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Home My WebLink About03-23-2026 TC Minutes 1 Tree Committee Minutes March 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 Dan Shinn, Chair Ben Parker Tree Committee Members Absent: Member Charles Gerencser, Member Kari Gephart, Vice Chair Emily Rosten 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 March 23, 2026 at 5:32 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 - FEBRUARY 23, 2026 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES To approve the Tree Committee Minutes of February 23, 2026. Ayes (4): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member Shinn, and Chair Parker Absent (3): Member Gephart, Member Gerencser, and Vice Chair Rosten CARRIED (4 to 0) 2 4. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION 4.a REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE FIVE (5) MAGNOLIAS AND ONE (1) BRISBANE BOX IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A SOLAR ARRAY AT SINSHEIMER POOL PARKING LOT (APPLICATION NO. TREE-0130-2026) Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries. Applicant representative, Noah Maidrand, City Engineer, provided an overview of the Tree Removal at the Sinsheimer Pool parking lot and responded to questions raised. Chair Parker opened Public Comment Public Comment: Fitzgerald Kelly --End of Public Comment-- Chair Parker closed Public Comment Recommend that the Community Development Director approve the request to remove five (5) Magnolias and one (1) Brisbane box as they are consistent with requirements in the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Section 12.24.090(G) based on the following criteria: • G(1) Size of Trees: All trees are small and not visually prominent • G(3) Species: All trees are non-native • G(4) Forestry Best Practice: Removal has little impact on remaining trees, but a replanting plan of compensatory trees would increase the biodiversity of the urban forest and tree-age distribution. • G(6) Compensatory Plantings: Increase compensatory trees to 9: 3 Englemann oak on South-West side, 3 on Englemann oak North- East side and last 3 African Fern Pine by the baseball stadium. Trees are to be installed with gator bags to increase their chance of success. • G(7) Heritage Status: No heritage trees. Additionally, the Committee recommended that any grading that is necessary or recommended by City Arborist or City Engineers be incorporated to improve the chances of survival. 3 Motion By Member Canella Second By Member Shinn Ayes (4): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member Shinn, and Chair Parker Absent (3): Member Gephart, Member Gerencser, and Vice Chair Rosten CARRIED (4 to 0) 4.b REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE ONE (1) 27- INCH DBH SILVER DOLLAR EUCALYPTUS AT 607 HIGH ST (APPLICATION NO. TREE-0019-2026) Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries. No applicant presentation was provided. Chair Parker opened Public Comment Public Comment: Mr. & Mrs. Bohn Fitzgerald Kelly --End of Public Comment-- Chair Parker closed Public Comment Recommend continuance to a date certain at the next regular meeting with a request to the applicant to provide: • A professional landscaping plan with the following: o Detailed schematics showing what vegetation will be removed o Locations where the 4 or 5 compensatory trees will be planted on the property • A detailed arborist report regarding the current condition and structure of the Eucalyptus tree. • The applicant is encouraged to consult with City Arborist or select a tree species from Engineering Standard 8010. 4 Motion by: Member Canella Second by: Member Shinn No vote taken Revised recommendation for the Community Development Director to approve the request to remove one (1) 27-inch DBH Silver Dollar Eucalyptus based on the following findings: G(3) Species: Tree is non-native G(4) Forestry Best Practice: Removal has little impact on remaining trees, but a replanting plan of compensatory trees increases tree-age distribution G(6) Compensatory Plantings: Replanting plan exceeds minimum requirements G(7) Heritage Status: Not a Heritage Tree And with the following conditions: • Provide a more in-depth arborist assessment • A landscaping plan showing the removal of the ivy and vegetation • Compensatory planting plan, in consult with the City Arborist of 4 to 5 trees • Provide information regarding damage to hardscape, foundation or other property, that may have occurred, for their review. Motion By Member Canella Second By Member Shinn Ayes (3): Member Canella, Member Shinn, and Chair Parker Noes (1): Member Bonifas Absent (3): Member Gephart, Member Gerencser, and Vice Chair Rosten CARRIED (3 to 1) 5 4.c REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE ONE (1) RED FLOWERING GUM AT 1057 BUCHON ST. (APPLICATION NO. TREE- 0690-2025) Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries. Applicant representatives, Trudy Lindaman and Jeremy Lindaman, provided an overview of the Tree Removal and responded to questions raised. Chair Parker opened Public Comment Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- Chair Parker closed Public Comment Recommend that the Community Development Director deny the request to remove one (1) Red Flowering Gum based on the following findings: • G(1) Size of Trees: Tree is large and visually prominent • G(2) Location: Tree is highly visible from the Right-of-Way and has a high visual impact on the neighborhood • G(5) Right-of-Way Impact: Tree is not impacting the Public Right- of-Way Motion by: Member Bonifas Second by: Chair Parker No vote taken. Revised Recommendation that the item continue to a date certain at the next regular meeting with a request that the applicant provide: • A report on the integrity of the foundation, specifying any damage that may or may not have occurred • A revised 2:1 compensatory replanting plan 6 Motion By Member Canella Second By Member Shinn Ayes (4): Member Bonifas, Member Canella, Member Shinn, and Chair Parker Absent (3): Member Gephart, Member Gerencser, and Vice Chair Rosten CARRIED (4 to 0) 5. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 5.a ARBORIST REPORT Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault provided the following updates: • The next Regular Tree Committee meeting on April 27, 2026 will be canceled due to conflict with staff availability. • The next Regular Tree Committee meeting will be on May 18, 2026. 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:56 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for April 27, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. The Regular Meeting on April 27, 2026 will be cancelled. _________________________ APPROVED BY TREE COMMITTEE: 05/18/2026