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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3a. 02-24-2025 TC Draft Minutes 1 Tree Committee Minutes February 24, 2025, 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, Vice Chair Ben Parker, Chair Elizabeth Lucas Members Absent: Member Daniel Canella, Member Brian Pineda City Staff Present: Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault, Deputy City Clerk Kevin Christian _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order on February 24, 2025 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 - JANUARY 27, 2025 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES Motion By Vice Chair Parker Second By Member Bate Approve the Tree Committee Minutes of January 27, 2025. Ayes (5): Member Bate, Member Bonifas, Member Rosten, Vice Chair Parker, and Chair Lucas Absent (2): Member Canella, and Member Pineda CARRIED (5 to 0) Page 5 of 65 2 4. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION 4.a REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE TWO (2) EUCALYPTUS NICOLII (NICHOL’S WILLOW-LEAFED EUCALYPTUS) TREES LOCATED AT 2475 MEADOW STREET (TREE-0805-2024) Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries. Applicant representative, Wes Thompson, provided an overview of the Tree Removal Application and responded to questions raised. Chair Lucas opened Public Comment Public Comment: David Brown --End of Public Comment-- Chair Lucas closed Public Comment Motion By Member Bonifas Second By Member Bate Recommend that the Community Development Director deny the tree removal request per Municipal Code Section 12.24.090(G), under section 12.24.090(E)(3), based on the findings below:  G(1) Size of Trees - The trees have large canopies that are visually prominent.  G(2) Location - The trees are highly visible from the public right-of-way and have a high visual impact on the neighborhood.  G(5) Right-of-Way - The trees are causing no obstruction to the public right-of-way. Ayes (3): Member Bate, Member Bonifas, and Chair Lucas Noes (2): Member Rosten, and Vice Chair Parker Absent (2): Member Canella, and Member Pineda CARRIED (3 to 2) 5. NEW BUSINESS Page 6 of 65 3 5.a 2025 ENGINEERING STANDARDS UPDATE TO THE STREET TREES MAJOR LIST Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries. Chair Lucas opened Public Comment Public Comment: Dave Blakely --End of Public Comment-- Chair Lucas closed Public Comment Motion By Member Rosten Second By Member Bate Accept the proposed updates to the Street Trees Major List (Engineering Standard 8020) as presented and request that the City Arborist continue to bring updates to the committee as needed. Ayes (5): Member Bate, Member Bonifas, Member Rosten, Vice Chair Parker, and Chair Lucas Absent (2): Member Canella, and Member Pineda CARRIED (5 to 0) 6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 6.a ARBORIST REPORT Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault provided an update of upcoming projects and activities in the Tree Division. The committee provided input concerning their needs for agenda noticing, based on the number of site reviews required, noting that up to three small projects can be completed with a seven-day notice, but that one large development would require fourteen days advance notice. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for March 24, 2025 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/2025 Page 7 of 65 Page 8 of 65