Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - BC - 1985.05.02N 0 T I C E �- BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION MEETING: THURSDAY - MAY 2, 1985 * 5:30 P.M.* A G E N D A I. ROLL CALL II. MINUTES OF APRIL 4, 1985 III. COMMUNICATIONS IV. REPORTS A. Park Director B. Chairman C. Commissioners V. OLD BUSINESS A. P.G. & E. Trimming of Sycamores VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Mills Canyon Park B. Tree Planting - 1509 Sanchez * Please note the new meeting time of 5:30 PM -11 DATE: APRIL 10, 1985 TO: D. ARGYRES - CITY MANAGER FROM: R. QUADRI - DIRECTOR OF PARKS RE: P.G.&E. & CITY SYCAMORE PRUNING ALTERNATIVES As requested by Council at the Study Session of April 3, 1985, I have prepared a cost estimate and analysis of various methods of pruning Sycamores throughout the City. This report is confined to Sycamores only, and does not address any other species which may be similarly effected by line clear- ance. All costs are based on estimates of the number of trees effected and on both Davey Tree estimates and actual City costs per tree. It is further based on the following assumptions: 1) A uniform method will be used throughout the City, rather than a block by block or area basis. 2) Removal and replacement of Sycamores under power lines was not to be considered. 3) Since actual "pollarding" involves cutting back every tree every year and has never actually been practiced in Burlingame, it was not considered to be a practical alternative. I) CONTINUING PRESENT METHOD (Thinning, raising, and removing deadwood while allowing tree to grow to natural height) Additional Cost: None Advantages: *Trees not under power lines are healthier when allowed to grow naturally. Disadvantages: *Unbalanced appearance of numer- ous streets throughout City, when compared to P.G.&E. trimmed trees. *More leaves II) MATCH P.G.&E. SCHEDULE (18-22 months) & METHOD (Top -pruning tree to clear power lines and pruning sides to maintain a natural shape) Additional Cost: $60,000/year Will take 2-3 years to get on same schedule as P.G.&E. Best accomplished by contract Advantages: *Streets would have a more "bal- anced" look. *Reduces amount of leaves in Fall Disadvantages: *Increased incidence of Anthracnose and mildew on all Sycamores III) CUTTING TO P.G.&E. HEIGHT - CONTINUE CURRENT 4 YEAR SCHEDULE Additional Cost: $32 000/ ear first time thro h f y ug (4 years) $24,000/year thereafter Best accomplished by addition of 1 MWII to tree crew. Advantages: *Streets would achieve a more balanced look, although there would still be a difference due to different schedules. *Slight reduction of leaves in Fall Disadvantages: *Increased incidence of Anthrac- nose and mildew on all Syca- mores. *Greater probability of limb.drop. IV) RETURN TO "MODIFIED POLLARDING" (Method used in Burlingame until 1978) Additional Cost: $40,000/year first time through (4 years) $28,000/year thereafter Best accomplished by addition of 1 Tree Trimmer to tree crew. Advantages: *Streets would have a more "bal- anced" look. *Reduces amount of leaves in Fall. Disadvantages: *Increased incidence of Anthrac- nose and mildew on all Sycamores. *Greater probability of limb drop. *Addition of 125 trees/year that are now pruned by P.G.&E. line clearance crews. This subject is not a new one, and has been discussed by both Coun- cil and the Beautification Commission (as well as the old Park Com- mission) on several occasions. The following survey of residents on Palm, Cortez, and Occidental was taken in 1972 and, while lim- ited, is the only record of public input I could find: Given the current method of severely pruning Sycamores every 3 to 4 years (modified pollarding), please answer the follow- ing questions". 