This eNews contains informative graphics, pictures, and flyers. To get the most out of this weekly eNews, we recommend that you download all images prior to viewing.

Parklet /ˈpärklət/ /ˈpɑrklət/

Noun a small seating area created as a public amenity along a sidewalk, parking space, or other public right of way.

At its December 7, 2020 meeting, the Burlingame City Council agreed to allow the parklet program for the Burlingame Avenue and Broadway downtown areas to continue at least through Labor Day 2021. The intent was to support restaurants in their ability to serve patrons outdoors when State and County restrictions prohibited indoor dining and to offer parklet owners a clear sense of how long they could expect to keep their parklets in the public right of way.

On August 16, 2021, the City Council will discuss whether to allow use of parklets beyond Labor Day 2021 and what a future program might look like.

Governor Newsom's recently announced plan to "reopen California" by June 15, 2021 has no impact on the City's parklet program.

Hello Burlingame! In celebration of Earth Day, the City is giving away Earth Day-friendly goody bags! To be eligible, take a photo of yourself doing one (or all five!) of the actions below:

 

1. Use a bicycle to get around in your neighborhood.

2. Fill your reusable bottle at a hydration station at a public park.

3. Pick up trash in your neighborhood.

4. Show how you say no to disposable cutlery.

5. Take a picture in front of our pop-up display on Burlingame Avenue or Broadway.

 

Email your picture to jlee@burlingame.org, or tag @burlingame_sustainability on Instagram. This giveaway ends on April 30, 2021, and winners will be selected in early May. There is a limit of one winner per household in Burlingame. Goody bag contents may include a reusable bag, a dog waste dispenser, a low flow showerhead, and a reusable metal straw. A limited number of grand prize jigsaw puzzles will be awarded to residents who submit photos of all five actions mentioned above.

April is Climate Action Month and a great time to become familiar with Burlingame’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP contains 20 measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, transportation, waste, and water. Some examples of the work accomplished to date includes:

- Electric Buildings: All NEW buildings in Burlingame will use all-electric appliances, instead of burning gas for heating (exceptions for cooking are allowed). Burlingame's electricity is 100% greenhouse gas free and is not derived from the burning of fossil fuels. This means it's cleaner to use electricity in our homes than gas.

- EV Action Plan: Burlingame's new Highland Parking Garage will bring 24 new electric vehicle (EV) stations to Burlingame. Also, all NEW homes will include EV charging stations. These efforts are all part of the City's strategy to support future EV growth.

- Composting: Over this next year, all businesses and residences, including multifamily buildings, are encouraged to sign up for Recology's composting program. Composting, rather than putting food waste in the trash, is an easy way to reduce methane emissions from landfills and increase the longevity of landfills.

Skyline Park will close until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21 to allow for mowing and poison oak abatement. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have questions, please direct them to the Burlingame Parks and Recreation Department at 650-558-7330.

Click here for a full list of other City parks and playgrounds.

Effective today, vaccinations are open to all Californians ages 16 and up! Learn more here.

Also effective today for counties in the Orange Tier, outdoor gatherings may increase to 50 people. For private events or meetings such as receptions or conferences, outdoor gatherings are limited to 100 people. Indoor live events or performances are allowed with capacity limits and modifications including physical distancing, advance ticket purchases, designated areas for eating and drinking, and attendance limited to in-state visitors.

The City of Burlingame is conducting a feasibility study to look at potential roadway improvement designs for Old Bayshore Highway. This study will look at improving access, safety, operations, and aesthetics for all modes of transportation including pedestrian, bike, vehicles, and transit.

Over the next several months, the City will be engaging with various public and private stakeholders, including business owners, property owners, residents, and City Commissions, to present the context, opportunities, and constraints of the project, as well as to solicit feedback that will determine the community's priorities for the corridor. Once this has been established, staff will present the information to the City Council for their review and approval.

Click here to share your vision.

If you have any questions after completing the survey, you can send an email to pwengineering@burlingame.org.

Register today for this free webinar

The influx of relief funding through the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan provides a unique opportunity for growth for small business owners in California.

