HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - BC - 2006.04.06BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION
APRIL 6, 2006
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Beautification Commission was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by
Chairperson McQuaide.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chairperson McQuaide, Carney, Ellis, Lahey, Lauder, and O'Connor
Absent: Commissioner Grandcolas
Staff: Parks & Recreation Director Schwartz, Superintendent Richmond, and Secretary Harvey
Guests: Mrs. Bilsey (112 Howard)
MINUTES — The minutes of the March 2, 2006 Beautification Commission meeting were corrected
(typographical error) and approved.
Letter from Director Schwartz, to Michael Stallings, 1512 Alturas Drive, (copied to William Dugoni,
1511 La Mesa Drive) informing him that his request for removal of the City -owned Red Oak tree at 1511
La Mesa Drive meets the criteria of the City's Bay View Policy and that, the process would begin to grant
permission for removal of the tree; but if the other property owner appeals the decision, mediation
between the two property owners would be arranged. Following any removal agreements between the
property owners, adjacent property owners would then be notified and have an opportunity to appeal the
decision in writing to the Beautification Commission and if no appeals are filed, a permit would be
issued.
Copy of letter to Council from the Beautification Commission requesting that the Council assign the
Beautification Commission the task of investigating and recommending a solution to the current P.G.&E.
tree pruning practices on the City's trees.
Agenda: Long Range Reforestation Plan for Easton Drive Community Meeting/Our Lady of Angels
Church/Thursday, April 6, 2006 including neighborhood questionnaire and Some Benefits of Urban
Forests handouts.
Letter from Thomas Homblower requesting removal of 6 City -owned Pittosporum trees around his
property stating he is "acutely allergic to them and my reaction to them has only grown worse over the
years as they continue to grow ....' ; adding he requests the 6 trees be replaced with Gingko biloba trees.
FROM THE FLOOR -
There were no comments from the floor.
OLD BUSINESS
P.G.&E. Pruning Practices in the City of Burlingame — Superintendent Richmond reported that the
P.G.&E. representative, Erin Parks, was present at the last Council meeting on an unrelated topic.
Commissioner Grandcolas was also in attendance and spoke to the issue of P.G.&E.'s pruning practices.
Following a brief discussion, the Council asked that the P.G.&E. representative and Commission meet to
discuss different pruning practices, develop a list where flat topping had occurred, and schedule on site
meetings to begin to resolve the issue.
OLD BUSINESS — P.G.&E. Pruning Practices in the City of Burlingame — (Contd.)
Eleanor Bilsey, 112 Howard Avenue, was recognized by Chairperson McQuaide. Mrs. Bilsey stated that
she was satisfied with the tree trimming P.G.&E. had conducted on her City tree. She stated that her tree
is beautifully umbrella'd over the street; people park their cars under it for shade, and birds nest in it; on
one occasion the tree was not trimmed by P.G.&E. crews because the tree had a bird's nest. She added
that the P.G.&E. trimmers have been careful to just cut the middle out of the tree. She stated that she was
most recently dissatisfied with the work of the City's tree crew and indicated that the day after P.G.&E.
crews had trimmed the City tree, City crews also trimmed and removed the beautiful umbrella shape that
it had had for many years; and that now, it is just a trunk with 5 limbs. She stated that she called the
Parks Division and reported her dissatisfaction but to her knowledge, no one has come out to look at the
tree nor has anyone responded to her complaint.
Chairperson McQuaide apologized to Mrs. Bilsey for the lack of response; that staff would check into her
original complaint and someone from the Parks Division staff would respond to her. Mrs. Bilsey thanked
the Commission and said she really likes the trees in Burlingame and just wanted to report this incident.
Following the comments from the audience, the Commission discussed different options of resolving the
P.G.&E.s pruning practices and different forms of engaging P.G.&E. into the discussion. The
Commission agreed that the Committee first meet with Erin Parks (P.G.&E. Arborist) on site at locations
where trees have been "flat topped". Suggested locations for the Commissioners to inspect are Palm and
California Drive, Willow and Newhall, and Howard Avenue. Director Schwartz directed Commissioners
to email locations to KHarvey@Buringame.org. Director Schwartz stated he would then arrange for a
May meeting for the P.G.&E. representative and the Committee to meet on the selected sites.
Long Range Reforestation Plan for Easton Drive Community Meeting - Chairperson McQuaide
explained the process for the Community Meeting. She stated that a slide presentation will show different
types of trees, planter strips, etc. The public will receive handouts explaining the Benefits of Urban '\
Forests and a questionnaire to assist in determining the overall desired look the neighborhood is
interested in seeing on Easton Drive. She stated that the Commission is very interested in hearing from
the neighborhood and receiving their input as to what types of trees might be used over the years to
replace the Eucalyptus trees as they are removed.
REPORTS —
Director
1. The process has begun for the resident on Alturas Drive requesting that a City -owned tree on La
Mesa Drive be removed to gain back a once existing Bay View from his home. If no appeals are
received over the process of notification and time, a permit will be issued for the Bay View owner
to remove and replace the City owned tree (or replacement monies into the City's tree fund for
tree planting elsewhere in the City) at his expense.
2. Council has requested the Commission begin considering a tree planting program on City planter
strips where no trees exist and to develop strategies in which to approach property owners
adjacent to those sites.
Superintendent
1. Tree Removals: 3 Locusts on Highland west of Sam's Deli. Owner had requested inspection for
possible removal since more people were in the target zone of the trees. Supervisor and City
Arborist agreed that given the internal decay of the trees and their overall decline, removal was
warranted. Pictures of stumps showing the extent of the internal decay are available for
inspection. The trees will be replaced by Accolade Elms, as soon as the plants arrive. 2
Monterey Pines on Pepper: removals requested by property owner and several neighbors; trees
were under observation by City Arborist and Parks Supervisor for several years. Dead --�
Eucalyptus tree at Hillside/Adeline will be removed.
2
REPORTS — Superintendent — (Contd.)
2. Tree Planting in City planter strips will begin mid April. Director Schwartz noted that over the
last 5 years, department records indicate that 320 more trees have been planted in the City of
Burlingame than have been removed.
3. Property Owner at 1812 Easton has requested the removal of a Monterey Cypress fronting the
property. Tree was ranked a 55 in the Kielty report in fall '04. Kielty will prepare another report
on the tree. All of the material will be presented to the Commission before any action is taken.
Removal would not occur until the next Fiscal Year if approved.
4. Releaf Grants are available for tree planting, but groups applying cannot be part of the City
organization, so the Burlingame Historical Society may consider making application.
5. A new volunteer has most recently started working in the Parks Division. Karl Rothe, a longtime
resident and maintenance gardener, will work on some ongoing projects and will currently be
focusing on weed control in sidewalk crack on Burlingame Avenue, and around the bases of the
Pear trees planted along the West side of California Drive.
Lauder —
Commissioner Lauder reported that Arbor Day was very nice and that the memorial trees that were
planted were beautiful.
Lahev —
Commissioner Lahey reported that she was pleased to see that the weeds had been removed on the Rollins
Road and Broadway island.
There being no further business, Chairperson McQuaide adjourned the meeting at 6:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Karlene Harvey
Recording Secretary