New Community Center FAQ

FAQ

Where will Recreation Programming be during the interim?

For the duration of the construction, programs will take place in the temporary portables in Lot X between the Lions Hall and the tennis courts in Washington Park.  The Lions Club has also generously offered the use of their hall for programming.  Also, programming will continue on the Burlingame School District and Mercy High School campuses. During COVID-19, programming may be limited by the San Mateo County Health Orders.

Who can I contact if I have a concern?

A helpline has been specifically set up for this project.  You can call (650) 558-7321 and leave a message.  Our Construction Manager George Sanen is checking the line daily and will return your call within 24 hours.  You can also email  recreation@burlingame.org.

When will construction be over?
The construction is anticipated to take 18-24 months.  We expect it to be completed by the end of May 2022.
How do I get updates about the project?
There are many ways to get updates about the project.  You can sign up for the City eNews at https://www.burlingame.org/enews, Parks & Recreation Department Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/burlingame_parksandrec/; the Parks & Recreation Department Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BurlingameParksandRec/. You can also email recreation@burlingame.org and ask to be added to the Community Center email list group. Finally,  you can check the Parks and Recreation Projects page at www.burlingame.org/newcommunitycenter.

How is the Community Center funded?

The total cost of the new Community Center is $52.3 million. The City is paying for the project using a combination of lease revenue bond funds and monies from the City’s Capital Investment Reserve. In November 2017, the voters of Burlingame generously approved the Measure I quarter-cent sales tax measure. The City is using a portion of Measure I ($1 million), plus $1 million from the General Fund, to pay the annual debt service on the 2019 Lease Revenue bonds, which provided nearly $39 million in proceeds specifically for the construction of the new Community Center. The General Fund has invested $2.7 million, and the Capital Investment Reserve is contributing the balance of $10.6 million.

What is bond money? 

Bonds are instruments of debt; a bond issuance is like a mortgage that you owe to the many bondholders.  The bonds are held in the Project Fund by the City’s custodian, US Bank, for the intended purpose of financing the construction of the Burlingame Community Center.

When were the bonds sold?

The bond issuance was sold in December 2019, yielding nearly $39 million in proceeds.

What is the length of time the City has to pay back the bonds?

The bonds will be totally repaid by July 1, 2049 (30 years).

Can the bond money be given back?

No.  However, any individual bondholder may choose to sell their bond to another investor.

Can the bond money be spent on the City's operating budget? 

No. The City can only use the bond money for construction costs associated with the new Community Center.  The money cannot be used for any other purpose.

How can the bond money be spent?

The bond proceeds have been deposited in the Project Fund with the City’s custodian, US Bank.  US Bank will use the bond funds to reimburse the City for costs associated with the construction of the New Community Center.

What happens if the bond money isn't spent on the new Community Center project?

US Bank will only reimburse the City for costs associated with the construction of the New Community Center. (The City will first draw on the bond proceeds to pay the cost of construction of the New Community Center.  Once those funds are depleted, the funds will be drawn from funds available in the City’s Capital Investment Reserve.)   If the funds are not spent in a timely manner for the intended purpose, the IRS could withdraw the City’s tax-exempt status, making the bonds much more costly to hold, and negatively impacting the City’s bond rating.

Where can I find more information about how the City decided to build a new Community Center?

A chronicle of the entire process that began in January, 2013 can be found here www.burlingame.org/communitycenter. Scroll to the bottom of the page to read the information from the beginning.

“Burlingame Parks & Recreation Department is creating a better community in which to live and play through quality recreational environments, enriching opportunities, and empowering people.”

850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
650-558-7300 Recreation Division email: recreation@burlingame.org 
650-558-7330 Parks Division email: parksadmin@burlingame.org
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