Join Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Assemblymember Phil Ting (AD-19), Golden Gate University, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and Small Business Majority as they walk you through how best to position your business in 2021. Other topics of discussion will include:

Visit Venturize's portal to find the latest information on emergency grant and loan programs, or learn about other COVID-19 resources for small businesses. Also available on Venturize is its lending matching tool, MatchFinder, which connects California small business owners to multiple responsible lending options through one quick and easy form.

Venturize is a free online resource hub for small businesses who need help accessing tools and resources to grow their businesses.

Recursos de préstamos de emergencia Venturize ahora disponibles en español!

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

For more information, visit burlingamechamber.org.

The Burlingame City Council will receive an update from the City of San Mateo regarding the U.S. Highway 101/Peninsula Avenue Interchange Project at a study session on Monday, April 19 at 6:00 p.m. You can find the study session materials and meeting link on the City’s website 72 hours prior to the meeting.

The proposed U.S. Highway 101/Peninsula Avenue Interchange Project would relocate the existing southbound on-and off-ramps from East Poplar Avenue to Peninsula Avenue in order to create a single, full-access interchange at Peninsula Avenue and Airport Boulevard. The proposed project also includes bicycle and pedestrian improvements on Peninsula Avenue from just west of North Humboldt Street to North Bayshore Boulevard.

In addition, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has initiated a public review period and is conducting a virtual scoping meeting to request comments on the scope and content of a planned Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) for the proposed project. Public comments regarding the environmental document should be sent to Caltrans no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 24. The virtual scoping meeting will take place Wednesday, April 28, at 6:00 p.m. For additional information regarding the scoping meeting, how to submit your comments, and project details, please visit the City of San Mateo’s website.

Join the Library for a United Against Hate Anti-Bias Storytime featuring Burlingame teacher Natalie Delahunt, M.Ed. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Join community members across California and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi to discuss "How to Be An Antiracist", a 2021 Book to Action selection and the 2020-2021 Book in Common at Chico State.

Join the Library for a conversation with Josh Tickell, an environmental thought leader and awar- winning director and author of "Kiss the Ground". The event will explore ways Californians can come together and make both individual and collective change for a more sustainable future.

Access a free stream of "Kiss the Ground" April 19-23, by registering here to receive the link. Learn more at https://kisstheground.com/, or check out the book at https://burlingame.bibliocommons.com/item/show/2585875076.

Please mark your calendar for the upcoming annual Joint City Council/Planning Commission meeting. The first item on the agenda will be a presentation of design concepts for Burlingame’s future Town Square (located next to the old Post Office on Park Road).

The team has developed two design alternatives based on previous input from the community, and these alternatives will be shared for the first time at this meeting! We encourage you to take a moment out of your Saturday morning to see the possibilities for this very special addition to Burlingame. For more information on the Town Square project, click here.

Pictured below: site of Burlingame's future Town Square and an artist's rendition of how it might look.

This week, Burlingame's High School Correspondents Ella and Ava highlighted two of their favorite local restaurants that focus on Asian cuisine! Sesame can be found at 1355 Broadway and Young Can Wok is located at 1200 Broadway.

What’s your favorite place to get some Asian cuisine in Burlingame? And how often is too often to order the Shanghai Dumplings from Young Can Wok?

#SmallBusinessWednesday #BurlingameSupportsSmallBusinesses #BurlingameShopsLocal

Health professionals will share resources and tips on how to help youth and loved ones

suffering from mental health issues. This event is hosted by District 4 Supervisor

Warren Slocum's Office.

Thursday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

All are welcome to attend this free community event in honor of Earth Day! Grupology is excited to feature two amazing guest speakers, Dr. Mandira Roy and Khristine Holterman, who both have a lot of incredible insights to share. They’ll discuss the state of our current climate crisis and how food choices—including "Garden to Table''—can help reduce carbon emissions.

A special planting demonstration is also planned, and Grupology will send you off with an activity that students can do at home. Registration is required for this COVID-compliant event, so RSVP today by emailing info@grupology.com. This activity is recommended for kids ages 8 through 12. Looking forward to seeing you!

About the speakers: Mandira is a Research Scientist at MIT and an enthusiastic proponent of sustainable living, while Khristine is the Manager of the Hillsborough Harvest Garden, a non-profit, all-organic community garden, and a nutrition consultant focused on plant-based diets and wellness.