Loading...
2014-11-06 Tree Board MinutesEDMONDS CITIZENS' TREE BOARD APPROVED MINUTES November 6, 2014 The Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Meeting was called to order at 6:07 p.m. by Board Member Susan Paine in the Brackett Room, 3 d Floor City Hall, 121 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, WA. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Roy Smith Rick Zitzmann Barbara Harrell Susan Paine Darcy MacPherson Renee Travis BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT Anna Heckman Steve Hatzenbeler 1. CALL TO ORDER STAFF PRESENT Kernen Lien, Senior Planner Jeanie McConnell, Engineering Program Mgr. I Elizabeth Walker, Consultant Jeannie Dines, Recorder ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT Joan Bloom —City Councilmember Board Member Susan Paine called the meeting to order. 2. ROLL CALL All board members were present with the exception of Board Members Heckman and Hatzenbeler. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Board Member Paine requested the following changes to the agenda: • Reschedule Item 6b, Sound Salmon Solutions and Item 8a, Tree City USA Accounting, to next month's meeting • Add discussion of 2009 moratorium regarding removal of street trees. Board Member Zitzmann moved to approve the agenda as amended; seconded by Board Member MacPherson. Motion carried unanimously. 4. AUDIENCE COMMENTS — None 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. October Minutes Board Member MacPherson moved to approve the October 2014 minutes as amended; seconded by Board Member Zitzmann. Motion carried unanimously. Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Minutes November 6, 2014 Page 1 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Heritage Tree Program Update Board Member Zitzmann offered to email information to Mr. Lien regarding the process. Councilmember Bloom recalled the Council approved establishing a Heritage Tree program; an ordinance needs to be adopted outlining the process. Mr. Lien explained once an ordinance adopting a process is adopted, the Tree Board will submit recommendations to the Council nominating specific trees. The Council has final approval on trees designated as Heritage Trees. b. Sound Salmon Solutions Presentation Update This item was rescheduled to a future meeting via action taken under Agenda Item 3. 7. DISCUSSION a. Planning for December 4`" Public Meeting Mr. Lien relayed the schedule includes a public hearing at the end of the tree code revision process. He recommended holding the public hearing in the Brackett Room; he will notice the meeting. The public hearing will include a presentation by Ms. Walker regarding revisions to the tree code, public comment, Tree Board deliberation and a recommendation to the City Council. b. Moratorium on Removal of Street Trees Ms. McConnell explained following a discussion in 2009 about removal of street trees downtown, the Council adopted an indefinite moratorium on street tree removal with the exception of three plum trees on Dayton. When a resident recently approached the City regarding a tree in the right- of-way in front of their property that was lifting their driveway, a question was raised whether the moratorium applied. Staff determined that tree was a right-of-way tree, not a street tree, but the issue of the moratorium remains. City crews have adhered to the moratorium on removal of street trees in the downtown bowl; in places where street trees that have outgrown the space and are damaging infrastructure, crews have used other methods to maintain a walkable path. Ms. McConnell explained moratoriums are typically established for a specific purpose and duration while some review or action is taken. The City Attorney advised that absent an ordinance or resolution, the motion establishing the moratorium cannot be used to restrict tree removal that occurs with land use. It is appropriate for the Council to consider the moratorium with the Tree Board's input. Discussion followed regarding interest in a comprehensive tree code, equitable application of tree regulations to private land owners and the City, review of street trees as part of the Streetscape Plan, process for street tree removal, replacement of street trees, reviewing the Street Tree Plan to establish criteria/guidelines for removing/replacing trees and appropriate species, Council review of the right-of-way street policy, and street trees size and species. It was the consensus of the Tree Board Members present to recommend the Council lift the moratorium and to commit to updating the Street Tree Plan in the first quarter of 2015. Board Members agreed to postpone further discussion to a future meeting to allow input from Board Members Hatzenbeler and Heckman. Staff will email board members the latest Street Tree Plan. Ms. McConnell advised it is an identified issue but it is not urgent; she suggested postponing Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Minutes November 6, 2014 Page 2 further Tree Board discussion until January 2015. Public Works Director Phil Williams is providing an update to the Council regarding right-of-way and street trees at their November 10 meeting. c. Review of 2nd Draft of Code Revisions for Section 23.20 Ms. Walker advised additional edits have been made since the Tree Code was sent to board members. Mr. Lien described the evolution of the code revisions, relaying staff's interest in establishing a process for obtaining a tree cutting permit. Ms. Walker reviewed a matrix of activity/scenario, application/permit, removal criteria, and whether replacement is required. She also reviewed: • Three permit types for tree removal: 1. Administrative review 2. Type I Arborist Consult Permit (no notice required) 3. Type II Arborist Consult Permit (notice required) • Tree removal related to development does not require a separate tree removal permit but the criteria still applies Discussion followed regarding removal of hazardous trees; replacement tree species; disparity between the cost of a tree removal permit for a homeowner and developer; establishing removal criteria; clarifying administrative review and arborist consults; criteria for removal of more than two significant trees on a single family lot to improve the health of remaining trees; minimum tree density; allowing removal of improperly planted trees (wrong tree wrong place); allowing removal if tree density is met; public outreach regarding the revised tree code; criteria for removal of a landmark tree; effect tree removal has on the canopy; landscape plan that addresses tree removal for new subdivisions/short plats, multifamily, commercial and industrial, and consequences of providing insufficient information in a subdivision tree plan. Board members suggested several minor revisions during the discussion. (Board Member MacPherson left the meeting at 8:01 p.m.) Mr. Lien relayed plans to present the revised tree code to the Council prior to the Planning Board's review to describe policy considerations and staffing costs related to implementation. A brief discussion followed regarding information to include in the December 4 public hearing and public hearing notice requirements. Ms. Walker encouraged Board Members to contact Mr. Lien and/or her with any comments/concerns. 8. NEW BUSINESS a. Tree City USA Account and Reporting This item was rescheduled to a future meeting via action taken under Agenda Item 3. 9. TREE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS - None 10. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Minutes November 6, 2014 Page 3