HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - BC - 2009.03.05BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION
MARCH 5, 2009
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Beautification Commission was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by
Chairperson Lahey.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chairperson Lahey, Commissioners Carney, Dittman, Hunt, McQuaide (left @ 7:00
p.m.), and Wright
Absent: Commissioner Benson
Staff: Interim Parks Superintendent Foell and Admin. Secretary Harvey
MINUTES — Minutes were approved as corrected, under OLD BUSINESS/Street Tree Fundraising
(paragraph 2) to read: "Chairperson Lahey and Commissioner McQuaide volunteered to serve on the
Street Tree Fundraising Committee ... "
CORRESPONDENCE
Letter to Sharon O'Byrne (1533 Meadow Lane) informing her of the Commissions decision to uphold the
appeal of Erin Stannard (1528 Westmoor Road) and denied the approval to remove the private Redwood
tree at her address; but that, the Commission would reconsider the application after receiving further
information from an independent arborist.
Letter to David & Patricia Mayer, 1600 Easton Drive, (copied to surrounding properties) informing them
of the scheduled removal of the City -owned Eucalyptus, in front of their address, due to trunk decay and
compromised structural integrity; and that, the tree would be replaced with a Eucalyptus citriodora in the
spring.
FROM THE FLOOR
`-- There was no business `From the Floor'.
OLD BUSINESS
Arbor Day/Saturday, March 7, 2009 (a, 9:00 A.M. — Bayside Park
Superintendent Foell reported that everything is in place for Arbor Day; the crews would have the
planting sites prepared, Jimi Scheid from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CALFire) would be in attendance and say a few words, and Assemblymember Jerry Hill would also be in
attendance, and would present the Tree City USA flag to Mayor Ann Keighran, in recognition of the City
of Burlingame receiving of the award for the 30"' year.
Business Landscape Award 2009 — Committee Report
Commissioner Wright staU-1te .s,}had promoted the award to the merchants on Broadway and
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Commissioners Benson anacmade contact with the merchants on Burlingame Avenue; that the
deadline is April V, and the Committee would review the applications and make recommendation to the
Commission soon thereafter. Commissioner Wright also stated that Dale Perkins had again agreed to
provide a water color rendering for the winning business.
The Commission agreed to discuss at a future meeting, a suggestion that it consider offering `Honorable
Mention' for other businesses.
Networkine with Realtors Retarding Community Tree Information
Superintendent Foell reviewed the minor changes to the letter to the realtors. Commissioner McQuaide
noted that she would go to a general meeting of the San Mateo County Board of Realtors and would
provide the newly developed flyer 'Trees — What's the Big Deal?' along with the letter, in hopes that the
flyer would be circulated to new or potential homeowners in the City. Commissioner Hunt volunteered to
include approximately 180 flyers in a mailer to be sent out by the Burlingame/Hillsborough Newcomers
Club to new homeowners in the Burlingame/Hillsborough area.
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OLD BUSINESS - Networking with Realtors Regarding Community Tree Information — Contd.
Superintendent Foell noted that the same flyers used for networking with the realtors would be used for
Arbor Day in promoting the fundraising campaign to purchase new street trees, but would also include an
insert for individuals wishing to make donations.
Street Tree Fundraising
The Commission discussed the fundraising campaign and suggested the "flyers" be made available in the
Planning Department, Water office, and Libraries as well as including flyers in a summer water bill
mailing and the fall recreation brochure. Commissioner Wright suggested that the school PTA's might
also be able to help promote interest. Chairperson Lahey suggested that any further promotion of the
fundraising be held off until after the storm drain ballot measure so as not to confuse the two issues.
NEW BUSINESS
Beautification Commission Meeting "Start Time"
Commissioner McQuaide stated she asked this item be placed on the agenda and explained that at one
time, the Commission meeting began at 5:30 pm but had changed to 6:00 p.m. to accommodate a past
Commissioner. Since two new Commissioners had been seated, she asked that the "start time" be
reconsidered. The Commission discussed changing the "start time" of the Commission meetings. After a
brief discussion, it was the general consensus of the Commission that the "start time" of the meetings
should remain at 6:00 p.m. because it better accommodated the working public and their ability to attend
meetings after work.
REPORTS
Superintendent Foell
1) Letters were sent to the property owners at 1600 Easton Drive (and surrounding neighbors),
regarding the removal of the City -owned Eucalyptus tree due to decay in the trunk and a
compromised structure. The tree would be removed in April and replaced with a Eucalyptus
citriodora.
2) Supervisor Disco recently is working with a young Boy Scout who would be rebuilding steps in
the Mills Canyon as a project towards his Eagle Scout.
3) Commissioner's Dinner would be held at the Rocca's Restaurant on March 13`h
4) Superintendent Foell informed the Commission that, following the approval from Parks staff and
the subsequent removal of the planter in front of the Rocca's Restaurant on Broadway, it was
reported that the Public Works staff had previously denied the same request [from the owner of
the restaurant], because the planter had been found by the City Attorney and the Public Works
staff to be ADA compliant. Superintendent Foell noted that similar items or requests from the
business districts would now be referred to the Public Works department for review and
consideration.
Commissioner McQuaide left the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Commissioner Wright
Commissioner Wright reported that she had been approached several times by the owner of Rocca's
Restaurant regarding the request to move the planter, and that she had also received requests from
merchants regarding the pruning of trees on Broadway. Chairperson Lahey commented that she too had
been approached by the Broadway merchants regarding trimming the trees but tried to communicate City
policy. Secretary Harvey responded that merchants could be referred to her at the Parks office for
assistance or referral to the appropriate department.
Commissioner Carney
Commissioner Carney asked that the Oak tree (planted in Washington Park honoring Tim Richmond) be
inspected because it looked sick.
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REPORTS — Contd.
Commissioner Hunt
Commissioner Hunt reported that she had completed the monitoring of the grant tree planting on Rollins
Road, and noted that one the of trees had been planted under the overhang of a private Pine tree
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Respectfully
Recording Secretary