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Questions for our Candidates.

Here is a compilation of questions from Ian, Patrick, political blunder, Admin et al. taken from earlier threads and subsequently re-grouped:

  1. Planning and Development
    1. What is your idea of an ideal city and why?
    2. What is your vision for downtown Burlingame and what steps will you take to achieve that during your next/first term?
    3. Depending on the makeup of the new council, it is possible that Safeway could come back with a proposal basically identical to the one that was turned down previously. If they do, will you vote For it or Against it?
    4. What changes, if any, would be necessary for you to accept Safeway’s plan?
    5. Would you support a reduction or an increase in the FAR, if so, by how much?
    6. Would you support establishing a “significant historic property” list for residential and commercial properties?
    7. If the Donnelly Plaza proposal came to a vote exactly as proposed in Mr. Ionescu's 5 July presentation and assuming acceptable financial terms were reached, would you vote For or Against?
    8. Would you support a proposal to establish housing on the Bayfront?
  2. Downtown and Business
    1. Do you support the current funding structure of the DBID (i.e. assessments on all downtown businesses, payable each year by all unless rejected by the weighted majority of members)? If not, what is your alternative funding proposal? Please specify whether it would be based on voluntary membership in DBID, or on a restructured universal assessment.
    2. Would you support the erection of a parking structure in downtown Burlingame? If not, why? If yes, where would you propose to build it, and how would you propose to pay for it?
    3. What proposals do you have to encourage smaller, independent retailers in downtown?
    4. There is no difference in the $100 business license fee between businesses with no or one employee(s), and those with many. Are you For or Against an increase?
  3. Our Streets
    1. Would you vote For or Against having the city fully fund the school crossing guards each year you serve on council?
    2. What steps will you take to encourage people from the Bayfront and hotel guests to come to the West side of the freeway for their dining and shopping needs?
    3. Will you continue to make homeowners responsible for maintaining sidewalks in the city setbacks?
    4. Do you support a change in our current parking meter fee scale? If so, what would that be?
    5. Would you support free meters for certain events like Free Shopping Days as San Mateo and other cities have done.
    6. What do you propose to do, if anything, to encourage people to ride and walk into town, rather than making car trips?
  4. Trees
    1. Will you support strengthening the Heritage tree ordinance by increasing the fines for non-compliance?
    2. When the budget allows, will you pledge to insure that each sidewalk area in the downtown core, (including on and between California/El Camino/Howard/Chapin) be planted with appropriately scaled trees or greenery?
  5. City Government
    1. What is your position on voluntary spending campaign spending limits?
    2. Do you feel the city has done enough to facilitate feedback from ordinary citizens? (eg. 3 minute public comment period) If not, what do you personally propose to do?
    3. Will you support televising Planning Commission meetings?
    4. What role do you believe the city council plays with regards to school and hospital issues?
    5. Will you benefit from the financial or political support of the Peninsula Coalition and, if so, do you subscribe to the organization's philosophical perspective regarding development?
    6. Should Burlingame have term limits like other Peninsula cities?
    7. Would you support a city amendment/ordinance that would hold elected officials accountable for campaign promises? Accountability could be anything up to and including removal from office .
    8. Regarding lifetime medical benefits for elected city officials, would you be in favor of reducing the coverage and/or increasing the years of coverage to 8 years?
  6. Our Community
    1. Will you impose strict residency requirements for all representatives?
    2. What steps will you take to protect those who are often underrepresented: our youth, our seniors, those in our communities with disabilities?
    3. For incumbents, what steps have you taken to improve the lives of the youth of Burlingame? For new candidates, what steps will you take?
    4. What are your thoughts about a teen center? Would you support the one previously studied, across from Washington Park? If not, why?
    5. Would you support and encourage public art/live music i.e. concerts in our downtowns? If so how?
    6. Would you support city sponsored forums on various topics of interest, like those currently presented in Redwood City, and from CBB?
    7. Which of the following statements fairly sums up your opinion about Burlingame?
      1. Burlingame is fine as is. I feel that things are generally running smoothly and do not feel an urgent need to change any policies or plans.
      2. Burlingame is doing alright. I feel that things are generally running smoothly, but that there are certain areas where we can make some improvement..
      3. Burlingame has seen better days. I don't feel that the city is being run as well as it could be, and see many areas for improvement .

– Written by Fiona

Posted in

39 responses to “Questions for our Candidates.”

  1. Anonymous

    Wow, good job, Fiona. That is not an easy job. Thank you to Ian and others who have already contributed. Fred, they made our job easier. These are really good questions.