1) Is the current method satisfactory? Yes - 24 No - 21 2) Do the goals of the program justify the means (short trees)? Yes - 20 No - 21 3) Should trees be allowed to grow to full height? Yes - 18 No - 23 4) Should these trees be replaced with a smaller species? Yes - 1 No - 41 5) What is your greatest concern involving these trees? Sidewalk damage (19 responses) 6) What is of least concern in developing a pruning program? Leaf drop (25 responses) After this survey the method of pruning Sycamores was not changed. Director Francard acknowledged the disease problems and labor costs involved, but felt the overall effect on the trees was not extreme, and barring a clearer public consensus or loss of funding there was no reason to change. It was not until the Fall of 1978 that the change was made to the present method. Although Director Hoffman had felt the new method would be beneficial to the trees, he saw no public consensus for change. However, when Park Department staff was reduced, the labor spent on Sycamore pruning no longer seemed justified and the change was made. The Park Department philosophy for tree trimming continues to be that our first concern is safety, second is street and sidewalk clearance, and third is pruning necessary for the health of the tree. Whenever a tree is worked on, proper methods are observed and aesthetics are taken into account. However trees have not been trimmed for aesthetic reasons only: Nor are trees trimmed where there is not a clear need. It should be noted that many Peninsula cities have no on -going street tree pruning program. My recommendation is that the current method be retained. However, I see the second alternative (Matching P.G.&E.'s schedule and method) as being acceptable if it is determined that the streets should have a balanced look. While costing the most, it doesn't have some of the drawbacks that the last two alternatives have: Particularly the increased incidence of limb drop. Since Sycamores should be pruned after the leaves have dropped, any change could not be im- plemented until the Fall/Winter of 1985. In response to Councilman Mangini's concern for safety trimming, I feel our current program of City forces supplemented by contract trimming adequately serves our needs at this time. I strongly urge that any additional work on Sycamores be over and above our present program, and not supplant any of it. Richard P. Quadri Director of Parks '1 OR !PDQ��ZpIm GA S Item #1 4/3/85 Study AND ELECTRIC COMPANY - 420 SOUTH ELLSWORTH SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA 94401 • (415) 592-9200 March 6, 1985 Mr. Dennis Argyres City Manager City of Burlingame 501 Primrose Road Burlingame, CA 94010 Dear Mr. Argyres : per Thank you for your recent telephone call inviting me to attend the city's next study session meeting on Wednesday, April 3, 1985, 8:00pm to discuss PGandE's tree trimming practices in Burlingame. I understand there has been recent concern regarding PGandE trimming trees on one side of a street and not trimming on the opposite side of the same street. Dennis, I'm sure you can appreciate PGandE's charge to trim trees on a regular or as needed basis to provide minimum clearances for overhead high voltage facilities as dictated by the operating voltage of those said facilities. I look forward to meeting with you and the City Council on the 3rd to review our mutual concerns on this subject. Dennis, in the interim if you or your staff have any questions please don't hesitate to call me at telephone 592-9200, ext. 451 or my private line at telephone 343-9009. Sincerely, David Altscher Area Manager CITY OF BURLINGAME TO Dennis Argyres, City Manager DATE: 3/13/85 FROM Frank Pagliaro, City Councilman SUBJECT; Cutting of Trees by PG&E Dear Dennis: I am sure you will recall that we have now placed on the April study session the issue of PG&E's cutting of trees in town. I am enclosing a series of photographs that I took in the Occidental area with most of the views being north or south up that street, although there is at least one or two down Ralston. It was difficult to gain a proper perspective in the photographs since I had to angle the camera upward, but nevertheless I think that a viewer can gain some indication of the difference between the size of the trees by using the wires across the street or between trees as a guideline. I would appreciate it if you would have these photo- graphs available at the study session as well as perhaps attaching a serox copy of some of them to the study session packets for each council member. Thank you. FJP:mjg Enclosures -wTw!1j7# -S�Nq 00M Y16 I Ike 7 44 v, lt JF Ilk, 5W A ol 70 It .1 ff I �'�} . '$� � ,mat 'C'!