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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-27-2017 TC Minutes Minutes TREE COMMITTEE Monday, March 27, 2017 Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee was called to order on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 5:03 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, Rodney Thurman, Jane Worthy, Chair Matt Ritter Absent: Ben Parker, Angela Soll Staff: Ron Combs, City Arborist and Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Will Powers spoke on the recent City Council hearing regarding the illegal tree removal fines levied against the 2466 Augusta property and while he did not like the way the Council handled the matter, he was satisfied that the fines were attached. CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES 1. Consideration of February 27, 2017 Minutes ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, to approve the February 27, 2017 minutes of the Tree Committee as submitted. Motion passed 5-0-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, RITTER, THURMAN, WORTHY Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of March 27, 2017 Page 2 NOES: NONE ABSENT: PARKER, SOLL PUBLIC HEARINGS BUSINESS ITEM 2. Tree Removal Applications - Los Verdes Park II (elm) Jacqueline Whitesides, applicant, discussed the structurally unsound center of the tree, roots uplifting the sidewalk, and excess leaves damaging the pool pump. She submitted HOA minutes that showed support for removing the tree. Mr. Combs reported he could not make his necessary findings, but noted the middle was split out and there was minor hardscape damage. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers was not in favor of the removal and felt it could be pruned. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. Mr. Thurman stated he needed to abstain from voting. Mr. Bate felt pruning might mitigate concerns. Mr. Loosley felt the long branches would make pruning and maintenance too difficult and would not support the long-term health of the tree. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WORTHY, to promote 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 3-1-1-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: LOOSLEY, RITTER, WORTHY NOES: BATE ABSTAIN: THURMAN ABSENT: PARKER, SOLL Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of March 27, 2017 Page 3 - Los Verdes Park II (4 Canary Island pines) #35 & #36 El Mirador Ms. Whitesides discussed the removal request and submitted HOA minutes that asked the Committee to determine if the trees could be removed. The property was concerned with trees falling and large cones dropping. Mr. Ritter did not feel the Committee could make a decision on the item because the HOA minutes did not definitely state that the HOA approved the tree removals. Norm Gammil, 36 El Mirador, stated he was very concerned with trees falling. Janet Kirk, 35 El Mirador, was concerned about large cones dropping and discussed previous damage from the trees and stated they were hazardous. She also reported she could not use her patio without concerns. She submitted a letter to the HOA Board that expressed her concerns. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers felt the trees were large for the area but had not been maintained. He did not think falling would be an issue. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. The Committee agreed to table the item until staff received definitive approval from the HOA regarding the tree removals. - 4356 Wavertree (Canary Island pine) Bryan Balling, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and submitted photos. He shared concerns of cones dropping and falling limbs and stated that cars had been damaged and the roof had been ruined by needles. He stated roots had lifted the sidewalk and driveway. The tree had been pruned but caused a hardship, as he was allergic to the pollen. Mr. Combs could not make his necessary findings, but noted there was some hardscape damage from the healthy theme tree. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of March 27, 2017 Page 4 Mr. Powers felt the trees should be maintained instead of removed and removals should not be based on possibility of things happening in the future. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. Mr. Loosley noted surface roots and compacted soil and felt it was the wrong tree for the location. He stated a concern that the owner had not confirmed the authority of Mr. Balling to speak as his representative prior to the meeting. ACTI ON: MOTION BY COMMITTEE THURMAN, SECONDED BY CHAIR RITTER, 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: LOOSLEY, RITTER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: BATE ABSENT: PARKER, SOLL - 1380 Fernwood (2 Mexican fan palms) Ron Rinnell, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and not it was not a theme tree, had caused minor damage, and was out of scale for the area. He stated there had been numerous plumbing issues and he wanted to replace it with a Chinese pistache. Mr. Combs stated he could not make the necessary findings for removal. Sue Kosaka, 1375 Fernwood, stated the palms were too tall and the heavy fronds were littering and could pose a hazard when falling. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers noted fronds could not be green-wasted and he favored removal. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the application, with many feeling pruning could mitigate frond issues. Mr. Thurman felt a different tree species would better serve the neighborhood. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR RITTER, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WORTHY, to deny the removal request as he could Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of March 27, 2017 Page 5 not make the findings necessary for removal. Motion passed 4-1-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, RITTER, WORTHY NOES: THURMAN ABSENT: PARKER, SOLL - 1141 Coral (Modesto ash) Allan Garrison, applicant, discussed the removal request, stating the tree was too large for the space and was infesting with aphids. There was hardscape damage and pavers had been ruined and the maintenance was too much for elderly residents. He did not feel pruning would be a long-term solution. He discussed re-landscaping plans and noted that the tree had been approved for removal several years ago, but he had decided against acting at that time. Mr. Combs stated he could not make the necessary findings for removal. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers did not favor removal the tree. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. Mr. Loosley and Mr. Thurman felt the codominant leader could fail and did not think pruning was an option. Ms. Worthy and Mr. Bate thought the tree added to the urban forest. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR RITTER, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, to approve the removal request, based on doing so would not harm the character of the neighborhood or environment and required one 15-gallon tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removal. Motion passed 3-2-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: LOOSLEY, RITTER, THURMAN NOES: BATE, WORTHY ABSENT: PARKER, SOLL Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of March 27, 2017 Page 6 - 3033 Flora (Liquid ambar) Wendy Hiltz, applicant, discussed the removal request and the lifting sidewalks which created a pedestrian hazard for elderly residents. She stated the roots were causing driveway damage and invading the drain area and causing plumbing issues. Robert Hiltz discussed past sidewalk repairs and root issues. Mr. Combs agreed there was a lot of hardscape issues, but he could not make his necessary findings for removal. Public Comments: Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers felt it was the wrong tree for the location and favored removal. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. Mr. Bate stated he was abstaining due to a conflict of interest. The Committee discussed the removal request and a neighborhood/city street tree planting program for the area. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR RITTER, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOOSLEY, 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 4-0-1-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: LOOSLEY, RITTER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSTAIN: BATE ABSENT: PARKER, SOLL - 3101 Rockview (Valley oak) Mike Villareal, applicant, discussed the removal request and the tree’s proximity to utility lines. Mr. Combs stated he could not make his necessary findings for removal. Public Comments: Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of March 27, 2017 Page 7 Chair Ritter opened the public hearing. Mr. Powers stated the tree was overwhelming in the area and favored removal. Chair Ritter closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the request and agreed the beautiful tree was in the wrong location and the space was too small for the tree to thrive in poor soil. Mr. Bate felt the healthy native tree should be retained. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE CHAIR RITTER, to approve the removal request based on promoting good arboricultural 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: LOOSLEY, RITTER, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: BATE ABSENT: PARKER, SOLL NEW BUSINESS Ms. Worthy agreed to attend the Mayor’s Quarterly Meeting luncheon on April 13, 2017. OLD BUSINESS Doug Forest reported that he had received comments regarding the Master Street Tree list revisions from members. He reported that the Trees for Major Streets list was deficient in comprehensive species listings and requested the Committee provide comments and feedback on the list updates. ARBORIST REPORT Mr. Combs reported that the wood chip give-away was successful. ADJOURNMENT Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of March 27, 2017 Page 8 The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for Monday, April 24 at 5:00 p.m., at the Corporation Yard, 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE ON 04/24/2017