The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About05-23-2022 TC Agenda Packet Tree Committee AGENDA Monday, May 23, 2022, 5:30 p.m. SLO City/County Library Community Room, 995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo The City of San Luis Obispo has returned to in-person meetings. Zoom participation will not be supported. For those attending in-person, City facilities will be at limited capacity and masks are strongly recommended. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: Public Comment prior to the meeting (must be received 3 hours in advance of the meeting): Mail - Delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Address letters to the City Clerk's Office at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, 93401. Email - Submit Public Comments via email to advisorybodies@slocity.org. In the body of your email, please include the date of the meeting and the item number (if applicable). Emails will not be read aloud during the meeting. Voicemail - Call (805) 781-7164 and leave a voicemail. Please state and spell your name, the agenda item number you are calling about, and leave your comment. Verbal comments must be limited to 3 minutes. Voicemails will not be played during the meeting. *All correspondence will be archived and distributed to members, however, submissions received after the deadline will not be processed until the following day. Public Comment during the meeting: Meetings have returned to an in-person format. To provide public comment during the meeting, you must be present in the Council Hearing Room. Electronic Visual Aid Presentation. To conform with the City's Network Access and Use Policy, Chapter 1.3.8 of the Council Policies & Procedures Manual, members of the public who desire to utilize electronic visual aids to supplement their oral presentation are encouraged to provide display-ready material to the City Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Contact the City Clerk's Office at cityclerk@slocity.org or (805) 781-7100. Pages 1.CALL TO ORDER Chair Canella will call the Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee to order. 2.PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA The public is encouraged to submit comments on any subject within the jurisdiction of the Tree Committee that does not appear on this agenda. Although the Committee will not take action on items presented during the Public Comment Period, the Chair may direct staff to place an item on a future agenda for discussion. 3.CONSENT Matters appearing on the Consent Calendar are expected to be non- controversial and will be acted upon at one time. A member of the public may request the Tree Committee to pull an item for discussion. The public may comment on any and all items on the Consent Agenda within the three-minute time limit. Recommendation: To approve Consent Item 3a. 3.a.CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - APRIL 25, 2022 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES 5 Consideration of the Tree Committee Minutes of April 25, 2022. 4.TREE REMOVAL APPEALS Any person aggrieved by an act or determination of the authorized approving authority exercising the authority herein granted shall have the right to appeal the decision of the authorized approving authority as set forth in Section 12.24.180 of the City of San Luis Obispo Municipal Code. Appeals received by the City Clerk within ten calendar days from the date of determination or act shall cause the director to withhold tree removal permits and any permits for construction or demolition actively relying on the subject tree removal until the appeal is heard and a decision is reached. 4.a.439 BRANCH STREET 9 Continued review of an appeal of the City Arborist's decision to deny removal of one (1) Ash tree (Fraxinus). 5.COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 5.a.ARBORIST REPORT Receive a brief update from Acting City Arborist Anthony Whipple. 6.ADJOURNMENT The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee meeting is scheduled for June 27, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. LISTENING ASSISTIVE DEVICES are available -- see the Clerk The City of San Luis Obispo wishes to make all of its public meetings accessible to the public. Upon request, this agenda will be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with disabilities. Any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting should direct such request to the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 781-7100 at least 48 hours before the meeting, if possible. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (805) 781-7410. Agenda related writings or documents provided to the Tree Committee are available for public inspection on the City’s website: https://www.slocity.org/government/mayor-and-city-council/agendas-and- minutes. Meeting video recordings can be found on the City’s website: http://opengov.slocity.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=61087&dbid=0&repo=CityCl erk Page 4 of 29 1 Tree Committee Minutes April 25, 2022, 5:30 p.m. Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo Tree Committee Members Present: Committee Member Alan Bate, Member Henry Bonifas, Member Emily Rosten, Member Sadie Weller, Vice Chair Elizabeth Lucas, Chair Daniel Canella City Staff Present: Acting City Arborist Anthony Whipple, Deputy Director of Maintenance Greg Cruce, Deputy City Clerk Megan Wilbanks _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order on April 25, 2022 at 5:35 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Bate 2. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR Motion By Member Rosten Second By Member Weller To elect Daniel Canella to serve as Chair for a one-year term. Ayes (6): Member Bate, Member Bonifas, Member Rosten, Member Weller, Vice Chair Lucas, and Chair Canella CARRIED (6 to 0) Motion By Member Rosten Second By Chair Canella To elect Elizabeth Lucas to serve as Vice Chair for a one -year term. Ayes (6): Member Bate, Member Bonifas, Member Rosten, Member Weller, Vice Chair Lucas, and Chair Canella CARRIED (6 to 0) At this time, newly elected Chair Daniel Canella took over the meeting. Page 5 of 29 2 3. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- 4. CONSENT Motion By Vice Chair Lucas Second By Member Bate To approve Consent Item 4a. Ayes (5): Member Bate, Member Rosten, Member Weller, Vice Chair Lucas, and Chair Canella Abstained (1): Member Bonifas CARRIED (5 to 0) 4.