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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - BC - 2010.11.04BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION November 4, 2010 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Beautification Commission was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Vice Chairperson McQuaide. ROLL CALL Present: Vice Chairperson McQuaide, Carney, Dittman, Hunt, and Lahey Absent: Commissioners Benson and Wright Staff: Administrative Secretary Harvey Guests: Angel Shew (Burlingame resident) and Anne Hinckle (Burlingame resident) MINUTES Minutes were corrected to read under "Roll Call" that Commissioner Carney was "present" at the October 7, 2010 meeting. There were no other corrections and the minutes were approved as corrected. PUBLIC COMMENT Ann Hinckle stated she had applied to serve on the Beautification Commission and was attending to observe the meeting. OLD BUSINESS Landscape Award 2011 Committee Rotation The following Commissioners agreed to serve on the 2011 Landscape Award Committee: Commissioner Dittman - Chair Commissioner Hunt - Vice Chair I Commissioner Lahey - Vice Chair II Commissioner Lahey moved that the new committee appointments be approved; seconded Motion carried 5-&2 (absentlBenson and Wright) Vice Chair McQuaide also noted that the Commission had previously discussed the possibility of offering two landscape awards to two different kinds of businesses and asked that this item be placed on the next agenda; the Commission concurred. Administrative Secretary Harvey reported that publicity regarding this year's award winner and award presentation had been submitted to all the local news agencies, the Chamber of Commerce, the City E-News, and would also be placed in the Winter Recreation Brochure. She then provided 2011 nomination forms for the Committee/Commission to begin distributing to various businesses, noting that additional forms could be obtained at the Burlingame Recreation Center. NEW BUSINESS BID/Merchants Potted Planters on Broadway — (Update from Chairperson Wrieh0 Admin. Secretary Harvey noted that Chairperson Wright was unable to attend this meeting and asked that this item be tabled to the December meeting. Commissioner Chair Rotation — December 2, 2010 Meeting Beginning at the next regularly scheduled meeting of December 2nd, Commissioner McQuaide will become the next Chairperson for the Commission, Commissioner Hunt will serve as Vice Chair, and Commissioner Dittman will serve as Secretary. REPORTS — Staff 1) The Parks tree crew completed the October planting of 118 street trees. The next scheduled tree planting will be January 2011. 2) The Parks tree crew will put the lights on the City Hall tree for the 'Holiday Tree Lighting' event on December 3`d. At the request of Council, the Parks Tree crew will also hang the 'Peace' banners for the Downtown Business District on Burlingame Avenue. 3) Grid tree pruning had begun from Sanchez Avenue to Adeline Drive and El Camino and Vancouver Avenue. 4) All irrigation in the Broadway merchant pots have been repaired by parks staff. Supervisor Disco is looking into a device to keep the pots stationery so irrigation isn't repeatedly disrupted. 5) Grid pruning on the Broadway business district trees would begin in January after the holidays. 6) A memorial bench for Irving Amstrup (donated by his family) was recently installed at City Hall. A brief dedication ceremony was conducted by Mayor Baylock and the Council prior to the October 18'h Council meeting. 7) A large 40 — 50' Eucalyptus tree died on the east side of El Camino, 200 feet south of Rosedale Avenue. CalTrans has scheduled the tree removal for the week of November 8'h. The tree will be replaced with an Accolade Elm tree. Vice Chair McQuaide Vice Chair McQuaide reported on the progress of establishing a Community Garden in the City of Burlingame: 1) Made a presentation to the Parks and Recreation Commission; Commission approved in concept the possibility of a garden location in an unused area behind Murray Field at Bayside Park or in an area on the south side of the parking lot at the Golf Center. 2) Made a presentation to the City Council; Council asked that this item be further studied by the Parks and Recreation Commission and that a survey monkey be conducted to see how much interest there may be in the community for establishing a community garden. V. Chair McQuaide noted that she will be meeting with the Parks and Recreation Commissioners to compile questions for the survey monkey. Wo Commissioner Dittman Commissioner Dittman asked what would happen if someone "mutilated" a City tree? Admin. Secretary Harvey stated that if a City tree was illegally pruned by the property owner and could not be correctively pruned, removal and replacement would be at the cost of the property owner. She then asked what would happen if a private tree was "mutilated", because her Redwood tree was "mutilated" by a City tree worker. Admin. Secretary Harvey explained to the Commission that the usual process of notification had not been followed with regard to Commissioner Dittman's tree. She further explained that a report had come into the Parks office that tree branches from a private tree were hanging low over the sidewalk at the corner of Adeline and Columbus. Because it was a private tree, a special request had been submitted to the tree crew to confirm the report, so a warning letter could go out to the property owner. However, when the tree worker went out he noticed tree branches blocking the "stop" sign and clipped the ends of several branches blocking the "stop" sign and overhanging the sidewalk. The tree worker later explained that once the tips had been cut off, the one inch round limbs "poked out" over the sidewalk creating an even greater hazard to pedestrians, so he removed the limbs back to the trunk. Commissioner Dittman expressed her anger that the tree should not have been trimmed without proper notification, noting that a couple of years ago when her large Redwood tree was hanging too low over the sidewalk, she received a letter from the Parks Division to him/raise the tree. She complied and trimmed her tree over the sidewalk so she could walk under it. She stated that of course, she would not want the City to remove and replace this beautiful Redwood tree, but an apology was just not good enough. Admin. Secretary Harvey noted that the process had been reviewed with the tree worker and assured Commissioner Dittman and the Commission that the process of notification to property owners would continue whenever private trees affect public property. Homeowners would have 3 weeks to comply before the tree crew would conduct any work. Commissioner Lahey then asked if that was why the private tree at 1718 Easton Drive could not be trimmed until the homeowner had been notified. Admin. Secretary Harvey stated yes, that the property owner at 1718 Easton Drive had since been notified that the tree is too low over the sidewalk, and must be trimmed/raised by November 8'b or the City's tree crew would need to trim the tree and bill the property owner accordingly. REPORTS — (Contd.) Commissioner Lahey Commissioner Lahey suggested the Beautification Commission agenda and minutes be electronically distributed to the Commissioners. After a brief discussion, it was a consensus of the Commission that the agenda and minutes be electronically distributed to the Commission. Commissioner Lahey suggested that the Commissioner application/appointment timeline be evaluated and reviewed; that few had applied for the Commission vacancies and that perhaps the nomination period could be longer. Commissioner Carney Commissioner Carney asked that the March Arbor Day celebration be placed on the January agenda. Commissioner Hunt Commissioner Hunt reported that she had been watching the progress of the bench and garden in Washington Park in memory of the Whiteside's, and had asked David Whiteside and others to consider serving on the Beautification Commission. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm. Respectfully submitted, 4 �JcA Kar Harvey Recording Secretary M