HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-22-2016 TC PacketCity of San Luis Obispo, Agenda, Tree Committee
TREE COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
August 22, 2016 Meeting begins at 5:00 pm
Corporation Yard - Conference Room A
25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, CA
The complete packet of applications may be reviewed at the front counter of the City
Clerk’s office during business hours which is located in City Hall at 990 Palm St. San
Luis Obispo.
PUBLIC COMMENT: At this time, people may address the Committee about items not on
the agenda. Persons wishing to speak should come forward and state their name and
address. Comments limited to five minutes per person. Items raised at this time are
generally referred to staff, and if action by the Committee is necessary, may be scheduled
for a future meeting.
MINUTES: Approval of Minutes for July 25, 2016
TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS:
1. 1369 Cavalier Ln. 93405
2. 1700 Quail Ln. 93405
3. 745 Murray St. 93405
4. 1010 Murray St. 93405
5. 4360 Larkspur St. 93401
6. Los Verdes Park II Vista Ln. #17,#19,#20,#21,#22, 93401
7. 1248 San Carlos Dr. 93401
8. 1879 Pinecove Dr. 93405
9. 113 Del Sur Way 93405
10. 4415 Wavertree Dr. 93401
11. 2466 Augusta St. 93401
12. 1217 Nipomo St. 93401
13. 990 Vallecito Ct. 93405
NEW BUSINESS: None at this time
OLD BUSINESS: None at this time
ARBORIST REPORT: None at this time
ADJOURN to next meeting scheduled for Monday September 26, 2016 at 5:00 pm
held at the City Corporation Yard located on 25 Prado Road Conference Room A.
The City of San Luis Obispo wishes to make all of its public meetings accessible to the public. Upon request, this agenda
will be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with disabilities. Any person with a disability who requires a
modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting should direct such request to the City Corp Yard Office at
(805) 781-7220 at least 7 days before the meeting, if possible. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (805) 781-7107.
Minutes - DRAFT
TREE COMMITTEE
Monday, July 25, 2016
Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee Commission
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee was called to order on Monday, July 25, 2016 at 5:00
p.m. in the Corporation Yard Conference Room, located at 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo,
California, by Chair Matt Ritter.
ROLL CALL
Present: Alan Bate, Scott Loosley, Angela Soll, Vice Chair Ben Parker, and Chair Matt Ritter
Absent: Susan Olson, Jane Worthy
Staff: Ron Combs, City Arborist and Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
The following San Luis Obispo residents urged the protection of the trees at 71 Palomar, asked
the Committee to consider them for Heritage Tree status, voiced objections to the City’s process
for review of the project proposed at 71 Palomar, asked the Tree Committee to participate in the
Architectural Review Commission (ARC) meeting on August 1st when the project will be
reviewed and/or requested at copy of the City Arborist’s Tree Assessment Report regarding the
status of the trees: Cheryl McLean, Dia Hurd, Lydia Mourenza, Camille Small, Bob Mourenza
and Will Powers.
City Arborist Ron Combs addressed the question of a City Arborist Tree Assessment Report and
clarified that he has not prepared a formal assessment but has provided input to the Public Works
Director regarding the trees at 71 Palomar in memorandum format. He added that he would draft
an assessment report when the Palomar tree removal item comes to the Tree Committee for
review.
Chair Ritter explained historically the City’s process has been that the ARC reviews and then
forwards to the Tree Committee a development plan with tree removal requests.
Peter Croft, San Luis Obispo resident, requested that the City Arborist make the internal memo
containing his input available to the ARC prior to their review of the project on August 1, 2016.
DRAFT Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 25, 2016 Page 2
CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
ACTION: MOTION BY ANGELA SOLL, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR BEN PARKER,
CARRIED 5-0 to approve the consent Calendar Item 1.
1. Consideration of Minutes
CARRIED 5-0 to approve the minutes of the Tree Committee for the meeting of
Monday, June 27, 2016.
PUBLIC HEARINGS BUSINESS ITEM
2. Tree Removal Applications
- 1259 West Newport (2 Liquidambar)
Ryan Donald, applicant, discussed the removal request and stated it was impossible to
use his front yard because of the spiky seed balls and continuous sap dropping.
City Arborist Ron Combs reported that the relatively healthy trees were in a narrow
planting area, had narrow limb attachments and some dieback, and had caused some
hardscape damage.
Committee Member Soll did not see evidence of the hardscape damage and thought the
trees looked nice on the property.
Committee Member Loosley agreed with City Arborist Ron Combs and noted that
grinding was a temporary sidewalk fix.
Committee Member Parker noted the left tree had been severely root pruned and
wounds were evident. He felt roots would continue to cause issues and favored
replacement with a more appropriate species. Committee Member Bate and Chair Ritter
concurred.
Public Comments:
Chair Ritter opened the public hearing.
Will Powers, resident, felt the trees should be pruned and retained.
Chair Ritter closed the public hearing.
