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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - BC - 2008.04.03BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION APRIL 3, 2008 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Beautification Commission was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chairperson Carney. ROLL CALL Present: Chairperson Carney, Benson, Ellis, Lahey (arrived late), McQuaide, and Wright Absent: Grandcolas Staff. Superintendent Richmond, Supervisor Disco, and Admin. Secretary Harvey Guests: Pat Giorni, Meredith Lahr, and Jennifer Pfaff MINUTES — The minutes of the February 7, 2008 Beautification Commission were approved as submitted. Letter from Dale Perkins regarding the specifics of his offer to provide a pen and ink illustration to the winning business of the Burlingame Business Landscape Award. Burlingame Business Landscape Award Nomination form for: Broadway Grill, 1400 Broadway and Solo Bambini, 1150 Howard Avenue. Email from Director Schwartz inviting Commissioners to attend the Commissioners Workshop on April 12, 2008 at the San Mateo Senior Center on Alameda de las Pulgas. Memorandum from Superintendent Richmond informing the Commission of two separate items on the April 3rd Agenda: 1) Proposal to Plant Single Specie Trees on Whole Blocks or Areas 2) Suspension of All Tree Planting in the City Until a New Policy for Tree Planting Has Been Adopted. Staff Report from Superintendent Richmond regarding Recommendation on Suspension of Current Street Tree Planting for New Plan Evaluation. Email from Comcast (Regina Schauerte) announcing that the Arbor Day Program is scheduled to run on Channel 27 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 pm for the entire month of April. FROM THE FLOOR None. OLD BUSINESS Landscape Award Committee Update Commissioner Wright noted that she and Commissioner Lahey had not yet met but that they had received - two nomination forms for properties before the April 1 deadline: Broadway Grill at 1400 Broadway and Solo Bambini at 1150 Howard Avenue. The Committee consisting of Commissioners Wright, Lahey, and Benson will review the entries and report back to the May Commission meeting. The Commission will then vote on the winning entry. Current Meeting Start Time for Beautification Commission Commissioner Lahey stated that she would like the start time for the Beautification Commission meetings be amended to 6:00 pm because people who work may find it more difficult to attend the meetings and or to serve at the current time set at 5:30. Commissioner Benson stated that if the meeting is set later, people may not come or serve because of other commitments they may have later in the evening. Following a brief discussion, Commissioner Lahey moved that the start time for the Beautification Commission meetings be amended to 6.00 pm because people who work may find it more difficult to attend the meetings and or to serve at the current time set at 5.30. Motion carried 5 — I (opposedlBenson) — I (absentlGrandcolas). The May], 2008 Beautification Commission meeting will begin at 6: 00 pm. NEW BUSINESS Single Species Street Tree Proposal — Superintendent Richmond stated that after the Commission receives the presentation regarding the proposal for Single Species Street Trees, the Commission can decide if it wishes to set a hearing for the May ls` meeting. Chairperson Carney recognized Pat Giorni. Pat Giorni referenced the following 4-fold points of the proposal changing the current street tree planting policy to a policy that would require the planting of single tree species on certain blocks/areas in the City of Burlingame. The proposal is as follows: -Review policy implementation of Burlingame's Urban Forestry Management Plan, focusing on areas in need of improvement. -Postpone the current spring planting. Update Street Tree Inventory, noting the trends of "themes " on certain streets. -Review and reassess current street tree lists, keeping in mind that the primary goal (whenever possible) should be to enhance the beauty of our streets with the continuity of the dominant, 'Grander" types of trees rather than ornamentals. -Visually assess neighborhoods that have few or no trees and select three (3) species, (including two (2) types that will be grand in stature and appropriate where no over -wires exist) for the neighborhood to consider. Notify property owners of the program and if interested, have them return a postcard with their choice. Pat Giorni explained that 30, 40, 50 years ago the City had certain tree species in mind but since that time, '1 the tree planting has been degraded by the planting of smaller, flowering fruit trees. She added that sidewalks should be moved around to hold larger trees stating that if planted now, a London Plane tree wouldn't even cause sidewalk problems for another 15 years. She then requested that the current replacement selections (chosen by residents for the spring [April] planting) be reassessed to see if the trees selected will add to the canopy and then re-evaluate the existing official street tree lists. Ms. Giorni concluded that she and Jennifer Pfaff would be willing to volunteer their time to evaluate the neighborhoods to determine which neighborhoods should be planted with a single, dominant tree specie. Jennifer Pfaff stated that people come and go and are making poor choices when it comes to selecting street trees in front of their homes; that people do not consider how the tree selected in front of their home will form the canopy of the street. She added that Eucalyptus Microtheca's should not be on the official street tree list and should not be planted. Conversely, she recommended that Accolade Elms should be added to the street tree list as well as limiting the number of tree species on each individual list. Superintendent Richmond noted that over the last 4-5 months, Supervisor Disco has been researching tree species to make recommendations and changes to the Official Street Tree lists. Supervisor Disco will present those changes to the May I' Commission meeting. Commissioner Benson clarified if the proposal is suggesting that in the past there were "homogeneous" species that were planted and that those types of trees continue to be planted on those particular blocks. Ms. Giorni responded, "Yes". Commissioner Benson again asked for clarification with regard to blocks that have never had a "homogeneous" planting and asked if they were suggesting that a "homogeneous" planting on those blocks be determined. Ms. Giorni responded that the 1300 block of Sanchez is "wide open"; that the City should decide which specie to plant, inform the homeowners on that block to pick one of the two choices, and that the one specie that is chosen by the homeowners on that block, would be the one tree that would be planted on that block. 