2023-06-01 Tree Board MinutesE CITY OF EDMONDS
TREE BOARD
��� Summary Minutes of Regular Meeting
June 1, 2023
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Cass called the Tree Board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Board Members Present
Janelle Cass, Chair
Bill Phipps, Vice Chair
Wendy Kliment
Ross Dimmick (alternate)
Board Members Absent
Chris Eck (excused)
Kevin Fagerstrom (excused)
Crane Stavig(excused)
Staff Present
Deb Powers, Urban Forest Planner
Others Present
Jenna Nand, Edmonds City Council Liaison
It was noted that Andy Lyon had resigned from the Tree Board.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Board Member Dimmick read the Land Acknowledgement.
MINUTES:
l . Approval of May 3 and May 4 Tree Board Minutes
The May 3 Tree Board minutes were approved as presented.
The May 4 Tree Board minutes were approved as amended with the correction of the spelling of "Chair"
Cass under Call to Order.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda was approved as presented.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
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There were no audience comments.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Final 2023 Tree Board Work Plan/Budget - The Board expressed appreciation to Ms. Powers for the
layout and clarity. Councilmember Nand noted that this will be very useful for the future.
2. 2023 Event Planning:
• Garden tour signage — Board Member Kliment is waiting for tree info to make the signs. She and
Vice Chair Phipps will coordinate picking up and dropping off the stakes.
October Arbor Day event — Vice Chair Phipps reported that his trees are growing well. Board
members suggested that he take regular pictures of their progress.
Tree walking tour — Board Member Stavig was not present, discussion tabled until next month.
Project Status:
• Sierra Park — Vice Chair Phipps explained that according to Andy Lyon the interpretive signs have
been written, proofed, translated to Braille and are ready to print. Sign locations have been chosen.
They need help planting a few trees, moving a few signs, and installing one new sign. He noted they
still need to get approval from the Parks Department. Vice Chair Phipps said he has sent emails to
Sandy and Jim from the Lion's Club to let them know that he will be the point of contact going
forward.
Homeowner's Tree List — There was discussion about the need to update this list and consensus to
review this topic again when Board Member Stavig is present. Councilmember Nand suggested that
this could be a good basis for a tree voucher program once they figure out the administrative details.
Exceptional Street Tree Designation — Andy Lyon was the lead person for this project and due to
his leaving the Board, the project/program has stalled. Ms. Powers reminded the Board that the
nomination process, selection committee and other details would need to be clarified in
collaboration with Public Works and/or Parks department. Councilmember Nand suggested
reaching out to the Youth Commission to see if this would be something they would want to take
on. Ms. Powers noted that they break for the summer but could be contacted in the fall.
Councilmember Nand suggested considering having a joint meeting with the Youth Commission
because they have many similar interests (climate and environmental issues).
Vice Chair Phipps raised a conversation he had with Pam Tauer from the Climate Protection
Committee, who is interested having a book, map, and self -guided tour of notable trees on private
property in Edmonds. Chair Cass noted that Ms. Tauer might be interested in going on the garden
tour. Ms. Powers asked if it would be acceptable to the Board if she were to contact Ms. Tauer to
see if she would be interested in helping establish a Heritage Tree program as shown in the Urban
Forest Management Plan. Councilmember Nand suggested asking the Mayor about consulting with
the City Attorney to write a memo regarding the legal implications of using the term heritage versus
exceptional tree.
4. Tree Code Amendments — Staff Update:
• Ms. Powers explained that the bulk of the consultant's scoped public engagement was wrapped up
with the second Community Conversation event held May 15. She summarized public engagement
efforts for the tree code updates. The consultant's summary reports will be presented at the
upcoming Planning Board meeting and at all public hearings. Staff plans to discuss property owner
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tree removals draft code at the June 14 Planning Board meeting and discuss changes to the existing
development code on June 28. June 2811' is proposed to be a joint meeting with the Tree Board and
the Planning Board. Is this acceptable to the Tree Board? Ms. Powers noted the Tree Board could
consider the joint meeting be in lieu of the regular Tree Board meeting on July 6 if desired.
• Vice Chair Phipps said one Planning Board member he talked to said they were expecting some
sort of plan or proposal from the Tree Board on the tree code updates. Chair Cass noted that the
Tree Board already gave staff input, but until they see the draft code, they aren't ready to have an
opinion on it. Ms. Powers noted that staff understood the Tree Board wanted to provide their
recommendation to City Council; but could also make one to the Planning Board if they choose to.
• Chair Cass suggested keeping the July 6 meeting to discuss what was covered at the joint meeting
with the Planning Board.
Motion made by Chair Cass, seconded by Board Member Kliment, to hold a joint meeting
with the Planning Board on June 28 and its regular meeting on July 6. Motion passed
unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
1. 2015 Planning Board Public Hearing on Proposed Tree Code Amendments — Chair Cass requested the
Board view a video from a 2015 public hearing and discuss their impressions of that meeting. The
general summary was that there was public uproar at that time about private property tree removal
regulations. Board Member Kliment said that the Urban Forest Management Plan goals only point to
addressing tree codes related to development, then general education, and stewardship about trees. She
wondered if they are setting themselves up for a repeat of the 2015 public hearing. Vice Chair Phipps
thought that the 2015 public outcry was a result of a coordinated effort by a group of people in the Bowl
and was not representative of Edmonds as a whole. He expressed frustration that property owner tree
removal issues had been kicked down the road by the 2015 Council just because of public outcry. The
Board noted more concerns raised by the public in 2015. Councilmember Nand brought up more recent
issues with increased housing density and preserving tree canopy. Ms. Powers noted that in 2015, the
draft code was much more restrictive than what the Planning Board is considering now. She reminded
the Tree Board that the Planning Board and City Council requested to consider Phase 2 code
amendments for property owner tree removals in 2021 and confirmed the project scope in 2022.
2. Tree Board website updates
Motion made by Board Member Kliment, seconded by Chair Cass to table the Tree Board
website updates item to a later date. Motion passed unanimously.
3. Schedule Review of How the Tree Code Works - Vice Chair Phipps explained that studying how the
tree code works with specific developments on private property and visiting those sites is not really
something the Tree Board should do but they can do it on their own as citizens. Chair Cass suggested
in the fall they could have a mock scenario comparing a development with the old code to the new code.
Board Member Kliment noted that they have already done a mock scenario with the old code; they just
need to do it with the new one and compare the two. Vice Chair Phipps said he wanted to know how
the existing code works with development especially with regard to conservation subdivision as an
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incentive to retain trees. Ms. Powers noted she provided data on that topic at last summer's mock
development exercise but can provide the same information again if the Board requests.
There was consensus to schedule a walkthrough of a mock development scenario with the new
code in September.
TREE BOARD CHAIR/MEMBER COMMENTS
Vice Chair Phipps asked if they are going to prepare anything for the joint Planning Board meeting on the 28th.
Ms. Powers replied that she was not aware that it was expected or necessary.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
Next meeting: July 6
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