Implementation Programs

The Central County Fire Department will continue its volunteer program for Burlingame residents certified in Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) and promote the “Get Ready” program for all citizens. 

The City will develop, adopt, and implement a comprehensive Bicycle Master Plan. As part of the preparation of the Bicycle Master Plan, City staff will review and incorporate (as appropriate) planned improvements and programs that connect Burlingame’s existing and planned bike facilities to regional walking and bicycle facilities, including the Bay Trail. 

The City will require biological resource studies for any development application in the Baylands area and adjacent to open space hillside areas. Such studies will identify biological resources and any measures/mitigation to avoid or minimize impact pursuant to CEQA.

City staff will develop and maintain a branding and marketing strategy and promotional materials to maximize the effectiveness of business retention and attraction efforts. 

City staff will carry out a comprehensive business attraction, expansion, and retention program. 

City staff will develop and maintain a business resource center and web pages.  

City staff will annually review and update the Capital Improvement Program to ensure adequate and timely provision of public facility and municipal utility provisions to address water systems, wastewater systems, storm drain systems, etc. 

As part of the Climate Action Plan, City staff will track carbon sequestration activities on private and public lands, such as planting trees or managing wetlands.

City staff will conduct periodic energy efficiency audits of City-owned buildings to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements from both operations and equipment upgrades.

The City will develop a citywide Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan for adoption by the City Council, which could include strategies and measures to reduce peak-hour traffic, such as staggered work hours, flexible schedule options, local transit service, and telecommuting from home offices. 

City staff will prepare a climate change sustainability assessment strategy to evaluate the City’s susceptibility to climate change impacts and identify tools and strategies to mitigate impacts and create a more resilient city.

City staff will report traffic collision data for automobiles, bicycles, and pedestrians to the City Council as needed and recommend improvements as applicable. 

City staff will review the Commercial Design Guidebook together with the adopted Specific Plans (Downtown, Bayfront, North Burlingame/Rollins Road) and prepare a comprehensive update for City Council Adoption in order for these documents to align with the guiding principles, goals, and policies of the updated General Plan. Specific Plans for Rollins Road and Broadway will be prioritized.

City staff will periodically evaluate and prepare recommendations on how well the streets and transportation network are serving each category of users.

City staff will use a phased approach to evaluate and implement the proposed Complete Streets improvements identified in the Mobility Element. A priority list will be established through the Capital Improvement Program.

City staff will review the current Zoning Code (Municipal Code Title 25) and prepare a comprehensive update for City Council adoption in order to align with the guiding principles, goals, and policies of the General Plan.

City staff will propose to the City Council as necessary that the Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling Ordinance be updated to be consistent with the processing capabilities at the transfer stations and waste facilities that process Burlingame’s construction and demolition debris.

Central County Fire Department staff and City staff will prepare a comprehensive update of the City’s disaster and emergency program.  

Central County Fire Department staff will conduct training and exercise drills to train City staff and test the effectiveness of the Emergency Operations Plan and operational readiness of the Emergency Operations Center.

The City will maintain its partnership with the Burlingame School District to offer enrichment, athletic, safety, and other programs and services to Burlingame’s youth.

The City and Central County Fire Department will participate in the SMC Alert emergency communication system (the system for sending emergency information and updates in San Mateo County).

City staff will develop and implement a public information and education campaign to encourage every household and every business to reduce their energy consumption.

City staff will coordinate with San Mateo County Energy Watch, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, non-profit organizations, and other agencies and businesses to continue with environmental education programs.

City staff will continue to promote Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs, which are energy efficiency retrofit financing programs for residential, commercial, or industrial properties.

City staff will coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and San Mateo County on updates to the Burlingame flood maps and countywide efforts to address sea level rise. 

City staff will prepare, implement, and maintain a strategy for the unique key corridors to maintain the character, businesses, and marketing of the Broadway district, Rollins Road, Downtown, and the Bayfront. Based on the findings of the strategy, City staff will develop action programs to promote development opportunities within these key business districts.  

The City will adopt and implement a Green Infrastructure Plan in accordance with the Municipal Stormwater NPDES permit.

Coordinate among all City departments and outside responsible agencies to ensure that the use, storage, and transportation of hazardous materials in and through Burlingame comply with applicable State and Federal regulations.

City staff will coordinate with local health officials, planners, nonprofit organizations, businesses, hospitals, local health clinics, and community groups on strategies, programs, and practices that prioritize the overall health of Burlingame residents and employees.

City staff will develop a checklist of health strategies that could be incorporated into the design of discretionary development projects and plans. Staff will share this resource with project applicants to help them design their projects to promote community health.

City staff will prepare and maintain a web-based resource center to promote Burlingame’s local historic resources and to provide resources and incentives to encourage historic preservation.

The Library will continue to serve as an education and lifelong learning resource to promote and provide access to local and web-based educational resources, literacy programs, and services for parents, students, and adults.

City staff will maintain the Library Strategic Plan and periodically prepare a report that evaluates the implementation of the Library Strategic Plan.

The City will continue to carry out a California Mills Act Property Tax Abatement Program within the Downtown Specific Plan Area.

City staff will propose for the City Council’s adoption multimodal level of service (LOS) standards and a methodology for capital projects that define the process for determining which non-vehicular transportation and transit improvements will be implemented.  The multimodal LOS program, design standards, and methodology should be consistent with those adopted by San Mateo County.

