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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-23-2026 TC Draft Minutes 1 Tree Committee Minutes February 23, 2026, 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, Vice Chair Emily Rosten, Chair Ben Parker Tree Committee Members Absent: Member Charles Gerencser, Member Dan Shinn City Staff Present: Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault, Deputy City Clerk Andrea Colunga-Lopez _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order on February 23, 2026 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 - JANUARY 26, 2026 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES Motion By Member Canella Second By Vice Chair Rosten To approve the Tree Committee Minutes of January 26, 2026. Ayes (5): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member Gephart, Vice Chair Rosten and Chair Parker CARRIED (5 to 0) Page 5 of 49 2 4. PRESENTATIONS 4.a PUBLIC WORKS URBAN FOREST UPDATE (5 MINUTES) Public Works Urban Forester Greg Clark presented the update and responded to Committee inquiries. 5. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION 5.a REQUEST FOR THE REMOVAL OF 4 PINUS CANARIENSIS AND 1 PINUS RADIATA LOCATED AT 815 SKYLINE DR (APPLICATION NO. TREE-0973-2025) Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries. Applicant Chris van Harmelen, provided an overview of the purpose for the tree removal, the replacement plan and responded to questions raised. Chair Parker opened Public Comment Public Comment: Naomi Blakely --End of Public Comment-- Chair Parker closed Public Comment Motion By Vice Chair Rosten Second By Member Bonifas Recommend that the Community Development Director approve the request to remove four (4) Pinus canariensis with five (5) compensatory trees in the front yard because they are consistent with requirements in the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Section 12.24.090 (E) based on the following criteria:  G(3) Species: Trees are non-native  G(4) Forestry Best Practice: The replanting plan increases age diversity and establishes the number of healthy trees that the parcel can support.  G(6) Compensatory Plantings: The planting plan of five (5) trees exceeds the minimum requirement of 1:1. Page 6 of 49 3  G(7) Heritage Trees: Trees are not heritage trees. Recommend that the removal of the one (1) Pinus Radiata only be approved with an additional compensatory tree in the backyard upon submission of an arborist statement that support this recommendation for the CDD Director to review. Ayes (4): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Vice Chair Rosten, and Chair Parker Noes (1): Member Gephart Absent (2): Member Gerencser, and Member Shinn CARRIED (4 to 1) 5.b REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE ONE (1) RED FLOWERING GUM LOCATED AT 1057 BUCHON STREET At the request of the applicant, Item 4.b was pulled from the agenda and continued to a date certain, March 23, 2026, the next regular meeting of the Tree Committee. Because this item was agendized, p ublic comment will be allowed. Chair Parker opened Public Comment Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- Chair Parker closed Public Comment 6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 6.a ARBORIST REPORT Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault provided a tutorial of the permit portal and responded to Committee inquiries. 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:07 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for March 23, 2026 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/202X Page 7 of 49 Page 8 of 49