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Home My WebLink About09/07/2004, A1 - APPOINTMENT RECOMMENDATION TO THE TREE COMMITTEE councilMwinsDm [A] acEnaa uEpoRt '�N..b� i C I T Y OF SAN LU I S O B I S P O FROM: Council Member John Ewan and Council Member Christine Mulholland Council Subcommittee for the Tree Committee Prepared By: Julie O'Connor, Deputy City Clerk SUBJECT: APPOINTMENT RECOMMENDATION TO THE TREE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION Appoint George Sistek to an unexpired term beginning September 27, 2004 and ending March 31, 2005. DISCUSSION A vacancy exists on the Tree Committee due to the resignation of Steve Caminiti. The Council Subcommittee interviewed four applicants on August 10, 2004 and is pleased to recommend the appointment of George Sistek to fill the unexpired term.. ATTACHMENTS 1. George Sistek's application . COUNCIL READING FILE All applications G:\Clerk\304 City Advisory Bodies\Tree Committee\Tree Committee Agenda Report 2004 J! ,111 F1.11 RECEIVED AOVISoay BOOy AppUcateon city of san Luis osispo II J SLO CITY CLERK � LarCL iSt2tG spas sys 9y2g NAME HOME PHONE `451 /i�GulrQ,/tLL �r � .,L✓,'S��'sPa 13*1 'M 5- Z3S- y/ZZ call RESIDENCE STREET ADDRESS CITY ZIP WORK PHONE Registered to vote? c g Live in the City Limits?A±L How long? Ever attended an advisory body meeting? PLEASE LIST THE ADVISORY BODIES YOU ARE APPLYING FOR: (2) (Supplemental Questionnaires and interviews are required for each). EMPLOYMENT(Present or last employer for school, if applicable])' 1 f 1 1 �! �e r n 'c � e-e 74 "f t�-4 a ��4 n C�jc'�e n L,.c,*A5e-0 04 4TG/.� Ts e- % EDUCATIION: /nr / �L.(,Ta r'N r/.c UeLvTiG fir.h•L. �/a TG L/i9 '✓LrSrT`7— l l Dat!'c./ �!`n.L Ytl ✓� J//A✓T cd/TrXC r RELEVANT TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATES OF TRAINING, LICENSE OR PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION: INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY,VOLUNTEER, PROFESSIONAL AND/OR ACADEMIC ORGANIZATIONS: 1V .1 L CURRENT OR PREVIOUS SERVICE ON CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ADVISORY BODIES(Please list names/dates)` 4 Jmdf4n_ How did you hear about this vacancy? Newspaper Ad Community Group_ Word of Mouth_ City Hall_ Website Other. please specify SPECIAL NOTES: (1) This application and supplement are "public documents" and are available for review upon request. (2) Applicants are advised that they may be requested to file a Statement of Economic Interest disclosing all reportable interests held by you at the time of appointment. If applicable, a copy of this form will be provided by the City Clerk. (3) Unless otherwise indicated, please fill out the attached Supplemental Questionnaire. Thank you. Applications are accepted year-round; however, if you are applying for a current vacancy,your application must be returned to the City Clerk by to be considered for the current round of interviews. G:304 CinAA,u,n hr, uh.'Appik t..nA S,,ppl...... 'dJrimn'Po plicariq,�I10/.Jw OFFICE USE ONLY- APPLICANT'S NAME ADVISORY BODY APPLIED FOR SCREENING RECOMMEND FOR INTERVIEW DATE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT_YES_NO SCREENING RECOMMEND FOR INTERVIEW DATE' COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT:_YES_NO TERM BEGINS: TERM ENDS: UNEXPIRED TERM: FULLTERM: COMMENTS: LTR SENT(Date) G:304 C'ilr Ad,w,)'thdio Applitmum,V Supplemcmal,Ad'lwq'&d)'d/'('lll. nl.Juv Advisory Body Application Supplemental Questionnaire - TknE COMMITTEE Citv of San Luis Obispo 1. Why do you want to serve on a City advisory body? As a resident of San Luis Obispo for 17 years, I regard the city's trees with a sense of ownership. I am completely committed to donating my knowledge, experience, and time in exchange for the opportunity to be an advocate for better public tree practices. Serving as a member of the City of San Luis Obispo Tree Committee Advisory Board is an avenue for me to use my expertise to return benefits back to our community. I also view the committee as an opportunity to raise public awareness about the importance of trees and urban forestry. 2. Why do you want to be a member of the Tree Committee and what do you hope to accomplish? The urban forest within the City of San Luis Obispo is a valuable asset to the city and its citizens. Unfortunately, the general public can undervalue urban trees. The city's trees are a precious resource that merit advocates to protect and advise on their health. As a member of the Tree Committee, I can work effectively with team members to create a forum for reviewing complaints, addressing safety issues, and assisting decisions regarding tree health. My goals are to assist the advisory board to make informed decisions regarding tree management though my extensive knowledge of Arboriculture, environmental planning, landscape architecture, maintenance, and construction. 