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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-23-2015 TC Minutes1 MEMBERS PRESENT: Trey Duffy, Matt Ritter, Ben Parker, Jane Worthy, and Scott Loosley STAFF PRESENT: Ron Combs, Steve Williams Mr. Ritter called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT Sean Flickinger, 79 Del Oro/Los Verdes Park, reported that there had been a public hearing held by his HOA regarding the removal of three more trees. He stated that 15 trees had already been recently removed and the replacement plantings were not healthy or being maintained and that the pruning efforts were not thorough. He was concerned about the long-term healthy of the trees and the area’s urban forest. He urged the Committee to consider the Park as a whole entity, instead of just piece-meal requests. Mr. Duffy explained how the Committee needed to handle HOA requests and encouraged Mr. Flickinger to gather support from the neighborhood to have the HOA consider the entire Park’s urban forest when submitting removal requests. MINUTES: Approval of Minutes of February 13, 2015 The minutes were amended to reflect that Ms. Worthy was present. Mr. Loosley moved to approve the minutes as amended. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Minutes Tree Committee Corporation Yard Conference Room, 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo Monday, March 23, 2015 at 5:00 pm 2 TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS 1. 1065 Cortez (Italian Stone pine) The applicant discussed the removal request and stated the roots were cracking the driveway and that it had already been repaired, along with the sidewalk. She stated she did not have the funds to pay for a new driveway and felt the roots were causing a hardship. Mr. Combs reported that the theme tree was created hardscape damage and that it had been heavily pruned. Mr. Loosley noted there seemed to be a pocket of decay. Mr. Ritter moved to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural practice and required a replacement planting of one 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of the tree’s removal. Mr. Parker seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 2. 2247 Bushnell (2 pears, fern, pine) The applicant discussed the removal request and stated the trees were encroaching on the structure and that the surface roots were causing issues and he was concerned about the utilities being directly under the trees. He agreed to discuss the matter with his HOA as well. Mr. Combs noted that the fern pine tree could be removed without a permit, as it was under the required diameter and stated that the pear trees were healthy. Mr. Parker felt the pear trees had structural issues. Mr. Ritter discussed the structure of the cultivar and felt that tree #2 could be retained. Mr. Loosley agreed that tree #2 was in decent shape. Mr. Parker moved to allow the removal of trees #1 and #3, based on promoting good arboricultural practice, with the removals being contingent on HOA approval. He required replacement plantings of two 15-gallon trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of the trees’ removals. 3 3. Branch St. area, between BeeBee and Hutton Streets (approx. 40 elms) Steve Williams, Urban Forest Services representative, discussed the area request and reported that the several mature and over-mature elms were in various stages of decline; he noted past pruning’s, toppings, and sucker growth with poor attachments. He believed a strong percentage of the trees would catastrophically fail and that the majority of the trees needed significant pruning to reduce the risk of failiure. He proposed to draft a risk assessment report of the removals and those retained trees that needed to be severely maintained. He stated the removals would be replaced with 24” box trees of varying species of elms. Robbie Rizzo, 480 Branch, was concerned about losing trees in the neighborhood and stated that past removals did not have replacement plantings. Tyler Stark, 2166 BeeBee, agreed with Ms. Rizzo’s commented and felt that Branch Street had a lot of character and the trees were a large part of that and should be retained as possible. Both Ms. Rizzo and Mr. Stark supported the assessment study/proposal. Mr. Combs stated he supported Mr. Williams’ proposal for the risk reduction and discussed the notification process for the area residents. Mr. Ritter thought that Higuera Street was a good model for staggered removals due to age and healthy of individual trees. He felt the pruning method around the wires was good to create a canopy across the street and urged replacement plantings to not be of any of the smaller species of elms. Mr. Parker suggested interested residents perform a walk-about with Mr. Williams as he identified the trees to be removed and outlined why it would be necessary. NEW BUSINESS Review Tree Committee Bylaws Mr. Combs stated that the annual Committee review of the by-laws was required and asked for modifications. Mr. Combs agreed to compile suggestions and modifications into a draft document to bring back to Committee for approval at the May 26th meeting. 4 ARBORIST REPORT Pine tree removals Mr. Combs reported that 68 dead Monterey Pines had been removed from Laguna Lake Park, Sinsheimer Park and Terrace Hill. Rotary Club & Grizzly Academy Commemorative Grove improvements Mr. Combs discussed the donation, cleanup and planting efforts performed by the Day Break Rotary Club, Laguna Lake Residents and Grizzly Academy. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. to next regular meeting scheduled for April 27, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary