The Burlingame Voice

Burlingame Beautification Commission Meeting on May lst

Beautification commission meetings have now been changed to 6:00 pm. Items on the May lst agenda are as follows: 1. Business Landscape Award Election Action 2. Street Tree Policy Proposal Study

- Written by Fiona

Burlingame Planning Commission Meeting on Monday

On Monday, the Burlingame Planning Commission will study an application for a new three-story, three-unit residential condominium at 1459 Oak Grove Ave. Plans were approved by the commission in October. Since then, a different firm was hired to complete the construction drawings. Necessary changes were noticed while those drawings were being completed. Proposed changes to the project include: Allowing three compact parking spaces where one is allowed and a change to the stairway. The commission will also study the design of a proposed new, three-story, 46-unit residential facility for the elderly at 755 California Drive. The building is currently a one-story fitness center. The commission meets 7 p.m. Monday, April 28 at City Hall, 501 Primrose Road, Burlingame. source: Daily Journal Click here for full agenda

- Written by Fiona

Thank you to some of Our Hard Working Council Members

I would like to thank, via the Burlingame Voice, the three councilmembers who attended the Safeway Working group meeting last night, one of which is on the Safeway council sub-committee (this sub-committee member attends most of the Safeway Working Group Meetings). Those three councilmembers attended the meeting to stay informed of a very important large project coming soon (?) to downtown Burlingame. I would also like to thank the councilmember (no guesses who that could be?!) who takes the time to personally promote the upcoming centennial events, attaching copies of the flyers and encouraging us to attend these events. Thank you to the three of you - I appreciate you!

- Written by Fiona

More Movement in Burlingame's Downtown.

Sorry to see Fortezza on Primrose has now gone and Colton Piano is leaving their site at 1471 Burlingame Avenue. Also Dirty Laundry is leaving 337 Primrose. Ch, ch, changes are good ... but still sorry to see them go. Check out this youtube to see what else Burlingame has to offer - Dine and Shop Burlingame!

- Written by Fiona

Dog Topic at Burlingame Council Meeting on May 5

PROPOSAL TO ALLOW DOGS OFF LEASH IN PORTIONS OF CUERNAVACA AND WASHINGTON PARKS BEFORE 7:30AM (source: e-newsletter) On Monday, May 5, the Burlingame City Council will consider a proposal to allow dogs to be off leash in areas of Cuernavaca and Washington Parks until 7:30am each day for a trial period of 90 days. You are invited to attend the City Council meeting and provide comment. The meeting will be held in Burlingame City Hall, 501 Primrose Road, beginning at 7:00pm. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would still like to make comment to the City Council, you may send a letter to "City Council, 501 Primrose Road, Burlingame, CA 94010" or an email to [email protected].

- Written by Fiona

Burlingame's Green Fair on Sunday May 18

City researching a greener future (by Heather Murtagh, Daily Journal) Efforts to promote a green lifestyle are under way in Burlingame with the possibility of bringing ride sharing, streamlined shuttle services, a voluntary eco-friendly building guide and staff training. Earlier this month, the Burlingame City Council gave direction on 11 recommendations from the city's Green Ribbon Task Force. Now citizens and the city are beginning work to turn the changes into action. Volunteers are still needed for some of the activities. The council has begun to focus more on green efforts, said City Manager Jim Nantell. These ideas are just the start of incorporating residents. A major effort of the task force is distributing information in a number of ways: On the city's Web site, at the planning department through a green library and voluntary building check list and educating city staff on green building practices. Information about green building options will soon be distributed when people get permit information, said Task Force Chair Terry Nagel, also a member of the Burlingame City Council. All options are voluntary, but will hopefully get the conversation for green options started, she said. Transportation is an interesting part of the recommendations including the exploration of a city share program, as well as streamlining shuttle services. Partnering with the City CarShare, a nonprofit organization with cars throughout San Francisco and the East Bay, was proposed by the task force. The council decided not to dedicate any further staff time on it. City CarShare is in the process of researching a fleet program allowing city cars to be rented during evenings and weekends when not used, according to a company representative. Such a program saved Berkeley an estimated $500,000, Nagel said. Streamlining the shuttle services to maximize ridership and promote the free service is also high on the task force list. Getting these things done will not be easy and will require more volunteers. Volunteers are needed for the shuttle project, for updating the Web site, to promote recycling and to create the climate action policy. Those wishing to learn more could do so at the Green Fair Sunday, May 18 which could also use volunteers. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Park Road near the farmers' market featuring vendors educating the public on lifestyle options, explained event co-chair Mike Kerwin. Participants will help others understand changes like water and resource conservation, indoor air quality, interior design, solar power, alternative transportation with a few cars on site, clean energy and healthier lifestyles, he said. During the fair, Burlingame residents will be asked to sign an eco-pledge. Each person who signs the pledge will receive a green reusable bag provided by a local supermarket. Each bag will contain an energy saving item, tips on making your home more energy efficient and green shopping tips. For more information about volunteering for a task force project should contact Terry Nagel at [email protected]. Vendors interested in the Green Fair should contact Mike Kerwin at [email protected].

