The Burlingame Voice

WANTED - Eyeglasses and Sunglasses

Do you have eyeglasses or sunglasses in your closet, drawers or glove compartment that you no longer need? (San Mateo Times) Dan Andersen of the Burlingame Lions Club informs us that Lions clubs across the country have started the "world's largest eyeglass collection." Eyeglasses can change the quality of someone's life, as it is estimated that 153 million people worldwide need glasses but cannot afford them or don't have access to eye care professionals. Every year, Lions collect more than 30 million pairs of used eyeglasses. At worldwide Lions eyeglass recycling centers, volunteers clean them, determine their prescription, and prepare them for delivery to people in need in developing countries. Donation boxes are available in libraries, community centers and fire stations around Burlingame, San Mateo County and throughout the country. Children's glasses are especially needed. "It costs just a few cents for us to recycle a pair of glasses, but for some people in India, Mexico and Kenya, the glasses are priceless," said Jimmy Ross, Lions International president. "Glasses enable them to work, read and do household chores activities some of us take for granted." Lions have been known for their work with the blind and visually impaired since 1925, when Helen Keller challenged Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness." "Burlingame Lions Club has been the area's top collecting club," said Burlingame Lions president Garbiz Bezdjian. "We have collection boxes throughout the area, and will be happy to put one in your office." Lions clubs are the driving force for other sight-related efforts. They build and equip eye hospitals and clinics, distribute medications, provide cataract surgeries, and train eye care professionals. The Lions Eye Foundation of California-Nevada Inc. has done more than 400 free eye surgeries for those in need. Today, Lions also support breakthroughs in ophthalmological research. At the Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute at the University of Illinois in Chicago, researchers are making headway against glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, amblyopia (also known as "lazy eye") and macular degeneration. To be part of the world's largest eyeglass collection, contact Dan Andersen at 650-348-0799 or [email protected].

- Written by Fiona

Burlingame Pet Parade on September 27

Mark your calendar : The Burlingame Pet Parade is on Saturday September 27 at Broadway and starting at 10:00 am. No need to register, no need to pay, no need to donate to anything. Just turn up with a pet - real or a stuffed animal. For more information and a new youtube on the Pet Parade website.

- Written by Fiona

What happened with Doris?

I noticed this on the agenda for this coming Monday's Council meeting: 13. NEW BUSINESS a. City Clerk Vacancy

- Written by Lorne

County Finances

Columnist John Horgan from the San Mateo County Times has the experience, research skills and logic to bring us some of the most cogent analysis available from the press these days. Here is a great case in point from today:

By John Horgan MONEY, no matter the source, is getting tight. Not surprisingly, government budgets are under extreme stress. Just look at the painful example of the state of California for proof. And then there's San Mateo County. Amidst all of the outcry, weeping and wailing, the county's 2008-09 financial plan is remarkably stable. Yes, there have been some important tweaks, a few very careful trimmings around the edges, but wholesale layoffs, wrenching, extensive program cuts and other draconian moves are not in the cards. The latest budget, which totals just over $1.7 billion in spending (not a whole lot more than the previous year), is projected to be in deficit by about $25 million, a figure easily made up out of reserves. The one significant caveat is that, without great care and attention, annual red ink could become a disturbing reality. Still, the relative health of the county's fiscal plan, when compared to others, is one more strong indication that the area's overall economic strengths continue to bolster the public coffers while much of the rest of the Golden State shudders. Even real estate's assessed values, a county linchpin for years, have held up remarkably well, though how long that can persist remains to be seen in light of the recent regional downturn. These trends have been ongoing. Data provided by the county show that, through the years, its revenues and spending have risen sharply, well beyond the rate of inflation at the same time the Peninsula's overall population has barely budged. Taken on an annual basis, the county treasury has ballooned by an average of more than 10 percent per year from 1999-00 to 2007-08. That's roughly three times the rate of inflation during that period. Further, salaries and benefits for employees have shot up even more at 12 percent per year. Beyond the apparent phenomenon of an influx of needy individuals via immigration and other demographic factors, there are some other reasons for the spending uptick, including shifts in funding for certain state-mandated programs. However, 2008-09 will not see such big spending hikes. A much more conservative approach is in order this time. But the bottom line remains: No matter how you care to parse it, the county, guardedly, is in pretty good monetary shape. At least for now.

Too little of what we read these days (and virtually nothing of what one can watch on TV) puts data in perspective the way Mr. Horgan does. You read the budget is x dollars and the deficit is y dollars, but without comparing it to the population growth, the rate of inflation and considering state mandates, x and y are just numbers. Bravo.

