2016-04-28 Tree Board MinutesEDMONDS CITIZENS' TREE BOARD
Meeting Notes
April 28, 2016
The Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Steve
Hatzenbeler in the council chambers' Jury Room, 250 51" Avenue North, Edmonds, WA.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Steve Hatzenbeler
Barbara Chase
Barbara Durr
Albert (Jed) Marshall
Vivian Olson
Doug Petersen
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Crane Stavig
Rene Travis (alternate)
STAFF PRESENT
Jeanie McConnell, Engineering Program Manager
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Diane Buckshnis — City Council liaison
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Hatzenbeler called the meeting to order at 6:00.
2. ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTIONS
Guests introduced: Wendy Kendall, Brian Borofka of the Edmonds Architectural Design
Board, and Ken Peirce.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Approved, with the addition of a discussion item about topping of trees.
4. AUDIENCE COMMENTS
a. Wendy Kendall raised concerns about trees on a neighbor's property affecting her
home. Diane Buckshnis referred her to the City Council since it is an administrative
concern.
b. Brian Borofka was in attendance to observe the meeting.
c. Ken Peirce shared a non -significant tree list from the City of Lynnwood.
5. APPROVAL OF MEETING NOTES
April 7 meeting notes were approved.
6. OLD BUSINESS
a. Barb Durr and Doug Petersen discussed the May 5 event with Cass Turnbull, from
7:00 to 9:00 pm. Doug is in charge of refreshments. Steve will introduce Cass and
take care of details such as the podium and set up.
Barbara Durr will work on having handouts. Members will arrive after 6:00 pm. My
Edmonds News will record the talk and post the video to their website afterward.
Barbara has sent notices to the Seattle Times, the Herald, and My Edmonds News,
garden clubs, and about 12 other entities.
Multiple copies of the flyer were given to Edmonds Climate Protection committee,
perennial alliance, Micki McNaughton, Master Gardener Speaker series and intern
class, Edmonds Community College Horticulture Program. Tree Board members
Vivian Olson, Barbara Chase, and Barbara Durr distributed them in the community.
Sandy Chase sent out press releases to the newspapers and posted it on the City's
website.
b. Steve Hatzenbeler recapped the Tree Board report to the City Council. City Council
members Fraley-Monillas, Johnson, Nelson, and Teitzel made comments about trees
on private property, unintended consequences, incentivizing tree planting, and "Right
Tree, Right Place."
c. Diane Buckshnis and Steve Hatzenbeler commented on changes for the Tree Board:
change the meeting notice from being a "Special Meeting;" change report time to first
quarter rather than December (per the current ordinance); emphasize the word
"assist" in the current ordinance and Tree Board mission statement; emphasize
education about trees for citizens. Vivian Olson suggested the possibility of
simplifying the Tree City USA application.
7. NEW BUSINESS
a. Steve reported on the meeting with Micki McNaughton of the WA Department of
Natural Resources. She gave good advice such as referencing already existing
documents such as the City's Comprehensive Plan to tie our suggestions for tree
ordinances etc. That gives more weight and credibility to Tree Board
recommendations.
b. Steve recommended that Tree Board members take the Tree Board University online
program to pursue a Tree City USA Growth Award.
c. The June meeting will feature City Attorney Jeff Taraday. The board is encouraged
to suggest questions or concerns to Jeff. Give them to Steve to pass on to Jeff.
d. Jed Marshall will research the EPA Water Quality Scorecard and bring a summary to
the Tree Board June meeting.
e. The Tree Board is interested in posting recommended tree lists for view and non
view areas on our web site. These lists should come from other existing standards,
rather than creating our own. These lists should be consistent with other city policies
already in place such as the Street Tree Plan (part of the Comprehensive Plan).
f. An article about Leyland Cypress and alternatives was posted on My Edmonds
News. There was a question asked about the legality of topping trees. Kernen Lien
answered via email that the topping of a tree is regulated by ECDC 18.45. Topping is
an alteration and is subject to critical areas regulations. There are exemptions if a
tree or trees were topped previously. Cutting them to a previously topped level is
considered "ordinary maintenance" so a row of Leyland Cypress can be topped to
maintain as a hedge, for example.
8. TREE BOARD MEMBERS COMMENTS
Edmonds Engineering Program Manager Jeanie McConnell informed us of the Green
Resource Center which is in the final stages of completion. It is on the 2nd floor of City
Hall and will be available to the public for more information about various ecology related
subjects and environmentally friendly development approaches.
ADJOURNMENT
The Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board adjourned at 7:55 pm.
Next Event: Cass Turnbull speaks at the City Council Chambers from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on
Thursday, May 5. Topic will the Seven Myths of Site, Selection, and Care of Trees.
Future Meetings: June meeting, Thursday, June 2, 2016
July meeting, Thursday, July 7, 2016
Notes submitted by Barbara Chase, Secretary