2015-11-05 Tree Board MinutesEDMONDS CITIZENS' TREE BOARD
APPROVED MINUTES
November 5, 2015
The Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. by Chair Steve
Hatzenbeler in the Brackett Room, 3rd Floor City Hall, 121 51" Avenue North, Edmonds, WA.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Steve Hatzenbeler, Chair
Barbara Chase
Barbara Durr
Albert (Jed) Marshall
Rick Zitzmann
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Crane Stavig
Renee Travis (Alternate)
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Hatzenbeler called the meeting to order.
2. ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTIONS
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
STAFF PRESENT
Jeannie Dines, Recorder
Julia Munger, Consulting Arborist
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Joan Bloom —City Councilmember
The following items were added to the agenda under New Business:
• Planting Event This Weekend Hosted by Barbara Chase
• Development Services Director's Suggestion for the City Attorney to Provide Legal Training to
the Tree Board
• Quorum at Non-scheduled Events
• Table at Holiday Market
Board Member Zitzmann moved to approve the agenda as amended; seconded by Board Member
Durr. Motion carried unanimously.
4. AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Scott Blomenkamp, Edmonds, provided an update on his Hearing Examiner case. The Hearing
Examiner ruled in his favor that the developer behind his property caused a nuisance and a hazard
and should replace the damaged trees with one 10-foot tree for each 160-foot Douglas fir. The City
said the Hearing Examiner did not have authority to hear his permit review as City administration has
sole authority for enforcement. He requested reconsideration which the Hearing Examiner granted.
Mr. Blomenkamp expected to have resolution or a final determination by Monday. If the decision is
not in his favor, he will proceed with a LUPA action or a lawsuit. He requested the City follow its
code, citing 18.45.070 which states replace each tree with three trees equal to the diameter of tree. It
has been six months since the trees were damaged and three months of hearings. In response to
board member questions, he reported on the condition of the damaged trees: standing, at least one
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needs to come down, half the root system has been torn out, and soil compaction has damaged
other trees to an unknown extent. To illustrate his point, he commented the permit for the Woodway
Fields used a 1993 critical areas checklist instead of checklist that was prepared within five years as
the code requires. He responded to questions regarding what he hope to get out of Hearing
Examiner process and he provided additional details regarding the trees removed on the site
adjacent to his property.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
August 7, 2015
Board Member Durr moved to approve the August 7, 2015 minutes; seconded by Board Member
Marshall. Motion carried unanimously.
October 1. 2015
Board Member Zitzmann moved to approve the October 1, 2015 minutes; seconded by Board
Member Durr. Motion carried unanimously.
6. DISCUSSION
a. Recap Arbor Day Event, October 17
Chair Hatzenbeler commented it was a fun event; it was nice to do something that got positive
press as well as to plant trees and shrubs. He looked forward to bigger, better and more frequent
events in the future. He was hopeful Ms. Munger would develop a template for future events such
as contacts for volunteers, checklist for organizing the event, etc. Ms. Munger suggested
attaching pictures of the event as well as the My Edmonds News article to the Tree City USA
application.
b. Tree City USA Certification 2015 Update
Ms. Munger reported everything related to the 2015 Tree City USA application has been
completed except for the hours related to $2/capita for forest management and tree care,
approximately $94,000 for Edmonds. Qualifying activities include tree planting (materials, labor),
maintenance and removal, management (public education, memberships, salaries, and
inventories) etc. She has drafted an email to departments to inquire about activities that would
qualify. Board member suggestions regarding eligible expenditures included arborist training for
the Parks employee, fee for the consulting arborist, Tree Board volunteer hours, door monitor
during Tree Board meetings and the minute taker and inquiring with the Council's Executive
Assistant Jana Spellman regarding time board members spend at meetings and costs related to
the minute taker, door monitor, and Ms. Spellman's assistance with the Tree Board.
Ms. Munger will email board members to inquire about volunteer hours outside Tree Board
meetings. She will also confirm with the State's Tree City USA representative regarding eligible
expenses such as hours board members spend at other meetings. Board Member Chase has
provided Ms. Munger the hours for citizen volunteers at the Arbor Day event.