3. Have you ever attended a meeting of the Tree Committee, or another City advisory body? What observations did you make? I attended a Tree Committee meeting three years ago. My overall impression of the meeting was that the applicants, understandably, had an adversarial attitude focused on the advisory board. This attitude most likely originates from the applicants lack of understanding concerning Arboriculture in an urban landscape. I have extensive experience working effectively through adversarial relationships using logical, horticultural based education and well-structured reasoning to resolve arboricultural conflicts. 4.What qualities,experience, and expertise make you a good candidate for the Tree Committee? My expertise as a certified Arborist, with over ten-years of experience in local landscaping, will bring substantial knowledge to the Tree Committee. The foundation Advisory Body Application Supplemental Questionnaire - TREE COMMITTEE Citv of San Luis Obispo for my career in landscaping is a California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo B. S. degree in Ornamental Horticulture with a concentration in Landscape Management. As a sole proprietor and as a foreman of local landscaping businesses, I have gained extensive experience with California native and ornamental plant materials and their required culture. For over three years, I managed large commercial landscapes located throughout the Bay Area, which required an extensive knowledge of landscape principles, as well as the ability to build successful working client relationships while also constructively resolving conflicts with clients and subcontractors. In addition to landscaping and Arborist qualifications, I have two years of environmental planning experience, which has provided me with knowledge of environmental compliance regulations along the Central California coast. In my current capacity, I am employed by the California Department of Transportation, District 5, as a Landscape Technician and Arborist. In this position I have extensive experience with visual assessments of construction projects in rural and urban settings. Significantly, I regularly conduct Arborist evaluations of trees in the state right of way managed by Caltrans. I have provided examples of typical submitted reports for your review. 5. In your view,what are some key tree-related issues in SLO? The City of San Luis Obispo's extensive urban forest forms the basis of the city's high aesthetic qualities. Similar to other areas of population growth in California, one of the challenges facing the city is integrating new infrastructure with existing,mature trees. The greatest challenge to the forest manager is balancing sound arboricultural practices while continuing to respect the landscape choices by private landowners and the safety concerns of the community. It is during these interactions that the arborist has the opportunity to foster greater public awareness of the benefits of trees and the importance of preserving the urban forest while continuing to build city infrastructure. 6. Is there any additional information about yourself you'd like to share? (Please feel free to attach a resume, if you have one). My diverse educational background and experiences are representative of the San Luis Obispo community and their commitment to maintaining and improving the health of the urban tree landscape. If appointed, I have the expertise and skills to provide a valuable addition to the City of San Luis Obispo Tree Committee. Through my years of effectively working with private landowners; federal, state, and local agencies; private consultant; and citizen groups, I have the developed the personal skills to communicate effectively while resolving potential landscape conflicts. P4 -4�;- Advisory Body Application Supplemental Questionnaire - TRL-,-! COMMITTEE City of San Luis Obispo Signature: Date: VZOY Attachment: Resume 3 GEORGE W. SISTER,Arborist 491 Lawrence Drive San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 545-9428 EDUCATION 1993 B.S. Environmental Horticulture, Landscape Management concentration California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo LICENSES International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist Lic.