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2022-08-04 Tree Board MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS �, � TREE BOARD �•� Summary Minutes of Regular Meeting August 4, 2022 CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Vice Chair Bill Phipps called the Tree Board meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Board Members Present Bill Phipps, Vice Chair Chris Eck Bill Grant Andy Lyon Ross Dimmick (Alternate) Board Members Absent Wendy Kliment (excused) Janelle Cass, Chair (excused) Crane Stavig LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT — ROLL CALL Vice Chair Phipps read the Land Acknowledgement. AUDIENCE COMMENTS There were no audience comments. MINUTES: Staff Present Deb Powers, Urban Forest Planner Other: Laura Johnson, Edmonds City Council Representative (excused) The July 7, 2022 draft Tree Board minutes were amended to show that Board Member Lyon arrived late. The July 7, 2022 Tree Board minutes were approved as amended. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Phipps asked to discuss a note he received about ongoing tree plantings at Edmonds Elementary School under New Business. The agenda was approved as amended. Tree Board Meeting Minutes August 4, 2022 Pagel of 3 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Annual/Ongoing Events Report out: Garden Tour — Ms. Powers reported on the garden tour. The tree ID signage was a big hit as an educational tool. There was some discussion about where to store the signs and whether or not to remove the stakes from the laminated portion. Vice Chair Phipps will contact the Council Assistant to see if they can be stored in the Council office. Update on Summer Farmer's Market Booth — Vice Chair Phipps reported that they cashed the check so the booth is confirmed for October 1. He has planted about 30 conifers from his brother-in-law in gallon - size containers to be given away at the Farmer's Market booth. They still need some trees that are small to medium size when mature (about 30 of each size) for giveaways. Board Member Lyon and Vice Chair Phipps will look at Sky Nursery for two trees to raffle off. More brochures need to be printed. Vice Chair Phipps will need help transporting the trees. Board members will be needed to staff the booth. Board Member Eck volunteered to help with transport and with staffing the booth. Board Member Lyon offered his truck to transport trees. Vice Chair Phipps asked if anyone else is interested in helping to contact him prior to the next meeting. 2. Special Events/Projects Sierra Park interpretive sign project update — Board Member Grant reported on a Zoom meeting he and Vice Chair Phipps had with Parks Director Angie Feser regarding Sierra Park. There is a new chair for the Lion's Club who has met with Director Feser to discuss their involvement the park. Director Feser will be attending a board meeting at the Lion's Club on August 17 to discuss how they want to proceed. He would like to work on getting more tree labels up in the park. Board Member Lyon suggested the Tree Board purchase signs even if the Lion's Club doesn't do that. The Lion's Club used to maintain the park, but that hasn't been done lately. Board Member Grant will provide a list of trees that need signs to Board Member Lyon to review and confirm. Tree Walk at City Park — There was interest in the event but consensus to table the discussion for the next meeting when Member Kliment would be present. Tree code mock scenario "pop quiz," discuss proposed code amendments list — Ms. Powers discussed issues with code complexity, that it should be easy for all users. Board members discussed various code interpretations relating to different mock scenarios and possible code amendments/clarifications. Questions and answers followed. There appeared to be concern about the code's effectiveness with tree retention and replanting on development sites and collection of fees -in -lieu for tree replanting elsewhere. There was concern that the requirements are not equitable when applied to the heavily treed lots, versus less heavily tree lots. Vice Chair Phipps brought up the concept of net ecological gain and stated that any tree that is removed should be replanted. Ms. Powers agreed, said critical area requirements are an example of how that can be achieved. Ms. Powers said code should emphasize tree retention, then replanting, then fees in lieu to replant elsewhere in the city in order of priority. • Planning Board Tree Code update briefing report out —The new date for the joint meeting with the Planning Board is October 12. This gives the tree board two more meetings to delve into this topic. Tree Board Meeting Minutes August 4, 2022 Page 2 of 3 NEW BUSINESS 1. ECDC 1.05.0101 — Ms. Powers reviewed rules related to absences and reminded members to let the Chair know if they can't make it to a meeting. 2. Mission statement — Ms. Powers explained that Chair Cass feels that the Board needs to have a clear mission statement. This item was continued to the next meeting when Chair Cass would be present. TREE BOARD CHAIR, MEMBER COMMENTS Vice Chair Phipps commented on the Board's desired level of involvement with the tree code amendment project and the complexity of the issues. Ms. Powers commented that the Board has an advisory role with the Council and has committed to making a written recommendation to Council. Members discussed their comfort level with looking at and commenting on a pre -written draft code and advocating for the community. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Next meeting: September 1, 2020 Tree Board Meeting Minutes August 4, 2022 Page 3 of 3