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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - BC - 2024.01.04BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION Approved Minutes January 4, 2024 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Beautification Commission was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Bauer. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Batte, Commissioner Bauer, Chu and Khoury Absent: Commissioner Kirchner Staff: Parks and Recreation Director Glomstad, Parks Superintendent/City Arborist Holtz, Parks Supervisor Burow, and Recording Secretary Diaz Others: None MINUTES Chair Batte made a motion to approve the November 2, 2023, Regular Meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bauer and was approved. 4-0-0 CORRESPONDENCE None. PUBLIC COMMENT None. OLD BUSINESS 1. 2024 Residential Sustainable and Business Landscape Awards Commissioner Khoury suggested apartment balconies be part of the landscape awards. She stated that tenants as a team could win an award for the apartment building. Commissioner Bauer questioned what they would be judging, whether it would be the landscape around the apartments or the individual balconies because they could not necessarily see all the balconies from the street. Commissioner Khoury stated that only the apartment balconies visible from the street would be judged. She stated that perhaps they could start with an award for the best balcony, and as more people join in the future, they could do an award for the building. She stated that the judging would be based on cascading plants, flowers, and the appearance of the balconies. Commissioner Chu stated that multifamily units are considered commercial buildings, and his understanding was that they were already currently covered under a business award. He stated a third new category could be carved out as a separate award. Commissioner Chu stated that he favored incentivizing apartment homeowners to install high -quality landscapes because it adds value to the community. He stated that expanding the definition of the award from just balconies to the entire apartment complex would incentivize the property owners. Chair Batte stated a third category could be added, and they would have to decide if they would judge the exterior of the buildings or balconies. Commissioner Khoury stated that including balconies and having residents add flowers would make the City more welcoming and beautiful. Director Glomstad stated that a challenge for the Commission would be obtaining the apartment owners' information because the apartment numbers are not visible outside the building. She suggested that the Committee and Commission figure out the logistics and provide information before next month's meeting so a staff report could be prepared to help the discussion. Commissioner Bauer stated that the Commission could further discuss this at the next month's meeting with Commissioner Kirchner present. Commissioner Chu stated that the Commission would need to determine the logistics for the balconies award and whether to carve out an award for multifamily buildings. Commissioner Chu opened the floor to public comment. With no one wishing to speak from the public, Commissioner Chu closed public comment. NEW BUSINESS 1. Updating to the City Street Tree Planting Lists Parks Supervisor Burow stated that the considerations that went into picking which trees would be added or removed from the updated street tree lists were climate change, water requirements, root intrusion, tree shape, and growth pattern of the trees. With climate change, a concern is sea rise and overall saline in soils, which will start closer to the Bay and then throughout the lower parts of Burlingame. She stated that the lack of watering of the younger trees has been hurtful and caused some tree mortality. Root intrusion can be a challenge due to bumpy sidewalks and root intrusion into sewer laterals. Tree shape is general growth and aesthetic. Parks Supervisor Burow stated that one of five street tree lists goes to residents depending on the planter strip width in front of their house. The lists consist of a 4' planter strip, a 4'-6' planter strip, and a 6'+ planter strip. There is also the utility planter strip list for anything under power lines or communication lines, and the Hillside planter strip is in the hilly areas of Burlingame. Parks Supervisor Burow stated that additional species to consider for the 4'street tree list are Desert Willow, Blue Jacaranda, Saratoga Sweet Bay, Sonoran Palo Verde, and Persian Ironwood. The species to remove from the list are the Washington Hawthorn, Mayten, Victorian Box, and Purple Leaf Plum. She stated that the Washington Hawthorn is known to have weak branch attachments, which are not good to have over a sidewalk or street. Mayten is a slow -growing tree that often does not reach maturity before it gets damaged by people or vehicles. Victorian Box has intrusive roots. The Purple Leaf Plum is often disease -prone and has a short life span. Parks Supervisor Burow stated that the Blue Jacaranda has beautiful purple flowers and can withstand drought. Desert Willow has beautiful pink flowers and does not get too big, which is perfect for the 4' planter strip space. The Sweet Bay is bright green all year round, Sonoran Palo Verde has an interesting look with yellow flowers, and Persian Ironwood has a beautiful yellow color in the fall. Parks Supervisor Burow stated that additional species to consider to the 4'- 6' street tree list are Snakebark Maple, Soapbark Tree, and Olive Tree. The species to remove from the list are Red Horsechestnut, Raywood Ash, and Magnolia `St Mary.' She stated that the Red Horsechestnut has many droppings and weak to medium branch attachment, Raywood Ash is susceptible to disease, and the Magnolia has several root intrusions and is a slow -growing tree with many not reaching maturity. She stated that the Snakebark Maple has an interesting trunk and bark texture, the Soapbark tree is generally a pretty tree, and the Olive tree has a pretty structure and beautiful silvery leaves. Parks Supervisor Burow stated that additional species to consider to the 6'+ street tree list are Sydney Red Gum, Madrone, Blue Oak, Silverleaf