Bob Disco is a man with many hats: He's the city's parks supervisor, tree supervisor and arborist. The 18-year city employee answers some questions about his passion: trees.
Question: What do you love about working with trees?
Answer: Knowing that a tree that I plant today will be around for generations, and every decision I make will effect the overall look of this city for many years.
Q: How have you seen the city's urban forest evolve over the years?
A: The city of Burlingame is known for its urban forest. It has been awarded Tree City USA (an Arbor Day Foundation recognition) for 32 consecutive years. Only four other cities have more consecutive years than Burlingame in the entire state. Over the years, the awareness to the urban forest has evolved tremendously. The importance of trees to the environment, property values, aesthetic benefits and social benefits has been greatly emphasized over the recent years. The residents and leaders of Burlingame realize the importance of urban forest and strive to maintain the canopy to maximize all of these benefits.
Q: What's your favorite tree in the city and why?
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A: I have many [including] several mature oaks that are growing in remote areas in Burlingame, but my favorite is probably a redwood planted on Bernal Avenue by my great uncle sometime in the 1920's.
Q: How many trees does Burlingame have?
A: The city was just awarded grant money to complete an inventory of all city owned trees, but there are roughly 18,000 public trees in Burlingame.
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Q: What is the city's oldest tree and where is it located?
A: I don't know of the oldest tree planted in Burlingame, but the most significant trees would be the Eucalyptus globulus on El Camino and Easton Drive. These trees were planted by San Francisco landscaper John McLaren around 1876 to 1886. Their large stature is the symbol of Burlingame and appears on the city seal.
Q: What is a benefit of trees that most people don't realize?
A: I think most people realize their beauty, the environmental benefits and the value they have on property, but the social benefits of how they reduce stress and mental fatigue are often forgotten. The green space they provide gives people recreational areas that are directly linked to health and well-being.
Q: What's involved in assessing a tree's health?
A: When I assess a tree's health, I first look at the tree as a whole. I note any structural defect, any significant lean. I visually look at the canopy. Is there any dieback in the crown? I'll inspect the trunk, the root crown and the root zone. I look for any potential problem or defects that can be a potential hazard; I'll look for any decay or visible diseases. All of these visually happen at the same time and I come up with a conclusion. If further testing is necessary, I will perform some tests myself and call for an independent arborist to back up my findings and offer other suggestions.
Q: How do you handle tree removal requests?
A: Every tree removal request is handled individually. For most, I look at health and structure of the tree. If the tree is dead or diseased or is structurally unsound, then removal is granted. There are many other considerations to look at, too. Does the tree have a history of failure? Will the area around the tree contribute to failure? Is there a target [person or object] that could be injured by failure? Are there unknown risks that could be evaluated, and are those risks avoidable or correctable? What is the impact to the urban forest on neighboring properties? Is this a significant tree that can be maintained in a way to avoid risk and keep it safe?
Q: How many more trees do you expect the city will plant this year?
A: The city of Burlingame recently received a grant from CalFire, which enabled us to plant roughly 370 trees in vacant planting sites. We still have some money left in the grant. The city tree crew will be planting about 80 to 100 trees this year. We will also be planting roughly 100 trees that are mostly replacement trees [for those] removed for various reasons throughout the city.
Q: What is the biggest threat to the city's urban forest?
A: Burlingame has many large canopy trees that are old and in decline. Eventually these trees will die and have to be removed, which will affect the canopy of our urban forest. The city council and the park division are dedicated to planting large canopy trees that will eventually grow and replace old, declining trees. The city as a whole is contributing to this, and public works now recommends larger planting strips to be constructed in sidewalks when sidewalk replacement occurs.
Q: What is something residents can do to help maintain the city's urban forest?
A: The biggest contribution residents can make to help maintain the city's urban forest is to water new trees that are planted in front of their homes. Too often, homeowners neglect to water newly planted trees, and it costs the city to purchase, remove and replace a tree that could easily survive if regularly watered. The city tree crew does routinely water trees, but it is difficult to hit each tree on a regular basis. Five gallons of water each week during the spring and summer months for the first two years greatly increase the tree's chance for survival. Residents can also help by advocating and supporting funding and revenue resources to continue the ongoing maintenance and replanting of this valuable resource.
