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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - BC - 2006.04.06AGENDA BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION APRIL 612006 5:30 P.M. CITYHALL Conference Room A - 501 PRIMROSE ROAD B URLINGAME, CA I. ROLL CALL II. MINUTES OF MARCH 2, 2006 COMMISSION MEETING 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. P.G.&E. Pruning Practices in the City of Burlingame — Committee Report 2. Long Range Reforestation Plan for Easton Drive — Preplanning Discussion VI. NEW BUSINESS VII. REPORTS 1. Staff 2. Chairperson 3. Commissioners BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION CITY HALL-501 PRIMROSE ROAD BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA 94010 Honorable Council: The Beautification Commission would like to bring to your attention an urgent matter regarding current Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) tree pruning practices in the City of Burlingame. Since the time PG&E encountered financial difficulties, we have noticed that they have resorted to a new method of trimming our street trees under overhead power lines; the new method is "flat topping". The "flat topping" method differs from the old "tunneling" method (trimming branches in a way that allows the overhead power lines to go through the tree) previously employed by PG&E. The result of this new approach is unsightly, causes unhealthy trees, and negatively impacts city finances: * A "flat topping" practice accelerates the process of heart rot in trees, which decreases their life span and leads to more frequent replacements. * A "flat topping" practice also negatively impacts a valuable city asset. (City trees in general, especially taller, healthy trees, are highly valued in GASB - 34 calculations.) * Flat topped trees accentuate unsightly overhead power lines. * Other cities on the peninsula, such as Palo Alto and Woodside, are not subject to this "flat topping" tree trimming practice. They benefit instead from the older "tunneling" pruning approach. Potential solutions may or may not include such recommended remedies as under - grounding power lines, or requiring PG&E to follow in Burlingame the same tunneling method of pruning used in other cities on the peninsula. We respectively ask the City Council to assign the Beautification Commission the task of investigating and recommending a solution to this situation with PG&E. Respectfully submitted, .v Les 1e McQuaide �- Beautification Chairperson