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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3a. 12-08-2025 Draft TC Minutes 1 Tree Committee Minutes December 8, 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 Charles Gerencser, Member Dan Shinn, Vice Chair Emily Rosten, Chair Ben Parker City Staff Present: Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault, 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 8, 2025 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: None --End of Public Comment-- 3. CONSENT 3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES Motion By Vice Chair Rosten Second By Member Shinn To approve the Tree Committee Minutes of September 22, 2025. Ayes (7): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member Gephart, Member Gerencser, Member Shinn, Vice Chair Rosten, and Chair Parker CARRIED (7 to 0) Page 5 of 37 2 4. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION 4.a REQUEST TO REMOVE 1 CALIFORNIA PALM TREE LOCATED AT 1010 FOOTHILL BOULEVARD (APPLICATION NO. TREE-0657-2025) Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries. Applicant representative, Bob Schreiber of Arbor First, provided an overview of the Tree Removal Request and responded to questions raised. Chair Parker opened Public Comment Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- Chair Parker closed Public Comment Motion By Member Canella Second By Member Gerencser Recommend the Community Development Director approve the proposed tree removal application for consistency with the Municipal Code Section 12.24.090(E) based on the findings below and further recommend a submission of a finalized landscaping plan to ensure the minimum requirements are exceeded as proposed, as well as consideration of an alternative to the gold medallion tree upon consulting with the City Arborist. 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 in the neighborhood.  12.24.090.G(6) Compensatory Plantings: Landscaping plan exceeds requirement minimum for replanting (4:1 onsite).  12.24.090.G(7) Heritage Trees. Tree has not been designated as a heritage tree. Page 6 of 37 3 Ayes (7): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member Gephart, Member Gerencser, Member Shinn, Vice Chair Rosten, and Chair Parker CARRIED (7 to 0) 5. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 5.a ARBORIST REPORT Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault provided an update of upcoming projects and activities in the Tree Division.  Tentatively scheduled for the January 26, 2026 Regular Meeting is a tree removal request at 4325 Higuera Street, continued from the September 22, 2025 Meeting, and a tree removal request on a property on Buchon Street near Mitchell Park  Community Development staff are working on revising the current Tree Regulations, which will be brought before the Committee for review at a future meeting 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m. The next Regular Me eting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for January 26, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. The Regular Meeting of the December 22, 2025 will be cancelled due to the Christmas Holiday. _________________________ APPROVED BY TREE COMMITTEE: XX/XX/202X Page 7 of 37