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Home My WebLink About07-25-2022 TC Agenda Packet Tree Committee AGENDA Monday, July 25, 2022, 5:30 p.m. Council Hearing Room, 990 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 - JUNE 27, 2022 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES 5 Consideration of the Tree Committee Minutes of June 27, 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.685 HIGUERA STREET TREE REMOVAL APPEAL 9 Review of an appeal of the City Arborist's decision to allow removal of one (1) Ficus (Ficus microcarpa) tree. 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 August 22, 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 25 1 Tree Committee Minutes June 27, 2022, 5:30 p.m. Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo Tree Committee Members Present: Member Alan Bate, Member Henry Bonifas, Member Emily Rosten, Member Sadie Weller, Vice Chair Elizabeth Lucas Tree Committee Members Absent: 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 June 27, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Vice Chair Lucas. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- 3. CONSENT Motion By Member Weller Second By Member Rosten To approve Consent Item 3a. 3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - APRIL 25, 2022 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES Approve the Tree Committee Minutes of April 25, 2022. *Vice Chair Lucas reordered the agenda to hear Item 5a, 1170 Islay Street Tree Removal Application, before New Business. Page 5 of 25 2 5. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION 5.a 1170 ISLAY STREET TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION The Applicant, David Ketchum, provided a brief overview of the application and responded to questions raised. Vice Chair Lucas opened the Public Hearing Public Comments: None --End of Public Comment-- Vice Chair Lucas closed the Public Hearing Motion By Member Rosten Second By Member Bate The Tree Committee recommends the Community Development Director approve Tree Removal Application SR#12656 and direct the applicant to replant at a 1:1 ratio with a 15-gallon tree from the City’s Master Tree List. Ayes (5): Member Bate, Member Bonifas, Member Rosten, Member Weller, and Vice Chair Lucas Absent (1): Chair Canella CARRIED (5 to 0) 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.a REVIEW PROPOSED STREET TREE LIST FOR THE 2022 CITY ENGINEERING STANDARDS UPDATE Interim City Arborist Anthony Whipple and Deputy Director of Maintenance Greg Cruce presented the Draft Master Street Tree List, prepared by Matt Ritter, PhD Professor of Biological Sciences, and responded to Commission inquiries. Vice Chair Lucas opened the Public Hearing Public Comments: None --End of Public Comment-- Vice Chair Lucas closed the Public Hearing Page 6 of 25 3 ACTION: Collectively, the Tree Committee reviewed and discussed the proposed Master Street Tree List and provided the following feedback to staff for the 2022 City Engineering Standards Update. This item will return to Tree Committee at a future date for further refinement.  Consider formatting the list into a table to provide a reader-friendly view that breaks down the specific situations when it's appropriate to plant a certain tree species. For instance, Mexican Fan Palms should not be planted under power lines due to their height, and Pepper, Toyon, California Buckeye, and Pineapple Guava trees are not ideal for planting along sidewalks due to their fruit and leaf litter but would be acceptable if planted in a backyard.  Consider removing the Dawn Redwood tree because they require heavy watering  Consider removing the Mulga tree due to its toxic wood, which causes painful festering splinters  Consider removing the Naked Coral tree due to its thorns  Consider removing the Hollyleaf Cherry tree due to its heavy fruit and leaf litter  Consider removing the Pineapple Guava tree due to its heavy fruit and leaf litter  Consider removing the Red-Cap Gum tree because its rare and slow- growing  Consider removing the Edible Fig tree due to its heavy fruit and leaf litter  Consider removing the Australian Tee tree because it doesn't handle pruning well  Consider removing the Pygmy Date Palm tree because its slow-growing  Consider removing the Coral trees due to its heavy leaf litter  Consider removing the Red Flowering Gum due to its trunk size being too large for the City's small tree wells  Consider removing the Chinese Pistache tree as some communities have designated them as an invasive species  Consider removing the Carrot W ood tree due to its ability to propagate quickly and heavy leaf litter  Staff to prepare a comparison of what is currently listed on the City's Master Street Tree List versus Dr. Ritter's proposed list Page 7 of 25 4 6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 6.a ARBORIST REPORT Acting City Arborist Anthony Whipple and Deputy Director of Maintenance Greg Cruce provided an update of upcoming projects and activities in the Tree Division. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:26 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for July 25, 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 25 TREE COMMITTEE AGENDA REPORT SUBJECT: 685 HIGUERA STREET TREE REMOVAL APPEAL FROM: Anthony Whipple, City Arborist Phone Number: (805) 781-7021 Email: awhipple@slocity.org RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends removal of the subject tree at a 1:1 ratio with a 36-inch box tree from the City’s Master Tree List. 1.0 SUMMARY The City of San Luis Obispo Public Works Department is requesting removal due to severe sidewalk displacements that are creating a hazard and a violation of the ADA code. 2.0 COMMITTEE PURVIEW The Tree Committee’s role is to be the final decision maker in this workflow type and shall Approve, Deny or Approve with conditions the tree removal, regarding consistency with the policies and standards set forth in San Luis Obispo Municipal Code (SLOMC) Section 12.24 (Tree Regulations). 4.0 TREE REGULATIONS The City’s Tree Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 12.24) was adopted in 2010 and recently updated in 2019 with the purpose of establishing a comprehensive program for installing, maintaining, and preserving trees within the City. This ordinance establishes policies, regulations, and specifications necessary to govern installation, maintenance, removal, and preservation of trees to beautify the city; to purify the air; to provide shade and wind protection; to add environmental and economic value; and to preserve trees with historic or unusual value. 5.0 ATTACHMENTS A - 685 Higuera Tree Inspection Report B - 685 Higuera Proof of Posting C - 685 Higuera Tree Removal Application D - 685 Higuera Tree Appeal Meeting Date: 7/25/2022 Item Number: 4a Time Estimate: 30 minutes Page 9 of 25 Page 10 of 25 Tree Removal Inspection TO: Nemo Stephenson FROM: Anthony Whipple, Acting City Arborist/Urban Forest Supervisor SUBJECT: Removal Application SR#12662 On June 10th, I inspected one trees at 685 Higuera Street. in response to tree removal application SR#12662. The removal of the mentioned application was submitted based on: San Luis Obispo Municipal Code 12.24.090 (E) 1 c. The tree’s roots are causing severe damage to public or private property, and removing the tree is the only feasible way to eliminate the damage. d. The tree is affected by structural defects and/or deficiencies that will limit lifespan. Upon inspection of the trees, I concur the trees are causing significant damage to the private and public infrastructure, and I APPROVE the removal application. Replanting one 36-inch box trees at a 1:1 ratio is a condition of this approval. Anthony Whipple, Acting City Arborist/Urban Forest Supervisor (805) 781-7023 awhipple@slocity.org Public Works - Urban Forestry 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218 805.781.7220 slocity.org Page 11 of 25 Page 12 of 25 Page 13 of 25 Page 14 of 25 Page 15 of 25 Page 16 of 25 Page 17 of 25 Page 18 of 25 Page 19 of 25 Page 20 of 25 Page 21 of 25 Page 22 of 25 Page 23 of 25 Page 24 of 25 Page 25 of 25