Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - BC- 2024.03.07BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION Approved Minutes March 7, 2024 The regularly scheduled meeting of the Beautification Commission was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Batte. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Batte, Commissioners Bauer, Chu, Kirchner, and Khoury Absent: None Staff. Parks and Recreation Director Glomstad, Parks Superintendent/City Arborist Holtz, Parks Supervisor Burow, and Recording Secretary Flores Others: None MINUTES Commissioner Bauer made a motion to approve the February 1, 2024, Regular Meeting with the correction of Chair Batte opening the meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Chu and was approved. 5-0-0 CORRESPONDENCE None. PUBLIC COMMENT None. OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS 1. Updating of the City Street Tree Planting Lists Parks Supervisor Burow recommended that the Tupelo tree not be included on the City's street tree plantings lists. She explained that although the Tupelo tree is visually pleasing, and a few are planted in Washington Park, her research showed that it can cause significant root damage, as seen in other cities. Commissioner Chu thanked Supervisor Burow for her research on the subject. 2. Addition of a Landscape Award Category for Multifamily Housing Balconies or Apartment Complexes Commissioner Kirchner stated that the discussion focused on one award for either standalone balconies or apartment complex landscaping in its entirety. He explained that the award would be dependent on nominations, solicited through the internet, dropping off nomination forms at complexes, and Commission nominations. Due to challenges in contacting individual residents, Commissioner Kirchner explained that balcony nominations would work best if they were self -nominated versus entire complexes that the Commissioners can nominate. Chair Batte inquired about the restrictions associated with self -nominations. Commissioners Kirchner and Khoury stated that nominees would have to be visible from street view to ensure that the community enjoys them at large. Chair Batte said that she preferred an award for an entire complex versus individual units and balconies. Commissioner Chu stated that it is not feasible for members of the Commission to identify individual balconies, which would require those nominations to be submitted by the residents. Based on historical experience, he does not believe we would receive many nominations unless there were a significant outreach effort. Commissioner Khoury stated that she thought the incentive from the Council was to encourage renters to beautify their balconies. Chair Batte explained that tenants may be incentivized to do so if their entire complex was nominated. Commissioner Bauer stated that she also agreed that balconies would have to be self -nominated. Director Glomstad noted that the Commission should consider whether one balcony led to a complex being awarded over a complex with better or more consistent landscaping in its entirety is appropriate. Further, she suggested incorporating multifamily complexes into the residential award or creating a third award and modifying it in future years. Director Glomstad asked the Commission to consider what the addition of a new award may be or look like and how the winner would be acknowledged, aside from the City Council Meeting. Commissioner Kirchner stated that there was thought of this previously, and the idea of a posting in the E-news for the winner was an option for balconies. He stated his inclination for an award for apartment complexes and exploring the option of balconies at a later date. Commissioner Bauer suggested that the Commission vote on including a third award for multifamily complexes and further discuss the kind of award and acknowledgment at a future meeting. Commissioner Bauer made a motion to add a third category for the annual landscape awards to include multifamily units. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Khoury and was approved. 5-0-0 3. Business Landscape Award and Residential Sustainable Landscape Award Chair Rotation Director Glomstad presented the staff report for the BLA and RSLA committee chair rotation and discussed the proposed schedule. She asked Commissioners to propose a submittal date for all nominations and photographs at the April commission meeting, preferably before the end of June. Commissioner Kirchner clarified that the number of nominees each Commissioner would solicit was two and confirmed with Secretary Flores that the nomination form would be edited to include two nominee entries per each award and re -distributed to the Commissioner. REPORTS City Arborist Holtz reported that his research into the Citibank development, per Commissioner Bauer's inquiry from the last Commission meeting, showed that the extent of the tenant improvement did not trigger Parks review or qualify for sidewalk replacement and enhancement requirements. He explained that as part of the modification and update to the City's tree code, he is working with the City Attorney's office to ensure Community Development is part of the process. Furthermore, he reported that the April planting is larger than typical, and staff always looks for opportunities to plant more city trees. He informed the Commission that daylighting existing pavement to create tree planting sites is a project that may be revisited in the fall of this year. He informed the Commission of the significant tree work being bid out along California Drive north of Oak Grove Ave; the work is expected to commence in early April. He stated that the urban forest was holding up better than last winter. There was one tree failure across the railroad tracks. He thanked the Commission and Council for supporting staff and the preventative maintenance program. City Arborist Holtz spoke of the field conditions due to the rain and staff working diligently to keep fields open for sports users. Lastly, he reminded the Commission of our Arbor Day celebration on March 13, 2024, at Skyline Park and invited all to join if available. Commissioner Khoury reported that the Downtown Burlingame Improvement District had partnered with a Google graphic designer who has volunteered to assist with branding concepts. Commissioner Kirchner reported that the Washington Park chapter of the Trees of Burlingame book was completed and would be distributed before the next Commission meeting. Further, he discussed the map he handed out to the staff of the groves and stands of the trees in Burlingame that require further revisions and will also be available to the Commission for review at the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m. The next Beautification Commission meeting is scheduled for April 4, 2024. Respectfully submitted, Vervvlic'n Flores Veronica Flores Recording Secretary