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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - BC - 2007.12.06BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION DECEMBER 6, 2007 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, Bensop,16&m@S Ellis, Lahey (left early), and Wright Absent: Grandcolas 1 �) 6- J jA W, G�2 Staff: Director Schwartz, Danielle Brewer, Superintendent Richmond, Supervisor Disco, and Secretary Harvey, Guests: Kevin Kielty (Kielty Arborist Services), Carolyn Root MINUTES — The minutes were corrected under NEW BUSINESS — Fragrance Garden Update, the I' Paragraph, after the a sentence: To add to Supervisor Disco's comments: "The plan is to renovate according to the 1981 plan. " And, in the 2nd Paragraph, after the 8th sentence, to add to Commissioner Benson's comments: ... "And that plants that flower in all seasons might be planted to." CORRESPONDENCE Advertising for Centennial tree planting and donations. Staff Report to Council recommending implementation of a City of Burlingame Best Business Landscape Award. Inspection and Evaluation Report on the Easton Drive Eucalyptus trees, submitted by Kielty Arborist Services. Survey of 261 Coast Live Oak Trees symptomatic of Sudden Oak Death in Mills Canyon Wildlife Area, `- submitted by Kielty Arborist Services. Letter from Superintendent Richmond to Leslie McQuaide thanking her for serving as Chairperson of the Beautification Commission for the last two years and particularly for her leadership and extensive work on the Easton Drive reforestation project. FROM THE FLOOR None. OLD BUSINESS Rotation/Installation of Chairperson — Superintendent Richmond noted and thanked Commissioner Carney for accepting the position as Chairperson. Order of Agenda changed to accommodate guest Kevin Kielty. NEW BUSINESS — Easton Drive Tree Assessment Report & Sudden Oak Death Report — Easton Drive Eucalyptus Trees - Superintendent Richmond introduced Kevin Kielty who was asked to review with the Commission, his evaluations/recommendations of the Eucalyptus trees on Easton Drive, and the Sudden Oak Death in Mills Canyon with regard to the Coast Live Oaks. Mr. Kielty explained the terminology used in the report and the technique and process used to determine his findings and subsequent recommendations. He stated that several of the trees as noted in the report should be considered for removal at a future date, but overall, the Easton Drive Eucalyptus are basically in pretty good shape. He added that future resistograph testing could be accomplished "in house" after some training. NEW BUSINESS — Easton Drive Tree Assessment Report & Sudden Oak Death Report — Easton Drive Eucalyptus Trees - (Contd) —, Commissioner Lahey thanked Mr. Kielty for his thorough report and stated that it was good to have an update from the last report. Commissioner Wright added that the report was very well done, that the diagram was very helpful, and easy for the novice to understand. Chairperson Carney asked what the timing might be for another assessment. Mr. Kielty stated that since the optimum pruning schedule should be every 3 years, and Easton Drive Eucalyptus trees are trimmed on that cycle, that reassessment should take place sometime just after the trees are trimmed. Sudden Oak Death Report — (Mills Canyon Coast Live Oaks) — Mr. Kielty reported that this disease is "gang busters" and is affecting Oaks that are grouped together; so the whole group dies. He noted that treatments have changed since the onset of the disease in the late 1990's since more is known about the disease itself. He reported that once thought to be caused by the bark beetle, the disease is actually caused by disease sporulating on the leaves of Bay Trees and then traveling through water/wind to the Oaks. It has been found however, that annual treatment or the spraying of a phosphite fungicide to the lower 8-10' of the Oak's trunk, has proven to be effective. Currently, there are 10-11 Oaks in the Mills Canyon that are dying. Mr. Kielty added that many Oaks in the Canyon are going to die, leaving a lot of fuel for fires, if not removed and that removal and movement of the wood and the surrounding soil can spread the disease. Precautions, such as chipping the wood and leaving on site, need to be followed. Superintendent Richmond commented that Mr. Kielty has trained the City crews on how to apply "Agri Fos" to the Oak trees. He added that the optimum time to treat is November and the crews have almost completed spraying the listed unaffected Oak trees in the Canyon. Mr. Kielty noted that an additional treatment in the Spring might