HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - BC - 2001.02.01BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 1, 2001
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Beautification Commission was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by
Acting Chair Rossi.
ROLL CALL
Present: Acting Chair Rossi, Commissioners Ellis, Hesselgren, Lauder, McGowan, Webb
Absent: Chairperson Locke
Staff: Director Williams, Superintendent Richmond, Administrative Secretary Harvey
Guests: City Manager Nantell
MINUTES - The minutes of the October 5, 2001 meeting were approved as submitted.
CORRESPONDENCE
Memo from Director Williams regarding demonstration of the new small street sweeper for Burlingame
Avenue and Broadway.
Copy of the revised Urban Reforestation and Tree Protection Ordinance.
Letter from Chairperson Locke to Mariko Roberts, Senior Landscape Architect (CalTrans) regarding
clarification of CalTrans' commitment to renovate the landscaping at the 101Broadway interchange
following recent staff changes.
Letter from Vincent & Doreen Cauchi, 131 Loma Vista Dr., requesting removal of a City Pine tree, located
in the rear of his property, at an adjacent address.
Letter from Chairperson Locke to Vincent & Doreen Cauchi, 131 Loma Vista Dr., referring them to the
Parks Division for evaluation and inspection of the Pine tree by City Arborist Porter.
Letter from Superintendent Richmond to Vincent & Doreen Cauchi, 131 Loma Vista Dr., reminding them
of the pruning that occurred on the Pine tree in April of 1999, and that the City Arborist has currently found
the Pine tree to be in better health than when pruned in 1999 and would not approve removal at this time.
Copy of memo from City Attorney, to Superintendent Richmond and Arborist Porter (dated December
1998), regarding Height of Trees above Roadway.
Copy of Downtown Trash Receptacles, noting completed placement of new trash receptacles as requested
by Beautification Commission in the Burlingame Avenue area.
Request, denial, and appeal for the removal of all Eucalyptus trees in the backyard of 2669 Martinez Drive.
Letter from Mrs. Stanley Cox, 2532 Valdivia Drive, requesting the Beautification Commission grant
approval of the removal of all Eucalyptus trees in the backyard of 2669 Martinez Drive, because the trees
are 100 feet tall, tower over her house, and the wind blows them toward her house.
Email from Chairperson Locke updating the Commission on the local group requesting permission to
cleanup litter along El Camino Real and referral to appropriate personnel at CalTrans.
FROM THE FLOOR
Acting Chair Rossi recognized the new City Manager, Jim Nantell. City Manager Nantell introduced
himself to the Commission. Stated he has served in the public sector for 25 years and empathizes with the
energy spent protecting trees. Has lived in Burlingame for 25 years and is familiar with many of the issues
the Commission faces. He added that he is looking forward to working with Commission volunteers in the
City of Burlingame.
OLD BUSINESS
Arbor Day - March 7`' - Washington Park - Superintendent Richmond reported that the ceremony will
begin at 10:00 a.m. The trees (three Coast Redwoods, two Elms, one Carpinus, and one Chitalpa) will be
planted in the back of Washington Park behind the Recreation Center in anticipation of the removal of large
trees in that area of the park over the next 10 years. Acting Chair Rossi stated that this is a very nice event
and encouraged all the Commissioner's participation.
Spring Garden Seminar - March 24th - Speaker William McGowan - Acting Chair Rossi requested that
Chairperson Locke announce the seminar at the Commissioner's Dinner of March 23`d. He reminded the
Commissioners that it has been a tradition that they provide cookies or finger desserts for the seminar.
Commissioner McGowan stated that his presentation will be on Designing the Small Garden'.
Commissioner Lauder stated she would arrange for any changes on the banner and schedule the hanging
of the banner.
Director Williams noted that the grand opening of the new ballfield and the dog park at Bayside Park will
be on March 24"'; the same day as the seminar.
NEW BUSINESS
San Francisco Airport Runway Expansion Mitigation - Superintendent Richmond stated this item was --�
placed on the agenda at the request of Chairperson Locke following her discussions with Commissioner
Webb and his concerns with Shoreline improvements and possible mitigation with the airport runway
expansion. Superintendent Richmond reported that information he obtained form City Planner Monroe,
indicates that the Council has asked the City's Planning Department to attend runway expansion meetings,
monitor, and report back to the Council. Currently, the airport's planning staff is in the data information
gathering process.
Commissioner Webb stressed his concern that proper data be developed so that the EIR would address
creek deposits in the bay, bay trail impacts, and the flow. He suggested that the mud be tested for toxic
levels and that guidelines be developed to assure clean water quality. Director Williams stated that the
Mayor has been insistent that the City of Burlingame being included in the airport runway expansion
mitigation.
REPORTS
Richmond -
1) Superintendent Richmond reported that the City Attorney has indicated that shop owners have no
obligation to sweep the sidewalks in front of their establishments.
2) Vince Falzon, from the Street and Sewer Department was responsible for getting the spoils (left by the
contractor) cleaned up in the drainage channel near the railroad tracks.
3) The City Council will meet with the Beautification Commission on Monday, March 5tn at 6:30 p.m.
4) Tree pruning contractor has trimmed the Eucalyptus on Skyline Boulevard, South of Trousdale, and
will soon be trimming the Eucalyptus on Burlingame Avenue.
5) Street trees have been ordered for the March tree planting; approximately 40 trees will be planted.
2
REPORTS - (Cont'd.)
Lauder -
Commissioner Lauder stated that she recently spoke with Mariko Roberts, Sr. Landscape Architect of
CalTrans. Ms. Roberts reported to Commissioner Lauder that three to four dozen Ballerina roses have been
ordered for the 101 Broadway interchange planting and that the irrigation will be serviced prior to planting.
Webb -
Commissioner Webb reported that the Shoreline is being eroded along the South end where the large
broken concrete (rip rap) has been placed; sink holes have been created and a 4' hole covered with rusty
steel is very dangerous and could pose a liability to the City. Commissioner Webb stated that since the
BCDC has indicated that the Shoreline is a City problem, the City should make the property owners
adjacent to the Shoreline responsible for the repairs or perhaps, make the repairs as part of the mitigation
with the airport runway expansion. Commissioner Webb continued that a plan for the bay front would
improve the City and suggested that a beach for wind surfers get built on the land owned by the State Lands
Commission.
City Manager Nantell responded that the state lands will probably be an option in the mitigation process.
He indicated that the City needs to be careful to not be enticed by attractive amenities before an adequate
drainage system is addressed. He stated that he will be asking Public Works staff to look at the items
mentioned by Commissioner Webb.
The Commission discussed the relevancy of the Shoreline to their scope of responsibilities. It was decided
that the issue would be agendized for the next meeting so the Commission could determine what, if
anything, would be included in the Joint Commission/Council meeting in March.
Acting Chair Rossi also asked the Joint Commission/Council meeting be placed on the next agenda so the
Commissioners can prepare discussion items they may want to share with the Council at the March 5`h
meeting.
There being no further business, Acting Chair Rossi adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
t
Karlene Harvey
Recording Secretary