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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - BC - 2006.07.13BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION JULY 13, 2006 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Beautification Commission was called to order at 5:45 p.m. by Chairperson McQuaide. ROLL CALL Present: Chairperson McQuaide, Carney, Ellis, Grandcolas, Lauder, and O'Connor Absent: Commissioner Lahey Staff: Parks Superintendent Richmond, Supervisor Disco, and Secretary Harvey Guests: Thomas Hornblower (2100 Easton Drive); Kevin Kielty (Mayne Tree) MINUTES — • The Minutes of the May 4, 2006 Beautification Commission meeting, were approved as submitted. The Minutes of the April 6, 2006 Community meeting regarding Long Range Reforestation Plan for Easton Drive, were approved as submitted. CORRESPONDENCE Copy of letter from Sempervirens fund thanking the Commission for their individual gifts of $160 for a Redwood tree to be planted in memory of Bill Richmond in the Santa Cruz mountains. Letter from Jennifer Pfaff regarding her concerns with the current Street Tree Program with suggestions to improve and a list of vacant planting sites in her neighborhood on Bayswater, Bloomfield, and Howard Avenue. Letter to Thomas Hornblower, 2100 Easton Drive, (copied to neighboring properties) informing him that his request to remove 6 City -owned Pittosporum trees because of the intensity of the fragrant flowers, would be continued to the next Beautification Commission meeting so that Staff could study alternatives to removal. Letter to Judith Schneider, 1812 Easton Drive, (copied to neighboring properties) informing her that her request for removal of a City -owned Cypress tree due to damage to driveway and brick fence, would be heard at the June 1, 2006 Commission meeting. Staff Report from Superintendent Richmond to Commission regarding further information and several, options for consideration and/or alternatives to removal of the 6 Pittosporum trees at 2100 Easton Drive. Staff Report from Superintendent Richmond to Commission regarding further information and several options for consideration in determining approval or denial of the request for removal of the City -owned Cypress tree at 1812 Easton Drive. Memorandum from Director Schwartz to Commission regarding: Field Meet with P.G.&E. Representatives to Discuss Line Clearance Pruning. �- Letter from Superintendent Richmond to Thomas Hornblower, 2100 Easton Drive, informing him of an alternative growth regulator treatment that could be used to eliminate the fragrant blooms on the Pittosporum trees. CORRESPONDENCE — (Contd.) Memorandum from Director Schwartz and Superintendent Richmond regarding the current status on the Landscaping on the Broadway Interchange, the Adopt -a -Highway agreement that past Commissioner Locke and Commissioner Lauder arranged so they could volunteer their time to that area periodically weeding, clearing trash, and improving plant life, and that any others willing to assist with this task are encouraged and can call the Parks & Recreation Department for contact information to register with CalTrans. Letter(s) to Thomas Hornblower, 2100 Easton Drive and Judith Schneider, 1812 Easton Drive, (copied to all neighboring properties) notifying them that the July 6a` Beautification Commission would be postponed to July 13a' due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts and that their items would be heard at the July 13a' meeting. FROM THE FLOOR - None OLD BUSINESS — Request for the Removal of 5 City -Owned Pittosaorum Trees at 2100 Easton Drive, Due to Allergies - Superintendent Richmond corrected that the number of Pittosporums is 5 and stated that he invited Kevin Kielty from Mayne Tree Expert Company to discuss some possible chemical treatments to eliminate the flowers on the Pittosporums as an alternative to be considered other than removal. Kevin Kielty stated that at a recent chemical conference that he attended he discussed with the different chemical companies eliminating or reducing the flower production on Pittosporums. Two options that could have a satisfactory effect would be to 1) spray the flowers with an agent that is used to kill olives on olive trees or 2) to paint a systemic control on the trunk of each tree to prevent the tree from flowering. Mr. Kielty stated that the systemic controls, which would be preferable to spraying agents in the air, are not registered for that particular use but could probably be arranged with the Department of Agriculture as a test study. He stated that the cost of spraying or the systemic control process are comparable, although spraying the flowers would need to occur on the Pittosporum at least twice a year but the systemic control would probably only need to be applied once or twice a year, depending on the effect of the blooming periods, that Pittosporum's can be unpredictable in the blooming habits. The Commission discussed with Mr. Kiety the differences between the two different chemical treatment options. Chairperson McQuaide then recognized Mr. Hornblower. Mr. Hornblower noted that he received a letter dated June 66' from Superintendent Richmond explaining the chemical spray option with a combination of