�.� \ a 'F� .� 1 - •;j �RAP �_ ��_ y ram•- i T- �. f( \ fir; (' � r-F s �✓� r 410 , ��' y •���'�+Sr . •,i/~f�{# its' L �� s� � -tlt ..�� Xy,�u \ ra �_ y ` � - �: 441a7d?�,�t`�� al a Ay yq ,may - '�� �_ _ �k'�, � �pf �i.. IJI��, �rY .•, F :. �,, ti •.� • `.%� 7 iifs'- )� s rl i i i' "afl�r •• w+ +r �` +C� �w : t• .• . +/' sr rt � i r �_,p�,.�E`f ! ��_ '.�' � � ��-`�,4� ��ira) P;���s ♦ ��a .;�.4 r_:R <y�s�»�, fie+. .-it:_ • ! ws•� £ll.. ,'r/� tl1 :.�ytif y� ice• . �M� o•'''r�.tr!.`-c<.� `ltr�; �Ira.�_ YAW 4K It, ', (' `� -.a.•�s. �'A � t• V , / •. '-� a� �� ��f' �.-x'.�. _...",�'t %r l t X' '* fir. '-Y g t �M�s.r' y` •\��i�r- 's '` c �' i�i$'' 14 _ �-..,,,Q,3• �,A%i,.� 4 'fir `''-:-. • Oil - I �•y\+�"'T4'1:t�v%a� �C .J ,II �l CITY OF BURLINGAME TO . Frank Pagliaro, City Councilman DATE: 11/5/84 FROM , City Manager SUBJECT: PG&E TREE TRIMMING Attached is a memo from Rich Quadri concerning his discussions with PG&E about their tree trimming practices. I have also discussed the matter with PG&E's District Manager for Burlingame. Very simply, PG&E is not interested in expanding their current program or cost unless it benefits PG&E. Your request would require a company -wide change in policy. I do not see that we have any "leverage" on PG&E other than trying to say they cannot trim our trees which would be counterproductive. We do get a number of complaints each winter about power outages caused by trees. The only solution which I see we have is to increase our tree -trimming to match PG&E's. This would be a major additional cost estimated by Rich at $60,000 per year. While this is possible, if the council approves, it would not be the highest priority of work that needs to be done within our tree -trimming program and would only benefit a portion of the city. Rich tells me that we have about 1700 Sycamore trees or about twelve percent of our street trees --mostly concentrated in three areas of the city. Please let me know if you want any further consideration on this matter. Dennis Argyres City Manager fg cc: City Council Director of Parks Director of Public Works Attachment DATE: NOVEMBER 1, 1984 TO: D. ARGYRES - CITY MANAGER FROM: R. QUADRI - DIRECTOR OF PARKS RE: P.G.&E. TREE TRIMMING FOR LINE CLEARANCE Yesterday I met with Maury Smith from P.G.&E., and two represen- tatives of Davey Tree Co. The purpose of our meeting was to dis- cuss the possible use of growth regulators on trees growing under power lines. During this discussion I was able to bring up the concern expressed by Councilman Pagliaro regarding the unequal trimming of Sycamore trees throughout the City. This question has apparently been raised in other cities from time to time, and P.G.&E.'s position is that they are responsible for clearance of their lines only and are not inclined to go beyond that. We do require that the trees they work on be "balanced" rather than just top cut, and they have been very cooperative in that respect. All local cities are faced with the same situation. Both San Mateo and San Bruno have large numbers of Sycamores and are cur- rently handling this matter the same as we are. At one time San Bruno tried to tie their schedule to that of the clearance crews, but found it to be too expensive to continue. While line clearance is needed approximately every 18 months, we routinely prune Syca- mores on a 4 year schedule. Using Davey's estimate of $60 per tree for this type work, it would cost us approximately $60,000 a year to match our schedule to theirs. Other alternatives would include denying P.G.