On Monday night, the Burlingame City Council decided to delay its upcoming mandatory street sweeping project in favor of a more neighborhood-oriented volunteer maintenance agreement with local residents. The area which was to be included in the street sweeping project was between Broadway and Grove Ave. and El Camino Real and California Drive.
Area residents opposed the street sweeping program on the grounds that it would require them to move their cars at different times of the day, and at different days of the week. They also complained about the additional noise the street sweeping machines would cause and how the additional parking restriction signs may devalue their property.
Two weeks prior to the City Council meeting, a petition with some 100 residents of the affected areas, was circulated to council members asking them to not pass a mandatory street sweeping project.
Approximately seven residents spoke during the public comment session in opposition to the street sweeping program, making it the most contentious item on Monday night's agenda, according to City Clerk Ann Musso.
George Bagden, director of the Burlingame Public Works Department, said the City Council will try this voluntary and outreach-oriented approach to street maintenance, then reevaluate the need for mandatory street sweeping parking restrictions in May.
The volunteer program requires the Public Works Department to enact an education and outreach program to the residents of the community -- informing them of the days the street sweepers will be by. It will also require the department to request that residents voluntarily move their cars.
In addition to this soft language, Bagden adds that he will also include educational maintenance information, such as advising residents not to use leaf blowers in their gardens -- which essentially contributes to the clogging of area gutters.
If the residents respond favorably to this volunteer approach, there will be no more added street sweepers at early hours and there will be no further official restrictions on parking.
Bagden, however, added that evaluating the success of this approach may prove problematic in itself. "That's when it gets subjective. How do you value success?" he said, adding that many residents may respond and move their vehicles, only to have those parking spots later taken by others who are not aware of, or do not care about the issue of street sweeping.
"It depends on the volunteerism of the public. I haven't seen that in my time here. But we'll see," Bagden said, adding that the community will now have a chance to respond to the education and outreach efforts of the city. "The City can't do everything," Bagden added.
In other business, the Council voted to overturn the Planning Commission's ruling to deny two development projects -- including the proposed development of Fanny and Alexanders.
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