Embark and Florel. He stated that he contacted other Arborists, who indicated that they had never been approached with this type of request before and were not able to get any satisfactory answers to his questions. Mr. Hornblower went on to say that this year the trees first blossomed in January, were in full bloom by March, and have just bloomed again in June. He stated that all the trees don't bloom at the same time and wondered about the effectiveness of spraying and how often it might need to be done. Mr. Kielty stated that it could take up to three sprays; that spraying to eliminate the flowers has not yet been researched or studied and that these particular trees and their blooming habit would need to be studied. ',*N Following Mr. Hornblower's comments, Chairperson McQuaide asked the Commission for their comments. Reauest for the Removal of 6 City -Owned Pittosporum Trees at 2100 Easton Drive, Due to Allergies — (Contd.) Commissioner Ellis wondered if the chemical applications were harmful to pets. Mr. Kielty replied that neither application would be harmful to pets. Commissioner Carney asked if the intensity of the fragrance from the Pittosporum flower decreases with age. Mr. Kielty said that the intensity would probably not decrease as the tree ages but noted that aroma doesn't travel like pollen and sensitivity to the fragrance is different than allergies to pollen. Commissioner Grandcolas stated he was in favor of salvaging the trees before removing them and thought it would be worthwhile to try options that Mr. Kielty suggested. Chairperson McQuaide asked what it might cost to paint the trunk(s) with the systemic control and who would be responsible for the cost. Mr. Kielty stated that Mayne Tree would be willing to absorb the cost for labor and would only require a charge for the cost of the chemical; he also noted that the test study could also be done in house if that were preferable. Mr. Hornblower asked if trimming the trees could be considered as well. Mr. Kielty stated that trimming off the flowers would also include trimming off portions of the tree and that the trees would end up being little balls and that if trimming were to be considered trimming from the inside out and opening up the tree might eliminate enough of the flowering to cut down on the intensity of the bloom. Although, Mr. Kielty concluded that trimming the trees could also promote even more flower growth. The Commission discussed thinning of the trees as a viable option and asked if City crews could thin the trees as a possible solution to removal. Supervisor Disco stated that the Easton Drive area will be in the 2007 grid pruning section and that type of pruning could be done by City crews. Mr. Kielty suggested if this was the chosen option it would be best to trim the trees in November to lessen the risk of promoting more flower growth. Following the discussion, Commissioner Grandcolas moved to deny the appeal to remove the S Pittosporum trees at 2100 Easton Drive, with the recommendation that the City crews thin the trees and that an experimental systemic treatment be further investigated to remove the fragrantflowers lowers on the trees; seconded (Lauder). Motion carried 6 — 0 — I (absent/Lahey). Chairperson McQuaide thanked Mr. Homblower and advised him of appeal procedures to Council. Commissioner O'Connor also thanked Mr. Hornblower for his presentation and stated that she was hopeful that the Commission had given him some tools to gain some relief. Request for the Removal of a City -owned Cypress at 1812 Easton Dr. Due to Damage to Driveway and Private Brick Fencing The Commission reviewed Arborist Report from Kevin Kielty (Mayne Tree) and a Hazardous Tree Evaluation from Supervisor Disco. Based on mallet and drill testing as indicated in Mr. Kielty's report, the Cypress tree has been given a 55 rating, which falls in the 50-69 "Fair" category and does not pose an apparent immediate hazard. The driveway has had a 3 foot section removed and replaced with pea gravel to help reduce root damage and asphalt has been placed in areas to relieve tripping hazards. Supervisor Disco's Hazardous Tree Evaluation gave the Cypress tree a hazard rating of 8 (medium), but that the hazard can be abated by thinning and shaping (reducing the end weight) �-- which would save the tree for an additional few years; noting that root pruning could not be done because the hardscape is next to the root buttress of the tree. 3 Request for the Removal of a City -owned Cypress at 1812 Easton Dr. Due to Damage to Driveway and Private Brick Fencing — (Contd.) - Supervisor Disco stated that he met with the previous property owner with the same issues over a -IN year ago and the cuts to the driveway and placement of pea gravel were conducted to change the elevation. He noted that because of the Easton Drive reforestation still being considered he denied the request for removal and referred the applicant to the Beautification Commission for further consideration. Chairperson McQuaide asked if the iron gate could be putting stress on the brick and causing the damage. Mr. Kielty and Supervisor Disco both agreed that it was the roots that are causing damage to the brick fence. Commissioner Grandcolas asked how long the