Terry's Record

When Terry was elected in 2003 she promised to end closed-door decisions by the council majority, scrutinize proposed mergers of city departments with other cities to make sure they would benefit Burlingame, and protect our city’s charm by encouraging development that enhances our downtown areas and neighborhoods.

Terry has kept her promises -- and she’s done much more. During her years on the Burlingame City Council, the city has enjoyed a growing reputation for offering quality services, being responsive to citizen inquiries and managing its finances responsibly. Terry has opened the doors of government by involving citizens in decision-making processes, inviting public dialogue at meetings and empowering people to fulfill their dreams for Burlingame. The council has merged services only when it made sense, such as the fire department merger with Hillsborough that saves Burlingame about $1.7 million per year. Our city continues to grow and prosper with a variety of types of development, yet hasn’t lost its small-town appeal.

Terry has helped make many improvements in Burlingame:

• She was instrumental in focusing the city’s attention on creating an exciting new Downtown Specific Plan, which was adopted in October 2010 after being developed for more than three years with extensive public feedback. The plan was jump-started with a request for proposals during 2011.
• She worked with the American Institute of Architects to organize a day-long workshop (a "charrette") at which dozens of architects and citizens volunteered time to create new visions for the area around Burlingame Avenue.
• A Safeway Working Group comprised of representatives from seven stakeholder groups helped create the plan for the new Safeway scheduled to open in October 2011.
• Terry continues to demand excellent service from Pacific Gas & Electric and requires PG&E to report regularly to citizens on power reliability. During 2011 she is focused on making sure that underground gas pipelines are safe.
• Terry kicked off a "Healthy Living in Burlingame" initiative in 2011 to encourage children and families to eat healthy foods and become more active, in order to fight the country’s growing obesity problem.
• Terry formed a Green Ribbon Task Force that crafted the city’s Climate Action Plan, which is ahead of schedule in meeting its 2012 for reducing carbon emissions. After the CAP was adopted, she helped organize the Citizens Environmental Council - Burlingame, which is working on numerous sustainable projects. Burlingame won a national environmental award in 2011 for its progress on green initiatives.
• She was appointed by Assemblymember Jerry Hill to a countywide group that created the county’s energy, water and sustainability policy.
• Terry made sure that citizens have a voice at City Hall during goal setting, budget hearings and public workshops. The city has numerous civic engagement opportunities.
• Businesses and residents benefit from an economic development coordinator who helps attract and keep businesses to town.
• The city now has a maintenance worker dedicated to keeping the Broadway and Burlingame Avenue retail areas clean.
• Terry worked with other council members to save city services and preserve the quality of life in Burlingame despite the difficult economy. No city workers have been laid off during her eight years on the county; city staffing has been downsized via attrition.
• The city has won awards for fiscal management and infrastructure maintenance, and its bond rating has improved from AA- to AA, resulting in an immediate $100,000 savings on insurance.
• Terry founded the Neighborhood Network, which encourages neighbors to band together for emergency preparedness and crime prevention.
• The city is simultaneously overhauling and modernizing its water, sewer and storm drain systems.
• Working with city and Burlingame Elementary School District representatives, Terry forged a cooperative relationship between the district and the city that assures joint use of school and city facilities, field maintenance and crossing guards.
• Caltrain spent $20.5 million upgrading the Burlingame Avenue train station – the most Caltrain has ever spent on a single station.
• Terry organized volunteers who worked with city staff to redesign the city’s Web site at www.burlingame.org so that is more helpful and user friendly. People can enter and track suggestions and complaints to City Hall on the new “Citizen Connect” system (accessible on the home page).
• The city has an Urban Forest Management Plan that helps guide us in planting more trees and proactively deals with tree problems before they reach the difficult stage. Burlingame was named a “Tree City USA" for the 31th year in 2011.
• Terry and other volunteers started the Burlingame Pet Parade in 2003 to build community spirit. It is entirely supported by volunteers and community organizations; no city funds are involved.
• Terry started the Community Wish List for San Mateo County in 2004 to help people connect with nonprofit organizations when they have items to donate. More than 90 local nonprofits are listed.
• Terry has organized several free financial literary classes for young people that were sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank.