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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - BC - 2008.09.04\11 AGENDA B URLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 - 6: 00 PM CITY MALL 501 PRIMROSE ROAD — Conference Room A Burlingame, CA I. ROLL CALL U. 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. Business Landscape Award - Committee Update 2. Approval of "Themed" Block Tree List 3. Approval of "Themed" Block Policy VI. NEW BUSINESS 1. Commission Training - Public Hearings VH. REPORTS 1. Staff 2. Chairperson 3. Commissioners Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, October 2, 2008 - 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. City of Burlingame - Parks & Recreation Dept. 850 Burlingame Ave., Burlingame, CA 94010,''��`"'� -SURUN K phone: (650) 558-7300 • fax: (650) 696-7216 recreation burlin ame.or STAFF REPORT To: Beautification Commission Date: August 27, 2008 From: Greg Foell, Parks Superintendent Bob Disco, Parks Supervisor Subject: Adoption of the City of Burlingame Themed Block List and the Policy to Establish a Themed Block Recommendations: • Conduct a public hearing on the establishment of a City of Burlingame Themed Block List. • Approve the City of Burlingame Themed Block List with any Commission revisions. • Conduct a public hearing on the Policy to Establish a Themed Block within the City of Burlingame. �. • Approve the Policy to Establish a Themed Block within the City of Burlingame Background In April, the Burlingame Beautification Commission heard a proposal from two interested citizens on modifying the City's current street tree planting practices. The proposal included discussion on the following topics: width of available planting areas, altering current planting lists, changing how street trees are selected by district/block/neighborhood, (re)introducing the concept of dominant species, updating the tree inventory, and potential elimination of tree categories from planting plans (ornamentals and 'evergreens). In May, Director Schwartz facilitated a discussion between the Commission and community members and as a result of that discussion the Commission made the following recommendations to the City Council. • Retain existing "themed" streets in the City of Burlingame by replacing with existing specie, if the dominant tree on the street is a tall tree even if it disrupts sidewalks • Do not create "themed" streets where they currently do not exist and allow the property owners to choose off of the appropriate tree list • Revisions be made by staff to the official street tree lists to contain trees that only have the tallest, most significant canopies • Retain "ornamentals" and "evergreen" tree species that have the tallest, most significant canopies on the official tree lists • Include some larger species from 6' planter strip list to the 3-6' planter strip list where possible or change dimensions of planting strip requirements • Create larger planting spaces throughout the City where possible • Only remove and replace trees when an existing tree must be removed • Tree planting should begin as soon as possible Creating a Better Place to Live, Work and Play The City Council heard the agenda item at the June 6 Council Meeting. There was general consensus for all of the above items. As a result of the Commission action and Council consensus, staff prepared a Draft Themed Block List and Policy for Establishing a Themed Block, that was presented at the August 7, 2008 Beautification Commission meeting. Themed Blocks in Burlingame Staff began the process of establishing a draft list of themed streets by identifying streets/blocks that have more than 50 percent or more single species*Each street/block was evaluated based on the following factors: the percent of predominant tree species, health and disease tolerance of the species, amount of tree diversity, mix of species, age, aesthetic look on the block, current tree canopy, future canopy potential, width of the street, and the width of planter strips.-Attached,is a draft list of streets/blocks that staff recommends establishing as themed streets within the City of Burlingame. The themed street list was created without consideration for planter width dimensions as recommended by the Commission. Atotal of 120 themed blocks were identified. Staff is recommending that 92 of themed blocks be maintained with the same species. The remaining 28 blocks are planted with trees that have poor structures or serious health issues and are no longer considered as appropriate street trees. As trees are removed, these blocks would be replanted with different species that will maintain the aesthetic feel and canopy of the original dominant species. Staff recommendations for replacement trees are listed in the right column of the Themed Street/Block List. Staff has taken input from Commissioners and the general public during the month of August in preparation for the public hearing on the item scheduled for the meeting of September 4, 2008. As a result of this input, staff makes the following recommendations for revisions to the Draft Themed Block List: Add the following themed blocks for consideration: • 200, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 blocks of Bayswater as themed Ginko blocks • 2100 block of Trousdale as a themed Modesto Ash block: The replacement tree would be the Raywood Ash Additionally, staff was asked to consider adding the following blocks: The remainder of Trousdale. This block did not meet the criteria for a themed block. Staff agrees that the wide street would benefit from a larger canopy but residents have expressed concern about view obstructions in this area. If this was to be considered it would need to be approved after a public hearing by both the Beautification Commission and the City Council. Staff does not recommend creating the remainder of Trousdale as a themed block at this time. 100 Block of Bloomfield. This block did not meet the criteria for a themed block. Staff agrees that large canopy trees would be ideal for this block but not as an established themed block. Due to the fact that the Liquid Ambers are being replaced and that they are not significantly dominant, staff believes that encouraging the planting of a variety of large canopy trees would be more appropriate for this block. Recommendation/Motion: I move the approval of the City of Burlingame Themed Block List as presented by the staff. (With any Commission approved revisions) Policy for Establishing Themed Blocks Over time the public may desire to request the Commission add themed blocks to the list. The following policy proposal describes how these requests would be administered. Staff presented the draft policy for review at the August 7, 2008 Beautification Commission meeting. A public hearing has been scheduled for the meeting of September 4, 2008 to consider this policy. Creating a Better Place to Live, Work and Play L Policy to Establish a Themed Block within the City of Burlingame: • The Beautification Commission will determine "Themed Blocks" within the City of Burlingame. • To petition the Beautification Commission for a new themed block a homeowner on a block shall gather signatures of at least 2/3 of the homeowners on the block. • Forms for the "Petition" will be provided by the Parks and Recreation Department Office. • Petitions shall be forwarded for appeal to the Beautification Commission for the establishment of a new "themed" block. • A public hearing will be set by the Beautification Commission and notification will be sent by staff to all homeowners on the block. • If approved, staff will determine the species theme in collaboration with the homeowners. • Selected "themed" species will replace existing trees only when removal of an existing tree is deemed necessary according to City policy. Recommendation/Motion: I move the approval of the Policy to Establish a Themed Block within the City of Burlingame as presented by staff. (With any Commission approved revisions) Attachments: Draft City of Burlingame Themed Blocks List Creating a Better Place to Live, Work and Play