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