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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - BC - 2012.10.04AGENDA B URLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION OCTOBER 4, 2012 @ 6:30 PM CITY HALL 501 PRIMROSE ROAD — Conference Room B (Upstairs) I. ROLL CALL H. MINUTES III. CORRESPONDENCE IV. FROM THE FLOOR (At this time, persons in the audience may speak on any item on the agenda or any other matter. The Ralph M. Brown Act prohibits the Commission from acting on a matter which is not on the agenda. Comments are limited to three minutes) V. OLD BUSINESS 1) Future of Business Landscape Award — (Discussion) VI. NEW BUSINESS 1) Burlingame Avenue Streetscape Project — Selection of Gingko Tree VH. REPORTS 1) Staff 2) Chairperson 3) Commissioners VIH. UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS Next Rewular Meeting: November 8, 2012 NOTICE: Any attendees wishing accommodations for disabilities should contact the Parks & Recreation Dept. at (650) 558-7323 at least 24 hours before the meeting. A copy of the agenda packet is available for review at the Recreation Center, 850 Burlingame Avenue, during normal office hours. The agendas and minutes are also available on the City's website: www.burlinaame.org. Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Beautification Commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at 850 Burlingame Ave during normal business hours. BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION CITY HALL-501 PRIMROSE ROAD BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA 94010 October 5, 2012 City of Burlingame 501 Primrose Road Burlingame, CA 94010 Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Council, We would like to acknowledge and thank Jane Gomery, Program Manager, for soliciting Burlingame's Commissions and specifically the Beautification Commission's participation in the planning sessions and council meetings regarding the ongoing design of the Burlingame Avenue Streetscape Project. In response to Jane's solicitation and in keeping with Beautification Commission's charge to "oversee and advise the Council and staff on issues related to our urban forest" and "recommend or comment on plans and programs for the planting, maintenance and removal of all street trees in the city" we would like to offer the following observations as they pertain to the proposed design's street trees only. 1. Consider options that provide for a mix of species. a. Avoids a multiple or concurrent loss scenario of trees due to a single specie disease susceptibility or adverse environmental influences. b. Affords a mix of fall color and staggered seasonal loss of leaves. 2. Consider planting the largest trees the budget and/or physical siting constraints will allow. [excerpt] Gauge of Bay Area Neighborhood Wealth? Look to the Trees By Matt O'Brien, Contra Costa Times "If you have a tree -lined street, people are more likely to shop there," said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "If you have a tree -lined street, property values go up.... The more trees we have, the cleaner the air ..." Given our `observation L' above, and after much discussion with the City Arborist at our Beautification Commission meetings we concur with, and support his recommendation for a sequential mix; Zelkova, Red Maple, Gingko, Red Maple, Zelkova, on each side of the length of Burlingame Avenue. Thank you for your consideration of our comments and we all look forward to what promises to be a significant, cohesive, and well planned design resulting in a revitalized and beautiful Burlingame Avenue Downtown District. Yours truly, The Burlingame Beautification Commission Mary Hunt - Chairperson, Leslie McQuaide, Karen Dittman, Anne Hinckle, Richard Kirchner CC: Jerry Deal, Ann Keighran, Michael Brownrigg, Cathy Baylock, Terry Nagel Memo To: City Council From: Bob Disco, Park Supervisor/City Arborist Date: 10/5/2012 Re: Burlingame Ave. Streetscape Tree Selection After reviewing the plans for the Burlingame Ave. Streetscape, I would like to express my concerns with the current plan to plant only Gingko trees based on the following reasons: • Planting one single species is creating a monoculture which is not an acceptable practice in arboriculture. • Relying on one species can be devastating if a serious pest emerges or if the trees are subject to drought or frost. • Recently, several Gingko trees planted by the City had reverted from male trees and were bearing extremely obnoxious smelling fruit resulting in the removal of these trees. • The large obnoxious smelling fruit of the female Gingko tree would be disastrous in an area with heavy foot traffic and outdoor dining and ultimately would lead to the removal of the tree. • Gingko trees are also very slow growers and would hide shop owners signs for many years. This could result in frequent, non standard ISA pruning techniques for sign clearance and would impact the structural integrity and aesthetics of the tree. In order to ensure the aesthetic appeal and continued health of the trees on Burlingame