Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - BC - 2022.05.05BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION Approved Minutes May 5, 2022 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Beautification Commission was called to order via Zoom at 6:30 pm by Chair Kirchner. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Kirchner, Commissioners Bauer, Batte, Chu, and Ribera Absent: None Staff. Parks and Recreation Director Glomstad and Parks Superintendent/City Arborist Disco, Recording Secretary Borba Others: None MINUTES Commissioner Chu made a motion to approve the April 7, 2022 minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bauer and was approved 5-0. CORRESPONDENCE None PUBLIC COMMENT None OLD BUSINESS 1. Trees of Burlingame Ad Hoc Committee Members Update Chair Kirchner stated he put together a chapter on Palm trees which was forwarded to the Commissioners via email to review and make comments or edits. He stated there are a lot of Palm trees in Burlingame, but most are in private yards. He stated the next chapters would be Theme Streets and Elms. 2. Business Landscape Award (BLA) and Residential Sustainable Landscape Award (RSLA) Outline Commissioner Batte reported the Commissioners should continue inspecting locations for nominations of the awards. Secretary Borba stated the Commissioners would submit their nominations at the Beautification Commission meeting on June 2, 2022. NEW BUSINESS 1. Appeal to the Denial to Remove One Fir Tree at 1812 Montecito Way Director Glomstad read the staff report. Arborist Disco explained to the Commissioners that this tree is a coniferous tree with several co -dominant leaders with a round canopy. The tree appears to be topped or trimmed to look this way, and it is not the natural growth. The tree is approximately 50 years old. City Arborist Disco stated he denied the removal because it did not meet the criteria for removal in the Ordinance 11.06. He stated the tree could be properly pruned by a licensed professional. Commissioner Questions of Staff Commissioner Kirchner inquired if private citizens are asked to prune their private trees and do the City require a permit. Arborist Disco responded that the City does not require residents to trim their private trees, but if they do decide to trim and if the tree is larger than 48" in circumference and the property owner wants to trim more than 25% of the leafed out crown than a permit is required. In this situation, he stated more than 25% would have to be trimmed back to clear the light pole. Commissioner Kirchner asked about windowing, a selective pruning technique to help see through the tree, and asked if this is part of the ISA pruning standards. Arborist Disco stated yes, there are ways to trim that way. Commissioner Kirchner inquired who maintains the light poles. Arborist Disco responded that Public Works maintains the light poles, and if it is a private tree blocking the light, the property owners are responsible for trimming the tree. Commissioner Chu asked if the tree was causing any damage to the light post. Arborist Disco stated it did not appear to be damaging the light pole. Commissioner Bauer inquired if the Fir tree was a fast-growing tree and how often it would need to be trimmed. Arborist Disco stated typically, they are not fast-growing trees, and if the tree is trim now, it will take many years before it needs to be trimmed again. Commissioner Bauer inquired if the light was blocked to the sidewalk and who would trim the tree. Arborist Disco stated that if the light cascade down was blocked, it would be the homeowner's responsibility to trim the tree back. Public Comment None Presentation of the Appeal Xiufeng Wu, the resident at 1812 Montecito Way, has lived there for one year. She acknowledged the tree was in good condition but that it was too large. She requested removal and replacement with a smaller tree that would be more manageable without hiring a professional to maintain it. Ms. Wu explained we don't have a big budget to trim the tree on an ongoing basis. Ms. Wu stated tree is blocking the view of the neighbor, and trimming the tree will not solve the problem. Commissioner Questions of Appellant Commissioner Chu asked Ms. Wu if the tree was completely blocking the neighbor's view. From what he could see, he stated it was a very small percentage of the view. Ms. Wu responded from the neighbor's living room window that you can see the tree and blocks the view and the light from the light post. Commissioner's Discussion Commissioner Chu asked City Arborist Disco what this tree requires for maintenance. Arborist Disco stated he would recommend removing some of the lower limbs and creating more of a trunk, forcing the top back into a pyramid shape, and establishing a central leader in the middle of the canopy. He stated it does need to be cut back from the light pole about 4 feet. However, he stated if the tree is pruned properly, it should not need to be trimmed again for 5-7 years. Commissioner Chu asked if it would be a smaller job to trim the tree than remove it. Arborist Disco stated that trimming might be more time-consuming than removal, but the removal cost would be greater. Commissioner Ribera inquired if the tree required a lot of water and, if removed and replaced would the new tree need more water. Arborist Disco stated the existing tree is very established and does not need to be watered, but a newly planted tree requires a significant amount of water for the first couple of years. Commissioner Bauer stated Ms. Wu wanted the tree to be removed due to the light not getting to the sidewalk, her neighbor's view was obscured, and it is too expensive for her to maintain. In her opinion, the reasons given do not meet the criteria in the Urban Reforestation Management Plan for removal. She felt that the tree had been neglected, and once it was maintained, it should resolve the issues. Commissioner Ribera agreed with Commissioner Bauer and suggested Ms. Wu ask the neighbor to help with the trimming expenses to help maintain the neighbor's view. Commissioner Kirchner stated he also agrees with Commissioner Bauer, and there is no significant reason to remove the tree since it can be pruned. Motion Commissioner Kirchner made a motion to deny the appeal since the tree does not meet the criteria for removal based on the Municipal Code Chapter 11.06 Urban Reforestation and Tree Protection Ordinance 11.06.060. Commissioner Batte seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken. Motion passed 5-0. REPORTS 1. Director Glomstad Director Glomstad stated the Community Center ribbon cutting is on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at 3:30pm, and the Commissioners will be receiving an invitation soon. She stated the Community Center Donors event would be on June 14, 2022, at 5:30 pm, and on June 17, 2022, the City will be hosting a senior lunch. Director Glomstad stated the Parks & Recreation Foundation is hosting a Bocce Ball Tournament on Sunday, June 12, 2022. 2. Parks Superintendent/City Arborist Disco City Arborist Disco stated the Parks Crew is working on the Lions Club landscaping, Primrose Park/ J-Lot parking lot re -landscaping, and the Tree Crew has started the spring tree planting of 60 trees. Arborist Disco informed the Commissioners that Tree Contractor, West Coast Arborist, had trimmed 3234 trees in the City between Peninsula Ave and Burlingame Ave. and Rollins Road and Occidental Ave. They are now working on Skyline Blvd between Trousdale Drive and Rivera Drive, trimming the Eucalyptus off of 280, which should be completed by the end of June. 3. Commissioner Kirchner None 4. Commissioner Bauer Commissioner Bauer inquired about the Palm trees on Carol Avenue that were recently trimmed and their history. Arborist Disco stated the Palm trees on Carol are 90 feet tall now. Commissioner Kirchner stated a nursery was on the corner of Carol Avenue, and they sold the Palm trees to the developer to enhance the properties back in the 1920s. 5. Commissioner Batte None 6. Commissioner Chu None 7. Commissioner Ribera None The next Beautification Commission meeting is on June 2, 2022. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:23 pm. Respectfully submitted, Gina Borba Administrative Staff