ACTION: MOTION BY VICE CHAIR PARKER, SECOND BY CHAIR RITTER, to
approve the removal request, based on doing so would not harm the character of the
neighborhood or environment, and required replacement planting of two 15-gallon trees
DRAFT Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 25, 2016 Page 3
to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree
removals. Motion passed 5-2 on the following roll call vote:
AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, SOLL, PARKER, RITTER
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY
- 338 Jaycee (Carob)
John Bellisario, discussed the removal request and stated the tree was too large for the
area. He outlined plans for drought-tolerant planting and the need to replace the sewer
lateral.
City Arborist Ron Combs reported that the tree was relatively healthy and he could not
make the findings necessary for removal approval. He also agreed that the tree in the
back yard was dead and could be removed.
Committee Member Parker thought the theme tree could benefit from pruning.
Committee Member Bate did not think it was out of scale with the neighborhood.
Committee Member Loosley saw clear evidence of wound decay and did not feel the
tree was appropriate for the location.
Committee Member Soll thought the theme tree fit well with the property and the area.
Public Comments:
There were no public comments.
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, SECOND BY VICE
CHAIR PARKER, to approve the removal request, based on promoting good
arboricultural practice, and required replacement planting of one 15-gallon tree to be
chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removal.
Motion passed 4-1-2 on the following roll call vote:
AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, PARKER, RITTER
NOES: SOLL
ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY
- 1630 El Caserio (3 eucalyptus)
VL Holland, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request. He noted fence
damage caused by roots and the safety concerns the applicant had about limbs falling in
DRAFT Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 25, 2016 Page 4
the area where his young children played and noted a similar-condition nearby tree had
fallen without warning. He also reported the applicant’s wife was allergic to eucalyptus.
City Arborist Ron Combs noted that the small, relatively healthy tree had caused some
fence damage but he could not make the findings necessary to approve removal.
Public Comments:
There were no public comments
ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR RITTER, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
SOLL, to approve the removal request, based on promoting good arboricultural
practice, and required replacement planting of three 15-gallon trees to be chosen from
the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removals. Motion passed
5-2 on the following roll call vote:
AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, PARKER, RITTER, SOLL
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY
- 1700 Quail Dr.
There was no applicant or representative present to speak to the item.
- 1203 Vista Del Lago (Palm)
Robert Schriver, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and reported
that the owner had a severe level of concern for the safety of his children in their play
area due to the barbed spiky fronds that drop from the high tree and that there was a
distinct hazard having the palm located there.
Guru Rao, applicant, reiterated the safety concerns and submitted a petition from
neighbors who favored removal of the tree. He discussed plans to improve the property
and landscaping.
City Arborist Ron Combs reported that the tree was healthy and he could not make the
findings necessary to approve the removal.
Public Comments:
Chair Ritter opened the public hearing.
Mr. Powers favored removal of any palm because the fronds could not be put in green
waste and causes environmental problems.
Chair Ritter closed the public hearing.
DRAFT Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 25, 2016 Page 5
ACTION: MOTION BY VICE CHAIR PARKER, SECOND BY CHAIR RITTER, to
approve the removal request, based on doing so would not harm the character of the
neighborhood or environment, and required replacement planting of one 15-gallon tree
to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree
removal. Motion passed 5-2 on the following roll call vote:
AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, PARKER, RITTER, SOLL
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY
COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS
NEW BUSINESS:
– 1746 Chorro St.: Heritage Tree Application (4 Camphors)
Committee Member Bate noted that he would abstain due to a potential conflict of interest
(worked for the tree company that serviced this address).
Cornell Artho, property owner, discussed his Heritage Tree application.
City Arborist Ron Combs outlined the parameters of a Heritage Tree designation.
The Committee discussed the item and favored the designation for the group of trees that
although not outstanding in appearance, represented a species that has not been included in the
Heritage Tree history.
ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR RITTER, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER
LOOSLEY, to approve the Heritage Tree status for this application. Motion passed 4-2-
1 on the following roll call vote:
AYES: LOOSLEY, PARKER, RITTER, SOLL
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY
ABSTAIN: BATE
OLD BUSINESS:
– Discussion re Use of Structural Soils
City Arborist Ron Combs spoke in support of using structural soils in future developments for
long-term effectiveness.
Chair Ritter and Committee Member Loosley discussed using structural soils at Cal Poly.
DRAFT Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 25, 2016 Page 6
The Committee agreed to a unanimous directive in support of using structural soils.
ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR RITTER, SECOND BY VICE CHAIR PARKER, to
direct staff to find ways in incorporate the use of structural soils as outlined by
engineering standards. Motion passed 5-2 on the following roll call vote:
AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, PARKER, RITTER, SOLL
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: OLSON, WORTHY
The Committee also discussed the review process questions raised by the residents speaking to
71 Palomar. There was general agreement that the Tree Committee be given an opportunity to
review projects that include proposed tree removals prior to ARC review to ensure that the ARC
has the input from the Tree Committee as part of their review.
ARBORIST REPORT
City Arborist Ron Combs presented an overview of the PG&E contaminated soil clean-up
project and discussed the tree removal and replanting at 280 Pismo St.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Tree Committee is
scheduled for Monday, August 22, 2016 at 5:00 p.m., at the Corporation Yard, 25 Prado Road,
San Luis Obispo, California.
APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE ON XX/XX/2016