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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 Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Minutes April 9, 2015 Page 1 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 Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Minutes April 9, 2015 Page 2 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 Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Minutes April 9, 2015 Page 3 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. Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Minutes April 9, 2015 Page 4