    I have a couple of additions/changes. On question 5. about heritage trees, I’d like a question 5a: When the budget allows, will you pledge to insure that each sidewalk area in the downtown core, (including on and between California/El Camino/Howard/Chapin) be planted with appropriately scaled trees or greenery?

    And 6. about the FAR. Why was the 2% chosen? Maybe the question should read, would you support a reduction in the FAR, if so, by how much? And conversely, Would you support an increase in the FAR, if so, by how much? Or is the FAR about right where it is? What suggestions would you have to reduce tensions between developers and neighbors?

    There is nothing in here about bikes or parking lots or structures. How about this:

    Would you support the erection of a parking structure in downtown Burlingame. If not, why? And how would you make finding a parking spot less aggravating? If so? What would this cost approximately, where would you propose to build it, and how would you propose to pay for it?

    Do you support a change in our current parking meter fee scale? If so, what would that be?

    Would you support Free Shopping Days (free meters), for certain events as San Mateo and other cities have done?

    Bicycles: What do you propose to do, if anything, to encourage people to ride and walk into town, rather than making car trips?

    Do you have any proposals to encourage smaller, independant retailers in downtown?

    Would you support and encourage public art/live music ie. concerts in our downtowns? If so, how?

    Will you continue to make homeowners responsible for maintaining sidewalks in the city setbacks?

    What is your idea of an ideal city and why?

    I think Number 22 needs to be worded differently:

    In Burlingame, there has traditionally been no difference in the business license fee (currently $100), between businesses with no or one employee(s), and those with several. What, if anything, do you propose to do to change this?

    Okay, this all that I can think of right now, (excuse me if I missed them previously and they were already addressed.) I’m sure the others have more to add.

  2. Anonymous

    Whoops, I forgot a biggie.:

    What are your thoughts about a teen center? Would you support the one previously studied, across from Washington Park? If not, why?

  3. Anonymous

    Hate to dominate this posting but a couple of others came to me:

    Do you feel the city has done enough to facilitate feedback from ordinary citizens? (ie. 3 minute public comment period) If not, what do you personally propose to do so?

    Would you support city sponsored forums on various topics of interest, like those currently presented in Redwood City, and from CBB?

    Which of the following statements fairly sums up your opinion about Burlingame?

    1) Burlingame is fine as is. I feel that things are generally running smoothly and do not feel an urgent need to change any policies or plans.

    2) Burlingame is doing alright. I feel that things are generally running smoothly, but that there are certain areas where we can make some improvement.

    3) Burlingame has seen better days. I don’t feel that the city is being run as well as it could be, and see many areas for improvement.

  4. Rich Grogan

    Great job. These questions help level the playing field for all of the candidates. This is a good start for all of the candidates to think and prepare their position papers.

    I am sure there will be other questions and all of the questions and the responses should lend themselves for a great debate.

    Just thought of a couple questions.

    Would you support a city amendment/ordinance that would hold elected officals accountable for campaign promises? Accountability could be anything up to and including removal from office.

    Regarding lifetime medical benefits for elected city officials, would you be in favor of reducing the coverage as well increasing the years of coverage to 8 years?

  5. fred

    I think you may need to edit this down to ten or so questions. I would suggest finding the ones most important to all the residents and the city as a whole. The questions that relate mainly to council members and council rules may not interest all the potential voters.

    Safeway, DBID, FAR, historical sites, bayfront, donnelly, small business, senior/teen center and the vision for downtown are some really good questions. Especially the FAR one.

    Question 17 – Burlingame is in financial peril? Really, I didn’t know the city is that bad off.

  6. Anonymous

    Too bad, because I think that all these questions are really intriguing. But I agree, they would need to be edited down or they may end up being overwhelming-drat.

    Still a good base for some future candidates’ night or whatever. Maybe some ambitious reporter from a regular newspaper will stow them away to use later.

    Ian, whom I do not know, seems to be good and fair. Maybe he’d like to do some editing??!!

    Have a lovely weekend, nice job everyone. See, many brains are better than one.

  7. Anonymous

    Wish we had a chance to ask even twenty of these questions. With so many candidates, how many questions from the public will be allowed in the debates over and above the opening and closing statements?

    For those that think these questions are giving away trade secrets, this might be a heads up to the candidates that they better know some of the answers and answer the questions clearly and honestly!

    So its all good!!

  8. Rich Grogan

    Fred
    We are in agreement, this is a long list and it might be more beneficial if it was shortened.

    Would you review the list and pick out 10 questions you feel should have priority and list them in the order of importance to you with #1 the most important.

  9. Anonymous

    Why not leave all the questions on the list, but group them into 10-15 “core” questions (which all candidates are expected to answer), and have the rest as optional – candidates can pick those they have a position on to answer and ignore the rest.

