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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - BC - 2018.02.01BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION Minutes February 1, 2018 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Beautification Commission was called to order at 6:30 pm by Commissioner Hinckle. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Hinckle, Kearney, Hunt, Kirchner and Dinuri Absent: None Staff. Parks and Recreation Director Glomstad, Parks Superintendent/City Arborist Disco, and Recording Secretary Borba Others: None MINUTES Commissioner Kearney made a motion to approve the December 7, 2017 minutes as read. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kirchner and unanimously approved. CORRESPONDENCE Secretary Borba reported the City has a new website and the Business Landscape Award nomination form is posted on the website with a link to the form. She also reported there is an ad in the Parks and Recreation Spring brochure regarding the Business Landscape Award. PUBLIC COMMENT None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS 1. Appeal to the Approved Redwood Removal at 315 Occidental Avenue Director Glomstad read the staff report. Commissioner Discussion Commissioner Dinuri inquired about co -dominant stems. Arborist Disco stated the issue with the tree is there are two separate trunks that are growing together. In between the trunks the bark grows which is referred to as included bark. The trucks and included bark push against each other and can eventually split from their own force. This tree is fairly young and is going to continue to grow; it also has co -dominant leaders at 15 feet up that will continue to grow. Arborist Disco also stated the tree is growing close to the neighbor's garage and the roots may lift the garage. Commissioner Hinckle inquired how old the tree is. Arborist Disco stated approximately 25 to 30 years old. Commissioner Hinckle noted that the job of the Commission and Arborist is to save and protect the trees and when the Arborist approves or denies a tree she takes it seriously. Arborist Disco explained that he looks at the health and structure of the tree based on the criteria in the ordinance and has determined that the tree is healthy but structurally unsound. Commissioner Dinuri inquired if there was a way to provide additional support to the tree. Arborist Disco responded that additional support can be done with cable ties however it is not a recommended practice and it has to be monitored often. Commissioner Hinckle commented that she thought the tree looked stressed and unheathy. Commissioner Kirchner asked if there was any root pruning done during the construction of the new garage. Arborist Disco stated that he did not know if there was any root pruning done. Public Comments Tina Ashamalle, a resident on Occidental, spoke on behalf of the neighborhood and she stated that they are concerned that a healthy Redwood tree had been approved for removal. She is aware that the former property owners did not care for the tree but she thought it might be possible that the new property owners will. She stated the surrounding neighbors are not concerned about the Redwood tree and its close proximity to their property. She said that she loves the trees in the neighborhood and appreciates every tree that is there. She stated that she didn't feel that this Redwood tree is hazard and requested that it remain. Commissioner Kearney inquired if the tree provides privacy to Ms. Ashamalle. Ms. Ashamalle responded the tree does not provide any privacy to her property because she lives two houses down. Commissioner Discussion Commissioner Kirchner stated that the Redwood only needs to fail once and that this tree is in an unsafe condition and can't ignore it. Commissioner Dinuri researched co -dominant stems, included bark and cabling and it is the same as Arborist Disco has stated. Commissioner Kearney moved to deny the appeal for the removal of the Redwood tree at 315 Occidental Avenue because the tree has co -dominant leaders, poor form and structure, is growing close to an existing structure and meets the requirements for removal in Chapter 11.06 of the Urban Reforestation and Tree Protection Ordinance of the Municipal Code. Motion passed 5-0. 2. Business Landscape and Residential Sustainable Landscape Award Draft Timeline and Nomination Forms Secretary Borba distributed a nomination form for the RSLA. Commissioner Kearney prepared a timeline for the BLA and the RSLA. The Commission discussed the timeline and agreed to extend the date to vote on the winners until the August 2nd meeting. The Commissioners also decided to award both the awards at the same Council meeting in October. 3. Draft Letter from BBC to be included in Protect Tree Removal Permits Commissioner Dinuri inquired if the letter would be on Parks and Recreation letter head. Director Glomstad stated it can be. The Commissioners discussed the letter, made a few grammatical changes and felt overall it was a strong letter. 4. Arbor Day — Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 10:30am at Pershing Park Commissioner Hinckle and Dinuri will not be able to attend Arbor Day. Commissioners Kearney, Hunt and Kirchner will be in attendance. Commissioner Kirchner will speak on behalf of the Commission. The City will be planting 4 — 24" Box Acer Rubrum `Frank Jr.' trees. One of the trees planted will be in honor of the Residential Sustainable Landscape Award winner for 2017 and two trees will be planted in honor of the Green Business Award winners. REPORTS 1. Parks Superintendent/City Arborist Arborist Disco reported the City is in the middle of removing 5 Council approved Eucalyptus trees on Burlingame Avenue and 4 Eucalyptus trees on Easton Drive. The contractor, Bay Area Tree Specialist, is removing all but one of the trees that PG&E will remove due to it being attached to wires. El Camino Real at Highway Road there is a large dead Eucalyptus tree. The tree died from the Eucalyptus Longhorn beetle. Arborist Disco showed the Commissioners a branch from the tree. Arborist Disco also stated that he has been getting more requests for tree trimming for solar panels. He has also received requests to remove private trees for solar panel installation. The City does not have an ordinance or policy to address solar panels and Arborist Disco and Director Glomstad will be looking into it further. 2. Director Glomstad None 3. Commissioner Hunt None 4. Commissioner Hinckle Commissioner Hinckle expressed her appreciation for the City tree removal and replacement process. 5. Commissioner Kirchner Commissioner Kirchner reported the El Camino Real Task force had its last meeting. The Committee met once a month to formulate a policy to retain the ambience of El Camino and to enhance the safety. The policy will be presented to Council. 6. Commissioner Kearney None 7. Commissioner Dinuri None The next Beautification Commission meeting is March 1, 2018. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm. Respectfully submitted, Gina Borba Administrative Staff