2020-12-03 Tree Board MinutesEdmonds Citizens' Tree Boards
APPROVED MEETING NOTES
December 3, 2020 — 6:00 p.m.
1) Call to Order
Barbara Chase called the meeting at 6:00 am and read the Land Acknowledgement
Roll Call/Introductions
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT:
Barbara Chase, Vice -Chair
Debra Dill City Arborist
Frank Caruso, Vice -Chair
Kernen Lien, Environmental Program Manager (Dev. Serv.)
Bill Phipps
Gail Lovell — excused note taker
Suzanne Juergensen
CONSULTANTS PRESESNT:
Donna Murphy
Lexi Ochoa of Watershed Corporation
Doug Petersen
Ross Dimmick, Alternate
AUDIENCE MEMBERS signed in via zoom:
Mark Carlson
Richard Bologna
Kathy Archer
Jamie Worm
Beth Stimson
BOARD MEMBER(S) ABSENT:
ELECTED OFFICIAL PRESENT
Diane Buckshnis (note taker and transcriber)
Councilmember Kristiana Johnson (as guest)
ELECTED OFFICAL ABSENT
2) Approval of Agenda
Moved and approved with minor changes.
3) Approval of Meeting Notes
Moved and approved November 5, 2020 with no corrections. The following addition was made: There is a monthly clean
up citizen group in Southwest County that the Tree Board may want to help and Bill Phipps was to look into is.
4) Audience Comments
None
5) Old Business/Discussion
• Forterra follow-up.
Discussion occurred over the "Green City Partnership" and what the Tree Board needed to know before
recommending to Council. City's cost would be about $100K or 60% of total cost. It was determined not information
was achieved to understand this partnership. ACTION: 1) Suzanne to request a packet of information from Forterra
and to invite JoAnna Nelson to the February Meeting: 2) Tree Board Members were to review packet and to be
prepared for the next Forterra Meeting.
• Draft Tree Resolution:
Kristina Johnson reintroduced the Tree Board resolution that she brought forth back in March 2020. She had
incorporated suggestions from Bill Phipps and was intended to send it along to City Council. The purpose of the
resolution was to provide guidance and clarification of ideas and direction to the Planning Board and City Council.
NO additional feedback was given by Tree Board Members.
• Tree Root issue on 51h Avenue (Chase Bank)
Darrol Haug brought this forth as a comment back in March and had been following it for a long time. It discussed
and Tree Board was looking into it. The City has sent letter to Chase and Tree Board Members decided to do no
action and let Mr. Haug keep them apprised.
0 ACE Group
A local residential watchdog group had asked new member Doug Peterson to do a presentation and he was not at
the meeting; but Diane said that basically he would just do the presentation that the Tree Board did for the City
Council as the Board's year in review.
• City Arborist Job Description
Buckshnis said that for some reason the website has an Urban Forester as the City position whereas the job
description is for a City Arborist. Buckshnis said it was made clear to her by the Administration that the Tree Board
should not be reviewing or suggesting job description requirements. Debra Dill was going to follow through with
updating the website to reflect the actual job.
• Web Links Projects
Due to COVID-19 this project was not on the agenda.
• Tree Board Opening
Gail Lovell will be retiring and the application process was already in play. Buckshnis was to follow through to
determine if any positions were up for renewal and that Ross, due to his new job, wanted to remain the alternate
which is appointed each year by the Council President.
• Tree City USA -
Lexi Ochoa from the Watershed Company thanked Tree Board Members for their responses and providing volunteer
hour information for points for the growth award. The City surpassed the requirements.
• Tree Code Review
Kernen discussed the latest draft of the Tree Code and went specifically over the "new development" requirements
which would require a 30% coverage ratio. Other issues discussed were replanting requirements, fees, tree fund for
projects that can replant and exemptions (single family lots). Then other exemptions were discussed: nuisance
trees, lots not capable of being subdivided, etc. Financial incentives could be addressed as well as retaining so
many trees per year on lots (i.e., considering a maximum number of trees to be removed annually). Bill expressed
his disappointment about the no net loss and tree canopy coverage not being considered. Kernen acknowledged
Bill's concerns.
6) New Business
• Dave Jackson and Snohomish County Conservation District
This is a great group to contact regarding rain gardens.
• Partnering with citizens on tree planting:
Audience Member Jamie Worm stated that she and friends were available to plant trees, assist in replacing trees and
providing incentives to maintain trees. The discussion of tree planting in the bowl and recent complaints about red
alders being planted on Alder Street and Debra Dill said that the City has been conscientious about planting trees
that will not obstruct views in the bowl
7) Tree Board Member Ideas and Comments
• This was Gail's last meeting and everyone gave her kind words and Barbara said she had a gift and cards. Gail said
she enjoyed her time and will still be willing to help out in future plantings. Buckshnis said she wanted to THANK
Gail for the Tree Board Logo creation with her work with Sharon and starting the joint partnership with Edmonds in
Bloom.
• Tree Board should explore having a resource shelf in the Green Room that would have brochures and all the
information that the City receives from the Arbor Foundation.
• Tree Board should look into having a poster or wall sign to direct folks to the Green Room at City Hall. Issue to keep
in mind would be that it would have to be maintained by someone.
• Consider if the Tree Board should request that monthly walking tours to introduce people to all the unique trees in
Edmonds or do work on a virtual walking tour for viewing on the Website.
• Someone needs to take all the paper products that Gail has at her home.
8) Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 and next meeting is January 7, 2021 at 6:00 pm.