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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - BC - 2010.02.04AGENDA B URLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION FEBRVAR Y 4, 2010 - 6: 00 PM CITY HALL 501 PRIMROSE ROAD — Conference Room A Burlingame, CA 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. Adopt -a -Planters on Burlingame Avenue a. Staff Update b. Review 2°d draft letter to Council �— 2. Landscape Award 2010 a. Committee Update 3. Community Garden a. Staff Update b. Commissioners McQuaide and Carney Report 4. Arbor Day —Burlingame Lions Hall, 990 Burlingame Avenue, March 4, 2010 @ 10:30 a.m. VI. NEW BUSINESS 1. Water Conservation a. Staff Report VII. REPORTS 1. Staff 2. Chairperson 3. Commissioners Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, February 4, 2010— City Hall 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.burlingame.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 February 8, 2010 Burlingame City Council 501 Primrose Road Burlingame, CA 94010 Mayor Baylock and Members of the City Council, It has come to the attention of the Beautification Commission that the Adopt -a -Planter Program has ceased to be self-sustaining since spring of 2009. At that time, there was no money to plant more flowers, and there has been no money to pay anyone to water during the past year. Thus, many plants have died, and The Avenue is no longer the source of pride and delight that it has been. A bid recently received from a local nonprofit organization is as follows: 1) Watering twice/wk. April -September $520/mo. 2) Watering once/wk. October -December $260/mo. $3,900/yr. 3) Upgrading, cleaning, amending soil, planting $2,400/yr. 4) Maintenance options: Clean, trim, rake, amend soil, and insure proper plant health and soil conditions Weekly service $705/mo. $8,460/yr. Twice a month service $450/mo. $5,400/yr. Once a month service $250/mo. $3,000/yr. Overall costs could range from as little as $3,900/yr., just to water the planters, up to $9,300+/yr. to plant, water, and maintain the planters --more if maintained on a weekly basis. However once planted, once a month maintenance service may be sufficient. According to City Business Licenses, there are approximately 160 businesses on Burlingame Avenue. Based on the upper figure of $9,300/ yr., approximately $60/yr. per business would serve to maintain the planters. It is the recommendation of this Commission that businesses on Burlingame Avenue be assessed in order to fund the maintenance of those planters. Respectfully, The Burlingame Beautification Commission Enclosure: Burlingame Avenue Planters/Landscape (Chronological History) BURLINGAME AVENUE PLANTERS/LANDSCAPE 1) There is no working irrigation in aggregate planters. 2) There is currently no irrigation in tree wells with the exception of newly developed projects such as at Peet's Coffee, 1241 Burlingame Avenue, and Apple, 1301 Burlingame Avenue. 3) Several shops along the avenue have hose bibs located in front of the business. 4) Water access available near Rose Garden Planters; quick coupler made available to Downtown Burlingame Business Association to fill water tank to conduct watering of aggregate planters. DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY 1) Plantings, maintenance, and watering (merchants assisting with hand watering during the summer months) of all aggregate planters on Burlingame Avenue from California Drive to El Camino Real. 2) Adopt -A -Planter Program. PARKS DIVISION MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY 1) Trees in planting wells on the avenue, side streets, and in parking lots. 2) Low brick planter fronting "The Gap". 3) Rose Garden at entrance to parking lot J off Park Road. HISTORY • 15 — 20 years ago the Parks Division planted drought resistant plants (Lantana) in aggregate planters. • In early 2000, Citizens.for a Better Burlingame implemented the 'Adopt -a -Planter' program for �-' new plantings and maintenance of the aggregate planters; purchasing a watering tank to aid in watering the planters. At the August 5, 2004, Beautification Commission meeting, Stephen Hamilton of the CBB reported that he would be recommending to the Downtown Burlingame Business Improvement District that they own the Adopt -A -Planter program. He also reported that of the 20 planters on the avenue, 6 had been adopted, none of which had an operating irrigation system, and that merchants had agreed to assist with hand watering throughout the summer months from hose bibs fronting some of the businesses. At that time, cost for reinstalling irrigation to the 20 planters would be approximately $60-80,000 and the lowest cost for watering approximately 55 times a year would be $10,000. In 2004 control and management of the program was transferred to the Downtown Burlingame Business Improvement