&E. a line clearance permit or returning to the old method of pollarding all Sycamores. I would assume that if we used the first alternative, we would become liable for any problems involving tree damage to the elec- trical lines. The second alternative would have a high initial cost, but then could be continued with the addition of 1 man to the tree crew. There are several horticultural reasons why pol- larding is no longer the preferred method of pruning Sycamores, but it can be done. The original purpose of my meeting with P.G.&E, had been the use of growth regulators. We agreed to set up 3 test areas during the current fiscal year. If this method is successful, line clearance may be necessary only on a 2 1/2 year cycle. At the same time we may be able to modify our schedule by using the same method on all Sycamores. Cost of injections to these trees would be approximately $6,000 a year. It should be noted that the use of growth regulators is relatively new, and may not be the answer to solve this problem: The City of San Jose is seeing woo encouraging results, but Fresno has discontinued their use due to tree damage. I will keep you up to date on this trial as we develop the details. " �Er Richard P. Quadri Director of Parks RPQ/kh CITY OF BURLINGAME TO : Dennis Argyres, City Manager DATE: 10/29/84 FROM : Frank Pagliaro, City Councilman SUBJECT: Dear Dennis: I had a conversation with Rich Quadry last week in regard to some tree trimming that has occurred in the City. My wife and I noticed that tree trimming occurred along a portion of one side of Occidental Avenue (the eastern side) and then the trimming stopped. Instead of finishing on that side or crossing over and trimming in an equal manner on the western side, the trimming crew then went on to Chapin Lane and turned the corner on to Chapin Avenue near our house. Once again, they trimmed only one side and came to a dead stop (unfortunately just at our property line) and did not continue. These two streets now appear as though someone had gone to the barber and had only half of the side of his head trimmed. I mentioned it to Dennis, and he readily acknowledged that this was, without a doubt, the Davey Tree Company that was trimming on behalf of PG&E. Apparently, they only trim those trees that are in proxi- mity to the main electrical line as opposed to some of the lesser lines, and the result is the ridiculous situation that we now have on the two above -noted streets as well as, I certainly assume, other streets in Burlingame. The choice is then left up to the City and the Park Department whether or not to leave the streets in their present condi- tion or to change our tree trimming schedule in order to make both sides of all streets look equal. It certainly seems to me that the latter is preferable, and I certainly hope that it will be done on Occidental and Chapin. However, this is certainly no way to properly administer a city, and we should have some control over PG&E and its crews (whether they be in-house or hired) so that the City is not put to this disruption and potentially to an extra expense. I would, therefore, greatly appreciate it if you would confer with Rich and then let me know what you suggest we can do vis-a-vis PG&E. It certainly seems to me that the matter can be handled by bringing the problem to the attention of PG&E and telling them quite firmly that, if their crews are going to trim a portion of one side of a street, they will � have to also finish the remainder or the other side of the - street. I think anything less than that is inadequate as far as the City is concerned. hank 11du for your attention to this matter. Best wishes. F.J.P. April 8,1985 Burlingame Beautification Commission Art Carbon, Chairman Dear Mr. Carbon, Would it be possible to set aside some