#WC-3553 California Landscape Contractor C-27 Lic.# 773165(inactive) REPRESENTATIVE California Department of Transportation,San Luis Obispo 3/22/01 to present EXPERIENCE Landscape Architect Technician Arborist: Prepare Arborist reports for maintenance and capital programs; Survey, evaluate, and map trees for removal due to poor health, safety,or construction conflicts; Communicate with maintenanceand tree crews regarding tree policies. Landscape Architecture: Assist landscape architects in the preparation and design of complex landscape projects; Review construction plans for consistency; Field studies and computer simulations of potential project impacts; Prepare presentation, graphic,and perspective drawings for landscaping and transportation structures and for visual and scenic resource studies;Advise and collaborate on use of cultivated and native plants, shrubs, and trees in varied landscaping settings. California Department of Transportation,San Luis Obispo 3/22/00 to 3/22/01 Environmental Planner Technical reporting according to State and Federal Laws and Regulations; Prepare Arborist reports for maintenance and capital programs; GIS mapping and analysis; Environmental analysis of proposed construction projects and modal and design alternatives Identify environmental impacts of transportation systems,corridors and projects and formulate measures to mitigate impacts;Prepare,review and process environmental clearance documents for transportation systems plans and projects in compliance with all applicable local, State and Federal laws,regulations and policies. Cultural Resource Management Service 11/20/99 to 3/22/00 Environmental Graphics Technician Digitize and illustrate archaeological site excavation features,site records,and soil profiles; Create project location maps using ArcV iew. Fort Hunter Liggett Military Installation 7/3/99 to10/30/99 Integrated Training Area Management Program Field Technician Botanical Analysis: Perform field-sampling studies on flora at Fort Hunter Liggett: Locate remote sites using topographic maps and Trimble GPS receivers; Establish plots as per sampling specifications; Identify,measure, record and analyze data taken from numerous species of California flora;Measure adjacent slopes;tree heights,and aspects using clinometer and compass. Valley Oak Analysis: Perform field sampling and data analysis on Valley Oak Trees: Locate randomly selected Valley oak specimens using Trimble GPS receivers; Perform 1Ql t City of San Luis Obispo Tree Advisory Committee July 2004 George Sistek Page 2 trunk coring using an increment borer; Measure and record: GPS location, DBH, juvenile oak population, ground disturbance,epiphyte density, aspect and degree of slopes,and associated floral species composition, propagation activities for valley oak plantations. Medallion Landscape Management,Inc. 4/96 to 3/99 Arborist and Operations and Account Manager Arborist: Arborist inspections, disease diagnosis,technical reporting and mapping; Estimate pruning,removal, and replacement of trees($150 to$38,000); Quality control and supervision of tree workers;Oversight on tree selection in urban settings. Management: Extensive client interaction and on site quality management; Assist clients with yearly landscape budget forecasting($36,000-140,000 yearly); Design, market, schedule, and supervise landscape upgrades; Schedule and assign daily and weekly crew agendas; Implement employee job training and education program; Review and implement safety training programs;Review job status reports,work orders and payroll invoices; Extensive communication with subcontractors,property managers, suppliers and crews. Maintenance and Installation: Design, proposal and oversight of installation and renovation projects;Inspect and verify landscape installations with blueprint specifications;Update and maintain blueprints; Proposal and oversight of large irrigation repair projects; Conduct soil analysis and prepare recommendations; Coordinate and estimate new account proposals; Conduct equipment maintenance, repairs,and purchases. Pest Management: Diagnose plant pests,diseases,and nutrient deficiencies in varied site conditions; Supervise and perform integrated pest management in compliance with Federal, State and County pesticide laws and regulations; Calibrate,mix,and apply landscape pesticides; Submit pesticide use reports to various county agriculture departments. Landscapes West 9/94 to 4/96 Landscape Construction and