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San Mateo County, CA November 3, 2015 Election
Smart Voter

Infrastructure, Capital Improvements, Parks, and Open Space

By Emily Beach

Candidate for Council Member; City of Burlingame

This information is provided by the candidate
Thoughtfully Evaluate Growth and Sustainability Opportunities
I will thoughtfully prioritize infrastructure and capital improvements. As our city begins the first general plan revision in more than 30 years, we have an exciting opportunity to evaluate our long-term goals.

I support:

1. Attractively designed and sensible downtown parking capacity, with separate areas targeted for commuters, employees, and downtown visitors.

2. Beautiful and functional streetscapes to encourage more pedestrian traffic downtown and on Broadway.

3. A more bike-friendly Burlingame, including additional bike racks in commercial areas, protected bike lanes to encourage bicycle travel by residents of all ages, and a possible bike-share program.

4. Implementation of Burlingame's community-driven Downtown Specific Plan, which includes a signature town square open space. Once plans for the post office redevelopment project are underway, I will ensure that there is robust public engagement on this project to protect our downtown character. If handled properly, the project could become a gem that enhances our city for the next 100+ years.

5. Thoughtful and thorough debate about the appropriate timing and funding mechanisms for new capital improvement construction projects (e.g., proposed Community Center, City Hall).

6. A sustainable approach to the pace and manner of new residential housing to ensure we build in a way that our city services, infrastructure, and schools can support.

7. Affordable housing units for workforce residents and seniors when new construction is built to help offset dramatic increases in rental and real estate prices.

8. Expansion of our free Burlingame Shuttle service as a convenient alternative for residents and visitors to visit our business districts, and help reduce traffic and parking congestion.

9. The establishment of a Senior Commission to interface regularly with City Council to better understand how our city services and infrastructure can support our senior community.

10. Burlingame representation in San Mateo's Peninsula Interchange Project, so that nearby Burlingame residents and businesses east of California have a voice.

11. Green city policies and initiatives, such as:

  • Emissions reduction with more bike-friendly infrastructure and expanded shuttle service

  • Water conservation, greywater for irrigation, and zero waste efforts

  • Exploration of Community Choice alternative power solutions

  • More community education and engagement about the impact of sea level rise in the bay and evolving flood zones

  • Green design, solar energy, and energy audits to decrease our carbon footprint

  • Electric vehicle charging stations

12. Exploring the creation of a new Bayfront park and neighborhood pocket parks.

13. Investment in current parks, fields, playgrounds, and Mills Canyon.

Next Page: Position Paper 2

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