Oak, Valley Oak, California Pepper tree, and Soapbark tree. The only species to remove is the Magnolia `Samuel Sommers' due to root intrusion and slow growth. She stated that the Soapbark tree is generally pretty, the Sydney Red Gum has an interesting bark, and the branch attachment is better than the average Eucalyptus tree, the Silverleaf Oak has beautiful foliage, Madrone is a California native, California Pepper has a willow look and does great in droughts, Valley Oak can grow to large heights with great branch attachments and are considered safe trees as well as the Blue Oak. Parks Supervisor Burow stated that additional species to consider for the utility street tree list are the Blue Jacaranda, Saratoga Sweet Bay, Sonoran Palo Verde, Persian Ironwood, and Plumeria. The species to remove from the list are the Red Maple, Mayten, Victorian Box, London Plane, and Purple Leaf Plum. She stated that she had seen weak branch attachments, failures, and root intrusion issues with the Red Maple. It was not removed from all the lists because it is a great tree with a beautiful fall look. The Mayten seldom reaches maturity, Victorian Box has root intrusion, London Plane should not be under utility lines, and Purple Leaf Plum is susceptible to disease. Parks Supervisor Burow stated that the Blue Jacaranda has purple flowers, the Plumeria has pink flowers and stays short, and the Sweet Bay, Sonoran Palo Verde, and Persian Ironwood she previously mentioned. Parks Supervisor Burow stated that additional species to consider for the Hillside Street tree list are Blue Jacaranda, Saratoga Sweet Bay, Sonoran Palo Verde, Persian Ironwood, and Plumeria. The species to remove from the list are Mayten, Victorian Box, London Plane, and Purple Leaf Plum. Commissioner Chu suggested removing the Crape Myrtle from the tree lists because of the pruning from non -city staff and not being pruned properly. Parks Superintendent Holtz stated that the Crape Myrtle is the tree that gets pruned the most. He stated that when the City is aware of the pruning, the homeowners are sent a letter to notify them that it is against City code to engage in pruning operations without prior authorization from the City. He stated the Crape Myrtle is one of the most popular trees that residents request. Commissioner Chu stated that Palo Alto has Tupelo trees and suggested adding them to the updated street tree lists. Commissioner Chu opened the floor to public comment. With no one wishing to speak from the public, Commissioner Chu closed public comment. Director Glomstad stated that the Commission could make a motion to approve the updates to the City Street Tree planting lists, and at the next meeting, the Commission could discuss adding the Tupelo to the lists. Commissioner Bauer motioned to approve updating the City street tree planting lists. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Khoury and was approved. 4-0-0 REPORTS Commissioner Khoury reported that the holiday lights would stay up and is currently working to take down the arrangements and flowerpots. She questioned when the restringing of the lights should take place. Parks Superintendent Holtz stated that staff would continue to monitor it until March, but restringing is necessary. Chair Batte reported that Commissioner Bauer and herself participated in judging the Downtown Burlingame holiday windows. She stated that the winners were Penflora, Caffe Central, and Gigglemugs. Parks Superintendent Holtz reported that two emergency private tree removal applications were approved since the last meeting. One removal was a Cypress tree at 3104 Hillside Drive with active failure. He stated that the neighbor called to notify City staff that he did not get a notice about the tree removal. Park Superintendent Holtz stated that the resident was removing the tree without a permit. After talking to City staff, the resident applied for the permit, which staff granted on an emergency basis. The second removal was at the Mercy property, 2300 Adeline Drive. He stated that Mercy staff had been doing a lot of diligence in evaluating all the trees on their property and found one tree with imminent failure near the student parking lot. The permit was granted on an emergency basis. Parks Superintendent Holtz reported that 95% of the 2.5 million dollar work that the Council approved to address the issues with the large Eucalyptus groves has been completed. Currently, there are conflicts with PG&E, and Parks Supervisor Burow is doing an excellent job navigating through that process. Parks Superintendent Holtz reported that one more grove will be addressed. He stated that on the east side of California Drive, the City will start maintaining the trees that belong to the San Francisco PUC. He stated that, unfortunately, since the trees have not received the proper maintenance from the PUC, many will need to be removed. Parks Superintendent Holtz stated that it is challenging with the bike lanes and traffic in that area, and he is working with Public Works Traffic engineers. The goal is to go out to Bid in the upcoming weeks. Parks Superintendent Holtz reported that January is a planting time for the City tree crew. Planting occurs three times a year in October, January, and April. The approved street tree list will be used for the April Street tree planting. He stated that Arbor Day is March 13 at Skyline Park. The annual landscape ballfield renovations were taking place, and the fields were closed in December and January. He stated that the staff did a great job installing the Robert Barry Words artwork. He stated that there was a large landslide in Mills Canyon last year, and it has been winterized to secure the site through this winter. This spring a permanent repair would be completed. Cuernavaca field renovation and the Washington Park Batting Cage projects are coming up. He said he hoped to return in two months to discuss the tree code updates. He is working with the City Attorney's office, and they need environmental reviews before they come back for discussion. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m. The next Beautification Commission meeting is scheduled for February 1, 2024. Respectfully submitted, America PlaZi America Diaz Administrative Staff