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Home My WebLink About03-25-2024 TC Agenda Packet Tree Committee AGENDA Monday, March 25, 2024, 5:30 p.m. Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo The Tree Committee holds in-person meetings. Zoom participation will not be supported at this time. 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 ma not be processed until the following day. Public Comment during the meeting: Meetings are held in-person. To provide public comment during the meeting, you must be present at the meeting location. 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) 781-7114. Pages 1.CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Ben Parker 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. 3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 12, 2024 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES 5 Recommendation: To approve the Tree Committee Special Meeting Minutes of February 12, 2024. 4.TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION 4.a 1065 HIGUERA STREET TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION 9 Recommendation: Review a Tree Removal Application to remove four (4) Mexican Palm (Washingtonia robusta) trees, located at 1065 Higuera Street, and provide a recommendation to the Community Development Director for final action. 5.COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 5.a ARBORIST REPORT Receive a brief update from Urban Forester Anthony Whipple. 6.ADJOURNMENT The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee meeting is scheduled for April 22, 2024 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) 781-7114 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 18 1 Tree Committee Minutes February 12, 2024, 5:30 p.m. Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo Tree Committee Members Present: Member Alan Bate, Member Daniel Canella, Member Brian Pineda, Vice Chair Ben Parker, Chair Elizabeth Lucas Tree Committee Members Absent: Member Henry Bonifas, Member Emily Rosten City Staff Present: Acting City Arborist Anthony Whipple, Deputy City Attorney Sadie Symens, Deputy City Clerk Megan Wilbanks _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order on February 12, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Lucas. Chair Lucas welcomed the Tree Committee’s new member, Brian Pineda. Member Pineda has served on the Architectural Review Commission since 2021 and recently volunteered to join the Tree Committee to fulfill the Bylaws requirement. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- 3. CONSENT 3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - JANUARY 22, 2024 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES Motion By Member Bate Second By Vice Chair Parker To approve the Tree Committee Minutes of January 22, 2024. Ayes (5): Member Bate, Member Canella, Member Pineda, Vice Chair Parker, and Chair Lucas Absent (2): Member Bonifas, and Member Rosten CARRIED (5 to 0) Page 5 of 18 2 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.a ISSUE WRITTEN DECISION ON 163 SERRANO HEIGHTS DRIVE ADMINISTRATIVE CITATION Deputy City Attorney Sadie Symens presented a written decision detailing the Tree Committee's January 22, 2024 decision to uphold an Administrative Citation issued to John Rourke for improper pruning of three (3) Coastal Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) trees located at 163 Serrano Heights Drive. Member Canella, who was absent for the January 22, 2024 meeting, attested that he reviewed the video recording of the January 22, 2024 meeting, the appeal documents, and the draft decision. Member Pineda, who was not yet a member of the Tree Committee at the time of the January 22, 2024 meeting, stated on the record that he did not review the entirety of the video recording and would not be voting on the written decision. Chair Lucas opened Public Comment Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- Chair Lucas closed Public Comment Motion By Member Canella Second By Chair Lucas The Tree Committee reviewed and approved a written decision, prepared by Deputy City Attorney Sadie Symens, to formally issue their decision made on January 22, 2024, pursuant to San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Section 1.24.130, regarding an Administrative Citation for improper pruning of three (3) Coastal Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) trees located at 163 Serrano Heights Drive. Ayes (4): Member Bate, Member Canella, Vice Chair Parker, and Chair Lucas Abstained (1): Member Pineda Absent (2): Member Bonifas, and Member Rosten CARRIED (4 to 0) Page 6 of 18 3 5. TREE REMOVAL APPEALS 5.a 1120 MARSH STREET TREE REMOVAL APPEAL City Arborist Anthony Whipple presented the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries. The Appellant, Bert Forbes, provided an overview of the Tree Removal Appeal and responded to questions raised. Chair Lucas opened Public Comment Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- Chair Lucas closed Public Comment Motion By Vice Chair Parker Second By Member Canella The Tree Committee denied the appeal and upheld the City Arborist's decision to allow removal of one (1) Indian Laurel Fig (Ficus macrocarpa) tree located at 1120 Marsh Street, with the following recommendation:  The Appellant expressed an interest in contributing additional funds to purchase a tree that exceeds the City's standard replanting requirements. Staff is encouraged to collaborate with the Appellant to draft a funding agreement and select a tree variety and box size, minimum 36-inch box, that will maximize the space available at the site. Ayes (5): Member Bate, Member Canella, Member Pineda, Vice Chair Parker, and Chair Lucas Absent (2): Member Bonifas, and Member Rosten CARRIED (5 to 0) 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:  Staff are currently reviewing a Tree Removal Application to remove eucalyptus trees at the San Luis Ranch development. Page 7 of 18 4  The City has hired a new City Arborist, who will be introduced at the March 25th Tree Committee Meeting. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee meeting is scheduled for March 25, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. The Regular Meeting on February 26, 2024 will be cancelled. _________________________ APPROVED BY TREE COMMITTEE: XX/XX/2024 Page 8 of 18 TREE COMMITTEE AGENDA REPORT DATE: March 14, 2024 TO: Tree Committee Members FROM: Anthony Whipple, City Arborist/Urban Forest Supervisor (805) 781-7021 awhipple@slocity.org SUBJECT: Tree Removal Application SR# 14582 COMMITTEE PURVIEW Due to the property being a commercial zoning designation, the Tree Committee’s role is to review the Tree Removal Application and provide a recommendation to the Community Development Director. On February 2, 2024, I posted four (4) Mexican Palm (Washingtonia robusta) trees, located at 1065 Higuera Street, in response to Tree Removal Application SR#14582. The removal application was submitted based on: San Luis Municipal Code 12.24.090.E.1. E. Criteria and Process for Non-Construction Related Tree Removal Application Determinations Related to Tree Health or Hazard Mitigation or Property Owner Convenience ATTACHMENTS A - Tree Inspection Report B - Proof of Posting C - Tree Removal Application Meeting Date: 3/25/2024 Item Number: 4a Time Estimate: 30 minutes Page 9 of 18 Page 10 of 18 Tree Inspection Report TO: Ernie Kim – Bunyon Brothers Tree Service FROM: Anthony Whipple, City Arborist/Urban Forest Supervisor SUBJECT: Removal Application SR#14582 Introduction This report summarizes the inspection conducted on four Mexican Fan Palm trees located at 1065 Higuera Street in response to a tree removal application (SR#14582) by submitted Bunyon Brothers Tree Service for Ernie Kim - Property owner. Inspection Details The subject trees are four Mexican Fan Palm trees located on private property within a courtyard containing tables and chairs, in a Commercial zone. As per San Luis Obispo Municipal Code 12.24.090 E.1, the Tree Committee will review and make a recommendation on the application to the Community Development Director. Thank you, Anthony Whipple, 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 18 Page 12 of 18 Public Works - Urban Forestry 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3218 805.781.7220 slocity.org Page 13 of 18 Page 14 of 18 Page 15 of 18 Page 16 of 18 Page 17 of 18 Page 18 of 18