2021-12-02 Tree Board Minutes`f' ''(, Approved Meeting Notes MG
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I; Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board
ZOOM ON LINE SERIES
Edmonds WA
December 2, 2021
6:00 pm
1) Call to Order
Frank Caruso called the meeting at 6:09 am and read the Land Acknowledgement
Roll Call/Introductions
Attendees: Tree Board Members: Barbara Chase (vice chair), Frank Caruso (vice chair), Bill Phipps, Suzanne
Juergensen, Donna Murphy, Doug Peterson, .
Diane Buckshnis as City Council Liaison
Staff: and Kernen Lien and Deb Powers from Development Services
2) Approval of Agenda
Edmonds Walk and Tree Tags were added to the agenda and then approved.
3) Approval of Meeting Notes
Moved and Approved the meeting notes in November. Moved and approved the June notes and Suzanne will
send Jana the members that were in attendance.
4) Audience Comments
None
5) Old Business/Discussion
• Edmonds Walk
Suzanne would like to create and event where a Council Members take individuals on a walk in the
downtown area to identify the trees. Doug suggested that we move to the outer areas of town to look at the
tree and use various neighborhoods. Doug also suggested using our new urban forester Deb Powers.
Deb suggested that we may want to try to coordinate it with Arbor Day. Bill was concerned that there is not
enough concentrated trees in the downtown area or if there were any history. It was suggested that Rich
Lindsay be tapped for his knowledge of the City street trees and Barbara said she would help. This will be
an agenda item for next month's agenda.
• Tree Tags
Donna will be working on the tree tags for next year. She suggested the Tree Board think about using
permanent tree tags. This will be added to the agenda for next month's agenda.
• Edmonds Elementary
Barbara updated the Tree Board on the planting we did at Edmonds Elementary and the new principal met
with Barbara and was very pleased with the Tree Board. Barbara suggested that this project still remain on
our radar.
• Tree Board Openings
Brian Doyle resigned in September. Doug Peterson, Frank Caruso and Barbara Chase will all be retiring
and the application process was already in play. Ross Dimmick, due to his new job, has asked to remain
the alternate which is appointed each year by the Council President.
6) New Business
• Tree Code Review
Frank brought up issues of the tree code and concerns regarding how confusing it was. Donna concurred.
Doug brought up the education aspect and that the Tree Board needs to educate the citizens on the new
tree code. Tree education needs to occur where the Tree Board created "tree code cliff notes" that may
help citizens understand it. Deb Powers discussed that the "intent of the tree" code was good, that the
complexity of the code is a result of the many people/groups involved, including the legal aspect. Donna
indicated that the tree code needs to be more prominent on the web and then bring up permitting. Deb
Powers suggested to look at the City of Kirkland and search Trees. Kernen talked about the process of
phase 2 and that will be coming forth next year. Donna agreed with the City of Kirkland being a good
source as in addition to the code, there is a separate aspect of education. Barbara brought up enforcement
of the code.
7) Tree Board Member Ideas and Comments
• Suzanne suggested that we might want to meet with the individual that runs Farmer Frog and that she
works a lot with schools.
• Frank brought up the idea of re-engaging with the library as they had approached us
• Donna brought up the issue of keeping Forterra on the forefront for grant writing.
• Doug asked about the web link that Suzanne had started and that her computer crashed and as such the
web link project when on hold.
• Doug gave us a great hurray as we move forward and work towards educating the importance of trees.
• There will be a party when COVID is over to celebrate Frank, Doug, Barbara and Gail.
8) Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 7:13 and next meeting is February 3, 2021 at 6:00 pm, allowing Council enough time to
appoint new Tree Board members in January.