2011-04-07 Tree Board MinutesCity of Edmonds
Citizen Tree Board
Minutes
April 7, 2011
Members Present: Joan Bloom, John Bottom, Anna Marie Heckman, Dawna Lahti, Sandy
Seligmiller, Laura Spehar, Barbara Tipton
Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Planner Kernen Lien, Park Manager Rich Lindsay, Arborist Dave Timbrook,
Public Works Director Phil Williams
Tree City USA
The centerpiece of this meeting's discussion was the requirements to achieve Tree City USA
status.
Standard 1: Tree Board; Ordinance 3807, unanimously passed by the City Council,
established a citizens advisory tree board effective September 1, 2010.
Standard 2: Community Tree Ordinance; city staffer Kernen Lien provided the board
members with links to ordinances, policies, and procedures relating to trees
o The main tree cutting and protection standards are located in Edmonds
Community Development Code (ECDC) 18.45.
o There are also some tree specific regulations in the critical area ordinance which
is contained with ECDC 23.40 — ECDC 23.90. Particularly ECDC
23.40.220.C.7.b which relates to the removal of hazardous trees within a critical
area and ECDC 23.90.040.0 which pertains to the retention of native vegetation
on undeveloped lots or land that can be subdivided in single family residential
zones (RS-12 and RS-20).
o The informational handout, Tree Removal and Trimming in Right -of -Ways, is
available to citizens who inquire about tree cutting permits.
o The 2010 update of the Street Tree Plan relates to the planting and maintenance
of trees in specific geographic areas within the city.
o It is recognized that pieces of a tree ordinance are scattered within the city's
codes, policies, and procedures. Barbara Tipton and Kernen Lien will meet at city
hall before the next regularly scheduled Tree Board meeting to discuss what
elements in the sample Tree Ordinance, written by USDA Forest Service Urban
and Community Forestry Program, are missing from our city code.
Standard 3: Community Forestry Program with an Annual Budget of at least $2 per
Capita; The Park Department's total annual budget is approximately $82,000. According
to Rich Lindsay, Parks Department employees track their work by project so it is
possible to ascertain whether Edmonds would meet the $2 / resident Tree City
requirement. Phil Williams and Rich Lindsay volunteered for this action item. Anna
Heckman provided them with the Tree City Standard 3 worksheet along with a list of
expenses that may be counted towards the $2 per capita expenditure.
Standard 4: An Arbor Day proclamation and observance; an Arbor Day proclamation will
be sent to Mayor Cooper's for his signature. Laura Spehar volunteered to provide the
mayor's administrative assistant with a copy for the mayor to sign.
o The board has tentatively scheduled the celebration to take place on the first
Saturday of October 2011. Anna Heckman reminded us that the best time to
plant is in the fall, so it would behoove us to celebrate in October. There is a
perception among the general public that the best time to plant is in the late
spring or summer. One of our goals is education and public outreach, and by
holding our celebration in the fall we can bring awareness to Edmonds residents.
o The board will work with Rich Lindsay to have the event at a city park because
the Parks Department has already developed planting plans for specific parks.
Other Business
Phil Williams wanted to know to know if we had defined our scope of work. Anna Marie
Heckman indicated that the main focus would be on trees in public areas such as parklands.
However, the group agreed that we have the ability to go further for "the greater good" and
address preservation and protection of trees on private property. The ordinance establishing the
Tree Board does not limit the activities to public areas.
Continuing education:
• The 2011 Urban Forest Symposium will take place on May 9t" from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
at the Center for Urban Horticulture at 3501 NE 41st Street in Seattle. There is a
possibility that the City of Edmonds could reimburse Tree Board members for the
registration fee.
• Online education is available from the Tree Board University which is designed for
people who serve on citizen tree boards. http://www.treeboardu.org
• The Oregon Urban Forestry Conference is scheduled for June 2, 2011 in Portland.
http://www.ohcs.oregon.gov/ODF/URBAN FORESTS/docs/StateUCFconf.pdf?qa=t
Several members expressed the need for a mission statement. It was decided that our mission
statement can be built from the ordinance that established the Tree Board. Anna will draft a
statement for review from the members.
Dawna Lahti wrote an article for publication in the Edmonds Beacon. The subject is special
trees within downtown Edmonds. The article will provide citizens with a "tour" of trees that are
beginning to bloom. The board members were delighted with the article and did not suggest any
changes. Laura Spehar, who has established a good relationship with the editor of the Beacon,
will work with Dawna Lahti on press releases and future articles. Dawna has asked the board
members to submit ideas for future articles.
Kernen Lien volunteered to contact the city's Information Technology Manager to set up a group
e-mail address so that Edmonds residents could contact the Tree Board members with
questions and concerns.
Arborist Dave Timbrook volunteered to track down the list of Heritage Trees that are located in
Edmonds.
Laura Spehar is on the Friends of the Edmonds Library Board. Barbara Tipton suggested that
we might consider having an area in the library in which we stock books and pamphlets as a
resource to citizens interested in learning more about trees and the natural world.
Laura pointed out that people are interested in learning about the natural environment. The
county's Surface Water Management Division recently hosted a workshop geared towards
Snohomish County residents owning property on bluffs overlooking Puget Sound. Nearly 100
people were in attendance. At the workshop citizens learned how to reduce the risk of slides by
planting vegetation to maintain slopes and, at the same time, maintain views.
Looking far ahead, we noted that the next step after achieving Tree City certification will be to
win a Tree City Growth Award.
htt0://www.arborday.ora/Droarams/treeCitvUSA/arowthAwards.cfm
Once we obtain Tree City status, additional grant funding would be available. Approximately
$10,000 is available in grant funds from the state's Department of Natural Resources.
Public Comment Period
No citizens chose to speak.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm
Respectfully submitted by:
Barbara T'I,�tovL
w0 vueso olU, A U �-j, 2011