City staff will update the City’s Traffic Study Preparation Guidelines to reflect multi-modal VMT policies, standards, and methodologies and to provide additional flexibility in implementing multimodal transportation improvements.  

Enforce all regulations in the Municipal Code related to excessive community noise. Development projects that are subject to discretionary review and that are located near noise-sensitive land uses shall assess potential construction noise levels and minimize substantial adverse impacts by implementing feasible construction noise control measures that reduce construction noise levels at sensitive receptor locations. Such measures may include, but are not limited to: 1) construction management techniques (e.g., siting staging areas away from noise-sensitive land uses, phasing activities to take advantage of shielding/attenuation provided by topographic features or buildings, monitoring construction n); 2) construction equipment controls (e.g., ensuring equipment has mufflers, use of electric hook-ups instead of generators); 3) use of temporary sound barriers (equipment enclosures, berms, walls, blankets, or other devices) when necessary; and 4) monitoring of actual construction noise levels to verify the need for noise controls.

City staff will propose amendments to the off-street parking regulations in BMC Title 25 for adoption by the City Council to incorporate smart growth principles and to incentivize walking, biking, use of public transit, and use of emerging transportation options. 

City staff will prepare and propose Parking Management Plans for adoption by the City Council for the Downtown and Broadway commercial districts.

The City will prepare and implement a Parks Master Plan.

The City will develop a Pedestrian Master Plan for adoption by the City Council that includes a planned sidewalk system, pedestrian design standards, and an implementation program. As part of the preparation of the Pedestrian Master Plan, staff will review and incorporate (as appropriate) planned improvements and programs that connect Burlingame’s existing and planned pedestrian facilities to regional walking and bicycle facilities. 

City staff will update the Public Facilities Impact Fee Feasibility Study and Nexus Report to assess public impact fees for public services. Based on the findings of the Feasibility Study and Nexus Report and direction from the City Council, staff may recommend that the City Council amend the Public Facilities Impact Fees.

City staff will evaluate the appropriateness of amending the City’s building and development codes to support and encourage rainwater harvesting and graywater systems.

City staff will evaluate the feasibility of delivering recycled water to customers to increase the use of recycled water.

City staff will coordinate with regional agencies and adjacent communities to identify better connections between city roadways, pedestrian ways, bicycle facilities, transit corridors, and neighboring and regional transportation networks. 

City staff will review the Residential Design Guidebook for development in the City’s neighborhoods and prepare a comprehensive update for City Council Adoption in order to align with the guiding principles, goals, and polices of the updated General Plan.

City staff will review service assistance programs, grants, loans, and permitting procedures to maintain or modify homes to meet the needs of residents in need. Staff will assemble a clearinghouse of information providing referrals on services, financial assistance, or incentives available to people in need.

The City will consider implementing view protection regulations that focus on preservation of the Bay from hillside public space areas. Protection of private views will be a secondary consideration.

Develop a long-term sea level rise defense strategy for Burlingame’s bayside lands, including a capital plan to provide funding. Given the likely expense (based on similar projects underway at SFO and other jurisdictions), consideration should be given to initiating a sinking fund in the near-term to start saving resources now and over time for future construction.

The City will review and update (as necessary) its seismic and geologic safety standards when there is an update to the Uniform Building Code and the California Building Code.  

City staff will evaluate and make recommendations as appropriate regarding creation of a seismic retrofit program to encourage property owners to upgrade buildings, especially masonry buildings, soft-story buildings (i.e., buildings designed with minimal bracing on the first floor), and critical facilities (i.e. hospitals, schools, and long-term care facilities). 

The City will continue to allow use of the State Historic Code for the rehabilitation of historic resources within the Downtown Specific Plan Area. 

City staff will coordinate with regional transit organizations to assess implementation of transit services and provide updates to the City Council accordingly.

City staff will continue to identify neighborhoods where appropriate traffic-calming measures could help reduce speeding and create safer streets. This will largely be driven by requests from residents and business/property owners. The CIP will be updated accordingly.

City staff will coordinate with regional agencies to identify additional options for informing transit riders of the availability and timing (e.g., headways) of public transit, and work with the respective agencies to inform the City Council on updates to the transit information program.

The City will continue to require private developers to underground utilities along the street frontage of their project site when new or substantial development occurs. 

City staff will maintain the Urban Forest Management Plan.

Subject to available funding, the City staff will carry out various roadway redesigns to improve mobility and safety, such as but not limited to: •The roadway improvement/reconfiguration plans for Rollins Road, California Drive, Bayshore Highway, and the Broadway/railroad grade separation identified in the Mobility Element. •The roundabout reconfiguration of Bellevue Avenue, Primrose Road, and Douglas Avenue to allow for improved pedestrian movement. •The improvements to El Camino Real that might be accomplished in coordination with Caltrans to achieve the City’s mobility goals without compromising the tree-lined character of the boulevard, including implementing recommendations of the El Camino Real Task Force as appropriate.

City staff will continue to develop and implement water conservation programs that decrease water use and heighten users’ awareness of the need to conserve, even during periods of non-drought. 

The City will continue to maintain Water Conservation Standards within the Municipal Code for households, businesses, industries, and public infrastructure.

The City will continue to enforce NPDES regulations for all construction activity and land uses.