- Written by Joe

Profiles of City Council Members

Councilmember Ann Keighran will be appearing on local tv as follows: Profiles of City Council Members and County Supervisors. Pen TV Community News, which airs everyday at 7am, noon, and 7pm. Each segment is for 10 minutes. Tuesdays - Ann Keighran, Burlingame Saturdays - Ann Keighran, Burlingame

- Written by Fiona

Housing for the Future

An excellent opinion piece from Terry Nagel, who is always forward thinking and insightful:

Housing for the future (by Terry Nagel, Daily Journal) We're having a spirited conversation now in Burlingame that will take place in every city in the Bay Area sooner or later. It's about how much height and density to allow in areas near major transit corridors. This discussion isn't just about what you and I want. It's about trying to anticipate what residents and businesses in our cities will need 10, 20 and 30 years from now. When a city revises its downtown specific plan, as Burlingame is now doing, or updates the Housing Element of its General Plan, as all cities in the Bay Area are required to do by next June, its leaders usually ask for input at a series of public hearings, draft a plan, tweak it and adopt it. It's a rare opportunity to look at changing demographics and incorporate incentives that will shape cities to address unmet needs. A number of factors are converging that will make the Peninsula a very different place soon. For starters, San Mateo County's population is naturally growing as people live longer and more babies are born. The Association of Bay Area Governments projects growth of about 125,000 people in our country between 2005 and 2030- the equivalent of another San Mateo and another Burlingame, based on city populations in 2005. At the same time, the size of the average household is shrinking. As of the 2000 census, only a third of households in San Mateo County had any children under 18, and one-fourth were single-person households. Households with children are projected to decrease and solo households to increase as baby boomers grow older. By 2030, one out of every four residents in San Mateo County will be over 65, and we'll face a whole new set of challenges. Surveys show this generation plans to stay active, and half of boomers want or need to keep working, but one out of every five Americans over 65 no longer drives. How will this growing pool of nondrivers get around? At the same time, global warming and rising gas prices are sending us the message that we'd better figure out ways to get people out of cars, which contribute about 50 percent of carbon emissions in the Bay Area. Because housing in our county is so expensive, major businesses like Genentech and Oracle are finding that - no surprise - many of their younger workers are choosing to live farther away in areas where homes are more affordable. Cities are already losing workers who used to commute long distances because the drive has become too congested and too expensive. There's something wrong when the next generation, including teachers, firefighters, police officers and even our own children, can't afford to live in our cities. How will we find workers to fill the jobs that boomers vacate when they retire? If we ignore the changes ahead, think of the consequences: Older residents marooned in neighborhoods far from transportation and dependent on others to take them shopping, to medical appointments and to visit friends; their children living far away and forced to take time off work to tend to their needs; housing and gas prices so high that cities and businesses have trouble recruiting workers; big firms packing up and moving to areas closer to homes their employees can afford; stores leaving local shopping districts because there isn't enough business; and city revenues plunging, so that local jurisdictions must raise taxes to provide basic services. There is another solution. The land around our transit corridors is so valuable that developers are standing in line, waiting to create housing. But it's absurd to think that they will take two-story buildings and replace them with two- or even three-story buildings. If cities allow developers to build taller buildings, they can make a profit and the public will benefit, too. In return for allowing greater height, these projects can be required to include reasonably priced housing, senior residence complexes, mixed use (stores and offices), and underground parking. By freeing up land with below-grade parking, we will open up another world of possibilities: public parks, plazas, gardens, community theaters, fountains and playgrounds. Providing housing for more people in areas around mass transit will bring new vitality to cities. Planners know that a critical mass of people is needed to create the energy of a thriving downtown. You can't achieve it with two-story buildings, particularly if they're only occupied during workday hours. An added bonus is that neighborhoods are safer when they function 24/7. Will five- or six-story structures ruin our downtown areas? Not if they are designed well, with emphasis on creating an appealing experience for pedestrians strolling at street level and incentives for tucking back the mass and bulk of upper floors. Multi-story housing stacked on top of retail can face inward, toward lush gardens, and be served by underground parking that is secure and protected from wind and rain. Some cities that are building complexes like these are finding that people abandon their cars willingly when transit options are plentiful and walking becomes a pleasure. For example, the attractive Museum Place complex in Portland, Oregon, which features a two-level Safeway store and seven stories of housing above it, facing an inner courtyard, has more vacant parking spaces in its underground garage than project planners anticipated. Yet, with three-quarters of one space per unit and 2.3 spaces for each 1,000 square feet of the Safeway store, Museum Place has less parking than cities in our area typically require. A large proportion of shoppers are walk-ins,? said Douglas Obletz, manager of the development company that owns the building. We don't need to make cars the drivers of design. A new book called Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change,? by Reid Ewing, Keith Bartholomew, Steve Winkelman and Jerry Walters, reports that Americans living in compact urban neighborhoods where cars are not the only form of transportation drive one-third fewer miles than those in car-oriented suburbs. Change is scary for people who fear that their own way of life will be impacted. But we're not talking about altering the single-family neighborhoods of our cities, only distinct transit corridors where more density makes more sense. Inviting more housing options in downtown areas near mass transit offers the opportunity to create vibrant new areas where people want to live. Good design that incorporates green building practices will ensure that these new structures enhance communities in sustainable ways. Higher-density housing near transit corridors has proven successful in cities like Portland and Seattle and Santa Barbara. It's a model that has worked well throughout European countries for centuries. It's time to begin embracing it here. Terry Nagel is a member of the Burlingame City Council. The opinions expressed in this commentary are her own. She can be reached at [email protected].