    Personally, I don’t think it’s too much to ask candidates to answer all of the questions – it looks like 5-6 hours work, from someone who will spend far more than that campaigning, fund-raising, producing/reviewing “glossy” brouchures, etc. The election is months away – give them the full list in two sections, give them a month to complete it, and see what we get. Maybe doing so will give us an indication of how hard these people are willing to work on addressing the issues.

  10. Anonymous

    I have amended the list on the original thread in groups so it will be easier for you to pick out the core questions. Hope it helps with your questionnaire!

  11. al

    The real question is whether Gene Condon can understand the questions. But I guess it doesn’t matter since he doesn’t do blogs. Hey Barbara, does he have the budget for you to coach him on all these questions at your hourly rate?

  12. fred

    1) Would you support a reduction or an increase in the FAR (residential Floor Area Ratio), if so, by how much and why?

    2) What areas of improvement do you think are most important for the City of Burlingame to address in the near future?

    3) What is your vision for downtown Burlingame and what steps will you take to achieve that during your next/first term?

    4) What changes, if any, would be necessary for you to accept Safeway’s plan?

    5) What are your thoughts about a senior/teen center? Would you support the one previously studied, across from Washington Park or in Washington Park? If not, why?

    6) Do you support the current structure of the DBID or what alternative plans would you support?

    7) Would you support a proposal to establish housing on the Bayfront?

    8) What role do you believe the city council plays with regards to school and hospital issues?

    9) What proposals do you have to encourage smaller, independent retailers in downtown?

    10) If the Donnelly Plaza proposal came to a vote exactly as proposed in Mr. Ionescu’s 5 July presentation and assuming acceptable financial terms were reached, would you vote For or Against?

    11) Would you support establishing a significant historic property? list for residential and commercial properties?

    I’m really not sure how to order them but the last one is the kicker and is probably as important as the first one.

  13. Anonymous

    Pretty good job, Fred. I’m impressed. I’m sorry to see the tree and sidewalk questions gone, though.

  14. fred

    12) What do you think the city policy should be regarding eminent domain? Should the issue be put to the voters as Half Moon Bay is doing?

    Get used to paying for the sidewalks, budgets are tight. The tree question may be a keeper.

  15. Anonymous

    That’s a good one, particularly if control is locally administered. Do you have a link to Half Moon Bay? I hadn’t heard that.

  16. fred

    Control is on the city level I believe. There is a controversy now over Justice Souter’s property in New Hampshire. The city wants to turn his property into a hotel called the Lost Liberty as protest to the supreme court decision.

    No link on Half Moon Bay, it was a Daily News article from this weekend.

  17. Rich Grogan

    Fred

    Thank you for you input. Limiting the list to just 10 is difficult, but based upon what you have supplied, we agree.

  18. fred

    Thanks Rich, hopefully what we’ve put together here will help the candidates.

  19. james

    This is a good list. No. 2 and 3 are a bit fluffy, but that’s OK since the rest are nice and tightly phrased.

  20. Anonymous

    Love your list of questions, Fred.

    (1) Since we are the City of Trees, I think we should add a question about our trees because our trees are one of the reasons Burlingame stands out from our neighbors?
    (2) Since Condon’s glossy has made an issue about Auto Row, should that be included?

    Fred, are you going to send this questionnaire to the candidates?

  21. fred

    I was thinking of combining two and three but couldn’t word it right. And add trees and auto row.

    How you get anyone to answer these questions? I know I can’t get that done.

  22. fred

    There is a reason I didn’t add the auto row question. I figured after the economic survey they are conducting it would become a non-issue.

  23. Anonymous

    Well, this is a difficult issue (about the survey) because I think that the results should only be posted if everyone responds, otherwise there is a fairness issue involved. That is why I thought the City should take this on, (but they won’t want to). Perhaps a pulp and ink newpaper would do this, and then reveal the results if all responded. Also, I like scans better than compilations of answers. We don’t want an entity deciphering what was written. I wouldn’t want the Voice (again) accused of favoring one or the other candidate. I can also understand if those who are forthright, would be reluctant to post answers if there is a fair chance that others won’t. Does anyone have some suggestions?

    Also, Fiona, I think Fred is right about the Auto Row issue. It should be addressed (I think?) in the city survey, so there isn’t enough info yet to be part of our questionnaire.

  24. Anonymous

    I agree but Condon has made it an important issue in his campaign statement and, since he brought it up, the question should be asked.

