2019-11-07 Tree Board MinutesEdmonds Citizens' Tree Board `s
r xMa, APPROVED MEETING NOTES R�a
November 7, 2019
The Edmonds Citizens' Tree Board Meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. by Board co-chair Bill Phipps in the Council
Chambers, Public Safety Complex, 250 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, WA.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
STAFF PRESENT
Bill Phipps, Co -Chair
Rich Lindsay, Parks Manager
Suzanne Juer ensen
Kyle Braun, Watershed Company
Barbara Chase
Debra Dill
Doug Petersen
Steve Hatzenbeler
Gail Lovell
Frank Caruso, Vice -Chair
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
ELECTED OFFICIAL PRESENT
Vivian Olson, Co -Chair
Diane Buckshnis, City Council
ELECTED OFFICAL ABSENT
CALL TO ORDER:
TB Co -Chair Bill Phipps called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm.
ROLL CALL:
See above.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
The agenda was approved.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
October 3, 2019 meeting notes were approved as written.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS:
One audience member attended, Nancy Nize, residing at 505 5th Avenue in Edmonds, with a question on pruning trees
encroaching on her house. As the trees are on city property, Rich advised that pruning should be done by city and
agreed to follow up.
OLD BUSINESS:
a) Doug reported on his talk at the CRAZE event. It was well received, though audience minimal. CRAZE had agreed
to create and distribute a flyer but did not. For future public presentations, Tree Board will publicize. Doug will send
write-up of talk to Kyle for use in support of Growth Award.
b) Rich Lindsay discussed a successful Arbor Day tree planting event, with an abundance of trees planted quickly due
to number of volunteers present.
c) Gail, Barbara and Debra Dill met to further discuss the Street Tree project. They have collected materials from
neighboring city sources and elsewhere and plan to meet monthly in order to process these materials. They will
research each tree proposed and offer more extensive notes than those provided by either Seattle or Shoreline.
Gail estimates the project will take a year to complete.
d) Kyle reported that Tree City certification project is on track to qualify for Growth Award.
NEW BUSINESS:
a) A first draft of the Civic Park Tree Plan received suggestions for decreasing height of trees, and alternate
suggestions have been submitted with rough guideline of 40 feet tall for maximum tree height. Shannon Burley,
Deputy Parks Director, is organizing the project with consultant Walker Macy handling design and Francis Chapin,
Edmonds artist, working on the park's art plan. Final plan needs to be accepted and permitted by March 2020 in
order to solicit bids for work to begin in a timely manner. Also, City Planning Dept. requires 12 weeks to complete
permitting process. Therefore, Shannon aims to have plan 90% completed by December and will present her
progress at City Council meeting December 10. Suzanne will contact Shannon to discuss proposal for a
permaculture planting.
b) Discussion ensued on how to work toward making street tree planting an ongoing Tree Board activity. A full-time
city arborist would be helpful to assist in managing this project, which would support implementation of the goals of
the UFMP. One idea was to compile a list of potential locations, then estimate cost of each. 220th Street has been
discussed as a potential site, and we need to identify others. Also, grant writing could be pursued by full-time
arborist in order to secure funds to support this ongoing project.
c) Updating of Tree Code will be initiated by arborist, in close consultation with Kernen, to define and document an
acceptable plan.
d) Regarding Tree Board appointments, since Vivian has been elected to City Council (hooray!!!!), she will leave a
vacancy in the Tree Board, and Steve has also announced his resignation. Jana will post an announcement
soliciting new applications. Also, Tree Board members whose appointments expire at the end of the year must
reapply.
TREE BOARD MEMBER IDEAS & COMMENTS:
a) Gail provided a listing of limited -height trees planned for planting at the Waterfront Center.
b) Suzanne provided an update on TB weblinks revision project, designed to broaden scope of information provided,
promote ease of use and become a more visited and valuable community resource.
ADJOURN:
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.