's request. Colson vowed to appeal the decision to the City Council.

The commission did not approve the construction of a 60-foot-long batting cage on the field, either, but did vote to support the concept of a batting cage, meaning a modified version could be approved at a later meeting.

- Written by Fiona

Our New Councilmember Deal

This time Deal is for real in city council race - Planning commissioner defeats incumbent Cohen in Burlingame (by Mark Abramson, Daily News)

Close seems to be the norm for Burlingame elections, and Jerry Deal's victory in this year's city council race continued that trend. Deal, 58, a longtime planning commissioner, defeated incumbent Russ Cohen by 82 votes, according to election results certified Tuesday. The pool of candidates also included incumbent Terry Nagel, who cruised to victory, and challengers Peter Comaroto and Gene Condon.

Deal, who will be sworn in Monday night, is used to close calls; he finished only nine votes beyond Mike Coffey when he ran for council in 1999. "After losing by nine votes, 82 votes is a landslide," Deal said. Deal said he decided to run again after eight years because he thought he could make a difference on the council now.

"I think my expertise from being on the planning commission will be beneficial," he said. Nagel said another former planning commissioner, Vice Mayor Ann Keighran, brought her planning experience to the council, and she expects Deal's knowledge to be an asset, too. "Any city council member will tell you that planning issues are hot-button issues," Nagel said. "Planning is something that is good to be well-versed in." The city is putting an emphasis on long-term planning with projects such as its downtown specific plan and the redevelopment of the Safeway site on Howard Avenue, Nagel noted.

Mayor Rosalie O'Mahony, who appointed Deal to the planning commission in the early 1990s, called him "talented and hard-working." He thinks things through, is creative, and appreciates and understands the "ordinary citizen on the street," she said.

Deal said one of his goals will be to make decisions on important issues more efficiently. He said the Safeway Working Group process is taking too long. That process started in mid-April, and city officials said it could take up to two years for a proposal for the site to be approved. "It has become too bureaucratic," Deal said. "I would like to get it done quicker."

Making Burlingame a more business-friendly city is another of Deal's priority. He said that includes attracting more businesses to generate revenue. He wants to see more businesses on Broadway Avenue and said additional restaurants would draw visitors to the area.

Deal owns a residential design business in town and has lived in Burlingame for 30 years. He has a wife, JoAnn, five children and 10 grandchildren

- Written by Fiona

World-renowned watches on display at Kerns in Burlingame

By Heather Murtagh

It is rare for the complete 2007 Basel collection by internationally-known watchmaker Patek Philippe to be displayed in public, but the collection of approximately 50 pieces will be together in Burlingame for two days.

Kern's of Burlingame began a partnership with Patek Phillippe both family-run businesses at least 15 years ago. It is one of less than 100 retailers authorized to sell the watches nationwide. Over the next two days, the relationship is expanding to include a display of Patek Phillippe's complete Basel collection, which debuts annually in Switzerland. The watches are on display at Kern Jewelers for two days only.

It's unheard of to have all the watches on display together,? said Kern's proprietor Eric Mendell.

One or two watches are sent to retailers after the Switzerland showing. Many never hit the showroom, said Patek Phillippe Chairman Henry Edelman. Often a collector or customer is interested in the piece, making a verbal agreement to purchase it, he added. Therefore the watches are not often viewed by the general public

Watches that will be featured in Burlingame are not offered in most stores yet.

The museum event kicked off last night with an invitation-only viewing of historic pieces produced by Patek Phillippe such as the complicated watch purchased by whiskey maker Jack Daniel in 1891 or the keyless watch from 1852 featuring a portrait of President George Washington.

Each Patek Phillippe watch takes a minimum of eight to nine months to craft resulting in a limited number of watches, said Edelman.

Helping consumers understand the longevity of the product boosts the understanding of the watches worth.

The concept is, you don't buy it for yourself,? he said. You take care of it for the next generation.?

Kern's of Burlingame is located at 214 Lorton Ave., Burlingame. Anyway can stop by to view the watches from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1. For more information visit www.kernjewelers.com or call 348-7557.

- Written by jean