2015-04-09 Tree Board MinutesEDMONDS CITIZENS' TREE BOARD
APPROVED MINUTES
April 9, 2015
The Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m. by Chair Hatzenbeler in
the Brackett Room, 3rd Floor City Hall, 121 51" Avenue North, Edmonds, WA.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Steve Hatzenbeler, Chair
Anna Heckman, Vice Chair
Ronald Brightman
Barbara Harrell
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Barbara Durr
Rick Zitzmann
Renee Travis (Alternate)
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Hatzenbeler called the meeting to order.
2. ROLL CALL
STAFF PRESENT
Rich Lindsay, Parks Maintenance Manager
Kernen Lien, Senior Planner
Jeannie Dines, Recorder
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Joan Bloom —City Councilmember
All board members were present with the exception of Board Members Durr, Zitzmann and Travis.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chair Hatzenbeler requested Item 6a, Heritage Tree Program, be removed from the agenda as
Board Member Zitzmann was absent. Mr. Lien requested Item 7d, Moratorium Against Street Tree
Removal Downtown, be moved to next month so Jeanie McConnell could be present.
Board Member Brightman moved to approve the agenda as amended; seconded by Vice Chair
Heckman. Motion carried unanimously.
4. AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Janice Freeman, Edmonds, Sustainable Edmonds, reported Governor Inslee proclaimed the cities
of Bellevue, Edmonds, Kirkland, Mercer Island and Seattle "Northwest Solar Communities"
acknowledging their various initiatives that have increased residential solar installations by nearly 200
percent since 2013. She said if the drought continues in California's central valley, vegetables may
become scare and more expensive and there will be more demand for people to grow their own
vegetables. Gardens require sun which needs to be considered when discussing right tree, right
place. Vice Chair Heckman commented those cities also have very high tree canopies.
Valerie Stewart, Edmonds, Planning Board Member, thanked the Tree Board for guiding the
development of the Tree Code. The Tree Code was recent presented to the Planning Board; the
reaction of most board members was it is too much regulation in one fell swoop. She was concerned
there will be an outcry from citizens with regard to private property rights as well as that the
regulations will require at least two additional staff members. Planning Board members were asked to
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submit questions and comments. She suggested the size/diameter threshold for regulated trees be
reevaluated. The Board discussed whether to pursue an Urban Forestry Plan before implementing a
Tree Code. However, because things take a long time, she was concerned with setting aside the
Tree Code until an Urban Forestry Plan was developed.
Mr. Lien relayed the Planning Board will have a work session on April 22 and a public hearing is
scheduled in May. Vice Chair Heckman suggested inviting Elizabeth Walker, the consultant who
assisted with drafting the Tree Code.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. March 5, 2015 Minutes
Changes to meeting dates were noted in the minutes:
• Item 7c: The date of the Council presentation was changed to April 14.
• Item 8: The date of the public hearing was changed to May 13 and the dates of the Planning
Commission's recommendation and presentation to the Council were changed to TBD.
Vice Chair Heckman moved to approve the March 5, 2015 minutes as amended; seconded by Board
Member Brightman. Motion carried unanimously.
6. OLD BUSINESS/DISCUSSION
a. Goals for 2015
• Heritage Tree Program
This item was removed from the agenda under Agenda Item 3.
• Outreach and Education
Chair Hatzenbeler reported Dawna Lahti and he have discussed the possibility of a tree planting
event this spring. He assumed the Tree Board would staff a table one Saturday during the
Market. Vice Chair Heckman offered to make a reservation.
• Tree Board Staff Support from City
Councilmember Bloom reported at the Council retreat subcommittees were formed to address
several priorities including staff support for boards and commissions. Staff members Carrie Hite
and Shane Hope, Council President Fraley-Monillas, Councilmember Buckshnis and herself met
this week. Staff plans to ask the Council to allocate a portion of $20,000 available in the 2015
budget for support for a Diversity Commission. Ms. Hite recommended allocating $10,000 for
contract staff support for the Tree Board. The intent to have the Tree Board provide its annual
report on April 14 and for the Council to consider a request for a budget allocation to hire a
contract staff person for 12 months to support the Tree Board with the list of tasks in the March
minutes.
Discussion followed regarding staff support for the Tree Board, concern the Tree Board is not a
political priority, the Board's mission/vision versus the support provided, attrition on the Tree
Board, the Tree Code as an example of what the Tree Board can do, difficulty for the Tree Board
to organize/oversee an Arbor Day event, tasks the consultant would assist with, staff support
provided to other boards/commissions, and who will oversee contract staff.
• Marina Beach PAC
Board Member Brightman reported the primary issue is extending the daylighted Willow Creek
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through Marina Beach Park to Puget Sound. Three alternatives have been developed. The
project has the potential to attract grants. The key elements are salmon enhancement, Marina
Beach Park uses including parking and the off -leash dog park. He circulated documents
presented at the PAC meeting. The width of the creek buffer is still under consideration.
