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Home My WebLink AboutMin - BC - 2009.09.03BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION September 3, 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 Benson, Dittman, McQuaide, and Wright Absent: Commissioners Carney and Hunt Staff: Administrative Secretary Harvey Guests: Vuk At -,-re and Bill Fairbaniks MINUTES — Minutes were corrected to read, under 2009 Business Landscape Award — Council Meeting September 8`h, ... "Commissioner McQuaide mentioned that the Burlingame Historical Society (night be interested ..." (in receiving the last _years publicly displayed art pieces). CORRESPONDENCE Letter(s) from Executive Secretary Silva notifying Commissioner(s) Hunt, McQuaide, and Wright that their terms on the Beautification Commission are expiring, and advising them of application procedures. FROM THE FLOOR There were no comments `From the Floor'. OLD BUSINESS 2009 Business Landscape Award — Council Meetine, September 8th Administrative Secretary Harvey thanked Commissioner Benson for the photographs of Earthbeam and stated that she had forwarded the article drafted by Commissioner McQuaide and the pictures to the local ne wst^,al'ers Chairperson Lahey stated that she had ;Wert w i h Parks A, l? eereataon Director Skeels to review the presentation format, and reported that she would make the initial introductions and Commissioner Wright, as Chair of the Landscape Award Committee, would make the presentation of the plaque and the art rendering to David and Ann Hinckle, owners of Earthbeam. Commissioner Wright reported that she contacted Solo Bambini owners to inviting them to this year's presentation but reported they would be out of town and unable to attend. She confirmed that Dale Perkins would deliver the art rendering to her before next Tuesday's presentation, and volunteered to "switch out" the art renderings at City Hall and the Public Library. Commissioner Benson also volunteered to deliver one of last year's art rendering to the Burlingame Historical Museum. OLD BUSINESS = Urban Forest Management Plan = Public Infurmadim lueas Secretary Harvey reported that the Urban Forest Management Plan is now available on the City of Burlingame's website and the following documents are now available in pdf format for the public to download: * Policy for Expanding Width of Planter Strips to Accommodate Larger Canopy Trees * Planting Techniques * Landscaping Around Established Trees * Tree Protection During Construction * Landscaping Impacts �`-L]Y�YLI*aYy HilY�ley added that an al ll Vle YvV would be played 1n the E`l�\e YvJlV lter and the Fall .11cre-atlon 'Secretary 1 Brochure informing the public of the changes to the Urban Forest Management Plan, and would include a �' link to the plan. NEW BUSINESS Arbor Day Celebration — March 7, 2010 Secretary Harvey stated that the time and location of next year's Arbor Day ceremony has yet to be determined but that Parks Supervisor Disco would report at next months Commission meeting and that the Commission mibht also have ideas they can share a± the October meeting. Tentative plans for the ceremony include celebrating the completion of the Grant planting, City street tree plantings, and promoting donations to the City's tree fund for the purchase of new trees. Secretary Harvey noted that the local elementary schools and the public would be invited to attend and participate in the tree planting ceremony. Beautification Commission Vacancies — Application Deadline September 2151 Secretary Harvey reminded Commissioners whose terms are expiring to make re -application by the upcoming deadline if they wish to be considered. REPORTS Parks Supervisor Disco • Urban Forest Management Plan and related documents have been posted on the Park and Recreation Web site under "Trees" for public to view. • Tree Crew is continuing their grid pruning south of Burlingame Ave. • Airport Blvd update: all shrubs have been removed and irrigation is being installed to water most of the new Grant trees. Over the winter, Parks crews will be adding chips to prevent weed growth on each island. • PG&E's plans to trim several Eucalyptus trees on ECR has been postponed until agreement with CalTrans can be made. • A public hearing will be held at the October 1 Beautification Commission meeting regarding appeals for a request for removal of 10 protected trees on a private property on Arguello. Commission will receive documentation with the October agenda. Administrative Secretary Harvey • In the ,,mmonth of July, the Parks Division received 60 requests for tree service and the tree crew J\.1 