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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3a. 08-25-2025 TC Draft Minutes 1 Tree Committee Minutes August 25, 2025, 5:30 p.m. Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo Tree Committee Members Present: Member Henry Bonifas, Member Daniel Canella, Member Kari Gephart, Member Dan Shinn, Vice Chair Emily Rosten, Chair Ben Parker Tree Committee Members Absent: Member Charles Gerencser City Staff Present: Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault, Deputy City Clerk Sara Armas _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order on August 25, 2025 at 5:31 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Parker. 2. OATH OF OFFICE Deputy City Clerk Sara Armas administered the Oath of Office to Kari Gephart. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- Page 5 of 34 2 4. CONSENT 4.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - JULY 28, 2025 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES Motion By Vice Chair Rosten Second By Member Bonifas To approve the Tree Committee Minutes of July 28, 2025. Ayes (6): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member Gephart, Member Shinn, Vice Chair Rosten, and Chair Parker Absent (1): Member Gerencser CARRIED (6 to 0) 5. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION 5.a REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE ONE (1) VELVET ASH STREET TREE LOCATED AT 1524 BALBOA ST (APPLICATION: TREE-0415-2025) Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries. Applicant representative, Troy Schwoerer, provided an overview of the Tree Removal application and responded to questions raised. Chair Parker opened Public Comment Public Comment: Fitzgerald Kelly --End of Public Comment-- Chair Parker closed Public Comment Page 6 of 34 3 Motion By Member Bonifas Second By Member Canella Recommend the Community Development Director deny the proposed tree removal application, as it is not consistent with the Municipal Code Section 12.24.090(E) based on the following findings:  G(1) Size of tree: Tree does have a large canopy in relation to other trees on the street. Its visual prominence carries a high preservation priority.  G(2) Location: The tree is a street tree, is highly visible from the right-of-way and provides a high visual impact to the neighborhood. Ayes (5): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member Shinn, Vice Chair Rosten, and Member Gephart Noes (1): Chair Parker Absent (1): Member Gerencser CARRIED (5 to 1) 6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 6.a ARBORIST REPORT Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault provided the following update of upcoming projects and activities in the Tree Division:  The City will host an Arbor Day event on November 1, 2025 at Santa Rosa Park  ECOSLO has identified a few areas in the City for block planting 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:11 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for September 22, 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 34