Ms. Stewart, a member of the PAC, relayed there are three interest groups participating in the
PAC: salmon, dog park and park users. The buffer width has a potential impact on grant funding;
buffer averaging would allow more flexibility.
Mr. Lien relayed one of the Port's concerns is that the daylighted Willow Creek not interfere with
the seawall and other utility lines. The buffer is regulated by the critical area regulations; a salmon
bearing stream requires 100-foot buffers.
Mr. Lindsay commented on the popularity of Marina Beach Park and the off -leash dog park.
There will need to be a balance between salmon and park users. He explained before a
stormwater improvement project in Marina Beach approximately 10 years ago the salmon went
up that line into the marsh; following that project, the salmon can no longer use it which was one
of the big reasons for this project.
Discussion followed regarding parking, the options, and involving the Tree Board in vegetation
decisions regarding for the park and buffers.
Board Member Brightman distributed a list of noteworthy Edmonds Trees (location and species)
that could be a basis for an Edmonds Tree Tour. He offered to provide it electronically for
possible inclusion on the Tree Board's FTP site.
7. NEW BUSINESS
a. Arbor Day Observation and Proclamation
Chair Hatzenbeler said Dawna Lahti and he are discussing a spring tree planting event at College
Place Elementary. He and Vice Chair Heckman visited the site to determine a logical location. Mr.
Lindsay relayed an opportunity for tree planting this fall near 86th & Main.
b. Council Presentation: April 14, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Chair Hatzenbeler anticipated the discussion will be primarily the Tree Code and the request for
staff support. He will make the presentation and encouraged board members to attend. Discussion
followed regarding what to include in the Council presentation.
• Mission statement and goals
• Need for a contract staff person to oversee and promote Tree City USA
• Grant funds available from Tree City USA
• Vacancy on the Tree Board
Discussion continued regarding a Parks employee taking the test in June to be a certified arborist,
lack of staff to implement the Tree Code, someone taking over the Tree City USA renewal from
Vice Chair Heckman by year end, establishing a dedicated fund for Tree City USA grants and
donations, and donations made for flower baskets/corner gardens.
c. Street Tree Plan Update
Mr. Lien reported the Street Plan is part of the City's Streetscape Plan which is an element of the
Comprehensive Plan. As part of the Comprehensive Plan update that is due mid -year, the City is
looking at the Streetscape Plan; the Street Tree Plan is an appendix to the Streetscape Plan. The
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Street Tree Plan identifies trees to be planted in primarily the bowl and other corridors. The intent
is minor amendments to the Street Tree list for this year's update and an overhaul of the Street
Tree Plan in 2016. Mr. Lien distributed a list of the key map changes; the 2015, 2010 and 2006
Street Tree Plan map; and photographs of Columnar Bowhall Maple, Kwanson Flowering Cherry,
Sargent Cherry and Capital Pear.
Mr. Lindsay relayed there are some trees in the Street Tree Plan that have not performed well.
The Planning Board recommended planting Kwanson Flowering Cherry trees on Main from 9th to
Five Corners. They are a beautiful tree in a park -like setting but do not perform well as a street
tree. He proposed the following:
• Replace European Hornbeam with Capital Pear
• Replace Sargents Cherry with Bowhall Maple
• Replace Kwanson Flowering Cherry with Capital Pear
Board Member Brightman pointed out the trees in front of City Hall are Managua Cherry not
Sargent Cherry.
Vice Chair Heckman said if Main Street is a wind corridor, pears are prone to breakage. Mr.
Lindsay asked for Tree Board input by the end of April.
Discussion followed regarding planting of street trees when development occurs; original
selection of trees by a consultant in the 2002; updates to the Street Tree Plan based on
experience; moratorium on removal of street trees downtown; reasons the trees in front of City
Hall are not doing well; Bowhall Maple in front of City Hall providing a connection to the Public
Safety Building; other recommended changes to the Street Tree Plan; making minor amendments
to the Plan this year; the 3-2-1 rule with regard to family, genus and species; and the intent of the
Street Tree Plan to have the same trees on a corridor.
d. Moratorium Against Street Tree Removal Downtown
This item was removed from the agenda under Agenda Item 3.
e. Board Member Resignations: Barbara Harrell and Darcy MacPherson
Chair Hatzenbeler expressed his appreciation to Board Members Harrell and MacPherson. The
vacant positions have been advertised; applications will be accepted until April 28. He urged
board members to encourage people to apply.
8. TREE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
Chair Hatzenbeler reported two very large trees were removed recently, a Cedar near the corner of 91h &
Main, and a Giant Sequoia near Seaview Elementary off 84th near 192nd. Mr. Lien said PUD wanted the
Cedar at the corner of 9th and Main removed. Vice Chair Heckman reported a homeowner in her
neighborhood recently removed three healthy Douglas Firs and left an unhealthy Hemlock.
Vice Chair Heckman reported Snohomish County's vegetation map, the 2009 assessment, is available
and could be used in Edmonds' canopy assessment.
Mr. Lindsay thanked Board Member Brightman for his assistance with removing ivy in Yost Park.
9. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
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