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