7. NEW BUSINESS
a. Tree Board Member Input on Events/Activities in Coming Year
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Board members suggested the following:
• 2-3 guest speakers/year*
o Cass Turnbull
o Debra Dill
• Planting Event on School District Property*
• Larger Arbor Day Events*
• Subcommittee regarding Education & Outreach*
o Publicize Good Street Trees
o Encourage Ivy Removal
o Talk About Problem Trees — City has list of poor trees
• Awards for Good Plantings/Trees
• Partner with Public Works & Parks
• Joint Events with Floretum Garden Club or Edmonds in Bloom*
• Series of Talks on Trees
• Heritage Tree Program*
*priorities
Discussion included educating parents via their children, avoiding turnover by engaging board
members, Arbor Day event on a school district property, coordinating events/activities with
teachers, Master Gardeners' work with schools, publicizing a planting event, subcommittees to do
work outside meetings, coordinating with other organizations such as scouts, formalizing a
partnership with Public Works to revegetate areas where water and sewer lines are installed,
planting trees near Shell Creek access road, the City's list of poor trees, the City's street tree list,
Everett Arboretum Urban Tree Walk, other cities' street tree lists, and the formal/legal process to
develop a Heritage Tree Program and the need for staff time to administer it.
Board members prioritized events, education/outreach, speakers and Heritage Tree Program for
2016. The December meeting will include discussion about setting up 1-2 subcommittees to work
on gathering information; top priorities will be determined in 2016.
b. Update on Development Code Rewrite and Portions of Tree Code to be Incorporated
Ms. Munger reported the Urban Forest Management Plan is scheduled to be drafted next year.
Before an Urban Forest Management Plan is adopted, relevant definitions, right-of-way permitting
processes, tree protection measures, subdivision tree plan requirements, application
requirements, unauthorized tree cutting penalties, tree retention standards, etc. may be updated
in the ongoing Development Code re -write. A code update is underway to address those and
other pressing issues. The code update will not include a private property tree permit process and
tree density standards. The Board will be able to provide input on the draft, expected late this
year or early next year.
c. Possible Partnership with Edmonds Climate Protection Committee
Chair Hatzenbeler relayed the Climate Protection Committee invited the Tree Board to their
meeting for an introduction and to discuss how the two groups could work together. He informed
the Committee what the Tree Board does and its goals. He suggested next month's Tree Board
meeting include discussion regarding the Commission's priorities and ways the groups could
work together in 2016.
d. Planting this Weekend Hosted by Barbara Chase on 81" & Daley, Saturday, 10 am to 12 pm
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Board Member Chase displayed a photograph and map of the area to be planted this weekend
and invited board members to assist with the planting. Board members commended Board
Member Chase for championing this project. Chair Hatzenbeler suggested she email board
members if she needs help the following Saturday.
e. Development Services Director's Suggestion for the City Attorney to Provide Legal
Training to the Tree Board
Chair Hatzenbeler relayed Development Services Director Shane Hope's suggestion for the City
Attorney to provide the Board a 30-40 minute presentation regarding legal requirements. The
Board agreed to add this to the December 3 agenda.
f. Board Quorum at Non-scheduled Events
Chair Hatzenbeler explained if a quorum of members participates at a group event, it needs to be
noticed as a meeting. The workaround is board members cannot discuss Tree Board business.
Subcommittee meetings with three or less members do not need to be noticed.
g. Tree Board Table at Holiday Market
Councilmember Bloom announced the Holiday Market on five Saturdays November 21 —
December 19 in the parking lot next to City Hall and under the City Hall awning. There is space
under the awning for a Tree Board table; this would be an opportunity to provide educational
materials, display the Tree City USA sign, talk about the Tree Board, identify trees that are good
to plant in this area, etc. She recalled the Tree Board had a table at the Saturday Market in the
past.
Discussion followed regarding what information could be provided at a booth (Living Christmas
trees, hazardous trees, educational materials) and where to obtain educational materials. Chair
Hatzenbeler suggested scheduling further discussion on the December agenda.
Councilmember Bloom suggested Ms. Munger gather educational materials. Ms. Munger said her
focus is submitting the Tree City USA application and coming to the Board's next meeting. If she
has enough remaining budget, she will work on education/outreach and event planning.
8. TREE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
Board Member Zitzmann asked who will be the Council liaison to the Tree Board. Councilmember Bloom
explained the liaisons are assigned by the new Council President at first meeting in January.
Board Member Durr offered to contact Cass Turnbull about speaking to the Board at the December or
January meeting. Councilmember Bloom suggested advertising that meeting as well as an article in My
Edmonds News.
9. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
Next Meeting: Thursday, December 3 6:00 p.m., Brackett Room, City Hall
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