time at ,your May 2nd meeting for a report on the Ed Taylor Trail in Mills Canyon Park? Dr. Bill Freedman of Hillsborough walked the trail a week ago with his wife, Louise. He wo ld like to make a detailed presentation of the immediate needs of the trail. They found that where excavations are being made for a new home on Mills Canyon Court, the trail has been buried. Has anyone surveyed the property to see that it is not intruding into the Park? Although my husband devoted much time from 1977-1982 to build- ing and maintaining the trail, it is my hope that the City will now take on that responsibility. It would be a sad memorial indeed to allow the trail to deteriorate. The creek runs the year around; ferns,wildflowers, and a fine variety of trees abound in their natural environment; a oeaceful quiet refuge. The Audubon Society did a bird count there December 18th, 1983, listing 46 varieties of birds sighted. The accompany- ing snapshots are for those of you who have not been through the canyon. With other material for your perusal is a book entitled Peninsula Trails by Jean Rusmore and Frances Spangle.There is a map and description of our trail. It is also listed as a Creekside trail and as one near a busline. I hesitate to tell people to walk there now because of the uneven- ness, the steep areas, muddy places, all in dire need of improve- ment. Dr. Freedman , an ardent environmentalist, has served on the County Trails Committee. He has been a member of the Sierra Club for many years, and, needless to say, is an expert on trails. He has advised and helped Ed since the beginning of the trail building, and Las continued his interest to the extent of organ- izing work parties for trail improvements since Ed's death.. Mr. �,uadrl has welcomed his generous assist=nce. Sincerely yours, Marjorie W. Taylor 701 Burlingame Ave. Burlingame, Ca. 94010 asgL.8 IfZ A nolgalp;woC aol4ao132SUse6 emWf!,%uH umenloac ,aodgao I%A ,nod?sao .'13f 'taeQ '1 bnS XtH -iuoP. Ja emlJ emos $blaa Jes of etdtaaoq sd Jl bluoK nogna0 a1L114 at Lts.KT xolgaT b3 edJ no Piogoi a 101 gnlJeem 9999r a Lts'1d silt bwflow dguosddalltH to nambson'g 11td .TQ TWxa4 be12a3eb a Salem of "Itl bluvw SH .ealuaI ,qUw atf, udlw age .11a7J 3dJ to ebsou sdaibmeml edJ 10 "01joansesiq amOc wan a c©^ sbam salad $Ts anoldavaoxe egedw ISSN bauol Ysdf saogna aaH .Bel-tuo ased Bad !laid 901 ,PiuoD noquaC all-M as ale olni gnlbLmInt Jo, at it JsdJ ees of QJz Sgo-fq a[iJ be.;,evxua S*7o4 -btti.,d el S8QI-F4QL eoz4 em1J doum beloveb bntadaud vpm rlgvoAllA 111w gJto edd Jadd ecod gm al Jl ,41e'1J edJ gnicltaJntam bna Bal Ialiomem bsa a ed 61crow Jx . t$11ldlanoveel Jadt me ".aJ won . edatol• oaftb OJ Itsn3 ed.' walls aJ beebnl anal c­6•-cs .9•lewo126Ltw.anzeY ,bnuct,: ^?a% edd arvn jeolko 9dT fvt6bmee e-;Snemne+lavns IA-rwas -ilea.; fit broods D+psis Io gJellav 7admeoeQ eisdl Jnuoo b71d a bin XJe1no8 nodubuA edd e1WZ4m Jelup -v,mgmo00F adT .baldgte ab'xld 20 eel Jelzsv �)A gat JalL 'Mel ,rf.+Sl dauo-irfJ nerd Jo- avail odw uot, 4o eaodl Sol saa edodagane gat ."ognmo edJ aline t,,tt011 helJlJgo stood a at Iaaim q -iuog .101 ISII. Iem -ieddo dstw "times q9T a at a^sdT.slaanQa aeonuA one wimaeuH naeL ed a lO T IlsK1 sblalcesn� s ea beJatl oela at II .tlsnJ •xuo 20 notdg "S . snl laud a 'i sn eao u bna -nevsnu edJ 10 eauso�d wo+r eaedJ btaw of 9 goeq s of WASIVen I -avo7gm? 20 been e°rlb al IIa e*ozIq Qbbum ,aaeza geela W ,alas" no bev7ee aed , Jet laldsemo•;lvge Jnebza as , nambeen't .W .Jnem a-i'xal8 Shc to aedmem a "ead aed eH .eeJIfmmoC allesT tlnuoG shl .8118a4 no J'iegxo na at ,vma of aeslusea ,baa ,alsox rnam '101 dulo 112'14 edJ to yalual'ied edJ $ogle ba becLer. bas bealvba Bad OH -aagno To JneJxe sdJ of Jae7slal aid Deurfllnoo ae. 5112 'antbtlud .-DI .AJAeb s'bI seals 8,Ia.&evo7cpel Slasd •101 aetJ•xaq A-iOw 3almt .son�.telaae auoKenaa sl.', bamcoiew sari lzbeu, ,anvob tle-i$onla RoiVeT -W etnOL-19M .evA sm64allzufl 107 0104Q .EO ,amasnilnuH