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Home My WebLink About04-26-2021 TC MinutesMinutes – Tree Committee Meeting of April 26, 2021 Page 1 Minutes TREE COMMITTEE Monday, April 26, 2021 Special Meeting of the Tree Committee CALL TO ORDER A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order on Monday, April 26, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. via teleconference by Chair Alan Bate. ROLL CALL Present: Committee Members Daniel Canella, Elizabeth Lucas, Jake Minnick, Allen Root, Emily Rosten, Rodney Thurman, and Chair Alan Bate Absent: None Staff: Anthony Whipple, Urban Forester and Megan Wilbanks, Deputy City Clerk APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1.Consideration of the Tree Committee Meeting Minutes of March 22, 2021. ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER ROOT, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAS, CARRIED 7-0-0 (with Member Rosten and Thurman abstaining), the Tree Committee approved the Minutes of March 22, 2021. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS None --End of Public Comment-- TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS 2.404 Lawrence Dr. Urban Forester Whipple provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries. Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment— Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of April 26, 2021 Page 2 The applicant’s representative, Ron Rinell with Bunyon Bros, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project. ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROOT, CARRIED 6-1-0 (with Chair Bate dissenting and Member Rosten abstaining), to approve the Tree Removal Application and require the applicant to replant at a 1:1 ratio with a 24-inch box, and the replacement tree must be a larger varietal than a Strawberry tree. 3.1531 Froom Ranch Rd. Urban Forester Whipple provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries. Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment— The applicant’s representative, Robert Hill with Arbor First, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project. ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER ROOT, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAS, CARRIED 6-1-0 (Chair Bate dissenting and Members Canella and Rosten abstaining), to approve the Tree Removal Application and require the applicant to replant at a 1:1 ratio with 24-inch box trees from the City’s Master Tree List. 4.430 South St. Member Thurman recused from this item, as his business consulted with the applicants for this removal application. Member Thurman turned his camera and microphone off at 6:20 p.m. Chair Bate recused from the item because his employer performed the pre-inspection vegetation management near this tree for PG&E. Chair Bate turned his camera and microphone off at 6:20 p.m. Urban Forester Whipple provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries. Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment— The applicant, Betty Aten, and her representative, Robert Hill with Arbor First, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of April 26, 2021 Page 3 ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER ROOT, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER MINNICK, CARRIED 5-0-2 (Chair Bate and Member Thurman recused, Member Rosten abstaining), to deny the Tree Removal Application based on insufficient findings to support removal. Chair Bate and Member Thurman rejoined to the meeting at 6:28 p.m. 5.4322 Wavertree St. Urban Forester Whipple provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries. Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment— The applicant’s representative, Ron Rinell with Bunyon Bros, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project. ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAS, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER CANELLA, CARRIED 6-1-0 (with Member Root dissenting and Member Rosten abstaining), to deny the Tree Removal Application based on insufficient findings to support removal. 6.825-835 El Capitan Way The applicant requested to postpone Tree Committee’s review of 825 El Capitan Way to a date uncertain to allow more time to review and understand the conditions of approval required for the project, as outlined by the Planning Department. ACTION: By consensus, the Tree Committee continued review of this item to a date uncertain. 7.355 N. Chorro St. Urban Forester Whipple provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries. Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment— The applicant’s representative, Robert Hill, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project. ACTION: By consensus, the Tree Committee continued review of this item to a date certain, the May 24, 2021 Tree Committee Meeting, and requests that the applicant provide minutes from the HOA approving the removal. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of April 26, 2021 Page 4 8.1358 Peach St. Urban Forester Whipple provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries. Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment— The applicant, George Griffin, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project. ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAS, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER CANELLA, CARRIED 7-0-0 (with Member Rosten abstaining), to approve the Tree Removal Application and require the applicant to replant at a 1:1 ratio with 15-gallon trees from the City’s Master Tree List. 9.1240 Joyce Ct. Urban Forester Whipple provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries. Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment— The applicant, Luke Llamas, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project. ACTION: UPON MOTION OF CHAIR BATE, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROOT, CARRIED 7-0-0 (with Member Rosten abstaining), to approve the Tree Removal Application and require the applicant to replant at a 1:1 ratio with 15-gallon trees from the City’s Master Tree List, not fruit trees, somewhere on the site. The Committee recommended planting Chinese Pistach or Elm trees. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 10.New Business: Elect members of the Tree Committee to serve as Chair and Vice Chair for a one-year term. ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER ROOT, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, CARRIED 7-0-0 (with Chair Bate abstaining), to elect Alan Bate to the office of Chair for a one-year term. ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY CHAIR BATE, CARRIED 7-0-0 (with Member Minnick abstaining), to elect Jake Minnick to the office of Vice Chair for a one-year term. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of April 26, 2021 Page 5 11.Arborists Report: A.Update on staffing levels: A new Administrative Assistant for Public Works will start on April 15, 2021. B.Update on code violations: Two code violations reported, one Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta) and one California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa). ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m. The next Special Meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for Monday, May 24, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. via teleconference. APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE: 06/28/2021