be advisable to be on the safe side. Superintendent Richmond commented that City staff is beginning to develop policies with regard to: Removal of SOD Oaks i.e., the non-transport/transport of wood/chips from the site(s), contractors removing infected Oaks on private property, tracking SOD on shoes, dogs paws, etc. causing spread of the disease, educating the public, and the possibility of posting signs at entrances to the Canyon. Superintendent Richmond concluded that arrangements have been made for a public seminar to be conducted on February 12'' by the California Oak Mortality Task Force in the Library's Lane Room. Replacement of Female Gingko Trees on Donnelly Avenue Commissioner Ellis commented that the smelly fruit dropping from the female Gingko trees on the sidewalk and street continues to be an ongoing problem. Commissioner Benson and Fiona Hamilton continue to clean up the fruit and will continue to do so. She recommends that the trees be removed and replaced with male Gingko's instead. She added that the three trees also have poor structure. Commissioner Benson noted that the trees have a heavy fruit drop and are dangerous because the fruit is slippery. Carolyn Root stated that she frequently walks to Burlingame Avenue; the fruit drops from the trees on average of 2 to 2.5 months of the year; the odor is awful and the fruit is slippery. She has witnessed people walking around the fruit into the street to avoid stepping onto the fruit. She added that trees with this kind of fruit should not be in areas, where there are so many pedestrians, which can cause them to slip and slide. Superintendent Richmond responded that the ordinance allows for removal of trees that produce noxious fruit and that some female Gingkos have been removed and replaced based on this. Commissioner Lahey stated that though these trees are healthy and she would normally oppose removal of a healthy tree, it is impractical to be relying on volunteers to clean up the fruit and the odor of the fruit is so bad. Commissioner Wright moved and Commissioner Benson seconded, that the three female Gingko trees be removed and replaced with male Gingkos due to the noxious fruit. Superintendent Richmond advised that only a recommendation was needed; therefore, Chairperson Carney affirmed that it was a consensus that the Commission recommend that the three Gingko trees be removed and replaced with male Gingkos. Commissioner Lahey left the meeting at 6: 50 pm. 2 OLD BUSINESS Arbor Day 2008 Planning — Tree Planting at Local Elementary and Junior High Schools Superintendent Richmond reported that he and Supervisor Disco have spoken to most of the public school principals and will soon be meeting with the principals of the two Catholic Schools in the community. Most have expressed the preference of organizing their own ceremony and having a representative group of students from their school participating. Commissioners and Council will be invited to attend the tree planting ceremonies that will occur during March, the week prior to the usual Arbor Day celebration of March 7th. i CZA r►OVA Arbor Day 2008 Planning — Centennial Tree Planting on Cair6n Island — March 8, 2008 (a), 10:00 am. Superintendent Richmond stated that Supervisor Disco is contacting different growers for several different species and sizes of trees forthr°Is�and tree planting. Supervisor Disco reported that he has been considering Valley Oaks and Cork Oaks but has now decided that he would like to see a Copper Beech planted on the island and is inquiring into the availability of a 48" box size tree or larger. He will finalize his decision by January/February. Commissioner Benson asked how much a 72" box size Copper Beech might cost. Supervisor Disco responded that the cost for a 72" box size Copper Beech is approximately $8,000. Superintendent Richmond stated that the Commission can organize the Centennial Tree Planting ceremony in the way they wish and suggested that a committee be appointed to work with staff to begin planning the event. Chairperson Carney responded that she would like to work on the Committee and Commissioner Benson also volunteered. Chairperson Carney noted that she would also like to ask Commissioner McQuaide (who expressed an interest at the November meeting) to serve on the Committee. NEW BUSINESS El Camino Real Elm Tree Planting Project Update On behalf of Director Schwartz, Danielle Brewer reported that Director Schwartz met with CalTrans to discuss the planting of 22 Accolade and Frontier Elms on El Camino. An agreement was reached that the planting N4.1 would be done in December 2007/January 2008 to take advantage of the winter rains. City of Burlingame staff and CalTrans representatives will be putting together a long term plan for El Camino and will be making a presentation to the City Council in March. A public workshop with regard to the plan could then be conducted by the Beautification Commission sometime in the spring. REPORTS— &o-- 11 pT as' Superintendent Richmond 1. Significant removals in month: a. Red Oak-15 Columbus (pictures of vertical cracks shown to Commission) b. Eucalyptus California Drive 2. Tree Contractor is ing trees fronting Burlingame Plaza. 