Maintenance Foreman Perform landscape design,maintenance,and construction activities forestate quality landscapes; Select, install,and maintain landscape trees;Train, supervise,and evaluate employees; Schedule daily landscape maintenance crew agenda;Assist with payroll and billing invoices; Supervise and perform irrigation installation, scheduling,and repairs; Implement turf/shrub fertilization and pesticide programs;Operate and maintain landscape power equipment; Extensive client interaction. San Luis Obispo County Agriculture Department 4/94 to 9/94 Agriculture Pest Detection Specialist Responsible for detecting exotic and agricultural invasive insects; Extensive knowledge of beneficial and harmful central coast insects; Data collection and analysis; Knowledge of Federal, State and County agricultural laws and regulation; Documentation of unsupervised daily activities; Extensive public interaction. Great Western Gardens 2/91 to 4/94 Principal and Landscaper Management and design of residential and commercial landscapes;Responsible for scheduled weekly maintenance, plant selection and installation; Propagation and sale of perennial plants; Pesticide and fertilizer analysis and application;Knowledge and compliance with Federal, State, and County pesticide laws and regulations. �-g City of San Luis Obispo Tree AaYisory Committee July 2004 George Sistek Page 3 USDA Forest Service,Stanislaus National Forest 6/85 to 8/90 Forestry Technician, Seasonal Supervise and train up to 5 crewmembers; Vegetation analysis and classification; Document daily logbook of crew activities; Radio monitoring and Communication; Perform over 300 hours of tree felling; Chainsaw and hand tool vegetation removal. AFFILIATIONS International Society of Arboriculture California Native Plant Society California Landscape Contractors Association City of San Luis Obispo Tree Advisory Committee July 2004 State of California Business, , ;prtation and Housing Agenev Memorandum To: Cathy Stettler Date: May I, 2003 Environmental Planning File No.: Mon-I PM 70.3 Culvert Replacement 05-OH0501 From: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/District 5 Office of Landscape Architecture Landscape Technician /Certified Arborist George Sistek Subject: Arborist Report On May 1,2003,a field review was conducted of the two Monterey Pines, Pinus radiata, located adjacent to the culvert on Highway 1 at Post Mile 70.3.The two 30"diameter at breast height(DBH)pines are located on opposite sides, northbound and southbound of the highway and are located within ten feet from the culvert's inlet and outlet respectively. Tree Health Northbound Pine Canopy The tree is approximately 35 feet tall. Overall visual observation of the limited canopy, although not vigorously growing, does not reveal signs of compromised health and suppressed growth patterns. The central leader has been removed for power line clearance and mature side lateral branching has occurred. Root zone One 12 " structural surface root was observed extending from the trunk to the culvert headwall. A vehicle turnout with exposed compacted soil is located 10' south of the tree. The edge of asphalt is approximately 7 feet from the trunk base. It appears that fill has been placed onto the root zone and around the trunk base several years prior to this inspection. Seasonal water should be readily available from the nearby unlined drainage ditch. Southbound Pine Canopy The 100+ foot tall tree is vigorously growing and is in excellent health. No major structural defects were observed. Root zone One 6"surface root was observed from the trunk extending over the culvert. A compacted dirt pedestrian path is approximately 10 feet from the trunk base. The edge of asphalt is approximately 4 feet from the trunk base. Seasonal water should be readily available from the nearby unlined drainage ditch. Projected impacts The proposed culvert replacement will necessitate trenching and soil excavation for removal and replacement of the existing culvert. The roadway will be trenched to remove the existing culvert, the new culvert installed, and a slurry cement backfill used to fill around the newly installed pipe to approximate highway level, which will then be paved over with approximately 6 inches of asphalt -1D concrete. The project will require a trench approximately 3 feet wide by 3 feet deep by 56 feet long. Typical methods of excavation are saw-cutting asphalt, then subgrade excavation by means of heavy equipment such as a backhoe shovel.. If typical excavation methods are