    The Study is a long way down the line. According to a First Draft of the Time Line for Selecting a Consultant dated July 14, 2005, staff will prepare a staff report for Council appropriation October 17-31, 2005 and then at a regular council meeting the council will appropriate the money for the study and selection of consultant. Also per city document, “the consultant will be able to begin work on or before December 1, 2005”

  25. fred

    So Fiona what is the auto row question you wish to ask the candidates?

  26. Anonymous

    Should “historic” Auto Row be expanded in the downtown business district?

    or

    Should small businesses be encouraged on the fringes of the downtown business district presently zoned for auto row, eg. the 200 block of California Drive.

    or, if we want to open Pandora’s box,

    Should auto row businesses be given “incentives” to move to the North End or Bayfront?

    I know, Fred, hot potato questions and ones that no candidate would want to answer. But hey, it would be an interesting conversation!

  27. fred

    The first question is not even appropriate, auto row isn’t looking to expand into downtown so that is not the one.

    The second question is already a settled subject since the PIP lady was allowed to move in so not that question either.

    The third question or as I like to call it ‘Russ Cohen’s imaginary journey’ I guess would be the one to ask. But the project is completely not doable. It would cost over $100 million dollars to move the auto dealerships. What possible ‘incentives’ could you give to make up a fraction of the cost of moving ‘historic’ auto row and displacing the other businesses.

    But it could be a good question to ask, the answers would be interesting but I doubt anyone could give a viable plan to accomplish this.

    Moving auto row and Safeway out of town seem like bad decisions for the city’s future.

  28. Jim

    What happens when the next PIP issue comes up? The auto row zoning issue hasn’t gone away.

  29. Anonymous

    Maybe a better question at this point would be to ask: Would you support a plaza at the train station, surrounded by retail, and/or higher density housing?

    After reading the article in the Merc, about how all those people who bought into the concept of high density housing along the tracks at San Antonio and other stations down south, were duped by Caltrain, I’m not sure how I’d feel about high density housing on California Drive. I used to like the idea, now I’m not sure at all.

    All we need is more density, and a bullet train that often bypasses our station. What good would that do?

  30. fred

    Well, Jim that is just a matter of changing the zoning to all businesses or deciding to just keep dealing with each issue on a case by case basis.

    I’m for either way and I don’t think it makes much difference which way the city goes. It is not the essential question Fiona is nibbling at.

  31. Fiona

    So what am I nibbling at? If you think I am going to say “please railroad all the motor trade out of Burlingame”, Fred you are wrong. We know all about those golden gooooooses!

    A councilmember had made the point that California Drive would be a perfect adjunct to the downtown retail district and should be zoned that way. We all remember the circus when Pip bought a property and then had to jump hoops, run circles, tear her hair out and beat her chest to do business in “historical” auto row!

    Perhaps the economic study will be “the roadmap” to make this issue easier in the future.

  32. fred

    I don’t think the zoning is the issue it is the moooooving auto row that your group refers to.

  33. Anonymous

    Fred, love your creative email addresses especially when they relate to me!

    Don’t know what my group de la jour is but the Request for Proposal for the Economic Study dated July 28, 2005 (page 2)states that the study will “determine the importance of “Auto Row” to the viability of downtown and to the city’s economy and revenue base. Quantify the impact of the loss of Auto Row to Burlingame or its relocation within Burlingame. Identify uses whch would be economically viable in Auto Row area, should the auto sales/service businesses relocate”

    So that group (ie. the City) have found it important enough of an issue to study it. We will have to wait for the results.

  34. fred

    Fiona read back, my original comment on not adding an auto row question states the economic survey will settle the issue.

    This was a good thread with positive elements for the city why end it in more bickering. I think this is good list of questions that can help people decide who is best suited to lead the city.

  35. fred

    Fiona, your group is the CBB by any other name still the CBB.

  36. Anonymous

    Okay, okay you two, let’s not start again!!

    I’d say the the quality of the questions we’ve put together is very high, and I’d love to see some or all addressed in the near future, by each participant in this council race. (Hint to pulp and ink papers, you know how the papers publish sample SAT test questions??)

    If this were actually a survey of the citizenry (questions and grammar slightly tweaked) it would also be quite interesting to know the perpectives from around town of various citizens on these same issues.

  37. Sean

    “Economic survey will settle the issues” #3, #4, and #10.

  38. james

    I never pin too much hope on a consultant’s report of any sort. The survey is likely to assemble a good deal of data, but the underlying assumptions on how to interpret it as well as the conclusions to draw from it will still be a political issue. Let’s not delete any questions.

  39. Jim

    Agree with you, James. Any questions that relate too a candidate’s platform, city study and residents’ interests (including this blog) should be included. All questions about Burlingame are relevant in this campaign – the good, the bad and the ugly!

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