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2015-08-06 Tree Board MinutesEDMONDS CITIZENS' TREE BOARD APPROVL. MEETING MINUTES August 6, 2015 The Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Meeting was called to order at approximately 6:00 p.m. by Tree Board members present (Chair Steve Hatzenbeler arrived at 6:15) in the Brackett Room, 3d Floor City Hall, 121 5th Avenue North, Edmonds. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Steve Hatzenbeler, Chair Ronald Brightman Barbara Durr Barbara Chase Renee Travis (Alternate) Crane Stavig Jed Marshall BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT Rick Zitzmann 1. CALL TO ORDER STAFF PRESENT none ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT Joan Bloom —City Councilmember The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:00 pm by the Tree Board members present. 2. ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTIONS See above. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Hatzenbeler relayed Item 5, approval of July meeting minutes, was not applicable because the July meeting did not have a quorum. A motion was made by Board Member Brightman and seconded by Board Member Durr to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously. 4. AUDIENCE COMMENTS Scott Blomenkamp, Edmonds, a resident on 92nd Ave W near 232nd St, just west of a redevelopment project under construction at 23220 Edmonds Way. The redevelopment project has damaged roots of numerous trees on Mr. Blomenkamp's property. Mr. Blomenkamp has had many conversations with City Staff who have not been able to explain how/why there were not restrictions placed on the development to protect trees on his property, which appears to be required by the Edmonds Community Development Code. He expressed frustration that the existing tree protection codes are not being enforced. Significant tree roots have been cut and several trees may need to be removed, per an arborist hired by Mr. Blomenkamp. He advised that the Tree Board push for City Staff to enforce the existing tree protection codes, which he does not perceive to be convoluted, unclear, or unenforceable, as reported by some staff members in recent years. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — June 2015 Postponed to September meeting. Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Minutes August 6, 2015 Page 1 6. OLD BUSINESS/DISCUSSION a. Marina Beach PAC Board Member Brightman summarized the final Marina Beach Master Plan recommendation from the PAC. Details are available on the City of Edmonds website. A Planning Board Public Hearing will be held August 12 and a City Council Public Hearing will follow later this year (date TBD). b. Street Tree Plan Update Board Member Brightman noted that he had followed up with Brad Shipley of the City of Edmonds regarding removal of certain tree species from the street tree plan. He was expecting to hear back from Mr. Shipley but had not as of the date of the meeting. Chair Hatzenbeler requested that Mr. Brightman follow up with staff prior to the next board meeting. c. Proposed Tree Code Progress Chair Hatzenbeler met with Mayor Dave Earling and Development Services Director Shane Hope the morning of August 6 to discuss the Tree Code proposal and how the Tree Board and Staff/Administration could work together better in the future. Mayor Earling and Ms. Hope noted that Staff and Administration felt they needed to allow the Tree Board to stay on the course of proposing the Tree Code even though they had objections to the content; because the Tree Board is not an Administrative body within City government, Staff and Administration did not feel they should step in and request a re -work of some objectionable sections of the proposed Tree Code. Ms. Hope confirmed that the recently -adopted Comprehensive Plan includes a provision that an Urban Forestry Management Plan be adopted by the end of 2017. The Tree Board will have a role providing input on the UFMP. Ms. Hope noted that some parts of the proposed Tree Code will be included in the minor restructuring of the code that will take place this year; it is not yet clear exactly which parts. Mayor Earling emphasized that the Tree Board should focus on getting some positive messaging out in the community —events with publicity that can help to shine a more positive light on the Tree Board. Ms. Hope noted that the City Council had recently approved budget through the end of 2015 to provide staff support to the Tree Board. d. Staff Arborist Chair Hatzenbeler will follow up with Parks Maintenance Manager Rich Lindsay for an update. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. New Member Introductions Barbara Chase, a retired teacher. She is especially interested in the educational aspect of the Tree Board, and would like to see improvement in the educating the public on the value of trees. She also is interested in educating the community on appropriate trees to choose for various places in the City. Crane Stavig, a landscaper/garden designer/expert pruner. Owns a landscaping business in Edmonds. Jed Marshall, a retired biologist with a Master's Degree in Forestry. Previously had a landscaping business in Edmonds. Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Minutes August 6, 2015 Page 2 b. Goals and interests for all Tree Board members Emphasis will be on outreach and education to try to build some positive publicity in the community. The group expressed considerable interest in continuing to educate the communicate on the benefits of the "Right Tree, Right Place." Board members noted that it is not only big trees that are beneficial; cumulatively, small trees can also provide environmental benefits. Helping the community understand the value of trees (economic, environmental, aesthetic) will continue to be a goal of the Tree Board. c. Arbor Day observance Mid October tree planting event will be planned, most likely at Yost Park with Edmonds Parks Department. [Note: in a subsequent conversation with Rich Lindsay, Chair Hatzenbeler confirmed the event will be October 17.1 d. Tree City USA certification for 2015 The group agreed to table this conversation pending confirmation of the hiring of Staff to help the Tree Board. One of the primary functions of the contract employee is expected to be coordinating the effort to complete the Tree City USA certification. e. September 3 meeting The group agreed to postpone the September 3 meeting to September 10 due to Chair Hatzenbeler being out of town on the 3rd f. Tree Board Vice Chair Chair Hatzenbeler noted that he hoped Tree Board member Rick Zitzmann would be open to taking the Vice Chair position. Mr. Zitzmann was not in attendance so Chair Hatzenbeler will follow up with him prior to the September meeting. 8. TREE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS Board Member Durr requested that a future meeting dedicate some time for her to present more information on the Urban Forest Symposium she attended this year. She provided to Chair Hatzenbeler a packet of information from Vancouver's Urban Forestry Program, and noted that Vancouver's program is well funded and supported in the community. 9. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board adjourned at approximately 8:15 p.m. Next Meeting: Thursday, September 10, 6:00 p.m., Brackett Room, City Hall Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Minutes August 6, 2015 Page 3