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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-25-2018 TC Mintues Minutes TREE COMMITTEE Monday, June 25, 2018 Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee was called to order on Monday, June 25, 2018 at 5:10 p.m. in the Corporation Yard Conference Room, located at 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Scott Loosley. ROLL CALL Present: Alan Bate, Brian Rolph, Rodney Thurman, Jane Worthy, Chair Scott Loosley (late arrival) Absent: Elizabeth Lucas, Sean O’Brien Staff: Ron Combs, Lisa Woske PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Dr. Will Powers, resident, discussed his report on following up on removal and replacement planting actions, noting copies had been sent to Members. He reported that several of the Garden Street replacement plantings were smaller than the mandated sizes. Staff agreed to follow up on Garden Street installations. CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES 1. Consideration of May 21, 2018 Minutes Jeremy Otto, 2747 El Cerrito, wanted the minutes to reflect that he had not started removing the tree, but had started construction near it for a retaining wall. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE VICE CHAIR WORTHY, to approve the May 21, 2018 minutes of the Tree Committee as amended. Motion passed 4-0-3 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, ROLPH, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: LOOSLEY, LUCAS, O’BRIEN Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of June 25, 2018 Page 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS BUSINESS ITEMS 2. Tree Removal Applications - 1897 Huasna Ronald and May Hamilton, applicants, discussed the removal request and reported that roots were getting into the main drain and causing sidewalk damage, which created a trip hazard. They also noted the tree was too large for the area. Mr. Combs reported it was a large, healthy tree and he could not make the findings necessary to allow removal. Public Comments: Vice-Chair Worthy opened the public hearing. Dr. Powers did not favor removal. Vice Chair Worthy closed the public hearing. Committee Member Bate felt the sidewalk could be repaired and favored retaining the tree. The remaining Committee members discussed the item, determining that root pruning was not an option for this tree. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROLPH, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, to approve the removal request based on undue hardship and required two 15-gallon replacement trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removals. Motion passed 3-1-3 on the following roll call vote: AYES: ROLPH, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: BATE ABSENT: LOOSLEY, LUCAS, O’BRIEN - 2747 El Cerrito (Oak) Jeremy Otto, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and Construction plans for the site, noting that removal would not harm the character of the neighborhood. He discussed the landscape planting plan that included three mimosas and 40 perimeter 36” box trees. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of June 25, 2018 Page 3 Mr. Combs discussed the Tree Protection Plan guidelines in relation to construction and reported that several neighbors supported the removal. Chair Loosley joined the meeting. Public Comments: Vice-Chair Worthy opened the public hearing. Dr. Powers did not favor removal. Jim Lau, 2623 El Cerrito, supported removal. Vice-Chair Worthy closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the removal request and agreed it was a viable project. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROLPH, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, to approve the removal request based on removal would not harm the character of the neighborhood or environment and required three 15-gallon replacement trees to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removals. Motion passed 5-0-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY. ROLPH, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: LUCAS, O’BRIEN - 1768 Quail (6 pines) Judy Oldenkamp, applicant, discussed the removal request and stated that the trees had been poorly pruned and were top heavy and that some of them were sick. She was concerned some trees would fall in the wind tunnel area and that a few trees had already been removed. Mr. Combs stated the large trees had some disease evident but were overall, fairly healthy and that he could not make the findings to allow removal. He noted that the species was fairly stable. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Dr. Powers did not favor removal. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of June 25, 2018 Page 4 The Committee discussed the removal request and agreed the trees were healthy enough and should be monitored for health decline. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE CHAIR LOOSLEY, to deny the removal request, as the necessary findings for removal could not be made. Motion passed 5-0-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY. ROLPH, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: LUCAS, O’BRIEN - 1129 Islay There was no applicant to speak to the item. - 2623 El Cerrito (Cedar) Jim Lau, applicant, discussed the removal request and reported that the tree was out of scale for the area, was leaning, and that roots had damaged the sewer line. He noted that the nearby fruit trees would thrive if the cedar were removed. Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Dr. Powers did not favor removal. Jim Lau, 2623 El Cerrito, supported removal. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the removal request. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ROLPH, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, to deny the removal request, as the necessary findings for removal could not be made. Motion passed 5-0-2 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY. ROLPH, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: LUCAS, O’BRIEN NEW BUSINESS Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of June 25, 2018 Page 5 There was no discussion at this time. OLD BUSINESS There was no discussion at this time. ARBORIST REPORT  Recruitment of Temporary Urban Forest Services positions Mr. Combs recapped both items. The Committee discussed the proposal Matt Horn was working on pertaining to the revised guidelines for tree removals and agreed that they wanted to see a draft of the document, prior to finalization. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for Monday, July 23, 2018 at 5:00 p.m., at the Corporation Yard, 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE ON 07/23/2018