2016-08-04 Tree Board MinutesEDMONDS CITIZENS' TREE BOARD
Meeting Notes
Aug 4, 2016
August 2016
The Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Steve
Hatzenbeler in the Council Chambers.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Steve Hatzenbeler, Chair
Barbara Chase
Barbara Durr
Jed Marshall
Doug Petersen
Bill Phipps
Vivian Olson
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
N/A
1. CALL TO ORDER
STAFF PRESENT
Rich Lindsay, Parks Maintenance Manager
ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT
Diane Buckshnis
Chair Hatzenbeler called the meeting to order. At 6:00
2. ROLL CALL/INTRODUCTIONS
Per list above
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Agenda was approved
4. AUDIENCE COMMENTS
No audience members were present
5. APPROVAL OF NOTES -
Notes from the July 7th meeting were approved as corrected
6. OLD BUSINESS
a) Arbor Day Planting Event and Celebration- October 15th from 10-2
Three tree board members (Chairman Steve Hatzenbeler, Barbara Chase and Barbara
Durr) walked the site of the upcoming planting event (85th and Main- west of the trail only
and extending back about 100 feet from Main St) with Rich Lindsay on July 191h. Jed
Marshall intends to set another site visit with Rich for a date that he can attend in August
or September and will inform other tree board members in case there is another member
or two who missed the first meeting who may want to see it in advance of the event.
Rich told us that the intended plantings will be represented on a map and he confirmed,
when asked by a tree board member, that the trees getting planted closest to Main
Street are types that will be smaller at maturity. Rich Lindsay has already had the
Snohomish County Parks Volunteers out to clear and weed the site and he has arranged
for 25 volunteers for the work on the day of the event through Faith Community Church
(plus the tree board members). The City is supplying tables, tents, water for the new
plantings, and the plants and trees for the most part. During this Aug 4 meeting the tree
board also voted to donate $1500 toward these purchases (Moved by Doug Peterson,
seconded by Jed Marshall and approved 6-1 by the tree board members). The tree
board will also be supplying refreshments for the event. Doug Peterson has volunteered
to take care of the napkins, plates, coffee cups, water bottles, carrots, pizza; Jed
Marshall volunteered to acquire the coffee and cookies. Diane Buckshnis volunteered
her taxi services (if they are needed) for transport. Regarding publicity, the tree board
agreed to keep the emphasis on Arbor Day "celebration"/ come see what we are doing in
our messaging and to limit PR to My Edmonds News, The Beacon and our individual
social media and email lists. Barbara Chase is going to write the piece and then give it
to Diane Bucksnis to deliver to her contacts at the Beacon and My Edmonds News.
b) Tree Board University efforts are led by finisher Doug Peterson and second place
leader Jed Marshall who is working on the fourth course. Several of us have done a
couple of courses and now everyone has logged on! We are making great progress
toward the yearend goal (of 100% of the Tree Board members finishing the program)
that will get us extra honors from the Tree City USA program.
c) Suggested Tree Lists- Doug Peterson volunteered for the job of looking at lists other
city's Citizen Tree Boards have come up with and tailoring one for the City of Edmonds
Tree Board. We discussed wanting it to have a section of taller trees and the reason
you might choose them (such as "Suggested for areas where the trees headline as the
view and we can reap the additional positive environmental impact of larger trees").and a
section of smaller trees and why we might choose them (such as "Suggested for areas
where there are vistas of mountains and water but for blockage by taller trees at their
mature heights"). We also discussed the possibility of a third section of trees that are
just a bad idea (like those we were made aware existed in the Lynnwood City code as
trees that were weeds and trees like the Leyland Cypress- mentioned in Barbara
Chase's article). We would like to have this list done and available as a handout for the
Saturday market and the Arbor Day celebration as well as the Green Resource Center.
d) Summer Market- Steve Hatzenbeler has a call in to Jerry Freeland about getting a
September date, but has not yet heard back from her. Will let us know when we have a
date.
e) All receipts for expenses from Cass Turnbull's presentation have been submitted and
reimbursements received.
7. NEW BUSINESS
a) 2017 Budget Request- It was agreed that the $6K consulting/speakers and $3K goods
and services budget that we received in 2016 was the right budget request for the
upcoming year too.
b) 2017 Tree Board Chair- Steve Hatzenbeler gave the board the heads up that he would
definitely not be continuing as chair next year and we need to be thinking about who will
replace him. He warned that he spends 4-8 hours each week on Tree Board related
activity as Chair.
c) 2017 planning- Steve H. suggested that we be coming up with ideas for 2017 and that
we decide on some by November of 2016. One interesting idea was offered up on the
spot by Tree Board Member Barbara Durr- a recognition program of sorts that would
honor citizens for the good environmental work done by big trees on their property. The
board members discussed possibilities (positive reinforcement, education re the value
trees, and outreach/ visibility of tree board action) and possible drawbacks (how to
approach it since private property, is there a downside/ do we want to honor — and by
doing so encourage more planting of large trees- tall trees when they are located in parts
of Edmonds where they are blocking other natural vistas? The Tree Board membership
will look into this idea and the concerns raised and idea will be revisited after the Arbor
Day Celebration.
8. Tree Board Member ,Staff Comments
Vivian Olson brought forward a concern registered with her by a citizen of Edmonds
regarding trying to protect an Atlas Cedar in the public right-of-way at 6t" and Dayton where
a sewer replacement project is beginning shortly. We will bring it to the attention of Phil
Williams, Director of Public Works (which Councilwoman Buckshnis informed us is what the
private citizens should do when they have such a concern).
Steve Hatzenbeler reminded the membership that issues regarding our city email should be
directed to the IT Manager, Brian Tuley. Call (425) 775-2525 and ask for him.
Steve also mentioned that we will be getting to hear from new tree board member Bill
Phipps at next month's meeting. Welcome Bill!
Chair Hatzenbeler and Councilwoman Buckshnis shared that City of Edmonds Development
Services Director Shane Hope is the staff member tasked with the Urban Forestry Plan
(which will become the priority project after completion of the Shoreline master development
plan). Tree Board members Bill Phipps and Vivian Olson expressed interest in being
involved in the development of the Urban Forestry Plan for the City of Edmonds.
9. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Next Meeting: Thursday, September 1 at 6:00 pm., Council Chambers
Minutes submitted by Vivian Olson, Acting Secretary
Vivian Olson will take the notes in September and Doug Peterson will take them in October