2 NEW BUSINESS - Sinele Species Street Tree Proposal (Contd.) — Commissioner Wright asked what the term "themed means. Ms. Giorni explained that when she moved to the 1400 block of Balboa, Catalpa trees were the dominant tree on the block but as Catalpa trees were removed, other tree species were planted because Catalpa trees were no longer on the street tree list. Ms. Pfaff noted that even though Gingko's are slower growers, this tree specie is not allowed on the street tree list offered for planting under primary utility wires. Commissioner Benson then asked Ms. Giorni and Ms. Pfaff if they are offering to help the City or the Commission to determine and identify which blocks have historically had "homogeneous" plantings. Ms. Giorni and Ms. Pfaff replied that they would volunteer their time to identify the blocks. Meredith Lahr stated that environmental health and safety are also considerations for re-evaluating the street tree planting policies in the City i.e. Eucalyptus are shallow rooted and have poor structure. The planting of deciduous trees make good sense for sustainability and are the only trees that help with light and wildlife. Ms. Pfaff concluded that their number one request is that the choice of street tree selection in the City of Burlingame be taken out of the hands of the property owners. Superintendent Richmond stated that a staff report addressing this item will be prepared for the May V meeting and asked if the Commission wished to set a public hearing for May I' regarding the proposal. It was the consensus of the Commission that a public hearing be held at the May I" meeting regarding the proposal, ".1 Recommendation on Suspension of Current Street Tree Plantine for New Plan Evaluation — Superintendent Richmond stated that the April tree planting is set and ready to go but it has been requested that the planting be suspended until a new policy for street tree planting is in place. Approximately 60 Residents (homeowners) have had lengthy interaction with staff to determine their street tree selection for the April planting and should be considered when making recommendation on this request. Following a brief discussion, Commissioner Lahey stated that since staff and residents have gone through the process of tree selection for the Spring 2008 planting, she would hesitate to "stop the wheels in motion", that changing or refining the street tree lists, identifying neighborhoods, and/or recommending other changes can be reviewed while still continuing to plant trees under the current policies. Commissioner Lahey added that both processes can continue without stopping the tree planting; that the lost planting would never be recovered. Commissioner Lahey then moved that the Beautification Commission recommend to Council that the April 2008 planting continue because the trees have been chosen and approved by staff, and the April 2008 street tree planting does not conflict with "homogenous" plantings already in place, seconded, Wright. Motion carried �6,� —�j 0 - 1 (absent/Grandcolas). L Superintendent Richmond noted that this item as well as the proposal will be on the May 7th Council agenda and that representatives from the Commission should attend to address any questions from the Council. It was the consensus of the Commission that Chairperson Carney and Commissioners Lahey and McQuaide attend the W y 7`" Council meeting on behalf of the Commission. l REPORTS — Superintendent Richmond From cancelled March meeting 1. Storm damage a. Cypress removal on Forestview—leaning heavily b. Douglas Fir in back park failed c. Second Douglas Fir was moving in the ground and lean was increasing; bulge developing in root zone away from lean; removal next week. (Tree has since been removed.) 2. Superintendent Richmond will retire May 17, 2008. The recruitment process for the Superintendent position is currently ongoing. Current: 1. Sycamore section has been completed. Crew is currently working on all species in that section. Liquidambars on Oxford/Cambridge are also being addressed. 2. The Arbor Day Program is scheduled to run on Channel 27 on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm 3. RFP distributed for additional testing on 7 Trees on Easton Drive. 4. Future agendas a. Public hearing on new planting proposal. Staff report will be available. b. Grant planting program —promotion and execution i. Volunteer participation as monitors of planted trees. 5. Thanks to Commissioner Wright for her participation in the Superintendent selection process. Commissioner Lahey Commissioner Lahey asked why radical pruning was done on the City street trees on the corner of Easton and Vancouver. Superintendent Richmond responded that it was reluctantly done by City staff to accommodate the resident's extreme problem with the fragrance of the blooms, which the Commission addressed in 2006-2007. Commissioner McQuaide Commissioner McQuaide commented on the advisability of the City having an independent tree organization in place. Chairperson Carney Chairperson Carney noted that she has observed swings placed in City street trees and would be calling the Parks office with addresses. Commissioner Wright Commissioner Wright stated she tried to bring a Beautification Commission perspective to the Superintendent interviews and would be suggesting questions from that perspective to Director Schwartz for the _.L+next round of interviews. � - . y � �L i,� L �" lrCt.,,.. �--'�,l�n �L-l. `�`L' !i, Lc:-�;/-- d�. C.�,.. �(. �,�.->'rc..22,GfCiC./�'.,'.�L,.C:'.(e ✓�Cc y_.., .i j .• / z . There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:25 pm. submitted, Recording Secretary 4