HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-26-2020 TC MinutesMinutes – Tree Committee Meeting of October 26, 2020 Page 1
Minutes
TREE COMMITTEE
Monday, October 26, 2020
Special Meeting of the Tree Committee
CALL TO ORDER
A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Tree Committee was called to order on Monday,
October 26, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. via teleconference by Chair Alan Bate.
ROLL CALL
Present: Committee Members Elizabeth Lucas, Allen Root, Rodney Thurman, Vice
Chair Jane Worthy, and Chair Alan Bate
Absent: Committee Members Scott Loosley and Sean O’Brien
Staff: Ron Combs, City Arborist and Megan Wilbanks, Deputy City Clerk
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.Consideration of the Tree Committee Meeting Minutes of September 28, 2020.
ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY
VICE CHAIR WORTHY, CARRIED 5-0-2 (Member Root abstaining, Member Loosley and
O’Brien absent), the Tree Committee approved the Minutes of September 28, 2020.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
None
--End of Public Comment--
TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS
2.529 Hathway Ave.
City Arborist Combs provided a presentation and responded to Committee inquiries.
Public Comment:
None
--End of Public Comment—
Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of October 26, 2020 Page 2
The applicant, Alvin White, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project.
ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER ROOT, SECONDED BY
COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, CARRIED 4-1-2 (Vice Chair Worthy dissenting,
Members Loosley and O’Brien absent), to approve the Tree Removal Application and require
that applicant plant a 24-inch box tree from the City’s approved planting list. The Committee
provided the following recommendations on species: Chinese Pistach, Crepe Myrtle, or
Jacaranda.
BUSINESS ITEMS
3.New Business: Review of a proposed removal of 56 onsite trees and replanting plan of 342
trees (including 28 palms) as part of a residential/mixed-use project located at 3580 / 3584
Bullock Lane that includes 192 residential units, 8 of which would be residential live-work
units with commercial office space.
Contract Planner John Rickenbach provided a presentation and responded to Committee
inquiries.
Public Comment:
Will Powers
--End of Public Comment—
The applicant, Barry Ephraim and John Young, and their representative, Rick Polhamus and
John Moule, provided a brief overview of the tree removal project.
ACTION: UPON MOTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBER THURMAN, SECONDED BY
CHAIR BATE, CARRIED 5-0-2 (Members Loosley and O’Brien absent), the Tree Committee
is in support of the project with the following recommendations to the Planning Commission:
•The applicant should remove the Bird of Paradise from the tree replanting list because that
species is a shrub
•The applicant should plant Coast Live Oaks as street trees and ensure that there is at least
8 feet of clearance for these large trees.
•Ensure that the rate of tree replacement continues to be greater than 1:1
4.New Business: Consider modifications to the Tree Removal Application
ACTION: By consensus, the Tree Committee approved the modified Tree Removal
Application.
Minutes – Tree Committee Meeting of October 26, 2020 Page 3
5.Old Business: Continued discussion to set the Tree Committee Goals for 2021-2023
Staff will continue to work with the Tree Committee to develop a comprehensive list of goals
before the December 15, 2020 deadline. Listed below are some examples of goal that were
proposed:
•Develop a Comprehensive Urban Forest Management Plan
•Budget for a Development Review Arborist full time position
•Invest in citizen and stakeholder education
•Install interpretive signage for urban forest education in the Downtown corridor
•Increase pruning frequency to be scheduled in advance of pavement maintenance rotations
COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
6.Arborist Report: The Committee received an update on the status of the City Arborist
position.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. The next Special Meeting of the Tree Committee has
been rescheduled to Monday , December 7 , 2020 at 5:30 p.m. via teleconference.
APPROVED BY THE TREE COMMITTEE: 12/07/2020