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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4a. 8-24-2026 TC Draft Minutes 1 Tree Committee Minutes August 24, 2026, 5:30 p.m. Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo Tree Committee Members Present: Member Charles Gerencser, Member Ben Parker, Member Dan Shinn, Member Gage Willey (arrived at 5:32 p.m.), Vice Chair Emily Rosten, Chair Daniel Canella Tree Committee Members Absent: Member Henry Bonifas 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 August 24, 2026 at 5:31 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Canella. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Chair Canella opened Public Comment Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- Chair Canella closed Public Comment 3. PRESENTATION Member Willey arrived at 5:32 p.m. Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented on the Brown Act and Robert’s Rules of Order. Page 5 of 93 2 4. CONSENT 4.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - JULY 27, 2026 TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES Motion By Vice Chair Rosten Second By Member Parker To approve the Tree Committee Minutes of July 27, 2026. Ayes (6): Chair Canella, Member Gerencser, Member Shinn, Member Willey, Vice Chair Rosten, and Member Parker Absent (1): Member Bonifas CARRIED (6 to 0) 5. TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION 5.a REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE ONE (1) ALEPPO PINE AT VISTA LAGO PARK, 1269 VISTA DEL LAGO Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries. Chair Canella opened Public Comment Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- Chair Canella closed Public Comment Recommend that the Community Development Director approve the request to remove one (1) Aleppo Pine.  G(4) Best forestry practices: Removal has little impact on remaining trees, but a replanting plan of compensatory trees would increase the tree-age diversity in the neighborhood.  G(6) Compensatory Plantings: The applicant is proposing to exceed the minimum required replanting rate of 1:1 onsite by planting three (3) trees. Additionally, require a minimum 1:1 compensatory plan instead of the proposed 3:1 compensatory plan. Page 6 of 93 3 Motion By Member Parker Second By Vice Chair Rosten Ayes (6): Chair Canella, Member Gerencser, Member Shinn, Member Willey, Vice Chair Rosten, and Member Parker Absent (1): Member Bonifas CARRIED (6 to 0) 5.b REVIEW A TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION TO REMOVE NINE (9) TREES AT EMERSON PARK, 1341 NIPOMO STREET Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault presented the staff report and responded to Committee inquiries. Wyatt Banker-Hix, Supervising Civil Engineer responded to Committee questions. Chair Canella opened Public Comment Public Comment: None --End of Public Comment-- Chair Canella closed Public Comment Recommend that the Community Development Director approve the request to remove nine (9) trees 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 tree: The trees proposed for removal are generally not large or visually prominent.  G(4) Forestry Best Practices: Overall, the proposed removals and compensatory replanting plan places new trees in better locations and increases the tree-age distribution within the park.  G(6) Compensatory Plantings: The applicant is proposing to exceed the minimum required replanting rate of 1:1 on -site by replanting eleven (11) compensatory trees for nine (9) removals.  G(7) Heritage status: No heritage trees. Page 7 of 93 4 Additionally, the committee recommends that the 10-inch oak tree be retained if it can be accommodated by a fence adjustment. Motion By Vice Chair Rosten Second By Member Gerencser Ayes (6): Chair Canella, Member Gerencser, Member Shinn, Member Willey, Vice Chair Rosten, and Member Parker Absent (1): Member Bonifas CARRIED (6 to 0) Recommendation to amend the motion: Recommend that the Chinese pistache and the olives be changed to oak species selected by the City Arborist. Motion By Member Willey Second By Member Gerencser Ayes (6): Chair Canella, Member Gerencser, Member Shinn, Member Willey, Vice Chair Rosten, and Member Parker Absent (1): Member Bonifas CARRIED (6 to 0) 6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION 6.a ARBORIST REPORT Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault provided an update of upcoming projects and activities in the Tree Division.  Urban Forest Program Coordinator / City Arborist Walter Gault attended the Greening Gold Seminar and provided a brief recap of the seminar.  The Tree Committee will review an appeal for a tree removal request for a Redwood tree located at 355 North Chorro Street at the next Regular meeting. Page 8 of 93 5 7. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for September 28, 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 9 of 93 Page 10 of 93