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
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
If this is going to be another bond/tax based on assessed value (historic cost basis), our group will be "tanned, rested and ready" for another battle! Again, we will vigorously opposed any such structure -- while continuing to advocate for fairer mechanisms, such as a community facilities district. Happy holidays everyone :)
Posted by: | December 12, 2007 at 06:47 PM
I think it would be very difficult for the City to pass an assessed value tax:
1. We've just had two consecutive years of property tax rate increases (San Mateo High School District in '06 and the Burlingame Elementary School District in '07)
2. Trying to pass a property tax increase during a real estate downturn is going to be a huge challenge
3. The City's assumptions of cheap financing costs and ever increasing home prices don't look so conservative anymore
4. There are likely more residents opposed to a GO bond than before- 300-500 homes have sold in Burlingame since Measure H was defeated and these new homeowners will likely oppose an assessed value tax
5. The opposition is better organized
6. Most importantly, a Mello-Roos financing structure is a better and more equitable alternative that would not cost the average home owner much more than a GO bond
Posted by: Rich | December 12, 2007 at 11:29 PM
The removal of trees at Burlingame High School began today.
According to the tree company employee I spoke to said that the damage done to some trees through removing roots has caused the trees to become unstable. Also some of the trees need to be removed for the heavy equipment to get access to the "contaminated" soil.
He did not know how many trees would be removed, but his crew was scheldued to be on site for three weeks.
I would have made this a new post but I do not know how to.
I hope more people will get involved.
This is going to get very ugly.
I am very disappointed the local news media is not paying attention!
Posted by: Holy Roller | December 28, 2007 at 02:57 AM