3. Council voted 5- to accept the recommendation of the Commission concerning the Landscape Award. 4. We now have 3 Citriodoras planted in the City, two on Easton Drive and one fronting the Recreation Center. Four more have been requested. 5. Commissioners' Dinner will be held on March 14, 2008. 6. City Staff has treated Coast Live Oaks in Mills Canyon as recommended in the Arborist's report. Superintendent will discuss possible winter closure of the lower portion of the Canyon trail with Chair of Friends of Mills Canyon. 7. February 12 has been tentatively set for a public information meeting on Sudden Oak Death. California Oak Mortality Task Force will provide speakers for the event. The meeting will be in the Lane Room of the Library. 8. January meeting is scheduled for 01/04. Will we be able to have a quorum? Is there sufficient business to be done to hold a meeting? Main pending issue is Arbor Day, but the appointed committee can work on that and report to the February meeting. Chairperson Carney will consult with Staff later in �.. December and make the decision. REPORTS — Superintendent Richmond — Contd. 9. Staff and Chair Carney will be meeting to review agendas and meeting content two weeks before each Commission meeting. Agenda will be carefully annotated to clarify the nature of required action, if any, by the Commission for each agenda item. 10. Future agenda items a. General discussion of Liquidambars as City Street Trees b. Continue planning for Arbor Day 2008 c. Structure of agenda and meetings. d. Trash issues at North end of El Camino Real. Commissioner Ellis Commissioner Ellis reported that the November 10`h, 11t' Examiner featured an article on Nancy Locke and Jill Lauder who received a commendation from the Council for their volunteer work on the 101/Broadway Triangle. Commissioner Ellis also reported that the Tree Lighting Ceremony at City Hall would be Friday, December 7t'. Chairperson Carney Commissioner Carney stated that she attended the December P Council meeting and that Commissioner Wright did an excellent job presenting the Landscape Award to the Council. Commissioner Benson Commissioner Benson reported and showed that she took pictures of the Fragrance Garden, will be monitoring the progress and that she can't wait to see what Supervisor Disco will be doing in that area. Commissioner Benson reported that she purchased and placed red silk poinsettias at the request of a Broadway shop owner and also took part in Ann Keighran's cleanup. She reported that she attended the Nov. 10t' Mills Canyon workday, cutting weeds and removing trash, and uncovering a bluff. She noted that Trevor Shaffer, headed up an Eagle Scout project, and built a new stairway in the Canyon. Commissioner Benson stated that she asked CalTrans to --� cut the suckers on the trees that are over the sidewalk and CalTrans responded that it was the responsibility of the City of Burlingame to keep the sidewalks clear. She also reported that, South of Trousdale along El Camino is very dangerous for pedestrians because there is no sidewalk. Commissioner Wright Commissioner Wright commented that she has a sample of an agenda format that might be helpful with agenda and meeting procedures. Superintendent Richmond responded that together he and Chairperson Carney are working on agenda setting and asked that any suggestions or samples be sent to the Parks office. Commissioner Wright reported that the median islands on the northernmost entrance to Burlingame on El Camino Real are very trashy. Supervisor Disco responded that the Parks crew had recently done some clean up within the last week. Superintendent Richmond also noted that the City crews did some cleanup on the 10 foot section of City property fronting the plaza. Commissioner Wright also reported that she and Commissioner Lahey are willing to continue serving on the Landscape Award Committee during the implementation phase. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm. Respectfully submitted, Karlen rvey Recording Secretary .—IN 4