life span of this tree might be. Mr. Kielty stated anywhere from 5 to 25 years; that the foliar condition is good, but the tree has some decay issues at the top. Commissioner Grandcolas confirmed with Kevin Kielty that the tree is not posing a danger. Mr. Kielty stated that "the tree is in a lousy spot, but not bad". Following the discussion, Commissioner Grandcolas stated that he believed there was no compelling reason to approve removal of the Cypress tree at this time. Commissioner O'Connor then moved that the appeal for the removal of the Cypress tree be denied because the tree is a healthy tree; seconded (Grandcolas). Motion carried 6 — 0 —1 (absent Eahey). Long Range Reforestation Plan for Easton Drive - Chairperson McQuaide stated that those present at the Community meeting offered good input and most seemed to be primarily interested in maintaining the same character of Easton Drive and preferring replacement with a Eucalyptus species to heights of up to 70+ feet. Although, the group also expressed concerns about losing parking spaces if trees are planted in areas that are currently vacant. She reported that based on a list of trees from, Robert Santos (UC Stanislaus) the Committee has developed a list of Eucalyptus trees to be considered that are wind hearty, drought tolerant, and some that also meet the height criteria. Chairperson McQuaide then asked Kevin Kielty (Mayne Tree) if there were any Eucalyptus experts he could recommend that could assist the Committee by reviewing the list of Eucalyptus trees to determine those that would meet the standards expressed. Mr. Kielty stated that Barrie Coate was the foremost authority on the subject of Eucalyptus trees but that Dave Docktor from the City of Palo Alto and Rob Weatherill from Advanced Tree Care would also be good choices and added that specie selection is critical. Following a brief discussion, the Commission agreed that the Committee conduct further research on reforesting Easton Drive with the Eucalyptus specie and contact one of the experts mentioned by Mr. Kielty. City Streets with No Trees & P.G.&E. Pruning Practices in the City of Burlineame — Committee Repo ri — These items were tabled to the next regularly scheduled meeting. NEW BUSINESS — Nominating Committee Appointment for August Election of Officers — Chairperson McQuaide appointed Commissioners Lauder and Carney to develop a list of nominees for the positions of Chairperson, Vice Chair, and Secretary to be presented at the August Commission meeting for the election of officers. REPORTS — Superintendent 1) Tree Crew conducted some site specific watering of young street trees. 2) Street Tree Removals — Superintendent Richmond submitted information to the Commission on the removal of 3 City owned street trees: A) A Coast Live Oak on Vancouver just off Easton (tree was under utilities) was removed; a major lateral on the tree split near its union with the main stem, and removal was necessary. The call came on July 3; it was necessary to remove most of the canopy before the holiday for public safety. B) A pine in Washington Park in serious decline due to Pine Pitch Canker will be removed. C) An Elm tree on Edgehill, which is infected with Dutch Elm disease will be removed. 3) Scalloped leaves on Eucalyptus trees are appearing in Burlingame —Skyline, Ray Park, California Drive. The damage is done by Eucalyptus Tortoise Beetle. Some of the larvae may have been killed by a released natural predator wasp. The beetle will not kill the trees. A UC Extension handout on the insect was made available for Commission review. Kevin Kielty, (Mayne Tree) — By way of information Mr. Kielty reported that Sudden Oak Death has just been confirmed on a private Oak tree, East of 280 on Summit Drive in Hillsborough. He briefly explained to the Commission the symptoms, complications, and serious impacts this disease can have on the Urban Forest. Lauder — Commissioner Lauder stated that she received an email from former Commissioner Hesselgren regarding a `Slog" complaining about the garbage around the City, reporting that visitors to the City are even complaining about the trash around the City; she wondered if the Commission could address this issue. Commissioner Grandcolas stated comments about the trash has been an ongoing issue during his service on the Commission, that it has been mentioned frequently, and that perhaps it is time to make this issue a high profile for the Commission. Commissioner Lauder also remarked on how beautiful the flowers are at the Train Station. Superintendent Richmond noted that the department has recently received a $500 donation from the Garden Club in Hillsborough for future plantings at the SP Circle. Commissioner Lauder noted that former Commissioner Locke had noted that the plantings at Hillside Circle are dying and was wondering if work can be done in that area again. McQuaide - Chairperson McQuaide reminded and encouraged the Commissioners to volunteer some of their time working with Commissioners Lauder and former Commissioner Locke in their efforts to enhance the 101/Broadway triangle. There being no further business, Vice Chair Grandcolas adjourned the meeting at 7:50 pm. Respectfully submitted, Karlene Harvey �. Recording Secretary