Some information at Housing Element Document dated July l, 2002

- Written by Fiona

Burlingame's 2nd Annual Citizens' Academy

A unique way to find out about our City facilities, management goals, functions and processes is by joining the Citizens' Academy. The 8-session informative classes are offered on the second Wednesday of each month from September 2008 to April 2009. To register and for more information, go to website.

- Written by Fiona

Planning Commission Meeting on Monday

Monday's Planning Commission agenda includes the old Chevron site at Burlingame Avenue/El Camino: Drug-store plans discussed (by Heather Murtagh, Daily Journal) Plans for a new 24-hour drug store could be coming to the corner of El Camino Real and Burlingame Avenue would open up space for the proposed Safeway but first need to make it through the Planning Commission. Moving Walgreens to 260 El Camino Real is a proposal before the Planning Commission Monday, which will hold a design review study. A closed Chevron station is currently at the site. Plans include demolishing the station to build a new 12,403-square-foot commercial building with 10,168-square-feet of retail space on the ground level and 2,235-square-feet of second story storage space. Two entryways at the corner of El Camino Real and Burlingame and one at the south side of the building are also planned. Aesthetics is normally a top concern for Burlingame which is currently considering a master plan for the area. Walgreens will serve as an gateway for the westbound entrance to Burlingame Avenue. Moving the store, which is located next to Safeway, will open up space previously slated for a new Walgreens. Conceptual plans for a Safeway were unveiled to the commission and City Council earlier this week to some mixed reviews. Since a Safeway plan is not submitted, items like parking and rear building access are considered as the site currently is, said Planning Manager Maureen Brooks. The Walgreens move does open up options for Safeway, which is already incorporating the extra area into the conceptual plans. A new parking lot entrance on El Camino Real or Primrose Road could be gained as a result of the Walgreens proposal. It can be difficult to get such access since El Camino Real is a state highway, which means the city cannot give the OK. The Chevron site already has the lowered sidewalk entrance, which the building owner plans to keep if possible potentially opening access to the under-utilized parking lot behind Chevron at the moment. These parking options could change as the Safeway plans become clear, said Brooks. The forward movement in the downtown gateway area shines light on another large project. Community ideas were gathered in a number of settings since 2006 including a charrette and forums to gather ideas for creating a more cohesive downtown. A major part of this idea always comes back to Safeway. The large site has potential to draw crowds onto Howard Avenue, an area that lacks the foot traffic of its parallel neighbor Burlingame Avenue. Having two entrances was specifically designed to allow access for foot traffic from Howard and Burlingame avenues. Opening a 24-hour store will require a conditional use permit. Additional article in Times.

- Written by Fiona

Baykeeper drops Lawsuit Threat

Baykeeper drops lawsuit threat (By Heather Murtagh, Daily Journal) Improvements preventing sewage spills into the Bay and a $250,000 contribution to help restore the San Mateo County watershed are part of an agreement keeping Burlingame from litigation. In February, Baykeeper a nonprofit dedicated to protecting Bay Area water quality threatened a lawsuit stemming from claims the city was not effective in reducing the amount of sewage spilling into the Bay since 2002. As a result, Burlingame will review its system to pinpoint areas that should be upgraded in the future. The focus is for us to spend money on delivering higher quality service rather than expend resources on litigation,? said Public Works Director Syed Murtuza. Burlingame invested more than $30 million rebuilding sewer lines in the last 10 years. It will now review the work done and its effectiveness before devising a plan to fix shortcomings. The cost of these potential upgrades is yet to be known. However, if current sewage rates would not cover such capital improvement needs, those could be increased. The agreement simply ensures improvements occur, said Murtuza. Baykeeper welcomed the agreement. We're very pleased to have reached a cooperative settlement with Burlingame to prevent sewage contamination in local neighborhoods and in the Bay,? Baykeeper Program Director Sejal Choksi wrote in a prepared statement. [Burlingame] will now be taking the right steps to protect the health of both Burlingame residents and our waterways.? Burlingame will also invest $250,000 to fund projects to help restore the San Mateo County watershed. Earlier this year, Baykeeper called Burlingame out for a massive number of spills? which it deemed unacceptable. Burlingame has reported 30 spills per 100 miles per year, Choksi explained earlier this year. The national average is three to five spills per 100 miles per year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Although not its formal complaint, Baykeeper also alludes to problems with storm drains during heavy rains a problem Burlingame has been trying to fund for some time. Earlier this year, the city began researching a storm drain fee facing property owners generating up to $39 million to address such needs. *** Mark's article in the Daily News. Press Release from the City (please click on the red letters as an easy way to get to the link on the city website)

- Written by Fiona

Shop Downtown Burlingame this Weekend

The Downtown Burlingame Business Association will be hosting a Sidewalk Sale on Friday and Saturday, August 22 & 23 from 10:00 pm. For more information on the Downtown Burlingame Business Association and its members, visit www.downtownburlingame.com.

- Written by Fiona