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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-27-2009 TC Minutes1 TREE COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2009 Corporation Yard Conference Room 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo MEMBERS PRESENT:Ellen Dollar, Allen Root, Matt Ritter, and David Savory STAFF PRESENT:Keith Pellemeier and Ron Combs ANNOUNCEMENTS City Clerk Audrey Hooper swore in new Tree Committee members Matt Ritter and David Savory. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no public comments. MINUTES: Approval of Minutes of March 23, 2009 Ms. Dollar moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Mr. Root seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS 1.591 ISLAY (Calif. Sycamore) Carlos Diaz applicant’s representative discussed the removal request item that had been continued for lack of a quorum. He reiterated that the applicant had planted the tree, which has now grown too large for the area, adding that the tree had brittle, hazardous branches, and the tree litter created allergens for the applicant. He noted the property was heavily planted. Mr. Combs reported it was a healthy, small to medium-sized native tree that would grow quite large. Mr. Ritter agreed the healthy tree would grow too large for the area and since the applicant had been the one to plant the tree, she should be allowed to remove it. Mr. Savory felt the tree was a healthy native skyline tree, but agreed it would grow too large for the site. Ms. Dollar felt it was a skyline tree that was not causing damage and therefore stated she could not make the necessary findings for removal. Mr. Root agreed that the skyline tree would eventually grow too large for the site, but removing the tree at this time solely due to its size – before any damage or hardship had occurred – was not within the removal guidelines. Ms. Dollar moved to deny the removal request, as she could not make the findings necessary for removal. Mr. Root seconded the motion. 2 The motion was locked: Ms. Dollar and Mr. Root voting in favor; Mr. Ritter and Mr. Savory voting against. As there was not a majority vote available, the item was cont inued to the next regular meeting agenda. 2.190 CHORRO (Ash) There was no applicant or representative present to speak to the item. Mr. Pellemeier will call the applicant and confirm this item for the next meeting. 3.733 MARSH (Carrotwood) Mr. Pellemeier spoke to the next item on behalf of the City of San Luis Obispo, discussing the Downtown Tree Management plan that is in place. Last year this tree was scheduled to remain and the sidewalk repaired. This year the City Arborist recommended this tree be removed because the continuous years of topping for clearance of utility lines had caused decay within the tree’s structure. The city has funds to proceed with the removal of this tree and two others Downtown and to repair the sidewalk, install new tree wells and replant with new trees. Ms. Dollar moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice. Mr. Savory seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Pellemeier spoke to the next several items on behalf o f the City of San Luis Obispo, 34 trees are proposed to be removed due to sidewalk, curb and gutter damage. This is for the Pavement Management Area #4. He stated that all replacement plantings will be done by the city and species choices would be coordinated with the homeowners involved. Since there were so many tree removals to be considered they would be presented in 3 meetings. 4.1013 PEACH (Two Carob trees) David Wilding, homeowner, stated the trees seemed healthy and were still having new growth. The trees provide a bird habitat and privacy/screening and he did not feel the sidewalk damage was significant enough to warrant removal and that any replacement plantings would be too small in size to compensate for the loss. Mr. Combs reported that the trees were outgrowing the parkway area and had minor decay, but agreed to re-examine the removal issue to see whether pavement modifications were feasible and the trees could be retained. Ms. Dollar agreed the trees were healthy and sidewalk damage was minor; she felt the owner’s desire to retain the trees should be accommodated, if possible. Ms. Dollar moved to deny the removal request, as she could not make the necessary findings for approval. Mr. Ritter seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously. 3 5.385 HIGUERA (Mayten) Mr. Combs discussed the grade/”sinking” problem that needed to be mitigated and stated the necessary compaction would most likely suffocate the tree’s roots. Mr. Ritter suggested attempting to mitigate the grading issue with the tree still in place and see whether it might survive. Mr. Root agreed, suggesting that if it became evident the tree was not surviving the mitigation, remove it at that time. Mr. Combs agreed to re-examine the removal request. Mr. Ritter moved to deny the removal request, as he could not make the necessary findings for approval. Ms. Dollar seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously. 6.440 PACIFIC (Four Ficus) Mr. Root moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required four replacement trees be planted. Mr. Savory seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously. 7.712 UPHAM (Sycamore) Ms. Dollar moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required one replacement tree be planted. Mr. Savory seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously. 8.1728 BROAD (Liquid amber) Mr. Ritter moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required one replacement tree be planted. Ms. Dollar seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously. 9.1422 GARDEN (Bottlebrush) Mr. Ritter did not think the tree would grow larger, based on the species, and therefore did not feel it would prove to be a problem with the power lines. Ms. Dollar felt the damage was minor and that the tree was a skyline specimen. Mr. Combs agreed to re-examine the removal request. Mr. Ritter moved to deny the removal request, as he could not make the necessary findings for approval. Ms. Dollar seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously. 4 10.1714 GARDEN (Fern pine) 11.1721 GARDEN (Black acacia) Mr. Combs reported there was significant curb/gutter/sidewalk damage and the trees had been topped due to overhead utility wires. Tim Barnes, 1620 Garden, felt both of the trees’ removal would have a significant negative impact on the area and suggested a bulb-out treatment to retain the tree at 1721 Garden. Jamie Walker, 1736 Garden, strongly urged that both trees be saved because they were such assets to the neighborhood and requested that all mitigative measure be taken to retain the trees. Richard Beller, 228 Los Cerros, agreed both trees should be retained and that they improved the streetscape and are major enhancements to the area. He felt the bulb-out could be used for the acacia and that reducing the width of that particular section of sidewalk could save the pine. Ms. Dollar agreed with the retention comments, but was concerned about the acacia’s roots lifting the street. Mr. Ritter agreed with the bulb-out options and felt the acacia would survive the root pruning. Mr. Savory agreed with Committee comments and felt every effort should be made to retain the trees to accommodate the neighborhood requests to do so. Mr. Combs agreed to re-examine the removal requests. He noted that the acacia tree might be significantly impacted by the necessary pavement work required around it. Mr. Savory moved to deny the removal request, as he could not make the necessary findings for approval. Ms. Dollar seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 12.1968 CHORRO (Two Liquid ambers) Ms. Dollar felt only one tree seemed to be causing damage. Mr. Ritter moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, and required two replacement trees be planted. Mr. Savory seconded the motion.The motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS 5 - COMMITTEE CHAIR/VICE CHAIR ELECTIONS Ms. Dollar nominated MR. Ritter as chairman. Mr. Root seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Ritter nominated Ms. Dollar as Vice-Chair. Mr. Root seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Pellemeier distributed Council notes regarding the Arbor Day ceremony and gave a recap of the event. ON-GOING BUSINESS Ms. Dollar noted she would not be attending the June, 2009 meeting. ARBORIST REPORT Mr. Combs reported that he had approved 14 trees for removal within the past month. LIAISON REPORT Mr. Pellemeier discussed the Cypress tree leaning at Cypress Plaza during the recent windstorm, reporting that crews thinned it to reduce sail and to mitigate it falling. He noted that the city lost 10 trees due to the winds. He reported that the appeal of the two pines at 1745 & 1750 De Anza Court got continued because there was no majority vote. He reported that 20 trees were planted at Hawthorne School. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. to next regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. in the Corporation Yard Conference Room, 25 Prado Road. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary