HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-22-2025 TC Minutes
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Tree Committee Minutes
September 22, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Tree Committee
Members Present:
Member Henry Bonifas, Member Dan Shinn, Vice Chair Emily
Rosten, Chair Ben Parker, Member Kari Gephart
Tree Committee
Members Absent:
Member Daniel Canella, Member Charles Gerencser
City Staff Present:
Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault,
Deputy City Clerk Sara Armas, Deputy City Clerk Andrea
Colunga-Lopez
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1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order
on September 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Parker.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public Comment:
Sharon Roberts
--End of Public Comment--
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3. CONSENT
3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - AUGUST 25, 2025 TREE
COMMITTEE MINUTES
Motion By Vice Chair Rosten
Second By Member Bonifas
To approve the Tree Committee Minutes of August 25, 2025.
Ayes (5): Member Bonifas, Member Gephart, Member Shinn, Vice Chair
Rosten, and Chair Parker
Absent (2): Member Canella and Member Gerencser
CARRIED (5 to 0)
4. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION
4.a REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE ONE (1)
CANARY ISLAND DATE PALM LOCATED AT 2226 BEEBEE ST
(APPLICATION: TREE-0689-2025)
Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented
the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries.
Applicant representative, Todd Ventura, provided an overview of the Tree
Removal Request and responded to questions raised.
Chair Parker opened Public Comment
Public Comment:
Sharon Roberts
--End of Public Comment--
Chair Parker closed Public Comment
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Motion By Vice Chair Rosten
Second By Member Shinn
Recommend the Community Development Director approve the proposed
tree removal application per Municipal Code Section 12.24.090(E) based
on the findings below, and further recommend that 24-inch planter boxes
be used as part of the replanting plan; if 24-inch is not feasible, a 15-
gallon box or other similar alternative be implemented instead.
Findings:
• 12.24.090.G(3) Species: Tree is non-native
• 12.24.090.G(4) Forestry Best Practice: Removal and replanting
plan increases tree-age and biodiversity
• 12.24.090.G(6) Compensatory Plantings: Landscaping plan
exceeds required minimum for replanting (2:1 onsite)
• 12.24.090.G(7) Heritage Status: Not a heritage tree
Ayes (4): Member Bonifas, Member Shinn, Vice Chair Rosten, and Chair
Parker
Noes (1): Member Gephart
Absent (2): Member Canella, and Member Gerencser
CARRIED (4 to 1)
4.b REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE EIGHT (8)
SWEETGUMS LOCATED AT 4325 S. HIGUERA ST (APPLICATION:
TREE-0722-2025)
Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented
the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries.
Chair Parker opened Public Comment
Public Comment:
None
--End of Public Comment--
Chair Parker closed Public Comment
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Motion By Member Gephart
Second By Member Shinn
Recommend the project be continued to a hearing date uncertain with a
request that the applicant provide a representative at the next hearing to
address the proposed replanting plan and the reason trees are requested
for removal that are not impacting the public right of way.
Ayes (4): Member Shinn, Vice Chair Rosten, Chair Parker, and Member
Gephart
Noes (1): Member Bonifas
Absent (2): Member Canella, and Member Gerencser
CARRIED (4 to 1)
5. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
5.a ARBORIST REPORT
City Arborist Walter Gault provided an update on the following project:
• There will be a Study Session on the Wildland Urban Interface
(WUI) Code and Defensible Space Regulations at the Oct 7, 2025
City Council Meeting.
• Starting late 2025, Community Development staff are working on a
Tree Regulations update. The Tree Committee will be reviewing the
draft update at a later date.
• City staff will be at the SLO Farmer's Market on October 23, 2025
doing community outreach ahead of Arbor Day.
• The Arbor Day event will be taking place on Saturday, November 1,
2025 at Santa Rosa Park.
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree
Committee is scheduled for October 27, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing
Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
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APPROVED BY TREE COMMITTEE: 12/08/2025