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Thursday, October 1, 2020
City of Burlingame
Meeting Agenda - Final
Beautification Commission
6:30 PM
BURLINGAME CITY HALL
501 PRIMROSE ROAD
BURLINGAME, CA 94010
Via Zoom
City of Burlingame Page 1 Printed on 912512020
Beautification Commission Meeting Agenda - Final October 1, 2020
BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION
OCTOBER 1, 2020 @ 6:30 PM
BURLINGAME RECREATION CENTER
1010 BURLINGAME AVE — Online
On March 17, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order N-29-20 suspending certain
provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act in order to allow for local legislative bodies to
conduct their meetings telephonically or by other electronic means. Pursuant to the
Shelter -in -Place Order issued by the San Mateo County Health Officer on March 16,
2020, the statewide Shelter -in -Place Order issued by the Governor in Executive Order
N-33-20 on March 19, 2020, and the CDC's social distancing guidelines which
discourage large public gatherings, the Recreation facilities will not be open to the
public for the October 1, 2020 Beautification meeting.
Members of the public may view the meeting by logging into the Zoom meeting listed
below. The meeting video will be uploaded to the City's website after the meeting.
Members of the public may provide written comments by email to
recreation@burlingame.org.
Emailed comments should include the specific agenda item on which you are
commenting, or note that your comment concerns an item that is not on the agenda or
is on the Consent Calendar. The length of the emailed comment should be
commensurate with the three minutes customarily allowed for verbal comments, which
is approximately 250-300 words. To ensure that your comment is received and read to
the Beautification Commission for the appropriate agenda item, please submit your
email no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 1, 2020. The City will make every effort to read
emails received after that time, but cannot guarantee such emails will be read into the
record. Any emails received after the 5:00 p.m. deadline which are not read into the
record will be provided to the Beautification Commission after the meeting.
All votes are unanimous unless separately noted for the record.
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Beautification Commission Meeting Agenda - Final October 1, 2020
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1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
3. MINUTES
September 3, 2020 BBC Minutes
Attachments: BBC Minutes9 September.pdf
4. CORRESPONDENCE
5. FROM THE FLOOR
Speakers may address the Commission concerning any matter over which the Commission has
jurisdiction or of which it may take cognizance that is not on the agenda. Additional public comments
on agenda action items will be heard when the Commission takes up those items. The Ralph M. Brown
Act (the State local agency open meeting law) prohibits the Commission from acting on any matter that
is not on the agenda. Speakers are asked to fill out a "request to speak" card located on the table by
the door and hand it to staff, although provision of name, address or other identifying information is
optional. Speakers are limited to three minutes each, although the Commission may adjust the time
limit in light of the number of anticipated speakers.
6. OLD BUSINESS
7. NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Input and Update of the Urban Forest Management Plan
8. REPORTS
9. UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS
City of Burlingame Page 3 Printed on 912512020
Beautification Commission Meeting Agenda - Final October 1, 2020
Next Regular Meeting: November 5, 2020
Notice: Any attendees wishing accommodations for disabilities should contact the Parks & Recreation
Dept. at (650) 558-7330 at least 24 hours before the meeting. A copy of the agenda packet is available
for review at the Recreation Center, 850 Burlingame Avenue, during normal office hours. The Agendas
and minutes are also available on the City's website: www.burlingame.org.
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Burlingame Beautification Commission
regarding any items on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at 850 Burlingame
Avenue during normal business hours.
City of Burlingame Page 4 Printed on 912512020
BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION
Draft Minutes September 3, 2020
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Beautification Commission was called to order via Zoom at 6:30
pm by Commissioner Kearney.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Kirchner, Kearney, Hunt, Dinuri, and Bauer
Absent: None
Staff. Parks and Recreation Director Glomstad, City Arborist/Parks Superintendent Disco and
Recording Secretary Borba
Others: None
MINUTES
Commissioner Bauer made a motion to approve the August 6, 2020 minutes. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Kirchner and was approved 5-0.
