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Home My WebLink About07-23-2018 TC Minutes Minutes TREE COMMITTEE Monday, July 23, 2018 Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Tree Committee was called to order on Monday, July 23, 2018 at 5:02 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, Elizabeth Lucas, Sean O’Brien, Rodney Thurman, Jane Worthy, Chair Scott Loosley Absent: Brian Rolph Staff: Ron Combs, Lisa Woske PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Dr. Will Powers, resident, reiterated his previous comments regarding several of the Garden Street replacement plantings being smaller than the mandated sizes. He felt the City needed to adhere to and follow up on their own rules and stated that if the matter wasn’t better addressed, he’d seek litigation to ensure compliance. This item was referred to staff. He also noted that 13 months later, there was still no replacement tree planted in front of the Fremont Theater, as had been required. Staff agreed to follow up. CONSENT AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES 1. Consideration of June 25, 2018 Minutes Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 23, 2018 Page 2 Alan Bate noted that notation of his name had been left off several of the voting action items and requested minutes be amended to properly reflect his voting record. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BATE, to approve the June 25, 2018 minutes of the Tree Committee as amended. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, LUCAS, O’BRIEN, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: ROLPH PUBLIC HEARINGS BUSINESS ITEMS 2. Tree Removal Applications - 1350 Osos (2 carob) Shane Williams, applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request and distributed pictures. He reported the Church was concerned about the pods from the overgrown trees being a trip hazard on the stairs and narrow walkways. He also noted low-hanging branches and was unclear whether the Church was allowed to prune the street tree. Mr. Combs reported they were healthy trees with some evidence of sunburn and he could not make his findings necessary to allow removal. He informed the applicant that they could hire a certified arborist who is authorized to work on city trees. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Dr. Powers did not favor removal. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the request and noted there was minor hardscape damage, the nuisance pods could be swept more diligently, and pruning would mitigate many of the concerns. Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 23, 2018 Page 3 ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE CHAIR LOOSLEY, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAS, to deny the removal request as the necessary findings for removal could not be made. Motion passed 6-0-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: BATE, LOOSLEY, LUCAS, O’BRIEN, THURMAN, WORTHY NOES: NONE ABSENT: ROLPH - 2145 Augusta Court (2 palms) Daniel Pease, applicant, discussed the removal request and stated the trees were too large for the area and were cracking the hardscape. He was concerned that the trees were encroaching on the JOA waterline and wanted to replace them with shorter species. Mr. Combs stated these were large, relatively healthy trees and he could not make his necessary findings for removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Dr. Powers favored removal. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. Committee members Bate and Thurman did not feel approval requirements had been met. The rest of the Committee discussed the application and agreed the trees were too large for the area and removing them would not harm that character of the neighborhood, noting there were other palms planted on the site. Chair Loosley further noted that the HOA Board had also approved the removal request. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER O’BRIEN, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LUCAS, to approve the removal request based on removal would not harm the character of the neighborhood or environment 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 4-2-1 on the following roll call vote: AYES: LOOSLEY, LUCAS, O’BRIEN, WORTHY NOES: BATE, THURMAN Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 23, 2018 Page 4 ABSENT: ROLPH - 817 Vista del Brisa (Eucalyptus) Harvey Minnick, 827 Vista del Brisa, neighbor and applicant’s representative, discussed the removal request, stating that the tree was too large and 30% of its canopy was hanging over his property. He reported that the wind blows debris and small branches and that heavy debris builds up and molds the roof and adjacent structures. He felt it had been pruned badly and that as it grew larger, it would become unstable and he was concerned about it falling and damaging the roof. Judy Groat, 1339 Diablo, neighbor and applicant’s representative, noted that the tree was only four feet from her fence, which had been damaged in the past by a dropping limb. She agreed the large canopy was heavy and misshapen and echoed Mr. Minnick’s concerns. She also was concerned that the continued drought would exacerbate insect infestations. Mr. Combs stated the medium-sized tree was healthy and that he could not make the findings to allow removal. Public Comments: Chair Loosley opened the public hearing. Dr. Powers favored removal. Chair Loosley closed the public hearing. The Committee discussed the removal request. Several members were concerned about the loss of a mature tree which was significant to the area and discussed pruning measures to reduce end weight. Other members favored removal due to hardship. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WORTHY, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER O’BRIEN, to approve the removal request based on undue hardship on the property owner and required one 15-gallon replacement tree to be chosen from the Master Street Tree list and planted within 45 days of tree removal. Motion tied 3-3-1 and therefore resulted in a denial, based on the following roll call vote: AYES: LOOSLEY, O’BRIEN, WORTHY NOES: BATE, LUCAS, THURMAN ABSENT: ROLPH Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of July 23, 2018 Page 5 NEW BUSINESS  Mayor’s Quarterly Meeting Chair Loosley reported that the discussion regarding the Urban Forest Management Plan was well received. OLD BUSINESS  Master Street Tree List Revisions Approved Mr. Combs reported that the Council approved the changes the Committee made to the Master Street Tree list, regarding requirements and instructions for planting. ARBORIST REPORT  Insect Control for Downtown Ficus Trees Freddy Otte and Bob Hill, City representatives, discussed the research and proposed management plan proposal that addressed managing the gnat, blackfly, and whitefly infestations in the downtown Ficus trees’ canopies. They reported that a type of wasp was going to be introduced into the area to mitigate the whitefly specifics and discussed the suggestion to use of pesticide drench in soils to treat the problem systemically. They would continue working with Cal Poly and the Agriculture Commissioner’s Office and report back to the Committee. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Tree Committee is scheduled for Monday, August 27, 2018 at 5:00 p.m., at the Corporation Yard, 25 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE ON 08/27/2018