2018-05-03 Tree Board MinutesEDMONDS CITIZENS' TREE BOARD
MEETING NOTES
May 3, 2018
Tree Board members present and accounted for: Frank Caruso, Barbara Chase,
Suzanne Juergensen, Gail Lovell, Doug Petersen, Bill Phipps, Vivian Olson, Leslie
Smith(student representative)
Tree Board members absent: Steve Hatzenbeler.
Edmonds City Council liaison present: Diane Buckshnis
Edmonds Park Department guest: Rich Lindsay
Audience: Ross Dimmick
CALL TO ORDER: A quorum was reached and the meeting was called to order by
Tree Board chair; Doug Petersen.
ROLL CALL: All present introduced themselves.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: The agenda was modified and approved.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS: Ross Dimmick made comments to the tree board
concerning the proposed Edmonds Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP). Ross
stated that there are problems with the UFMP regarding scientific references, and
specificly to the city of Edmonds. Ross has submitted his comments to the
Edmonds City Council. The Tree Board thanked Ross for his research and efforts.
APPROVAL OF MEETING NOTES: The meeting notes for the April S, 2018 tree
board meeting were corrected and approved.
OLD BUSINESS:
- Tree Board Pamphlet: The tree board discussed ways to get the new "Before
You Grab That Chainsaw" tree pruning pamphlet to the community. Diane will
see how we can mail the pamphlet to all city water customers through the water
bills. Diane will also distribute them to the city hall "green room" and the
Anderson recreation center.
- Upcoming events: Gail showed off the new Tree Board banners and all were
impressed. The board thanked Gail for her efforts in getting these banners made.
They will look great at our events for years to come.
Gail informed the tree board on the upcoming Edmonds Garden Tour, being
held on July 15, 2018, of which the tree board is co-sponsor. There will be seven
gardens with tree identification signs. Gail will place the tree id signs on July 14tn
The tree board discussed the upcoming tree identification signs event in
downtown Edmonds. It was decided that these "environmental benefits of trees"
signs would be put up along Main Street and 5t" Avenue on July 1, 2018 and taken
down on July 21, 2018 . Bill will coordinate this project.
Rich, from the Parks Department, informed the tree board about the upcoming
Arbor Day event, of which the tree board is co-sponsor. There will be a tree
planting event at Meadowdale Park in October 2018. The exact date has not
been decided.
Doug informed the tree board about the "2ndst Annual Edmonds' Tree Board
Tree Giveaway and Raffle" to be held at the farmers market with September 22,
2018 as the anticipated date. Barbara will coordinate this event and is seeking
volunteers to help. Like last year we will give away tree saplings and raffle away
two trees. The emphasis will be on "Plant the right tree in the right place".
Barbara will acquire the saplings for this event.
- Replacing street trees in front of City Hall: Rich informed the tree board of
the parks department plan to plant some sidewalk trees in large planters in front
of City Hall. Seasonal annual flowers will be planted in the containers as well.
The tree board thanked Rich for his continued efforts on behalf of beautifying
Edmonds.
- UFMP update: There was a general discussion about the proposed UFMP ,
written by the Davy Group, that will be considered by the City Council this
summer. Concerns were raised about the lack of specificity of the report to the
unique environmental and political realities of Edmonds. Diane explained to the
tree board the steps through the political process; hearings, reviews, public
meetings, and eventual vote before the City Council. Consensus was that
although there were good aspects to the draft UFMP; such as appointment of a
"city arborist" and the creation of an "Edmonds Tree Bank"; the report needs
work making the plan specific to the city of Edmonds environmentally and
politically.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Doug raised the question of what does the tree board mission statement
mean; "to educate the public" about the benefits of trees. How do we
better reach out to the community to fulfill our mission? Doug invites us to
work on new ways to educate and reach out to the public.
TREE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS:
- Suzanne offered her services as a photographer for future tree board
events.
- Vivian informed the tree board of an upcoming vote before the City Council
on banning single use plastic cutlery/straws in Edmonds. We have since
learned that said vote passed. Yay Edmonds!
ADJOURNMENT;
With no further business, and after a fun and productive meeting, the esteemed
Edmonds City Tree Board adjourned for the evening.
Next meeting: June 7, 2018
Minutes submitted by Bill Phipps