CORRESPONDENCE
None
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
1. Appeal to the Denied Removal of a Redwood Tree at 1268 Cortez Avenue
Commissioner Kearney read the Order of Business for appeals. Director Glomstad read the staff
report.
Commissioner Questions
Commissioner Kirchner inquired if pruning to an ANSI level is what's acceptable. Arborist Disco
said that it was. Commissioner Kirchner asked if that was an option for this Redwood. Arborist Disco
replied it is an option. Commission Kirchner stated that limb failure is a characteristic of Redwoods.
He inquired if the heat, drought and proximity to the creek could contribute to limb failure on this
Redwood. Arborist Disco did not know how relevant those factors are to limb failure in this Redwood.
Commissioner Hunt inquired why this Redwood tree is losing limbs. Arborist Disco stated that his
assumption was the limbs are heavy.
Commissioner Dinuri inquired as to how often a Redwood Tree should be trimmed. Arborist Disco
stated private Redwood trees should be trimmed on a 5-8 year schedule. Commissioner Dinuri asked
if the tree could be trimmed more than the ANSI standards. Arborist Disco stated it could be trimmed
more than the standard, and the tree could require trimming above the standard more than once.
Commissioner Kearney stated the diagram in the appeal packet noted a couple of other Redwood trees
on the property. She inquired if the City Arborist looked at those trees when inspecting the Redwood
in question. Arborist Disco stated he only looked at the Redwood on the Protected Tree Removal
Permit.
Public Comments
Lindsay Bierbrauer lives at 1266 Cortez Avenue and has lived there for nine years. Ms. Bierbrauer
stated it was her children who were nearly hit by a 19-foot branch that dropped from the Redwood
tree. She explained her request is about safety. When she and her husband purchased the property,
they had a reasonable expectation that their children could play in the backyard and not have to worry
about falling limbs. She said that Arborist Keilty stated the tree is healthy, but with continued pruning,
there is no guarantee that the tree wouldn't continue to drop limbs. Ms. Bierbrauer stated their children
are young, and they play in the backyard every day, and they are terrified another branch will fall. She
said that Arborist Keilty said our yards are not big enough to create an exclusion zone. Ms. Bierbrauer
implored the Commissioners to consider the hazard this Redwood poses to anyone in their backyard;
there is no warning when the tree is going to drop a limb. She requested that the Commission not put
this Redwood tree over the safety of human life.
Nick Stipinovich, at 1266 Cortez Avenue, stated that the tree hangs significantly into his yard, and he
said that it is inevitable that when it loses its next limb, it could strike one of his children; there is no
part of his yard safe from limbs dropping. Mr. Stipinovich stated he has been dealing with the
Redwood dropping limbs for years. He noted the last limb to come down was too close to his children,
and that is why he is here today.
Appellant
Deva and Gabe Dalport, at 1268 Cortez Avenue, stated when they bought the property, one of the
things that drew them to the property was how well -forested it was. Several months after they moved
in, the Redwood dropped a giant limb, which was alarming to them, and serval months later, the tree
dropped another large limb, which prompted them to have the tree trimmed. Three months after the
tree was trimmed, it dropped another large limb, and then the most recent limb dropped in their
neighbor's yard. When they spoke to the tree trimming company and Arborist Keilty, they both stated
the tree was trimmed properly and has been maintained. The Dalport's stated they are parents to two
children and cannot in good conscious have a tree in their yard that could hurt or kill a child. They
said it was unacceptable. Mr. Dalporto noted that the arborist explained the Redwood tree is close to
the creek, and the tree consumes a lot of water, and when it gets hot, the water expands and creates
cracks in the branches, which causes the branch failure. He explained the tree dropped limbs multiple
times a year, and you never know when it will happen. There is no safe time to be in the backyard,
and the children are scared to be there. The Dalport's stated their children should have a safe place to
play in their own backyard, especially during COVID.
