HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-27-2020 TC Minutes
Minutes
TREE COMMITTEE
Monday, January 27, 2020
Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order on Monday,
January 27, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. in Conference Room A, located at 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo,
California, by Chair Loosley.
ROLL CALL
Present: Committee Members Alan Bate, Sean O’Brien, Rodney Thurman, Allen Root,
Vice Chair Jane Worthy and Chair Scott Loosley
Absent: Committee Member Elizabeth Lucas
Staff: Ron Combs, City Arborist and Megan Wilbanks, Deputy City Clerk
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Consideration of the Special Tree Committee Meeting Minutes of December 5, 2019
ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY
VICE CHAIR WORTHY CARRIED 5-1-1 (Committee Member O’Brien dissenting, and
Committee Member Lucas absent), the Tree Committee approved the Special Tree Committee
Meeting Minutes of December 5, 2019 with the following correction:
In the Roll Call section, Commissioner Sean O’Brien should be listed as absent.
2. Consideration of the Regular Rescheduled Tree Committee Meeting Minutes of
December 10, 2019
ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER ROOT, SECONDED BY VICE
CHAIR WORTHY, CARRIED 6-0-1 (Committee Member Lucas absent), the Tree Committee
approved the Regular Rescheduled Tree Committee Meeting Minutes of December 10, 2019
with the following correction:
Under Item #7 (2250 King St. #90), the correct spelling of the removed tree is “Melaleuca.”
Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of January 27, 2020 Page 2
PUBLIC COMMENT
Kirsten Liale
Will Powers
--End of Public Comment—
TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS
Committee Member Root recused himself from Item #3 due to a conflict of interest and left the
room at 5:16 p.m.
3. 1594 Cucaracha Ct.
City Arborist Combs provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries.
Steve Francis, applicant, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project.
Public Comment
John Sigler
Kirsten Liale
Will Powers
--End of Public Comment—
ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER O’BRIEN, SECONDED BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, CARRIED 5-0-1-1 (Committee Member Root recused, and
Committee Member Lucas absent), to deny the request to remove a Spruce tree due to lack of
evidence justifying removal.
Committee Member Root joined the meeting at 5:33 p.m.
4. 870 El Capitan Way
City Arborist Combs provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries.
Elaine Hill, applicant, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project.
Public Comment
Will Powers
--End of Public Comment—
ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, CARRIED 4-2-1 (Committee Members Worthy and
Bate dissenting, and Committee Member Lucas absent), to approve the application for removal
of a Sycamore tree, based good arboricultural practices, with the stipulation that the applicant
replace the tree with one 15-gallon tree from the City’s approved list.
Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of January 27, 2020 Page 3
5. 3954 Hollyhock Way
City Arborist Combs provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries.
John Duvall, applicant, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project.
Public Comment
Will Powers
--End of Public Comment—
ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER ROOT, SECONDED BY VICE
CHAIR WORTHY, CARRIED 4-2-1 (Committee Members Bate and Thurman dissenting, and
Committee Member Lucas absent), to approve the application for removal of a Monterey Pine
tree, based on the reasoning that it will not harm the character or environment of the
surrounding neighborhood. Approval is contingent upon receiving a letter of approval from the
applicant’s HOA and the tree must be replaced with one 15-gallon tree from the City’s
approved list.
BUSINESS ITEMS
6. New Business – None
7. Old Business – None
COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
City Arborist Combs and Mary Ciesinski, Executive Director of Environmental Center of San Luis
Obispo (ECOSLO), provided an update on the progress of urban tree planning, made possible
through the efforts of volunteers and grant funding awarded to ECOSLO.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:29 p.m. The next Regular Tree Committee Meeting is scheduled
for Monday, February 24, 2020 at 5:00 p.m., in Conference Room A, located at 25 Prado Road,
San Luis Obispo, California.
APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE: 04/27/2020