VI%, ?J2 Clt�'� tree J. • Parks staff is preparing for the planting of 100+ trees in the month of October. • Parks staff is in the process of identifying available planting sites, notifying property owners, and coordinating with the contractor for the Grant Tree Planting project of approximately 200+ trees to be planted in November and December. • Bobbi Benson has confirmed that the Burlingame Historical Society will receive one of the business art renderings of Solo Bambini and Commissioner Wright will be checking with the owners of Solo Bambini to see if they would like the other art rendering. • Staff reported to public works, (request at last Commission meeting), that a trash receptacle be placed on the west side of Chula Vista across from Wells Fargo. Chairperson Lahey Commissioner Lahey stated she is looking forward to the 'Landscape Award' presentation and appreciated the hard work of the committee. Commissioner McQuaide �12nner 1��ICQ':a:de asked that discussion regarding establishing a Community Garden' in Burlingame be placed on the October agenda. "1 2 REPORTS — (Contd.) Commissioner Benson Commissioner Benson reported that the 'Adopt -a -Planter' program established by the Citizens for Better Burlingame is no longer functioning; planters have been abandoned, plants are not being cared for or watered, and one half to one third of the plants have died. She added that the Downtown Burlingame Business Association (DBBA) had originally purchased a trailer and watering tank and hired out the watering, but currently has no funding to continue the watering. After a brief discussion, Chairperson Lahey asked that the Adopt -a -Planters on Burlingame Avenue be placed on the October agenda for discussion and directed staff to report on any background history of the planters with regard to maintenance and irrigation. Commissioner Benson reported that she trimmed around the tree wells off Broadway, cleaned up litter on the avenue and planted Rhaphiolepis and Indian Hawthorne in planters fronting the Burlingame Historical Museum. Commissioner ♦ 1 .niih Commissioner Wright stated that she loves how the trees canopy over some of the streets in Burlingame but reported that a city street tree is blocking a stop sign, southbound on Vancouver at Carmelita. Commissioner Wright also thanked Commissioner McQuaide for the "very well done" Landscape Award article submitted to the local newspapers. Commissioner Dittman Commissioner Dittman asked Commissioner Benson if there had been any progress on the Newsrack inventory. Commissioner Benson responded that she is still in the process of inventorying the Newsracks and when completed, she would report Newsracks without permits to Gordon Goettsche and Rob Mallick of the Public Works Department. Commissioner Dittman asked about City trees removed at 2100 Easton Drive. Secretary Harvey responded and confirmed that Pittosporum trees had been removed by City crews and would be replaced with 6 Gingko trees during the October planting. Commissioner Benson asked when the Ginkgo's on Donnelly would be removed? Secretary Harvey noted that due to the obnoxious fruit, the Commission had approved the removal of the male Gingko trees on Donnelly, and that the trees would be removed and replaced soon. Commissioner Dittman asked when the Commission would be conducting another inventory on the Grant planted street trees. Secretary Harvey responded that the Grant tree planting project would be completed by November/December this year and that, the Commission would be asked to conduct another inventory/survey of the trees in the Spring of 2010. Commissioner Dittman noted that the DED Elm trees on El Camino Real are scheduled for removal and wondered if property owners would be notified. Secretary Harvey responded that CalTrans would be contracting and scheduling the work along the state highway and would be responsible for notification of property owners. REPORTS —Commissioner Dittman - (Contd.) - Commissioner Dittman then stated that the Commission had previously discussed possibly changing the schedule for the Business Landscape Award, and asked that this item be placed on an upcoming agenda. --� Secretary Harvey noted that there would be a public hearing at the October meeting and that the 'Co-m-nunity Garden' discussion item and the 'Burlingame Avenue Adopt=a=Planter' item had already been added to the October agenda. After a brief discussion, it was the general consensus that the Schedule for the Business Landscape Award be placed on the December P Agenda. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kar ne Harvey Recording —Secretary