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2020-08-06 Tree Board MinutesEdmonds Citizens' Tree Board APPROVED MEETING NOTES August 6, 2020 The Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Board Member Barbara Chase via Zoom meeting, Edmonds, WA. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT Barbara Chase,Co-Chair Debra Dill, Parks Department Frank Caruso, Co -Chair Kernen Lien, Environmental Programs Manager Gail Lovell Doug Petersen Bill Phipps Suzanne Juer ensen Donna Murphy Ross Dimmick Alternative BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: ELECTED OFFICIAL PRESENT Diane Buckshnis, Kristiana Johnson, City Council ELECTED OFFICAL ABSENT CALL TO ORDER: Barbara Chase called the meeting to order, reading the Land Acknowledgment Statement ROLL CALL: All Board members were present. Each member reintroduced themselves. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Agenda approved with the additions of updates regarding Farmers' Market, Tree Tags, Arbor Day and future plans for 2020. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from March were moved to be approved at the next meeting, due to the extended break in meetings due to Covid-19. AUDIENCE COMMENTS: Due to Zoom meeting format, all audience participation was requested via email. Discussion regarding how to move forward with comments in Zoom format. Katy Bigelow emailed inquiring how audience input can be received in future meetings. OLD BUSINESS: None noted NEW BUSINESS: a. Planting Native Trees/Shrubs on Edmonds Elementary School Property Barbara reached out to the new principal and fifth grade teacher at Edmonds Elementary School regarding planting trees near the field along the fence. Barbara met Debra on -site and created a plan to replace the apple tree with native trees. It was received positively from the principal and the teacher, with native tree suggestions that can be incorporated into the curriculum. This project cannot move forward until September and according to Barbara, the facilities supervisor, Matt Finch, reported that this project can only be performed on Saturdays. There is $1000.00 in the budget to move forward. Doug moved; Suzanne seconded. It was passed unanimously. b. Schedule for Amending Tree Regulations Update from Kernen: He plans to have a broad overview of Tree Codes planned for discussion for the Sept 1 st City Council meeting and the Sept 9t" Planning Board meeting. Discussion of such included: "When is a tree, a tree?", "What do the surrounding municipalities have for their tree codes?", tree retention and tree vouchers; will there be a distinction of tree species? What types of economic incentives can we put into place to encourage keeping a percentage of the tree canopy? What about a tree bank? Can we refer to the Tree Code that the consultant wrote to take a look at the past suggestions? The timeframe for adoption of the Tree Code is Early 2021. c. 2020 Annual Report to the City Council It is rescheduled to Sept 1st and will be presented via Zoom by Frank and Donna. d. City Street Trees Gail and Debra met and have been perusing the Shoreline and Lake Forest Park manual one page/ one tree at a time. It should be completed by mid -September. e. Tree Tags Bill would like to hang up the tree tags, from last year, in downtown which identifies the trees and its environmental/monetary benefits information. According to Ross, the algorithms used by the National Tree Benefit Calculator are incorrect. Discussion around using the tags for their informational purpose and later correct the economic/environmental ensued. After discussion about the making a temporary correction to the tree tags by taping over the misinformation, then Bill and Ross can meet to make corrections for the future tags. Voted to hang tags without correct information was not passed; subsequent vote to hang tags with correct information, passed. Discussion also included using the tags for social media outreach/educational purposes like a "bingo" tree ID board or some type of social media outreach. Donna will follow up. TREE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS: Gail is working with Suzanne on the brochure, and they will reach out to Shane Hope. Bill would like to further explore the Tree Bank and Diane also suggested Redmond Watershed. City street tree manual to be complete in fall (not mid -September). Arbor Day planting may need to be coordinated with Edmonds Elementary School and social distancing protocols will need to be intact. Note taker for next meeting is Ross Dimmick ADJOURN: The meeting was adjourned at 7:40p.m.