- Written by Fiona

Off-Leash Burlingame Dogs

City may let dogs have run of parks (by Mark Abramson / Daily News Staff Writer) A plan to create areas at Washington and Cuernavaca parks for dogs to run free has one more hurdle to clear before owners can unleash their pets. The Burlingame City Council voted 3-2 Monday night in favor of a temporary ordinance that would allow dog owners to take the leash off their pets from 6 to 7:30 a.m. every day on the eastern lawn at Washington Park and upper field at Cuernavaca Park. Vice Mayor Ann Keighran and Council Member Cathy Baylock voted against the 90-day ordinance, which will be back for a final vote May 5. "I just have issues with owners not picking up after their dogs," Keighran said. "Not all dog owners are responsible, so that is what is an issue for me." Keighran said she has seen off-leash dogs near her house at Ray Park scare children, fight other dogs and cause other problems. Dogs are supposed to be on leashes at that park. The public will get a chance to weigh in on the ordinance at the May 5 meeting, and if the council approves the law again then it would take effect 30 days later. Burlingame's only area where canines can run off leash in a public park is a dog run at Bayside Park, which is not in a residential neighborhood like Washington and Cuernavaca parks. Parks and Recreation Commissioner Randy Schwartz said the decision to make the law permanent would most likely depend on complaints, if any, against dog owners who do not clean up after their pets. The parks and recreation commission proposed the ordinance. Burlingame police said they get complaints periodically about off-leash dogs at parks, but they tend to come in waves. "We get some complaints, we go out there and we do some enforcement and the complaints go down and time will pass before we will have to go out there again," police Cmdr. Mike Matteucci said. Officers usually warn dog owners about letting their pet off a leash, but if the problem persists at a park, people are cited, Matteucci said. "Usually Washington Park is where we get the most complaints," he added. The fine for an off-leash dog ranges from $25 to $50, City Attorney Larry Anderson said.

- Written by Fiona

"Historical" Burlingame Property Owners Meeting on May 1st

As alluded to at last night's council meeting, there will be a meeting on May lst with the property owners who are included on the Historical List dated February 19, 2008. They will learn at that meeting what is "fact" or "fiction" and ramifications about being an "historical" property owner. Too bad these property owners - and others - were not invited to a meeting before - or soon after - the February list was published so we could all get informed about the Mills Act and property rights. Would an early meeting have staved off the knicker twisting? Probably not but this is a hot potato(e) issue with some hot-under-the-collar emotions for some. ### Information from city website:

Informational Meeting Regarding Potential Historic Properties Thursday, May 1st from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m The City of Burlingame Community Development Department will be conducting a meeting on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the Lane Community Room of the Burlingame Public Library at 480 Primrose Road to discuss the draft Inventory of Historic Resources prepared in conjunction with the Burlingame Downtown Specific Plan. The purpose of the meeting is to review the findings of the draft Inventory, and discuss the implications of the document, and to respond to any questions from owners of properties which were identified in the draft inventory as either potentially "historically significant" or possessing certain characteristics that are representative of Burlingame's history and architectural heritage.

- Written by Fiona

Open Government gets Pricey

At tonights council meeting the council voted to increase various fees. One increase was to up the cost of video tapes of council meetings from $20 / tape to $78.86 !!! Sounds like an opportunity for some entrepreneur to offer tapes or You Tube for a lot less! Does the council have something to hide?

- Written by stephen

City Council and Safeway Working Group Meetings this Week

The agenda for the Burlingame City Council meeting today (7:00 pm-)includes the following: * Caltrain Presentation on Electrification Status * Public Hearing and adoption of Resolution approving the Master User-Fee Schedule for City services for FY 2008-09 * Introduce an Ordinance amending Section 9.04.014 to allow for dogs to be off leash for the areas of the upper field at Cuernavaca Park and the Eastern most lawn in Washington Park for a period of ninety days- Introduce/Discuss/Direct *** The next Safeway Working Group meeting will be on Wednesday, April 23 from 7:00 pm in conference room A, City Hall. No agenda as of yet but click on notes of the last meeting.

- Written by Fiona