New Burlingame mayor paints a bleak picture – Burlingame's Keighran braces town for tough year during address (by Christine Morente, San Mateo County Times)
BURLINGAME Seconds after becoming the new mayor, Councilwoman Ann Keighran warned Monday that the city will brace itself for a tough year ahead.
She found it unnecessary to sugarcoat the fact that Burlingame is not immune to the economic challenges that have faced numerous cities on the Peninsula. "Patience and our will, will be tested," said Keighran, who is in her first term as councilwoman and officially serves as mayor in December. "We will meet adversity and multiple challenges."
During the City Council meeting that held the annual rotation of council officers, Councilwoman Rosalie O'Mahony gave the gavel to Keighran, while Cathy Baylock became vice mayor. O'Mahony, who was first elected in 1989 and finished her fifth term as mayor, voiced total confidence that Keighran will address the city's issues with "verve."
In 2004, O'Mahony and council members faced a difficult year when $1.8 million worth of services were cut. Twelve positions were also lost. Despite that, O'Mahony said she is proud of meeting the five goals she set during her term as mayor this year. Among them: the development of a new Safeway project and downtown specific plan that is aimed at the revitalization of Howard Avenue; meeting some of the city's infrastructure needs; and the start of putting money aside for the Broadway overpass project.
Meanwhile, Keighran painted a bleak picture. She echoed City Manager Jim Nantell's information presented earlier this month that there would be budget shortfalls in the next two years, and that service reductions between 5 to 10 percent in all departments are imminent.
The city is expected to lose a 10 percent reduction in sales tax; between $44 and $66 million in unfunded liabilities; $200 million in unfunded capital improvements, which include the Broadway overpass and downtown streetscape projects; and $39 million in needed storm drainage improvements.
Keighran said it was time for the council to be creative, and it should start looking at either above, or underground parking downtown to continue to attract people to the area.
"I want Burlingame to be a business-friendly environment," she said. "We want to see the conventions coming to our hotels, and we want a grocery store Safeway to be feasibly economic and aesthetically pleasing to the community." Keighran further suggested that the city not only promote sustainability, but it should recognize and promote its strengths rather than weaknesses.

– Written by Fiona