Avenue, I would strongly encourage the planting of three different tree species. I believe the original choice of Gingko, Acer, and Zelkova trees were a good decision and recommend they be planted in the following order: Zelkovas, Maples, Gingkos, Maples, Zelkovas. I"I PRINCETON SENTRY GINKGO GINKGO BILOBATRINCETON SENTRY' STREETTREE PLAN: GINGKOS FORM: UPRIGHT SIZE (H XW): S0'X 20' GROWTH RATE: MODERATE FALL COLOR: YELLOW 4-- r L. -71 • FORMAL APPEARANCE . DEEP ROOTED AND SIDEWALK FRIENDLY • TALL, NARROW, AND TRANSPARENT . LITTLE OR NO LITTER • EVENTUALLY HIGH LIMBED . LOW MAINTENANCE GINGKO BILOBA `PRINCETON SENTRY Best of the columnar Ginkgos. Pollution tolerant male selection. Pest and disease resistant. Can mature at 60' with a width of 15'. Zone 3. may. f .. �o.a�-• .�v�' . ;� r ° .' f ♦ F elf, FMO PRINCETON SENTRY MAIDENHAIR TREE Ginkgo biloba 'Princeton Sentry' General Notes Branches don't droop and resist breakage. Has fragrant flower. Trees may be referred to as male or female. A Ginkgo biloba in Sacramento Capital Park #223 is registered as a California Big Tree. It measures 84 feet high, with a trunk circumference of 188 inches and a crown spread of 77 feet for a total of 291 points. © List all Ginkgoaceae I Ginkgo • Ginkgo biloba 'Princeton Sentry'- Ginkgoaceae • Additional Names: Common Names: Princeton Sentry Maidenhair Tree, Princeton Sentry Ginkgo • Habit: Erect Has Deciduous foliage. • Shape: Columnar • Sunset Zones: 1 - 10, 12 and 14 - 24 • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9 • Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade • Water Needs: Wet but Well Drained Soil • Soil Type: Clay, Loam or Sand • Soil pH: Acidic to Alkaline • Salt Spray Tolerance: Moderate • Height: 65 feet • Growth Rate: 24 or More Inches per Season • Landscape Use: Buffer Strip or Street Tree, Bonsai • Leaves: Green. Gold in Fall. • Flowers: Inconspicuous, Fragrant, Green. Flowers in Spring. Has either male or female flowers (dioecious). Trees may be sold as male or female. • Fruit: • Shading Capacity: Rated as Dense to Very Dense in Leaf • Root Damage Potential: Rated as Low ; 'ARMSTRONG' RED MAPLE FORM: COLUMNAR ACER RUBRUM ARMSTRONG' SIZE (H RE X I GROWTHH RATE: RELATIVELY FAST FALL COLOR: ORANGETO RED 'MUSASHINO' COLUMNAR ZELKOVA ZELKOVA SERRATA `MUSASHINO' STREETTREE PLAN: MAPLES AND ZELKOVA . L. • FORMAL APPEARANCE • DEEP ROOTED AND SIDEWALK FRIENDLY • TALL, NARROW, AND TRANSPARENT • LITTLE OR NO LITTER • EVENTUALLY HIGH LIMBED • LOW MAINTENANCE FORM: COLUMNAR SIZE (H XW): 4S' X 15' GROWTH RATE: FAST FALL COLOR: ORANGETO RED , "MUSASHINO" COLUMNAR ZELKOVA Zelkova serrata Musashino is one of the newer Zelkova introductions from Japan. It is ideal for narrow street use. The tightly upright branches allow good vehicle and pedestrian clearance beneath Musashino Zelkova's green canopy < rf. r}a+ "MUSASHINO" COLUMNAR ZELKOVA Zelkova Serrata "Musashino " General Notes Zelkova serrata Musashino is one of the newer Zelkova introductions from Japan. It is ideal for narrow street use. The tightly upright branches allow good vehicle and pedestrian clearance beneath Musashino Zelkova's green canopy. • Native Habitat: Japan, Korea, Taiwan • Common Name: Columnar Zelkova • Category: Medium-sized columnar shade tree; deciduous • Hardiness: 5 to 9 • Foliage: Dark green • Texture: Medium • Growth Rate: Fast • Fall Color: Rusty red on Zelkova serrata 'Musashino' • Adaptability: For Musashino Zelkova a moist, well -drained soil is ideal, but Musashino is -� drought tolerant; excellent urban tree; pH adaptable; pollution tolerant; more heat tolerant than other Zelkova selections • Shape: Very narrow vase • Size: 45' tall by 15' wide • Shade: Full sun RED MAPLE Acer rubrum, DECIDUOUS, Fast growth, lobed, green leaves, brilliant fall color, 40-50' at NORTHWOOD RED MAPLE Acer rubrum 'Northwood' General Notes Extremely cold hardy. Trees may be referred to as male or female. 0 List all Sapindaceae I Acer • Acer rubrum 'Northwood' - Sapindaceae • Habit: Erect or Spreading with a High Canopy. Has Deciduous foliage. • Shape: Rounded • Sunset Zones: 1 - 9 and 14 - 17 • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 - 9 • Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade • Water Needs: Wet to Moist Soil --� • Soil Type: Clay, Loam or Sand • Soil pH: Highly Acidic to Slightly Alkaline • Salinity Tolerance: Moderate on Coast • Seaside Tolerance: Good in Mild Zone • Hecht: 50 feet • Growth Rate: 36 Inches per Season • Landscape Use: Riparian • Longevity: 50 to 150 years • Leaves: Lobed and Palmate Glossy Medium Green. Red in Fall. • Flowers: Showy, Red. Flowers in Spring. Has either male or female flowers (dioecious). Trees may be sold as male or female. • Fruit: Red Winged Seed, Large (1.50 - 3.00 inches), fruiting in Spring or Summer. • Bark: Light Gray, Scaly • Pest & Disease: Susceptible to Aphids • Shading Capacity: Rated as Moderate in Leaf and Moderately Low out of Leaf. • Branch Strength: Rated as Medium Weak • Litter Issue: Dry Fruit • Root Damage Potential: Rated as Moderate • Health Hazard: Allergy