Commissioner Discussion
Arborist Disco commented on two statements the appellant made if the tree is trimmed, it will not
guarantee limbs will not fall. He agreed that the roots of the Redwood could suck up water, and when
the temperature rises and the water expands inside the tree, it can cause limbs to crack and drop, known
as Sudden Limb Loss.
Commissioner Kirchner stated all of the neighbors are in favor of removal of the Redwood, and no
one is fighting to keep it. The tree is healthy and does not meet any of the criteria for removal. The
level two arborist report by Kevin Keilty stated that this tree is dropping limbs, and the only remedy
would be removal of the tree.
Commissioner Bauer asked the City Arborist if there was a precedent for removing trees due to Sudden
Limb Loss. Arborist Disco responded he had removed trees due to Sudden Limb Loss, usually
liquidambars. Commissioner Bauer stated she would want her children to be able to play in the
backyard safely. She noted that the applicants had done everything they can to try to prevent the limbs
from falling, and yet it continues to do so. In addition, they had agreed to replant a tree that would be
safer.
Commissioner Kearney stated that she agreed with Commissioners Kirchner. She commented that
safety is her concern. She noted that the diagram included in the appeal packet showed quite a few
trees in the backyard, and she felt that the property would still be quite wooded if the Redwood were
removed. Her primary concern is safety.
Commissioner Hunt stated that she shares the same concerns as the rest of the commissioners. She
stated it frightens her to think that children could be injured. Commissioner Hunt suggested that the
decision be postponed until another tree service could look at the tree and suggest other trimming
options.
Commissioner Dinuri stated she agreed with all her fellow Commissioners. She stated it is a concern
that children are around this tree, and limbs are falling. She explained it is a hard decision because it
is a big beautiful, healthy Redwood tree. She stated she understands the appellants have trimmed the
tree, and it still continues to lose limbs. Commissioner Dinuri asked Arborist Disco if there was an
option to trim more of the tree and what it would entail for the homeowners. Arborist Disco stated
that a permit could be issued to perform a significant trim, more than 25% of the crown, but it is also
a question of cost to the homeowner. He stated that significant trimming would still not guarantee the
tree would not drop limbs. Commission Dinuri stated that the safety of the children is very important,
which makes this a hard decision.
Commissioner Kirchner made a motion to uphold the appeal based on the new information provided
by the independent arborist and referenced Chapter 11.06.060 (d) (1) of the Municipal Code and
required that one 24" box sized tree to be planted. Commissioner Bauer seconded the motion. Motion
passed 5 (Kearney, Kirchner, Dinuri, Hunt, and Bauer) - 0.
REPORTS
1. Director Glomstad
Director Glomstad stated that she, along with Arborist Disco and Secretary Borba are updating the
Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP). She informed the Commissioners that the Solar Shade Acts
information will need to be added to the UFMP and that Commissioners Bauer and Dinuri were
assigned this task at the December meeting. She requested that the Commission review the current
UFMP and bring their suggestions to the next meeting. Arborist Disco stated that the UFMP would be
emailed to the Commissioners next week for their review. He noted that the plan was to have the
updated document ready for Council approval in January 20201.
Director Glomstad stated that the Community Center updates are posted on the City Website under
facilities/projects/Community Center. She informed the Commissioners that there is good information
there regarding the progress of the Community Center.
Director Glomstad informed the Commissioners that the Recreation Division has already done the
signups for fall sports for BIS age children, and registration for school -age children will start next week.
She stated that the Recreation Division is also offering care opportunities from 3 pm-6 pm after school
at the portable buildings, and Village Park Preschool started this week, three classes at capacity.
2. Parks Superintendent/City Arborist
None
3. Commissioner Hunt
None
4. Commissioner Bauer
None
5. Commissioner Kirchner
None
6. Commissioner Kearney
None
7. Commissioner Dinuri
None
The next Beautification Commission meeting is October 1, 2020. There being no further business, the
meeting adjourned at 7:28 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Gina Borba
Administrative Staff