District. The DBID also managed the watering contracts. • In May 2006, the DBID disbanded due to the objections of many of the local merchants and businesses. Since that time the newly formed Downtown Burlingame Business Association took over the management of the planter program, obtained the watering tank from the CBB, and funded and managed the watering of the aggregate planters. • Currently, many of the planters that were "adopted" have been abandoned by the caregivers. Watering and maintenance of most planters on Burlingame Avenue is not being done and existing plants are dying. The DBBA currently has no funds to maintain watering and/or care of the planters. • Most recently, a bid received from a local non-profit, would charge the following if hired: �-' 1) Watering 2 x's each week from April -September .... ($520/mo.) 2) Watering 1 x each week from October- December .... ($260/mo.) $3,900/yearly 3) Upgrading, cleaning, amending soil, planting $2,400/yearly 4) Monthly maintenance options: Clean, trim, rake, amend soil, and insure proper Plant health and soil conditions: Weekly Service: ($705/mo.) $8,460/yearly Twice a Month Service: ($450/mo.) $5,400/yearly *Once a Month Service: ($250/mo.) $3,000/yearly Overall costs could range from as little as $3.900/yr. (just to water the planters), up to $9 3. O04f to plant, water, and maintain the planters the first year•, and more if maintained on a weekly basis. But realistically, once planted, planters could be maintained on a monthly basis for an amount just under $7.000/yr. (presuming no additional planting would be required). According to City Business License, there are approximately 160 businesses on Burlingame Avenue. Based on the upper figure of $9.300/yr. to maintain the planters in a reasonably good condition, businesses on Burlingame Avenue would need to be assessed approximately $60/year. Updated/Revised 1.5.2010 2 CITY C B�iRLINGAME A-U DATE FROM SUBJECT STAFF REPORT January 26, 2010 Parks Supervisor Water Conservation SUBMITTED BY: Bob Disco Background: Effective January 2010, A13 1881 mandates that all cities in California adopt their own water efficient landscape ordinance, or a State model ordinance would be deemed effective. New state regulations would also include changes to the Plumbing Code and the Green Building Code requiring agencies to conserve water and impose new indoor and outdoor water efficiency standards. The purpose of the new State standards is to effectively manage the limited water supply conditions in the State. Currently, the Burlingame Municipal Ordinance 1476 "Irrigation Water Management Plans" is required for all landscapes that exceed 2,500 square ft. but the existing ordinance does not include single family homes unless constructed by a developer. The newly proposed ordinance would include Irrigation Water Management Plans for single family homes (residential) if 1) a permit is required for a project, and 2) it' the landscape exceeds 1000 square feet. �- At the February I" Council meeting, the Public Works Department presented a Staff Report to Council regarding the Water Conservation Ordinance. The ordinance will be taken to the Planning Commission for their input and to Council for adaptation in the near future. Increase in Water Rates: The City purchases water from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. SF increased their rates last year by 15.7%, which the City absorbed. SF plans to continue increasing the rates annually to pay for the upgrades to their system to withstand seismic events. The City has also been involved in a long term program upgrading its water system: replacing aging pipelines, increasing water storage: and improving pump stations. The proposed rate increases for each single family residential customer will be approximately $5.00. Official Street Tree List: The current Official Street Tree Lists have been approved by the Beautification Commission and adopted by Council. The trees on each list are street trees suggested by the International Society of Arboriculture and most are drought tolerant. Typically, every tree that is planted requires water for the first two years, regardless if it is drought tolerant or not. Once established, most trees are able to survive on their own without ancillary irrigation. Impacts from Artificial Turf: Planning Department does not impose additional fees on property owners if landscapes include artificial turf. Any installation of artificial turf should include a requirement that a. filtered membrane be placed in order to allow water to penetrate into the soil and provide water to the trees during the winter months. Installation of a temporary drip irrigation system might be something that could be considered as a requirement for those properties where artificial turf is installed. Attachment: Water/Sewer Rates Brochure