HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-1105 Tree MINUTES
ASHLAND TREE COMMISSION
MINUTES
November 5, 2009
CALL TO ORDER – Co-Chair Bobby Townsend called the Ashland Tree Commission meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. on November 5, 2009 in the
Siskiyou Room in the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR.
Commissioners Present
Council Liaison
Zane Jones
Kate Jackson
- absent
Bobby Townsend
Casey Roland
Staff Present
Russ Neff -absent
Amy Gunter, Assistant Planner
Kerry KenCairn
Anne Rich, Parks Department - absent
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES
October 8, 2009 Tree Commission Minutes – KenCairn / Townsend m/s to approve the minutes of October 8, 2009. Voice vote: all AYES, Motion passed. The minutes were approved
as submitted.
WELCOME GUESTS
Michael Dawkins, Planning Commissioner: Mr. Dawkins explained that he is interested in the Tree Commission and that the Planning Commissioners were encouraged
to attend the meetings of the commissions they were interested they could become familiar with each other and their goings on. If the Commissioners had any questions about the Planning
Commission they were free to ask.
DISSICUSSION ITEMS
Tree of the Year:
The winner of this years Tree of the Year contest is the Pink Dogwood located at 634 Iowa Street. Of the nearly
80 ballots submitted this year that tree received 23 votes. The Coast Redwoods on Granite and the Giant Sequoia on Bellview tied for second place with 21 votes each. The Japanese Cedar
and the Big Leaf Maple received eight and six votes respectively. A letter will be sent to the property owners. An article will be placed in the Local’s Guide and on the City’s website.
The Commission has the opportunity to address the Council about what the commission has been up to in addition to the announcement of the winner. Ideas for the presentation include:
Tree walks, CTMI, Urban Forrester, Tree City USA, the number of Planning Actions and that the commission performs site visits at each one, Spring pruning class, and Croman Advisory Committee
representative. Commissioner’s Jones and Roland will attend, Amy will do the speaking.
Commissioner Dawkins pointed out that the Tree of the Year nomination form and ballot should be
included in other Commission’s packets.
Tree Walking Tour:
Commission discussed interest in partnering with the Historic Commission to do a Historic Tree Walking Tour. Commissioner
Townsend is very interested and is going to come up with an outline for what the tour would entail and present that to the Historic Commission. The Railroad District is a good candidate
for Historic structures and distinguished trees all in a compact, walk-able location.
Tree Commission Goals for Council which relate to Tree Commission’s goals:
The Commission
held a brief discussion on items they wish to pass to the Council which relate Council goals to the Tree Commission goals. Urban Forestry position, it is a position which would benefit
existing staff, they could use that persons expertise, the forester could review tree removal permits and assist citizens with maintenance of trees in the public right-or-way. Revisions
to Street Tree Planting Standards, see discussion below. Green Streets Standards, see discussion below.
Tree Protection and Preservation:
The Commission continued discussion on handout
for smaller residential remodels that get the permits on Thursday during the over the counter building permit hours. The commission’s goal is to get people involved, and thinking about
what is going on both above and below ground, how what they are constructing will affect the tree. Commission was wondering if it
possible to give people applying for permits a card that they can then send back regarding whether they thought the information has helpful. Proposed title “So You Love Your Trees”.
Another item addressed was possible staking of proposed footprints so that the tree protection zone is addressed with proposed foundation in place and requiring exploratory digging
by hand of foundation lines to see if roots are encountered before mechanical excavation begins.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS
Liaison Reports:
Council: None
Parks: None
Croman Advisory
Committee Meeting (CAC): Kerry KenCairn: Commissioner KenCairn reported on the October Croman Advisory Committee Meeting. She said that there are two things that really stuck out that
she wants to pursue changing. The proposed Street Tree Planting Specifications just state 1 tree for every 30 feet of street frontage. She finds that this standard is too general and
not good for streets, sidewalks and possibly prevents street trees from growing to their mature stature. Croman is providing an opportunity to change it. One thought is that the standards
from the Site Design and Use Standards handbook need to change and then Croman just reference those instead of creating a new set of standards for Croman. Some communities with good
standards that Ashland could follow are Grants Pass, Portland and Eugene. The standards are based on the mature canopy stature of the tree so that trees are not crowded or planted too
far apart. Kerry is also interested in the proposed Green Streets standards and is hoping that a group of professionals that have constructed Green Streets or bioswales could form an
Ad-Hoc Committee which could create the standards using the industry standards from local sources instead of using a Portland or Eugene Standards where the rainfall patterns and plant
material are very different. Kerry recommended that a sub-committee form of Tree Commissioners to discuss the Street Tree Planting standards. Proposed meeting time of November 10 at
5:30 PM, at Kerry’s office at 545 A Street, Amy will notice the newspaper.
Current Balance - $ 600.00 - $10.00 for the renewal of membership to National Arbor Day Foundation
ADJOURNMENT
- Commissioner Jones adjourned the meeting at 8:05 PM.
Respectfully submitted by Amy Gunter, Assistant Planner