HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4a. 12-02-2024 TC Special Meeting Minutes
1
Tree Committee Minutes
December 2, 2024, 5:30 p.m.
Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Tree Committee
Members Present:
Member Alan Bate, Member Henry Bonifas, Member Daniel
Canella, Member Brian Pineda, Member Emily Rosten, Chair
Elizabeth Lucas
Tree Committee
Members Absent:
Vice Chair Ben Parker
City Staff Present: Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault,
Deputy City Clerk Megan Wilbanks, Deputy City Clerk Sara Armas
_____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order on
December 2, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Lucas.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public Comment:
None
--End of Public Comment--
3. CONSENT
3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 28, 2024 TREE
COMMITTEE MINUTES
Motion By Member Rosten
Second By Member Pineda
To approve the Tree Committee Minutes of October 28, 2024.
Ayes (5): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member Pineda, Member
Rosten, and Chair Lucas
Abstained (1): Member Bate
Absent (1): Vice Chair Parker
CARRIED (5 to 0)
Page 5 of 28
2
4. NEW BUSINESS
4.a CONTINUED REVIEW OF 2025-2027 TREE COMMITTEE GOAL
SETTING
Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented
the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries.
Chair Lucas opened Public Comment
Public Comment:
None
--End of Public Comment--
Chair Lucas closed Public Comment
Motion By Member Rosten
Second By Member Bate
The Tree Committee continued review of their goals for the 2025-27
Financial Plan and approved the following list:
1. Update the Tree Regulations in the Municipal Code based on
Ordinance Review, Advisory Body Case Study Report, and recent
California State laws.
2. Implement the near-term goals outlined in the Community Forest
Plan as feasible and lay the groundwork for future implementation
of both mid- and long-term goals in future Financial Plans.
3. Foster community engagement for trees in public spaces.
Ayes (6): Member Bate, Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member
Pineda, Member Rosten, and Chair Lucas
Absent (1): Vice Chair Parker
CARRIED (6 to 0)
Page 6 of 28
3
4.b COMMUNITY FOREST PLAN INTRODUCTION
Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented
the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries.
Chair Lucas opened Public Comment
Public Comment:
None
--End of Public Comment--
Chair Lucas closed Public Comment
ACTION: No formal action taken. The Tree Committee reviewed the City
of San Luis Obispo Community Forest Plan and requested that staff bring
the item back periodically for review and updates on the goals outlined
within the Plan.
5. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
5.a ARBORIST REPORT
Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault provided
the following update of upcoming projects and activities in the Tree
Division:
Public Works staff are going to attend the next meeting to introduce
new staff members and provide an operations update.
During the Arbor Day celebration, staff and volunteers planted 27
15-gallon trees at Sinsheimer Park.
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:32 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree
Committee meeting is scheduled for January 27, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the
Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. The
Regular Meeting of December 23, 2024 will be cancelled due to the Christmas
Holiday.
_________________________
APPROVED BY TREE COMMITTEE: XX/XX/2025
Page 7 of 28
Page 8 of 28