HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - BC - 2008.04.03AGENDA
B URLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION
APRIL 3, 2008
5:30 P.M.
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. Landscape Award Committee Update
2. Current Meeting Start Time for Beautification Commission Meetings — Action
VI. NEW BUSINESS
1. Single Species Street Tree Proposal — Receive & Discuss
2. Recommendation on Suspension of Current Street Tree Planting for New Plan
Evaluation - Action
VII. REPORTS
1. Staff
2. Chairperson
3. Commissioners
STAFF REPORT
�— DATE: APRIL 2, 2008
TO: BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION
FROM: TIM RICHMOND — PARKS SUPERINTENDENT
RE: APRIL 3, 2008 BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION
AGENDA ITEM IV (2)- Recommendation on Suspension of Current
Street Tree Planting for New Plan Evaluation
BACKGROUND:
The Parks Division routinely plants City Street Trees three times per year —winter,
spring, and fall. Past practice of a summer planting was abandoned several years ago.
The action was taken because a considerable number of young trees were not receiving
adequate water to survive their first summer. The Division depends upon property
owners to routinely water trees they have selected.
Spring planting would normally be occurring at this time. Planting this year, however,
has been suspended at the request of citizens wishing to review the entire tree planting
program in the City. The request is based on the belief that tree selection should be
limited and specific to defined neighborhood character. Council will consider the
planting suspension at its April 7 meeting.
Currently 60 property owners have selected trees for planting fronting their properties.
The majority of the 60 property owners have actively participated in the selection
�. process. They have chosen trees from the planting lists for selections appropriate to the
planting strip width at their respective addresses. A minority of selectors have simply
deferred to the choice of the Parks Supervisor. Several property owners are arriving at
the selection process through the Planning/Building permit system. Parks Division Staff
actively interacts with any selector who wishes to see tree samples or discuss the
merits/limitations of the various choices. A number of the property owners are interested
in selecting trees that complement their current or proposed landscaping.
While a delay would allow for evaluation of the current planting practices, it would also
push tree planting into the indefinite future. The current spring planting would likely be
pushed forward into the fall. The institution of a new plan may also delay the beginning
of additional projected tree planting, which is funded by a State Grant. The Grant funded
program for up to 450 trees must be completed by March 2010. It is over and above, not
a substitute for, the City's regular replacement planting program.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Commission move, second, discuss, and vote on the following
motion:
I move that the Beautification Commission recommend to Council that the spring
2008 Street Tree planting (be or not be) suspended until the Street Tree Planting
program can be fully evaluated.
Findings are required.
� CITY OF BURLINGAME
BURLINGAME PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
'OPORI1TiD MEMORANDUM
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Date: March 26, 2008
To: Beautification Commission
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From: Tim Richmond, Parks Superintendent
Re: April New Business Agenda
The April agenda has two items related to Street Tree planting. Several citizens have
proposed that street tree planting be more narrowly defined, so that whole blocks or areas
are planted with single species. The opportunity to make a proposal is an April New
Business agenda item. It is a discussion item only. The Commission may place it on a
future agenda for a full public hearing. No written proposal has been received to date.
The Commission did previously receive a proposal of a similar nature from Jennifer
Pfaff.
There is a second item that is related to the above proposal. This is an action item. The
group proposing single species planting has suggested that all planting cease until a new
policy for tree planting has been adopted. The moratorium would include the
approximately 60 trees that have been selected for planting this spring. The Commission
needs to formally recommend to Council either that the spring planting move forward or
that it be delayed pending a decision on a new planting plan for the City. The appropriate
motion after discussion would be:
The Beautification Commission recommends that spring 2008 street tree planting be
suspended until proposals for a new planting policy are discussed and acted upon by
Council.
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