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - MARCH 28, 2022 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES Approve the Tree Committee Minutes of March 28, 2022. 5. TREE REMOVAL APPEALS 5.a 3701 S. HIGUERA STREET Member Bate declared a conflict on this item and recused due to employment with PG&E. The Applicant's representative, Michelle Borrero, provided a brief overview of the appeal and responded to questions raised. Chair Canella opened the Public Hearing Public Comments: None --End of Public Comment-- Chair Canella closed the Public Hearing Page 6 of 29 3 Motion By Member Rosten Second By Vice Chair Lucas The Tree Committee denied the appeal and upheld the City Arborist’s decision to deny removal of the tree. The applicant is encouraged to install a leaf guard on the gutter to mitigate debris buildup. Ayes (5): Member Bonifas, Member Rosten, Member Weller, Vice Chair Lucas, and Chair Canella Recused (1): Member Bate CARRIED (5 to 0) 5.b 439 BRANCH STREET Member Bate declared a conflict on this item and recused due to employment with PG&E. The Applicant's representative, Jeremy Lowney, and the Applicant, Bart and Stephanie Schwan, provided a brief overview of the appeal and responded to questions raised. Chair Canella opened the Public Hearing Public Comments: None --End of Public Comment-- Chair Canella closed the Public Hearing Motion By Vice Chair Lucas Second By Member Weller The Tree Committee continued the item to a date certain, the May 23, 2022 Tree Committee Meeting, and requests the Applicant provide written documentation from Betty Aten, the owner of 430 South Street where the tree is located, showing their consent to remove the tree. The Applicants are also encouraged to provide documentation of the limb failure that occurred after the tree was last pruned and, potentially, prune the tree again. Ayes (5): Member Bonifas, Member Rosten, Member Weller, Vice Chair Lucas, and Chair Canella Recused (1): Member Bate CARRIED (5 to 0) Page 7 of 29 4 6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 6.a ARBORIST REPORT Acting City Arborist Anthony Whipple provided an update of upcoming projects and activities in the Tree Division. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for May 23, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. _________________________ APPROVED BY TREE COMMITTEE: XX/XX/2022 Page 8 of 29 DATE: May 11, 2022 TO: Tree Committee Members FROM: Anthony Whipple, Acting City Arborist/Urban Forest Supervisor (805) 781-7021 awhipple@slocity.org SUBJECT: Removal Application SR# 12496 On April 11, 2022, I posted one Ash tree at 439 Branch Street in response to Tree Removal Application SR#12496. The removal of the mentioned application was submitted based on: San Luis Municipal Code 12.24. 090.E.3 Tree removal requests based on property owner convenience shall be subject to tree committee review in accordance with the process set forth in subsection (F)(2) of this section, the relevant additional application requirements set forth in subsection (D)(2) of this section, and the criteria set forth in subsection G of this section. This item was heard by the Tree Committee on April 25, 2022, and the Committee made the decision to continue the item to a date certain, the May 23, 2022 Tree Committee meeting, to give the applicant additional time to expose and document root intrusion near the foundation, and to receive written notice of consent from the property owner where tree is located. Attachments: ☒ Tree Removal Inspection Report ☒ Proof of posting ☒ Tree Removal Application and supporting documents ☒ Letter to Tree Committee from Applicant Meeting Date: 5/23/2022 Item Number: 4a Time Estimate: 30 minutes Page 9 of 29 Page 10 of 29 Tree Removal Inspection Report TO: Jeremy Lowney FROM: Anthony Whipple, Acting City Arborist/Urban Forest Supervisor SUBJECT: Removal Application SR#12496 On Date: April 9th, 2022, I Posted a Public Notice for a Tree Committee hearing for a tree(s) located at address 439 Branch Street. The signage was placed on south street in response to tree removal application SR#12496. The removal of the mentioned application was submitted based on: San Luis Obispo Municipal Code 12.24.090 (E) 3 E. Criteria and Process for Non-Construction Related Tree Removal Application Determinations Related to Tree Health or Hazard Mitigation or Property Owner Convenience (Refer to Subsection G of This Section for Criteria for Construction Tree Removal Determinations). E. 3. Tree removal requests based on property owner convenience shall be subject to tree committee review in accordance with the process set forth in subsection (F)(2) of this section, the relevant additional application requirements set forth in subsection (D)(2) of this section, and the criteria set forth in subsection G of this section. F. 2. For all tree removal requests related to ministerial development permits, other than as specified in subsection (F)(1) of this section, the tree committee shall review and make a recommendation on the tree removal application to the community development director based on the criteria in subsections G and J of this section. The director shall consider the recommendation of the tree committee, as well as the consistency of the tree removal application with other city development policies and standards applicable to the site, and shall either approve, conditionally approve, or deny the tree removal request, subject to appeal as set forth in Section 12.24.180. The Subject tree Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), The tree committee shall review and make a recommendation on the tree removal application to the Community Development Director. authorized by the City of San Luis Obispo Municipal Code, Title 12, Tree Regulations Thank you, Anthony Whipple, Acting City Arborist/Urban Forest Supervisor (805) 781-7021 awhipple@slocity.org Public Works - Urban Forestry 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218 805.781.7220 slocity.org Page 11 of 29 Page 12 of 29 Page 13 of 29 Page 14 of 29 Page 28 of 34Page 15 of 29 Page 16 of 29 Page 17 of 29 Page 18 of 29 Page 19 of 29 Page 20 of 29 Page 21 of 29 Page 22 of 29 Page 23 of 29 Page 24 of 29 Page 25 of 29 Page 26 of 29 Page 27 of 29 Page 28 of 29 Page 29 of 29