applied, extensive root damage will be delivered to both Monterey Pines located adjacent to the culvert. Root system impacts to the pine located on the southbound side of the culvert will destabilize the tree creating a hazardous condition warranting complete tree removal. Root system impacts to the northbound pine are potentially less due to the angle of excavation but could still warrant tree removal depending on the severity and number of roots impacted. Mitigation Measures In order to minimize root system impacts, trenching activities will be completed by hand. Roots larger than 4 inches will not be cut. Roots smaller than 4 inches may be cut only if necessary. Any roots damaged or cut will be cut cleanly with a handsaw. Heavy equipment will not be allowed within either tree canopy drip zone. A CalTrans Certified Arborist will monitor all excavation activities. Both trees will be monitored quarterly for compromised health for a period of 2 years after construction activities have been completed. Should either tree's health decline to necessitate removal, no less than one#1 - size container sapling per inch of DBH (30) per tree removed, shall be planted and monitored for one year. Replacement species will be determined by a CalTrans biologist. State of California. Business, portation and Housing Agency Memorandum To: Steve Price Date: December 10, 2003 Deputy District Director Division of Maintenance and Operations File No.: SCR236 PM 0.8 Douglas Fir and adjacent property owner conflict From: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION/District 5 Office of Landscape Architecture Landscape Technician/ Certified Arborist George Sistek Subject: Arborist Report On December 10, 2003,a field review was conducted of the Douglas Fir tree located within CalTrans Right of Way, adjacent to southbound lane of Highway 236, at Post Mile .83. The adjacent property owner, Ken xxxxx of 14100 Big Basin Way, is requesting CalTrans to remove the tree due to potential limb breakage and tree sap dripping from the tree onto his vehicles and residence. The Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga memiesii, is approximately 80 to 90 feet tall and approximately 45 inches diameter at breast height. Overall,the tree appeared to be healthy and pest free. Visible and photographed areas of concern include: One 3"diameter by 10 foot long dead branch located 40 feet above ground level (Figure 4) • One 30 foot long secondary leader with 10-15 feet of embedded bark (Figure 1,.2,.3, & 5) Recent soil trenching and excavating for a carport foundation located 8 feet from the base of the tree (Figures 6&7) Recommendations • The dead branch should be removed due to the limb falling potential. • The secondary leader poses an unknown potential for breakage and subsequent damage. This type of twin leader growth with embedded bark will break at some time but it is impossible to forecast when the failure will occur.The two leaders are independently growing against each other. As each growth cycle occurs each leader increases its girth which increases pressure at the point of leader separation (Figure 1,2 &3). It is impossible to forecast when the pressure is sufficient to cause the secondary leader to sever from the central leader. Although the secondary leader will fall away from the primary leader, it could fall against an adjacent 60-foot redwood tree,which could potentially increase the damage to public and private property (Figure 5). Removal of the secondary leader would not adversely affect the overall health of the tree. However, preservation of the existing leader and limbs should be the highest priority during the secondary leader removal process. • The recent soil excavation(3 to 6 feet deep by 20 feet long) for the private residence's carport foundation most likely severed tree roots..I was unable to determine if any roots were damaged during the construction. No above ground buttress root flare was visible on the private residence side which would have indicated large roots in the area of excavation.The tree should be monitored in the following years for a decline in health due to possible root removal. Please feel free to contact me at 805-549-3014 with questions or comments regarding this memo. I 7q I - 13- I 4 .o�j`•.. 1 4 wa♦rel.'. to f !i + A 'ems'. ti `•'� • Y 1 r r :t• "i' ....'� ..Jt=t•+ ..... 1 t1,5�Feet: r�: Vie' :•,. A�� '�.' .+5'�"� �• • .;Y�� , CYC.{ � t , 15 .3 .�,�eF?-.;,._.- � s -"k�'+'ywF'.ui•^�1rt;. r � `- -! 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