The City of Burlingame is conducting a survey to gauge the opinions of residents, employees, and business owners/managers concerning a potential local minimum wage ordinance.

 

The minimum wage in California is currently $13/hour for employers with 26 or more employees, and $12/hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees. The California minimum wage will reach $15/hour on January 1, 2022, for those employers with 26 or more employees; for smaller employers, the minimum wage will rise to $15/hour on January 2, 2023.

 

The City Council is tentatively scheduled to discuss a proposed local minimum wage ordinance at their September 8 Council meeting. As currently contemplated, the ordinance would increase the minimum wage to $15 (or $15 plus CPI) for all employers in Burlingame, effective January 1, 2021. 

 

Please click on this link and let us know your thoughts. The survey will be open until September 1. 

The last day to register to vote for the November 3 Presidential Election is October 19, 2020. However, because the County Elections Office will start mailing ballots to all registered voters October 5, the City encourages you to register sooner.

Here are a few tips to make sure you're all set to vote:

Lastly, the City has heard from many of you who want to ensure that your ballot is counted. We have partnered with the County Elections Office to install two, and maybe a third (stay tuned), 24/7 outdoor ballot drop boxes. The first two are already installed:

If you have any questions or concerns please contact City Clerk Meaghan Hassel-Shearer at [email protected], or by phone at 650-558-7203.

A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) occurs when electric utility companies like PG&E to de-energize power lines in order to protect public safety in extreme conditions such as wildfires.

Rotating outages happen when California’s energy supply is insufficient to meet demand, thereby straining the power grid. The California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which is the statewide grid operator, is the agency tasked with determining when to implement rotating outages. Residents and businesses can learn if they will be impacted by a rotating outage by entering their address in PG&E's Rotating Outage Block Look Up tool.

CAISO may issue Flex Alerts from time to time, especially in the summer when extremely hot weather pushes up electricity demand. Flex Alerts are voluntary but highly impactful during critical times. Click here to sign up for Flex Alerts.

A Spare the Air alert is currently in place through Sunday due to smoke from numerous fires impacting air quality in portions of the Bay Area. On Spare the Air days it is illegal to burn wood in fireplaces or any other wood burning devices. Residents are advised to stay indoors, avoid the use of landscape equipment, and minimize vehicle trips.

Stay up-to-date with unhealthy air quality days by signing up for Spare the Air alerts.

To learn more about your local air quality, check out these information resources:

On Thursday, August 13, Burlingame opened its first new park in 20 years! Skyline Park is a passive natural park that sits on a 3.5 acre parcel on Skyline Boulevard near Trousdale Drive. The creation of this park is the result of citywide collaboration and community input. The park features 20 newly planted oak trees and repurposed benches to sit and enjoy the marvelous views. Future plans for the park include a few additional amenities and a walking path. Additionally, dogs are allowed to be off-leash while in the park. For more information on Burlingame’s newest addition to the park system, email [email protected]. Click here to watch the Mayor’s remarks at the Grand Opening Ceremony.

Did you know that about 80-90 percent of the materials in mattresses can be recycled? California (one of only three states to do so) state law requires retailers to pick up your old mattress for recycling when you purchase a new one. Mattresses may also be recycled through bulk pick-up programs. Check out sleep.org to learn about mattress recycling and Bye Bye Mattress for how to recycle your mattress locally.

Brush up on your knowledge of Burlingame history by viewing Episode 3 of the Burlingame Before series produced by the Burlingame Historical Society.

Be sure to check in next month for a new video.

Photo credit: cinematreasures.org

At this time, the City is seeking to fill two vacant seats on the Parks and Recreation Commission. The Council will likely appoint each Commission member to the full three-year term. Incumbents may reapply. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 21, 2020. Click here for more information about the Parks and Recreation Commission and to access the application and supplemental questionnaire.

If you have any questions, please contact Ana Silva in the City Manager’s Office at 

650-558-7204.

Are you a teen looking for a way to give back to your community during the pandemic? The Burlingame Library is looking for teen mentors for its Virtual Homework Center to provide tutoring via Zoom on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., September through November. If you received a 3.5+GPA last semester and enjoy working with kids from K-6th grade, you are encouraged to apply! Email Teen Librarian Jenny Miner with questions, or for more information.

To be eligible to join the 13-person YAC, applicants must be entering grades 7 through 12, go to a school in Burlingame and/or live in Burlingame, and commit to a two-year term.

Click here to access the form and apply. Applications are due on Friday, August 28. Send an email to Nicole Houghton at [email protected] with any questions.

The Parks and Field Monitor will patrol Burlingame parks and enforce park rules and County Health Order guidelines. The hours will vary throughout the week and may include weekends (about 20 hours per week). The hourly wage begins at $23.75. Please see the job description for additional information. 

Email your application to [email protected], or turn it in to the Recreation Center at 1010 Burlingame Ave. Contact Nicole Acquisti at [email protected] or 650-558-7337 with any questions.

Recently, transit operators in the nine Bay Area counties launched the "Riding Together: Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan" (the Plan). The Plan is the result of an unprecedented joint effort by transit leaders to lead the Bay Area’s transit operators into recovery mode. It is a comprehensive strategy with shared commitments to limit the spread of COVID-19. Action items range from disinfecting to ventilation.

In addition to serving as a tool for public transit agencies on various safety initiatives, the Plan makes a call for action to riders and outlines their responsibilities when riding.

The implementation of mitigation steps is based on best practices from peer agencies across the globe. The commitments are also based on information from the California Department of Public Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.

Read the press release or click here to read the full plan. In addition, BART recently released a 15-step plan to welcome back riders.

Thursdays, 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Please continue to follow these important tips for shopping the Fresh Market:

For more information, visit burlingamechamber.org.